Late this morning I went out again looking for early spring crocuses. I do this most years when we are home. When I got to a likely looking place, I again risked being nude while searching for the delicate flowers. The hill was at the junction of two country roads with a third road just on the opposite side of the hill – yes, I wandered all of it. There was also a railroad line very, very near the spot. It was the first time I risked being seen in this more open location in the countryside.
I kept my eyes and ears on alert as I wandered, ready to avoid notice should a farm vehicle appear. Thankfully, no one came by and I found the pale purple treasures I was seeking. I spent more time than I had intended on spending on the small hillside. I just couldn’t seem to have enough of the sunshine and the freedom of being bare in nature.
. . .
My fears about being at the centre of community gossip was needless. This morning the neighbour reappeared, again unexpectedly. Again my wife was at work. She came through the patio door as she had done yesterday, while I was in my computer room, writing. She didn’t call out to let me know she was there. As always when I am alone in the house, I wasn’t wearing clothes.
She came into my office, again surprising me. She stood at the door, seeing me again nude. She didn’t leave as she stood in the doorway to the room, and told me that she would honour my choice to be nude and keep it just between us. With that said, she went into the kitchen to make some tea. I then went into my bedroom to put on a pair of shorts and a tee shirt. Since it was nice out, tea would be on the deck behind the house.
I think I know why she didn’t gossip about me being nude, she is a notorious gossip in our town. It might be due to the fact that over the past eleven years we have lived in the community, I have never divulged anything that had to do with her or her husband.
With that settled, the pressure of waiting for the proverbial shoe to drop has been lifted. It still left the question of why she had come over in the first place knowing my wife was at work and I was likely in the house, nude.