Then I saw. They had all gone. Their bikes had gone. And so had my clothes, apart from my underpants!
That’s when it hit me like a lightning bolt – Mary had done this to teach me a lesson. My only consolation was that they had at least left me my underpants, so I wouldn’t have to ride home completely naked. But it was bad enough.
I crept back into the house, which was filled with the scent of cooking. My mother initially had her back to me, stirring something on the stove. She turned around and her jaw dropped.
“Adam! Where are your clothes? What have you been up to, young man? Answer me!” I was frozen in place, at a complete loss for anything to say.
I reached down with my hands and covered my crotch. I was a classic picture of embarrassment, and my face was hot with shame.
