It was a dark and stormy night. Well it had been when they arrived at the start point. Now it was a grey and miserable morning. The sun was just glowing through the eastern cloud bank.
They didn't know each other. Each had answered an ad on their computer; 'Earth day Adventure. Are you tired of the life you lead? Do you want to make a Major Change? Respond Now!'
The man's name was Kent, in a moment of humor (?); his father had named him Clark. He was in his mid-twenties, five foot-eight, one hundred seventy pounds, brown hair, eyes. He had the fitness of a regular exerciser, but not muscular. He worked in an insurance office as an account representative. He was a shy person, unable to sustain casual conversations, let alone begin one with a woman.
The smaller woman was Angela Lupo. Twenty eight years old, with the aura of a spinster. Just over five foot, small boned, dark hair, almost black. Her eyes were hazel, her face smooth, with finely shaped features. She had been raised a good Catholic girl in an Italian household, and still lived with her mother.
The other woman, Debby Privett, was in her late thirties. Medium height, about one hundred forty pounds. Her hair a dirty blonde, her eyes, gray green. She had lived a life of her own choice, at one time a beautiful woman with multiple lovers of both sexes. Now her life had become empty, former lovers no longer available, new lovers unlikely.
The one thing these three, unknowingly, had in common, was their mothers. The elder women had been friends since high school. On a coffee date in February, the subject of their children came up. Each bemoaning the paths their kids were on. Angela's mother wished her daughter would marry so she could have the house to herself. Clark's mother wanted grandchildren. Debby's mother just wanted to see her daughter in a happy relationship.
That's when the mothers concocted their scheme; put the kids into a situation, forcing them out of their comfort zones. Their campaign began at home (In Debby's case on the phone); comments made about shaking up lives, the slow soul-death of status-quo.
Next were references to life coaches, dating sites, counseling. That was followed with carefully targeted ads directed to the individual computers by a friend of a friend.
When the three accepted the invitation to adventure, they were sent very specific instructions; they were to be at a certain (each different) place at one AM, Earth Day morning. They were to wear loose clothing. Do not bring any personal items; no keys, wallets, watches, phones.
At the start point, they were met by a woman, instructed to put on a blindfold, and then a hood was placed over their head. They were assured this was only to keep their destination secret.
A van picked them up, Angela first, then Clark, and finally Debby. They were seated together in the back, crowded on a seat designed for two. They were free to talk, touch, and move about.
Angela realized the person on her right was male; she hadn't been this close to a man since dance class in middle school. The pressure of his thigh and shoulder against hers was a strangely exciting sensation.
For Clark, obviously squeezed between two women, their warmth and aromas was sending his libido into zones it had never been to. Normally, he wouldn't have been within two feet of any woman he was conversing with.
Debby had not felt a man's body in months, and that had been an unsatisfactory bar pickup. She inhaled the light scent of his after-shave, had a sense of firmness in his thighs, firm shoulder pressed against hers.
They rode like this for an hour, over increasingly rough roads, throwing them against their fellow passengers. Eventually the van slowed to a crawl, bouncing though mud holes and troughs, until it came to a stop. Someone led them, one at a time to a downed tree, where they were sat. A voice instructed; "You will sit here until you hear a car horn, at that time you may remove the hood and blindfold. You will find instructions in your lap.
They heard the van moving away, then minutes later, a car horn in the distance. Removing their eye coverings, blinking in the early morning light, they looked around; they were at the edge of a forest glade. Trees were to their back and sides, a small open area before them, a small cabin across from them. Over their shoulder, a rutted pathway, barely wide enough for the van. Gray clouds were visible overhead, threatening rain.
Finally they looked at the envelopes on their laps, removed the instructions; "Before you is a cabin. It is stocked with all you will need for the next twenty-four hours. There are additional instructions in the cabin. Should you decide at any time, you do not wish to continue this adventure, simply follow the vehicle tracks to the next cabin (3.5 Mi.). Otherwise, you will be picked up at this time, tomorrow."
Introducing themselves, they looked their fellow adventurers over. At a glance, Debby felt she had the others categorized; a virgin, and an untrained stud. Angela looked at Clark, wished she deserved someone like him. She looked at Debby, sensed this was a woman with all the world knowledge she wished she had. Clark looked at Debby, a woman that normally ignored him. Angela felt more comfortable to him, perhaps because there was no feeling of expectations.
They moved to the cabin, a one room construction, with fireplace and wood stove. Water came from a hand pump in a basic kitchen sink. A large bed against one wall. With no sign of a bathroom, they circled the cabin, finding a basic pit toilet at one side.
Back in the cabin, envelopes with names were on the table. A note atop them. "Read your instructions aloud. Then follow them. Once again, if you choose to opt out. Start Walking."
First was Debby. "The last ten years has seen a constant stream of anonymous bodies passing through your life. You have no lasting satisfactions to look back upon. Before you are two innocents. Neither has the sexual experiences needed for a fulfilling life. Your Task is to teach them."
Next was Clark. "You have the potential of being a good husband, father, and person. However, you will not explore those possibilities. Your task is to learn. You may not refuse any task."
Finally, Angela. "You have spent all your adult life hiding. In the next day, you are to drop all your inhibitions. Learn everything you are offered."
Again they found a note. "You must remove all outerwear. Place them in the box under the table. Now."
Shrugging her shoulders, Debby removed her shoes, socks, and the track suit she had worn. The clothes went in the box. She stood in lacy panties and bra.
Clark hesitated, looked around, found nowhere to hide; slowly removed his sweat shirt, shoes, sweat pants, placed them in the box. He stood in boxers.
Angela stood frozen. This was against everything the nuns had taught. She turned, looked out the window. It was raining. And the walk out was over three miles.
The others watched her indecision, waiting. At last, her shoulders slumped; shaking fingers released the zipper on her sweater. She placed it, carefully folded, in the box. She sat on the bed, removing shoes, socks. Slowly she stood, hands moving to her waistband, pushing pants to her ankles. She stood before her room mates in plain white bra and panties.
Daylight barely brightened the cabin. They were getting hungry, moved about the room, checking cupboards for supplies. They found coffee, eggs, bacon, and bread. And a note; "Make breakfast. After you eat, the women are to remove bras. Additional instructions will be found later."
