"Everyone stop," he said, his voice calm. "Brenda, your left feather boa is in the guacamole. Carl, you're standing on a slug. And you," he called softly toward the hedge, "come to the sound of my voice."
Leo ran the only business in town where the dress code was a suggestion you were actively encouraged to ignore. "Aura's Away," his clothing-optional resort, was a peaceful haven of mineral pools, redwood saunas, and strict rules about sunscreen. But October brought a new challenge: Halloween.
By the time the lights flickered back on, the party had re-formed around Leo. He wasn't dancing or painted. He was just sitting by the fire, roasting a marshmallow for the little girl. nudismprovider halloween
The theme was "Elements." Earth, Air, Fire, Water. Everyone else had brilliant, skin-based ideas. Brenda, the aerobics instructor, was going as "Air," adorned only with strategically placed feather boas. Carl, the retired geologist, was "Earth," his entire body painted like a topographical map. Leo, however, felt exposed in a way that had nothing to do with nudity.
The night of the party, a coastal fog rolled in, making the outdoor string lights look like dripping candles. The guests arrived, a shimmering parade of body paint, faux vines, and one brave soul (Water) who wore only a shower cap and carried a loofah. They laughed, danced, and filled their plates with chili from the cauldron Leo had set up. "Everyone stop," he said, his voice calm
His regulars, a cheerful collection of retired professors, yoga instructors, and libertarian accountants, loved the irony of a costume party at a nudist resort. "We're already wearing the ultimate birthday suit," they'd chuckle. But Leo, a pragmatic man who believed a towel was a tool, not a security blanket, had a problem. He was the provider . He kept the towels fluffy, the pools warm, and the fruit skewers abundant. And this Halloween, he had nothing to wear.
Carl, the topographical map, raised his wine glass. "To the best costume here," he boomed. "The Element of Care." And you," he called softly toward the hedge,
And Leo knew what to do.
"It's a conceptual costume," he muttered, staring into his closet. A pair of swim trunks felt like cheating. A leaf over the groin felt desperate.