Invitation to the Ball (Patreon)

Luc Van Der Zalm has kindly provided an archive of stories from the old web site.  I'll be going through the stories and matching them up to re-created images or images I've published here previously if I have no old image from the archive to work from.  There may be a few duplications of previously published work as a result.

“No, you can't see my ball gown now," protested Trisha. Her boyfriend, Freddy, was making a complete annoyance of himself. They'd met at the beach (where else?) and spent an enjoyable summer doing the teen lover routine. They didn't lose touch though when they had to split after summer vacation. They lived in different cities, kilometres apart. But they promised they'd meet again next summer and, since it was Trisha's grad, Freddy promised to escort her to the graduation ceremonies & the dance that followed.

His parents were more laid back than hers, or so it seemed. Freddy was allowed to take the necessary time off school to be her escort ('course straight A's didn't hurt either). Freddy arrived by train two days before the ceremonies and had impressed even Trisha's parents (unthinkable!). However, today - the actual day of the ceremonies - Freddy was being a pain. He'd see her graduation outfit soon enough, they'd have to leave within the hour to get to her school in Pacifica.

Freddy seemed surprised when Trisha didn't waltz up to meet him that afternoon in some creation of chiffon and silk. Instead, she was wearing a new bikini.

"Strange school you have," he commented. "Bikinis instead of a gown."
"You'll need a change, too," she quipped. "Here!" She tossed him a new swimsuit, too. "Get ready, we're leaving in ten minutes."
"Bu-bu-but -" began Freddy.
"Be patient, by the waves and the seas!" Trish's strange epithet surprised Freddy. Shaking his head, he did as he was asked. Within minutes he too sported a new swimsuit.
"Are we going swimming first?" he asked innocently.
"You might say so. Come on!" she ran from the house onto the adjacent beach with Freddy bringing up the rear. A few kilometres down the beach, Trisha ran around a small copse of trees. Only minutes later, Freddy caught up with her. There she lay, in all her beauty ...
"Do you like my grad outfit?" she asked with a smile. "Pacifica's a two hour swim that way." Her hand, loosely held, pointed out across the blue swells of the ocean.
"I can't -" Freddy began.
"Sure you can," she smiled in return. "Just get yourself wet." Within minutes, the two of them, in similar 'graduation outfits', began their swim to Trisha's high school dance.
"You didn't tell me you were a mermaid," Freddy smiled.
"You didn't ask," came the sly response.

Photo Credits:
Woman: https://www.deviantart.com/e-digitalfantasy
Dolphin: https://www.deviantart.com/enchanted-dreams