Angrily - (Uncover = Shame)

The woman's face immediately twisted into one of anger. The sight made Valerie's heart beat suddenly against her chest - this was the first time somebody had seemed upset by her nudity!

"You goddamn hussy!" the woman hissed. "Walking around her like that, when there might be KIDS about!"

A wave of cold, dreadful horror washed over Valerie as, wide-eyed, she backed away from the woman. What had she DONE?! On the back of some crazed, naked dream - the whole thing had probably been a dream, even the bit with her parents and the newspaper - on the back of that, she'd locked herself out of the house NAKED and gone for a stroll!

"Oh my god." Valerie breathed as she covered her breasts with one arm and her crotch with her other hand. She had to get home! She could hide out somewhere - where, exactly, she didn't know - but she'd have to wait it out somewhere and wait for her parents to get home. Oh gods, how was she going to explain this to them?

"Sorry, that was frightfully rude of me." the woman continued, suddenly smiling. "I... I don't know what came over me. Lovely day for a stroll, isn't it?"

Valerie stood frozen, trying to work out if the woman was being sarcastic or...

"What?"

"I said lovely day for a stroll. Wish I could get away with wearing that." the woman said, nodding at Valerie's body.

"But didn't... didn't you just call me a hussy for being naked?"

"I, uh... did I?" the woman asked, frowning.

Feeling at ease again, Valerie lowered her hands. The woman suddenly scowled at her. "Of course I called you a hussy! Running around, NEKKED as the day you were born!"

"Right..." Valerie mumbled, as she covered herself again. "I think I see a pattern here."

"You going to the shops, dear?" the woman asked, suddenly all smiles and honey once more. "Not the laundromat, I expect - ha ha!"

"Ha ha." Valerie mimicked. "Um... could you excuse me?"

"But of course, dear. Must be off myself. Things to do."

Valerie walked away, continuing towards the Ice Cream Parlour with her hands still held firmly in place. What a strange change the dream-booming voice had made. Unless, of course, it was just that one person?

A car was making it's way down the road, heading towards her. Steeling herself, Valerie lowered her hands to her sides. The driver - a young man in his twenties - immediately stuck his head out of the window and gawped at her naked body. She covered herself, and the man immediately lost interest. He drove past without a second glance.

"Well, this is interesting." Valerie muttered to herself.