Naked In School

"I’ll say," Gary laughed.

"The first time they ever made love was in right field," I added.

"That’s great," Gary laughed. "Where else are two baseball players gonna do it, right?"

"Especially if you know those two. It was perfect," I agreed.

"Now, I write to Amanda, and we talk every so often, and she’s with Jared Wicklow? I knew him slightly but thought he was a geek," Annie said.

Natalie broke up laughing. "You wouldn’t say that if you ever saw him naked."

"Huh?" Annie said. Natalie held her hands in front of her, very far apart. "It’s famous far and wide. And I do mean wide. And long, too." Annie broke up laughing.

"And how have you seen Jared naked?" she asked Natalie with a smirk.

"It’s hard to avoid. He and Amanda go naked all the time," I laughed. "I know it had just started before you left, and freshmen weren’t doing it then, but you remember The Program, right?" I asked Annie.

"Are they still doing that?" she asked in surprise. "I thought it was a disaster."

"It’s gotten better," I told her.

"I had heard about that," Gary said. "Evidently, that girl pitcher was nude when you guys played us. A buddy of mine on the team said she got all cut sliding into home."

"Oh, the funniest part was when a bouncer went through the mound, and she got dirt in her you-know-what. And took a water bottle in the dugout and cleaned herself out. Mikey and I cracked up, but all the rest of the guys looked at her like she was an alien being or something." Annie was cracking up. "Anyhow, as for Jared and Amanda, they did The Program back in September. That’s how they met. But, since then, they’ve discovered they like nudity."

"And the halls clear to make room for Jared’s dick every time they do," Natalie laughed.

"Well," Annie asked, "has the great Ed Bauer strut his naked stuff all over school yet?"

"This week," I told her. She giggled. "Yup. Haven’t had any clothes on in school for the past five days. And, yes, that includes two ball games that I was manning third base in nothing but spikes and a jockstrap. Natalie, too. That’s how we met."

"Oh, and you know the fun part?" Natalie said. "Tonight is our junior prom. Don’t ask me what my dress looks like because I won’t be wearing one."

"Oh, man," Annie was laughing so hard I thought she was going to choke. "You have to go to your Junior Prom naked?"

"Yeah. It’s a school-sponsored activity, and program week runs until Sunday. So, yup, we’ll be nekkid at the prom," I said.

"I want a picture!" Annie laughed.

"I’ll send you one," I grinned.

"Damn, I wish we had The Program here," Gary said.

"It’s done a world of good for a lot of people," Natalie said. "Me, for one. I was very repressed."

"Amanda, too," I told Annie.

"I love Amanda, but she always did have a stick up her ass," Annie said.

"Not anymore. The Program cured that, and in a hurry."

We chatted for a while longer, then we had to go. Natalie had a hair appointment.

Annie walked us out to the car. After I got in, she reached in the driver’s side window and hugged me. "Thank you for coming." And she turned to Natalie. "And thank you for convincing him to."

"It was my pleasure," Natalie said.

"Ed?" Annie looked at me. "Don’t be a stranger, OK?"

"Not on your life," I promised. She kissed me on the cheek and then took her head out of the window. "See you soon," I said to her.

"Good," she said. We drove away.

We drove for a bit, then Natalie turned to me and said, "How do you feel?"

I think that’s when it hit me, for real-what she had just done for me. And I remembered what I had done for her back on Wednesday. And I remembered what she had said when I asked that very question. And the answer was the same. "Reborn. I feel reborn."

"I’m glad," she said.

"I love you," I told her.

"I know," she giggled. "I love you, too." She took a breath. "I admit, I was worried a wee bit. I almost felt like I was throwing you back into the arms of your first love. But you had to do this."

"When you got out of the car, and you were standing next to her, I took a look-and saw the woman that I love, and my best friend. That’s what I saw. And it felt, in that instant, that all was right with the world. I will always love her. But I’m in love with you. And I never would have been able to do this without you. Don’t forget that."

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR NATALIE

Oh, man. Is it possible to feel this good about yourself?

I couldn’t believe it. I was floating. And Ed looked so happy. And he still loved me! Yeah, I was a little worried-but I knew this was something that had to happen.

"You know what?" I told him. "I really liked her."

"Yeah, I could tell," he said. "I liked him, too. Gary, her boyfriend." He sighed with a smile. "I’m glad she’s happy. I’m really glad. She deserves it." He shot me a glance. "I just want you to know, that I meant what I told her. I’m not going to go two years without seeing her again. She’s too important to me. However, you have nothing to worry about."

"I know," I said. We got back to Westport, and he dropped me off at the beauty salon.

"Are you going to tell Amanda?" I asked him.

"Well, you’re having your hair appointment with her-I figured you’d beat me to the punch," he laughed. "No, go ahead. Gloat. Amanda’s going to think you walk on water for getting me to do this."

I laughed, kissed him, and went into the salon.

Amanda greeted me, and we got adjoining chairs. We small-talked for a while, and then I lowered the boom.

"Guess who I met today?"

"Who?" she asked.

"Annie Zipelski."

"HUH? What? Where did you meet Annie?"

"In her house." Pause. "With Ed."

"WHAT? Ed? At Annie’s? What…HOW?" She was completely incoherent!

"Well, I have to tell you the whole story. I, well, spent the night at Ed’s last night."

"Yay!" she enthused. "Was that the first?"

"Yeah," I admitted.

"Was it good?" she asked. "I know you’ve had a rough time."

"It was marvelous. Incredible. All those things," I giggled. "Anyhow, I slept over, and was there this morning. The mailman came." I explained to her how I got the mail, and then convinced Ed to read her letter.

"And then you got him to go over there?"

"Yeah."

"What happened?" she asked.

"Well, I missed the first half hour or so-that was their time, so I took a walk. I understand it was your basic teary reunion." Amanda laughed. "Then her boyfriend showed up about the same time I got back from my walk. They came out and got me, so I met her then. We were there for close to three hours."

"That was a chance you took, you know," she pointed out.

"Yeah, but I didn’t think it was ever a huge one. Let’s not forget, he’s taken some serious chances on me this week."

"So, how’d it go?"

"Really well, I think. Ed looks like he’s got the weight of the world lifted off of his shoulders. And, I have to admit, I really liked Annie." I grinned at her. "You write to her, right?" she nodded. "And you never told her about Jared?"

"I’ve mentioned him. She knew him a bit when she lived here. I’ve told her that we’re going out, and that I really love him."

"Yeah, but you never told her about his secret weapon," I grinned.

"You DIDN’T!" she gasped.

"Well, it came up in conversation. She said that she remembered Jared as a geek. And I said that’s because she’s never seen him naked."

"Oh, Man," she laughed. "I think I’m going to hear about it the next time I talk to her." She sighed. "Maybe I’ll see her more often. She drives now-and she could always get here, because her aunt works here-but she’s shied away from coming, because of Ed. It would be nice if that changed."