The Summer That Changed Everything! Parts 15 to 20
By Hooked6
*
* * * *
Copyright May 2012 by
Hooked6 ([email protected])
all rights reserved. Reproduction,
redistribution, reposting on another Internet site whether or not a
charge or profit
is made is forbidden without the expressed written consent of the
author. Copyright
ownership does not transfer by the posting of this material on this
site by the
author. The following story is for ADULTS only. By accessing this
story, the reader
hereby certifies that he/she is of an appropriate age to access adult
material and
that such material is permitted in the locality or country where the
reader resides.
The following is a
creative work of fiction, and the characters or incidents
described do not resemble
any persons or events in the real world. Comments are always welcome
and serve to
inspire my work.
* * * * *
The
Summer That Changed Everything! Chapter 15
By: Hooked6
Copyright May 2012 by Hooked6 ([email protected]) all rights reserved.
Reproduction, redistribution, reposting on another Internet site whether or not
a charge or profit is made is forbidden without the expressed written consent
of the author. Copyright ownership does not transfer by the posting of this
material on this site by the author. The following story is for ADULTS only. By
accessing this story, the reader hereby certifies that he/she is of an
appropriate age to access adult material and that such material is permitted in
the locality or country where the reader resides. The following is a creative work of fiction, and the
characters or incidents described do not resemble any persons or events in the
real world. Comments are always welcome and serve to inspire my work.
The Summer That Changed Everything! (reluctant
exhibitionism, self-discovery.)
By Hooked6 ([email protected])
Chapter
15
It no time at all we were in town. I knew where
Danny lived because she had pointed out her place as we went through town the
night of Miss Amy’s dinner party. She lived in an apartment on top of one of
the businesses off Main Street.
No sooner had we reached the outside wooden
stairs on the side of the business that led up to Danny’s place, Danny’s mother
came out of the second-floor door and stood on the wooden landing searching
through her purse for her keys.
“Hi, Ms. Maddie” I said pleasantly.”
“Oh hi Katie, doing a little shopping in town?”
she asked as she continued fumbling through her purse.
“No, actually we came to see your daughter. Is
she home?”
“Um, yes actually. She just got up, the lazy
thing. She’s in taking a shower. Would you like to wait for her?”
“Yes, please . . . if that would be okay.”
“No problem. I’m sure she’d be glad to see you.
You two just go on up and wait in the living room. I’m sure she’ll be through
shortly. I really have to get going. I’m late as it is. I’m supposed to be
meeting someone. Sorry I can’t stay and chat.” She said as she scurried down
the stairs. “The door is open; saves me from finding that stupid house key.
Someday I’m really going to have to clean out my purse. Just make yourself at
home.” With that she left the stairs and headed off down the street.
“Well?“ I said to Patrick as he just stood
there. “Let’s go.”
.
“Maybe we should wait until she’s through with
her shower. She might not like it if we . . .”
I gave him my most wicked grin and replied,
“That’s just what I want . . . besides we HAVE permission, remember?” I grabbed
him by the hand and headed up the stairs. Once inside I could hear the water
running in the bathroom. Good, I thought to myself, she’s still in the shower.
I turned to Patrick who was closing the front
door and told him to leave it open.
“Listen. If you really are my friend and like me
as much as you say you do, I need you to back me up here.”
“What . . . what are you going to do?”
“Just back me up, okay. All you have to go is go
along with whatever I say and don’t wimp out on me. Can you do that?”
“Anna, this doesn’t sound like a good idea . . .
I mean . . .”
“Fine, be that way. Just march your sorry butt
outside that door and never call on me again.”
“But, Anna . . .”
“Listen, Danny obviously holds the clue to
whatever is going on around here. Anyway, what’s wrong with you? Don’t you want
to see another girl naked?”
Patrick got a huge smile on his face, “Well,
since you put it that way . . . I’m in.”
I carefully went to the bathroom and opened the
door just a crack and sure enough there was Danny washing her arms. OMG she was
beautiful!! I had no idea she looked that good under all those baggy clothes
she was always wearing. I silently held up one finger in the air to Patrick as
if I was counting, then two, then THREE!
At the count of three, we both burst loudly into
the room. Danny immediately spotted both of us and screamed. She dropped the
bar of soap that was in her hand and used her arms to try and cover her body.
“GET OUT OF HERE!” she snapped loudly. She was so cute all cowering in the
shower trying to hide her nudity as the water cascaded all over her. “PATRICK,
GET OUT OF HERE!!! KATIE HOW COULD YOU!!! AAAAHHHhhhhh, STOP LOOKING AT ME!!!!”
I just laughed and grabbed her hand and yanked
her out of the shower and dragged her into the living room still dripping wet.
She couldn’t put up much of a resistance as she was desperately trying to keep
her best bits covered.
Danny was still in shock as she stood in her
living room dripping water on her carpeted floor. “CLOSE THAT FICKEN DOOR!” she
yelled at Patrick who just smiled and stood his ground.
.
“What’s the matter Danny? Afraid people will see
you naked? Now you know how I felt the other night at Miss Amy’s.”
Patrick gave me a puzzled look as he had no idea
what I was talking about. I didn’t bother to explain and just let his mind fill
in the blanks.
“LET ME GO!” she pleaded as I held her fast.
“Not so fast, you little conniving tramp, so you
knew all about where to find my clothes, eh? Did you send Andy Simpson to torment
me too? Oh, I’ll let you go as soon as you tell me what’s going on. Why are you
doing this to me?”
“I don’t know what you are talking about?”
“You DON’T? I think you are lying. Maybe we
should just throw your naked little ‘self’ outside in the street. Maybe that
will help you think clearly.”
“You have no idea what you are dealing with.
Don’t you see I CAN’T tell you! Trust me. You’ll thank me for this someday.”
“THANK you? For what?”
“Look, I told you at Miss Amy’s that you had
best not upset Grandma Ruth, didn’t I?”
“You leave my Granny out of this. She’s a sweet
old lady. Don’t try and pin the blame on her. SHE didn’t write this note – YOU
did.” I then held up the paper Patrick had given me and all the color ran out
of her face as she looked at my friend as if she had been betrayed. “I KNOW you
know more than you are letting on. In fact, I think YOU are the cause of all
this. So unless you want to end up outside naked in front of the whole town,
you had better start talking.”
“I can’t. Please, you gotta believe me. I just
CAN’T.”
“Perhaps you need a little taste of what it
feels like to have people staring at you,” I said as I quickly got behind Danny
holding her arms and turning her to face Patrick. “What do you think of her
body, my friend,” I said as I pulled her arms away from her front exposing her
completely to him. I could literally feel her blushing. I could even see her
earlobes turning bright red in embarrassment!
“WOW!!! She’s hot!”
“HEY!” I shouted, “Hotter than me??”
“Ahem, no . . . but she’s a close second!” He
said trying to dig himself out of the hole he had just dug for himself.
I laughed at his playful response and then
whispered in Danny’s ear, “So, how does it feel having this boy look at ALL
your secret charms? Embarrassing, isn’t it?”
My question obviously made her mad as she began
struggling in earnest to get away. I was determined not to let that happen and
somehow was able to hang on.
Now START TALKING. Tell us what is happening on the 21st.”
Danny went limp as if my question surprised her.
“If you know enough about the 21st to ask about it, then you know
all there is to know.”
“That’s just it, We DON’T know. It’s only 2 days
away!”
“Well, then, you don’t have long to wait then do
you?”
That did it. She was really making me MAD now.
“Fine, you want to play games, let’s play shove the naked girl out the door!” I
started pushing Danny towards the open door but she struggled valiantly and
kept me from making much progress. The sounds of passing cars and passersby
talking down below could be heard easily through the open door making it
painfully clear to all of us that once Danny was indeed out the door she was
going to be seen.
“Are you sure you don’t want to talk?” I asked
trying to distract her from the fact that I wasn’t succeeding in getting her
out of the apartment.
“I CAN’T. Please, for your own best interest,
LEAVE THINGS BE!”
“Patrick, help me!” I shouted causing his eyes
to get as big as silver dollars.
“You keep your hands off me, you pervert!”
I have to admit Patrick was a sport and didn’t
let me down. The gentleman in him came shining through though as he didn’t
touch Danny at all. He did however get behind me and threw his own weight into
pushing me, which in turn overpowered Danny’s attempt at staying inside.
In just a few seconds she was outside naked on
the second story platform outside her door making her clearly visible to the
street below. Her instinctive, but muffled scream caught the attention of
several people on the sidewalk below and they all stopped and stared, laughing
at her predicament. Of course I still held her arms behind her back so she hid
nothing to the curious crowd below.
“TALK!” I whispered sternly into her ear, “or
else we are going for a little walk, understand?”
Just then Danny exclaimed, “UH OH.”
I looked over Danny’s shoulder and to my horror
there were Granny and Ms. Maddie heading right towards the stairs we were
standing on. They had seen us!
The Summer That Changed Everything! (reluctant
exhibitionism, self-discovery.)
By Hooked6 ([email protected])
Chapter
16
I could feel Danny trembling all over in fright
as she watched my Grandmother approach the stairs. She was more nervous now than
she had been after I shoved her out the door naked. “Oh gawd, we’re screwed!”
she mumbled under her breath. “Your Grandmother will kill me!”
Granny stopped at the bottom of the stairs and
sternly looked us over for several moments as we just stood there not knowing
what to do. “Just what are you kids up to?”
Ms. Maddie just looked at her naked daughter
with surprised disappointment. “Go on, answer her,” Danny’s mom demanded. “Just
what ARE you doing out here without any clothes?”
I just knew she was going to toss me under the
bus and tell her mom what I had done. There was nothing left for me to do. I
had to face it. I had done a terrible thing and now I was going to suffer the
consequences of my hasty decision. I was about to speak up and explain things
when Danny shocked the heck out of me by saying, “We were just horsing around,
that’s all. It was all my fault.”
“Oh REALLY?” her mother said in disbelief.
“Yes . . . um . . . I just wanted to see what it
was like for Katie at the dinner party the other night and . . . well . . . we
got to playing around and before we knew it I was outside and then you came up
and . . . Awkward, I know. Sorry. We didn’t mean any harm, honest.”
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing! Why was
she doing this? Danny could have easily just told the truth and she would have
been off the hook. Instead she was protecting me. WHY?! Could it be that she
was really protecting herself from what she did to me with Andy Simpson? Maybe
this was just the lessor of two evils and she figured this was the easiest way
out. Perhaps if she had let me tell what REALLY happened, she would have had to
explain everything else that she had been up to and had done to me which would
have much worse. That made sense. I was right after all – Danny was behind all
of this nonsense from the very beginning. Suddenly I didn’t feel sorry for her
anymore.
Granny looked at Ms. Maddie and then back up at
us. “So, the three of you weren’t doing anything immoral, you were jealous of
Katie and wanted to see what it was like. Is that what you are saying, Danny?”
Danny hesitated, looked at her mother and then with her voice quivering a bit
replied, “Yes ma’am.”
Granny rubbed her chin. “I see. If what you say
is true . . .” she then paused for dramatic effect before continuing with a
devious smile, “Well, I can help you with that. If you want to get the full
experience, why don’t you go over to Hansen’s Drug Store and pick up my
prescription for me. I was meaning to do that this morning while we were out
but you can save me the trouble.”
Danny let out an audible gasp! “You mean now?
Like this?!”
“Of course, sweetie? That IS what you wanted
isn’t it – to see what it felt like to be Katie. Well now is your chance to
find out. It’s just across the street.”
Danny was noticeably shaking and her breathing
was very profound, almost like a panting dog in the hot summer’s heat. In
desperation she pleaded, “Mom . . . ?” hoping that she would be the voice of
reason and put a stop to this incredible idea.
Her mom was apparently not in the mood to
intervene. “Don’t look at me, kiddo. You got yourself into this mess. I think
it’s a WONDERFUL idea. It might teach you a lesson.”
“But MOM!”
“Hurry back.”
Patrick cleared his throat and said, “I think I
need to be going now.”
Granny laughed. “Are you sure you don’t want to
know what it feels like to be Katie too. I’m sure Danny would LOVE some
company.”
“NO!” he snapped back quickly. “That is, I have
enough trouble just trying to be me.”
“Suit yourself, but I still want you two to go
with Danny. I’m sure this has as much to do with the two of you as it does her.
See to it she doesn’t get into trouble or dawdle along the way, won’t you?”
Danny looked terrified and stood frozen in
place. “Mom . . . please . . .”
Then something happened that took me totally by
surprise. My Grandmother, who up to now had been talking in a sweet, sugary
voice as if she was just teasing us to make a point, yelled at the top of her
lungs, “MOVE IT . . . NOW!” Her eyes were small and beady as she sternly
pointed her finger across the street in the direction of Hansen’s Drug Store.
He voice was angry and full of venom. Even I was
scared. Her demeanor and commanding presence left little doubt about who was in
charge. CRAP! Maybe Danny was right after all. My Granny wasn’t someone to
cross.
Danny’s legs were shaking as she slowly took
step after step down the staircase, desperately looking this way and that up
and down the street to see who was about. I stayed close behind to offer at
least a little cover for her backside. Patrick was right behind me with his
hand on my shoulder.
When we reached the bottom of the stairs, Granny,
back in her sugary-sweet voice said, “If any one gives you a hard time, just
tell them I sent you.” Then, giving Danny’s cheek a pinch added, “Oh, you are
so CUTE! Have fun and look both ways before crossing the street.”
Like a condemned prisoner, Danny apprehensively
plodded on. Patrick did the decent thing and got onto her left side in an
attempt to at least partially shield her naked body from prying eyes.
Fortunately it was still early enough in the morning that traffic was light.
Many of the shops had not yet opened; a fact that most likely figured in
Granny’s decision to insist she make this humiliating trek.
When we were in the middle of the street, a
voice called out, “Hey Katie!” I waved back at the young girl not having any
idea who she was. Soon another girl called out her greeting, “Hi Katie!” I
meekly answered back, “Hi.” even though I didn’t know that person either.
Danny just sighed, “Shut up you idiot. They’re
talking to me.” I was about to ask her what she meant when she added curtly,
“You have no idea what a friend I really am! No idea at all!”
“What?”
“Never mind,” she said a bit put out, “You’ll
find out for yourself soon enough.”
Was she giving me a clue or was she just playing
the role of a martyr since she got caught.
Upon entering Hansen’s Drug Store, the old lady
at the counter frowned as she spotted Danny and her lack of clothes. “Just what
do you think you are doing? This is a respectable business. Get out of here
before I call the cops.” She clearly was in no mood to tolerate such
foolishness.
I was scared to death and could only imagine
what Danny must have been feeling at that moment. Fortunately Patrick spoke up,
“Miss Ruth sent us over here to pick up her prescription. If you let my friend
here wait inside I’ll go back and get it and we’ll be on our way. We don’t wish
to cause any trouble.”
The lady’s disapproving expression reluctantly
changed. “Miss Ruth? Well, why didn’t you say so? Go on back and get want she
needs.” The lady’s words may have sounded like she was being supportive but the
tone in her voice was strained. She obviously was only tolerating us for some
reason.
Patrick started for the back when the lady spoke
to Danny, “You go on as well. No need to stand in front of the store window
like that.”
Yes, ma’am,” Danny replied with her shaky voice.
As we walked down the aisle headed for the
pharmacy in the back of the store we had to pass the lunch counter. Danny
gasped as she spotted Andy Simpson and two of his friends eating breakfast.
“Well, well, what do we have here? Danny? Where
are your clothes?”
His comment made the other two boys chuckle
teasingly.
“Shut up, Andy. Just shut up!”
He laughed and was about to say something stupid
when I grabbed his shirt and pulled his face close to mine. “DON’T SAY ANOTHER
WORD. She may not be able to do anything to you, but I sure can. I’m pissed at
you for what you did to me the other day. Don’t think for a minute that this is
over, cause it ain’t!” I shoved him back in his chair to a chorus of “oooooooooh’s”
from his buddies.
Danny’s face was as red as a tomato and her
nipples were about as pointy as any I had ever seen before. Clearly she was not
only embarrassed but a bit aroused as well – just like I had been at Miss
Amy’s. If she had ever really wanted to know what it felt like being me, I was
sure she now understood quite accurately after seeing her blushing and how
perky her nips were.,
Patrick explained to the man at the pharmacy
that we needed to pick up my Granny’s prescription and after looking Danny over
VERY thoroughly he turned and went back into the shelves and began searching
for it. All the while Danny had to endure the stares and jeers of her
classmates. It was bad enough being naked at a dinner party of mostly adults. I
couldn’t imagine what it must be like to walk into a store in the middle of the
town completely naked and be seen by your classmates – people that you would
have to see every day. That would be too humiliating to even think about!
The man returned with a small white bag and
said, “That’ll be $64.38, please.”
“Oh . . . ah . . . I don’t have any money.”
“Gee, mister,” I pleaded trying to sound
pitiful, “My Granny didn’t give us any to pay for this.”
The man looked at Danny giggling, “And I suppose
she doesn’t have any on her, either, eh?”
Danny just wrinkled up her nose at him in
disgust. “Yeah, I keep all my money in my pubic hair.”
I saw the man’s eyes immediately drop to look at
her pelvis when she said that. “Cute. No money then. That’s what I thought,” he
said smiling from ear to ear as he handed the bag to Patrick. “Just tell Miss
Ruth I’ll put it on her account.”
Patrick thanked the man and we headed back down
the aisle. “Nice buns,” Andy quipped as we left hearing, not only the boys, but
the man at the counter laughing heartily as well.
The
Summer That Changed Everything! (reluctant exhibitionism,
self-discovery.)
By Hooked6 ([email protected])
Chapter
17
Once outside the Drug Store we had to wait for
some traffic to pass. One guy honked his horn as he went past yelling, “Hi
Katie!” which made us all jump.
As we started to cross the street Danny suddenly
dropped and curled up into a ball right in the middle of the road and refused
to budge! “Danny, what’s wrong?” I asked not understanding why she had suddenly
gone all terrified.
“That’s Tommy Cooper over there on the sidewalk
– the captain of the football team! He’s been trying to get into my panties all
last year, the pompous creep! All I did was taunt him that he could only dream
about my body as he would never, ever see it. CRAP! If he sees me naked like
this I’ll NEVER live this down.”
“Has he spotted you yet?” Patrick asked.
“Not yet. He’s talking to those boys over there.
I don’t think he’s noticed me.”
“Well he sure as heck will if you stay in the
road like this.” I said.
Once again my hero came to the rescue. “Give me
a sec and I’ll run over there and get him to turn around to talk with me. I’ll
brag on all the things I’ve heard about his football talent which should give
you time to make a run for it.” With that he ran across the street and sure
enough he expertly maneuvered Tommy to face even farther away from the street
and began chatting with him.
“NOW!” I whispered as I grabbed Danny’s hand and
we started running towards her apartment.
We were almost to the sidewalk in front of her
place when we heard someone behind us shout “HEY!! LOOK AT THAT NAKED GIRL!!”
All the boys, including Tommy turned around and
saw us. He then started jogging to where we were. “DANNY!!” Tommy yelled as he
headed towards us. “I DON’T BELIEVE IT!! And you said I’d never see that hot
bod of yours.” He was laughing his fool head off.
Danny didn’t hang around to chat. She made a mad
dash for her stairs and began climbing them two at a time! In a flash she was
inside her door and slammed it shut. I casually walked up her steps as this
Tommy guy said to me, “Hey girlfriend, tell Danny she has a nice tuna, okay?”
I wasn’t going to tell her any such thing. She
had been humiliated enough for one day. Patrick joined us a few moments later
with Granny’s pills.
Granny seemed pleased with herself as Danny just
headed toward her room to sulk. Neither Ms. Maddie nor my Granny asked about
our trip and I certainly wasn’t going to volunteer anything. I wasn’t sure that
Danny would welcome my presence either so I stayed with Granny. After the women
visited for a while longer, Danny’s mom took us back to the farm.
The next day I spent outside doing that stupid
garden weeding. To my surprise, Granny never asked me about my breakfast date
or how I ended up at Danny’s place. I was glad. I was deathly afraid of what I
might have said or worse, what I might have learned. Was Granny really a tyrant
like Danny seemed to think or was Danny just caught in her own web of deceit
and was taught a valuable lesson? I didn’t know. I DID know, however, that
Patrick got a straw hat to wear on the 21st. What was that all
about?
One thing was for sure, I’d find out tomorrow as
that was the 21st of June. Granny hadn’t said a thing to me about
any special plans for tomorrow nor did I detect that she was making any special
arrangements. Everything seemed as usual, which was what was troubling me.
Patrick knew about that day and he too was confused. He was SURE something was
going on. Try as I might, none of this was making any sense to me.
That night I tossed and turned all night getting
very little sleep. All I could think about was the events of my trip so far and
worry about what might be happening the next day.
It seemed like I had no sooner fallen asleep
than I was awakened by Granny knocking at my door. “Time to get up, dearie” I
heard her say through the closed door.
I looked over at my wind-up alarm clock and it
said 4:45am! “Granny, I’m too tired to milk the cow this morning. Can’t you do
it just this once?”
I heard her laughing as she opened my door.
“Dearie, I’ve already done that and a bunch of other chores too. No, today is a
SPECIAL day and we need to get you up and fed.”
The words “Special day” shot through my brain
like a knife through hot butter! OMG! TODAY IS THE 21ST. I sat up in
bed and rubbed my eyes. “Granny, what’s so special about today that I have to
get up and get ready so early?” I asked cautiously.
“Oh, you’ll see soon enough. It’s a surprise!
I’m sure you’ll like it. Everybody does! Now go and get your bath – as we will
be in town for most of the day. Then after you are dressed come into the
kitchen and I’ll have a great breakfast for you.”
“But Granny . . .” I said as she ignored me and
went to the kitchen.
I took my time bathing and doing my hair. As hot
as it had been yesterday weeding the garden, I felt particularly grungy and a
getting washed up made me feel a whole lot better. As I looked at my clothes –
the same tired almost worn out clothes I had been wearing for days the thought
occurred to me how lucky I was to at least have these. If it hadn’t been for my
hero, Patrick, I would have been in quite a pickle. Whatever was happening in
town today, at least I was dressed thanks to my . . . boyfriend. Yes, I
actually was thinking of him as “my boyfriend.” I liked that.
Entering the kitchen I was a bit surprised to
see Granny all dressed up again – really dressed up with make-up and
everything. The only other time I had seen her that way was at . . . Miss
Amy’s! Just then a wave of doom crept over me. Why did I have to make that
association, I wondered?
As I finished breakfast, I heard a car pulling
up outside. “Oh that’ll be our ride into town. Best hurry up and finish,
dearie. I don’t want to keep them waiting,” Granny said as she went to the
door.
I put my plate into the sink as my stomach was
too excited to eat anything much. When I went outside I saw that our ride was
Miss Maddie. She had brought her daughter Danny along as well. Granny got into
the car and sat in the front seat leaving me to sit with Danny in the back. I
was a little apprehensive about getting in the car with her as I wasn’t sure if
she was mad at me or not after yesterday.
I needn’t have worried. As I climbed in the car
Danny was all smiles. She seemed upbeat and quite happy. I quietly apologized
to her for the previous day but she wouldn’t hear of it. As far as she was
concerned she was my best friend. On the drive she asked me if I had kissed
Patrick yet. I just blushed and said something stupid like a girl wasn’t
supposed to kiss and tell. She laughed at that and I felt much better about
things realizing that I didn’t have to look over my shoulder worrying if she
was for me or against me.
Still . . . I had this nagging uneasiness about
what was going on. What was happening in town that made Granny get all dressed
up? Why was “whatever this was” such a secret?
We drove through town as it was just getting
daylight, the sun not having risen yet from over the horizon. There was a bit
of morning fog but not enough to hide the fact that there were men on ladders
putting up bunting on all the streetlights. There were flowers too in the
window boxes of all the businesses along Main Street. Several people were using
brooms on the sidewalks as if the town was cleaning up for something important.
I was about to ask Granny what was going on when
we pulled into Miss Amy’s house. My heart skipped a beat seeing that place
again. All I could think of was walking around naked in her home! I tried to
comfort my fears by telling myself that at least on this trip I was wearing
clothes!!
Everyone piled out of the car and we were
greeted by Miss Amy who seemed genuinely excited that we were there. Once
inside everyone made small talk for a few minutes talking about what a great
day this was going to be and that the weather promised to be perfect! Granny
received numerous compliments on her dress. Then Miss Amy came over and asked
if I was excited about being there today.
“I’m a bit nervous, actually” I confessed. “I
don’t really know what . . .”
I was interrupted by Granny who came over
saying, “Enough of this small talk, we’ve got to get you ready, dearie.”
“Ready? Ready for what?” I asked with my voice
shaking from fear.
“For the Parade, silly,” Miss Amy said with a
warm and comforting smile.
“Parade? What parade?”
“The Summer Solstice Parade.”
The Summer sols what parade?” Everyone laughed
at my naiveté, especially Danny.
Miss Amy explained, “The Summer Solstice. Today
is the first official day of summer and every year we celebrate the arrival of
this season with a big parade. People come from all over, miles away actually,
just to partake of the festivities. They’ll be hundreds, maybe even a thousand
or more people all having a good time!”
“Wow that sounds like fun!” I said eagerly, “I
like watching parades.” Once again Danny began giggling at my answer.
“So, let’s get you ready, dearie,” Granny said
as she began pulling at my T-shirt trying to lift it above my head.
“HEY! WAIT A MINUTE! What are you doing?”
“You can’t wear these things. They’re a mess.”
Granny said as she yanked off my shirt leaving me topless in front of everyone.
Miss Amy put her arm around me and tried to
comfort me as Granny began unzipping my shorts. “You really can’t wear these
old things to the parade, Katie.”
“But . . . wait . . .”
For a nanosecond I thought that maybe that they
had just wanted me to look a bit more dressed up as everyone else including
Danny was wearing something really nice. No sooner than I was naked I saw Danny
holding the straw hat with the blue ribbons!
“YOU CAN’T BE SERIOUS!” I exclaimed loudly. “I’m
NOT going to watch the parade NAKED!”
“You most certainly are NOT,” Granny said, with
a smile making my heart rate slow a bit. “You’re going to be IN the parade
naked!”
“WHAT!!!!!! HELL NO I’M NOT EITHER!!” Just then
I heard the front door opening and someone walking inside. I instinctively
covered myself afraid of whom it might be. Then I saw her.
“MOM!!!! HELP ME!!!”
:
“
The Summer That Changed Everything! (reluctant
exhibitionism, self-discovery.)
By Hooked6 ([email protected])
Chapter
18
I couldn’t believe it. My mom was here! Of all
the people that I really needed right now it was my own mother! “Tell them,
mom. These people are CRAZY!!! Look what they are doing to me!”
My mother just smiled, “Calm down, sweetheart. I
know all about it.”
“Good! Make them stop! They want me to ride in a
parade NAKED!”
My mom smiled and put her arm around my shoulder
and said, “Could you all just give me a moment.” They all started to leave the
room as my mom took a seat in front of me.
“Danny,” I yelled out, “could you please stay? I
might need someone to back me up. My mom isn’t going to believe what’s been
going on around here.”
Danny nodded her head and returned back into the
room.
I couldn’t get my words out fast enough and all
my thoughts came out jumbled almost in one long sentence that probably made
absolutely no sense but I had to get it all out before Granny came back and
tried to stop me. “Mom you’re not going to believe this but I SWEAR it’s all
true. Everybody’s been calling me Katie, even people I don’t know and there’s
this Book of Katies that I found and I went to a dinner party naked right here,
mom! NAKED with a whole bunch of people, and the straw hat, Patrick got one too
and, people stole my clothes, oh and my trunk is missing and there was this
secret meeting and they voted – on what I haven’t a clue and . . .”
“It’s alright, sweetheart. Honestly. I know all
about it. Everything is at it should be.”
“What?!”
“Just relax and take a deep breath while I try
and explain it to you. So you found The Book of Katie did you?”
‘Yes, have you seen it?”
“Yes, I’ve seen many times. Do you know who
Katie is?”
I scrunched up my eyebrows and shook my head,
“No but there are a lot of them!”
“Katie was my sister, your Aunt - the original
Katie that is. She hated clothes. In fact, every summer she mostly ran around
naked and went just about everywhere just the way she was born. People LOVED
her and they got so used to seeing her in town that nobody seemed to mind. She
brought joy to just about everybody in town and always made people smile.”
“What happened to her? I never even knew I had
an aunt.”
“Well, that’s the sad part, she got sick and
there wasn’t anything the doctors could do. She died when she was 8 years old.
Everybody missed her terribly. That’s one reason I left this beautiful place as
I couldn’t bear all the memories.”
“Oh . . . I’m sorry mom. I didn’t know. So
THAT’s why that first picture in the book sort of looked like me. She was a
relative of mine.”
“That’s right. The real Katie was the first
picture in the book.”
“So . . . who are all those other little girls?
Did everyone in town name their kids after my aunt?”
My mom laughed, “No sweetheart. Your Grandmother
decided to do something to honor your aunt in a very special way. Shortly after
your Aunt Katie died she set up a special foundation and each year she and a
special committee picked a deserving girl who was happy, positive and well
liked in the community and awarded them a full college scholarship plus expense
money to ANY college or university they could get accepted to later on in life.
She called it the Katie award.”
“Oh, I see. So those girls were all scholarship
winners.”
“That’s right. And each year to get the award
the winner had to be Katie in the most remembered and revered way.”
“Huh?”
Danny laughed, “She means they had to ride in
the parade naked, just like little Katie did.”
My mom scowled at Danny for a second then
continued her explanation. “Yes, part of the award stipulation is that the
winner had to “play” Katie during the solstice festival. It was only done with
the full approval of the winner’s parents and the winner had to agree as well.”
“So what about that girl you were talking about,
Danny, the one that crossed Granny.”
“Yeah, there was one girl who didn’t want to do
it. Her parents tried and tried to convince her but she wasn’t having any of
it. Later on after the girl grew up and graduated high school she couldn’t get
a scholarship and her parents had no money to send her. She works at the burger
joint up the road flipping burgers regretting that she didn’t accept the
award.”
“Yes, even though she was older now she couldn’t
get the award because she refused earlier. It was her right to refuse then but
she has to live with the consequences.”
“So I’m confused. Where did Granny get all this
money for scholarships? She like, lives in a dump!”
“Don’t let that fool you. She’s a very wealthy
woman, and also a very generous one. In fact she gives most of her money away
to good causes. She doesn’t have to live like she does, she chooses to do so.
Most of the people in this town wouldn’t have their businesses or homes if your
grandmother hadn’t lent a helping hand. That’s one of the reasons they go along
with this program. The other is to genuinely honor the memory of your aunt”
“Okay, I get it. But what’s that got to do with
me? I’m not 7 years old?”
“No, but you are going to graduate high school
next year and your grandmother is getting old. She wanted to make sure you were
provided for as she is very proud of you. She wasn’t sure she would be around
much longer and time was running out. The town means well but no one can say if
they will be able to continue the program after she is gone so . . . she wants
you to be this year’s award winner.”
“ME?? A full scholarship?”
Yes. It’s official. That vote you overheard was
the committee approving your application.”
“I didn’t submit any application.” I said
totally confused.
“No but I did. The committee wasn’t sure but you
seemed to handle being naked at the party quite nicely. They were impressed
with your innocence. THAT’S what got you your scholarship – not Granny’s
political pull. The committee has to be unanimous in their voting for the award
to be given.”
“BUT . . . I’m too old to be Katie!”
“Yes, and that caused a lot of concern, not only
from the committee but from the townspeople as well. They weren’t sure if it
was appropriate for someone your age to appear naked among such a crowd. So,
they devised a test to see how people would react and as of last night it seems
everyone agrees that it would be okay.”
‘Test, what test?”
Danny spoke up and explained. “Remember all
those times you got yourself into situations that you found yourself
under-dressed? Like when my mom helped you ride Old Smokey topless, then you
surprised us all at your willingness to go and do that Lady Godiva thing.” I
blushed knowing my mom was hearing that.
“Skinny dipping in the lake, walking into town
naked, and don’t forget the dinner party,” Danny added with glee.
“You mean that was all a test?”
“Yes, except YOU were the one that was supposed
to walk into Hansen’s Drug Store to get your grandmother’s prescription NOT me.
I took that test for you. You sort of screwed that up by your anger. I couldn’t
tell you what was really going on as we were all sworn to secrecy. This had to
be an honest test. If you knew about it you could affect the test results. So I
HAD to take the test for you. There was no other way. See, I TOLD you I was a
good friend, didn’t I?”
“Yes, and you passed with flying colors,” mom
reaffirmed.
“But . . . what about the boys skinny-dipping?”
“They were doing two things, one to help you
overcome your inhibitions – it worked too as you eventually went skinny-dipping
on your own. And two, to help the other winner.”
“So the people in the town knew what was going
on?”
“Sort of,” Danny replied. “They knew that if
they saw any girl in town naked that it was part of the Katie test.”
“So THAT’S why everyone was calling me Katie!”
Danny laughed. “Yes, and that’s why I almost
slipped and gave you a hint when I told you they were talking to me, not you,
when they said hi to Katie as I crossed the street naked on the way to
Hansen’s.”
It all made sense now. Then my spine began
getting that tingle and Goosebumps appeared all over my flesh. “YOU MEAN I HAVE
TO LET EVERYONE IN TOWN SEE ME NAKED?”
Just then Granny entered the room. “Yes it does,
IF you want the award. It’s your choice. You don’t have to do it. But, you’ve
done so well so far I think you’ve got what it takes to pull it off. After all,
your mother, being a single parent can’t afford to send you to college by
herself and all my remaining money is tied up in trust for the foundation so I
can’t just give you the cash. Besides, if you successfully do everything you
are supposed to do today without backing out you will be paving the way for
other teenagers to get this award in the future. You see, the town is sort of running
out of little Katies.”
Granny then put on the infamous straw hat on top
of my head.
“Wait a minute!” I said half out of breath. “You
said there were TWO winners this year. Who is the other?”
Granny smiled. “That’s right. There are two
winners – first time ever. The committee decided that since this was a
ground-breaking year using a teenage girl to be Katie, they also decided to
open it up to a teenage boy this year as well. We are calling it the Kenny
award, after a boy the original Katie hung out with all the time back then.
Pretty clever; don’t you think?”
“But that means . . . OMG!!”
Just then a very embarrassed and a very naked
Patrick walked into the room wearing a straw hat!!
(author’s note: Next up – the Parade!”
The Summer That Changed Everything! (reluctant
exhibitionism, self-discovery.)
By Hooked6 ([email protected])
Chapter
19
“”PATRICK!” I exclaimed as I saw him enter the
room with his mother behind him prodding him along. He was blushing and
obviously quite uncomfortable. I couldn’t help myself. I HAD to giggle. He was
naked except for that straw hat just like mine except that there were no
trailing ribbons hanging from the back of the hat like mine. He looked so cute,
all embarrassed and desperately trying to cover himself up front. When he saw
me looking at him, he lowered his eyes to the floor.
“Now son, there’ll none of that. Remember your
agreement. You have to act proud and be of good cheer” With that his mother
pulled his hands away from his groin exposing all that he had to the entire
room.
He was gorgeous! I wasn’t really sure why but I
was mesmerized by the site of his cock. It was nice – not threatening, just . .
. well . . . nice. I liked the looks of it and how it hung a bit to one side
against his balls.
“But mom, what if I . . . you know . . .”
“Son, that’s probably going to happen at some
point; it’s perfectly natural and nothing to be ashamed about. But, try not to
dwell on it. If it happens just ignore it and concentrate on something else
like the parade or the music.”
“Or me!” I thought to myself, oh wait - that
probably wouldn’t help. Suddenly I realized that I had been so busy checking
out Patrick’s nudity that I forgot that I was naked as well. I quickly looked
at Patrick’s eyes and sure enough he was looking me over and worse yet, he was
smiling. Now, it was my turn to be embarrassed.
Granny came over and handed me a clipboard with
a bunch of papers on it. “What’s this?” I asked as I took the papers from her.
“That’s your scholarship agreement. Your mom has
already read it and signed as your guardian. Now all that is left is for you to
look it over and make sure you have no problems with anything contained in it.
If you agree with everything required of you, sign at the bottom on the line
above your name. As you can see, the committee has already signed off on it, so
once you sign the document it’s official – unless of course you fail to do
what’s required. You can still back out at any time but, if you do, you forfeit
your scholarship and your expense money.”
The document had paragraph and paragraph of
legal gobbledygook on page after page. I did see the part about me appearing in
the parade naked and that I had to act as ambassador for the town in the spirit
of my Aunt Katie, but the rest was all Greek to me. “Mom, Granny said that you
read this mumbo-jumbo already. What do you think? Is this okay for me to sign?”
“Well honey, that’s for you to decide. You
should make sure you are happy with it. I have checked it out and I don’t think
there’s anything legally objectionable in there if that’s what you are asking.”
“Well, then, that’s good enough for me.” I took
the pen and signed my name – on both copies. One was apparently for the scholarship
committee and the other one I’m guessing was for my mom.
Miss Amy came over and began applying some
makeup to my face – eyeliner, and some mascara, stuff like that. I felt like I
was some sort of fashion model or something the way everyone was doting on me. Eventually
the adults all left to attend to some other details they were stressing over
leaving Patrick and me alone in the room.
“So when did you find out about all this?” I
asked out of curiosity.
Patrick was hiding himself behind a chair back
as he stood in the room trying to act casual about his lack of clothes. “Mom
told me last night. I about FREAKED!”
“Yeah me too; I just found out a few minutes ago
and I’m still trying to take it all in.” We both lingered in the room without
saying much. It was awkward. I mean here was this guy I had a MAJOR crush on
standing naked not two feet from me! What was worse is that I was in the same
condition. It was exciting and very arousing but at the same time it felt weird
– not natural somehow.
“Danny told me all my troubles were part of the
test to see if I’d pass for the scholarship. Were YOU tested too?” I asked
carefully.
“I don’t want to talk about it.”
“What do you mean you don’t want to talk about
it? It’s a simple yes or no question.”
“Yeah, I was ‘tested’ as you say. I thought I
was just absent-minded or something ending up naked all the time – like I was
in the twilight zone or something. My own mom was accidentally exposing me to
just about everybody! It all seemed so innocent but still I was the one who
ended up naked – in the clothing store, people barging in while I was taking a
shower, it was awful.”
“I know what you mean. That’s how it was with me
too. These people obviously have put a lot of work and planning into this whole
thing. Since you here and naked I’m guessing you passed.”
He just sighed.
Just then Granny returned with two large capes.
“Put these on,” she instructed as she handed one to each of us.
“What are these for? I thought we were supposed
to ride naked.”
“Oh you are dearie. It’s just that we want the
two of you to be a surprise to everybody. You keep these on until we get to the
float and get everything ready.”
This won’t be so bad, I thought as I put the
cape around me. Of course it only came to just below my pelvis and I had to
constantly hold it closed but at least I was covered. Granny led us out to Ms.
Amy’s SUV. I was made to sit on the middle bench seat next to Patrick during
the ride, our naked thighs touching each other. I was getting wetter by the
minute and the worst part of it all was that there wasn’t anything I could do
about it.
As we rode downtown heading for the staging area
I was shocked at all the people already lining the parade route! There were
young, old, males, and females, in fact entire families were staking out there
spots along Main Street. Just the thought of having all these people see me
naked was frightening.
We stopped at the back of some warehouse
building. The street behind this building was a madhouse. There were all sorts
of decorated cars, old tractors, floats of every kind sponsored by several
local businesses, fancy dressed cowboys and cowgirls dressed in fancy Western
clothing, and much to my horror, the high school marching band all decked out
in their uniforms.
“This is it,” Granny said excitedly, “Everybody
out!”
She led us over to a beautiful float at the end
of this long line of floats and things. Our float was a flat trailer with a
vertical back that was decorated with a HUGE image of a smiling sun. The floor
was covered with a green grass-like carpet and everywhere the platform was
decorated with real fresh flowers. Somebody must have gone to a lot of trouble
decorating this. There was a sign over the top of the “sun” that said “Katie
and Kenny – Solstice Queen and King”
I jabbed Patrick with my elbow and quipped, “At
least they got the pecking order right – QUEEN got first billing.”
“Ha, Ha” he replied sarcastically. “I’m taller
than you. People will notice me first.”
“Really? Good! Maybe they will be so busy
looking at your naked little self that they won’t have time to look at me
before the float goes by.”
“Damn! I hadn’t thought of that!”
Granny got us into position on the float. I was
hoping we’d at least be able to sit down to minimize our exposure but that
wasn’t to be. We had to stand for the entire route right in front of the image
of the sun. True, the float had a lot of decorations but they weren’t very tall
and standing there next to each other our bodies would be quite obvious to
those watching the parade.
Just then
a man arrived wearing a dark suit. He looked really important. Granny
introduced him. “Kids, this is our mayor, Adam Fullman. He’ll in the
convertible in toward the front of the parade.”
“Pleased to me you, Mr. Mayor,” Patrick said
politely.
“I’ll get right to the point,” he said
seriously. “I wasn’t really for this idea of teenagers representing our fair
city. Everyone had no problem with a little girl playing the part as it was
innocent and cute. But this . . . well it’s a risk. Now, I’ve been assured by
some of our leading citizens that you are fine upstanding people and will be
great ambassadors for our town. Let’s hope so. This is really an important
event for our area and of course for my administration.”
It was clear this man had serious reservations
about two naked teenagers appearing in the parade and I was starting to get
worried. What if people reacted like that old lady in Hansen’s Drug Store? This
could be a disaster. This could also be bad for Granny and her program, not to
mention both Patrick and I.
“Let’s show the His Honor the finished product
shall we? Go ahead and give me your capes and assume the poses I told you
about.” Granny said as she extended her hand.
The Summer That Changed Everything! (reluctant
exhibitionism, self-discovery.)
By Hooked6 ([email protected])
Chapter
20
I think it would have been much easier to
disrobe if Mr. Mayor hadn’t said what he had said. Now I felt like I was doing
something naughty. I looked at Patrick and he seemed to be feeling the same way
as he was obviously waiting for me to make the first move!
Neither of us really had a choice. It’s funny
what you think of at times like these. I must have a bit of a greedy streak in
me because all I could think of was getting that scholarship money. I had
always dreamed of going to college but honestly I had resigned myself just like
Granny had said to merely working in a store somewhere because I knew mom
couldn’t afford it and I wasn’t an athlete that could get a scholarship on my own.
Suddenly my whole future seemed brighter. I HAD to do this.
Patrick just stood there desperately holding his
cape closed looking at me like he was about to faint. “One of us has to be the
strong one,” I thought to myself, so I somehow mustered up my courage and
reached up and untied my cape and handed it to Granny. The cool morning air
against my bare flesh caused my nipples to immediately tighten and stick out
quite noticeably. Seeing me must have allowed Patrick to dig deep and find some
courage of his own as he too reluctantly did the same. There we were, two naked
teenagers, standing on the platform of the float against the backdrop of a
hand-painted sun in a dark blue sky – two colors that I’m sure contrasted
nicely with our pale and unclothed bodies.
The Mayor’s eyes grew big and his mouth opened a
bit as he looked us over. I just knew from the way he was reacting that he was
going to kill this whole project and my scholarship as well. Not once, but
TWICE he started to say something and each time he suddenly closed his mouth as
if the words he was about to say were getting caught in his throat! I wanted to
desperately cover myself as he was making me feel ashamed as though I was being
very nasty as his discerning eyes roamed over my private parts. I mean here was
the most important man in town at a loss for words which could only mean he was
so upset that he was trying not to insult us or be rude. But, I could tell
that’s just what he wanted to do – his eyes had that glazed-over look that said
he wanted scream at us to put our clothes back on!
“Miss Ruth,” he finally said as he looked away
to where she was standing, “These are two very beautiful and courageous young
people! My . . . has nature been kind to them both!”
That wasn’t what I was expecting him to say. Now
I felt even worse – like he was a pervert looking at a porn star or something.
What if EVERYBODY in town after seeing us would think the same way he did? Then
a little voice on the back of my head convinced me that he was in reality paying
us both a very nice compliment and I should just take it that way.
“Oh I DEFINITELY agree your honor! I think
everyone will be well pleased with them both.”
The Mayor nodded his head as he smiled at the
two of us, made another thorough look and then reached up and patted my thigh
as if to say, “Well done,” and then left whistling as he headed down the alley.
WHEW! That was close! I was so worried about
what he was going to say. After all that I had learned today about Granny
though, I still wasn’t exactly sure if the Mayor was really okay with us being
in the parade or if he was just doing the politically expedient thing and
bowing to Grandma Ruth’s stature in the community. That nagging thought kept me
on edge wondering how this was all going to play out and how the rest of the
town would react.
Granny then gave us some tips on how to stand
and admonished us that we were not to ride the entire parade looking like
stone-cold statues. She expected us to look around at the people in the crowd,
smile a lot and most importantly to wave – “wave at everybody as if we were
their best friends,” were her exact words.
“Don’t forget to make eye contact,” she reminded
us before she left to join Miss Amy. “Look directly at as many people as you
can. It will make them feel special and feel more intimate with you.”
More intimate?! How can I get more intimate with
total strangers other than showing them all my secrets by standing naked before
them?!
“I’ll be watching you and following you along
the parade route as will other members of the committee. Now don’t disappoint
me. You just stay here and I’ll be back in a few moments before the parade is
supposed to start. I have to check on a few things.” With that she disappeared
around the corner taking with her our only means of covering ourselves – our
capes - leaving us trapped completely naked on the float.
I looked at Patrick and he was so embarrassed he
could hardly look at me. Then I looked down at his penis and I understood why,
it was sticking straight out away from his body as if he was half way to an
erection. I felt bad for him but at the same time I was mesmerized by watching
it twitch and jump; grow a little then relax. I figured he was probably trying
to do as his mother had told him and think of something else so I dared not
speak to him. Still, it was pretty cool to think that I might be the cause of
that. That thought made me feel, well, pretty and . . . okay, I’ll say it,
powerful. I had never, at least not that I knew of any way, never ever been the
cause of a boy getting aroused before. Seeing him like that was doing wonders
for my self-esteem!
My thoughts were interrupted when several boys
from the marching band came walking by the float and one of them shouted out,
“SWEET DEW DROPS OF HONEY!! Would you look at that! There’s a naked girl on the
float!”
“Of course there is. There’s always a naked
Katie-girl on the float.” Another boy said without even looking up.
“NO shit, Sherlock, but this one has BOOBS!” ALL
the boys then stopped dead in their tracks and stared.
I wanted to crawl under a rock. So far, two
groups of people have seen me as “naked Katie” and their reactions were NOT
what I had been hoping for. – a sweet and innocent “Aw, how sweet!” would have
been nice but not comments of shock and awe.
“HOLY CRAP! She’s a teenager! And she’s wet too!
Would ya look at that?”
Okay now I wanted to slap that kid! It was true
of course, but I didn’t think anyone would notice that glistening so easily
between my tightly clenched legs.
“HEY, there’s a naked dude up there too! We’ve
never had a GUY in the parade before!” another band member noticed and then the
group starting hooting and hollering in earnest. I was about to say something
really mean when some adult called out, “Hey you guys, the parade’s about to
start. Get your butts up here and line up!” With that they all took off. I
could hear one of them yelling to their compatriots, “Wait until you guys hear
this!” as they turned the corner disappearing from my sight.
There was no telling exactly what those boys
were going to say to their buddies but I had some ideas and they weren’t nice.
“I’m not sure I can do this,” Patrick confided.
“I’m just not cut out for this. I’ve always been a quiet sort of guy who minded
his own business. I hate being in the limelight. I can hardly speak in front of
my classmates at school let alone being up here like this in front of all these
people. Look at me! My legs are shaking so badly I can hardly hold them still.
I wish I was as calm as you, but I’m not!”
I laughed, “Patrick, TRUST ME. I’m as scared as
you are. But we can’t quit now! Do you realize what an honor this is? We could
be set for life if we finish college. This parade can’t last forever. I mean
seriously, this town isn’t that big for Pete’s sakes. Surely we can hold out
for an hour or so – if that!”
“Well . . .”
“Oh come on . . . where’s that strong, confident
boy I fell for? One of the things I liked about you was that you were such a
take-charge, brave- kinda guy.”
“You FELL for me?! You mean . . . you actually
LIKE me?”
“Well, duh? Of COURSE I do, or least the
fearless guy I saw in action all this week.”
I knew what I was saying must have sounded
rather sickening but I needed Patrick. There was no way I could do this all by
myself! My mom was always saying that boys liked girls who made them feel
useful and needed; that they liked girls who admired their strength. Well, if
she was right I was going to lay it on thick.
Patrick looked at me funny for several moments.
“You mean it? You REALLY LIKE me?”
Jeez, this was sounding like grade school all
over again, I thought, until I realized that my feelings for Patrick actually
MEANT something to him. I wasn’t just a naked chick that he was interested in –
he must be seeing past all that and was actually pleased that I even thought of
him that way. “Well, yeah, I DO like you. You’re a nice guy,” I said trying to
sound mature, “I’m glad I met you. Now, don’t you DARE bail on me! I can’t do
this if you wimp out at this stage of the game. I really need you to man-up
here, okay? If you don’t care about your scholarship, at least do this for me.”
He smiled and nodded his head.
Just then a really handsome boy dressed in
western-wear and a cowboy hat came up and introduced himself, “My name is Jaye
and I’ll be driving the tractor that will be pulling your float.”
“I nodded my head acknowledging him. GAWD was he
ever a Hottie! As he looked at me I felt myself getting wetter by the second. I
wanted him. I wanted him BAD! I pictured him climbing right up on the float and
taking me and you know what? I would have let him too! I suddenly shook my head
violently back and forth as if to shake those thoughts right out of my mind.
What was I thinking? What about Patrick?
“You sure are a pretty thing,” he said with a
grin that surely must have extended from ear to ear.
“Um ,” I said awkwardly as my throat suddenly
was really dry. “Thank you.”
“Dude, I don’t envy you though.”
Patrick looked at the boy with a puzzled
expression, “Why’s that?”
The boy just chuckled. “Well, there must be 4
girls for every guy out there along the parade route. When they all heard that
this year we were going to have a guy as well as a teenage girl, they came out
in droves – from all over too. Why there’s some from as far away as Platteville
over 100 miles from here. They are all taking bets as to when you’re going to
pop wood. Yes sir, I sure would hate to be you right now.” The boy then laughed
all the more as he headed over and took his seat on the old John Deere tractor
and cranked the motor.
Hearing what the boy had said made me feel bad
for Patrick but not for long as I started think, “what if the boys too came
from miles around just to gawk at me!”
The sounds of sirens revving up could be heard
in the distance as well as people cheering making me think that the parade had
gotten underway. I couldn’t see anything from my vantage point as we were
behind a warehouse building while most of the units were around the corner
lined up in order. I’m guessing the committee wanted us to be a surprise by
saving our float for last – much like Santa Claus is always last in the
Christmas parade back home.
My heart began to beat faster. It won’t be long
now, I thought. I can do this. I know I can do this! Then I spotted Granny and
my mom heading towards our float.
“WOW! That must be the biggest crowd we’ve ever
had!” Granny said excitedly. “The town’s businesses are really going to take in
some extra cash today!”
“I’ll say,” my mom added. “And I was worried
that there wouldn’t be anyone here because of the changes the committee made. I
guess I didn’t have to invite all those people from back home after all, huh.”
Now my heart really began to pound. “WHAT
people?” I asked with my voice shaking.
“Oh, just some of your friends from your high
school,” she said nonchalantly. “I told that them that you were going to get a
scholarship and be in the parade and that you might could use their support
because you had to bare it all as part of the town’s Solstice ritual. I told
them that you might appreciate their presence to bolster your confidence. I
felt bad for you being in a strange town not knowing anybody. I must say you
have some very good friends because a BUNCH of them made the trip. I just saw
them on my way back here. I thought you said that nobody really liked you that
much back home. You couldn’t prove that by me based on all those that showed up
today.”
“MOM! How COULD you!!!!”
“Watch yourselves,” the boy on the tractor
yelled over his shoulder, “It’s time to go!”
THE
END!!
(The End)