This first part is mostly set-up, the real action will start in the next chapter. Female readers should feel free to let me know if I am at least somewhat in the ball park in my characterization of the protagonists in this little adventure. Feedback, as always, is much appreciated.
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The first morning is always the craziest. There are tents to put up, the kitchen that needs tending, bags to unpack, and all the while the air is resonating with music and laughter.
This was their first time camping together at Burning Man. For four of them, it was the first time at Burning Man at all. Sarah had become the de facto leader, the only one in the group with a previous experience here under her belt. She had laid out the plan and all of them were dutifully following it.
The RV was one side of the little square of land they had claimed for themselves. Anne's car blocked the street side, while the kitchen tent, the shade structure and the outdoor shower closed off the other two sides. Susan, Carol and Sammy had set up their small tents in the back.
The five women finally gathered in the middle of their camp, dusty and tired. They collapsed on the camping chairs that had been scattered around.
Sarah addressed them all.
"Ladies, that was awesome. I say we have a bite to eat, get nice and hydrated, and then we hit the Playa!"
They all cheered.
"But first," Sarah continued, "we all need to change. You're at Burning Man, bitches, time to look like we belong!"
She smiled broadly at the seated women around her. They were all covered in dust, wearing simple shorts and T-shirts, hair heavy with sweat and grime. They were not close friends yet, but she had high hopes for this trip. They were co-workers, and this year had been Hell. It was Carol who had brought up the idea of the trip as a way to decompress. Sarah was going to go anyway, and as she had told them all stories from her trip last year, they had been excited to come. This was going to be cool, she hoped.
They ranged in age, from Sammy barely in her twenties, to Anne in her forties. They were all single, pretty, fit, bored, horny, tense, heartbroken, sad, burned out at the job, burned by the dating life, hopeful, dreaming of love, all the feelings that five women could share between them. This was going to be an adventure, the adventure to shake the cobwebs and maybe light that fire up again.
So far her girls, as Sarah had started calling them in her head, had done great and set up the camp with no complaint, with good cheer even.
Anne and Sarah shared the RV, each taking a bunk in the back. They stripped off their dusty work clothes and threw on more colorful clothing. Sarah noticed from the corner of her eye that Anne had stripped to her bra and panties before putting on colorful shorts and loose shirt. Anne was a tall blonde, her body in good shape even if her heavy breasts were not as perky as they might have been in the past, and her tummy not quite as flat. But she had a pretty face, kind, and the crow's feet nesting at the corner of her eyes gave her a wise look.
Sarah stripped naked, tossing the dusty and sweaty underpants to the side. She slipped on a pair of pink booty shorts, tight and comfy. She slipped a tight T shirt over her head, plopped a hat on her head and considered herself ready. She was in her early thirties, tight-bodied with small perky breasts, her black hair cut short in a edgy version of a bob. A smile was always on the edge of her full lips.
She headed back out of the RV to corral the rest of the girls. It was time to go explore!
The rest of the afternoon was spent riding around on their bicycles, exploring the campgrounds and the open spaces where the massive artworks were on display.
Sarah continued in her unofficial role as a tour guide as the rest of the girls gazed in awe at the art, the space and the people. The horse-shoe shaped campground enclosed the Playa, a mile wide circle of flat desert where large sculptures were on display. The Man, a three stories tall wooden structure in the middle of it served as the reference point for the whole thing.
But the people...that was the real exhibition. People came dressed in all manners of costumes, clothing, or nothing at all. Everything was colorful, sexy, playful, sometimes downright silly. Incredible hand-made costumes mingled with thrift store finds, creating a rainbow of happy, beautiful people.
And music. Everywhere music was blaring out of speakers from dance camps, from art cars gliding by, from live bands throwing impromptu concerts in some large domed structure. The girls were in awe, and giggling like schoolgirls.
The next two days passed quickly as the girls went out, sometime as a group and sometimes alone, exploring the vast space. Dinner time was when everyone regrouped to share a meal and talk about their day. By now they had all gotten into the groove and where all wearing skimpier and more outlandish outfits. There was always great excitement about the coming night since that was the cue for a change of clothing, another chance to play dress-up.
They were clearing out the dishes when Carol spoke up.
"So.." She said hesitantly, "Sammy and I were wondering if you guys would be comfortable with us being topless."
"We don't want to make anyone uncomfortable", piped in Sammy.
Carol and Sammy were sitting at the table looking at the other women. They were both in their late twenties, Carol a usually preppy-looking brunette, petite and slim. Sammy had long and curly dark blond hair, currently pulled back in a pony tail that fell to her lower back. She was curvy, blessed with full breasts and wide hips that gave her an hourglass figure.
"Yeah", said Sarah, "why would we care?"
