When we got inside the office, we found the police there. They needed to talk to us about what had happened this morning. We both talked to them, they took our statements, and told us we’d probably be called to testify at any trial. We understood that, and were completely willing, and told them so.
This took the rest of the class day, so we were dismissed. It was kind of sad, our last day in The Program. Of course, we did have the football game the next day-naked cheerleading for me. And the party afterwards.
As we were heading out of Mr. Tilling’s office, Tina came running in. "Warning, warning, danger little brother!"
"What are you talking about?"
"News media. Scads of ‘em. Waiting for you outside the door. TV cameras and all."
"TV cameras?" Jared said in a panic. "I have no fucking clothes on! And I don’t have any here!"
Tina looked down at her sexy tank-top and miniskirt and said, "I’d loan you mine, little brother, but I don’t think they’d fit"
"Thanks, Tina. You’re a laff riot. What the hell am I gonna do?" Poor Jared was frantic.
"What’s wrong, Jared?" Mr. Tilling asked, coming out of his office.
"Oh, just the media hordes, waiting outside to talk to me about my ‘heroism’ or some such bullshit. And every piece of clothing I own is at home!"
"So? Go talk to them, Jared. Just like that. Now, I’m not telling you what to do. But, think of it this way. One of the reasons we considered doing away with The Program is we know we’re going to get flack about it from the public, because of what happened to Reenie. You go out there like that, and talk to those people, and be your usual articulate self, it’ll be a big boost."
"You know, he’s right," I said.
"Yeah. I guess."
"Honey, I’ll be with you every step of the way. I’ll be next to you for every interview. I’ll even help, if you want. And I’m as naked as you are."
"OK."
We both walked out there. The first thing we saw was our usual cheering section. They all cheered and applauded us, and I heard at least one "Thanks for a great week, guys!" And then came the vultures.
"Jared! Amanda!" they started calling.
So we went and talked to them. They asked questions about what had happened with Irene, and Jared answered them-trying to downplay it, of course, but he told them all what happened.
Then they tried to pin the blame for the incident on The Program, and Jared, of course, was having none of that. He was eloquent and persuasive. The reporters asked me for my two cents, and I like to think that I was also eloquent and persuasive. Then we headed off.
I started laughing. "Did you see how they were trying to focus in tightly on our faces? They all panicked about getting any naughty bits in their shots."
"Not all of them. Channel 3 absolutely kept panning down to your boobs. I saw it."
I laughed harder. "Oh, yeah, well, did you hear what that blonde bimbo reporter from Channel 12 said?" He shook his head. "First of all, when you came out to them, her eyes got as wide as saucers. Then she went over to her cameraman, pointed at you, and said, ‘Make sure you shoot this kid from the waist up. We wouldn’t want a stampede of girls overrunning the poor kid’s house.’"
Boy, can he blush! I couldn’t help it, I was laughing my naked ass off.
We went to his house, and he immediately walked in and wrapped Tina in a big bear hug. Then he stepped back and said, "If you ever make me start crying in the middle of the halls at Westport High again, I’m going to kill you!"
Tina cracked up laughing, and then said, "I’m sorry, little brother, but I had to tell you how I felt."
"I know. You really are the world’s best big sister," Jared told her.
"I know, ain’t I?" Tina cracked.
After that, his parents came in. They had, of course, heard, and were overcome with pride. Jared’s Mom couldn’t stop hugging him. We chatted for a while, and then I asked him to take me home.
"We can go out afterwards. I just need to check in."
"Should I grab some clothes?" he asked me.
"Why do a silly thing like that?" I giggled. I really had become completely comfortable in the nude.
We got to my house, and my mother came running out of the house. She gave me a big hug and a smile-and then she really impressed me. She walked around Jared’s car to the driver’s side, and, after Jared had stepped out, gave him a big hug. And a kiss on the cheek.
"I heard about what happened. The news is all over town." Then she turned to me. "Amanda, the next time I question your judgement, slap me." I was shocked. She went on. "Because any guy who’ll put himself on the line like that to defend a girl in trouble-well, he can be with my daughter all he wants." I was absolutely, completely stunned. "When I was your age, Amanda, I only saw the bad side of guys. It took until I met your father to find a good one. And, as you reminded me last night, you’re not me-and that’s the truth, because you’re a whole lot better at finding the good ones than I was at your age." Then she turned and headed for the house.
I couldn’t move. I turned to Jared, and we stared at each other in shock. Mom got halfway to the door, turned back to us, and said, "Well, are you guys coming in, or what? The news will be on soon-I hear you guys are going to make an appearance." Then she went in.
"Wow," I said with a smile.
"Wow is right." Jared took a deep breath. "Shall we?" He took my hand, and we went inside. Dad came home shortly thereafter, full of praise and handshakes and claps on the back for Jared. We sat down and chatted, waiting for the news to come on. And, as we chatted, I kept seeing my Mom and Dad shooting little looks at each other.
Unbelievable. I guess I did the right thing by getting myself lost last night.
"So," Mom asked after a while, "should I be donating all your clothes to Goodwill, or what? You know, since I haven’t seen you wearing any in, like, three days."
"Nah," I laughed. "I’m sure I’ll put some on eventually."
"Yeah, the weather’s nice right now," Jared said. "I don’t think you’ll be seeing us traipse around like this in January."
"No way," I said. "I have enough of a problem with perky nipples." Then I realized what I said, and looked at Mom. She just laughed.
"I can see where that might be a problem," she said. "What with the constant stimulation and all." Wow, she was really surprising me.
She went into the kitchen to get some drinks, and I got up and followed her. "Mom, I have to ask-what has gotten into you?"
She laughed. "Well, first of all, your father and I had a real long talk last night. A good talk. I’ve been carrying my hang-ups around for too long. You know what he said last night about me being uninterested in sex for a long time?" I nodded. "Well, it was never that. It was guilt. Because I felt that I had been used by boys in high school, I felt guilty every time I enjoyed having sex. And I did enjoy it."
She sighed. "And because of the guilt, I was repressing that, and avoiding the whole thing. And I did incredible damage to your father because of it." She gave me a sad smile. "And you, too. I projected my guilt onto you. It was wrong, and I’m sorry."
"It’s OK, Mom," I told her.
"No, it’s not, but… The other thing is that I thought I was protecting you. As I said outside, what hadn’t occurred to me is that your judgement is far better than mine."
"I don’t know if that’s true. You know what happened yesterday with Eric. And it happened again today." I told her about Ed.
"But that’s not the same thing at all," she said, surprising me. "Jared gave you permission. Not the same thing at all." She looked at me. "Don’t tell me you’re struggling with guilt."
"Well, kind of," I told her. "When Ed and I got done, I felt like a complete wanton harlot. What might have been even more disturbing is a large part of me liked feeling that way."