Chapter 5: The Weight of Preparation

The insistent buzz of my phone jolted me awake, its vibrations rattling against the wooden nightstand like an alarm that refused to be ignored. The faint glow of the screen cast eerie shadows across the walls. Even before I reached for it, I knew what the flood of notifications would be about. The pre-selection mailgirl assembly was today, and the anticipation—or dread—had kept my friends awake as well.

A sharp chill of the morning air hit me as Harper, my golden retriever, yanked the covers away with his teeth, his tail wagging furiously like he had just accomplished the greatest feat of his life. I groaned and pulled my knees to my chest, trying to shield myself from the cold. The air was a stark reminder that I’d slept naked—something I’d started after that conversation with Mom. Today wasn’t just any ordinary day. Today was the day that could change everything.

A dull weight settled in my chest as I unlocked my phone. My group chats with Carla and Rachel had exploded overnight, their messages a chaotic mix of speculation, unease, and frantic questions.

Rachel: Okay, did you both see on Echo Chat about Jessica Gate? Her parents got a letter from the school about the mailgirl preselection, but she didn’t say anything about it.

Carla: Not sure. My mom mentioned something, but she didn’t give me any details. Did yours say anything, Dani?

I frowned at Rachel’s message. A letter? Mom and Dad hadn’t mentioned anything specific to me. My fingers hovered over the screen before I quickly typed a response.

Dani: Mom told me to be ready. Just what I told you before—about her wanting to take over when or if I’m unclothed.

There was a long pause. Then Rachel’s reply popped up.

Rachel: Wait, take over how?? You were serious about that?

I sighed, stretching as the blanket slid off and pooled on the floor. My bare skin prickled under the cool air. I hesitated, trying to find the right words to explain what had happened over the last three days.

Dani: It was weird. She said that if I’m serious about ‘exploring’ this, I need to be ready to get naked if asked. That means if she, Dad, or whoever tells me to take something off, I do it. No hesitation, no matter what.

Another pause. Carla responded first.

Carla: That’s intense. So, Dani, did your mom tell you if you’re going to be one of those selected mailgirls or what?

Rachel: So, like ... be naked at home? Or anywhere ... like at school ... in public...?

I hesitated, remembering Mom’s calm but firm expression as if she’d already decided my fate.

Dani: I think it’s anywhere, but she made it clear when I gave her control over...

Rachel’s typing bubble appeared, then disappeared, like she was unsure how to respond. Finally...

Rachel: WHAT! She could strip you naked! How do you feel about that?

How did I feel? That was the real question, wasn’t it? The screen blurred as I stared at it. Mom had framed it as preparation—something necessary if I was going to face what might come. The idea of giving up control, of accepting that clothing wasn’t something I could always rely on, was terrifying in ways I couldn’t explain.

Yet ... I had already taken the first steps. A quiet, unspoken part of me couldn’t ignore how that had felt.

Dani: I don’t know. I get why she’s saying it, but it’s still ... a lot.

Carla responded immediately.

Carla: Yeah. I don’t think I could do that. Are you going to show up to the bus stop naked?

Rachel’s response took longer, trying to find the right words.

Rachel: I mean ... maybe she’s just trying to help you be ready? Like, in case...

She didn’t have to finish the sentence. We all knew what she meant. In case I got picked. In case today’s assembly made everything real.

I sighed and set my phone down. Talking about it wouldn’t change anything.

I grabbed a towel from my dresser and headed for the bathroom. I needed a shower. I needed to clear my head before breakfast, before school, before whatever awaited us at the assembly.

As the water warmed, I caught my reflection in the mirror. I met my own gaze, searching for something—clarity, confidence, maybe even certainty, but none came.

I stepped into the shower, letting the water wash over me. Steam curled around me, but the tension in my chest refused to fade.

Today was the day.
The assembly...
The moment we had all been waiting for—and dreading.

Stepping out of the shower, I nearly dropped my towel when I opened the bathroom door and found Mom standing there, arms crossed, her expression unreadable.

“Dani,” she said, her voice calm but firm, “are you still willing to give me full control over whether you wear clothes or not?”

My heart skipped a beat. Heat rushed to my face as I clutched the towel tighter. Before I could respond, Dad walked by, his eyes briefly flicking toward us before continuing down the hallway. Panic surged through me, my hands trembling as I tried to steady my breathing.

Once Dad was out of earshot, Mom’s gaze softened, but her tone remained steady. “Your friends wondered if you were going to show up to the bus stop naked, didn’t they?”

I nodded, my voice barely above a whisper. “Yeah ... they did.”

Mom stepped closer, scanning me with a look that made me feel exposed, despite the towel wrapped around me. “I want you to wear your best clothes to school today,” she said, her tone leaving no room for argument. “But understand this—at some point during the assembly, you will have your friends remove one item of clothing.”

My stomach churned, but I stayed silent.

“Once something is removed, it stays off for the rest of the day,” she continued. “I’d like you to wear one of your button-down blouses. Each button will count as an item of clothing. By the end of the school day, I want you to be fully naked.”