The July morning at 8 o'clock finds me and my best friend Lesley northbound on US 61 in her 2015 red Toyota Camry. We had departed from suburban St. Louis expecting to be on the road for more than 3 hours.
The airconditioner hums cooling the car. Scenery zips past us at 60 miles per hour.
Lesley Jamison, age 42, has a diamond figure. A narrow bust, a waist that is not well defined and broad mid section make her legs the most attractive part of her figure.
This day sees her wearing a gray t-shirt dress. I am wearing a sleeveless V-neck red floral A-line knee-length dress. It's part of my wardrobe for less than two weeks.
I'm Laura. Like Lesley, I've been on this earth for 42 years. Originaly from different parts of the state, we met in college more than 20 years ago and shared a dorm. We had bonded over anecddotes about growing up and past relationships and had spent part of each summer at the other's home.
We had not been on the road for very long before she had turned the car radio off so she could talk.
"At this place where we are going everyone is friendly. Everyone gets along with everyone else. If you run into difficulty there will be someone to lend a helping hand."
"And everyone is naked," I said still feeling inhibited.
Lesley paused to collect her thoughts.
"It's ok to look so long as you don't stare."
"I hope no one's going to stare at me."
"No one will," she assured me.
"This is not your first time at a nudist resort."
"I perfer to call it 'naturist' resort. Sky clad is the natural state. The term 'naturist' is derived from natural. Wearing clothes is just a convention of society."
"I don't feel comfortable going around naked."
"I can tell you that nobody will make unwanted sexual advances, or gawk, or judge you. Noone cares about your figure. People go naked because it's freeing. The fresh air against the body feels good."
"Is nudity mandatory or is clothing an option?"
"Welllll let's put it this way. Stay in your comfort zone but no one wears clothing there. You can wear bikini panties if you're on your menstrual cycle."
Several minutes passed in silence. What is the appeal of going naked anyway? It's not as though I have the perfect body shape.
"And by the way, you're correct. My first time was 5 years ago and I was just as inhibited, self-conscious and afraid of it as you are."
"Really," I replied.
"Yes really," said Lesley. "I go every year so people, regulars there know me."
"UH huh."
"It's very scenic. There's a pond, a path through the woods. The cabins are really nice. Cameras including cell phone cameras are not permitted in common areas."
At least photos of me will not wind up on Facebook.
Neither of us said anything after that so she turned the radio on.
"We're almost there."
How far is almost?
She took the exit and slowed the car.
After a few minutes she turned again, this time coming onto a long driveway.
Ahead I spotted a gate across the road way. To the left of it is a guard shack.
She slowed the Toyota to the speed of a walk then stopped. Leaning her head out, she spoke into the microphone.
The phone rang in the office, then rang again. A woman's voice answered saying, "Natural Pines Resort."
"Lesley Jamison."
A second or two later the gate swung upward allowing the Toyota access to a spacious parking lot.
"I'm going to take my dress off now. You don't have to follow my lead."
In my periferial vision I could see her pulling the dress upward. She tossed it to the back seat.
"On three we'll go out together."
"Ok"
