Peggy meets the founder again

The next day, her tent mate took Peggy to see the founder.

"Father..." she said.

"Yes, my child."

"My tent mate here has been having bad dreams. Can you help her?"

"Bad dreams?" said the founder.

"Bad dreams about clothes. She has nightmares about wearing clothes. And it keeps her up at night."

"Oh, it does?" said the founder.

He looked into Peggy's eyes.

"Is this true, my dear?"

"Why, yes. Are you really her father?"

The founder smiled. "Here in this park I am everybody's father. I'm the father of the woman who greeted you yesterday. I'm the father of the women who helped cooked the delicious food we had for last night's meal. I can even be your father -- if you want me to."

Peggy wavered.

Then she said, "I think I'd like that."

"Good," said the founder. "So you say you have bad dreams?"

"Yes."

"That must be because deep down you're still holding on to that time when you were not yet part of our family. When you were teased and ridiculed and insulted."

"How do you know all that?" asked Peggy.

The founder smiled. "Because I have known many women like you since the war. Women who did their best to serve their country during the war, only to be treated like dirt when the men came home. It does not have to be like that, Peggy. Here you can be protected from all that. Here you can find comfort. Here you can find love. And most of all, here you can be free."

"I would like that, " said Peggy. "But the dreams..."

"Like I said, you're still remembering your past life. You should not do so. It will only trouble you. You should throw your memories away like you did your wardrobe. You like the feel of sunshine on your chest, don't you?"

"Why, yes," said Peggy.

"Then think of that. Think of how nice the sun feels upon your body. How your nipples feel when they feel a fresh breeze. How great you feel about not having to hide your so-called private parts from public view. And how uncomfortable it was when your bra was too tight or your bathing suit got wet or your parents made you bundle up too much because it was cold outside. If you still feel uneasy after a month or so, then please feel free to let your hair grow past your shoulders. It worked for the likes of Lady Godiva and St. Agnes of Rome. It should work for you too."

"Thank you, Father."

"You're welcome, my child. And by the way, please keep wearing the shoes. They'll protect your feet."

"Okay."

"Good. In that case, stay this way forever. And never put clothes on again. If you do, you'll undoubtedly get a rash and we wouldn't want that."

"No, we don't," said Peggy. "Like I told my friend, I want to stay naked forever."

"That's the spirit," said the founder, secretly pleased that none of the women noticed that he was still wearing clothes -- and had been since the first day he met either of them.