But when I got a good look, words escaped me. Actually, I lost the capacity for intelligible speech for several long moments.
“I know!” Tyla came up next to me and hugged my arm. “Incredible, isn’t it? Like a dream come true.” She sighed happily. “Well, for me, itisa dream—one that I made come true, with lots of hard work and fighting against the establishment. I’m sure you can understand that.”
“Um.” I coughed and blinked. “They—all those people down there. Tyla, they’re all naked.”
“Well, of course, they are,” she laughed. “That’s the point, isn’t it? This park is a haven for nudists all over Florida—more than that. I want this place to become a destination for nudists all over the country and eventually, all over the world.” She swept out one hand. “This is the beginning. I have options to add acreage.”
“Nudists?” I was still coming to terms with this idea. “The park—it’s a—you’re supposed to be naked here? No one wears clothes?”
Some of the delight began to fade from Tyla’s eyes. “Yes. Are you—shit, Harry, didn’t you know that? The way you talked, I assumed that Sophia had told you all about it. I was totally psyched that you were so excited about the park.”
“I didn’t.” I shook my head slowly. “No, I had no idea.” A faint memory stirred of Sophia trying to tell me something. I hadn’t paid attention, of course. And this explained her not-so-subtle mirth about today. “Um, I mean, this is wonderful for you. I just didn’t even know places like this existed. So people just walk around without any clothes on?” I kept my eyes averted from the spirited volleyball game going on just below us.
“Yep. Nudism—or naturism, as some of us prefer—is a huge movement. I’ve been practicing since I was a teenager, and when I gained access to my trust fund, the first thing I did was invest in land to build this park.” Tyla didn’t seem to have an issue with looking at the volleyball game or any other activity taking place below us. “I have investors who’ve become my charter members, and a passionate group of people who are excited about working here. The photos Sophia shot are going up on our website and in our brochure.”
“That’s awesome.” I had never been so uncomfortable in my life. “I’m sorry we had a misunderstanding about the, ah, nature of the park.”
Tyla smirked. “No pun intended, I’m sure.” She tilted her head, gazing up at me. “But since you’re here, why not give it a try? The shedding center is downstairs, just inside the door. That’s where you go to take off your clothes. And then I could meet you in the lobby.”
“Wow, that sounds tempting, but I honestly don’t think I’m into—this.” I pointed down at the track, where I couldn’t help seeing a lot of bouncing going on. “I completely endorse your right to be . . . naked. Natural. Whatever, but it’s not something I’m comfortable with. Interested in. I really like clothes. I work in a store that sells clothes. That’s how into clothes I am.”
Tyla nodded. “I understand. Naturism isn’t for everyone, but sometimes, even those who don’t think they could do it find out differently when they realize how freeing and peaceful it is.” She lowered her voice. “There’s nothing sexual about it. As a matter of fact, many naturists feel safer and more open in this state. We learn that clothes actually sexualize us more than they protect us.”
I didn’t understand that—I felt plenty protected in my jeans and tee, and I was pretty certain that without them, I’d be feeling vulnerable and, well, naked. But even so, I played along. “I’m sure. But I don’t think your people there—they wouldn’t want someone wandering around who doesn’t believe the same way they do.” I was struggling between the need to get the hell out of this place and the desire to somehow rescue this date. Tyla might be a nudist, but I wasn’t convinced that meant the two of us didn’t have a chance. “Maybe we could go somewhere—somewhere else, I mean—and get a bite to eat. We could talk about all of . . . this.” I gestured, encompassing the entire park.
Her face awash with disappointment, she shook her head. “I’m sorry. I already have plans with my boyfriend, Syd. He’s waiting for us over by the basketball courts. We were both so excited to have you here—I was hoping you could write something about the park for your column. After all, this is a great place to meet people, and isn’t that what you’re talking about in your work?”
And this just kept getting better and better.
“I am positive I’m going to talk about this in my column,” I told Tyla. “I’m not sure how much leeway I have with doing anything that might be considered directly promotional for your park, but I promise, I’ll give you a glowing review.”
“I appreciate that.” She patted my arm. “I still think you could describe it better if you had a look around.” She scanned me with an accessing eye. “I don’t know what you’re worried about, Harry. You’re a good-looking guy, and you’re in shape. As nudists, we don’t worry about those kinds of things, but for your purposes—there’s absolutely no reason you should worry about showing off your physique.”
“Thanks. I’m flattered, but I’m going to take a pass.” I offered Tyla my hand. “This has been a very enlightening experience. It was great to meet you. Good luck with the park, and with Syd, and with—yeah, just everything.”
And then I left as fast as I could.
* * *
“Oh. My. God.” Vivian wheezed with laughter. “I can’t even. That’s . . . oh. That’s priceless, Harry.” She glanced at her husband Charlie, who was sitting next to her at my mom’s kitchen table, holding baby Gus. “And you thought my run-in with the furries was out there. At least I didn’t show up for a date at a nudist colony.”
“An adult leisure park,” Sophia corrected, but she was giggling, too. “I tried to warn him, but he just wouldn’t be told.”
“You didn’t try all that hard.” I pointed at my friend’s face. “There were plenty of points at which you could have said,Harry, this chick runs a naked park. You didn’t. Don’t think I’m going to forget that.”
“Do I look worried?” She showed me a deadpan face. “Face it, dude. You got what was coming to you. The only thing you wanted to think about was this hot woman being interested in you.” Sophia shrugged. “I just failed to mention the nudism, and I honestly didn’t know about the boyfriend.”
“I think it’s the funniest thing I’ve ever heard.” Vivian reached for a cookie. “And I can’t wait to read your column, telling all about it.”
“Great.” I slumped back in my chair, exhaling long. I’d called Vivian with questions about how far I could go in using names and places in my column, and when I’d been slow to divulge the whole story, she’d insisted on stopping by my house.
“Charlie and I are out walking with Gus anyway, and we’re only a few blocks from you,” she’d informed me. “I have a feeling this is a tale I want to hear in person.”
A few moments after Vivian, Charlie and the baby had rolled in, Sophia had stopped by, too, which was why I was currently both the center of attention and the butt of a huge joke. Only Charlie looked like he might be sympathetic.
“Is it safe to come into my own kitchen, or have you all decided to join with my son in becoming a nudist?” My mother stood in the doorway, one hand covering her eyes. “I’d hate to walk in on anything embarrassing.”
“Thanks, Mom. I appreciate your compassion and support.”
