My mom was nervous--I think she was even more nervous than me--even though I was the one who would shortly be dropping my robe, out on the stage, and be totally stark naked in public.
My name is Kat. And yes: it's short for Katherine. I'm a 21-year-old college senior. I am not an exhibitionist... but I was minutes away from leaving this makeshift "undressing room," getting naked in front of at least fifty people, turning and posing, then retreating stage right, having to remain completely nude.
I would eventually be in a line with four other naked female college seniors, waiting to find out which of the fifty paying guests had bid the most to rent us nude for the next two to four hours.
So if I wasn't an exhibitionist, why was I doing it? I thought that it was about time to give sweet little Kat a not-so-sweet little push. If I could do this, I reasoned, then I could do anything.
Mom asked me if I wanted any rouge or even lipstick on my nipples. Did I want a little bit of powder "anywhere else."
"Mom," I said. "My nipples are already hard as rocks under this robe. Once I get out there, all bare in the open air..." I shook my head. "Sorry Mom, but I can't think of any part of my body that I'd like powdered."
She looked away. I knew she was thinking that she brought her makeup kit for nothing. She flew all the way out here, a long trip from the Midwest all the way to Vermont, just to be with me.
I didn't need her makeup. I loved her and I needed her support right now.
I put my hand on her arm and she turned to me. "Was it like this, twenty-four years ago, when you went nude for the Event?"
That brought a big, wistful smile to her face. "Just about the same. And yes: we all put lipstick on our nipples--we even powdered our bottoms! We thought we were absolutely wild, the craziest girls on the planet. I don't know if any of us were literally high, but for me, being nude in public and then being led around town that way by a reasonably handsome guy... that made me high."
Wow. I do love my mom so much. I got up and I hugged her tight. I wish they gave us more room back here--with nothing for furnishings but a metal chair and a table. Neatly piled on the table were all of the clothes I wore here: sneakers, shorts, a t-shirt and plain white panties. I didn't wear a bra because we're all told that the marks from bra straps can be unsightly once we're nude. Can't have that.
"Mom, I--"
And then we heard them announcing girl number one: Gloree, a really hot young lady with a father from Africa and a mother from some South Seas island. I would describe her skin as light olive brown, and her slight but curvy body as the type that men would like to cover with olive oil... or any kind of oil.
So Gloree was number one... she was sure to wow the crowd with that bod and get the highest bids. I fingered the lacy white collar around my neck with an onyx pendant inscribed "3" dangling from it. The collars are to identify each nude girl as leased property--our leaseholders will be given a wristband with the same color and number.
Once upon a time, the collars were attached to leashes, and the naked girls were required to be led through town that way. Well, collars and leashes and full female nudity imply certain connotations that the Senior Trip Committee really didn't want to promote. The leashes are gone, but the collars remain.
I hear the mayor's voice now as he's briefly interviewing naked Gloree. They're all soft questions about her major and about her plans for the future, and about how she feels renting herself out with no clothes on.
We can't really hear her answers, but there's a lot of applause. The audience loves her.
Girl number two--right next to our makeshift booth--is called out. Sandi is a sweet little brunette, a tiny thing. She is so adorable and cuddly cute that, if I was into girls, I would gladly take her to warm up my bed.
My mom and I look at each other. I'm next. I thought I was ready for this--like the other girls here today, I've been running around our dorm naked, even bravely daring to stroll around nude in the sunlight on the quad. But that was in front of other girls... this is in front of an mixed audience, outdoors, who will be looking my totally bared body over from every angle before making their bids.
How did this all start? Back in 1978, the photography studio in town went nude. And by that I don't mean they started doing sexy boudoir shots for wives and girlfriends. They completely changed their business model by opening their doors to any would-be photographer who could pay the hourly fee. Everyone was given an easy-to-use camera--and their choice of available nude models for an hour.
Needless to say, demand soon outstripped the supply--there were very few professional models in the area who were willing to get naked for horny amateur photographers. So the studio put out flyers on Twin Mount College's bulletin board, asking for young ladies who were at least eighteen, and not too shy, who wanted to earn some extra money.
The response from the all-girl college's student body about showing off all of their student bodies went surprisingly well. The girls did insist on certain rules, such as the right to refuse poses that were much too gross, and the surety that they were safe from harm.
Why was the response from those sweet young college girls to display their sweet young bodies so good? First, our college is very liberal-minded; they require all girls to take art classes that include life drawing, and all students must pose nude for that class at least one hour per semester.
Second is the fact that a lot of the girls were saving up some or even all of their naked paychecks to help pay for their Senior Trip.
Senior Trip was a big thing in town--so big that it always has to be capitalized. The senior class traditionally went somewhere in Europe, nearly always the second week in May. The location was always selected because of its connections to art, literature and/or history--the subjects that the College concentrated on.
The girls started raising money for this increasingly expensive trip when they were juniors. Looking back, I find it surprising that no one had thought about raising money by taking their clothes off--until then.
School girls posing naked for money was bad enough. The nude photo studio's moneymaking scheme did raise more than a few eyebrows, and talk that 'something' had to be done. Then, some not-so-bright, would-be photographer took his nude model outside and onto the Village Green. The lure of the sunshine, the trees, the green grass, the winding paths--and especially the round, bricked-in artificial pond with the fountain in the middle--was irresistible. More nudes followed.
Naturally, someone complained, and the matter was taken up before the town council. It should have been an open and shut case of nudity not being allowed in public--but the poor town council found themselves up against the dreaded Senior Trip Committee.
The Committee was not just composed of young college girls who could be easily intimidated. Oh no. There were powerful women in town who had graduated from Twin Mount, ten, twenty--even fifty years ago. These women were then--and now--business owners and real estate power brokers.
Our town has--and had--rules requiring open public meetings. The records are there, with the Committee reminding the council of the thousands of dollars poured into the town coffers simply from the presence of the all-girls school. The Senior Trip itself results in loads of money spent--all in town--on everything from travel arrangements to new clothes and accessories for the girls to look special on their special trip.
Open meeting rules aside--some talks must have gone on behind the scenes. The council then issued this now legendary declaration:
"Declared: that although the Council recognizes the economic impact of, not only the presence of Twin Mount College for Girls, but especially from the monies spent on their very special Senior Trip, we cannot condone nor allow our girls appearing unclothed in public for the purpose of nude photography.
However, the Council also recognizes the uniqueness and the impact of this type of fundraising effort. Therefore, we authorize, for only one day per year, a very special in-town fundraising Event. During this Event, select representatives of the Senior class may: disrobe partially or completely in public, and/or may appear partially or completely disrobed in public. However, lewd and/or lascivious behaviour, by persons clothed or unclothed, shall not be tolerated.
The Senior Trip Committee shall consult with the Council as to the timing of this Event. Weekend days in months during the school calendar year that are known to have usually dry, warm weather are preferred.
Off-duty police will close roads and set out signage indicating that this is a private Event. We want our girls who participate to feel as safe and as comfortable as possible. All rules and regulations as regard to indecent exposure shall not be enforced, only during the day of this special Event.
Resolved: this 29th day of April, 1979."
I believe that this is the only official, governmental proclamation ever issued authorizing college girls to get naked.
There was banging--or the equivalent of banging--on the tarp to our left. Gloree's mom poked her head in. "Are you decent? Decent or not, it's time to get indecent! You're next, sweetheart--go out there and knock them dead!"
As we followed her out, I was whispering: "Gloree's mom is hot, you're hot, and some of the other moms--"
Mom hissed: "This is your 'rent a naked college mom' idea?! That is SO not happening!"
Gloree's mom--I think she was Pat--led us to the curtain at the edge of the stage. (How could a woman this exotic-looking be named 'Pat?')
"Okay," Pat said. "As soon as you hear the mayor introducing you, go out there and drop your robe. You can be facing in any direction at first, but once you hear your music start, turn around and start dancing. Let them see this beautiful girl from all angles."
Then she gave me a quick hug and told my mom she'd see her soon. All of the moms, sisters or older female friends who showed up to support their nude seniors were also enlisted as volunteers.
"Just think about it, Mom. It would be a great way to earn some extra money for the Trip."
She shook her head. We were both so nervous at this point, we both knew I was trying to distract her.
