I went to the door, and on the other side was a nude man with a towel on his left shoulder, about 40, who saluted me with a calloused hand.

"Kyle, I suppose?" he says.

"You're Katy's brother, I take it?" I can see the resemblance.

"I am. Richard Samson. Do you mind if I come in to talk to you both a little?"

"I suppose that if I offer to talk outside, I am breaking the rules?"

"Sorry. But that's a little about why I want to talk to you. You know, you are outsiders, and this must feel really strange, perhaps surreal. So, I came to make a sort of peace offering, you know? Answer questions, make things less weird"

"You could have worn clothes to give me more peace of mind"

He looked at me.

"I could have. But it's not so much your peace of mind I am trying to preserve"

I look at him. I got that message loud and clear. His goal isn't to help me; it's to help his other residents and visitors by making me understand what their thing is about.

I ignore that comment, move away from the door, and gesture to get in. Sometimes, when you don't have anything good to say, not saying anything is best.

"Do you prefer any of the chairs to sit on?" he asks.

It's subtle. It's his way to both say, "Let's sit at the table," and "This is your house; I will respect you."

"Not really, we are just visitors," I reply, in a way to say that we aren't trying to impose ourselves.

He smiles. This is what he wanted to hear. This isn't going well.

He puts his towel on the chair and pulls it, but he doesn't sit down yet.

Sydney sits where she ate, on his right, and I sit where I ate, in front of him. He sits while we do.

"So, it is mandatory to sit on a towel, you know, for hygiene reasons. We also need to always sit on the same side"

I smile. "It seems easier to just wear clothes"

"It is. Good point. But this isn't about making it easy. Though it is easier to jump in the shower and to dry yourself after swimming. And you don't sweat in your clothes when you play sports"

"Sure, but it means a lot more sunscreen," I reply.

"Amen to that!" he says, smiling.

Sydney speaks up. Did she spot this verbal jousting?

"So what is naturism about then?"

"Ah, that is the big question, isn't it? Well, I can tell you what it's not"

I speak up. "Let me guess, it's not sexual"

"It's not. And it's not about looking at others or being seen. It's just about being yourself"

I laugh. "Being myself"

"Yes. Without clothes to hide behind. Without any social markers. It costs nothing to be nude, so there is no pressure to follow fads or to buy expensive pants or something. In here, everyone is wearing the same thing"

"Except us," I say.

"Well, yeah. "

Sydney takes control of the silence and speaks up.

"But not everyone is equal. There is something called beauty privilege."

Sydney and her social justice things. I almost roll my eyes. Why should beautiful people be ashamed of being beautiful? Not that I am. Well, she is. Maybe it's why she thinks about that?

"Sure, but here, everyone just about accepts everyone else. There is something about nudity revealing your vulnerability so that people are friendlier with each other"

"I like that," says Sydney.

Richard smiles

I decide to go on the offensive. "What convinced you to become a naturist?" I ask him.

"Oh I was born into it. My parents founded this resort, and Katy and I grew up here. Now we co-own it"

"That's nice," says Sydney. But I fail to see how that is nice.

"Yeah. I've known many of the residents all my life"

"Like Walter?" I say, digging.

"No, he moved here with Helen after they retired. Nice couple."

Sydney nods.

"Do you know how my sister began with naturism?" I ask. Perhaps too direct, but now that the subject is open.

He thinks. "I do not. I know they visited us, like, years ago. Mom still ran the resort back then, so they spoke with her. I know they bought this house after Katy and I took over. They only had Elsie back then, but she was pregnant with Bobbie"

So they moved in here about 6 years ago.

"Were they happy?" asks Sydney.

"They were. Ron learned how to grill and would help with communal suppers. Daphne had a touch with the kids and, on the weekends, would often help at the park"

I commented. "She was a great babysitter as a teenager"

"Oh, I don't doubt it at all. She was kind and patient. I think everyone liked her a lot"

That was Daphne for you.

"And Ron?" I ask.

"He was nice enough. He sculpted a few signs, which was super nice of him. Mostly kept to himself but a great listener. I even offered him a job, but he said he wanted to sculpt"

"In here?"

"No, they had a shop not far away. That's where he sculpted. Well, when he wasn't doing a show in the main place"

"Wait, a show?"

"Yeah, he would take a log, you know, a big piece of a tree, and would sculpt it with a chainsaw. I would show you some of his work, but... well, you would have to wait for the next clothing-optional day"

I nodded. "No link to the job you offered him?"

"Ah, right. No, I own a disaster cleanup company. You know, we clean up when there is a flood or a fire.

"Oh, been there, done that," I say, remembering when Tobias Jamieson decided to start a fire in his house to collect insurance money. The fire department got there earlier than he expected, and he was arrested, but I had to clean everything up.

"Really?" he said, excited.

"Back in West Virginia"

"Well, I might take your number. If you are looking for some gigs, I might hire you when I am missing people"

Sydney spoke up. "I think we mainly are looking for stable employment."

"Ah," he says. "Well, let's talk in a few days. See what we can swing."

I look at him. "Like if I become a naturist myself?"

He laughs. "No. It's not for everyone. My goal isn't to convert you"

He doesn't give his goal, but I have a good idea what it is.

"Let me guess, it's to not have two non-naturists living in your resort?" I say.

He nods.

But Sydney isn't letting it go.

"Then, who is it for? Because it's apparently for Elsie and Bobbie. And it was for you and your sister when you were growing up. If it's for kids, it can be for anyone, no?" she says.

I nod in approval. That is a great question.

Richard smiles. "Indeed. Anyone growing up as a naturist will find happiness with it. The problem is that many people have preconceived notions about what naturism is"

"Like that it is sexual?"

"Exactly. Naturism is all about separating nudity and sexuality," he says.

"Of course, otherwise, it wouldn't be exactly family-friendly, right?" she says.

"Right," he says.

"Or is that just propaganda?" says Sydney.

"No, not at all. And in fact, anyone who can't separate the two isn't suited for naturism. Which is why I say it's not for everyone"

"I can be myself wearing clothes. Even those that don't fit or aren't pretty. So, you say that naturism lets us be ourselves. How?"

"I told you already"

"No, you gave us an equality speech. Your argument would also work if we all wore a bedsheet with a hole for our head. Or no, just holes for the eyes," says Sydney.

Wow, she is on fire.

"True, but then you see the bedsheet, not the person"

She nods her head and raises her hand in excitement, pointing at him.

"So it is about seeing"

"But not exhibitionism or voyeurism," he says, a little ashamed.

"Indeed. Those two imply a sexuality. Naturism doesn't. But it's not about looking, but it is about seeing. "

"Well, we look at each other in the eyes, so it's not about checking each other out"

"Of course. Because naturists don't have peripheral vision. It is known," says Sydney.

Richard laughs.

"Like I said, it's not for everyone," he says.

"Oh, we agree on that. It is not. So my question then is, why is nudity mandatory here if naturism is not for everyone?"

"Well, we just want to be between ourselves"

"Ah. I see. So being yourself isn't about eliminating differences like you said; it's about being with people like yourself. It's not that nudity is the great equalizer; it's that it filters out most people"

I smile. The poor men had no chance.

"Well..."

"See, the problem is that these two poor orphans, and like you and your sister did for that matter, grew up in a system that you just admitted was excluding people. I feel like this is elitist and leads to problems down the road, don't you agree?"

"Well, both get dressed to go to school"

"Oh, that's all right then!"

"It is"

"So, then they make friends in class. Can those friends come here and stay dressed?"

"Sure, it's only for adults that nudity is mandatory"

"Oh good, 18 years old?"

"Yes. Teenagers often have issues. Even I spent a few years when I didn't want to be nude"

"Understandable. And when you turn 18, all your teenage troubles are behind you"

"Well, I don't set the age of majority; the government did"

"Indeed. Which is why you wait until you turn 18 to get a driver's license or drink. Same for the age of consent"

He looks at her. We all know it's 16 and 21... As for the age of consent, it's complicated...

"Well, we had to pick an age"

"Sure. I get that. Rules are rules. What about playdates? If the parents come, will they be able to stay dressed?"

"We have clothing-optional days"

Again, Sydney expressed surprise. "Wonderful! That solves everything"

He looks at her.

"Really?" he says, unsure.

"No, Richard. That was sarcasm. Does it work on everyone else? I mean. How often are there clothing-optional days?"

"First Sunday of most months."

She laughs. "How are kids living here supposed to maintain friendships with that cadence?"

"Well, I don't think many textile kids have parents who let their kids in here"

"Indeed. I suspect that once naturism is on the subject, friendship vanishes. Am I wrong?"

"I did have a few friends who weren't naturist"

She nods. "I believe that. I do. But what about Katy, growing up?"

"Fine, it was harder for her. She did convert Suzy"

"A non-naturist friend?"

"Yes. From high school. Her parents were open-minded and didn't really mind the nudity, and Suzy found happiness in our lifestyle"

"Good. Even if it's not for everyone, it is visibly for a few someones"

He smiles. "It is"

"I see you have a wedding ring?"

"Yes. I am married to Suzy..."

Sydney laughs for a few seconds.

"What's so funny?" he says.

"You came here with a sort of mission to show us how naturism is this rich world in which we are not a part of. Perhaps you tried to convert us somehow, or it was always your intention to push us out. But the more you talk, the smaller your point seems to be. Like, you seem to live in a small, small world."

"Because naturism is simple. Some people enjoy social nudity because it is soothing for them. For me. We feel freer. But it's not for everyone."

"I get that. So why raise kids in this restricted environment then?"

He looks at her. "Because like every other parent, we want what's best for our kids, and we feel, deep in our hearts, that naturism is improving our lives. It might not be for everyone. Although so is each religion, veganism, traveling on my motorcycle, circus life, or any other lifestyle not everyone shares"

She nods. "Ok, fair enough. And for you, the idea of kids not wearing clothes while growing up isn't a problem"

"On the contrary. Naturist kids tend to have fewer body image issues and, in general, are sexually active up to two years later than other kids, who are non-naturists, whom we call textiles. I mean, I could see women nude, so my curiosity was filled"

She laughs. "I feel like your argument is from generations ago. Kids today have more access to pornography online than we think"

"Fair enough. But I am still not trying to convince you to become naturists."

"You just want us to leave if we don't join your lifestyle"

"Well, yeah. But on the plus side, I might have a job for Kyle, which would allow you to find another place to live. I am assuming that since he was interested in having a long-term job, it means you plan to move around here?"

"It's a good assumption," I say.

Richard stands up. I do too. "I have to go. However, let's stay in touch. I was serious about needing help. Most of the people I interview have no experience at all, and the first time they see mold, they run away"

I chuckle. "Yeah. I know the type. It was easier in my hometown since there were basically no jobs, so you couldn't be beggars"

"Yeah, I need to compete with gas stations and stores where the kids spend their idle time on TikTok. There is no time for that in my company"

"Hell no," I say. I shake his hand.

Sydney speaks up. "Thank you for the conversation. You've given me a lot to think about"

He nods and leaves.

I turn to her. "So?"

"So I need a shower."

"Want company?"

She laughs. "That shows me that you haven't seen the shower..."

I follow her into the bathroom and laugh. I hadn't. It was easy to miss... I even wonder how I will fit in.

I let Sydney shower, and I clean up the kitchen.

In a drawer, I had found a pile of small towels. Now I know what they were used for.

They are a reverse color type: they have a pattern on them. One might be blue with green leaves, and on the other side, it will be green with blue leaves.

I suppose that it enabled them to know on which side to sit and which side to put on the chair.

What a world.