Jim and Peter began to talk about sporting interests and the various equipment for maintaining a good physique. I heard a reference to the Grecian Athletic Society and the relative merits of exercising in the nude. I was trying to listen to them but there was more interesting conversation taking place between Katrina and Sally with regard to their piercing placements. I listened until they went for a swim with Rebecca, Karen and Wayne. Peter and Jim carried on talking, fully absorbed in their discussion. Annie was just resting, almost asleep.
"I'll just stay with Harry, if that's all right." I declined when Rebecca asked if I wanted to come.
I asked Harry if he had finished for the day with his assignments, hoping that he might have forgotten about the surfing event to come.
"You don't get out of it that easily." His blue eyes twinkled with mirth. "I've got to say that I was surprised by your boldness earlier." He confided. "Just remember to be yourself and ignore any silly comments about your body. I know you still get a bit worried but there's no need." Harry was almost whispering now. "You seem confident enough whenever Annie's around. She's a good influence on you so stick with her if I'm busy, later on." He glanced at his watch and got his camera gear ready. " 1 pm. Only half an hour or so to go."
"Till the contest?" I pricked up my ears.
"No, till they make the announcement." Harry explained pointing to the main part of the beach. "They have to give notice to the rest of the beachgoers about the beach being declared a free beach for the afternoon. They have an obligation to warn the other people, before it's legal to be naked during the contest. Karen and Katrina were telling me earlier on." He cackled. "Like we had to at the protest rally, last night. You're suppose to get a permit for that sort of thing. Mind you, I don't think there'll be many leaving today." He looked around. "I've never seen so many people here on a Monday."
Harry fussed around with his cameras and I took the opportunity to read the smaller part of the novel he had brought for me. 'My Sexual Awakening' read like an introduction to exhibitionism, where Barbara come to realise the thrill to be had from displaying her naked body to complete strangers. I had been living this for the last three days and could readily empathise with her position. When I read the part that dealt with her first piercing, a clitoral ring, I took a lot more interest. I began to understand the motivation and the benefits that she experienced in having the procedure done. Harry took a few items and excused himself to go back to his car.
"Just stay and read your book for a while." He put his shorts on and left. Ignorant of time or passing people, I luxuriated with my head on a folded beach towel and soaked in the cloud filtered rays of the sun, idly flicking through the pages. I became absorbed in the book again. Upon finishing Ch.5 I realised that the four friends were intending to take their relationship into the realm of 'wife-swapping'. Barbara and Cathy both had fantasies involving the other's partner. The book reminded me of my own deep rooted fantasy world. Harry's casual words returned to haunt my thoughts: "Has Peter asked you to have sex with another couple?" Harry had openly admitted that he had tried group sex himself. I wriggled my body in the sand, dreaming about what my answer might be if Peter should happen to hold the same beliefs. That fantasy of mine, involving Gerry, might become more than a dream. I started Ch.1 of 'Addicted to Attention', eagerly turning the pages, with a growing interest in Barbara's narrative of her unconventional, philosophic beliefs.
"Are you going in for the contest later on?"
I looked up and saw three older, fully dressed men gazing down at me as I lay reading in the sun. I sat up with a start and looked around.
"Excuse me?" I queried, wondering if the men were officials or perhaps beach wardens. I felt a pang of guilt and fear, similar to the time Harry had discovered me in Peter's old shower room. I was alone and equally naked. Even Annie was no longer nearby, dozing in the sun. Her gear was gone and I was on my own. I dropped my book and reached for a towel, assuming that Harry had taken one of his trips back to the Volvo. Although there were still other groups of people around me, my friends were still in the water, swimming.
"Sorry to disturb you, Miss, but we were just curious. We came down that pathway over there." The ruddy faced older man pointed over toward the rocks with his fishing rod. "We came over to watch the new contest, surfing that is! There was a trace of a smile on his face.
"We understood it was going to be a nudist event." The bald-headed man with a weathered face interrupted. "We were fishing over in the next cove and we just wanted to see it." He explained.
"We thought we might have lunch over this side and watch the fun." The silver haired, walk-short clad man interjected. "Our wives think we're fishing all day. We've never seen a nude surfing contest before." He explained. "Hope you don't mind us asking you like this?"
He shifted his feet awkwardly in the sand.
I could see the humour in the situation. In a matter of moments I could see that the men were completely harmless. Only the man that had spoken to me first was still looking straight at me. The other two were nervous and endeavouring to make out that they were looking elsewhere. I dropped the towel and stood up. They were the ones that were embarrassed now. I pointed toward the crowd at the southern end of the beach.
"I believe it's due to start shortly, where all those others are, somewhere." I smiled, gaining confidence. "I hope to be taking part but I don't think they've made the announcement yet. What's the time now?"
The men all looked at their watches at once, as if relieved at being able to focus their attention on something other than my body.
