“Kristi, when is your college visitation day? Isn’t that coming up soon?” her mother asked.
“Yeah, mom, it’s next month on the 24th. I am super excited! Can you come?”
“Honey, I wish I could, but I have my annual conference in Toronto. I’m presenting my research, so I cannot miss it. I’m so sorry. Maybe dad can go.”
“I understand. I’ll ask him. It might be fun having one last ‘Daddy-Daughter’ date like when I was little. Anyway I am eighteen, so even if he can’t go I am an adult. It would be nice if he could go. He is always in such a hurry I never spend time with him.”
“Join the club, dear! So where are you planning on visiting?”
“It’s a place in California. Waterbury Hills College. It’s a small liberal arts college.”
“But that’s so far from Vermont! Don’t you want to be closer to home? If you attend Vermont State we get free tuition since I teach there. Plus, you can live at home and save money.”
“I know, but I want to get out and spread my wings! Actually I did consider Vermont State and I looked at other colleges. But this one seems to be very unusual. When they say they are a liberal arts college, they mean very liberal. Their mission is to open young adults to experiences that they would never get anywhere else in the world!”
“Well I guess that sounds like nothing you would find in Vermont! Actually I am jealous. It sounds like fun!”
“Janie is also going to check it out. Her dad is going with since her mom can’t get away from work.”
“Who can’t get away from work?” Kristi’s dad asked as he was running through the kitchen to get to softball practice.
“Janie’s dad is taking her to visit a college in California. And I’m going too, but mom can’t make it. So do you want to take me?”
“Um, yeah, whatever. I’m so sorry. I’m late as always. The guys are going to kill me. When is it??
“Next month. February 24.”
“Yeah, sure, whatever. February in California? Sounds nice. Send me an invite so it’s on my calendar. Use mom’s credit card and make the plane reservation. I’m so sorry. I am so late. They are going to kick me off the team if I keep holding them up. Sorry honey. You understand.”
“Yes daddy, I understand. All too well.”
“Great. I knew you would. Bye. Bye. Love you.”
The door slammed as Rick bolted out the door and sped out the driveway
February 23
“Dad we have to get up early to catch the flight. Are you packed?”
“Packed for what?”
“Daddy!!!”
“I know, I know. Good thing you sent me an invite so it’s on my calendar. I can’t wait! And I talked to John, Janie’s dad. We are both really looking forward to a little time with our girls.”
“Thank you daddy! I think I really want to go to Waterbury Hills College. It sounds like the place where I can be exposed to all sorts of things that I never imagined experiencing. And it is a great week to tour the campus. They are doing a special CFNM week of activities.”
“CFNM? What is that?”
“It says Celebrating Feminists. Probably doing special tributes to famous feminists like Betty Friedan, Gloria Steinem, and Angela Davis.”
“Cool. What does NM stand for?”
“Uh, it doesn’t say.”
“OK, well maybe we’ll get a little taste of female history on this trip. It’s always good to mix learning with fun,” Rick said.
“And don’t forget to pack your swim suit daddy! There is a pool party planned for everyone.”
Traveling to California the next day went smoothly. The limousine was on time. Security lines went fast. And the flight actually arrived twenty minutes early. The foursome found their hotel waiting for them with their two rooms ready for check-in.
“See daddy, it’s good karma. Good things are going to happen here at Waterbury Hills!”
“Honey, it’s California. You’ll always be guaranteed that at the very least interesting things will happen here!”
“John, the rooms are adjoining. Do you and Janie want to take 201, and Kristi and I will take 203?”
Everyone unpacked for the four days that they would be visiting. It’s one thing to live out of a suitcase for a day, but this is going to an extended visit. Might as well make yourself comfortable.
Rick knocked on the door adjoining the two rooms.
“Guys are you ready? Let’s meet in the lobby for dinner in 30 minutes. John if you’re ready let’s go to the bar and have a drink.”
“How did you know I was thirsty!”
“OK daddy, we’ll see you there!”
The girls worked furiously showering and getting their hair and makeup done while the dads went to the bar.
“Two scotches on the rocks, please.”
“Do you want a twist in those, Sarah, the bartender asked?”
“Yes, please,” John answered for both men.
“Visiting town, gentlemen?” Sarah asked.
“Yep, just got here. We are with our daughters visiting Waterbury Hills College.”
“Cool, maybe I’ll see you there. I’m a senior at WHC, and I volunteered to help with the CFNM tours over the next few days.”
“Great! I don’t know much about the college, but my daughter says that it is a very unusual experience.” Rick said. “And this whole CFNM thing should be educational. Sounds like we are going to learn about some aging feminists.”
“Haha, yes. The activities set feminism into an historical context, and it will be very educational and fun. You guys are too young for bra burners, Woodstock and hippies, but some of our professors compare our college life to Woodstock or Burning Man, if you know what I mean. It’s like time stands still here, and we live the 60s and 70s all over again. Just without Vietnam.”
“Sounds a lot like free love, drugs, and rock and roll. I might like that, but I don’t know if I want that for my daughter!” Rick joked. “And by the way, what does the NM in CFNM stand for?”
“I’m not sure. It’s just all about celebrating feminism on campus.”
“OK, fine, well I’m all for educating my daughter. I just hope she appreciates the new experiences here.”
“Relax sir, it’s fine. I moved from Salt Lake City, and I adapted just fine. Yes, I traded in the Mormon life for a lifestyle that is much more, uh, open, carefree, and, well, liberal in all respects. I love it here! Your daughters will be fine.”
“OK, first it’s Rick. And this is John. Maybe I’ll be more trusting after another scotch!”
“Same here!” John chimed in. “I’m getting nervous about what our daughters are getting into here.”
“Listen sirs, I mean Rick and John, you are in California. You need to leave your concerns, worries, and inhibitions back home. Be in the present, fully experience the next four days, and you and your daughters will return home having bonded in an entirely new way. They aren’t ‘daddy’s little girl’ anymore. They are adults moving from home to go to college and to find themselves. Go with the flow for the next few days and you’ll be fine.”
“If that is the case, Sarah, stock up on the scotch for the next few days! It sounds like we will need it!” John said.
“Well, you won’t be the first, haha. But you’ll be fine.”
The girls could hardly sleep that night. Excited about leaving home and moving to California. Meeting boys. Learning new things and enjoying new experiences. It was like trying to get to sleep on the night before Christmas when they were little.
Rick and John slept well. All the scotch that they drank that night helped put them right out as soon as their heads hit the pillow.
The four of them met in the hotel restaurant for breakfast.
“I can’t believe that we are really here and this is happening!” Kristi said.
“This is so cool. I wonder what surprises lie ahead for today?” Janie added.
“Well your agenda looks like we will visit some classes, tour the campus, and end the day with a pool party,” Rick said.
“And then let’s find a great place for dinner to relax and digest everything we see today,” John said smiling.
“And plenty of scotch at the bar with Sarah!”
“Of course!
They wrapped up breakfast and headed to campus. When they met at the student center, the college president was personally greeting everyone.
“Good morning, I am Camille Callahan, the president. Welcome to Waterbury Hills College!”
“Camille, these are my new friends, Rick and John,” a familiar voice said from behind them.
“Sarah! Great to see you again!”
“Well, Rick, I told you that I would be helping with the tour.”
“Dr. Callahan…” Rick started.
“Please, it’s Camille. Everyone calls me Camille. We are very different on this campus as you will see.”
“I see that. And may I say that you seem very young for a college president,” John said, taking note of her tall slender build, ample breasts, and matching red lipstick and finger nail polish.
“Thank you. At 38 years old, I am one of the younger college presidents. The Board of Trustees appreciated my philosophy about Waterbury Hills being a place to explore and discover your mind and body and to experience all that life has to offer. You’ll get a taste of that later today during the annual Celebrating Feminism event.”
“I can see that this is different already. You are the first woman I’ve ever met who told her age,“ Rick said.
“See, we are open about everything here!”
“I wish college was like this when I was in school,” John said.
“OK everyone, I am going to read off your tour groups for the day. Group one is Janie and Kristi, along with DeAndre, Ebony, Bradley and your family members.”
Group one wasted no time and left before hearing the rest of the groups. They would all meet the other 20 students and families at the swim party at the end of the day.
The day was filled with sitting in on classes, meeting professors, touring the dorms, lunch in the student union, and learning about financial aid and admissions.
“I love this campus!” Janie said. “You can tell there is a certain vibe here that I haven’t felt at the other schools we visited.”
“I know,” Kristi said. “Everyone here is about growing and developing and discovering themselves. No judgments. No pressure. Just the expectation that we be open to new experiences.”
“John, college sure wasn’t like this when I went,” Rick said.
“Not at all. It was about getting away from your parents, getting high occasionally, and getting an education that lead to a job. Period. If you wanted to discover yourself you could do that after getting a paycheck.”
DeAndre, Ebony, and Bradley were likewise sharing their excitement with their family members.
DeAndre and Ebony were twins from New York and were with their mother. The twins seemed inseparable and were weighing the advantages and disadvantages of going off to college together. They felt that Waterbury was a place where they could be together while still discovering their own unique identities.
Their mother agreed. “And besides, it’s only one plane ticket when I come to visit my children at college!”
Bradley was a tall, athletic farm boy from Oklahoma. He was clearly a “mommy’s boy” who always tried to please her. She reassured him that she would support his decision to go to Waterbury. It was a long way from Oklahoma, both geographically and culturally, but she knew it would be best for him. He needed to get out and see the world. Although he is athletic, he is surprisingly less confident around girls and with his body.
Bradley’s Aunt Sue also came for the tour, and she agreed. “Honey, you know this place is for you. Even though I’ve only been out of college for ten years, I would do it all over again if I knew about this place.”
“OK, future Waterbury grads, follow me,” Sarah announced. “If you still have some energy left it is time for the CFNM swim party that celebrates the feminists who have blazed trails before us.”
“Finally! I’ve been wanting to see Bradley in his swim suit all day,” Janie whispered to Kristi. “You know what they say about country boys.”
Unfortunately, Janie doesn’t know how to whisper and Bradley heard her. He looked at the two girls and turned beet red. Bradley walked faster to catch up to his mother and aunt.
Sarah led the group to the aquatic center. “Men’s locker room is to the left and women’s is to the right. Guys, we’ll meet you out at the pool.”
Janie and Kristi changed quickly and were the first in the pool area.
“Look at the size of this pool, Janie!”
“It’s enormous! Absolutely beautiful. The water is so clear even for a pool. And look, there is even a hot tub! They think of everything!”
