Prologue

‘This is all Lizzie’s mother’s fault’ thought Charlotte as she sat at the breakfast table opposite her parents. Having breakfast together as a family was unusual, but not that remarkable. What separated this morning from all the others that had gone before was her parents’ dress sense. Charlotte had long despaired of them both and their old fashioned, ill coordinated clothes. When accompanying them in public she was always struck with a deep sense of embarrassment, which was heightened if she met an acquaintance. Why couldn’t they be trendy, like so many of her friends’ parents? This morning, however, she was prepared to forgive them all their crimes against fashion. Charlotte longed to see her father decked out in a trademark pale blue cotton shirt with cravat and cream chinos. How she wished her mother were wearing her favourite red and beige blouse with a tightly buttoned ruffed collar that made her look like the spouse of a country vicar at a summer fete.

For at least having no dress sense was better than having no dress. What separated this morning’s breakfast from all the others was her parents’ attire; or rather the lack of it. They were both sipping their coffee and spreading thick orange marmalade on their toast as naked as the day they were born.
It all began just over a week ago.

One

It all began just over a week ago.

Everyone has a view on university students. Those who have never been to university think that students have an easy life with very, very long holidays. And those who have been to university know that students have an easy life with very, very long holidays. It was at the beginning of the long summer holidays, that Lizzie, Charlotte and Alice met up for an evening of re-acquaintance and hard drinking.

Lizzie waited until they were sat at the table with their drinks before asking her friends to sponsor her.

“What’s it for?” asked Charlotte, a tall slim, blonde. Such a blonde could punch a hole in a bishop’s pocket. She had a perfectly sculpted face with piercing blue eyes that suggested an intensity of character that wasn’t there. She was, in fact, a dope. This of course mattered little to the men who swarmed to her, bees to a honey pot. True to her ice maiden features Charlotte courted them and then discarded them without so much as a moment’s thought. She was a heartbreaker.

“Africa” replied Lizze, who was also slim and pretty but somewhat shorter with long shoulder length dark hair. Unlike her friend she had a warm character and cared deeply for the environment, abandoned pets and the disadvantaged. Hence her latest charity appeal.

“And what do you have to do?” asked Alice, who was short and liked to describe herself as well rounded. For reasons of her own she had decided to dye her short ginger hair bright red. Alice specialised in attracting boys who were fascinated by her ginger hair and freckles.

“Spend twenty four hours in the nude” replied Lizzie.

Alice nearly choked on her drink. “What” she exclaimed between coughs.

“Let me look at that” said Charlotte, grabbing Lizzie’s sponsor form. ‘Nude Aid for Africa” she read “Spend twenty four hours naked over the weekend of 23rd July.”

“Where do you plan on going for this” asked an incredulous Alice, still coughing slightly.

“We’re doing it at home” replied Lizzie matter-of-factly, “you don’t have to go out or let anyone see you”

“So who is going to verify you were naked” demanded Charlotte “I could be giving you money and you could have spent the whole time dressed as a nun!”

“Oh well someone has to witness it, but it can be a relative, so we are all going to witness each other” explained Lizzie.

“We?” questioned Alice

“We’re all going to do it, me, Mum, Dad and Jason. In fact it was Mum’s idea”

This was no surprise, Lizzie’s family were renowned for their laissez faire attitude to nudity. Alice blushed as she recalled the afternoon the three of them had sunbathed naked in Lizzie’s garden when they were supposed to be studying for their A Levels.

“Put me down for 50 pence an hour” said Alice

“Me too” added Charlotte “I’m a little tight his month”

“Well get some drinks in before you run out of money” said Lizzie.
Charlotte came back to the bar with five boys they had known at school.

“Hi Lizzie” said one

“Hi Phil, what do you want”

“Charlie says you want sponsors”

“That’s right Phil, do you want to sponsor me?”

“Dunno what’s it for?”

“Africa, how much can I put you down for” said Lizzie holding her sponsor form.

“Let’s see” said Dave grabbing the form from Lizzie’s hand.

“Woh boys, listen to this “Nude Aid for Africa” he read “Spend twenty four hours naked for starving orphans, I’d pay to see you do that Lizzie”

She poked her tongue out at them “You don’t get to see anything; I do it at home.

“So how are you going to know you did it then?”

“You have to trust me”

He groaned “But Lizzie you have no idea how happy you could make me, just a little glimpse”

“Sorry boys, you’ll just have to dream.”

“Shame” they chorused like the House of Commons on a slow day.

“So how much can I put you down for?”

They all laughed good naturedly. “A tenner each” said Dave “what about you boys?”

“Yeh, Ok a tenner for each of you”

“Hang on a minute” said Charlotte “You don’t think I’m in on this”

“Oh but Charlie you’re the one I’m dreaming of” said Dave lasciviously

“A tenner each, and we’ll all do it” said Alice breaking in.

Charlotte was too stunned to say anything. She turned and looked at Alice “What did you just say?”

Lizzie sniggered and handed out her sponsor form, plus another two, to the boys for them to sign.

“Oh come on Charlie” said Alice, who wasn’t even drunk, yet “where’s your sense of adventure?”

“Firmly inside my knickers Alice and that’s where it is going to stay!”

“Have another drink Charlie” piped up Lizzie, “it’s for charity after all”

“Have you thought this through” said Charlotte to Alice, “where are you going to spend the twenty four hours in the nude”

“Why at my house” replied Lizzie brightly “no problem there, we’ll be one happy family; and let’s face it you’ve been nude there before”

They continued to try and persuade a very reluctant Charlotte.

An hour later Dave came back to their table.

“There you go girls” he said with a flourish “£250 each”

“Good on you Dave” said Lizzie and blew him a kiss.

“Oh my God” said Charlotte. Alice had the hiccoughs.

Two

When Lizzie arrived home her parents were still up.

“Hi Mum” she said as she walked into the kitchen.

He mother wrinkled her nose. “You stink of smoke Lizzie”

Lizzie pulled her blouse up to her nose and sniffed it.

“Take you clothes off and I’ll wash them for you” instructed her mother

Lizzie removed the blouse and gave it to her mother, and then she took off her jeans. These went straight into the washing machine.

“You still smell, give me the rest. Without a murmur Lizzie removed her bra and panties and put them into the washer. Then she walked languidly over to the fridge to get a cold drink.

“Hi Dad” said the now naked Lizze as her father came into the kitchen.

“Hi Liz, How did your evening go”

“Good, I got a load of sponsors for Naked for Africa” she paused for effect “and so did Charlie and Alice”

“Never” said her mother, “I never thought you’d persuade them to do it”

“Well I didn’t really, it just sort of happened” Lizzie explained the events in the pub to her parents.

“Mm, I don’t think that was a good idea Lizzie” said her mother

“Don’t worry mum they were cool about it, after a few drinks. I told them they could spend the day here with us. So it would be no big deal”

She wandered off towards the lounge to watch the late film.

“Lizzie haven’t you forgotten something?” her mother asked her naked daughter.

Lizzie stopped puzzled

“Towel” said her mother throwing a large brown bath towel at her.

Lizzie caught the towel and wandered off.

Her brother Jason was sitting watching a substandard film.

“Hi Liz, have a good evening?” he asked as Lizzie spread the towel over an arm chair.

“Excellent” she replied with a slight slur, as she slumped into the chair.

Lizzie’s mother stuck her head around the door.

“Can one of you go out and get the cat in before you go to bed”

“Ok” they muttered in unison.

“Your turn” said Lizzie’s brother “I did it yesterday, and the day before”

“But I haven’t got any clothes on” protested Lizzie

“So, what difference does that make?”

Casual nudity was commonplace in Lizzie’s house so her clothed brother was not going to give her a break.

“What if he’s out in road?”

“Like you haven’t done that before” he retorted.

“So, you would send your only sister out into the night without a stitch on would you” said Lizzie.

“Yes”

Resigned to her fate, Lizzie got up and left the room She opened the back door and walked out into the garden. Not for a moment did she consider the option of putting on some clothing. She whistled for the cat. He didn’t come; as usual. Lizzie wandered out into the garden calling for the cat.

There were no problems with the neighbours seeing her. They had got used to the family’s unusual dress code and just accepted that any of the Livingstones may be wandering about naked. It had been a shock to them at first, but slowly they had come round. This had been much helped by Mr Street’s appreciation of her mother’s penchant for gardening in the nude. Lizzie had always thought that Mrs Street was a trifle cool on their clothing optional lifestyle until the previous Monday.

The cat appeared and rubbed himself against her bare legs.

“Hey Albert” said Lizzie, “Come on inside now”. She picked him up and carried him into the kitchen. His body felt warm on her bare skin.

It was amazing how some people can take you by surprise mused Lizzie as she poured Albert some milk. She had always viewed Mrs Street as a respectable and staid woman; a pillar of the local church and captain of the woman’s golf club. Lizzie reviewed the events of last Monday in her mind. She could still barely believe it.

Three

Lizzie had got up late that day. Her father was long gone to work and Jason was at school. As she was planning to go out after lunch Lizzie was dressed .Her mother came in the kitchen, clearly in a rush.

“Oh Lizzie, can you put this shopping in the fridge for me, I’m running late.” She took off her coat and hung it on the door.

“Mum you’ve been to the supermarket wearing only your coat again” Lizzie asked.

“It’s a long coat, dear, nobody could see anything; and who would suspect”

“But, Mum, what if you had an accident?”

“Oh dear, I see. Well I wouldn’t have to worry about the state of my underwear would I?”

The phone rang and Lizzie answered. It was Mrs Steeet.

“Hello, Lizzie dear, how’s university”

“Oh good; in fact more than good.” she replied

“I’m glad you’re enjoying yourself. Is your mother there?”

Lizzie passed the phone and went back to putting the shopping away.

“I’ll be over in five minutes Marjory “said Lizzies mum. There was a pause. “I don’t know, she may be going out later, I’ll ask her if she wants to come” There was another pause as Mrs Street spoke.

“Of course she’ll be fine with it, you know Lizzie”

She hung up. Lizzie looked questioningly at her mother.

“I’m going over to Marjory’s for coffee. She asks if you would like to come.”

“Yes. Ok. I’m not going out until this afternoon.”

Lizzie’s mum picked up her door keys and headed towards the front door.

“Er mum haven’t you forgotten something?” said Lizzie

Her mother stopped and looked around “Is the back door locked?”

“Yes”

“Have I left any windows open?”
“No”

“Have I left the gas on?”

“No”

“Well no I don’t think I’ve forgotten anything”

“Mum, you’re not wearing any clothes. You can’t go to see Mrs Street stark naked”

“Oh is that all. It’s alight dear, she’s fine with it”

“She is” said Lizzie “I thought she heartily disapproved”

“Well she doesn’t know how Edgar would take it; but she’s fine with nudity”

Lizzie took this in slowly.

“Oh right” she said.

Lizzie’s mother paused in thought for a moment “I think” she said “that it may best you were naked too”

“Why, not shy are you.” retorted Lizzie “In need some moral support”

“No dear, but Marjory may be a little nervous if you were dressed. Quickly now we’re late already.”

Lizzie decided she had better humour her mother and stripped off her clothes. Her mother was already opening the front door. The front garden had high hedges that shielded them from the road. A thin rain fell softly from the dark sky. Lizzie ignored the tiny cold pinpricks of rain as she tiptoed down the glistening front path. Bare skin dried much quicker than clothing she thought to herself as she a quick look to check for traffic. There was none, so they both scooted down the pavement into the Street’s drive. Lizzie’s mum rang the bell. Mrs Street opened the door just wide enough to poke her head out.

“Do come in, Janet and little Lizzie,” She looked Lizzie up and down “Well not so little Lizzie now”.

She opened the door to let them in. As the door swung wider Mrs Street moved with it, so to Lizzie it appeared that her head was stuck to the door

Lizzie and her mum stepped into the hall. Lizzie had rarely been in the Street’s house. She looked around the hall. It was decorated in an old fashioned way with shining hors brasses and the fine hunting prints that Mr Street collected. ‘To each his own,’ thought Lizzie.

She turned towards Mrs Street. Lizzie’s mouth dropped open. All her neighbour wore was a gold necklace.

“Come through Lizzie, I hope I haven’t startled you.”

“No It’s just so unexpected, I, I never thought”

“Well you mother and I have been having morning coffee for years, and we discussed your family’s nudity many times and eventually I thought to myself ‘why not give a try’ so I did and well here we all are.” she said brightly.

Mrs Street led them into the huge, modern kitchen. It was like stepping from the distant past into the a bright future populated by a new naked race who had forgone the repressed ways of their forbearers. Mrs Street asked Lizzie her mother if they needed a towel but they were more or less dry already. They both sat at the table while their neighbour busied herself making coffee.

As the elder women chatted Lizzie looked at Mrs Street’s body. Despite the Livingstone family’s lax dress code, the only woman of, shall we say elder years, that Lizzie had ever seen naked was her mother. Mrs Street was a tiny woman with surprisingly large breasts and just a small band of fat across her stomach. All the walking on the golf course clearly paid off as her short legs and rounded bottom were firm and trim. Lizzie reckoned she was well into forties and hoped at that age she had worn as well.

“Would you like a biscuit, with your coffee, Lizzie?” Mrs Street asked.

“No thank you Mrs Street” said Lizzie planning ahead.

“I think perhaps, given that the three of us are completely starkers we can drop the formality” said Mrs. Street jollily, “Please call me Marjory”

“Oh yes Mrs sorry Marjory, we are a little informal I suppose” giggled Lizzie.

“So how long have you two been having nude coffee mornings?” enquired Lizzie getting straight to the point.

“Over a year now” replied her mother. Lizzie wasn’t sure what shocked her most, the fact that her mother and Marjory held nudie coffee mornings or that it had been going on for a year without anybody finding out, until now.

“We’ve always had coffee together” said Marjory “but up until a couple of years ago Janet was always dressed”

“Then one day I forgot and answered the door in the nude” continued Lizzie’s mother

“I’ve told you about that, mum” scolded Lizzie

“She was so apologetic” said Marjorie “and of course manners dictate that I said ‘it’s alright it’s not problem’. What I didn’t expect was your mother to take me at my word. I can’t say I was pleased that she remained au natural, but you just grin and bare these things”

She laughed heartily at her own joke.

“You know us Marjorie; clothes are optional”

“Well after a while I wondered what it would be like, so when Edgar went off to work one day I stripped off and wandered around the house, and I have to say I quite enjoyed it. So much so that I spent the rest of the day in my birthday suit. Of course I was dressed as usual when Edgar came home. This added even more to the fun”

“And then one warm day last summer when you were in school Marjorie dropped her bombshell, and promptly asked me around for a naked coffee” said Lizzie’s mother.

“And ever since then” continued Marjorie “we’ve taken tiffin in the buff”

“And does Mr Street know?” asked an incredulous Lizzie.

“Not a clue” smirked his wife

“Well he’d certainly have a shock if he walked in right now” said Lizzie

“True” replied Marjorie, but he wouldn’t be seeing anything he hadn’t seen before”

Lizzie was struck by the truth of this. How odd she thought. An unsuspecting man walks into his house. Upon entering the kitchen with a cheery “darling I’m home” he finds his naked wife taking coffee with two equally naked women. A man’s fantasy come true, but he has already seen the women naked many times. Well thought Lizzie, I know he’s seen my mother and me.

“So are you going to keep it a secret forever?” asked Lizzie

“No” replied Marjorie “I’m beginning to think it’s time he got an eyeful. And” she added conspiratorially, “I’d like to get the old fuddy duddy out of his clothes”

“Well” said Lizzie’s mother “I’ve got just the thing”

Like a conjurer producing a bunch of flowers from a hat she pulled a pamphlet from her handbag.

“Get naked for Africa” read Marjorie “get sponsored to spend twenty four hours in the nude, and help starving children”.

“Where do I have to do it?” she asked suspiciously

“That’s the beauty of it” assured Lizzie’s mother “you can do it in your own home. Never have to leave the house. All Edgar has to do is sign to say you completed the day naked”

“Capital” said Marjorie “a lot easier than running a marathon! I take it you are doing this too?”

“Of course we are, aren’t we Lizzie?”

“Sure mum Lizzie” replied

Four

Alice lay in bed with a hangover. The phone rang. Her head throbbed and her stomach felt like it was falling down a mineshaft as she reached for the phone. She didn’t want to speak to anyone. She only answered it to stop the pain.

. “Hello” she said weakly

“Alice” said Charlotte

Alice didn’t think this conversation was going to help her hangover

“What?” she replied testily.

“We’re in trouble” said Charlotte.

Alice considered her position, a team of builders with sledge hammers were busy working inside her head, her mouth was as dry as meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous and her stomach was making involuntary movements that would have brought the house down at a belly dancing club. How could she be in more trouble than this?

“What sort of trouble Charlie?” said Alice, her mind in a fog

“My parents have found out”

“About what, Charlie?” Alice was becoming irritated. Charlotte at her most obtuse was the last thing she needed at this moment

“About the nude day”

“What nude day?” said Alice sitting up abruptly. The room span, her stomach held on for dear life, and then last night came flooding back to her. The hangover was small beer now.

“Oh” she said, “that was just a joke wasn’t it?”

“Er, no it wasn’t, Alice”

“How did they find out, Charlie?” asked Alice suspiciously.

“Well I was a trifle drunk when I got home and I left the sponsor form downstairs. And when I got up this morning for breakfast………”

“Breakfast” interrupted Alice, “you could eat breakfast”

“Yes, why not? And why are you shouting”

“Get on with it Charlie” said an exasperated Alice.

“When I got up for breakfast, there was my sponsor form on the table”

Alice felt a chill, her parents were good friends of Charlotte’s.

“So my father says ‘What’s the meaning of this young lady?’” continued Charlotte in a rush.

“I tried to tell him it was a joke and that someone in the pub had collected the sponsors. Then my mother told me I should have refused. I tried to explain what happened but they wouldn’t listen” she said desperately.

Hung-over as she was Alice was not in the mood to suffer Charlotte’s blathering.

“So what, just chuck the form in the bin.” She said sharply. “After all we’re not going to do it, and we won’t be doing anything wrong unless we collect the money”

“That’s what I told them” said Charlotte, “but they wouldn’t accept it”

“So what do they expect you do?” asked an increasingly incredulous Alice.
“Go through with it?”

“That’s exactly what they want me to do.” Charlotte put on a deep voice trying to imitate her father. “You volunteered for this so you must do it”

“But didn’t you tell them you didn’t volunteer”

“Of course I did, but he just pointed to the form” explained Charlotte changing her voice again “Is that your signature young lady?”

There was silence on the phone

“So what are you going to do” asked Alice in a quiet voice “If you have to do it you could go round to Lizzie’s”

“I suggested that, ‘No young lady” said my mother “I’m not having you parade around naked in someone else’s house, you’ll do it here”

“Oh my God Charlie, nude in front of your parents” Alice shivered at the thought of it

“I’ll have to lock myself in bedroom for twenty four hours” said Charlotte

“How will you eat” queried Alice, instantly regretting asking as her stomach churned at the thought of food.

“They can leave a tray outside the room and I’ll pick it up when they’ve gone” said Charlotte brightly. Perhaps this wouldn’t be so bad after all.

“So they are keeping this under wraps so to speak” said Alice hopefully

“Not exactly” replied Charlotte “Everyone will know I’m spending the day naked. They’ve taken the sponsor form to church to see if they get some more sponsors”

“What?” screamed Alice. That really made her head hurt “You didn’t tell them that I, tell me you didn’t Charlie” she pleaded

“Well I might have just mentioned something” said Charlotte in a quiet voice.

“Mentioned what” said Alice in a low, menacing voice “What did you just mention Charlie?

“Oh all right then, I told them you and Lizzie had fallen for the same trick, I thought it may make them change their minds”

“Oh thanks very much Charlie,” said Alice “Thanks a bundle”

“Well my parents may not speak to yours” suggested charlotte.

“How probable is that Charlie?” asked Alice.

Silence.

“I’m sorry Alice” said Charlotte in a small voice. Alice thought deeply for a moment.

“No” she told her friend “it’s my fault I should have backed you up in the pub”

She heard the front door slam with meaning.

“My parents are back, and I have an inkling that they may have been told something not quite to their liking” Alice told Charlotte.

What are you going to do?” asked Charlotte

“Front out” said Alice with a sudden determination.

She leapt out of bed flung on her robe and hurried downstairs. Her parents were in the kitchen

“Hi Mum, hi Dad, will you sponsor me?” Alice said breezily. She shoved the form at them.

Alice’s mother had devised a clear plan to tackle Alice about her involvement in Nude for Africa. This little attack wasn’t on it. She looked flummoxed.

‘Round one to me’ thought Alice

“What’s this dear” asked her father.

Alice smiled. She’d taken the wind right out of their sails.

“But Alice, dear you can’t possibly do this” said her mother without even looking at the form, “what possibly could you have been thinking of when you signed up for this?

“Starving children in Africa” replied Alice, quickly occupying the high moral ground

Alice’s parents looked at each other. Neither said a word. They‘d clearly planned to attack her in the same manner as Charlotte’s parents. Totally outflanked they could think of nothing left to say.

“Can I put you down for £20” asked Alice brightly.

Headache suddenly gone, Alice climbed the stairs two at a time and sang a very jaunty tune in the shower. She looked at her body as the warm water dribbled down. “Not as good as Lizzie’s” she thought “but I pass muster”

She gleefully reported her triumph to Charlotte on the phone.

“But Alice” said Charlotte thoughtfully, “with that attitude it’s going to be difficult to hide away in your room”

“Oops” squeaked Alice.

Five

Sunday lunch was a trial for both Charlotte and Alice, but in very different ways.

Alice had to try and maintain her enthusiasm, uncomfortable in the knowledge that at exactly the same time next week she’d be sitting at the very same table stark naked.

Meanwhile Charlotte sat in total silence, while her parents’ tried to make small talk.

‘How could I be so stupid?’ she thought again and again.

“I hope this will be a lesson to you young lady” admonished her father as if reading her thoughts, “A day spent in your room to ponder upon the evils of drink”

“Who said I would stay in my room?” snapped Charlotte, regretting the words almost the instant they came from her mouth.

“If you think you are walking around this house in a state of undress you have another thing coming” said her father sternly

“No dear” said her mother soothingly to her husband. “If Charlotte has to do this, she must face up to her mistakes and if that means she has to sit at this table as God made her then so be it”

Charlotte shuddered, her emotions were slowly building up, and she was now close to tears.

A short walk away along sunlit leafy avenues Alice’s household was far from quiet. Following her moral victory with the sponsor form she found herself at the butt of her younger brother’s jokes. They were eating Sunday lunch in the garden.

“Hope it stays fine next week” he said “I wouldn’t want you get cold feet; or anything else for that matter” he tittered. “Can we have chicken next week, I fancy a bit of breast for lunch”

“You have all the wit of children’s entertainer, Greg” snapped Alice

“Leave your sister alone, she’s doing this for charity Gregory” chided their mother.

Ever since Greg was thirteen he had been trying to clock his sister. He was always hanging around when she’d been for a shower, hoping to catch a glimpse. Well now it looked like he would get to see more than he ever dreamed.

“Hey sis watch out you nearly spilt some gravy on your clothes” said Greg “Won’t be a problem next week, you’ll barely notice it, and what’s more it will wipe off your suit without leaving a stain. That’s your birthday suit ha ha ha!

‘As subtle as a flying mallet’ thought Alice

“So how much will you sponsor me Greg?” she asked “can I put you down for a pound an hour, or will you join me, I’ve a spare form”

“No way sis, my clothes are staying on, on, on”

“You’re an idiot Greg” she replied

At his point her father intervened and gave Greg a stern lecture on his sister’s sincere stance (Alice winced) and if he wasn’t mature enough he could stay at his aunt’s house next week. The thought of not seeing his sister in the altogether sobered Greg and he stopped making lascivious comments.

When they had finished Alice began to clear the table.

‘I’ll be doing this in the nude next week’ she thought. ‘How I could have been so stupid as to get myself into this.’

The phone rang. Her mother answered

“Yes”

“What! Next week!” she exclaimed loudly

There was a pause as she listened.

“Well there is a slight problem with Alice”

Another pause.

“Well mother, it’s like this. Alice has got herself £250 sponsorship for ‘The Nude for Africa Appeal’”

“Yes you heard right mother.” said Alice’s mother

“I’d forgotten we were coming to you for lunch”

An escape plan loomed in Alice’s mind. ‘If I stay in bed until they leave, Nan’s lunches go until seven at least, they won’t get back until about eight, by which time I’ll be back in bed with a headache”

“Your grandmother wants to speak with you” said Alice’s mother in a voice that sounded somehow deflated

“Hi Nan” said Alice “I’m sorry I won’t be able to make dinner next week”

“Nonsense, I won’t hear of it” replied her grandmother.

Better and better thought Alice, I’ll be able to drop the ‘Nude for Africa’ altogether.

“If my granddaughter is prepared to bare all for the starving the least I can do is welcome her in my home.” Alice’s jaw dropped.

“I’m so proud of you my dear. If I was thirty years younger I’d join you myself. I told your mother she should be ashamed of herself.”

Alice closed her eyes in despair as her grandmother continued.

“Instead of admonishing you she should be stripping off herself. How much do you want me to sponsor you for?”

“Whatever you can afford Nan” said a downfallen Alice.

“Have you got any spare sponsor forms”

“Yes I have Nan” replied Alice.

“Then give one to your stuffy mother” she replied cackling heartily.

A downfallen Alice went upstairs to phone Charlotte.

Six

There was only one rule about clothing in Lizzie’s house and that was that everyone eats breakfast in the nude. The following Tuesday although Lizzie was breakfasting alone, she was still naked. She mused on her friends’ predicament as she ate her cereal. They need to be broken in she thought, idly brushing some splashes of milk from her breasts. She tried to think of some way to make her friends more comfortable with being naked, but nothing came to mind. Her thoughts were interrupted by the doorbell.

“Get that please?” shouted her mother. Lizzie padded towards the door “and don’t forget to cover up”

“I have never answered the door naked mother” said Lizzie firmly “unlike you. I expect it will be the postman again; hoping for an eyeful”

Lizzie covered herself with a long jumper she kept in the hall for unexpected callers before answering the bell.

“Hello, Mrs sorry Marjorie” said Lizzie “come in, can I take your coat”

“Thank you, Lizzie.” She said removing her long fur overcoat. As usual Mrs Front was perfectly made up and her hair was coiffured to perfection. She was wearing an expensive but discreet pearl necklace, a gold watch, and a pair of flat black shoes. That completed her outfit.

“Is you mother in?”

Lizzie’s equally naked mother came into the hall

“Marjory, come in it’s so good to see you, Lizzie put the kettle on will you, and get with the dress code”

“Yes Mum” said Lizzie removing her jumper and going into the kitchen.

Marjory and Lizzie’s mother followed her. They all sat around the table chatting about the golf club. Lizzie was a bit bored with the politics of choosing the Ladies Captain and her mind began to wander. A seed of an idea began to germinate.

“How did you get on with Edgar?” quizzed Lizzie’s mother.

“Ah, remarkably well” replied Marjory “I got the impression he was positively drooling at the prospect” she said with a modest titter “he’s my only sponsor, Edgar won’t hear of anyone else knowing”

“Are you happy with that?” asked Lizzie’s mother

“Well” said Marjory in a conspiratorial whisper, “I rather hope to persuade him to join me for a naked lunch” she giggled

Although Lizzie and her mother were used to several naked lunches a week they understood that a naked lunch for Marjory with her husband would be something of a first.

“So he won’t let you approach anyone else for sponsorship” said Lizzie’s mum

“Oh no he thinks no one else knows about this. Although,”she reflected” I would like to expand my nudity now. I know I was quite shy in the beginning, but as time has gone by I do think nudity has a lot going for it.

“Marjory” ventured Lizzie “I have some friends who are in the same boat. They are not comfortable being naked, but they too have decided to join the ‘Nude for Africa Appeal’”

“I take it heir parents aren’t quite as liberal as your own” said Marjory. Before Lizzie could answer Mrs Street continued “but then I suspect few parents are.” She laughed a hearty guffaw.

“I say” said Marjory, “I’ve an idea, why don’t you ask them over for coffee on Thursday, what do you think Janet”

“I think it would be a great help to them, and to you too Marjory” replied Lizzie’s mum.

“Yes” said Mrs Street, “ask them do. Phone them now, strike while the iron is hot, so to speak”

Both Charlotte and Alice said they would have to think about it.