Kalico 2: Hypnotized & Naked in Hope Springs

Kalico: Go Commando! The New School Uniforms

After supper, Mom inspects my school clothes

Kalico: Johnson Farmhouse, Wednesday Night

Everyone had a second helping of Granny's stew and felt well fed without being overly stuffed. Somehow, again, Granny had guessed about the right amount of food to fix and we didn't have leftovers to put away.

Madison and I quickly cleared the table and cooperated so cheerfully on washing the dishes that Granny complimented us about it. That was nice, I suppose. Without being too overt about it, I do like my little sister, even when she's being a pest, which isn't real often. Sometimes we both feel a Sibling Duty to show some rivalry or whatever, but generally we're good friends. (Don't let Mom or Granny know about this.)

With the dishes washed, dried and put away, Madison and I went to find all my packages from the department store. I had dropped them just inside the front door – well, truthfully, just inside the parlor door which is to the left, just inside the front door. This probably was an error of protocol. Please see the cultural note about Parlor in the previous chapter.

Suffice to say, the most formal room in the house was not the coolest place to leave department store parcels. Granny didn't object, but Mom raised an issue about something else.

Madison and I were just starting to rip the paper off one of the packages when Mom stuck her head in the door. I thought she was upstairs getting dressed up for her "meeting."

"Down the hallway to the washing machine right now, young lady," Mom ordered. "You're not trying on any of those new garments over your sweaty volleyball clothes.

"You don't have time to shower before I go to the meeting, but you can strip all those clothes off and toss them into the washer. Including underwear. Get a hand towel from the cupboard and dip it in some water to sponge yourself off. That'll do for the time being."

Mom rushed back upstairs for more of her own getting-ready while I did what she said. It sounded rather odd, but we have an odd family. Madison continued to rip the wrapping paper off all the packages and pull items out of sacks. Granny sat in a comfortable chair on the opposite side of the parlor, watching the three of us as we entered and left the room.

I put everything I was wearing into the washer, including my old canvas -and-rubber gym shoes and the day's dirty garments from my backpack. The shoes had picked up a lot of dust from strolling the two miles down Johnson Road. Next, I wiped myself down with a dripping-wet towel and dumped it into the machine, too.

Sure enough, the wet towel method didn't equal a shower, but it removed enough road dust and sweat so I wouldn't contaminate my new clothes. I felt a lot fresher, too. I added detergent to the washer and started the machine before I returned to the parlor – nackt as the Germans say. Hey, I picked up some German when we were stationed there with Daddy.

Mom walked in just ahead of me, dressed to the nines. I can't say she was indecently kitted out, but it seemed to me her outfit would certainly make a guy imagine ways to undress her. I wondered what she would say if I tried to leave the house in an outfit like that.

"Mom! That outfit is so sexy! What kind of meeting are you going to?" I asked, amazed.

"Sexy outfit?" Mom quipped, rolling her eyes. "Words spoken by my naked teenage daughter, as she enters the most formal room of this old house. You'll look fine, undressed like that when we have our next Johnson Girls Party."

Oops, I thought, glancing down on my own lack of attire.

"You'll be the naked belle of the ball," Mom continued her teasing. "Or, next summer you can be the honoree at your Happy Birthday Suit Party. Guess what you get to wear for that!"