A bonfire

"Come with me," said the redhead who had first greeted Peggy earlier that day.

"Where are we going?" asked Peggy.

"You'll see."

As she followed the naked redhead, she could see a massive pile of wood stacked in a clearing just up ahead. Gathering around the pile of wood were her fellow cult members wearing little more than a look of anticipation.

Then the founder stepped forward and lit the fire.

As the flames caught hold of the wood, the founder directed certain women to start throwing bundles of old rags and fabrics into the fire as well -- stuff that looked like junk that had been left behind by various park visitors. Most of the nude women just stood around the fire and admired the color of the flames, but one woman shoved a bundle of fabric into Peggy's arms and told her to throw it into the fire.

Peggy did so, not realizing till it was too late that the bundle she had just thrown onto the bonfire consisted of the clothing she had taken off much earlier in the day. By then, of course, it was too late to retrieve it, so quickly was it consumed by the hungry flames.

But that did not matter. Peggy had already made up her mind earlier in the day that she was never going to wear clothes again if she could help it. This action only made her decision much easier.

As she stood and watched her clothing burn, she saw the same woman she had sat next to at dinner. The one who claimed to be a reporter. She was still smiling, too, but every so often she got a sad expression on her face as if she was remembering something she did not like remembering.

Peggy felt like going up to her and giving her a big hug but she decided not to. After all, whatever the woman was thinking about, it was her business and not Peggy's.

However she could not resist the temptation to walk up to her and ask her how she was doing.

"Fine, I guess," said the woman. "I guess I've had too much happiness today."

"How can you have too much happiness?"

"I don't know. I just miss my clothing. It was heavy and uncomfortable and expensive but I miss it."

"I thought you were happy to be naked."

"That's right," she said with a smile. "I am happy to be naked. In fact, I should be glad I got rid of my clothing. What was I thinking? Am I weird or what?"

"You're not weird," said Peggy. And this time she did give in to the impulse to give the woman a hug. And was secretly pleased to note how quickly she hugged her back.

Meanwhile, at the edge of the crowd, one of the naked women was staring at Peggy and her nude friend. And the woman could not help but smile when she saw the two women hugging each other.

But it was a cold smile. A very cold smile.