Fiction by Straber

Part 4 - Chapters 10-12

Chapter 10

Fall quickly turned into winter, and yet we noticed something strange about our time in the valley: the environment never changed. It was always perfect, exactly as I would imagine it to be. The weather was always great, the air always crisp and clean, the trees always green, the grass always lush, and the stream always flowing with clear and cool water – but not cold enough to keep us out of the deep pools, splashing happily without a care in the world. On one of those perfect days, April, with her legs dangling from our favorite log that stretched across the stream, asked me about this odd phenomenon:

“Gary, why is it always so perfect here? I mean, it’s practically winter break!”

“I don’t know for sure, but I have a theory,” I said pensively. “I think we’re in a place outside of normal time and space. I think I’ve created my own private realm through my imagination.”

“You mean this place isn’t real?”

“Well, it has to be real, doesn’t it? I mean, we can see, hear, touch, taste, and smell everything around us, can’t we?”

“Yeah, I guess so…” said April, sounding puzzled.

“It’s just that I don’t think this place ever has to change unless we want it to.”

“I still don’t understand,” she said.

“Ok, let me show you.”

“How?”

“Take my hand – we’re going back to the forest.” Upon our return, I told her what I was planning.

“April, I think I’ve grown in my ability to control my sensation and perception skills, especially when it comes to teleporting. Whereas before when it mentally and even physically fatigued me to teleport to the valley even though it had always been sort of an imaginary sanctuary for me, now I feel that I can imagine different features, and perhaps even imagine new places to which I can teleport,” I said, trying not to make it sound too complicated.

“So, are you saying you could actually imagine yourself climbing Mt. Everest or bouncing on the moon like that video on the creative process suggested?” she asked, raising her eyebrows.

“Well, I don’t think I’d like to go to either of those places, but what I’m thinking is that I could maybe change around some of the elements of the valley, like turning the stream into a river and making the lake bigger, or expanding the forest or the meadow and its rolling hills,” I said spiritedly.

“Maybe we could create a beach on the other side of the forest,” she suggested, getting into the spirit of things.

“Yeah! That would be great – to be in a quiet forest one minute, and then gradually seek out the sound and smell and taste of the sea and walk out to see the rolling waves and lie out on the sand,” I said, getting even more excited. But then I reeled back that line of thinking and said, “But April, I don’t know how difficult it would be to really change it around. Even expanding it over the past two months has been a slow and challenging task.”

“I’ve got an idea,” beamed April.

“I’m listening,” I said eagerly.

“Maybe you could change the weather into a warm, gentle rain. I love being outside when a rainstorm rolls in – when the water is sprinkling down on you, it’s almost cleansing,” she said thoughtfully. "To experience it in the nude would be so amazing!"

“That’s a great idea! And I think it’s something we could imagine without much deviation from the regular environment we’re normally in when we go there.”

“I think we should try it,” suggested April.

“I agree. So, take my hand, and let’s imagine our regular place, but this time instead of a warm, brilliant sun and fluffy clouds, let’s picture a warm and gentle rainstorm, like you said, using all of our senses.” Closing my eyes, I began to think aloud about the rainstorm, so that we could channel one line of false sensation into a shared real perception.

“The raindrops are warm and just the right size. The sky is a light gray, since the sun is still up, and the mountains seem father away because of less visibility due to the rain. The water is crisp and fresh on our lips and in our mouths – perfect enough to drink. There is a soft shushing sound and we can hear the pitter-patter of the rain on the leaves of the trees, and the tiny splashes of the rain on the stream and lake. The air smells fresh and new, as the rain begins to cleanse the world around us…” I said, more and more quietly, trailing off, feeling the rain on my head and shoulders, tasting it, hearing it, and smelling it, and then, as I opened my eyes, I saw the beauty of our world unfold in a new way.

Chapter 11

That experience was amazing and over the next few walks, we changed the valley in many ways, and not just in terms of the weather. April found that she could describe things like the changing colors of the leaves of the forest and even animal life - ducks, more kinds of birds, deer, squirrels, owls, and the like - and we realized that we were sharing the valley, making it truly our own, shared private paradise.

“This is all incredible, Gary,” April began saying during the most recent trip to the valley. “But now that your parents know me pretty well, and now that I feel really comfortable being nude around you, I think you should tell your parents that you shared your family's love of nude recreation with me and that I won't mind if you all are nude when I am at your house. I'd like to join you all, too, so I can start to get a sense of what social nude recreation will be like at the campground.”

“I'm glad you feel that way, April,” I said. “I'll definitely let them know; it will be a lot more relaxed and fun for all of us to share the clothes-free experience together. And since you brought up my parents, I think I should bring up yours.” I put on a serious expression and delivered the beginnings of a rousing call to action. “April, your parents now know me pretty well, too, and whether or not you tell them that you plan to be nude with my family at my house, I think now is the time for you to introduce them to your exploration of social nude recreation. I say this because I think in the coming weeks you could warm them up to the idea of you joining my family and me at the campground for a few days during winter break. We can stay in one of the cabins and enjoy the indoor pool, the gym, the social hall... there's lots to do there even when the weather gets cold.”

“I think that's a great idea, Gary!” she exclaimed. “I agree with you that my parents know you a lot better now and that if I'm ever going to be able to visit your campground this year I need to put it to them.” She paused for a few moments, and I could see she was preparing to say something rather heavy, so I waited.

“I can see two ends of the spectrum of scenarios that might happen, however.” She, too, changed her tone for the delivery. “In the best case, they would allow me to visit your camp and go nude as you and your family do. They would also allow me to continue coming over to your house to study, understanding that I would go nude, following the manner of your family, knowing that you are a mature young adult, comfortable with non-sexual nudity, and knowing that one of your parents would always be home.”

She took a deep breath and steeled herself to mention the other end of the spectrum. “In the worst case, they wouldn't allow me to visit the campground, nor continue to come to your house, even if your family agreed to continue staying clothed on my behalf. So for me to even experience nude recreation, we’d have to find another way to safely teleport to and from the valley without getting caught.”

“Wow.” I said, just as stunned as April was when I first told her I spent lots of time in a clothes-free community. “That worst-case scenario sounds pretty bad.”

“We'll just have to cross our fingers and hope that they'll be really open and accepting of the new information,” she said. “After all, Christmas is almost here! 'Tis the season to be... open-minded,” she said with a chuckle.

“Nude Year's Eve should be really fun this year, too,” I said, smiling. “We're going to play a few games, have some pizza, and watch a holiday movie before the countdown.”

“That sounds like fun!”

Yeah,” I said, with a bit of unease. “Here's hoping!”

We returned to the forest, got dressed, and headed back to my house for dinner. April brought up the topic of my family's typical home nudity, and my parents thought my invitation to her to join us at the campground during some of the winter break was nice and, more importantly, feasible... provided that everything went smoothly with her parents. My folks gave her some tips and suggestions for how to discuss various issues with her parents, including ideas for confronting the inevitable affirmation by Pastor Collins of the inappropriateness of social nudity from a Christian perspective, since my parents are Christians, too. After dinner, we agreed that the next time April and I came home to study and have dinner, my parents would be nude, and that she and I could undress or not depending on how she felt.

So, when April and I walked into my house for our next homework session, my mom was already nude and putting the finishing touches on a delicious homemade snack she had prepared for us. I think that gesture really helped April feel comfortable with her nudity, and so she decided she would join my mom in the nude. She said she would be cool if I went nude, too, so after she and I undressed -- she in the hall bathroom and me in my bedroom -- we three chatted about school and life, and of course about April's "first time" being nude with others. My mom told April she was very impressed with her comfort in being nude with us. At that comment, she cast a quick glance at me and I winked back.

My dad got home later and was equally impressed that April had decided to "take the plunge" as he put it. After he undressed, we ate dinner together, all nude and all completely comfortable and enjoying each other's company. We played a fun trivia game after dinner, and when it got to be pretty late, April called for her parents to come pick her up, and we all reluctantly got dressed. My family and I gave her a few last words of encouragement for her eventual big discussion, and I walked her to the car and wished her luck.

Chapter 12

At school the next day, I could sense April's nervousness about the “talk” she would have with her parents that night, and our friends even noticed that she was a bit tense at lunch. She said she was worried about the big science test she had after lunch, which surprised them because they knew that she was pretty good in the different subject areas. I saw Abby and April exchange looks, and although I do know that women are experts in non-verbal facial communication, I had no idea what this exchange meant. Still, I knew she was lying, of course, but she gave a few convincing statements and they wished her luck, saying that they didn't think she really needed it.

I caught up with her during the afternoon break and asked her jokingly, “So, how was the test?”

She rolled her eyes a bit. “You know I was lying at lunch. I'm sure I aced the test. Electromagnetism and relativity theory are pretty straightforward concepts, if you ask me.”

“Yeah... not many students feel that way,” I said, smiling. “Anyway, would you like to do some role-playing and try a few practice conversations with me to prepare a tiny bit more for your talk with your parents?” I asked gently.

“Actually, no, Gary, I'd rather not. I think I'm as ready as I'll ever be.” She paused for a moment, then looked at me with an intense gaze. I thought she looked a little unsure, or at least concerned, but then she spoke softly and asked me, “What I'd really appreciate right now is if you would pray for me.”

I smiled, put my arm around her and walked her outside to the courtyard to one of the stone benches. We sat down, and I took her hands in mine, saying “Let's pray.” We bowed our heads, and I prayed aloud for her, that God would give her the courage and patience to bring up her exploration with her parents, that she would feel His presence strongly, that her words would come easily, and that He would keep her parents' reactions calm and their words gentle.

“Amen,” I said. As she raised her head, I saw two tears trickle down her cheeks.

“Thank you, Gary. That was wonderful.”

“You're welcome, April. I know you'll be great.”

She gave me a quick kiss on the cheek and blushed a bit. I smiled, surprised, and probably blushed a bit, too, but by the time I was thinking about my reaction, she'd already dashed off to her last class.

We sat together on the bus as we had been doing most days since the first day we met, a bit less talkative than usual, and after she got off and the bus began to drive off, I gave her a warm smile and nodded. She smiled back, and then turned to walk home.

After I got home and did some homework, I decided to take a trip to the valley to clear my head and maybe say another prayer for April from under the oak at the top of the meadow hill before dinner.

I always treasured a leisurely walk up the hill, rather than just teleporting right to the base of the solitary oak, feeling the cool of the grass with each step, and if I was lucky, the soothing caress of a gentle breeze. As I left the forest and walked into the meadow to make my way up the hill, I thought about April, her parents, her exploration of the clothes-free lifestyle, our trips to the valley together, and also the brief kiss from earlier. I hadn’t been thinking very long about what that kiss might mean for our friendship before something truly extraordinary happened.

First, I noticed a rapid but slight decrease in temperature, and shivered for a moment. Next, I felt the gentle breeze quickly turn into a harsh wind, causing the leaves of the nearby trees to shiver, too. Then I heard a clap of thunder and look up just as heavy and cold raindrops began to fall. The sky had changed so abruptly from a peaceful and gentle light blue to stormy navy blue, almost black, and I hardly had time to think about how crazy it was. The sun was completely hidden, and I saw a lighting [lightning] bolt streak across the sky, not very far away at all; I hurriedly made for the shelter of the forest as the thunder pealed again. What in the world was happening?, I asked myself.

The rain and wind began to intensify, and I had nearly convinced myself to teleport back to Oakwood when I saw a figure moving quickly down the hill towards the cover of the trees. It was a person, naked and clearly distressed. It was April.

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