Last day of summer vacation

Tuesday 2 September 2008

It's depressing really.

Oh, I know it's supposed to be exciting-- a new year in an all-new school, in a new state (or commonwealth), meeting new people, and all that. But the day before the first day of school has always seemed sad to me. I always feel like I have to do something thrilling enough to carry my excitement level on through at least Hallowe'en.

I did remember to sleep in, of course. I got up at about 9.30 and had a leisurely bowl of Kix in the breakfast room. Daddy came in and sat at the end of the table, his face buried in The Guardian (he's been getting it mailed to the house here). A few minutes went by and then he noticed I was naked. 'Hey,' he said then.

'Hey,' I said, and looked up. We met eyes.

'So,' he said with a smile, 'did you pick out something for tomorrow?'

'Uh, yes,' I said, surprised by the question.

'Jessy says you guys were laying things out last night.'

I smiled, shyly. 'Yes.'

He nodded. 'Cool,' he said. He is always encouraging of our girlness like that.

Jessy came through the big dining room and appeared in the door behind Daddy. She was all bare too. Daddy looked up only a little-- he's seen enough of us. She stopped beside his chair and looked over at me. 'Hey,' she said.

'Hey,' Daddy said.

'Hey,' I said. I was done the Kix.

'What are you doing today?'

I sat up and pushed a little back from the table. 'As little as possible,' I said, and Daddy laughed a little.

'Nothing of any redeeming value?' she teased, and he laughed some more.

'Exactly that.' I stood up. 'Daddy, if you will excuse me....'

He looked up, smiled, and then gestured to me. 'As you wish.'

Jessy leaned over and kissed him and as I went out I did too. We went straight back to the small parlour and out to the terrace. 'This is what you meant,' she said to me. 'Out here, right?'

'Yes,' I said. And we arranged ourselves on our two chaises and lay there for the better part of an hour. After that I swam my usual 20 laps. Mother brought out morning tea-- that was at about 11.00. Lisa sat with us at the umbrella table. Later she played in the pool with us. I left those two and wandered out to the back gates, leaning on the edge of one as I watched two fishing boats go up the channel. They didn't see me. I left the gate half open and strolled back through the garden to the side gate and went out to lie on the chaise under the trees. There I stayed for most of the midday.

When I got up again Daddy had gone out, Mother was working on her book, and Lisa and J.J. and Jessy had all gone into the house. I walked round the front of the house and went down the south edge of the property to the water again. For the sake of the adventure I began to make my way along the marshes towards our dock. A boat went by and I ducked. I do not think they saw me. Another came round the curve in the channel just before I reached the dock. I had barely my head above the dock and if they saw me that's all they saw. As soon as they passed I climbed up on the dock, went aboard our boat to wash off, and then sat on the edge of the dock, dangling my feet, till I heard another motor approaching. Like a twit I got up and ran up the gangway to the gates. I only hope they didn't see me then!

For the rest of the afternoon I lay on the chaise in the shade or else went into the pool. I missed lunch and when tea time came round again I was starving. Mother came out and sat with me under the umbrella table while Jessy played with Lisa and J.J.

'So how has your short little summer been?' Mother asked me.

I sat back in the little chair, crossing my legs, and lowered the teacup to the saucer. 'I feel like I've been too lazy,' I said, 'and you've been doing all the work.'

She laughed. 'No, it's not like that. When you start back in school we'll all have a routine, like last time. This one month has been your well-earned holiday.'

I smiled at her. 'You're very sweet to say that,' I said.

'Well, I guess I'm just very sweet then.'

We both laughed.

We had what was according to Mother our last 'casual' supper, in which everyone-- regardless of how we were dressed-- could take whatever a plate could hold and sit wherever one was comfortable. Daddy was playing piano in the big parlour so Jessy and I sat in the small one, leaning back with our legs crossed like film stars, and listened. Towards evening I started getting the familiar agitation and after my shower I put on panties. This is the first I've worn regular cotton underwear in about three weeks-- the other times I had on swimsuit bottoms, and once not anything, under jeans or shorts. I can't say it feels weird-- the cramps pretty much take over that-- but I will say it's been a personal record, and a very pleasant one. Would I ever actually live naked? --that is, deliberately being naked at all times at home, unless it was absolutely required to wear clothes? No. I don't see the point to that. But to ALLOW myself to be naked, to not dress unless it's more convenient, to wake up, swim, have breakfast, sunbathe, play with my sisters and brother, read, paint or draw, and to not have my parents object or even make a big deal out of it? --that is perfectly fine with me at any time.

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