“Hi, Mom. It´s Anne. You called.’
“Yes, dear, thanks for calling back. I wanted to know if you´re coming home for Memorial Day.’
“What´s going on? You having a party?’
“No, we´re not really planning anything, I just wanted to know if we´d be seeing you. If you´re coming, maybe we´ll think of something.’
“Mom, do you want to come here for Memorial Day?’
“Well, I don´t know. We wouldn´t want to ... you know ...’
“Mom, Lucy and Sam are coming, and so are Dan Sidney and his girl Consuela Hermanos. There´s another couple coming, too. Friends of ours from San Francisco, Mei-Ling and Jimmy Lin and their two little kids. It´ll be a little like New Year´s, but if you´d like to come …’
“Anne, if it´s like New Year´s we´ll come and never leave. Thanks, I was hoping you´d say that.’
“Next time you want to come, Mom, just tell me. Don´t play a game on me, okay?’
“I know I shouldn´t, love, and you know I don´t usually do that. But, I just wasn´t sure.’
“If ever we can´t have you, I´ll tell you so. You know that, too.’
“Thanks, dear. Friday afternoon okay?’
“Anytime. You know we have a business meeting after lunch, but come any time.’
.oOo.
“Hi, Muriel, it´s Anne.’
“Oh, Anne. I was wondering if you and Saul were free on Memorial Day weekend ...’
“Muriel, forgive me for interrupting; I can´t imagine why Saul hasn´t called you. Anyway, I just got off the phone with my Mom, and she said exactly the same thing. I asked her if she was angling to come here for the weekend and she said ‘Yes´. So, they´re coming. Are you coming too?’
Muriel laughed. “Pretty transparent aren´t we? Yes, we´d love it. Sounds like it might even be a party.’
Anne repeated the guest list and hung up. “Sigrid?’
“Tom´s and my folks won´t be coming here, Anne. They´re going off somewhere for a weekend. From what I hear, they might just as well move in together.’
“Maybe we ought to talk about having, say, three parties a year for family.’
“Only problem is, what about Alex and Heather´s folks? They´ve never been here, and they must be wondering what´s happened to their kids. They don´t go home for the big holidays.’
“We better talk this over. Maybe we should plan a weekend for parents who aren´t into our life-style.’
“Maybe July Fourth.’
“Let´s bring it up.’
“Another thing, Anne.’
“What?’
“I think we need to get Tom to expand the Big Bed. We´re going to be twenty people on Memorial Day. We´ll need maneuvering room.’
.oOo.
Mei-Ling and Jimmy came late Thursday evening so they could be at the Friday business meeting. When they came trooping in, the two children looked around rather timidly until four-year-old Josh spied Heather. Immediately, he ran to her and swarmed up her bare, multi-colored body as though she were a tree. Sally, six and more reserved, was right behind, but contented herself with a hug around Heather´s bare, colorful hips.
“Hi, loves. Come with me and get your clothes off.’ She took them upstairs.
Jimmy and Mei-Ling watched the performance, then began meeting the others. Anne and Sigrid both wore breast ornaments and little else. Mary, hearing the commotion, came upstairs wearing just her cowboy hat.
“So, you really can live like this,’ Mei-Ling said. She undid her cheong-sam at the shoulder and let it fall, laying it over their suitcases. Saul and Alex took their things upstairs.
“You two get Heather and Alex´s room if you want it. The door to the right at the top of the stairs. Put your clothes there, anyway,’ Anne said.
“What about them?’ Jimmy asked.
“We gave you their room because they usually sleep in the Big Bed downstairs anyway. Guess I´d better show you around quickly, so you get the layout.’
Heather came downstairs with the two naked children. “I´m going to take them out to the hot tub and let them relax before bed.’ They disappeared below.
Eventually, they all settled by the fireplace with beer and wine, talking and getting acquainted. When Heather and the children came upstairs, they settled in an empty armchair. Josh sat on Heather´s lap and laid against her, fondling her breast.
Mei-Ling said, “I think I nursed him a little too long. He´s got a really big thing about Heather´s breasts. Hardly left her alone when she was at our place.’
“I don´t mind it. In fact, I love it. And when I´ve had enough I just make him stop. And of course, there´s Sally here to cuddle with, too.’
The two kids were tired and almost ready to drop off. Mary suggested, “Why don´t we put them down on the Big Bed while we take a sauna. When we´re done, you can put them upstairs if you want to.’
Heather added, “I turned on the sauna when we were down there. Should be ready by now.’
They all spent the night on the Big Bed, sleeping when they wished, moving about from partner to partner as always. The two children slept together, wrapped together almost like lovers.
.oOo.
The Stilwells arrived for lunch, then stretched out by the pool while the Still Waters meeting got underway nearby. The children played in the water and ran about the yard.
“There´s not a lot we need to talk about right before a holiday weekend,’ Anne said. “Things are going pretty well. Some of the Still Waters Graphics franchises aren´t producing much, we need to look into that and find out why.
“The breast ornaments are selling really well; we´re calling the line Breastworks. Mei-Ling, we seem to have hit a good price point with the right product there. I´ve had inquiries from some of the people who sell to sex shops, but, as we agreed, I´ve turned them down.
“All the other lines are right on target. Will´s had a run of really good commissions, and the balance is solid between Western- and English-style horses. Will, I´m hoping you´ll have time to do some new Nudes of us soon. I love looking at us through your eyes. And, of course, they sell well.’
“Don´t worry, I love to do them, too.’
“Heather? What´s new from you?’
“Moving right along for the introduction. I expect to have production ready as soon as we get our catalogs out and there will be plenty of stuff available for the intro shows. I´ve found someone who´ll package the paint as roll-ons and felt-tip markers. Fill in the cracks, so to speak.’
“Good. Please, everybody, think about whether we should make Virtual Clothing and Virtual Jewelry available through other channels. And which ones. If it should really take off, we need to know what our policy is.
“Mei-Ling, I want to bring up something we´ve been discussing for weeks and never resolved. When we decided to do a big introduction for VeeJay and VeeCee, the first question was, ‘How?´ Saul convinced most of us that we should do it as a fashion show: runway, models, razzmatazz. I agreed then, and I still agree it´s appropriate for the type of product – clothing and jewelry. I´ve always had reservations about another aspect of it. Are we going to be seen as sexist, exploitive, pandering to the male ego? Will this hurt us? What do you and Jimmy think?’
Mei-Ling spoke first. “To begin with, I´d like to see some oriental influence in the introduction. Perhaps some Asian models, some with Virtual cheong-sams and decoration with an oriental flavor. That will play well in California, and I can send any TV coverage we get to Hong Kong. I´ll work with Saul on what I have in mind. Heather, we need to talk about skirts.’
“I´ll show you my solution later.’
Jimmy asked, “I think you said there will be males in the show, with male-oriented designs?’
“Yes, not as strong an emphasis as for women, but plenty of guys. Part of that is the problem of body hair, part is the problem of deciding what designs suit men. Men´s body coverings are pretty boring, mostly, but we´ve got a few things with some imagination.’
“Once you know where things are going, you might hire a designer for that part of the line.’
“Good idea.’
“Anne,’ it was Sandy Stilwell. “Can anyone contribute on this one?’
“Sure, Mom. What do you think?’
“If you look at the Paris collections, there´s a lot of clothing that is sexist, degrading to women, and sometimes just plain ugly. People lap it up. I wouldn´t worry about it.’
Anne´s dad said, “I don´t think women as a group lap it up. They look at it and sneer. You do it every time, Sandy. But it gets the news coverage. That´s what you´re after.’
“We want to survive the news coverage, Joe,’ Alex said. “That´s Anne´s worry. What about the backlash you say Sandy represents?’.
Mei-Ling interrupted. “Guys, don´t worry too much. In the first place, what´s the whole point of this stuff? VeeJays and VeeCees are erotica, plain and simple. Sexual stimulators, as well as body decoration. Nobody´s going to wear a virtual blouse to the office. They´re going to wear it for their boyfriend – or girl friend, I suppose.
“The place you could get into trouble, I think, is if you take this too seriously. You are not introducing a new trend in everyday clothing. You are introducing a spoof, a send-up on the way people cover their bodies. Keep that in mind, and you´ll be okay. Make fun of clothes, make fun of our dress codes, make fun of everything, but most important, make fun of what you´re doing. VeeJays, and especially VeeCees, are a joke. Make sure you don´t forget it and don´t let anyone else forget it.’
“That makes sense to me, Mei-Ling,’ Anne said. “Anyone else?’
“Says to me that we´re on the right track with the introduction. And it gives me some great ideas for sight gags,’ Saul said.
“Virtual Clothing is a sight gag, Saul,’ Sandy said. “That´s what´s why I love it so much.’
“Anne, you come home some day without telling your Mom. You´ll see some of the wild things she wears around the house. It´s incredible. And I love it.’
“Hasn´t hurt our love life one bit, that´s for sure.’
There was a call from the living room window. “Hey, guys, Okay to come down?’ It was Harry.
“Come on, Dad. Where´s Mom?’
“Here, hon.’ Muriel came bouncing out of the downstairs door. She wore a navy Speedo-style bathing suit with broad, white stripes at the neck, shoulders and hips. It covered her from neck to bottom. As she walked toward them, it became obvious the suit was Virtual.
“Like my suit? I´m going out for the team.’
.oOo.
The western contingent arrived Friday afternoon. Before long, Lucy and Consuela wore conchas at their breasts and squash blossoms on their tummies. Dan and Sam were greeted warmly by the men, Mary hugged her Mom and Consuela for a long time, and sat and talked with them into the night. Will´s sketch pads seemed to fill themselves.
When the lights went mostly out, the Big Bed was full of moving, loving bodies. There always seemed to be a small light on for those who wanted it. There was Sigrid´s quiet murmur when she talked to a lover. Mary´s laughter chimed softly again and again. The two children curled up with whomever was nearest and slept like lambs.
.oOo.
“Sally Lin, look at you!’ Mei-Ling half-scolded.
“Do you like my design?’
“You´re all frogs and lizards.’
“This here´s a rabbit. I like him a lot. Tomorrow I´m going to do flowers. Heather´s got lots and lots of different things. She says I can take some home if it´s all right with you.’
“Well, all right. I guess we´ll never get you to like clothes, anyway. But you still have to wear clothes to school. And you can´t show your designs to your friends. At least, not yet.’
“Aw.’
.oOo.
As Anne and the Katzes came back from synagogue on Saturday, Muriel said, “Anne, have you thought about converting?’
“Converting from what to what, Muriel?’
“Well, at least to Judaism?’
“I enjoy going to synagogue with you and with Saul. I love the ritual, just like I love The Greatest Show on Earth – the Roman Mass. But conversion? No, Muriel. I have a problem there. To be a Jew, or any of that, you have to believe in God. I´ll support Saul´s faith, I´ll cook kosher on the High Holy Days and at Passover, but I can´t say I believe what I don´t.’
“Oh ... Well, I agree on belief ... Anne, I can´t help being a Jewish mother, and in a funny sort of way I´m a traditionalist. Is marriage a possibility?’
“Probably civil marriage, Muriel. I´m not sure that will solve Saul´s problem; it would protect any children we may have. Too soon to think about kids, though. But if I marry Saul, I´ll have to find a way to marry Will, too. And we´d have to do the same ceremony we did with Tom and Sigrid, too.’
“Let me think about it. I may know a rabbi ...’
.oOo.
“Alex,’ Sigrid said, “If we ask your folks to come for Fourth of July, would they? Heather´s too?’
“Not the way we run around naked, I don´t think. Well, I don´t know, really. I´ve seen Mom and Dad naked, and they aren´t upset if they see me. Maybe that´s not it.’
“That´s not it for my folks,’ Heather said. “Nudity doesn´t bother them. After all, they never really tried to make me wear clothes when it didn´t matter. And they sure didn´t mind me taking my buddies upstairs. It´s really the feeling they have that, if they come, they´re going to have to take off their clothes and screw everyone in sight. Have to change the way they´ve been happy living. They´re just not interested in being in a situation with that much pressure on them.’
“Can we work something out?’ Sigrid asked. “Like, the best thing would be, we do our thing as usual – maybe be a little less obvious about doing it on the dining room table – and they wear whatever they want, sleep where they want and no questions, no pressure? Really, that´s how it is with the other folks, it´s just they´re more like us. In fact, some of them were like us before we were.’
“We´ll talk to them. See what they say,’ Heather said. “I´m sure they don´t expect us to suddenly become celibate and fully clothed at all times. They´re not prudes.’
Alex said, “My mom always wants to know about what we´re all doing, how things are going. Seems really interested in us, and I know they´re really glad I´m happy. Happy with school, my work, with Heather and the rest of us. It´s just she doesn´t want to think about nudity and sex.’
“I really miss seeing more of my folks,’ Heather added. “Just Christmas and Easter and the odd weekend doesn´t really work for me. I´m glad you thought about it.’
“We´re all thinking about it, not just me. I just happened to catch you two alone.’
.oOo.
The Memorial Day horse show was on Sunday and Sarah had organized transportation for the girls who were competing and performing. Mary arrived early in the morning and had breakfast with her after unloading Hero and The Bay. Both horses seemed in good spirits.
“Sarah, thanks for doing so much work on this again. We couldn´t do it without you.’
“Mary, you know I love it. It makes me feel good to help these kids, at least most of them. Most of them help out as much as they can. I hope they do well again today. It sure seems to build their self-confidence.’
“Well, just the same, I appreciate it. You´re not getting paid for the extra work, and it´s making all the difference.’
“You and Still Waters are putting something extra into it, there´s no reason I shouldn´t. But since I haven´t said it yet, you´re welcome. In a way, helping these kids and seeing it make a difference makes up for the stress of running the place. Only one other thing I´d like.’
“What?’
“I really wish I had enough money to bring in some foals and yearlings and get them ready to ride. I´d like to try working with colts as soon as they hit the ground and bringing them up right. Maybe some day. Meanwhile, this is really good.’
Mary rode in her usual events, using both mounts. As seemed to be becoming usual, she won all her events and received a big hand from the crowd.
“You´d better start looking for tougher competition, Mary,’ Sarah said. “You need to start working at the national level.’
“Well, one day, maybe. Right now, the main thing is the girls.’
Six of the girls were entered in the junior events, and did very well. Mary worked with them, coaching them, calming their nerves before each event, critiquing their performance afterwards.
Jane Pinski was upset at the way she did in her event, even though she scored well. Mary hugged her tight; told her, “You weren´t with it. You were tired and not really fit. You can fix that by being in better physical and mental shape next time. Anyway, there´s no such thing as perfect. If you screw up, you can learn something from it and do better next time. If you come off feeling terrific, good, but you need to think about what you can improve. You had a bad day. Next time, make sure it´s not your fault. Take responsibility and you´ll be okay.’
And, when the Riders´ demonstration was over, the applause was long and obviously sincere. The girls rode their horses off the field with big smiles on their faces. Mary hugged each of them as she went from stall to stall. When they all came together, she said, “You make me very proud of you. I am so glad to see how much you´ve done in such a short time. Thank you all.’
When she was loading The Bay into the trailer, Ken Chance came over. “Another great day, Mary. Congratulations.’
“Thanks. Uh ... Would you pass me that saddle blanket there? Sorry I can´t hang around, but we´ve got guests at home, and I still need to help Sarah.’
Later, she said to Sarah, “This guy Chance. He´s around a lot, seems to know his stuff with horses. You say you like him?’
“Yes. Why?’
“I don´t know. Somehow he scares me.’
“Come on. He´s a lamb.’
“No. I mean it. He´s ... Just makes me feel funny.’
.oOo.
“Tom, I saw the lights come on last night,’ Sigrid asked. “What was it?’
“Actually, they came on twice. Once they were tripped along the front of the house about midnight. Later, about one in the morning, they were tripped at the west fence. The cameras showed a person, but not enough detail to see who it was.’
“An intruder.’
“Or maybe just a curiosity seeker. I´m thinking what to do about it. Whoever it was didn´t touch the fence or hang around, as far as I can tell. One thing, though.’
“What?’
“I´m starting to leave the system on all the time.’
.oOo.
“Here´s what I´m doing about skirts, Mei-Ling.’
Heather came out of the workshop with a narrow band of fabric in her hands. She went to Mei-Ling and drew it around her hips. The material dipped almost to Mei-Ling´s mons in front, fit snugly to the tops of her buttocks in back.
“This is the basic structure. To this I attach any material I want for a skirt. It could be a long, floor-length thing, tight or flowing, slit or not. Or, it can be divided. Pants.’
“For a cheong-sam it needs to be both tight and slit.’
“Yeah. Way to fasten that kind of material, that´s a continuation of the pattern on the body, is over the band so it looks seamless. But I can also use a contrasting color for the band and put the material underneath. What do you think?’
“Looks like it will work. If I get any bright ideas, I´ll let you know.’
.oOo.
“Sigrid, I called my folks today to wish them a good weekend. Talked to them about the Fourth.’
“What´d they say, Alex?’
“They´d like to come, but Mom said she wasn´t going to ‘take her clothes off in public, ever´. I told her she didn´t have to, but she would have to deal with us going bare. Said she guessed she could manage that.’
“Good. Heather had a chance to talk to her folks?’
“Yeah. They´ll come. Sounded to me like they just wanted to be asked again. Heather thinks they were a little sorry they turned us down at New Year´s. But she said they appreciated our explaining about ‘clothing optional´. They thought it meant total, compulsory nudism. I told them it means they can wear diving suits, if they want to.’
“Super. I´ll pass the word.’
.oOo.
Monday evening was travel time, so lunch was their last chance to sit in the sun together. There was good food and Mary´s chili was a hit. “Like taking a sauna inside out,’ Harry said.
Mei-Ling said, “We´ve always wanted to find a way to enjoy ourselves like this. I hope we can come again.’
“You´re always welcome here. Just going to have to figure out how to manage crowds,’ Tom said. “If we don´t watch out, we´ll run out of room. I think twenty is about all we can manage, even with everyone doing their share. We´ll probably have to go to a ‘First Ten to Call´ policy.’
“Just great to sit around and relax with folks who like what we like,’ Joe Stilwell said.
That evening, when they were alone, they cuddled together on the Big Bed. Saul summed it up, “We had a huge crowd here this weekend, but I feel just as relaxed as if we´d been alone. That means we´ve got a good gang.’