Pre-Jennifer Tales [Paula Parkstone/Jenny's Mom]:

“IN HER OWN WORDS” By PAULA PARKSTONE.************

In the interest of setting the record straight I’d like to confirm exactly what took place at our house on a certain Summer night, in the year 1969. The kid across the street, the people next store {The Carpenter’s} and our good friend, Mrs. Murphy, have ALL told the story of my public nudity [indecent exposure/and, lewd conduct], and it’s aftermath, which left me in the mud.

As Marianne Moore said, “To be Fallen is to be// in Paradise and not know it.” ****

Now, it’s my turn.

I will be honest as I can in my account, trying to put the reader in my head during every step of the way; hopefully, Jenny, [The Parkstone's daughter] will get to read this when she’s a bit older, and starts hearing stories about her “Nudist Mother” and her “Mother’s shameless behavior.” Most of what Jenny hears, I’m sorry to say, will have the jarring, shocking, sense of truth all over it; regardless of the petty gossip she might come across, in adolescence. [Small towns are notorious for the running mouths of gossips...quite frankly, old biddies, with nothing better to do, but tell tales!] ****

And so, I’ll begin this true tale with Pete and I, returning from the Movies. I will let the young man, who lives across the street, [The author of, "A TRUE STORY"] stand, as “True” to the events that lead up to this night. When I was first shown his writing, concerning the story of my Fall (Just like Eve, in The Garden), I have to say, I was struck dumb with wondering how he could have brought the backyard events so clearly into view [To write, with such vivid description, and a sense of "BEING THERE..Well, it was truly remarkable.]

It was only later, much later, that I found out that he had talked with Mrs. Murphy, and the young Carpenter’s Son, all about what they’d witnessed, with their own eyes.
Everything the young man wrote, in, “A TRUE STORY,” was TRUE! (as the title suggests.) I add my confirmation of this; however, I do so, mostly, for Jenny’s sake —maybe, she can learn something from my mis-behavior on that HOT summer day.] (When I think back now upon how rosy-red my bottom turned in the sun, the least that Jenny can do is use a little sun-tan lotion, if she decides to partake of the Nude Beaches [which, seem to be flourishing, all along the coastal, and tropical, hot-spots.] )

What is of importance [in this story of Pete and Paula Parkstone], is the simple fact of understanding the point-of-view, from a person who all of the action revolves around. This is what is missing from the true story [told by, a teenager, across the street.]This is what MUST be told, even at the risk of confirming the first written account. I must say, that I don’t mind being The Object of this story, as long as it teaches the kids, in this small town [Floral Park, Long Island], what was wrong with my behavior, and that the punishment that I received..fit the crime [of Public Nudity], in the same way that, if I were a thief in Arabia (instead of, a one-day Nudist, on a chaise lounge, in the backyard], my hands would have been cut off. The punishment itself, is owed to the perceptiveness of my husband, Pete; who pretty-much thought up the entire set-piece of punishment…

…in such a way, that the actions of the previous afternoon, would all come vividly back to me, as punishment itself was being carried out. The Mud was the most stark of all the messages that came to me (the spanking..was all my idea, really). My “TRUE” punishment..yes, really began, on that hot, humid, Summer night..after we had returned from the local Movie House.

The End of PART ONE. SPANKGOOD/September,28,2005

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