Chapter 2: Avoiding Trouble

Lara entered the kitchen through the back porch door. She heard the voices of her mother and sister, Kayla finished the conversation by saying, “But, you know the good thing is when it is over all matters are officially closed. No permanent record and all parties are free to start over new and fresh.”

“Well, that might work at college and in New Town, sweetie,” Carla Finn told her eldest, “but I think it might not be as easy here in Middletown. Oh, and I expect you to abide by the same rule standard you had on campus, here at home.”

“No problems with that, Mom, and I am sorry about blowing up at Lara,” Kayla told her parent.

“Perhaps it was coming anyway, sweetie, with the new rules in effect it was better Lara get her first taste of them at home instead of at school or worse yet by a JPO with a heavy hand,” her mother replied.

“Oh, there is the girl of the hour,” Carla looked and saw her youngest in the next room, “I thought you and Todd were going out.”

Lara walked into the family room, “Todd told me to stay home, do my chores and homework, and avoid trouble. I just wanted to say I am sorry for being a self-centered, thoughtless brat and I’ll get the laundry done, all of it, starting this evening, and be finished by Monday morning.”

“Don’t count on Sunday to get the chores finished. Remember, it is Grandma’s birthday celebration and she wants us to go to church with her and then attend the party for her at the senior center.” Carla reminded her youngest.

Her eyes flew open, “Mom, Gran can’t see me like this. Worse yet, her old lady friends can’t see me like this and icky old Mr. Jensen, his hands are bad enough when I have clothes on,” Lara was panicky.

“Lara, don’t be silly. Your grandmother changed you when you peed and pooped and bathed you until you were ten or eleven and you started taking showers instead of baths. What she doesn’t know about your naked body does not exist now, does it? If you are lucky the marker will wash off by then. If you aren’t then the party is ‘come as you are,’ you HAVE read the rules haven’t you?” Her mother asked pointedly.

“Todd made me read them and also made me understand them; I think I’m good for now and if I have questions I’ll ask Kayla or you,” Lara sighed.

Two hours and three wash loads later, her mother called Lara to dinner.

“How is it going with the wash?” Carla asked civilly.

“Looks like we could use drier sheets and unless there is another bottle of laundry detergent in the garage, I won’t have enough of that to finish, either,” Lara replied honestly.

“Oh, I meant to get more of that when we were shopping last week. You remember I put the detergent back at the last moment as we were short on cash and needed food more than household supplies.” Her mom smiled and said, “After dinner just run to the store and pick up the few things we need. You can use my car.”

“Mom, I’m naked. I can’t go to the store like this, someone will see me,” Lara protested.

Kayla looked up at her younger sister and said, “Lara, could I see you in the laundry room for a second,” she nodded to her mother who smiled and nodded in reply.

The two girls arrived in the laundry room and Kayla leaned on the front loading washer looking slightly up at the younger girl. “Lara, you came close to real trouble with Mom. You say you read the rules, do you remember the part where it says no one under discipline may avoid a school, religious, or family social function? Well, that means Sunday you go with us even if the marker has not worn off. In addition, you must remember the part in the ordinance where it says you cannot refuse to perform ordinary activities like shopping or going to school just because you are naked and under discipline. If mom were to strictly enforce the rules your tail would have welts and your hair would be gone just because of your attitude.

“We are giving you room to learn the rules, society won’t be as lenient. When you get home from the store, I will share my college experiences with you. Oh, and don’t tell Mom I told you, nail polish remover works great for marker on skin. You may need help for the one on your back, though; Mom stuck it in an unreachable place.” Kayla then asked her sister if she would like company at the market. Lara agreed to this and Kayla told their mother that discipline rules were unclear as to whether a minor child under discipline may operate a motor vehicle. Carla agreed that Kayla should drive and Lara was to do the shopping.

When her mother bought her new Buick Enclave, Kayla inherited the older Pontiac Montana, an all-wheel drive minivan. The girls used that to go shopping. Kayla gave Lara the choice of riding shotgun in front or the slightly more sheltered second-row bench seat. Lara took shotgun.

“You know these seatbelts were not designed for nude bodies, sis, just look at the way the shoulder strap cuts into my chest under my left breast,” Lara told Kayla in perhaps the least guarded moment since her stripping.