Chapter 5

The next morning over breakfast, Nollie and I roughed out our schedule. If our parents agreed, we would alternate houses each night for sleeping - and hopefully for making love! - through the week. Saturday would be devoted to laundry and house-cleaning, and Saturday evenings would be our 'date night'. Sundays would be spent with family. Daytime Monday through Friday were written in as routine cleaning, pool time and exercise, plus any chores that hadn't been completed over the weekends.

We got approval from both sets of parents a few days later, with the caveat of unforeseen circumstances altering plans. Mom suggested that in addition to spending the night at one another's house, we join the family of that house for meals, in particular the evening meal. She said it would give the twins a chance to get used to us being a couple, and solidify the bond of an extended family. Emily and my mother were friends, and Sue was getting to know Emmy better as time passed. We agreed, and set our plan in motion.

From the middle of June until the middle of July, things went mostly as planned. We had a few glitches, the most glaring of which were several flat tires on Nollie's car. Emily solved that by buying four new ones. Mom had to work overtime a few times, which meant me helping prepare supper, but I didn't mind.

The first Monday we slept at Nollie's house, I got to know Emily a little better. Subsequent visits proved her to be a compassionate soul, with Nollie's best interests at heart. That included me, and I began to love her as a third Mom in my life. I really enjoyed her hugs, and the conversations were always interesting and fun.

Sean was his usual self, and the twins were better-behaved than usual when Nollie ate supper with us. Mom and Sue treated us as equals, which made me feel very adult at times.

I found that having some structure and rhythm to my life gave me more free time than I originally expected. Nollie and I shared our runs out to the park and back, which gave me a sense of physical well-being I'd never known before.

Our dates were the most fun I'd had in ages. We went to movies or the mall, we talked, and we were seen together in public. The wide eyes when I introduced Nora to some of my former schoolmates as my girlfriend were priceless. I'm sure the toe rings caused some whispered comments too, but I didn't care. My confidence in my choice was growing, and I was happy.

And then there was the sex. My complexion cleared up, my orgasms became more intense and frequent, and I reveled in it. I understood my body better, and paid more attention to the nuances of being female. My attitude about my 'gushing' improved, and I stopped being so embarrassed when it happened. Nollie informed me that I didn't 'gush', I dribbled, which was entirely normal.

I found myself in circumstances I never imagined. I had a friend and lover I could sleep with and talk to. We'd talked and shared some intimacies, both spiritual and physical, but one niggling question remained. Had my attitude changed, or was it everyone else's?

The landscape around Eldridge, Minnesota is littered with hundreds of small lakes, ponds, sloughs and the like. Some are only suitable for fishermen, and many are brackish and shallow, usable only by the plentiful wildlife. We visited as many as we could find on the map, and turned bronze in the sun. One day Sean asked if he could come with us, and we consented.

On the way to Willow Lake, Nollie whispered that bringing him with us would pose an inconvenience - we couldn't be nude with him around. I told her not to worry, we'd figure something out. We needn't have worried; he was naked before we even asked him if he would mind. He had a book along, and after smearing some sun-block on his body, he lay there with his shades on and read quietly, occasionally joining in our conversation.

On the way to her house later that evening, Nollie said, "You know, Sean has a cute little tallywacker."

"Tallywacker?" I exclaimed. "What a word!"

"It's the Georgia word for penis, I think," she smiled.

The night before we were scheduled to leave for the retreat, we got busy packing the things we'd need. Nollie had a small tent, and I'd bought two new sleeping bags. They were the kind that zip together to form one big one, and I was looking forward to sharing it with her warm body. Nollie didn't give out any details about the retreat, but she said I'd like it. I hoped she was right.

By eight the next morning, there was small crowd gathered on the sidewalk, anxiously waiting. Emily promised to check on the house while we were gone, and told us all to enjoy ourselves. Carl Jensen, the kids' Dad, arrived an hour late to pick them up. None of the three looked very happy, in particular Sean. His eyes were downcast and he shuffled his feet, as if that would delay his execution.

I yelled out the window, "See you in a week, Seany!" and he waved back, but I could tell his heart wasn't in it.

With the horn tooting, "shave-and-a-hair-cut, six-bits" we finally drove away. Our route would take us past Minneapolis and southeast toward Madison, Wisconsin. Then we'd drive past Chicago and pick up Interstate 65 around Gary, Indiana, which would take us to Louisville, Kentucky. Some miles over the river and we'd end up near Fairfield, the location of the retreat.

By noon we were negotiating the bypass around Minneapolis, and at six-thirty that evening we checked into a motel on the southern outskirts of Madison. We ate supper at Denny's, and I gorged myself on blueberry pancakes.

Back at the motel, I suddenly realized my mother and Sue would be sleeping in the same room with us. We'd brought nightgowns, but what if they had sex? It was actually humorous, because they had had the exact same thought. We enjoyed a good chuckle over it, and cuddled down for sleep.

We got on the road early the next morning, and by nine we were braving the toll road around Chicago. The constant stopping every few miles to pay a toll was wearing on Mom's nerves, and we put on our headsets. The traffic was bumper-to-bumper at high speed, and the trucks passing so closely were making me nervous.

We stopped for a quick lunch outside Indianapolis, and were soon back on the road. The traffic got a bit lighter, and Mom kept a steady pace. I'd never been away from home before, and the scenery was interesting.

Nollie and I were sitting in the rear-facing seat in the van, and I felt her hand on my leg. The rear window was tinted, so I knew people couldn't see inside. She nuzzled my ear and chewed on my earlobe, and her other hand squeezed my breast.

"You wanna?" she whispered.

I glanced forward and saw Mom was concentrating on her driving. Sue was reading the map and pointing, so I thought we could chance it. I took my shorts and panties off and put a towel under my butt, then spread my legs. We kissed and her hand slid down my belly to my fur. She was gentle and slow, staying mostly on the outside near my clit. I clenched my teeth when I came, trying with maximum effort to be quiet.

Mom must have been watching in the rear view mirror, because as soon as the contractions started to fade, Mom yelled, "Sarah! Goddammit, put your pants back on!"

Nollie shifted to the other side of the seat and started laughing. I turned around and saw Mom staring at me in the mirror. Sue was shaking her head and giggling, and Mom was doing her best to suppress a smile.

A moment later I heard Sue call, "Open a window back there, will you?"

I folded the damp spot into the center of the towel and put it on the floor. I put my clothes back on, gave Nollie a hug and cracked the side window. I'd forgotten all about the smell, and gave Nollie a sheepish look.

"I guess we'll know what to avoid next time, won't we?" I asked.

We passed through Louisville about three-thirty, and were over the river driving on the back roads by four-fifteen. Sue found the right number posted on a sign, and we turned right. We went down a poorly paved road for about twenty miles, and came to a log fence that paralleled the road. Two miles later we arrived at the gate, a massive affair on heavy posts.

Mom and Sue showed their identification and gave the woman their tickets. They signed papers and received a map of the grounds and a schedule, glancing at it as the woman opened the gate.

Mom avoided as many of the potholes as she could, but the ride was rough on the packed dirt.

"Back home they'd call this a minimum maintenance road, you think?" Mom said, getting a grunt of agreement from Sue.

"We're here!" Mom laughed as she set the brake and shut off the engine. The parking lot was huge and full; several hundred cars and trucks were packed tightly together on the grass. Nollie and I carried the tents and a bag apiece, while Mom and Sue shared a big cooler and their suitcases.

Tickets had to be shown at the main entrance, causing a small delay while everything was put on the ground and purses opened. Our site was number 829, partway up the hill.

Following the signs on the path, we passed at least two hundred women in varying stages of undress. Most were completely nude and some wore shorts. Others undressed next to their tents as if it were common to be naked in front of hundreds of people.

I blushed and Mom said, "Look at the titties in the breeze, Nollie," laughing at our discomfiture.

"It's her first time; go easy," Nollie said, patting my shoulder.

We pitched the tents face to face and threw our things inside. I sat on a cooler and Mom and Sue began removing their clothing. Nollie was inside our tent, and I could hear the rustle of fabric.

"First thing I'm going to do is find the bar and have a beer, then check out the scenery," Sue laughed.

Mom unzipped her jeans, pulled them down to her ankles and stepped out of them. Her underwear followed, and she looked at me.

"Do I have to get naked?" I asked.

"It's expected honey. Everyone else is... like, when in Rome, you know?" she replied.

I didn't mind being nude with Nollie or Mom and Sue, but I didn't know these people. I knew I didn't like being stared at, and my apprehension was growing.

Nollie's hand snaked out of our tent and grabbed my arm.

"Come in here for a minute," she said.

I sat on my sleeping bag and she said, "You can wear shorts like you've got your period if you want."

"Are you?" I asked.

She shook her head no and I said, "Then I'm not either."

Mom handed us each a fanny pack and said, "There's change and bills in there. If you're hungry get something to eat. Take a towel and always sit on it when you're on a chair. I'd use it on the ground too; the pine needles have a tendency to stick in your butt. Meet us near the stage about dark, ok?"

We nodded and Mom and Sue left, leaving the flap of their tent open.

Nollie said, "I'll show you how to wear a towel so you won't feel too exposed. Last year was my first time. It takes getting used to."

She fastened the fanny pack around my waist so it hung low in front, partially concealing my pubes. The towel was draped around my neck and hung in such a way my boobs were almost covered. She arranged her towel in the same way and we stepped out of the tent and zipped it shut.

We walked toward the biggest crowd of women, those gathered around the pool. It was a huge circle and very shallow; I could see toddlers in the middle splashing and laughing.

Nollie took my hand in hers and confided, "I'll be right here, it will be ok. Every woman you see is a sister. They don't even allow boy babies to come here."

"Wow!" I replied as I gazed over the crowd. There was a lot of noise and hugging going on, old acquaintances being resumed and new ones begun. Body types varied widely, from tall and thin to grossly obese and everything in between. I watched hundreds of breasts sway and jiggle, amazed at the different shapes and sizes.