Both Ellie and Marge came home with me. My parents were both nude, and Ellie wanted to speak a little with my mother, and more importantly, didn't ask her to get dressed.

Marge, as it turns out, had no issues at all with my nude father, and instead, both Marge and I jumped at Edith who was back from her appointment.

We all ended up in my room, as Edith just followed us.

She sat on the bed as Marge and I undressed to our birthday suits.

We began by getting Edith caught up with Ellie's developments, but soon enough, it was time for both of us to listen to Edith.

"I think the shrink helped me a lot. She began with an exercise. I had no idea where she would be going, but she gave me a pencil, and told me. This is your pencil, Edith. Pay attention to it, it's important. Care for it, and it will care for you. I went, sure. I mean, it's just a pencil."

"Right", I said.

"She asked me to write my name, and then, to list 5 of my best qualities with the pencil. To only write with it because it's mine, and mine alone"

"That's weird"

"I thought so too, but when I was done with my name, she ripped the pencil from my hand, tore it in half, and threw it in the garbage can."

"She did what?", I said

"Yeah, I looked at her, and she asked me how I felt. I told her I had no idea, she said, good. Then, she gave me another pencil, and told me, this is her pencil. But she will lend it to me. That she doesn't mind if I forget to give it back because it's just a stupid pencil. But I can use it and finish the assignment."

She took a deep breath.

"So I did. The pencil was old, like, damaged or something. And shorter, it wasn't fresh out of the box. However, she let me finish, and then, I gave her the piece of paper. She thanked me, and made me sit on the couch, and she sat on the chair I was in, but turned to face me."

"Ok", I told her.

"You had parents, Edith. They fed you, they clothed you, but they didn't take care of your emotional needs, and they were taken away from you. Now, you have new parents, but they aren't your parents. They are just loaned to you. And yet, you had a pencil, I took it away, broke it, lent you an old one, and you could finish your assignment, couldn't you?"

"Wait, she used the pencils as a metaphor for your parents and mine?", I say.

"I think it's more of an allegory", says Marge

"You know, I think you are right, I think it was an allegory", I tell her.

"That's not the point, but I could see her point. I mean, I know your parents aren't my parents. If we get into a fight and we both get hurt, and social services says we have to be split, I know I am the one leaving, I am not stupid. But like, inside me, she stirred something up. So we decided, and I do mean, we, not her, she asked me what would help me, and I proposed that"

"That's cool. Letting the patient guide"

"I like her a lot for that. So we made another list, well, two other lists. The qualities of my mother and her flaws. Like, with a line vertically"

"What do you mean?", asked Marge.

"I put selfish on the left, and generous on the right"

"Oh, ok", said Marge.

"I also put Close-minded, and open-minded, unable to listen and good listener"

"Wait, wait... were you listing on the left what your birth mother was doing wrong, and on the right, what Kylie was doing right?"

"I was"

"Oh, Edith, I love you so much.", I told her.

"I love you too, sis"

Marge was crying for some reason, so I put my hand on her shoulder.

"This makes me happy. I don't know why", Marge explained.

"What she wanted to do then, is to help me put those qualities, in the abstract", said Edith.

"I don't understand", I say.

"She wants me, to both like Kylie for what she is doing for me, but also not to see her as my actual new mother. That she might not be there for me in the long run, despite all of her desires to help me"

"Ok, you know we won't let you down"

"I do, but like she said, it might not be up to you. Maybe I might need to get specialized help. Potentially, my father will be found not guilty of all charges and get custody back. My mother took a plea deal and gave up, but not him."

"Well, that's fun to hear"

I'll spoil it right way, he was found guilty. And Edith stayed with us. No need to cause any unnecessary stress, this story is about my life, not hers, so I'll tell you. Edith is happy, and stayed with us.

"She explained that she wanted me to learn something. To see the role and the person as being two different things. My mother had a parental role. She failed at it because she wasn't able to be there as a person. My father, failed on both counts. Kylie, is great in her role, and as a person. Steven, too, I am more and more realizing. He picked me up from the appointment, and he really was there for me"

"Good. I have a cool dad"

"He reads you stories before bed sometimes, right?", says Edith.

"Well, yeah. Why?"

"Do you think he could do that for me?"

"Sure, do you want to be there when he reads me?"

"No, I want my own. I know he is your father, not mine, but I want that, just for me"

"Tell him. And watch his face, he will be so happy"

Edith smiled.

We decided it was time for the Wii U, so the three of us went into the living room, with towels, and sat on the floor in front of the television.

"Nintendoland?", I asked.

"Sure", says Marge, but she is looking at the kitchen, so I look, and I see that Ellie is sitting at the kitchen table, nude, with my also nude parents.

"Mom?", says Marge.

"Hey, I can try it too"

"So?"

"I can see the appeal"

"Great, now I am the only one dressed up", says Edith

"You never cared before"

"I never had the school secretary nude with me"

"She is mostly my mom right now"

"I know. I know. And my therapist is proud that I resist peer pressure", says Edith.

We ended up continuing the Zelda game, which is Marge's favorite. The cartoon like characters and enemies, and the cooperation really appeal to her.

After perhaps 20 minutes, the mothers moved to the couch behind us to see what we were doing.

My mom was behind Edith and me, while Ellie was behind Marge.

"You significantly improved, Marge", says Ellie.

"Thanks mom. Your tricks worked"

"My tricks were just to think before each move. Nothing more"

But as we play, I follow Ellie and my mother's conversation.

"I don't know. I still feel like it's not natural to me. I mean, I see Marge, with Julie and Edith, and I never saw my daughter as happy as tonight. And I feel like I don't have any pressure on my mind. Like, when you told me no one cared I didn't shave my armpits, I didn't believe it, but now, I mean, you are right, what's the point? Why do we put ourselves through that torture"

"Well, there are smoothies in the naturist community who shave everything, I just do my legs, and as it turns out, my armpits, but I find shaving my pubis to be overboard. I tried it years ago, and didn't like it", said my mom.

So she tried to be a smoothie? I couldn't imagine it.

"I think I am actually looking forward to Saturday. To sort of close the loop"

"I get it. I remember waiting for my first time. I had done it with Steven, but it's not the same"

"No, I can see that. Even here, I mean, I feel like with my family. Like you were a sister, you know?"

"Thanks. But I don't think we are that close"

"I know, but, ok, hear me out", says Ellie. I check, and Mindy is super concentrated on the game, Edith also seems to be.

"I am not used to being nude with others. I mean, sometimes with my own sister, but that was as kids. So it's like, it makes me trust you?"

"It's funny, it's what Edith said too"

I lost the rest of the conversation, mainly because it was boring. It was about the state of the town, and they joked about the meal they shared. My mom told Ellie a little more about Enzo, but it was the story she pieced together with Clara a while ago.

Soon, however, we finished a game, and Ellie spoke up.

"Marge? I think we should go home"

"Already?"

"It's getting late, and we both need to get dressed. We can't just get in the car like this. Oh, and tonight doesn't count in your limits"

"Right. If I hurry, can I do another level if you aren't ready?"

Ellie sighs, and agrees, which prompt Marge to run to my room and return in record time.

Meanwhile, Ellie went into my parent's room, alone, and returned fully dressed by the time we were finishing our last game.

Mindy didn't complain, she thanked my mom for her hospitality, and my dad when she crossed him in the kitchen. Edith and I followed Marge, who was thanking her mother for the evening.

"Can they come to our house tomorrow?", said Marge.

"They can, if they'd like, but remember, they can undress, but not you."

"What about you?" said Marge.

"I will also be dressed. If it was just the two of us, we could talk, but you know that your dad isn't feeling great these days"

"I do"

Marge gives each of us a hug, which surprised Ellie, but she says nothing.

Soon after, it was teeth brushing time, shower time, and finally, story time, but at her request, I did tell my dad that Edith wanted one. For herself. He was so happy! She was just too shy to ask him directly.

When he kissed my forehead good night, he left, searched for a book in the house, and I heard him knock on Edith's door.

I listened, but only caught glimpses of my father doing voices and, sometimes, Edith laughing.

Edith was right. I give a lot of credit to my mom, she is really a superstar. But my father, is her pillar, is our pillar.

Characters

Episodes