It wasn't anything planned. It just happened.
My mother is a well-known freelance journalist. She's won countless awards and her articles have been published by dozens of major news outlets around the world. Simply put, she was great at her job and she'd do anything for a major scoop. She was constantly on the search for the next big story.
That 'next big story' didn't come until our safari vacation in Africa. I was on summer break from college and my mother needed the rest. But even under the hot sun and the beautiful surroundings of the African safari, mom was still focused on work, only she didn't know that her "next big story" would lead us towards an exploration of our deepest taboo desires.
***
That morning I was getting ready in our hotel room, while mom was in the lobby making final planning decisions with our tour guides.
She came into the room with that motivated look she often had when she's excited about something. After all, you can't be successful in her line of work unless you love what you do. She shut the door. She was dressed in cargo shorts and a polo t-shirt, her hair tied in a ponytail, looking like an average American tourist in Africa.
"Big news," she said with a sense of excitement and slight hesitation.
"What is it?"
"I've just heard from our guides that a local tribe will be holding an extremely rare ceremony. Apparently, it only happens once every 50 years."
There was a gleam in her eye as she said this. Knowing her, she was also looking for a big scoop and the next big news item which would be trending. It was clear what this meant to her and she wanted to rearrange our travel plans so she could see this.
"So you want to go?" I asked, knowing the answer.
She gave an awkward smile, "You're damn right."
"Hmmm... why do you sound... you know... weird?" I asked humorously.
"Well, it's going to be a weird day. For both of us, that is."
"Sounds cool. I love weird stuff."
She tensed her body. "Not this weird. Believe me."
"Why?"
She took a deep breath. "First of all, it will only be us and a tour guide on this trip. None of the other travelers want to go. We'll have to sit in the back of a cargo truck for an hour long ride."
"Okay, cool, that sounds doable."
"Secondly," she tensed again, "this is a very primitive tribe. By that, I mean they aren't used to foreigners like us. But I've been assured that this will be very safe. Safety is not a problem whatsoever."
"There's obviously something that's bothering you. Just say it."
Mom gulped. "That brings me to the third point I want to make. This tribe will only trust us if we blend in. You know what that means."
Unfortunately, I didn't have the brain of my mother. I wasn't a worldly person like she was and I didn't have all the knowledge from around the globe that she had.
"No clue," I admitted.
"This tribe is essentially a nudist colony of indigenous people. They have little concept of wearing clothes. We would look like aliens the way we're currently dressed."
It was a shock all right. If I didn't know better, I'd say that my mother was implying that she'd have to be nude as well. But there's no way that would ever happen. Or so I thought...
"What does that mean?" I asked. "You'll have to wear leaves to cover your body parts?"
She shook her head. "Full nudity."
"Really? You mean..."
"I'll have to be completely naked for the rest of the day."
It was the ultimate shock. My first thought was how painfully awkward this would be for us. But by the look on her face and the excitement in her voice, it didn't seem like a big deal to her, mainly because this would be for the advancement of her career and her own personal curiosity.
My second thought was that I would finally be able to see her naked. Like most boys with beautiful mothers, I'd wanted to see her nude at several points in my life. I had lusted after her before. Of course it was nothing obscene or overly perverted, I was certain that most boys had similar feelings. Now that I was a college student, those fantasies had passed. Long forgotten. I hadn't had those thoughts in a while. But now suddenly, it seemed like those dirty fantasies were back in a powerful way.
"Are you going to do it?" I gulped.
This time, I was the one who was tense and awkward.
"I've already told the tour guide that we're going. I'll have to pay extra since this will be a private ride. I'm sorry, but I'll need you to come with me. Recording devices aren't allowed and I won't be allowed to write anything down, either. So I'll need you to help remember these things."
I gulped again. "Do I have to get naked too?"
"Sort of. You're allowed to cover your penis with a small cloth. That's it. I'm the one who has to be fully nude at all times. I'm sorry. This is very last minute. And I know how difficult this must be for you."
If only she knew...
"Actually, I can do it, since it's that important to your career."
She flashed a big smile, "Thank you so much. I promise I'll make it up to you somehow."
Mom approached me and threw her arms around me, giving me a big, suffocating hug. As she squeezed her chest onto mine, I couldn't help but think that I'd soon be able to see those luscious tits of hers.
She broke off the hug and looked me straight in the eyes.
"You know," she said. "You seem so open about this. I can hardly believe it. I figured you would be screaming at me for making you come along."
This surprised me. I had to think of something quick, otherwise she'd think I was some sort of incestuous pervert for wanting this.
"The truth is, I'm struggling inside," I bullshitted. "But it's for the good of humanity. You know, citizens of the world have a duty to learn about each other. It's such an honor for me to be a part of a thing like this, no matter the sacrifice. It's for the greater good, isn't it?"
Mom squinted at me. "Oh, really?"
"Yep."
"Do you really feel that way about the work I do?"
"Of course."
"Then how come I've never heard you speak this passionately before?" she asked inquisitively. "You're usually so passive when I announce my latest project."
"Well, I guess you never asked the right way."
"Or, this is my first job where my tits and everything else would be showing."