Topfree

Note: There is no sex in this story. This is a coming of age story and a first experience with public nudity. These experiences shape who we become.

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The summer after high school I had an experience with public nudity which gave me a glimpse of the future I now have. Throughout high school the sexual pressures often took over civility. I avoided most pressures from boys by keeping my dating to large groups and refraining from late night single date activities.

I had always been comfortable with my body, and experienced skinny dipping with my girlfriends when given the chance. I secretly wanted to share these experiences with our guy friends but knew the opportunities for a safe environment would be limited. The summer before my senior year my family had the awesome opportunity to visit Europe for several weeks. We traveled the coasts of France and Spain, along with many inland train rides. While not making a big deal of it, we often found ourselves among the less modest Europeans regarding topless women on the beaches. Prior to our first beach experience my parents gave a brief introduction to the different attitudes among Europeans compared to the US, reminding me that not everything here would be accepted at home. Obviously I understood that concept.

I didn't remove my top on the first visit, but a few days later Mom and I went without Dad. Mom asked if it would be comfortable if she took her top off. It soon became clear that the section of beach we chose was 80% topless. I was relieved when Mom asked because I was very interested in trying it myself. My few skinny dipping experiences were always at night and a daytime sunbathing was intriguing. Mom looked a little nervous but I guessed it had more to do with my presence than the surrounding public. After a few minutes we were both comfortable enough to walk around and swim a bit away from our towels. The fact that I was anonymous in a foreign land made it easier for me.

Towards the end of our vacation Mom and I would mostly forgo our tops even around Dad. We would still discuss the effects and they would ask my impressions, but it eventually reached a point where it was just part of the beach experience. Further down from our favorite beach must have been a naturalist area as both men and women were totally nude. I eventually asked Dad about his being nude in public. I found out that on a few occasions when I went shopping alone, Dad and Mom did visit the naturalist areas without me. I was a bit surprised but made it clear that I wanted to try it as well. This shocked Dad. He understood I didn't feel comfortable going without Mom just due to the ages present. When I said I was fine seeing him, we decided to try it as a family just once before leaving for home. I tried not to make Dad too uncomfortable. He seemed fine with my presence since they were chaperoning me, and I didn't make any suggestions that I thought the male bodies were less than beautiful nude. The three of us even were able to walk down to the water and take a swim as a family. It was a wonderful experience that gave me a lot of confidence.

Upon returning home I maintained my group dating habits. I have never had a serious boyfriend anyway. Limiting my sex experiences wasn't a religious conviction but I saw no reason to risk my future while in high school. I talked to a few of my friends, both girls and boys, about my european beach experiences which sparked much discussion. I secretly looked for opportunities to be natural, and hopefully coed, in a safe non-sexual situation.

I also read some about nude beaches and learned the term topfree. Within the US and our prudent morals, the term topless implied sexual promiscuity. There was no acceptable way to express either naturalism nor equality in the sense of nudity between men and women. A few were trying to use the term topfree to imply topless women without a sexual connotation. I started using this term and ideas in my language with others.

The summer after graduation, my friend Rick had a large party. Many of us would be leaving for college soon while others were staying home. Rick's parents were gone and there was alcohol and drugs. I never really minded being around alcohol. Neither of my parents drank alcohol much and I had little interest beyond tasting different concoctions at various friends houses. I mostly made fun of those who drank until they were silly while I maintained my sober capacities. Similar to my commitment to protect my future, I didn't want to risk an under age arrest history. I took the assumption that if I didn't drink I would be able to get off with a warning if a party were ever raided.

The drinkers were crazy. Many girls got to the point of girls gone wild and nudity was evident in different situations. Rick's house had a pool and hot tub so most kids brought suits. The funny thing was that no one swam without clothes nor topless. There were flashes, a few streakers running through rooms (guys), and a few trying to play strip poker which seldom got very far. At this point, in the absence of alcohol and debauchery I would have been interested in swimming without my top but it was clear this group was not appropriate for that lesson. I stayed out of the water all together and just talked with friends.

I had gotten permission from my parents to stay at my friend Kris' house overnight. At the end of the party Kris told me she had gotten permission to stay at my house. Unless we got caught later, we were both free to stay out all night as far as we were concerned. Rick eventually got everyone home by assigning cars to the most sober drivers. His friend Mitch was staying overnight and they invited Kris and I to stay as well.

Rick and I had gone out a few times as part of groups but never ended up as a couple. I would have been interested as he was a good looking academically focused guy. And his family was pretty well off. I felt comfortable staying since we were fairly close and it seemed safe. Rick was part of the discussions when I described by European trip so not much would surprise him about my views. Kris and I helped clean up. To avoid the inappropriate bed room sleeping arrangements, we all four slept in the main party room. Rick provided sleeping bags and we just slept in our clothes.

In the morning we woke up with a familiarity of close friends. The boys had gotten hot during the night and ended up sleeping in the nude inside their sleeping bags. We joked about that for a while and then with some daring Kris and I also removed our clothes. The sexual tension got a little high but it was fun and gutsy. Rick brought up my naturalist views and I tried to explain the topfree concept. This discussion did lessen the sexual tension a bit and made for a brave morning discussion.

It was clear our clothes all smelled anyway. During the party cleanup earlier that morning, a bunch of beer spilled on our clothes and we stank fairly bad. The boys decided to shower downstairs and Kris and I would go the master bathroom. Just for fun we all jumped around the house nude inside our sleeping bags.

When Kris and I got to the master bathroom we were impressed. Rick's parents really knew how to live. It was huge. There was a large double head shower and a jet tub large enough to seat multiple people. Kris and I decided to both soak in the bath instead of showering. We sat with the jets building up large piles of bubbles and discussed our views of coed nudity. I thought this one morning with 2 girls and 2 guys might be just the best and safest situation. Rick and Mitch were both done and looking for us. We called them up and remembered that we didn't bother to close the doors since the room was so large.

Kris and I tentatively invited them into the room. We both covered ourselves with bubbles to maintain our privacy. The boys slowly entered as they respectfully waited for us to give permission before barging in. I think they were both surprised when we encouraged them to come closer. Kris' comfort waned and she covered her breasts with her arms. It became clear that the original bubble cover was better as her arms quickly disrupted the bubble protection and she was more exposed than I who sat upright with a solid soapy and bubbly mound in front. Kris slowly sank down under the water and tried to pull more cover over her body. I laughed and eventually found the courage to remain sitting upright, torso largely above the water level, but thoroughly covered.

We talked and laughed with Rick and Mitch. The jets were somewhat loud so I turned them off to improve the conversation. Without the jets, the water changed from opaque to clear, and it was soon obvious that our lower bodies were visible. Rick rather smoothly reached in and started the jets again avoiding a dicey result. I asked if the boys would be so comfortable in opposite situations. It was apparent that Mitch was not as relaxed as Rick, and was slightly aroused as was noticeable through the sweat pants he was wearing. I implied that if they were comfortable, and could maintain a non-sexual relationship, that they could join us. The tub could technically hold four people but it would be cramped and we would be forced too close for both Mitch and Kris to accept. Rick suggested that the outside hot tub would be better. Kris was getting restless with the total nude, and unequal situation anyway so we all agreed to move outside.

The boys left to prepare the hot tub, and I suppose for Mitch to regain control of his body. Kris and I talked while getting out and Kris needed me to explain what state of mind was required for her first coed nude event. Kris agreed to my terms of maintaining a non-sexual environment even though the bathtub experience was probably outside of my own rules. We put on our swimsuit bottoms and decided that topfree was the best choice for the first time. We would encourage the boys to go nude as they would most likely be submersed and it would give them a chance to experience what we did in the bathtub.

We walked downstairs and outside with towels wrapped around our bodies. The boys had on their swimsuits. I, as the most experienced, became the leader. I set the rules and everyone agreed to the non-sexual environment. Neither Rick nor Mitch were excited about exposing themselves, probably due to a lack of control. Both agreed that going nude while we were topfree placed us on near equal footing, and we could all say our genitalia were never naked together. This was in case we were later questioned and wanted to deny the whole event. The boys turned their heads while we dropped our towels and entered the hot tub. Rick and Mitch got in and removed their shorts underwater.

It was fun and we all got used to everything. It allowed us to openly discuss our thoughts about the opposite sex. We promoted and dispelled many rumors. As it got hotter and hotter, we needed to get up and out of the water to cool off. With some warning, I would sit on the edge. Eventually Kris was able to as well. At first she didn't last long and rapidly returned under the safety of the water. As she did not cool off enough, she reached a point of accepting her topless state and was able to sit on the edge with me freely. Mitch did not deny that he needed to control his thoughts. Rick admitted he struggled too as most boys learn to enjoy arousal for the pleasure, thus the bio-feedback fights relaxing. Kris and I complained that without some sight the situation wasn't exactly equal. Even though we acknowledged that the male genitalia wasn't an equal body part to the female breast, the entire morning was an experiment and the boys needed to get out of the water to share what we were experiencing. The boys needed us to return under the water, and with some silent time Rick was able to sit up on the edge and cool off. He was clearly not totally relaxed but at least reached a point of acceptability. Mitch had a harder time of it. With some encouragement, he lifted out of the water in the best state he could muster. He was still very aroused and it surprised him and he quickly dropped back down. Kris and I discussed our knowledge of their exterior challenges and we reached a consensus that Mitch should rise again no matter what state he was in. We agreed with as much trust as we could generate that we would never tell of his inability to relax to anyone else without his approval, and well past college age.

Mitch sat sideways on the edge with his legs covering him. He kept his eyes closed and nearly meditated working towards a goal of control. Rick had completed his control and was almost oblivious to sitting naked in front of two girls. Within a reasonable amount of time Mitch was able to look at us and face us again with respect. We all considered the experiment a success. No one was hurt, no one was embarrassed for life, and we remained friends without spoiling the situation with sex. We exited the hot tub and tried to throw the frisbee back and forth in the backyard. The pool and hot tub were totally secluded so it was a very possible situation, except for Mitch. Either it was the movement of our female bodies, or the movement of his own body, but he needed to return to the safety of the hot tub. No one blamed Mitch and we decided to take a break anyway.

It was getting late morning and we were getting hungry. Kris and I agreed to go inside and make some food. It wasn't our house but we wanted to leave Rick and Mitch outside to share about their experience. Kris was actually comfortable enough to go inside with me without our towels. There was a kitchen just inside the backyard door and we could see the boys getting in and out of the pool. They had returned to their swimsuits by this time probably feeling a little weird in the absence of female justification for being nude together. Kris and I found enough supplies for pancakes and began preparing a meal.

Just then a new and unexpected event happened. I find this last part of the story the most important but it nearly traumatized Kris. Just as I turned off the hand mixer we heard the garage door close. Rick's parents weren't supposed to be home until that evening but had apparently returned early. Kris and I were standing in a strange kitchen with only our bikini bottoms on. Our towels were outside and our tops were upstairs. The stairs were across the room right next to the garage door. It would have been risky to run towards the garage in hopes of reaching the safety of upstairs before the parents entered.

Kris jumped to an adjacent living room. This room was off limits during the party and had no other exit. She was trapped but temporarily secured. I quickly tried to assess how Rick's parents would interpret our situation. I had briefly met them at school events but they may not even know my name. In an instant I came to the realization that having them find us hiding would give them the impression that we did something wrong. Of course they may still decide we violated their house rules but standing my ground was the only option to show them that we made good rules and did not succumb to the sexual misdeeds.

With a mixer and a bowl in each hand, Rick's parents entered the basement to see a topless 18 year old standing in their kitchen. Rick's Mom paused and stood like a deer in the headlights of an oncoming car. Rick's dad did a double take before he realized he needed to aim his eyes elsewhere. I hadn't thought about the Dad contradiction but my hopes for the Mother were correct. Rick's Mom put down her bag and came to greet me with a handshake. If I was confident, she was going to show the same confidence; almost as a competition. Her name was Violet and she was a normal looking 40 something. She cleared some of the tension by acknowledging what must be an uncomfortable situation for me. I tried to speak as clearly as I could and went into a European defense as quickly as I could.

Rick's Dad, Carl, stayed behind his wife staring at the refrigerator but thoroughly listening to our introductions. Violet's first act of questioning me was bluntly started by asking about Rick's and mine relationship. When I explained that Rick and I were not dating, and that we have never had a sexual relationship, she eased considerably. This added some credibility to my stance that topfree women should be accepted. Carl finally spoke and asked if he needed to leave or stay. Violet and I both danced around who should answer this when we both implied he should stay.

Violet was surprised that I would be comfortable around two boys by myself. I admitted that Kris was in the next room but was not even close to showing herself. When I explained that we were trapped with our towels outside and our tops upstairs, both Violet and Carl laughed and told Kris through the wall that she deserved to be stranded. The joke on Kris made my situation acceptable.

We could see Rick and Mitch throwing frisbee outside but the light kept them from seeing what had taken place inside. I offered to take Kris upstairs if they would turn away and silently depart leaving them the opportunity to talk to Rick. Violet wasn't upset now that she had a reasonable understanding of our experiment, and most importantly that our experiment was a success in the fact that sex was not involved.

I was ready to leave when Carl mentioned something about wishing he knew how his son really handled female nudity. Apparently Violet and Carl both had experience with international nude beaches but hadn't thought about teaching Rick anything different than the US view of female breasts as sexual objects. Knowing I needed to remove Kris and take her to safety, a bold yet beautiful idea came to mind. Standing topfree in front of two strange parents, I found the confidence to talk as an equal.

I spoke to Carl and said, "Do you really want to see how your son behaves?" Carl, ribbing Kris still stuck naked behind an adjacent wall, said he wanted to know if Rick would melt in shame like Kris or stand up with confidence like me. I reminded them that breakfast was almost ready and Rick and Mitch were waiting for us to take the food outside. We quickly grilled a few pancakes and prepared a tray of drinks. The parents would take plates and drinks outside. Rick, while shocked, would probably gauge whether or not we were caught by their reaction. Violet would tell Rick that they met me, and focus on challenging Rick about having a party. While the house was mostly clean, the trash has not yet been removed.

Nothing in the conversation would hint at seeing anyone nude. Once they had Rick thinking he was safe, I would walk outside with the pancakes, still topfree. Hidden Kris swore something like we were being unfair to Rick, yet her voice almost sounded like she thought it funny. Maybe she felt like she barely missed her punishment. It went smoothly. I could see Rick get red with fear. and could hear the entire conversation. When the parents talked approvingly about meeting me, he became almost joyful. Carl questioned the party and Rick stammered, but with less fear than at first since this infraction would have been far worse than a party violation. Then they all moved and sat at the patio table. Just when Rick and Mitch thought they were unscathed, I walked outdoors with the food. The look on Rick's face was priceless. I will never to this day play poker with him as all emotion left his appearance. Mitch on the other hand covered his mouth and moaned. Mitch wilted away stuttering quiet expletives.

Rick was awesome. In less than three seconds he regained his composure, walked over to me and politely took the food and returned to the table. Rick quietly but politely introduced me to his parents. Carl, still trying to make eye contact, responded that they were impressed with me and praised Rick for having such good friends. Never mentioning that I was only wearing my bikini bottom, they played the game perfectly. Violet reminded Rick that he did not have approval to have a party in their absence, scolded him for having alcohol present, and the only comment about me was that girls were not to spend the night without a chaperone. Rick could not be aware that his mother and I already had discussed our relationship and knew more than Rick would know. Rick handled it well.