Familiar Stranger

“I think we did a good job there, son,” I said, “so, tell you what, instead of me cooking our evening meal, let’s celebrate by phoning for a takeaway, eh?”

“Great!”

“What shall we get? Pizza? Chinese? Indian? Or perhaps Thai?”

“Whatever suits you, Mom, but I’d like to try Thai again, they have some interesting flavors.”

“True, they do. Okay, Thai it is. Selection for two?”

“Sounds good.”

“I’ll order it for seven, because I think I’ve earned a swim. Not nude, though, not yet. Fourteenth and after, I promise.” I grinned and winked at him.

He laughed. “I think I’ll have a swim as well. You’re right, we’ve earned the leisure time.”

“Remind me, when do you have to work again?”

“Wednesday and Thursday, Mr Ansman has two deliveries to make.” He was spending part of his summer break from college helping our local furniture sales entrepreneur with deliveries, as some of his regular crew were on their own summer vacations. It was hard work, physically, but no mental effort was needed, and he got on well with Mr Ansman, and with his regular crew, too, he’d told me, because they knew he was no threat to their jobs, since he saw his own future in the computer field. It was useful money, as well.

“Okay, then, swim time,” I said, and headed off towards my bedroom.

We enjoyed the swim, me in my almost new red and white bikini. We enjoyed our Thai takeaway later as well. Next morning, the new privacy fence got its second coat of paint and Peter fitted the hardware. Three keys came with the lock and we each attached one to our key-rings, and I tucked the other away with the other spare keys in a labeled box in one of the kitchen drawers. Wednesday and Thursday Peter was busy on furniture deliveries, helping Jack Crozier, Ansman’s regular driver. His usual buddy, Billy Todd, was on vacation. Crozier was a tad humorless, Peter reckoned, but they got on okay.

Thursday, I did a little groceries shopping, and then it was Friday. National Nude Day. I think Peter and I were both a little nervous and excited, knowing we were going to see each other naked in the very near future. We’d decided to leave for the beach around ten o’clock, breakfast digested, and we took a couple of candy bars and cans of soda in a cooler bag, along with our towels and sunblock. Instead of Peter’s pickup, we used my Honda, and at ten twenty-five I eased the car into a vacant slot in the parking lot at Pilgrim’s Bay – only just over half full, I noticed – and turned off the engine. We looked at each other and I grinned.

“Come on, sweetie. Into the unknown.”

“Tallyho,” he responded, and I laughed. He grabbed the cooler bag, me the bag with the towels, and my purse, and we got out. I locked the car and we set off on the short walk to the admin block. Inside it was cool and shaded, a scattering of couches and low tables, and a desk behind which sat a lady about my own age, halter top and shorts at this interface between clothes and no clothes, and a welcoming smile on her face.

“Hi, folks. Here for the free admission today for family groups, perhaps?”

“Yes, indeed,” I said. “I’m Kelly Grant and this is my son, Peter.”

“Family group, then. Welcome to Pilgrim’s Bay Sun Club. I’m Patti McCaffrey. I’m on duty here until noon if you have any queries. One of the other staff takes over then, so don’t be surprised to see me on the beach later. Okay, here are your admission tickets, and a brochure which gives the layout of the place, as well as membership information. As it’s your first time, if you want somewhere quiet turn right when you get down to the beach. The concession is the other way, and it tends to be busier along there. If you’re thinking about joining us, there’s an offer on at the moment. Half-price membership for your first year if you join before the end of the month. Okay, then, through that door over there. Turn left for the ladies’ changing, right for the men’s. Enjoy your visit, and remember — we were all beginners once.” She gave us a cheerful smile and turned to another family group who had followed us in.

Through the door we were in a sort of lobby. To left and right were the doors to the changing areas, and in front of us another door, above which a sign told us, ‘Access to the beach. No clothing beyond this point.’ I turned to Peter.

“Okay, son. When you’re changed, just go straight out and wait for me there. Then we’ll go down to the beach together. If I’m first I’ll wait for you outside. Okay?”

He nodded. “Okay, Mom, see you in a minute or two, outside.”

I went into the female changing area, empty at the moment except for me, and quickly stripped off my clothes, putting them into one of the lockers provided. I locked the door of the locker and fastened the touch-and-close key case around my wrist and picked up my bag. I went to the door to the beach, took a deep breath and stepped through onto a shaded porch area running the length of the building. No one was there except Peter, although I could see other figures further away. Naked figures, I realized.

Peter turned as I stepped through the door and, for a moment or two, seeing him naked, I forgot to breathe. I gave him what I’m sure was a nervous smile, set down the bag with our towels, spread my arms wide, and said, “Well? How do I look?”

“Mom? You look absolutely gorgeous in only your skin.”

“You’re not just saying that to make me feel good?”

“Of course I’m saying it to make you feel good! You should feel good, you’re absolutely stunning, and if you weren’t my mother I’d be trying to think of any possible way to get closer to you. You are the loveliest sight I’ve ever seen nude.”

I laughed. “Seen many nude females, then?”

“Not live, no, but I guess we’ll see some today, since we’re at a nude beach, but in glamour magazines and on-line, yeah, I’ve seen plenty, but none as attractive as you. Live with it, Mom, you’re beautiful.”

“Thank you. Now let me look at you.” So I did, almost unblinkingly, for what seemed like minutes but was really only seconds. I nodded. “I was right, you are a truly good-looking young man.” And that cock of your looks like it could give a woman a really good time. Yes, Molly, you witch, you were right — I want it!

“Well, that’s both of us happy with the view. Come on, let’s head down to the beach.” It was probably just as well we started moving when we did, as the family who’d followed us in came out now. Mother, father, son about nine or ten, daughter maybe twelve or so, just beginning to develop her curves. They gave us hesitant smiles, but I work as a nurse and stand-in receptionist for our local medical practice and am used to dealing with people. I gave them a bright smile.

“Hi, folks,” I said, “are you first-timers as well?”

The woman nodded. “Yes, we are. We’re just wondering if we’re ready for this.”

I laughed. “I know how you feel, but so far I feel liberated.” I gave the woman a wry smile. “So liberated, I’m forgetting my manners. I’m Kelly Grant and this is my son, Peter.”

“Grace Koniski, my husband Josh and these two are David and Donna,” said the woman. We all exchanged greetings and I took a moment to study the others. Grace, I guessed, was middle thirties, Josh a little older. He looked fit, not soft and I speculated on an active job. Grace was a little softer than me, with a fuller figure, but still very attractive. The kids were typical kids, but not overweight, I noticed, not like too many of our neighbors’ kids. I thought Donna might be quite the looker when she was a little older.

“I think I know you,” Josh said to me, “Elmview Medical Center, yes?”

“That’s right,” I replied, “I’m one of the nurses and sometimes stand-in as receptionist. Are you one of our clients, perhaps?”

“We’re on the Elmview books now, yes, but I was there in my official capacity. I’m a detective with the Harvey County Police Department and we were investigating some drug thefts, but you hadn’t lost any, so I was in and out pretty quickly. I think you were on duty but I think it may have been your office boss I talked to.”

“Sally Ellerman?”

“That’s her, yes. You have a good records system there, I wish there were more like it,” said Josh, “but that’s enough official talk. We’re all here to enjoy ourselves so let’s head for the beach. I think David and Donna want to get in the water, don’t you?”

“We do, Daddy, yes,” said Donna.

“Okay, then,” said Josh, “let’s all go down to the beach.” Feeling natural, as the two youngsters hurried on ahead, I fell into step with Grace and Josh and Peter brought up the rear.

“Just you and Peter today?” said Grace. “Husband working?” I’d noticed her glance at my left hand where I still wore my wedding ring. I shook my head.

“No, I’m a widow. My husband was killed in an accident six years ago, I’m afraid.”

Grace gave me a wry look. “And there I go, putting my foot in it again.”

“It’s okay, you couldn’t have known. Hey, smile, we’re here to explore nudism, not the past!”

Grace laughed. “True, and so far, I feel okay about it. I thought I’d be terrified, especially if I met someone I know.”

“Well, they’ll be naked as well, if you do, so relax and let it happen.”

“You’re right, of course. Guess I’m just nervous.”

“Understandable, but I feel comfortable with you all, so if you don’t mind, Peter and I will stick around for a while.” We’d reached the beach now and, remembering what Patti had said, I gestured to the right. “How about along here? Patti, in the office, says it’s quieter this way.”

“Quieter sounds good,” said Grace, then turned to Donna and David who had stopped and were waiting. “Yes, sweetheart?”

“We want to go in the water, Mom, but where will you be?”