In Parts I and II, the father of two young daughters related his experiences in adjusting to the Family Changing Room at their local health club.

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Steph and I had a great time in the pool that day. A major source of tension had been removed when she'd finally let me see her undressed. We could laugh and joke again. The new tension that had replaced the old was still nascent. The sight of her wouldn't leave my mind, but I could put those images in a mental box and push them to the back of my brain. The box was wrapped all around with bright yellow tape, with big black letters reading "SHE'S YOUR DAUGHTER, AND SHE'S 8 YEARS OLD."

When it came time to leave she joined me in the shower, both of us still in our suits. She knew the normal routine - taking off the suit to rinse it - but I could tell she was watching for me to make the first move. But by now we all know that I'm a chicken, so I waited.

As before, Stephanie seemed to realize that I wanted her to take the initiative. Glancing in my direction, she shrugged her arms out of the top of her suit and slowly peeled it down. Her back was to me as she bent to step out of it, giving me an astonishing view of her rounded bottom and a momentary glimpse of her pale sex. She turned and held the suit up under the running water, looked into my eyes, and smiled. Her face told me what she was thinking: See Daddy, I can do this now, and it's ok. There was also a question framed on her brow: Are you proud of me, Daddy?

It's better when I don't think. It's thinking that screws me up. I was so overwhelmed by her gaze that I just reached out. Her face was glistening with beads of water, her normally flowing dark hair flattened around her cheeks. I gently put my hand on the side of her face, and said, "There's my girl."

She beamed, and her expression cut through me like a hot knife.

I later thought about my choice of words. "There's my girl." In a sense, I was answering her question. Yes, you did it! I'm very proud of you, because I know that you're shy and that it was hard for you. But in another sense I was recognizing her as a new person. Now that you're naked, I see your real self. When you're dressed, it's like a costume that hides your true nature. Thank you for letting me see you without your disguise.

The moment ended far too soon. She waited under the shower and watched as I stripped off my suit and rinsed it. I felt her eyes on me again, but we were both more relaxed. She bit her lower lip. I could tell she really wanted to say something, but just couldn't quite muster the courage. I wasn't sure I wanted to hear it, whatever it was.

"If we hurry, we can see the end of Caroline's game." I'm such a coward. We dried and dressed, chatting about school.

In the car the lip-biting resumed. I could see her young wheels spinning intensely behind her eyes. She finally broke the silence.

"Daddy?"

"Yes, honey?" Please don't ask about sex. Please don't ask about sex. Please don't...

"Do you really think I'm pretty?"

Oh thank God.

"Of course, sweetie. You really are. I wouldn't lie to you." My sincerity and relief were palpable.

"As pretty as mommy?" A very serious look accompanied the question.

My sense of relief vanished. Warning lights flashed before my eyes. This is a trap. Extreme caution required. What you say now could be used against you.

I thought for about an hour before saying anything, squirming under her persistent scrutiny. OK, it was actually like 10 seconds. But you know what I mean.

"Well honey, I think mommy is the prettiest girl in the world." Safe so far. Steph looked a little disappointed, but nodded slightly. It was sortof ok with her for me to think that. I had her permission, but barely. Haven't given her any ammunition to use against me.

"And you look so much like her, sometimes I get confused about who's who." She blushed, and laughed out loud like a little girl. Relief again.

"No, really," I went on, playing out the act. "I can't even tell the difference. It's scary."

"You're silly, Daddy."

"And you're beautiful, Stephanie. You really are."

The next day was Sunday, and we decided to go swimming as a family. Carol took the opportunity to check out the regular ladies' locker room. She took the girls with her. I went to the mens', wondering if we'd ever return to the Family Changing Room.

We met in the hall on the way to the pool. I hadn't seen Carol in a swimsuit in a while. Seeing her together with Stephanie, I could tell that in a few years my joke in the car might become quite true. The same bright green eyes, matching oval faces, the same perfect skin. Bottoms of different sizes, but remarkably similar shapes.

My wife smiled at me, but didn't say anything. Steph and Caroline were whispering to each other and giggling uncontrollably. I couldn't contain my curiosity.

"So?"

"So what?" Carol responded.

"How was it?"

"Oh. It's fine." When Carol says "fine" like that, it doesn't mean "fine". Like when I say, "I'm going to Paul's house to play poker" and she says, "Fine." Translation: don't wake me up when you come home.

I looked at Stephanie, who was having trouble walking due to paroxysms of laughter.

"What's so funny?"

Catching her breath. "Daddy, there's OLD PEOPLE in there."

I raised an eyebrow.

"Not old like you." My eyebrows up further. "I mean REALLY REALLY old."

"What's wrong with that?"

"And fat," added Caroline, a bit late.

Stephanie and Caroline both simultaneously mimed sticking their fingers down their throats and vomiting. Carol gave them the icy look that was still effective in settling them down. "You're being very mean," she chided.

"It was SO GROSS," said Stephanie, a bit more quietly.

"It's just how people are. Everybody gets old, so you shouldn't say things like that."

"That doesn't mean we should have to LOOK AT THEM," said Stephanie. It's amazing how sarcastic an eight year old can be.

Carol looked at me for help. "You guys will look like that someday," I offered.

"I so totally will NOT!" retorted Stephanie. Carol gave me a glare that indicated she didn't appreciate my comment very much, either. We left it at that as we reached the pool.

After swimming, we made our way back down the hall. Stephanie and Caroline started heading for the Family Changing Room. Carol stopped and considered. "This way, girls," she said after a moment, gesturing towards the ladies'.

"Oh God Mom. Do we HAVE TO?" Major scrunchy faces from both girls.

She looked at me. I gave her my best 'It's entirely, completely up to you' shrug.

She sighed, and walked towards the Family Changing Room. As the girls disappeared inside the door ahead of us, she said, "I'd be so embarrassed if they made a scene like that again. They're not ready to be in the locker room by themselves, for sure." I just nodded.

Carol and the girls talked busily while they showered and changed. I was pretty much ignored, which was ok with me. I waited until the three of them were drying off before I went into the shower. I was discreet as I toweled off and slid into my clothes. Carol smiled at me a few times. I made eye contact with Stephanie once. It felt like we had begun to see into each other's thoughts. It's really neat to have Mom here, she was thinking. It is, I thought back. I almost wish she wasn't, her face replied. We conversed and agreed without speaking.

That night Carol said, "I was so disappointed with the girls today. Don't let them go to the ladies' locker room by themselves. We'll get complaints." I nodded. I'm good at nodding when appropriate.

"And the Family Changing Room seems fine," she added. This time, I could tell that "fine" actually meant "fine".

End of Part III

To be continued