"No key?", says Edith

"Well, usually no pockets either", says Mindy

"Right", says Edith.

We get in, and Mindy explains that after school, she usually undresses in her bedroom, since she might put her clothes back if they go out to shop or something

"Should we follow or wait for you?", asks Edith

"As you want"

"I don't know what I want", says Edith

"Maybe you and I can stay here, and let Mindy undress, and once she is back, you can decide what you want to do"

"I know what I want to do. Put my bikini bottom and my sandals on, both of which I have in my bag"

"Good", I say. "Do you want to do that in front of us or would you prefer the restroom?"

"Oh, the restroom, Definitely", says Edith.

I don't know where my confidence comes from, but right now, I feel in control of the situation because I have something to confide in Edith.

"So, why don't you go in the restroom to get comfortable topless, while Mindy undresses in her room, and I stay here"

"And get topless?", says Edith

"Shit, I didn't get a bikini bottom", I say, feigning being shocked

"Just remove your top then, keep your skirt, which I like by the way", says Edith, smiling.

I look at it. I didn't even think when I put it on, I just did, like most days.

"So, when we next meet, we are topless or nude, is that agreed?", says Mindy

We all nod.

I only have to remove my shirt and kick off my shoes and socks. I don't wear a bra yet, so I am the first to be ready. Mindy is next, she is an expert at undressing.

I whisper to her. "You can come to the non-landed club tomorrow, and we have another more personal gift for you"

"Hurray!"

"To which?"

"To both. I didn't need any. I told Edith, she has no money. Her presence is enough"

"I'll try to tell her the truth about me, before she leaves"

"If you think so"

"Well, I don't plan to remain just topless for long, you know?"

"We'll see how she reacts, I guess", Mindy says.

But it seems to take forever, so we go knock.

"Are you okay?", Mindy asks

"I am not sure if it's just a good idea", she says, almost crying.

"Edith. You wanted this. You can put your bikini top on, or get dressed. But if you'd like, you can open the door and just, be free, you know? Neither of us will judge you."

"Hey, I don't even have breasts yet, Edith", I tell her

"Really?", says Edith

"Flat as a board. I am younger, but still", I tell her

"And you don't...[Continue reading on the site]

At the end of the day, however, my parents picked me up.

"Sorry Kiddo", my mother says. "We'll drop you at Mindy, but we need to talk first", my mother explained to me.

Mindy was reassured that I might be there before her and if not, soon after, and both girls were on their way.

Once in the car, my mom gave me a gift box. I weighed it, as my father drive us for the resort.

"This isn't the bike bag we picked", I said, confused

"No, it's not. We had a better idea", says my dad

"But she really liked yours", I said

"I think she'll like this one better", says my mom

"What is it?"

"A wii. Our wii"

"Wait, you are giving her my wii? Why?"

My mom smiles. "Because we bought a WiiU"

I look at her

"What?"

My parents had said it was a stupid console and a waste a money, and they bought one?

"We saw you play with your friends, and well, we recalled how much fun we had with it. Plus, we sort of have an ulterior motive", my mother says

"Like what?"

"We want to play Wii sports with Clara and Peter. There. When we spend the weekend there and, well, it rains sometimes. But we can't really give them our Wii, well, your Wii, because they make less money than us and we want to avoid looking my giving them charity. So by technically making it a birthday gift, they can accept it"

"That's a great idea"

"Just tell Mindy that it's a gift for her family, but that we'll give her a personal gift when she sleeps over"

"The bike bag?", I ask

"The bike bag", says my mom.

"You guys are brilliant. But wait, the games?"

"The digital ones were moved to the Wii U, and the physical ones you like, along with an extra controller for Edith, are in your sleepover bag."

"Oh, nice", I say. "You really thought of everything"

"But seriously, you need to figure out how to tell Edith that you are a naturist, or it will blow in your face", says my mom.

"I know. I know. I just, well, couldn't trust her at first"

"And do you so, now?", my mother asked

"More. Tonight, I should know, and perhaps I can come clean", I say

"Naturism, for many, isn't just about nudity, it's also about honesty", says...[Continue reading on the site]

Sure, Edith and I bonded a little and we would play Mario Kart Wii, which I loved, and Animal Crossing, whatever that was.

Mindy brought Edith to my bus, and the bus driver just rolled her eyes. What was her problem, exactly? She didn't say anything, and we just talked in the bus.

"So, Animal crossing City Folk is a game where you play a human, who moves to a little village, where you buy a house and get a loan on it. It's very small house, but hey, it's ok. You own it."

"And it's fun?", says Mindy, surprised

"Well, that's the basics. You run some errands for the local shop owner to play the tutorial, and then, well, you buy tools and furniture for your store, and pick up fruits, sea shells and fish for money"

Mindy laughs. "That's not a game, that's job"

"Well, here is the thing. Everyone but you is a talking animal. They have houses, the shop owner is a racoon and you can talk to any of them. They play games with you, they trade gossip, furniture and ask for help."

"Ok", I say, confused

"If you take care of them, they stay. If not, they leave and a new guy arrives. You also plant trees, pick up weeds, plant flowers, and cross breed them. Oh, and the furniture? It's random what is in the store, but each collection has 10 items. The more you have, the higher your decoration score is", she says

"That's how you win?", asks Mindy

"No, you don't win. All it does is give you rewards. It's not a game you complete. It's like a life simulator. Oh, and there is a museum for bugs, fish and fossils. But only the first one. You give it to the museum, and sell the next ones.", Edith says

"But what is the action like?"

"Oh, there is almost no action. Fishing and bug catching at the most you do. Well, play hide and seek with the animals. Oh, and shoot balloons. Listen, don't knock it before you try it. I have like, a thousand hours on it. I even have all of the fruits, and my museum is getting filled up"

Neither Mindy or I really understood, but I was relieved to find my parent welcoming us home, fully clothed.

"Wait, you are already home?", says Edith, after presentations were made

"We work in the basement", said my mother

"So where...[Continue reading on the site]

They weren't on the phone, so they were available to talk about Edith, and nude too.

It's weird. It was already Wednesday. A week ago, I discovered those naturist pictures and my story began.

And now, here we were, talking about my new friend, nude, in my parent's office.

"I sense that you are on thin ice, sugar", says my dad.

"She doesn't have much of a choice. Girls are nasty when it comes to gossip. I wouldn't trust her promise not to gossip, not one second"

"I don't think I plan to, so I guess I'll be topless Friday?"

"I might had a plan, kiddo"

"You do?"

"Let her lead the way. Put a bikini and remove your top after she does, but plan for Mindy to propose full nudity"

"Oh, so I can go nude and make it sound like it's my first time?"

"But don't say anything about it, Kiddo. I will talk to Clara and Peter. Well, to Clara and she will relay the message, but I have no control over Clark and his girlfriend"

"Lucy", I say

"Right, Lucy. Dad and I had been trying to recall her name", says my mom

"Why?", I ask

"She was nice to you. And you seem to be building a friendship with her"

"She is super cool. I hope to be friends"

My mother smiles. I think she went there too.

"Listen, I have no problem with the plan, but perhaps I can pick you and her up Friday instead of Clara."

"But I don't want to leave that early"

"You'll need to be here, and for Mindy to not be. I don't like lying to parents, so I won't. You'll do the talking. I can drop you off at Mindy afterwards. Dad and I might hang out with her parents, but we'll sleep here"

"Can I spend the day there?"

My dad intervenes. "We have the non-landed club in the evening"

"I know, Mindy wants to go"

"Oh", my father is ill at ease. "We can't bring her. She needs to come with her parents"

"I am sure they will understand", I say. "They might want to go"

My parents look at each other.

"I wouldn't get your hopes up"

"Why?"

"It's grown up stuff", my mother replies

"That's not fair. I've been honest and transparent with you"

"Fine, Clara, before being a chef, worked in a school and was fired for missing too many days"

"Why?"

"Taking care of Mindy as a baby"

"So?"

"This Saturday, it's in the former school she was the secretary of. It might bring bad memories"

"But you'll let her decide, right?"

"Of course"

"Good. So, do we go back to the trailer?"

"Oh, no, we have to do the inventory of...[Continue reading on the site]

We are teenagers, surely we can make it, but apparently, it was brutal in some places with sewers overflowing into basements and all. Yuck.

But this meant an easy day, as teachers didn't want to start new content and I already pretty much mastered everything. Well, not everything, but enough to have an easy day.

Edith was there again, arriving with Mindy, but this time, she had it in for me.

"Hey Julie, how are you?"

"Fine, what about you?"I replied, half interested.

"Great, I think I found a loophole for Friday", she said

"Huh?"

"We were talking in our English class, you know, the teacher wasn't even there and the sub didn't care", says Mindy. "And Edith is in a lot of after school programs"

"Well, not a lot, but enough to confuse my parents", she said

"So Friday, she will stay for chess club"

"Wait, we have a chess club?" I asked, confused

"I think we do. I heard someone mention it", says Edith

"But you are not in it?"

"Me? Do I look like a chess player?", she says, almost insulted I suggested it

"Well, she will say it's chess club because it will bore her parents, and they will not bother to check", says Mindy

"That way, I can go to the resort after school, with the school bus, and Mindy said she would ask her parents to drop me at school, where I will call my parents from the payphone.", says Edith

I look at her and she seems proud.

"Won't you get caught?", I ask

"Please, they come home so late, they will be thrilled that I will be at school and not kissing boys behind a dumpster"

"Instead, you'll be nude at a naturist resort?", I ask, with no judgment

"No, I'll be topless. I don't mind at all, my boobs are big and make the boys look at them, but my bush still needs work", says Edith.

I read about naturism in those magazines, so I asked questions.

"You know that naturism isn't about showing off, right?", I said

"Look at the kid, an expert into Mindy's lifestyle", she says, looking at me with judgment.

I look at Mindy who is signaling me to cool down and stop.

"Well, Mindy came to my house with some naturist magazines and showed me about their philosophy"

"Wait, is that true?", says Edith to Mindy, all surprised

It's not, we were at her house, but Mindy covers for me.

"Well, yeah"

"This is outstanding. I didn't know there was a philosophy. This changes...[Continue reading on the site]

It felt weird to me that this little corner of heaven with Mindy would be invaded by a girl who was a stranger to me. She wouldn't be for long, in fact, she should soon become a good friend, but so far, she was a threat to me. I knew full well that three girls being friends often spoiled doom for one of them and I was the youngest.

What was even worse was the quality of the relationship she had with Mindy. The two shared many classes and could socialize in group projects which they always did together.

Fortunately, it means that they mainly spoke to each other, and I could just follow along. My shyness took priority over my fears.

But, near the end of the meal, Edith asked, out of the blue.

"I was wondering, that means you get a full-body tan, right?"

"Oh yeah, no tan lines at all.", said Mindy.

I don't know why it made me ill at ease, but Edith wasn't a naturist, at least, she didn't seem like one, and there, the subject was open and on the table.

"I did ask my mom if I could come, even if I kept my clothes, but she flat out refused. In fact, I don't think I'll even be able to invite you over now. I think that she sort of hates that we are friends"

"Oh, that's sad. So, Julie will be my only friend over to my birthday then"

Edith turns to me.

"So your parents don't mind if the party's at a naturist resort? I'm jealous. My mom is too close minded. I mean, I don't think I would be able to actually be naked, but I wouldn't mind tanning my breasts. I mean, in Europe, sunbathing topless is common, right?", she says

I look at her, I have no idea. In truth, I feel like a deer caught in headlights, unable to move.

"Yeah, her parents are cool. They've been friends with my parents over a decade ago, and only recently found each other thanks to us reconnecting", says Mindy.

I scan every word, and nothing hints that I am a naturist.

"Cool. I am happy to have a naturist friend", says Edith, looking at Mindy, with a smile.

You know what she means. Mindy is exotic, and now, she can be thrown under the bus if she gets into a fight with Edith, giving her leverage over Mindy. And me, well, I am the underdeveloped girl of the group. Both of us were expendable.

Fortunately, the first bell rings, and Edit runs along, but I grab Mindy aside.

"Can you not tell her that I am a naturist too?", I say

"Why, you are one, are you...[Continue reading on the site]

I estimate that on that day, I was 2% there, just enough to carry my body from one room to another, but not enough to even know what I was supposed to be learning.

That it caused zero issues for my education is terrifying. I couldn't follow any classes for a full day, and didn't miss anything.

I know Mindy talked to me about her new crush, but don't ask me his name or why he is, I have no clue whatsoever. She mentioned something about a new friend, Edith? Yeah, Edith, but like I said, I was like 2% there. She did ask me what was wrong, but honestly? I don't know what I told her. It wasn't the truth about my possible condition, that is for sure.

My parents, again, were waiting for me after class to get to my x-ray, which was my first one, other than at the dentist.

It wasn't any scarier or whatever. I put my hand on a plate, the technician retreated behind a wall, and then, it was done.

That she hid was worrying, what about me? But like she explained after, I get one, she does one every 10 to 15 minutes. That, I could understand.

And then, we waited. A good hour after the scheduled time, but hey, it was short notice and a favor to us.

Robert was wearing ordinary clothes, not like a doctor white coat, which surprised me, more than seeing him with clothes for the first time.

"Julie, I am happy to see you. I might have some pre-good news for you"

He makes me sit on the examination table, and my parents sit on the chairs in front of his desk. He stands between us.

"Pre-good news?", I ask.

"Well, I still need to do a full checkup, sorry, I have to be thorough, but I think might have the simplest problem to solve"

"Which is?"

"Your pituitary gland simply doesn't know it's time for you to become a woman. Your bones show you are the proper age, and your hormones are perfect, for this condition, I have to say."

"Which is?", I ask

"Secondary hypogonadism. That means that your pituitary doesn't send the estrogen to boot up your female body. It's like it doesn't know it's time."

"And that's easy to fix?"

"Well, yeah. Much easier than, say, PCOS. Polycystic Ovaries syndrome or if you didn't even have ovaries. Yours just didn't wake up yet. In short, you take a pill that emulates them waking up. It's that simple. Like I mentioned Saturday. Honestly for you, that was the best outcome possible, other than discovering that you had just started puberty but...[Continue reading on the site]

Wait, do I really need to tell you how much I hate needles? Well, I do. I did then, And I will for the foreseeable future. Sue me.

I did tell Mindy about the plan for a trailer, and she was excited, but promised me to share her bed each time I needed.

I did tell her about the non-landed club and not being able to spend the weekend and to my surprise, she asked if I could ask my parents to come with us.

Of course, I promised, and when my parents picked me up, they told me that it was up to her parents.

It's situations like that which mean I couldn't wait to be an adult, but let me tell you what, now that I am one, it's a bit overrated.

We made it to their warehouse. It was both bigger than I thought, and smaller.

Somehow, I imagined it was this huge hangar with a rusted car under a tarp, forgotten into a corner and which, perhaps, my father and I could restore for when I was 16. Or maybe I thought it could be a place to have a rave for my 18th birthday.

Instead, it was about the size of my school's main gymnasium.

But that would wait... the only reason we even opened the door, was that in the door, was a mailbox slot, and in that slot, the key to the trailer was dropped.

After retrieval, we opened the trailer, which from the outside, wasn't too bad.

It's inside that the horror awaited!

My mother and I took a step back, and I think we were both crying from the smell.

"What the hell is that?", says my mother

I chuckled. My mother's language became a lot more direct since last week, and I like it.

"The fridge, I think. I hope.", says my dad.

He grabs from the trunk of a car gloves, a mask and two trash bags.

"So, here is the situation. If we want it, we can push it in the hangar and once the bankruptcy is cleared, it's ours. If we don't want it, he'll try to find a buyer, and the money he makes goes toward well... us. I feel like if we clean it, we win either way", he says

"I agree, if we don't die from the smell"

"I'll go in to grab the contents of the fridge, I think that's the worst. I might come out for air sometimes", he says, winking at me.

"We'll stay here for now", my mother proposes

We stand back, while my dad works in the trailer.

After a few minutes, he comes out with a tied trash bag which he dumps in the container by the building.

"He left a full fish in...[Continue reading on the site]

We had chicken breasts, which were grilled and then cut into strips and put into a salad, along with more hot dogs.

A few cobs of corn were grilled too. I am more of a fan of boiled ones, but I tasted one. Fortunately, they were cut in half, so I forced myself to finish it and then stopped on that.

I ate less, I had eaten a lot the previous day.

Even today, I don't take the same number of calories per day.

After lunch, my parents whispered that they had both prescriptions safely in the car, and I decided to hang out just with Mindy, since Lucy and Carter had other plans.

I am certain that they want other objectives than to hang out with two 12-year-olds.

"So...", says Mindy. "It's my birthday next week and I want you to come"

"Sure, if I can. When is the party?"

"Oh, not a party. I mean, my friends are mostly non-naturist and well, I didn't feel like partying with them."

"So just you and me?", I said

"Well, I did invite Lucy and Carter, sorry, you were talking to your parents, but it's you I want the most to come, you know?"

"I do", but I did like them.

"They might come. They did say they often arrive late on Fridays, so they will go to the pinball machine. We can join them if we went"

"I'd like that. I had a ton of fun yesterday"

"Me too."

We set up a plan, and we talked for a while about school, about naturism, and we laughed. We searched for the history of naturism in her magazines and books, and when we saw pictures about the FKK and the first naturist resorts in the USA.

Of course, we wondered when seeing old pictures in black and white if one of Carter's ancestors were in the pictures, but most had no names in them, and we had no idea what they looked like.

It felt weird to think that generation after generation, you can trace naturism in your family. I was a 3rd generation, officially, so if I raise kids into naturism, they would be 4th generation. Not bad!

"Of course, I want my kids to be naturists like me, but I won't be scared of kindergarten", says Mindy, confident.

When my parents picked me up, they had packed the cabin, and my father had dressed back up, but my mom was still nude. I guess she wanted one more ride in the car nude.

We got dressed by the car, near the lobby, while my father...[Continue reading on the site]

"Hello Mrs Kylie, I was planning on teaching your daughter how to play Portal at Clara and Peter's house. It's a video game. Lucy and Mindy are already there, starting it. Do you mind if I borrow your daughter?", he says in a weird hyper formal tone.

"Not at all young man, but just call me Kylie", mom said, smiling.

"Sure thing. Oh, and Clara invited the four of us for lunch, and said you and your husband were welcome to come if you wanted"

"Can you thank her for me, and tell her that I will let her know once my husband is awake. Have fun"

"Thank Kylie", he says, nodding, but then, waiting for me, silently.

"Borrow a towel from Clara, kiddo. If you bring one, it will be all wet"

I thanked her and ran to Clark.

As we walk, and he tells me how excited he was for me to discover the game, back in his teenage voice, I ask him what that tone was.

"Oh, that's my mother-in-law's speech."

"Huh?"

"When a boy picks up a girl, he needs to look all proper, there is a sort of hidden protocol between the boy and the girl's mother. Did you hear her call me young man?"

"I did"

"That was a way to remind me of my place. Politely, but then, she told me to call her by her first name, so she signaled she trusted me."

"But I am not your girlfriend"

"Doesn't matter. Any single boy who picks up a single girl, gets the treatment."

"So you are like that with Lisa?", I ask, about Lucy's mother

"Oh yeah", he says as we make it, even more wet, to Mindy's house.

By the door is a pink umbrella.

I look at it, and while he knocks, he tells me that it's Lucy's

"Almost all of her clothing is light pink,'' he says, smiling.

As it turns out, it is her who answers the door, with two towels.

"Clara is busy and told me to give you towels", she says, smiling and then, asked me if I had a good night

"I did"

Clark starts with his feet, so I do the same, but then he gets inside, and keep drying himself, while I answer Lucy

"I did. What about you?"

"Always. Here I sleep like a baby, No too freaked out by Robert?", she whispers to me

"He told you?"

"No, but I ain't stupid. I can put 2 and 2 together Ji. Listen, if you need someone to talk to, I am there for you. I'll leave my number to your parents, call me anytime."

"Really?" I reply

"Hey, sisters have to stick together", she says, but she lifts her wrist, with the pinkie sticking out.

Stunned, I do the same and she hooks our...[Continue reading on the site]

My parents had accidently (or voluntarily) kicked their sheets off the bed, and my mother was sleeping, cubbled half of top of my father, holding him.

I looked at them for a little while. Soon, my hormones would probably kick in and I would feel something, but right now, all I thought was that perhaps, I wanted a good relationship like theirs.

I gently left the bed, and the cabin. I had to pee, but there was a common sanitary block close by.

As I arrived, I was shocked to find that it was unisex, but then again, we entered and left in the nude, so why bother building two sets of showers and toilets?

When I got in, a woman, about 25, was showering, without bothing to close the drape. She saw me and waved, but then returned to washing her hair.

I did close the door for the little cubicle for the toilet. Being nude was one thing, using the toilet in public was another.

Outside however, small drops of water were beginning to fall. It has been dark despite the sun being up, but now, some rain is starting.

I normally hate the rain, but it was rather warm and the droplets were helping me cool down.

Barefoot, the sand was barely starting to muddle and I cursed myself for once again forgetting a towel.

I walked back to our cabin, but something clicked in my mind. I had no clothes to wet. The only thing that wouldn't be dried instantly by a towel, was my hair.

In the grass by the cabin, I decided to just embrace the rain opening my arms to welcome it.

It was getting heavier, and I was all wet, but somehow, it didn't feel that bad.

It's only when the rain picked up and then, when I saw, but didn't hear, the first flash of lighting I got inside.

I picked up my towel, next to my bed, and began drying myself which apparently woke my mother up.

"Oh, Hi Kiddo, you went out?", she says, with a low voice so as not to wake up my father.

"To the toilet"

"We have one", she said, smiling

"Didn't want to wake you up"

"Aww, nice of you. Want breakfast?"

I nod

"Let's go to the restaurant, mother and daughter"

"Mom, it's raining outside"

"Let's take the car, you can sit in the front", she says, all conspiracy-like.

She grabs her purse, two small towels she puts in it, and two fresh bath towels she puts in a plastic bag, and two more that she gives me, in another bag. Better safe than sorry, she whispers.

We ran to the car,...[Continue reading on the site]

I picked a random direction.

"I suppose your parents told you my worries, right?"

"They did. And I appreciate it"

"Good, I prefer that than to be lectured to mind my own business, you know?", he says, smiling

I look at him, and wonder if cool people have cool parents, but my sample size isn't big enough to draw a conclusion.

"Well, it's your job, so in a way, it's your business, no?", I replied

"There is that, indeed. But you'd be surprised how many of my patients don't see it what way"

"Is it serious?"

"Ah, straight to it. Is it serious? That is a pretty interesting question. Yes. No, Maybe. I don't know"

"Isn't that like, all of the possible answers?"

"Ok, Julie, may I call you Julie?"

"That is my name"

"Good. When you were born, many of your functions were already on. If you didn't breathe, you wouldn't be here right now, but some of your functions weren't ready yet, right?"

"I guess"

"You didn't need to get pregnant, so no need for everything get ready, including having breasts since you need milk, not to produce milk"

"Right"

"But here is the problem, for our species to continue, you need to be able to have kids, so at some point, these need to be turned on"

"I know that"

"Good. Now guys are the same, and we mainly have one hormone, Testosterone, that is used to make us into a man, but girls, on boy. It's complicated to turn a girl into a woman."

"Well, girls are more complicated than boys, no?"

"Oh no. Boys are as much a handful as girls in general, but yeah, hormonally, girls are more complicated"

We turn on a crossing, I pick right, for no reason.

He continues.

"So, many things have to fire up just right, just at the right moment for puberty to start. It's almost a miracle that for most of the girls it works perfectly, and yet, sometimes, it just fires too early or a little too late"

"So it might be normal?"

"It might. Julie, there is probably nothing wrong with you all."

"But I don't have my puberty yet and you are worried"

"Can I tell you why I am worried?"

"I'd like that"

"On average, it takes about 2 years between the moment a girl starts to get her breasts, and the moment she gets her periods. Give or take a few months"

"But for periods, you need to start having your eggs first, right?"

"What, no, you already have them"

"Even if I didn't go through puberty yet?"

"Julie, you had all of your eggs in your ovaries before you were born. All of them. That means...[Continue reading on the site]

This meant I had about 45 seconds alone with Carter.

"That was crazy", I told him

"That was indeed crazy. Thank you. Julie. I have no doubt you will make a great adult soon.", he said, smiling.

I looked at him. Was this an insult? Was he genuine? His smile told me that it was genuine, but I wasn't used to compliments from older teenagers.

"You are almost one yourself", I told him.

"Well, I am working up to it, to be honest. But that's all we can do. Take one day at a time, and hope that somehow, we go to bed better than when we woke up."

And that is another rule of cool. The cool person lives in the present, and lives it to the fullest. No anxiety from anticipating the future, not depression from dwelling on the present.

I looked at him.

"And Julie, I am a better man tonight for having met you. I can promise you that"

I laughed.

"No, I am serious"

"How come?"

"The day you will understand it you will start to understand yourself. Until then, I hope you meet someone like you one day. I really do", he said, leaving like he had just wished me good night.

What am I supposed to do with that information? I know that many girls in my class would be swooning over him. He was so handsome according to Mindy, but I didn't see it. Sorry. I guess it's not just boys I don't see, it's teenagers who are almost men, and men.

I stood there until I could no longer see him. Not once did he look back. He just walked on his way, walking cool.

Approaching the door, I was wondering if my parents would be back, but I could hear them talk in the cabin when I approached it.

Hesitant, I knocked. Wouldn't you have?

The last time I shared a room with my parents was when we went camping. No, wait, it was last summer, not the one that just ended, the one before that. We had gone to see grandpa, and stopped at a motel.

Oh My God, I realized. They made an attempt to open my mind to naturism that night. I just recalled. Sly dogs. So, was is like, constant?

It was a road trip, and they just changed on the bed, saying they were too exhausted to wait for the bathroom to change. They recommended I do the same, and I said, like an idiot, that I could simply use the bathroom while they change in the bedroom. It seems reasonable, but I could see disappointment in their face and put it to their shame of not having thought of...[Continue reading on the site]

What, you want to hear about supper? About how they were the best ribs I ever ate, since it's the only time I ever ate Clara's ribs and while my mother got the recipe, she was just short of being perfect when cooking them?

You wish to hear how jealous I was that Mindy was able to come back all radiant and positive after the frustration she felt about her plans, our plans, no, her plans were ruined?

Well, she's like that. She exploded, and 30 minutes later, is back to normal. I wish I was like that, instead of letting the anger fester in me, and boil me from the inside until it reaches the surface and can take days to cool down. Well, she is built that way, and I am built my way.

Over time, I learned to accept it, and even love my way, so I can keep the anger inside while I can't express it, and even learned to process it properly, so I don't explode.

Mindy is quick to anger, and quick to cool down, so she has trouble in some relationships because of that. I can postpone my anger until I learn to process and defuse it.

You'd like to get the joke that my father told that everyone laughed in which Clara said she even peed a little, even if it wasn't true? Well, I forgot it over the years.

Should I even talk about how much of a messy eater I was and the comments my mother made about how it felt like I had taken a dip in the sauce? Or Mindy's comments on how much I ate, which hurt me and after repeated comments from various people around me gave me an eating disorder, which was the root cause for my desire to be vegan at some point until I was too weak to concentrate on my classes because I didn't do it right?

Why would I even tell you all about that? Fine. I was underweight, and while I binge ate some food, I usually under-ate most of the week, rarely finishing my lunches, and often only eating half of my plate at supper. There. Are you happy?

I don't even know why I am so angry right now, as I am writing this. Wait. I do. It's not against you. I just have memories of the consequences for me, that the volleyball game had and it's affecting my writing.

I am human after all. I didn't only have emotions when I was 12, I still have them as a writer. I don't tell you everything, you know? I didn't tell you how weird it was to accidentally see my father pee in a bush while at the creek, or how confused I was that we were following a creek, to get to THE creek. In fact, I was too shy to even ask why this...[Continue reading on the site]

All without glancing at any clocks. We were both a little hungry, but could wait.

"You know how during summer vacations, time sort of slows down and you get to just be lazy all day long?", says Mindy.

"You mean that it's so fast that the days fly by?"

Mindy laughs. "That too. But it's like, to do everything like our 6 or 7 hours of school, the bus, homework, a shower, time to relax, and eat, we need to run all day"

"Oh, I know that"

"Well, on summer vacations, each moment is slower. Like, we might have played only one game of pinball, but we were in no hurry to finish. When we were in the pool with Lucy and Clark, how awesome was that, right?"

"Right", I admitted

"Well, at that moment, nothing was forcing us to leave early or hurry along and the only reason they left, I hope, was the stupid contact lens"

"You hope?"

"They might have grown tired of us"

"Maybe", I said.

"So we didn't do much so far, but we did each thing taking our time."

"We did what, 5 things?", I said, counting the lunch prep, the ride, the picnic, the ride back, the time with Lucy and Clark

"Yeah, the ride, the picnic, the ride back, the pinball and the pool with them"

So, she didn't count the meal prep, where she did almost nothing, but split the pinball and the pool time? Interesting. We came up with the same number, but with a different list.

I didn't tell her. She was happy we saw things the same way.

In all cases, she returned to her original point.

"Well, here, on weekends, it's like a summer vacation. Each time. When when it's too cold to be nude outside"

"Yeah, winters must be rough"

She looks around, and lowers her voice.

"In the winter, the place is deserted, right?"

"Right"

"So my parents and I put boots on, and take walks in the resort"

"So?"

"We only put boots on"

"Holy shit, even on the few days when there is snow?"

"Especially. I love making nude snow angels"

"You are crazy"

"We took a winter vacation once in Vermont to cross country nude in the forest. My mom isn't a fan and dressed back up, but my father and I didn't"

"I could never do that"

"Never say never. It's reinvigorating. The lake in the winter helps a lot with blood circulation"

"You are joking, surely, you are"

"I have pictures. I'll show you".

I'll be honest, it took a while for me to see them, and until I saw them, I...[Continue reading on the site]