The afternoon went on like a flash. I ate lunch with my family, telling them about my tutoring, while giving room for Edith to talk about what she thought of our camping spot last night. In short, she liked it, but didn't love it.

Where was the fun without the sun?

I confirmed that she didn't want to come to the non-landed club tonight, that Marge would be there, and that she could remain clothed, a least for the first time. It's something offered to teenagers and kids.

But Edith had two main reasons.

First, she wasn't keen on seeing Carmen nude that fast. She sees Carmen as this savior, this hero who had put her in touch with a great therapist and who follows up on her. She is the one who approved her to stay with us, even if we were naturists and she wasn't one. Furthermore, she is the one who convinced the district attorney to file for her mother to lose her parental right and then, convinced her to agree to it.

She knew she would have to see her one day as a person, but she still needed the security of thinking that she was a superhero.

I couldn't fight her on that. I saw Lucy as a hero for so long, and now that I saw her as a friend, she more or less vanished from my life. Well, in the winter, she doesn't go out much, so it's no surprise.

But Edith has a second motivation. She was told by her psychologist to have time alone. Truly alone, and she had mostly failed on that assignment.

She confirmed that tonight, she would take a bath in my parent's room, and then spend some time nude. She also asked that we ring the doorbell before coming in, and count to 10. In reality, she wasn't ready to be seen nude, or even topless again.

We ate supper with Edith instead of on the road, and then, left around 6, arriving early at Billy's and Lucy's school. Fine, Clark also went there, but I didn't connect as much with him.

In the parking lot, there were a few cars, but then, I noticed Ellie's car, so I asked my parents to re-park next to it.

I noticed that Ellie and Marge were in the car. It was chilly, but the windows were lowered, and my parents spoke a little with Ellie.

"You seem nervous", says my mom, next to her. My dad was on the other side.

"Well, it will be my first time nude with strangers"

"After 5 minutes, you will be fine"

"I guess. Marge has been a good help."

"We hung out in my room nude", said Marge, all happy.

"I have a rule that Marge and me cannot be nude in the house. I have a husband who has issues and a seriously immature son."

"He really is the worst", says Marge, but her mother doesn't correct her.

My parents explain a little how the evening goes, and what the activities are.

"I don't suck at volleyball, not that I am good, but I can hold my own", says Ellie

"My mom is humble, She helped me improve my volleyball considerably", added Marge.

"Wait, that's right. I forgot that. As a teenager, I wasn't that good, but Marge and I practiced a lot, just, making passes and stuff"

6h45 soon went on and people began leaving their car.

"Do you mind if we wait a little?", says Ellie

"No, do you want us to stay behind with you? We can keep talking"

"Well, it is getting cold", she says.

It's my dad who reacted. "Why don't you turn off your car and both of you can get in ours, at the back"

Ellie approved and soon enough, she was sitting behind my dad, and Marge was in the middle.

"We didn't put panties on", says Marge

"Marge, you don't have to say that"

"Well, it's true. You said that maybe we don't need them since we will be dressed less than an hour on the drive, and you didn't want them stolen"

"Kids", says Ellie.

"We have a lock, you could put your clothes in our locker"

"Oh, right, a lock. I should have thought of that. We will, if you don't mind, but next time, I will have one"

"Oh, Ellie, next time there won't be lockers"

"Huh?"

"Next time is in a rehabilitation center, and it's just small cube units to push your clothes in. We bring a bag and leave it by the pool"

"Which one?"

"Lauren Ashby, downtown"

"Get out of here. My dad had rehabilitation in their pool. The water is like, 95 degrees, and the sauna is wonderful", she says.

"Well, imagine without a soggy bathing suit"

"I wasn't sure I would return, but now I know that I will, I loved that place"

"I think I remember it", says Marge

"You were so young when he died"

"I remember sitting on his lap on his wheelchair and later watching him walk in the water. Without his wheelchair"

"That was the place"

7h05 soon rolls in, and we decide to get in. Ellie had forgotten their towels, so she grabbed them from her car and soon enough we were at the reception desk.

Sandra was already done, it seems she only helps with the rush, and most of the people were already away. Also, the man at the counter was nude instead of dressed.

"Welcome back, Kylie and Steven"

"We brought a friend"

"I'll give her and her charming daughter the member's rebate. But if you want it next time, the membership card is ". Now, he said the price, and Ellie found it reasonable for the advantages. But I still don't remember the price back then. Sorry.

My parents paid the $40, but as it turns out, it also covered a second kid, so Ellie only had to pay for herself. She was grateful.

"Men or women's changing room?", asked my dad.

"Woman, I can't go in the men's", says Marge.

"Honey, tonight it doesn't matter", said Ellie

"I know that, but rules are rules. It's hard for me to break them"

So we went into the women's changing room this time. No urinals, but it's not like I miss them. I did use one once as an adult. It was a dare, I won't provide details, I might tell the whole story one day.

Soon enough, all six of us were nude, and our clothes were locked with my father's lock.

"Volleyball?" asked my father.

We all agreed and made it to the gym, where I saluted Carmen. I didn't see her husband or her kids, but I presume they split up.

My mother saluted her and Carmen saluted back, but then, she yelled. "Ellie? Is that you?"

"Fuck", says Ellie, who turns around and almost runs away, but it's Marge who stops her.

"Mom, you said a bad word"

"I know, but I work with that lady"

"So?"

Carmen gets close.

"Ellie, it is you. I am so happy to see you. Are you going to play with us?"

"I don't think so, I didn't think you would be here"

"So what, we are here for the same reason."

"No, we are not. My daughter wants to go to naturist activities, and I am here to see if they are as wholesome as her friends claim"

"So you wish to make sure this is safe for your daughter. Got it. Can I offer a suggestion?"

"Sure"

"Instead of running away from the CPS social worker whose job is to protect kids, maybe stay close to her with your daughter so you have an ally to help you figure it out"

Ellie looks at Carmen.

"I am being ridiculous, aren't I?"

"Let's start over. I am Carmen, I am a social worker for the child protection services, my family are naturists, I am here with my husband and my kids who are in the water, and I am on the board of this non-landed club. I am as nude as you are, and well, why not just play some volleyball and see how it goes? I know this one likes it", she says, pointing to me, "and that her parents love it. Want to play with them, or with me? Or both? Or neither? We haven't made teams yet"

Ellie thinks, and looks around.

"We are too many to play"

"We divide into two teams, and don't care about points, or how many people in a team. We'll be 8, and it's fine"

She thinks.

"Can it be us 6 and you and someone else?"

"Sure. Want to team up, Kylie and Steven?"

"Always. Edith loves you so much"

"She didn't want to come?"

"She needed time alone"

Carmen nodded, and we went on the court, with the teams readjusting without a mess or complaints.

Marge seemed to have fun. We were next to each other, and the rule was minimum 3 people touching the ball.

Neither her nor I were very good at attacking, but passes and catching the ball, we could do.

If I caught it, I would bounce it to Marge who would send it to one of our attackers, either my dad, my mom, Carmen or Ellie who was better than she expected.

We also had a man, Jack, who was older, maybe 55, but while better than Marge or me, preferred to let the other attack.

Still, in Volleyball, you are supposed to rotate position on every point, but we don't count points, and we stay in our current position, usually. Even the services were left to Carmen, who not only didn't fail any, but also got a few that weren't returned.

We didn't count points, but it was clear that Carmen was making us win if we did count points.

My father was getting sweaty, and well, Ellie too. Marge, was focused, but didn't seem to be covered in sweat and I definitely wasn't. Jack was.

Still, after roughly an hour, I was getting tired. We switched sides a few times, and even near the end, rebalanced the teams.

We stopped with Carmen's husband arrived, whom I learned when he was presented to Ellie, is called. Diego. He had Carmen's kids, which I supposed means their kids, and she took charge of them as he went to the weight lifting room on his own. Cheryl, their daughter, saluted me, but most of us, including Ellie, Carmen and her kids, went to the showers in the women's changing room to rince off the sweat from our body before getting into the pool.

Cheryl was still a little wet from the pool, but she still insisted on getting in the shower with her mom.

Carman and Ellie spoke a little, while showering. Mainly, "Are you ok now?", and Ellie admitting that she was.

In the pool, Marge and I split from our parents, but the four adults stayed together. Sandra saw me and saluted me, as well as my parents. She was the lifeguard again. It didn't take long for us to run into Billy.

"Billy?"

"Hey! Is Mindy here?"

"No, I brought our friend Marge"

"Oh, I guess I will see her tomorrow, then."

"Yeah, what are you doing here?"

"Hum, my dad and I go to all the events of the club. Except when we have something else"

Marge was weirdly quiet, but I didn't press on.

"Want to play with sinkers?", he said.

"Sinkers?", asked Marge, confused.

"We throw toys in the pool and have to pick them up"

"Oh, I don't like to get deep under the water. I can swim and put my head in it, but I don't like going far under"

"Want to swim then?" asked Billy.

Marge looks around. "The pool doesn't have a dedicated swim lane"

"They will put a net for water polo"

"Can I just speak with Julie?" says Marge.

"Oh, sure, sorry. I will go help with the net, if you girls want to hang out, give me a sign"

He swims to the other side.

"Are you okay?"

"I don't know him"

"You don't. And you don't have to talk to him"

"No, that's not the problem"

"Sure, is it this place?"

"No"

I think. I didn't actually speak to her since her diagnosis.

"Is it because of yesterday?"

She nods.

"Want to talk about it?"

She nods.

"Here?"

"No" she says.

"We can leave the water and find a quieter place"

She nods.

And so, we do. I found our towels, aside the pool, left there by my parents, and we dried ourselves.

I guided her to the bleachers, like Billy had done, which lets us see people playing badminton where we were playing volleyball.

I, personally, prefer badminton to volleyball, but not my parents. Mentally, I made a note to perhaps swim first, and play badminton with Mindy, Marge, Edith or Billy. Or even a stranger.

We sat, on our wet towels, on the benches.

It took something like 2.4 seconds for Marge to being crying.

"I am so broken"

"Marge, you are not. You are one of the best girls I know"

"That's easy for you to say. They told me, I hate confrontation, so I am extra nice to avoid it. I am not nice because of who I am, I am nice because of my condition"

I think.

"Marge, I have delayed puberty. I can't be a queen bee since I am not even a woman yet. You are like, years ahead of me. So I have to be nice. Not because of whom I am, I am nice because of my condition"

She looks at me.

"So what?"

"Marge, Edith was judged by her mother, and everything she would tell her, would turn bad. She kept secrets for her friends because of her trauma. She isn't trustworthy because of who she is, she is trustworthy because of her mother's manipulations and her hate of her."

"Julie..."

"Marge, my friend Lucy is older, she is the coolest person I know. I recently learned that she is cool because she is detached, independent, doesn't care what people think about her. She is like that because she is crippled by anxiety. She is cool, because of her condition"

"I can't connect those dots, Julie. I don't know if you hope I will, I won't"

"Then I will for you. But I have another one."

She screams a little in frustration, enough that one player looked up, but then returned to their game.

"Marge, my friend Marge is the calmest person I know. I can work or play by her side without having to say anything. I am the calmest when I am with her. She thinks it's because of her condition, but what does that change for me? I still feel better with her, than without her. Regardless of her condition"

She sighs.

"In short, Marge, we are all who we are because of our conditions. I wouldn't be me if my puberty wasn't delayed. Lucy wouldn't be her if she didn't have anxiety. Edith wouldn't be who she is without her trauma. You wouldn't be you without your autism. And I like you as you are. We were all shaped by what happened to us, you too."

"But I am broken"

"Was I your friend last week?"

"You were, but I was not diagnosed yet"

"Fine. You weren't. Were you autistic last week?"

"I guess"

"You were. It's not new. You were autistic when I first met you, you were autistic when we became friends."

"So your point is that you don't care that I am autistic?"

"No, that's not my point. My point is that I like you as you are. And that diagnosis, only puts a name on your condition, but doesn't change our friendship"

"It changed my future"

"Well, it makes a better one"

"In what way is being autistic better for me?"

"You still don't get it. You are autistic, you were autistic. You possibly were born autistic. What changed yesterday, is that now, you know. And you can get resourced to help you, and you can make choices for your future that take your condition into consideration."

"I guess"

"I had delayed puberty. It caused me anger, frustration, but when I got my diagnosis, I got the treatment and now, I am on my way to heal from it. I have more pubic hair, it's working. But I am still not a woman, and yet, I feel better because I am on the way to being healed"

"I can't heal from this"

"You can heal from the trauma of the diagnosis. You can accept your condition, and find ways to improve your life"

"Like what?"

"Marge, you are the best person I know at following the rules. Maybe you can work in enforcing regulations or something?"

She laughed. "Why not? Ok. Thank you, Julie. Can I hug you?"

I think back. "No, it's forbidden here. But imagine that I am hugging you back"

"Thank you. I think I prefer an imaginary hug to a real one."

There is some silence, as we watch the badminton players on the court.

"Do you like badminton?", I eventually ask.

"I don't know"

"You never played?"

"I did. I rarely know if I like something. When I do, I like it a lot, when I hate something, I hate it a lot. Badminton is between those two. "

"What about Volleyball?"

"Normally, it's the same, but I liked today"

"Maybe next time, you and me can play here, and you might like it. I prefer sports here, points are not counted, so it's just for fun"

About a minute elapsed.

"I like that", she finally said.

We decided to take a walk. We didn't go into the rest of the school, we just kept to the section the club had rented.

We went into the weight lifting and saw James and Diego working on a machine. Diego was pushing it with his legs, and James, Billy's father, was next to the machine talking to him.

Today, I know that this is "spotting", being there in case of problems.

Most of the other people, including Jack from volleyball, were men, but I saw one woman who wasn't there the first time on a treadmill.

Well, I say that, but she didn't go into the pool or play volleyball, so maybe she only goes to the weightlifting room. She is rather more muscular than most women at the club.

We left, and just walked around the corridor, not really speaking.

Ok, if you like to push on me, the talk, on the bleacher, wasn't as well said. And a lot of that content, were talks by my parents when I was struggling with the other kids.

Eventually, my mother found us.

"There you are, I was worried"

"Marge needed some air"

"No problem I saw you on the bleachers, and then, lost track of you"

"I didn't see you"

"I only peaked from the door and saw you there"

"Oh."

"The place closes in like, 15 minutes. Want to get into the water before leaving?"

I had my still wet towel on my shoulder, as well as Marge's since she didn't like the texture.

I looked a her.

"Not really", she said.

"Me neither. Maybe we can just walk and talk before she leaves?"

"Well, actually. I was speaking with Ellie. Marge, after all you went through, would you like to have a sleepover with Julie? At our house?"

"My mom is okay with that?"

"She suggested it. And that we all go have brunch at Mindy's resort. We'll need something warm when outside, but at Mindy's house and in the restaurant, we could be nude"

"I could sleep nude, right?"

"Of course. I have two sets of sheets, like in Mindy's bed, so we aren't on the same level"

"I never had a sleepover"

"Then it will be your first one"

Marge was stunned, but we walked in silence in the corridors, until my parents and Ellie fetched us. We got dressed, Ellie wished Marge a good night, and Marge hugged her mother.

"How was it?", she asked her daughter.

"I liked it. And you?"

"I think I did too. I will undress at Mindy, if it's warm enough, and next week, I will come with you if you want"

"Mom?"

"Yes Marge?"

"Thank you. I like this new us. Taking, understanding each other, and spending time nude"

"I like it too"

We left, and at home, we rang the doorbell, but Edith opened the door, with her pajama on.

"Sorry, I had already dressed back up. Wait, Marge is here?"

"Sleepover"

"Can I join you?" asked Edith

And like that, the three of brushed our teeth, with Marge getting a new toothbrush, brushed our hair, and got to bed.

We talked, about nothing, about everything, about Marge's diagnosis. I learned more about the tests she had, and I learned more about Edith's childhood. It was nice.

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