After School [FICTOID]

“I’d like to see you naked,” Kenny said.

Charlotte looked at him with an odd little smile.  Most other eighth grade girls either blushed or looked shocked at Kenny’s request though more than a few seemed flattered.

Nobody ever responded quite the way Charlotte did, however.  “Really,” she said, no hint of emotion.

If Kenny felt nonplused he didn’t show it.  He needed to hold up his reputation as the coolest, suavest, most sophisticated boy in junior high. 

After all, his brother the college student let him look at his Playboy magazines, so that gave Kenny a more mature, worldly outlook.

“Did you understand what Mrs. Charlton was saying in algebra?” Charlotte asked.

Kenny smiled confidently.  Charlotte’s reaction was something new, he decided.  An attempt to deflect his request by pretending he never said it.

“Easy as pi,” he answered.

“I couldn’t follow it.  Do you think maybe you could help me?”

So that’s her game, Kenny thought.  “Sure.  When?”

“There’s no time like the present,” Charlotte said.  “Today.  After school.”

. . .

Kenny could scarce believe his good fortune.  He’d kissed a few girls, gotten a quick squeeze in once, but never did any girl he tried his line on ever invite him home with them.

Keep cool, he told himself, but this might be your lucky day.

They walked the short distance to her house.  Charlotte didn’t say much, but Kenny -- to demonstrate how knowledgeable he was about current affairs -- talked about the new Edsel, and how it would probably be the bestselling car in American history.

Charlotte lived in a typical low suburban ranch house surrounded by a wide flat green lawn with rose bushes and flower beds.

Kenny’s hopes and heart fell when he saw Charlotte’s mother working outside in a sundress and broadbrimmed hat, tending the flowers.

“Hi, Mom,” Charlotte said, kissing her mother.  “This is Kenny.  He’s going to help me with my algebra.”

“Hello,” Charlotte’s mother said, offering her hand to Kenny.  He thought about kissing it but decided that might be a little much so he politely shook it instead. 

“Charlotte, take him inside.  Let me finish out here and I’ll fix a snack for you.”

“Thanks, mom,” said Charlotte, leading Kenny in.

Kenny resigned himself to actually having to study.  That won’t be what I’ll tell my friends, of course.

They went to the kitchen and put their books on the breakfast table.  “Have a seat,” Charlotte said.

Kenny sat.

Charlotte took off her saddle shoes and bobby sox.  Again, Kenny hid his surprise.  Unless they were at the pool or the lake, most girls didn’t go barefoot.

Charlotte pulled off her sweater, folded it neatly, and draped it over the back of a kitchen chair.

Then she started unbuttoning her blouse.  This time Kenny did look surprised.  He glanced anxiously towards the front door, afraid her mother might come in.

Charlotte removed her blouse, folded it as well, and draped it over the chair, then unbuttoned her skirt.

“What are you doing?” Kenny whispered, again looking fearfully at the door.

“Getting undressed,” Charlotte said demurely.  She stepped out of her skirt and draped it with the rest of her clothes on the chair.

Underneath she wore a crinoline petticoat and plain chemise; those came off next.

Kenny felt his heart stop in terror.  If her mother comes in -- ! 

Putting the undergarments on the chair, Charlotte turned to face him wearing only panties and a training bra. Kenny saw a few daring girls her age wear two-piece bathing suits at the pool, but that was okay.

This…this was different… 

Charlotte reached around behind her back to unclasp her bra.  “Charlotte!” Kenny whispered, jerking his head towards the front door as if to warn her.

“What?” Charlotte asked.  “I thought this is what you wanted.”

And with that she removed her bra and slid off her panties.

She sat down across from Kenny at the breakfast table and took out her notebook and algebra text.  “See, this is the part I had problems with,” she said.

Kenny focused intently on the math problem, anything to avert his eyes.

The front door opened and Charlotte’s mother came in.  Oh, God, I’m dead, Kenny thought.

Charlotte’s mother entered the kitchen, smiled at them, and put her hat and work gloves on the chair with Charlotte’s clothes.

She washed her hands, poured them both a glass of lemonade, put their drinks on a tray with some cookies, and set it on the table.  “I’m sorry I can’t stay and chat,” she said to Kenny, “but I really want to get the flowers taken care of before starting dinner.”

She put her hat and gloves back on and went outside.

Kenny’s mouth opened and closed a few times like an overfed goldfish.

“Kenny?”  Charlotte said.  “Kenny?  This math problem?”

It turned into the most nerve wracking half hour of Kenny’s fourteen year old life.  Summoning up all his willpower, he locked his eyes on the math problem.

His cool, sophisticated, suave voice cracked and faltered, but he kept his mind on the issue at hand. 

As a result, he didn’t see Charlotte smile at him when they finished, and barely heard her thanking him.

Charlotte’s mom came back inside, tossing her hat and gloves on the chair again.  “Kenny, would you like to stay for dinner?” she asked.

“No!” Kenny yelped, quickly gathering up his books.  “I -- uh -- I gotta get back -- mom’s expecting me -- bye!”

And with that he bolted out the front door.  Any thought of sharing his experience with others vanished -- nobody would ever believe him.

Charlotte’s mom closed the door behind him, then returned to the kitchen, removing the sundress she always wore when working in the front yard.

“Charlotte,” she said, “you did tell your friend we were nudists, didn’t you?” 

“I think so,” Charlotte said.

© Buzz Dixon