Nowadays, Ms. Porter doesn’t go skinny dipping at the lake. She’s going strong at ninety-six, in assisted living but needing very little assisting that I can see. We make a point of visiting her at least once a week.
Like most eighteen-year-olds, thoughts of what the future had in store held little interest for me as I sat on a blanket in the sun all those years ago.
Mom slathered my back with sunscreen and I managed not to get an erection. Mom and Ms. Porter chatted for a few minutes, then Ms. Porter turned to her book. Mom stretched out on the blanket. I buried myself in my own book, afraid Ms. Porter would catch me gazing at mom’s body, so beautiful, so naked and so very close.
I read. The sun continued its climb. My stomach growled. Beside me Mom chuckled.
“Hey, I protested. It has to be close to lunchtime.” I marked my place and closed my book. I stood and stretched. “I’m going to go take a dip to cool off before I eat.”
Mom nodded but gave no sign she was going to join me. I padded across the grass, amazed at how hot the ground had grown and waded into the deliciously chilled water. I swam a few lazy laps but mostly just floated. I was aware someone else had joined our small group in the clearing but I could not work up the energy to try to see who.
My stomach growled again. Louder. I swear it caused the water to ripple around my body. I swam a few strokes and then stood and waded out of the water. I was focused on drying off as I made my way to the blanket, and lunch, still paying no attention to the newcomer.
I was about to open the cooler when the newcomer spoke. I froze.
“Hello, Josh. I never imagined I would run into you, or Janice, here.”
I forced myself to grab a coke and a sandwich. Of course, that done I had no reason, other than being gob smacked, not to sit down and return the greeting.
I managed to sit without falling. My hands were full, which prevented me from drawing attention to my nudity by putting my hands over my junk. I sat the sandwich down and popped open the Coke. I took a drink, hoping Ms. Lang would imagine I was simply really thirsty rather than stalling.
“Hi, Ms. Lang,” I said, without my voice cracking. Or so I remember it anyway.
“I was telling Nora how I used to come here all the time before life got too busy,” Mom said to me.
Nora was Ms. Lang’s given name.
“Janice, I had no idea. I think you and I are the only ones from the school who know about this place. At least I haven’t seen anyone else here the past two summers. If I had known, I would have invited you to join me.”
“I’ve tried to get my niece to join me,” Ms. Porter added. “She’s declined me so far. She’s not really my niece. She’s the grandniece of one my oldest friends. A lovely girl. I had so hoped she would hook up with my grandnephew.” She sighed. “That’s before I realized he was gay.” She turned to me. “Joshua, have you thought anymore about exploring bisexuality. My nephew really is a delight.”
Coke spurted out of my nose. Ms. Porter was kind enough not to laugh but my mother and Ms. Lang laughed so hard tears were running down their cheeks.
I did my best not glower as I took a bite of my sandwich.
“My niece, though as I’ve indicated she’s not really a blood relative, has been reluctant to join me here at the lake. She’s afraid her parents would cause trouble. They give religion a bad name. But she’s eighteen now. She said she might join me today. I do hope so. Lovely young lady. Truly.”
I took another bite of my sandwich. Behind me, there was a rustling of the grass.
“Hi, Aunt Edna,” a voice called.
Spraying Coke from your nose is embarrassing. Coming to within a razor’s edge of being Heimliched, in the nude, by a former teacher or your mother, also nude, would have been worse.
I was able to clear the bit of ham sandwich from my airway without my companions being any the wiser.
“Oh, Margaret!” Ms. Porter called. “You did come. Everyone, meet my adopted niece, Margaret Saunders. She goes to your school. Do any of you know her?”
Mom, Ms. Lang, Maggie and I all exchanged quick glances.
“Yes, Aunt Edna, we know each other,” Maggie stammered.
“Oh, how lovely,” Ms. Porter announced, clapping her hands.
At the time I imagined she was clueless. Now, I suspect she already knew what many people never learn – sometimes simply ignoring a potential problem is the best approach. Act as if everything is cool and it may turn out that way.
“Here, Margaret, I brought an extra-large blanket. Make yourself at home. Did you bring anything to eat or did you eat before you came? What did you tell your parents? I hope if you fibbed you made it worthwhile. Perhaps you told them you were proselytizing to a bunch of nudists? When forced to fib it is best to stick as close to the truth as possible.”
Ms. Porter, I would discover, rarely spoke unless she had something important to say. With the benefit of hindsight, it is clear she was chattering on to allow us to catch our breath and to continue the impression that four people who were casual acquaintances had no reason to fear being nude around each other.
I have to say, it turned out she was right.
Maggie didn’t undress but she did sit down on the edge of Ms. Porter’s blanket, as far away from me as possible. I turned my attention back to my sandwich. Mom got up to get a sandwich for herself. Ms. Lang grabbed a book and stretched out on her stomach.
She had, still has, a lovely butt.
Even Ms. Porter was quiet. For no reason, other than I was uncomfortable with the silence, I walked back to the lake and waded in. I did not swim. I dunked my head on, floated for a few minutes, then walked out. I sat on my towel beside the water and let the sun and breeze dry my body.
“Is the water still cold?”
Wondering if she would still have her clothes on, I looked over my shoulder at Maggie. She was silhouetted by the sun. I shaded my eyes with one hand. She still had her jeans and tee shirt on.
“Yeah, but warmer than it was earlier today. It feels good.”
She sat on the grass with the ease and grace of youth. She looked out over the small inlet. The water, black except where the ripples reflected the gaudy white blaze of the midday sun, was mesmerizing.
“Aunt Edna will think I’m a wimp or a prude or both, if I don’t join you guys.”
“No, she won’t,” I replied, knowing I was right. “This is about freedom and that includes the freedom to not be nude.” I glanced at her. “This is only my second time. If I had known you would be here, or if you were here when I got here, I don’t know if I would have undressed.” I shrugged. “Though, I didn’t bring swimming trunks and it would be hot sitting around in my jeans.”
“I have a suit on.”
“You’re golden, Maggie. Go in, check out the water. If you want to take off your suit later. Cool. If you don’t. Still cool.” I leaned toward her slightly, and in a conspiratorial whisper, added, “of course, I might have to spend the rest of the day on my stomach either way.”
She looked at me, finally, with a frown.
“Ms. Porter has lectured me on the impropriety of displaying any, uh, sign of sexuality.”
Her frowned deepened. I rolled my eyes.
“A boner,” I explained. Maggie gasped, blushed, then laughed.
I joined her.
Still laughing, she walked back to her blanket, peeled off her tee shirt, kicked off her sandals and shimmied out of her jeans. I had been making a joke but the sight of her in a little two-piece bikini made my cock twitch. I’ve learned over the years that a bathing suit can be more erotic than nudity. As she walked past me and waded into the water, I beat a strategic retreat back to our blanket.
“Here, let me do your back again and you’d better take my spot; there’s more shade,” mom told me as a started to sit down on the blanket. I switched with her and focused on the coolness of her hands and the lotion on my back. I was able to appreciate the experience, perhaps for the first time, in a non-sexual way.
“Are you and Margaret friends?” Ms. Porter asked as I drowsed beneath mom’s hands.
“Yeah, we haven’t had a lot of classes together but we’re both friends with Suze.”
Ms. Porter gave a tsk. “That young woman needs to figure out a few things before she gets herself in real trouble. Suze, mind you, not Margaret.”
“Suze is okay,” I replied, feeling I had to defend my friend. “If you’re talking about the graduation party, she had way too much to drink but that’s unusual for her. Maggie is a good friend. She made sure Suze was okay. I’m sure Suze is mortified.”
Mom squeezed my shoulder. I assumed she was approving of my defense of Suze.
“No doubt you know her better than I,” Ms. Potter sighed. “I know I’m an old poop but I do believe young people are more foolish than your mother or I ever were.” She paused. “And, if I do say so, I was always known as a bit of a hellion.”
“That I can believe,” mom laughed, handing me the bottle of lotion. “Slather up good, oh pale offspring of mine.”
“Janice? Would you be so good as to go my back for me?” Ms. Porter asked.
“Of course.”
Mom took care of Ms. Porter, then headed toward the lake. Ms. Lang followed her. I watched as they swam over to Maggie. I wondered what they were talking about.
“I suspect your mother is trying to determine if Margaret is suitable dating material for you,” Ms. Porter said.
Are all women mind readers? I recall wondering.
“Mom knows Maggie,” I replied. “Maggie hung out with me after graduation and we watched some TV.”
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