Meeting the Locals Part 1

Chapter 91

Meeting the Locals

Part 1

Dad gave me no chance to hide away instead he offered advice on how to handle the problem I was having regarding my very stiff flag pole. Explaining that it’s ok that when it happens to just let it happen, that there are better ways than putting a sock on the door and deal with it that way, but if I did that. I’d be in my room all day and not really facing the problem. The best way was to get involved in life instead of hiding the fact I could be aroused every time I saw a pretty girl. I still felt very self-conscious about it, so I put my trust in Dad that he was right. Knowing that I had been taught just because it happens doesn’t mean I needed to have or want to have sex. It just meant that I find the opposite sex attractive.

For the first time in my life, I realized life is complicated when dealing with the opposite sex. Yet I still wished I was wearing a bathing suit and would have if Mom and Dad would have let me. The fact that Dad was still aroused as I was said that wasn’t going to happen, nor was I going to be allowed to put a sock on the door. The problem would just return the moment I saw those girls again. I cursed at my problem and did my best to ignore it. After all, it wouldn’t stay that way, well I hoped it wouldn’t. So I put my best foot forward and followed Dads example and asked if he still wanted to go canoeing. 

Dad placed his arm around mine and Jared shoulders and said. “That’s spirit, race you to the boat shed.”

I had always wondered where nudists carry their money or their keys. I’d had heard several possibilities, but those seemed crude and offensive. Like most people, they carry purses that have long shoulder straps or fanny-packs that fit around the waist or satchel like book bags. Like Mom was wearing telling us that she was going into town to do some shopping.  At first, I thought it was strange that Mom had decided to go shopping wearing nothing but a smile and pair of flip- flops, taken Jason and my baby brother with her, but then again we are living among a group of nudist.

Personally, I was more concerned about her and them getting raped in the streets, but Dad assured me that people here are really friendly and that sort of behavior is frowned upon and anyone caught doing that would be tar and feathered and ousted, providing if they lived long enough.

My first thought was Shawn and Arthur, one of the most likely reasons Dad didn’t want them here because of that and due to their behavior issues.  Dad must have sensed what I was thinking when he said. “Son I proud of you for not choosing to handle your problem the easy way, even though there’s nothing wrong with that and there is a time and place to do that. Yet it is always better not to engage in that sort of practice when there far better ways to deal with the problem you are having.” He looked down at my now sagging flag pole. Which emphasized that not every problem last forever.

I sighed with relief feeling a little more confident then I did, but I was still kinda worried about it happening during the barbecue. Yet I didn’t want to ruin our fun, by stating I couldn’t control myself. Besides, it's not like I have never done this before, but being at home with family and friends is one thing because you trust them and know they would never hurt you are make fun of you, but I don’t know these people from Adam or their way of life. The fact that it had taken years being comfortable in my own skin said I have come along ways, and this too I would learn that I can present myself proudly and not afraid of trying new things.

Just being here said that Mom and Dad were offering me and my brothers a gift that we would treasure for the rest of our lives, and so far it has made our family stronger and able to love each other again.

Instead of being in an environment that was tearing our family apart to point the spirit of God that was in our home and love we had for each other had disintegrated, leaving seeds of doubt, and mistrust that our lives and family are unable to function like it had been; now being here has rejuvenated it once more. The question is when we return home will the spirit and our bond with each other still remain?

When Dad opened the boat shed he smiled telling us to close our eyes. When the door opened he put his arms around us and walked inside the shed. When he told us to open them we were amazed to see a large boat standing in our mist. A boat built for speed, a boat that only rich people uses to go fishing or spend the whole day on the water in comfort. Our mouths fell open at the size, knowing it had always been a dream as a kid to sail away and feel the wind in your hair.

The fact there wasn’t a canoe insight said Dad had tricked us. Yet personally Jared and I weren’t all that disappointed by both of us giving each other a fist bump and quickly hugged each other and Dad. I now know what the key was for.

Dad wasted no time in lifting us into the boat, handing each of us a life-preserver. Telling us to take a seat and hang on. The boat purred to life within a matter of seconds. I watched as the dock and our beach quickly faded away into the distances. It seemed that we were the only ones on the planet.

Dad handled the boat like he had done it all his life. When he looked back he smiled at us and slowed the boat down just enough that seemed we were standing still but still moving. Dad asked me if I would like to drive. I was shocked when he said it and I was worried that I would mess up because boats don’t have wheels and they don’t have breaks. Yet as I said earlier I was willing to try new things, so said “sure.”

Dad had me take a seat at the wheel and explained how it worked. Showing me the throttle that gives the boat the gas to move and showed me the dials that were called a “Control Station.” Showing me how fast I was going the same as a car. He then took out a clipboard and wrote down each term they used like “Astern” meaning the back of the boat, “Ahead” meaning forward, Port-side meaning Left and Right side meaning “Starboard.” For now, that was all I needed to know, for a kid going on a joy ride.  I didn’t think that Dad could sweeten the deal anymore when buying my silence regarding the turn-table. In some ways, I felt sorry for Shawn missing out on this lifetime experience.

Dad let go of the wheel said I was now in charge in which direction I went, pointing out to the large lake that was dieing to be explored. The moment I touched the throttle we jetted into a burst of speed. I quickly learned if I went to fast it was harder to turn and harder to control my direction, again there were no breaks to stop me.

Dad sat back in the passenger seat and stretched out his long legs, placing his feet on the end of the control station as if he wasn’t concerned how fast I was going or where I was taking us. After a while, Dad asked Jared if he would like to give it try. What boy in his right mind turns down an opportunity to drive, even more, a boat. I knew Shawn would be so jealous when he hears about how Dad let us drive a boat, and I was good with that, and consider it one of the perks for not being here.

After spending sometime joy riding Dad had Jared bring the boat to a stop or adrift and set the anchor. Gave us a quick smile and quickly without warning picked up Jared and threw him overboard and did the same to me. He wasn’t worried about us drowning, knowing that we were both excellent swimmers. The fact we had life-preserves was only for a safety precaution. Dad jumped in doing a cannonball that sent a huge title wave.

At first, I was scared that some fish would get a surprise if we landed on them. Yet fish are smart when something bigger than them enters the water… they swim out of the way. Personally, I couldn’t blame them considering how big dad was I be on the other side of the lake as fast as my tail could take me, even faster if they knew that Dad would eat them.

By the time we climbed back into the boat, it was nearly 3 o’clock and the barbecue started and 6. Dad had me take the wheel as he pulled up the anchor and had me turn to west according to the compass. When we got close to the shore he took the wheel and guided it along the dock. In front of us was a small town with boats like ours and other sailboats.

I wasn’t surprised to find more nudists living among the shore and felt we fit right in. The only worry I had was if I see another pretty girl and my so-called problem returned. I soon realized that it didn’t matter when came to age or body type, finding all kinds and none of them seemed a bit concerned that we were new to the area and weren’t part of their culture.

Well not entirely since neither of us had any clothes on and with our complete tan stated that we fitted right in. I did my best trying not to stare, keeping my eyes straight and focused.

Dad brought the boat to a stop like an old pro, ordering me and Jared to jump off and tie it off. I was a little rusty but got it on the second try. Knot tying is not one of my strong talents, having Dad check to see if Jared and I had done it correctly. Dad had us put or life-perseveres on the boat, sending us off to find the harbormaster and tell him to fill our boat up with gas, reaching for his fanny- pack which held his wallet and strapped it around his waist and followed after us.

I was first surprised to find so many nudists that everywhere I looked… it seemed like a whole different town, yet the same as one of our own small towns. The only difference was very few if any had any clothes on as they went about their businesses as if we had lived here all our lives.

I was wishing I had a camera and thought better of it knowing I wouldn’t like anyone taking pictures of me without my clothes on. Instead, I focused on my job finding the harbormaster at the end of the pier. I gave him the information he needed and pointed to Dad and where our boat was docked. When Dad arrived he put his arms around us and introduced us by a simple handshake. At first, I thought here we go more hugging. Something I was very uncomfortable about doing when wasn’t family or closes friends.

Yet it seemed a handshake was all that was needed Dad handing him the money and the key telling him we’d be back in an hour. Dad and we walked among the people and all of them were just as friendly as our neighbors down the beach. The only difference was we only shook hands when Dad introduced us.

I saw many pretty girls and I was relieved that my problem was able to stay under control. Dad stopped into ice cream parlor having us take a seat ordering us each a large banana split telling us not to tell Mom. While we waited he quickly brought the decision to the reason why we were here. Asking for my permission to call my caseworker and extend our stay, informing me that my mother wanted me to come home early for a home visit. Something I already knew about after overhearing the conversation.

Personally, I was getting worried considering today was Thursday and how long it took to get here. I knew the only way we make it back on time is if we left in the morning and there would be no time to do anything other than the barbecue. Dad had promised us all that on the way back we would stop over at our camping spot for two more days before going home.

What could I say? No Dad, I want to leave and I rather spend time with my mother? In truth, I would rather die than go home and spend one minute in a hostel environment always watching and wondering when my mother or my father would try to kill me. Yes, I still don’t trust my mother enough not to change back into the monster she was, even though she had proven over the last year and half that she had changed and wanted me and my brother. I trusted more in my foster parents that have shown me time and time again that they truly loved me. Even though sometimes they go too far when comes to punishments.

Dad waited for my answer as I took a bite and asked when he wanted to go back. He took the same amount a time stirring his ice cream. He said “I would like to be back by next Friday giving us the entire weekend here and leave on Sunday or Monday morning and still gives us two days at our campsite. I knew right away that my mother was going to be furious, and that would only leave a full week and part of a weekend, not the two weeks she wanted before school starts.

I nodded said. “That I would most likely have too called her and persuade her by offering something in return.”

Dad simple said. “The world revolves around compromises.” So I agreed to the terms, hoping my mother wouldn’t ask for the moon.

We finished our ice cream I felt as if the world was on my shoulders. I don’t know why I felt that way? It was what it was. There was simply no way to satisfy everyone, and even if we drove straight through, we would ruin the best family vacation ever. 

In fact, I was willing to risk a hundred embarrassing problems and situation then ruin the chance to bond with my family. I know I was being selfish when it comes to spending time with my brother and my mother. I just wanted my our life back more, I wanted the spirit to fill us to the point we burst with it, and most of all I wanted nothing but to feel love as a family. I simply wasn’t ready to face home and the reality that waited for us there.

Dad found the pay phone and made the first call to my caseworker. Having me sit next to him in case my caseworker needed to confirm that I was ok and willing too extended our trip. That was the easy part. I knew my caseworker wasn’t taking the news well, watching Dad remove the phone from his ear telling me to deal with her. I waited for her to stop screaming at Dad for taking me so far away that it would be impossible for her to say no.

Personally, I had a feeling that was Dads intention in the first place. In some ways, he was smart by doing it, yet I couldn’t blame him because so far we were having the time of our lives, just like Dad said we would.

I quickly mentioned my name after she took a moment to breathe. When she realized it was me on the phone her voice changed from angry to calm. The first question she asked if I was alright warning me not to lie to her. I said I was fine other than sunburned in places I hadn’t thought the sun could never touch. I knew she didn’t quite understand my situation having me repeat where I was since all she could gather from my monitoring device that I was in a town she never heard of and was about 1,000 miles away for home.

I waited for the explosion when I said we are living in a nudist colony. I waited for the words to register and when they did she shouted at me to hand me the phone back to my Dad.

Dad waited for her to calm down hearing her over the phone shouting regarding the fact we weren’t skinning dipping or at home with family and friends. Instead, he had taken me to a nudist colony exposing me and my family too people that didn’t know about us from Adam.

Dad grinned said. “Yes, and I and my family are having the time of our lives, Eric is perfectly safe and couldn’t be safer as if I could have wrapped in bubble-wrap. The people are friendly and quite understanding that we are new to their culture, and I was doing it to show and prove to my sons. That God has not tainted us for what my son Shawn has done.”

Dad cringed when he mentioned where Shawn and Arthur were stating that they are on work detail at home and staying at a military camp in hopes of correcting behavior issues. I knew it was a lie, yet personally, I simply didn’t care if they were being raped repeatedly or working from sun up to sun down, but neither did it make me warm and fuzzy inside.

When Dad told her when we would be back the shouting started all over again; having Dad yell back that if it wasn’t for having to waste all that time in getting ready for court we could have left sooner. Having the phone go completely silent, Dad had her over a barrel, knowing perfectly well that she wouldn’t drive 1,000 miles to come to get me nor would my mother.

I knew when we got back that they were going to have words and they weren’t going to be pretty. The fact that most of those days were basically taking care of Jody, and we couldn’t leave because Shawn and Arthur were coming home said all that needed to be said.

Dad hung up the phone and dialed my mother and I knew from the get-go that my mother was about to freak out. Yet not once did she scream and yell only asked to speak with me. Dad handed me the phone taking a napkin and wiped the sweat off his face. I told my mother I was fine and where I was repeating everything we had told my caseworker.

My mother was a little more understanding, the fact that I was living as a nudist didn’t seem to bother her. Stating it was good that I was having a good time and that coming home wouldn’t have been ideal compared to the experiences I was having. Yet neither was she going to let my foster Dad off the hook so easily.

She wanted those days she could have had with me, she wanted him to make up for it regardless that it wasn’t his fault for postponing our summer vacation so closes to the new school year. That left her less than a week to have me home. She had me put my foster Dad on the phone. 

Like always my mother wanted the moon and Dad simply let her. She wanted all of UEA weekend, the two weekends besides and wanted to join us at our campsite and take me home with her. Dad agreed to give me a knuckle bump stating that will make the final arrangements when we meet up at our campsite.

Dad quickly gave her the instruction on how to get there. Told her to beware of the bears and the snakes, hoping to get my mother to change her mind. Yet he doesn’t know my mother. If she wants something she usually gets it if she wants it bad enough.