Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Weather forecasts... snarky with a chance of pissy...


It’s been a rough time.  I have not been a good slave.  He has not been asking for much and when he does my response is slow, uninspired… even surly.  He tried to spank me and… good lord… I swear my ass seems to be sharing my pissy, uncooperative attitude.  IT HURT.  It HURT so bad that I practically imploded.  I did not sit still… I fought back… I grabbed the leather strap and would not let go.  He could pry the fingers of one hand off but then when he went for the other I would grab back again… when I sank my teeth into it he got disgusted and quit trying.

And this seems to be the pattern… sporadic obedience interspersed with painful moments of outright rebellion, met with half hearted attempts to correct me.  I find myself disgusted with myself and disappointed in him.

I don’t know exactly what is going on… I could point out nearly a dozen things that are weighing on my mind… worry about parents aging… work cutbacks… tasks put off and off until they pile up to intimidating proportions… good intentions in the morning… too tired to think in the afternoon…

And Master has not been much better… normally he sleeps a lot.  And lately he has been sleeping even more.  He naps all day and then complains that he cannot sleep at night… and this slave has learned it does little good to point out that perhaps the two things might be related… especially when he is tired.  Do not question Master’s reality.  In fact it is far wiser to embrace it, make it mine.  In fact, like the woman that marries the alcoholic I find myself trying to nap more too… in some kind of self destructive urge to join him in this folly. 

And you want to know something?  If I sleep during the day… I wake groggy, disoriented and in the nastiest of moods, definitely not very slavelike.

Sex continues infrequent and uninspiring.  To speak of it would be singularly dull.  Same channel, same song, same time… meh.

To give us credit… it is not getting worse… it does not feel like the world is ending… (well, with all the tornados and such, maybe it is)… but here at home… it just feels like a down time.  I think we wake each morning hoping for sunshine and every fucking day it is just the a same old thing… rain, rain, rain… both in reality and spiritually.  But it is almost June… and I know it cannot rain forever.  In fact the weather man is predicting a change in the weather soon.

Monday, May 30, 2011

After taste...


...sitting at the gamers table, conversation wound round to strange flavored jelly beans… and the Harry Potter inspired things that taste like earwax, pepper, mown grass or vomit.  Son #1 said to me completely innocently… “Have you ever sort of thown up a little into your mouth and then swallowed it down???  They taste like that.” 

I had to choke down the automatic answer… “You’ve never sucked cock have you?”

Because it is like that… firm hands gripping your head, pushing deep and deeper yet… him deliberately seeking out that sensation he gets when my throat constricts around him as I gag and choke and gag again… each time the puke rising just a little higher until you can taste it.

Yes I know that taste.  I get reminded of it every weekend.  It's not so bad...

Give me credit… I did not say it.           

Saturday, May 28, 2011

Serial Saturday NORTHWEST HUNTERS Book Two, Chapter Seven


Northwest Hunters:  Finding Happiness

Chapter 7: Reaffirming Love


As Junie was cleaning up from breakfast, Donna spoke to Bob, “You are on your own for a while this afternoon.  Both Junie and I are going into town.”  
Junie looked up from the sink, her eyes questioning, and she asked, “We are?”
“Yes, we are going to get our hair done.” 
Bob laughed and ran his hand over his unkempt thatch of gray curls, “Maybe I should head to town too and get duded up a little.  Hate to have you girls looking all uptown and have me looking like something that’s been living in the woods all winter.” 
Donna got up and ran her fingers through his hair.  “You know I hate it when you get it too short.” 
Bob pushed her hands away and laughed, “You are just lucky that I am one of those guys who kept his hair.  Why don’t we plan to go out to dinner tonight?  We could try that Mexican restaurant that just opened up in town.”

In the end they decided that Junie and Donna would come back home after their appointment and then they would all drive back to town in the SUV for a night out.  Junie spent all morning in her sewing room feverishly putting the finishing touches on a little black dress she had been working on.  When she was finished she put it on and came upstairs to show Donna.  She did a little pirouette and then posed.  “What do you think?” 
“Oh, it looks like you have your heart set on dressing up a little I see.” 
Junie’s eyes faltered, “Um… what would you like me to wear, Ma’am?”
Donna laughed, “No, that will be fine.  I guess I just hadn’t thought about it.  Actually, I think Bob would like to dress up a little too.  I am the one that likes to go casual, but I think I can throw on something this time.  After all, we will be all dolled up from our trip to the beauty parlor.”
Junie smiled excitedly.  “Oh, thank you, Ma’am.”
Donna looked at Junie and then smiled again, “Let’s stop by the shoe store, too.  You will need some shoes to go with that new dress.” 
Junie squealed and clapped her hands.  “Oh, I do need some new shoes.  My trainers are all stained with grass and my white shoes are not at all right for this dress.” 
Donna looked at her usual outfit of khaki shorts and cotton sleeveless blouse and sandals.  “Well, go on now and change into something more appropriate for a fun trip to the shoe store and the salon.  I will get dressed up for dinner, but I refuse to take off my shorts until then.  We should leave pretty soon if we are going shoe shopping too.”
Junie hurried downstairs and changed into a pair of slacks and soft yellow blouse and was back up in minutes.  “I am glad you made this appointment, Ma’am.  My hair is starting to look terrible.” 
Donna laughed, “I wonder what it is about gray hair that has both of us rushing off to soak our heads in chemicals.” 
Junie laughed, “Well, Ma’am, all I know is I started turning gray in my early twenties.  I liked to say it was the kids, but to be honest it is just a family trait.  Eventually it will turn completely white and I wouldn’t mind that so much, but there is something about this half way thing that I just can’t stand.”

Junie dropped the shopping bags on her bed and looked at herself in the mirror.  She smiled at the freshly black and extra shiny hair that hung down almost to her shoulders.  She had let the beautician talk her into bangs and she had to admit that they made her look softer and younger.  Her skin glowed from the facial. 
She looked at her watch and decided she had time to put the rubber bands on for 30 minutes before it was time to leave.  The way Bob had been talking, it sounded like he was planning a play session tonight after their dinner out and she wanted him to be pleased with how she had been keeping up with his instructions to keep her nipples swollen and sensitive.
Junie showered quickly, careful to keep her hair dry.  She gasped when the spray from the shower head on her distended nipples felt like needles stabbing and she carefully kept her back to the water.  She repeated Bob’s words to herself, “So sensitive, so responsive.” 
Junie chose her black peek-a-boo bra with the little flames embroidered around the holes.  The black dress was low cut, but the fabric was opaque and she looked at herself carefully trying to decide if the bumps of her nipples were too obvious.  The whole idea of going to a restaurant with a peek-a-boo bra was a little terrifying, but for the first time in her life Junie was feeling beautiful and somehow that made being daring a little more tempting.  She looked at the many pairs of new panties in her drawer and picked out an almost transparent pair of smoke black bikinis that had a little red bow on them.  Silently she blessed Bob for his good taste in panties and giggled a little.  She carefully pulled up the black thigh high stockings she had bought at the shoe store and posed in front of the mirror in her room.  She gave a saucy wink at the girl in the mirror; all she saw was the beauty. 
Putting on a robe, she put on her makeup, the eye liner and mascara made her big brown eyes dominate her face even more and she put on rouge and painted her lips red.  She decided that the bangs made her look like a 1920’s flapper or maybe Betty Boop.  The little black dress she had made was kind of flapper style too with a softly draping bodice and a pleated skirt that swished when she walked.
After she pulled the dress on and slipped her feet into her new black shoes she looked at herself in the mirror.  A lot of cleavage showed and she took a deep breath, pushing back the little flare up of her old timidity.  She frowned at her image and thought that something was missing.  Then she nodded, yes, the outfit really needed a necklace.  She had only managed to salvage a few pieces of jewelry from the devastation of her apartment.  She had most of the old pendants that had been her mother’s, but had not managed to get any of the chains fixed yet.  On impulse she dug through her sewing and found a length of black ribbon.  It took only a second to stitch her favorite cameo to the bottom edge and tied it around her neck like a choker and decided that would have to do.

Bob was sitting in the front room wearing a new pair of jeans and plaid Pendleton wool shirt.  He had on a pair of shiny black loafers and a black belt.  Junie thought that the look fit him very nicely.  When she walked into the room he stood up and gestured for her to spin around.  “You look beautiful, my sweet girl.  Go see what’s keeping your Mistress.  Judging from the cursing going on in there, I think she might need your help.”
Donna was seated on the foot of the bed in a pair of green panties and nothing else.  Her hazel eyes were smoldering, but her lips were quivering.  Junie sat down next to her and whispered, “What’s the matter?”
Donna grunted in frustration.  “I hate dressing up.  I always feel so tall and skinny and nothing I put on looks right.”
Junie suppressed a giggle and kept her voice solemn.  “I know how you feel, Ma’am, I have the same problem.” 
Donna’s eyes slid over to Junie and took in her short plump figure and the corner of her mouth quivered.  “I don’t have anything pretty.  Before I retired all I wore was business suits, lawyer clothes.  I still have a fucking closet full of lawyer clothes.”
Junie stood up and began to look through the clothes in Donna’s closet.  She quickly pulled out a couple of rich silk blouses and found a nice mahogany colored leather skirt and a wide belt.  Junie held up both the rich copper blouse and then the emerald green one and said, “Choose.”  Donna pointed at the green one and Junie hung the copper one back up. 
Junie pulled Donna up to her feet and began to dress her, like she was a little girl.  She spoke soft words of directions, the same words she used when she dressed her children so long ago.  Stepping back she looked critically at the outfit she had chosen… the skirt did not fit as tightly as she would have liked, but the blouse was beautiful and pulled the eye up toward Donna’s face, bringing out the green flecks in her eyes and contrasting beautifully with her reddish blond hair.  Junie unbuttoned the blouse one more button and rolled the long sleeves up to a three quarter length, “Ma’am, do you have any jewelry?” 
Donna sighed and went to her closet and pulled down a box from the top shelf, “This was my mother’s.”
Junie pounced on the big old jewelry box and gasped as she opened the lid.  “Oh my goodness, Ma’am, some of these pieces really ought to be in a safety deposit box.”  She held up a heavy diamond necklace, “This necklace alone must be worth more than my car.” 
Donna shrugged, “My grandfather was a jeweler and diamond merchant.  My mother and her sisters divided up my grandmother’s collection.  When she passed away, I got this.”
Junie carefully sorted through the dozens of necklaces, earrings, bracelets, pins, and rings.  “You should get this appraised and then put it in a safe deposit box.  And you should make sure that it stays in your family.  Do you have a niece or cousin?  But first you should start wearing them.  They need to be worn.  They are so beautiful and have been locked in this jewelry box far too long.”  Junie paused and then gave a little giggle.  “These are definitely not lawyer jewelry.”
Donna looked at the pile of treasure, and shrugged.  “I always thought that they looked gaudy.  I always thought my mother looked like a Christmas tree.”
Junie smiled.  “And I always thought Christmas trees were the most beautiful of things.”  Junie held up a heavy emerald necklace and a matching bracelet and nodded.  “These will be perfect with that blouse.”
As she was returning the remaining jewelry back into the box a beautiful length of pearls was too much to resist and she held them up to her neck.  The lustrous orbs fell down and draped across her cleavage.  She gave a wistful sigh and put the strand gently back into the jewelry box.  “You really ought to get a special box for these, or at least a soft sack to keep them in.  They are getting damaged lying loose against the diamonds.”
Donna reached into the box and lifted the pearls, running them through her fingers.  “I remember my mom wearing these.  They were her favorite.  She wore them all the time.”
“It is good for pearls to be worn.  They just get more beautiful.”
Donna lifted the pearls and held them up to Junie’s neck once more.  “They go with your dress.  You should wear them.”
Junie looked up at Donna, her eyes huge and happy.  “Oh, Ma’am, really?”
Donna put the necklace around Junie’s neck.  “Yes, really.”
Donna stood up and looked at herself in the mirror.  She frowned critically.  “I still look like a scarecrow, just one in an emerald necklace.”
Junie did not know if it was the fact that briefly she had seemed to be the one in charge, or if it was just the negative statement, but she found herself scolding her Mistress, “Now don’t you talk like that about yourself!  You are beautiful!”
Junie heard a soft growl from the doorway and she froze.  Whirling she saw her Master standing in the doorway, his head tipped to one side.  Her hand flew to her mouth and she gasped, “I am sorry, Ma’am.  I don’t know what got into me.  I should never have spoken to you like that.”
Bob’s words were soft.  “It is not your place to correct your Mistress, Junie.  You may politely express your own opinion about your Mistress’s beauty but I caution you to use a more respectful tone.”  Bob looked at Donna and grinned, his tone warming, “And I must say that I agree with you.  She is beautiful isn’t she?  Now my two beautiful bitches, your carriage awaits.  Let’s get this show on the road.”
Dinner was delightful.  After reading the menu and discussing what sounded good, Bob ordered for all three of them.  The food was fresh and plentiful, and the service was flawless.  Bob had asked for a quiet table in the corner.  Junie sat across from Bob and Donna, and it was not long before she felt a foot gently nudging hers. She giggled and pushed back and it was not long before all six feet were tangled up under the table as they laughed and talked about a thousand different things.  Under Bob’s urging Donna and Junie drank glass after glass of sangria while he nursed his one beer declaring, “I am the chauffeur.”
Bob had to keep a hand under each of their arms as they made their way back to the SUV.  “You two have been wonderful company.  I could not wish for two more beautiful, wise or wonderful bitches to make this old dog feel on top of the world.” 
He put both Donna and Junie in the back seat, declaring that the chauffeur should be the only one in front.  Donna looked at Junie, her eyes suddenly carnivorous, and slid across the seat to sit close.  Her hands were under Junie’s skirt before they were even out of the parking lot.  Donna’s voice was rich with excitement as she agreed, “Yes, I think it a great idea for the chauffeur to be the only one in front.”
By the time they had gotten to their driveway, Donna had Junie’s dress up, over her head and off.  Junie did not even think to protest, her eyes were closed and her mouth filled with gasps and moans as Donna busily sucked on her nipples through the holes of her bra. 
Bob pulled into the garage and spoke sharply, “Okay, you two, take a break from that.  Go in and get ready for playing.  I will take the dogs out for a walk and then put them to bed.”  Then he looked thoughtful and said, “Donna, I think that this is a good time for us to try out that toy you bought.” 
Donna kept her arm possessively around Junie as they made their way into the house.  Her voice was tense with anticipation, “Junie, go to your room and take off the rest of your clothing and meet me in the bathroom.”
When Junie walked into the bathroom, her heart jumped at the sight of the red rubber enema bag, and Donna stirring up the solution to go into it.  Donna grinned at her, “This time it’s going to just be me.”
“Yes, Ma’am.”
As Junie held up the bag and let the warm solution flow into Donna, Donna made a deep groaning sound, “Junie, this is so good.  I don’t know why I like this so much, but it has always made me so excited.”
Junie knelt next to Donna and stroked her back, “What are we going to do tonight?”
“Something I think we both have fantasized about.  Just listen to Bob.  He will tell you what to do.” 
The warm buzz of the Sangria softened the edge of Junie’s curiosity.  She gently washed Donna in the shower and then combed out her hair, her hands lingering and caressing as she served her Mistress. 
Bob’s voice interrupted their gentle touches, his voice soft but firm, coming from the doorway, “Come to bed, you two.”
Once in the bedroom he spoke gently, “Donna, my goddess, lie down for me.  Lie down on your stomach and let us worship your beauty.”
Bob gestured for Junie to kneel on the opposite side of Donna facing him.  He poured some massage oil into her palm and he murmured, “Just do what I do, Junie.  Follow my lead.”  He poured some oil into his palm and rubbed his hands together warming the oil, and nodded in approval as he watched Junie mimic his actions.
Bob gently lifted Donna’s foot in his hand and began to massage the arch of her foot, his fingers firmly working deep into the muscles of her foot.  Junie watched with wide curious eyes and followed his lead.  His eyes met hers as she repeatedly glanced to watch his movements and he grinned and winked as he leaned down and took Donna’s toes into his mouth, gently sucking on each of her toes.  Junie could feel a quiver shoot up Donna’s leg as she mimicked Bob’s caress.
Together they worked their way up Donna’s legs, reapplying the massage oil to their hands, slowly and sensually kissing and kneading her flesh, stopping and savoring the sweet curves at the back of her knees, tarrying along the tender skin of her inner thighs and the crease where her thighs met the swell of her buttocks.  Donna lay perfectly still under their touches, soft sighs and trembles shaking her to the core. 
Junie met Bob’s eyes again when their fingers met and touched along Donna’s spine.  She gave him a tremulous smile and he gently kissed her on the forehead and murmured, “You are doing great, Junie.”  When they had worked their way out Donna’s long freckled arms to the palms of her hands, Junie found herself once again looking into his blue eyes as they each lifted a palm to their lips, almost toasting each other with the kiss they bestowed upon this woman they both loved so much. 
Bob gently lifted on Donna’s shoulder, as he urged her to turn over onto her back.  “Turn over for us, my goddess.”
Starting again at her feet they worked their way in concert up the length of her legs.  Junie felt a tiny pang of disappointment when Bob’s hands seemed to avoid the cleft of Donna’s legs, but she followed up with him over the tense and trembling abdominals.  As their fingers approached Donna’s breasts, Junie’s hands trembled as she looked to Bob, her eyes begging to be allowed to touch those sweetly trembling peaks.
Junie smiled eagerly as she watched Bob gently cup one of Donna’s breasts and then roll the small pink nipple between his fingertips and matched his action.  A ripple of pleasure flowed down Donna’s frame.  When he bent to pull a tightened peak into his mouth, Junie found her forehead touching his as she leaned down to do the same. 
Bob’s voice was soft and compelling, “My goddess, wait for us.  We will return soon.”  He stood up and beckoned for Junie to follow him.  Junie felt like adding her voice to the whine of protest that left Donna’s lips as they stopped their touches and moved away from her.  Again Bob spoke, “Patience, my goddess; close your eyes.”  He took her hand and placed it between her legs.  “Here, my darling, caress yourself.  Think of the pleasures yet to come.”  Junie found it difficult to tear her eyes from the sight of Donna lying on the bed, her fingers slowly stroking her shining folds.  Only when Bob took her hand, did she remember to look to him.
He put his fingers to his lips, and pulled her into the playroom and to the toy box.  Only then did he speak, “Junie, quietly now, put this on.  I will help you.”  He held up a handful of canvas straps and leaning down gestured to put one of her feet through an opening and then guided her other foot through a second opening.  When he pulled the straps up her legs and snapped them around her waist, Junie recognized that this was a harness designed to go around her hips.  Her eyes looked curiously into the toy box looking for the dildo she knew must attach to the connector that rested directly over her pubic bone.  Bob tightened a few of the straps and then handed her the same large phallus that he had attached to the fucking machine. 
Junie held it in her hand.  It was surprisingly heavy and yet was subtly flexible and had a pliable, skin-like surface.  A sudden wave of excitement rushed through her loins, making her knees almost buckle.  Junie found it hard to speak, her mouth flooded with moisture as her cunt clenched and a trickle of moisture made her thighs slippery.  Her voice was low and tense with pent up excitement.  “I have always wanted one of these.”  Her hand began to unconsciously stroke up and down its shaft.  Her fingers were trembling so hard that Bob had to help her attach it to the harness around her hips.
Junie could not take her eyes off the strap on cock standing out from her pelvis, and once again she could not help caressing it, stroking the length of it like she could not really believe it was there.  Suddenly uncertain she looked up at Bob, “I don’t know what to do.” 
Bob caressed her face.  “You will do fine.  Just listen to me and Donna.  We will tell you what to do.  Now let’s not keep our goddess waiting any longer.”  Bob had trouble keeping a straight face as Junie stared raptly down at the cock swaying back and forth as she walked into the bedroom. 
Donna was still lying as they had left her.  Bob urged Junie up beside her, and then whispered, “We are ready for you, my goddess.  Roll over onto your stomach, my goddess.” 
Donna’s eyes fluttered open and the hand that had been stroking her cunt froze and she made a soft choking gasp as she looked at Junie.  Her voice was hoarse, “Oh fuck yes.” 
As she turned over, Bob handed Junie some lubricant, “Prepare your Mistress, Junie.”
Junie gently spread Donna’s cheeks and looked down and on impulse bent down and kissed the small brown star.  She felt Donna quiver under her lips and, encouraged for her boldness, she curiously slid her tongue around and around.  When she was rewarded with a soft moan she pushed and probed deeper, reveling in Donna’s louder moans.  Reluctantly she pulled away and using her fingers she gently worked the lubricant into the tight passage.
Leaning with his back against the headboard, Bob lifted Donna to straddle his hips facing away from him and slowly eased himself into her narrow passage.  Junie watched fascinated as Donna gasped and shuddered, working his cock deeper and deeper in, and only stopping when he was buried all the way inside her.  Bob spread his legs wide and lifted Donna’s knees up, spreading her open.  “Junie, come between our legs.  Kneel there and fuck your Mistress with that cock of yours.”
Donna groaned out, repeating his words, “Oh fuck yes, fuck me, Junie.  Fuck me with that big cock of yours.”
A shiver of excitement shook through Junie as she moved to between their legs.  Looking carefully she stroked her fingers down Donna’s cleft and then slowly slid her fingers into Donna’s opening gauging and checking the angle.  As she placed the end of the dildo against the opening and very slowly pressed forward, Donna groaned out.  “Yes, that’s good.  Do that.” 
With each thrust Junie grew more confident and it seemed that, as she watched the waves of pleasure shaking Donna, she felt equal matching surges of warmth and tension in her own loins.  Donna was talking to her almost continually, “Good, yes, harder, oh god, fuck yes.”  Junie found herself getting caught up in the rhythms and with each thrust of her hips she felt herself getting increasingly carried away with a building sense of potency.  When Donna fell silent, Junie knew that she was on the brink, and the thought, the knowledge that she had done this, that she was making Donna reach that place was intoxicating.  She found herself gripping Donna’s hips, lunging at Donna in almost a frenzy of sexual fervor, soft growling grunts of effort being forced out between her clenched teeth.
Bob was surging under Donna, adding his slower more subtle movements to their primal dance, his hands over Junie’s, holding Donna between them.  His words spurred them on, “Yes, my goddesses, do not hold back.  Give me your passion.”
Donna’s legs wrapped around Junie’s hips and pulled her deep, grinding their pelvises together, and she began to convulse in the irresistible waves of her climax.  Trapped in the primal embrace of Donna’s thighs, Junie could not help but be pulled along, reflexively almost spastically trying to force herself even deeper, as she joined her Mistress, her own cries of joy blending with Donna’s.
It had been oddly difficult to take off the harness and the phallus that protruded from her groin.  Junie wondered at that.  Why did she like having that thing on?  Why did that patently silly fake penis seem to resonate with her?  Why did it make her feel powerful and so damn sexy?  She held up the thing and looked at it closely.  Her legs and thighs ached and her ass muscles were trembling in fatigue.  She knew she was going to be sore in the morning.  This fucking was a lot harder work than she had anticipated.  She shook her head in wonder.
Again Junie found herself tending to her Master and Mistress as they lay entwined in each other’s arms.  A wave of tenderness seemed to well up inside her as she washed them gently and then covered them with the blanket and crawled in with them, snuggling close to their warmth.  She sighed in contentment.  Somehow this was the best of all.

Junie was a whirlwind of activity all day Sunday.  She had gotten up early and was busy cooking, cleaning and gardening before the sun was even up, anything to keep from thinking about the trip to Seattle tomorrow.  She had pulled the SUV out of the garage and was washing it almost obsessively; working diligently at making sure every last crushed bug carcass was gone from the front grill and headlights.  Bob came over from the garden and watched her for a while. 
Junie paused and looked up, her hands still dripping with soap suds.  “Is there something you need?”  Her voice was a little high pitched and forced, her eyes a little too bright. 
“No, I am fine, Junie.  But I do want to know how you are doing.  You are a little hyper today.  Is it your trip tomorrow?”
Junie turned to the car and furiously scraped at a particularly stubborn spot with her thumbnail.  Her voice was tight, “I am afraid I am going get afraid again.”
The paradox of her words made Bob laugh.  “Can you see how you are setting yourself up, Sweet Junie?  You are already starting to fail and you have not even put your foot upon the path.”
Junie’s hands stilled, but she did not take her eyes off the car.  Her voice was soft, “I know.  That is the most infuriating, knowing that I am just making it worse and not being able to stop.”  She shook her head and giggled a harsh angry laugh.  Standing up she picked up the hose and began to rinse the car off.  “The more I try to not think about something the more it becomes the only thing I can think about.” 
“Then stop trying to not think about it.  Decide to think about it.  What are you going to do in Seattle?”
“We were going to go to two different wholesale fabric outlets.  Mary was going to order some new stock for her store and we were both going to pick up some stuff for our sewing projects.  Then we were going to have lunch and come back.  Nothing hard really, but I never know what is going to set me off.”
“Set you off?”
“It’s hard to explain.  All I know is that I have to get away, to get somewhere safe and familiar.  My heart is racing, my mouth goes dry, and I have this odd buzzing in my head.  I can’t think.  I don’t even realize it until I find myself just turning around and walking away, running away.”
“How long has this been going on?”
Junie turned off the water and hung the hose up.  “I had a lot of trouble with this as a teenager.  I missed a lot of school days, it wasn’t the school work.  It was the kids at school.  They were pretty mean sometimes.  Luckily I could do make up work at home and just ace the tests and pass that way.  During my twenties and thirties it wasn’t such an issue.  I had bad days every once in a while, but I could stay home.”  She looked thoughtful.  “And even if I started to panic, with the kids there was no way I could completely lose control.  I had to be strong for them.”
Bob pulled her to his chest and held her for a minute stroking her back until she sighed and relaxed against him.  “Junie, you are strong.  It is there inside you and you know that it is there.  You will do fine.”
“I hope so.”
“No, Junie, you will do fine.  Hoping that is just another way to think about failure.”
“Yes, Sir.”

Bob and Donna watched Junie as she pulled out of the yard and drove down the driveway in her little yellow sports car.  Junie had been alternately talkative and energetic and then still and silent all morning.  But she never took a backward step on her path and she had a determined look in her eye as she kissed them each goodbye.
Donna slipped her arm around Bob’s waist, “Do you think she will be okay?”
Bob laughed and nodded.  “Our girl is stronger than she knows.  She will do fine.  She will come back triumphant.”  He turned to her and smiled.  “We have all day to ourselves, my goddess.  Junie has packed a bunch of nice snacks for us.  Let’s load the kids in the car and all go for a hike.”
Donna’s eyes lit up.  “You get the dogs and I will get the food.  Where do you want to go?”
Bob’s eyes twinkled.  “No, you get the dogs.  I will get the food.  There are some other surprises I want to pack as well.” 
Donna’s head came up and she looked sharply at him.  “You know how I feel about surprises.” 
Bob laughed, “You love them.  It makes you crazy trying to figure out what I am up to, but you love every minute of it.  Now get that lazy ass of yours into the garage and make sure we have everything we need.  Put in the dogs’ backpacks.  Let’s make them work for their dinner tonight.”
Junie had assembled a wide variety of snack foods; hard boiled eggs, little meat pies filled with chopped venison, mushrooms and herbs, cheeses, dried fruits, and nuts.  There were even some rich, soft, chocolate brownies that were so dark that even Bob could not resist them.  Bob nodded in approval.  Junie had done great when he had mentioned he wanted something special to eat that would be easy to carry in a backpack.
He went downstairs and got a few items he had been thinking about from the toy box and, grinning, stuck a few extra freshly recharged batteries in the backpack. 
Donna was in the bedroom lacing up her hiking boots and grabbing an extra pair of socks when Bob walked in.  Her eyes were measuring as she looked up at him, her expression inquisitive.  “Where are you thinking of going?”
“Not too far, there is that trail up to that little lake in the forest we hiked a couple years back.  You know, the one that followed the creek up and there were those pretty waterfalls.”
“Oh, that is a great idea, I had almost forgotten about that one.”
“Hopefully, we will be the only ones there.”
“That would be nice.”
Bob put their favorite walking sticks and the rest of the stuff from the house in the SUV.  Donna had folded down the back seat and moved up the partition so the dogs would have a little more room but, the back of the SUV was still filled with dogs.  He laughed as Bump smeared his wet nose over the sparkling windows that Junie had obsessed over just the day before.
As Donna moved around to climb into the passenger seat, Bob caught her hand.  His voice was amused, “No, my goddess, you are not quite ready to leave.” 
Donna froze and looked up at him, her eyes questioning, but then she smiled softly and relaxed under his hand.  “What is it you have in mind?”
“I think your outfit is lacking something.”  Bob swung her around and trapped her against the car his hips grinding into hers, his eye’s inches from hers.  He could feel a tremble pass through her as his lips took hers.  Only when she was limp and breathless did her release her and murmur, “Pull down those shorts and panties for me.” 
Donna’s hands shook as she fumbled at the button on her shorts, but soon she slid them down to her ankles.  Bob sank to his knees as she lowered her clothing, sliding down and pressing his lips to kiss her again.  A low growl rumbled in his chest as he caught her scent and pressed in to spread her open, his lips and tongue demanding more.  Donna struggled to stand, a soft gasping groan forced from her by the sudden onslaught of sensation.
Bob lifted his face from her and looked up at her with a carnivorous grin and sensually licked off his lips, “I didn’t realize how much I missed the taste of you, my goddess.  I find myself hungering for you.  I will have to feast upon you until I satisfy this appetite.”  He reached into his jacket pocket and pressed the vibrating egg into Donna’s hand.  “Here, my goddess, put this inside you to remind you of my love until I can return.”
He stayed on his knees and watched closely as Donna slid the egg deep inside, and then took her hand and licked her fingers clean.  Then tenderly he helped her pull her panties and shorts up and buttoned the button of the shorts himself.  “Now, I think you are ready.”  When he stood he looked closely at her face as he turned the vibrations on low, smiling as she blinked and squirmed a little. 
On the drive Donna was uncharacteristically quiet, holding Bob’s hand, idly tracing lines on his palm.  Every once in a while she would lift his hand and press it to her lips. 

There were no other cars in the parking area and Bob noticed that the sign marking the trail head was obscured by a clump of brush and weeds.  All four dogs had their backpacks on and loaded with food and water for the hike.  Bob did not put anything heavy in Honey’s backpack, but made a show of putting in some lighter items like spare socks, a light plastic tarp and handkerchiefs so she wouldn’t feel left out.
The trail was a little overgrown and, in many places they, had to detour or clamber over fallen trees.  Donna spoke for the first time, “I had heard that they were cutting back on trail maintenance.  This trail must have low priority, if this one is even on the list.”
Bob agreed, “Yes, the world has seemed to have forgotten about this little corner of paradise.  I think I like having it all to ourselves.”  He watched as the four golden retrievers walked along the trail with them.  They were doing a good job of staying on the trail, carrying their backpacks like they had been trained to do.  Even Bump only needed a few simple corrections to remember his lessons.
The trail threaded through tall mature evergreens, followed along a small creek and climbed steeply up the mountainside.  It was another warm clear day, but deep under the evergreens the air was cool and still.  They spoke little, treasuring the silence, but touched often, little caresses and hands to help balance as they climbed over the obstacles in their path.  On more than one occasion, one would stop and silently point out a tiny miracle; an orchid, a woodpecker carefully scaling the bark off a snag, or just the way the light filtered down through the cedar branches.  They would stop and stand hand in hand and share those magical moments without words and then move on.
The sound of the first waterfall echoed through the trees long before they reached it.  It was small, only a few feet high, but the water fell free and tumbled down into a small round pool shaded by cedars.  A beam of sunlight shone down through the trees and lit up a wild clematis plant that hung out over the dark water, the blue flowers shining like stars against the shadowed forest.  As the dogs bent to lap at the cool water, they both stopped and sighed in perfect unison, and then their soft laughter echoed through the trees. 
Bob spoke for the first time, “We are indebted to our girl for suggesting we take this day for ourselves.”
Donna leaned against him, and giggled as she reached down and adjusted the vibrating egg, pushing it up inside a little deeper, “Damn thing keeps wanting to fall out.”  And then she sighed again, “Yes, I am glad we came up here.  I had forgotten how beautiful it was here.  A little part of me wishes Junie could be here to see these things too, but there is a part of me selfish enough to just want you all to myself for a little while too.”
Bob gave her a squeeze.  “It is not selfish.  We are all needing to make adjustments.  We are all giving up some things in order to gain others.”
Donna turned and leaned close, wrapping her arms fiercely around him, her voice was low and trembling, “Sometimes… sometimes it seems like she is just so much better than me.  She doesn’t ever get mad.  She always seems so obedient.” 
Bob held her close and gently swayed, “She is not better, my goddess.  She is just different.  She has a different spirit than you.  And she is not all that good.  Her training has only begun and everything is new.  She is still excited and enthusiastic.  As it becomes more routine and more like work she will have her little rebellious moments as well.  I would expect her honeymoon to last a few months and then I would not be surprised if she does not start being a brat.  At that time I will need your support to keep her from getting out of hand.”
“It just seems like I can’t compete with her.”
“Compete for what, my goddess?”
Donna fell silent and then a shiver went through her.  “Oh my god, I did not ever think about what it was I was competing for.  And when you asked me that, the first thing that came into my head was you, I was competing for you.”  Donna pulled back and looked up at his face.  “Even saying that is crazy.  It means that somehow, someway, I doubted your love for me.  I didn’t even realize I had that in my heart.”  Her voice cracked and she whispered, “Forgive me.”
“Of course you will be forgiven, my goddess, when you have forgiven yourself.”  His lips took hers again, soothing away the soft quivers of doubt.

They did not stop again until they reached the end of the trail by the small lake.  The midday sun shone down on the perfect, clear, blue water.  Now that they were out of the shade of the tall trees the air was soft and warm.  Bob took the packs off the dogs and they threw themselves into the water and then found places to bask in the sun.  Bob slipped his arm around Donna’s waist and pulled her close.  His voice was soft, “Take off your clothing, my goddess.  Let the sun shine down upon your beauty.” 
Bob got out a thin square of nylon canvas and spread it on the ground in the dappled shade of some alders.  On top of it he laid both their sweaters.  Murmuring gentle instructions he lay Donna down upon the simple bed.  Pushing up her knees he slowly pulled the vibrating egg from her and looking her in the eyes, licked the creamy nectar from it. 
Opening his backpack he put the egg inside and pulled out a handful of rope.  He placed one of their walking sticks to rest on the ground just below Donna’s butt and tied her wrists to it, close to her hips.  Taking the second walking stick he tied her ankles about two and a half feet apart.  Then he began to pull the two walking sticks toward each other forcing her feet up closer to her hips, stopping just short of causing her pain.  Last he tied a rope to each of her knees and the ends to the walking sticks pulling them wide.  Smiling he looked down at her beautifully exposed cunt.  “Comfortable?  Does anything hurt?”
Donna blinked and swallowed.  “Um, yes comfortable, nothing hurts.”
Bob took off his t-shirt and bundled it up and put it under her head.  “Relax, I will be back soon.  Contemplate your lapse in your trust in my love.  Think about how you will find forgiveness in your heart.”
Donna lay back and looked up through the green leaves at the blue sky.  High above a hawk glided in lazy circles, working the ascending air currents to gain altitude.  Donna knew that once it was high enough it would head away, riding the wind on rigid wings to some far destination.  For the tiniest of instants she looked down from its vantage point, seeing the expanse of dark forest, the tiny lake shining up like a sapphire, and her pale golden figure on display on the edge of the emerald meadow.
Bob returned and knelt by her side.  Donna’s eyes widened when she saw that he was wearing leather gloves and in one hand he carefully carried a handful of greenery away from his bare arms and torso.  In the other hand he held a long flexible willow branch, trimmed into a sturdy switch.  “Look, my goddess; look at what our mother has been so kind to put into my path.  She has placed the instrument of your absolution in my hands.”  Donna nodded and swallowed nervously as she looked at the stinging nettles with dread.  It was not the first time that Bob had used nettles and she clearly remembered the pain and then the infuriating itching and burning that took hours to subside.
Carefully plucking one leaf at a time, Bob rubbed and pressed them against her nipples.  Donna closed her eyes and forced herself to relax as the sensation of the stings turned her skin to fire.  As each second passed the feeling increased instead of eased, Donna opened her eyes and stared down at her swollen red nipples, the need to rub and scratch at them becoming maddening.  When he touched a fresh leaf to her labia and then to the tender flesh around her anus a tiny whimper of apprehension vibrated in her throat.
Soon Donna was twisting and fighting at the ropes, the overwhelming itching and burning that tormented her nipples and crotch becoming an agony she could not bear.  She knew from past experience that the only thing that would ease her misery was to eclipse one sensation with another, using either pain or pleasure to override the itch.  For the first time she begged, “Oh god, Bob, it itches.”
Bob knelt between her feet and nodded.  “Yes, my goddess, I know.  It will for a while.  You forgot something very important.  You forgot you are my goddess and that I am your Master.  You doubted my love for you.”  He stood and carefully put the nettles to one side and took off his gloves.  As he picked up the willow switch he tipped his head at one side and said in his soft neutral tone.  “Perhaps this will scratch that itch.  Do you want to see if it helps?”
Donna squirmed and whimpered, “Yes, yes please.”
Bob carefully trailed the end of the willow switch along the inside of her thigh, slowly trailing toward the red and welted skin and the lightly tickling at the stings.  Donna flinched and whimpered, but she strained and raised her hips up off the ground, forcing herself to arch up, offering her cunt to the blow she knew was soon to fall, the pain she craved.
Again she begged, “Please.”
Bob began to lightly snap the switch along the insides of her thighs and then on the reddened flesh.  Sometimes pausing and reaching up and teasing at her nipples with the same gentle tentative taps.  Donna was surging and lunging up at the sensation, begging for more, soft incoherent babbles pleading for the stronger pain to override the unbearable itching that was tormenting her.  “Oh god, harder, please harder.  Make it hurt.  Fuck, please hit me harder.”
As the blows became more exacting Donna groaned in relief, the pain being infinitely more preferable than that pernicious itch that was tearing at her sanity.  “Oh god yes, that feels so good.  Don’t stop.”
Bob worked his way up and down the inside of each of her thighs and then would move to her breasts.  Each blow made her jerk and gasp in pain, but the alternative was worse and whenever he slowed she began to wail in panic, begging him to continue.  Finally he began to carefully snap the willow switch against the red swollen skin of her labia and lower on the stinging tissues around her puckered brown star.  Donna’s cries took on a frenzied excitement as she urged him to continue. 
Her whole body was drenched in sweat and her muscles rigid and trembling.  Bob’s voice was gentle as he urged her to completion, “Come for me, my goddess.  Let your pleasure bring your forgiveness to you.” 
Donna cried out in a hoarse voice, “Oh yes, love,” as she succumbed to wave after wave of her climax.  Bob did not abandon her, continuing to rhythmically snap the willow switch against her very center, not stopping until she was completely spent, limp and gasping on the ground.
Donna came to her senses with the sensation of coldness being pressed against her groin and she craned her neck to see that Bob was tenderly washing her, using an extra handkerchief and some of the icy lake water.  Donna knew that the cold was only a temporary balm and would not cure the stings that were lodged in her flesh, but at least it would wash any of the stinging cells that may have been left on the surface of her skin.  Already the itching was starting again and she squirmed against the ropes that still bound her.
“Oh god, it’s starting again.”
Bob leaned down from his position between her legs and pressed his mouth to her skin.  After the cold his tongue felt like a burning brand and as he sucked her swollen labia and clitoris into his mouth Donna cried out at the sudden change in sensation.  The heat of his mouth was amazing and the rush of excitement was more than she could encompass.  Her whole cunt felt like it was on fire and the only thing that could ease her agony was this.  The exquisite sensation of his mouth, both soothing and stimulating, lifted and tossed her.  Almost instantly she was coming again, long deep convulsions of pleasure that seemed to come from deep within her.
Each time she would come to earth again and lay gasping for air, Bob would lift his mouth from her and ask, “Again?”  And Donna would mutely nod in desperation.
Donna did not know how long they lay entwined in this embrace, this struggle to outlast the peak of her torment until the itching subsided to an endurable level.  She did not know how many times she begged for Bob’s kiss upon her tormented flesh.  It could have been as little as an hour, but it seemed like an eternity.
When she finally said, “Enough, I can’t take anymore.  Please untie me.”  Bob nodded solemnly and quickly freed her.  Donna raised her wrists to her face and grimaced at the deep red marks where she had struggled against her bindings.  Bob carefully massaged her arms and legs, helping her stretch and bend to loosen creaky joints and then helped her to stand.  Donna staggered on shaky legs toward the water and waded out into the icy lake and sat down with the water up to her neck. 
The freezing water numbed her whole body and rinsed the sweat from her skin.  When she could no longer stand the cold, she stood and walked back and knelt at Bob’s feet.  “Thank you; I don’t think anything less would have been enough.  You threw me into the fire and the only thing that could save me was your love for me.”
Bob lifted her to her feet and pulled her icy cold body against his, warming and sheltering her.  “I knew it was the right thing when our mother put it in my path.  She gave me the poison knowing that I was the antidote.”
Together they walked to the tarp and dried off using Bob’s t-shirt and pulled on her clothes.  They cuddled in the late afternoon sun and fed each other small bites of the picnic that Junie had packed for them.
As Donna’s body warmed, the itching returned and she squirmed uncomfortably.  Bob watched her as she reached down to adjust her shorts.   When her hand slipped down inside to worry at the flesh between her legs, he reached down and caught her wrist.  “You know that it will just make it worse if you scratch at it.”  Donna nodded miserably and allowed him to hold her hand.

The evening shadows were long when they got back to the SUV, and it was dark by the time they pulled into the long driveway to their home.  Bob nodded in satisfaction at the sight of Junie’s little yellow Miata parked in its usual place. 
Donna practically ran into the house and was tearing through the medicine cabinet looking for the anti-itch cream she had purchased last time Bob had decided to use stinging nettles as a punishment.  She saw Junie peering into the bathroom, her eyes curious.  Junie asked, “Did you get stung?”
Donna nodded, “Sort of, I got into some stinging nettles.”  She sighed in relief as she spread the lotion on her nipples and then began to apply it liberally between her legs. 
Junie looked confused, “How did you get stung there?  Don’t you know what stinging nettle looks like?”
Donna laughed, “Oh, darling Junie, it was not an accident.  Our Master is not one to pass up any way to drive us crazy.  I am sure you will find out some day.”
Bob’s voice came from the door way.  “Actually let’s find out something right now.  Come here, Junie.”  He had on the leather gloves and was unwrapping some wilted green leaves.  “Hold out your arm.  I just want to make sure you are not allergic.”  As Junie obediently held out her arm he pushed back her sleeve and rubbed one of the leaves on the skin of the inside of her wrist. 
Junie flinched slightly at the first stinging sensation, “I don’t think I am.  I got into stinging nettle a few times as a youngster and did not have any bad reactions.”  She ran a finger tip across the quickly rising welts on her wrist.  “It hurts a little, kind of a burning pain but nothing too bad.”
Donna laughed, “Well, it is a lot worse on your cunt and ass.  And the worst part is the itching.  That comes later.”
Junie’s eyes got a little big.  “I bet.”

Bob threw the wilted nettle leaves into the garbage and took his gloves off.  “You look like you survived.  How was your day?”
Junie smiled, “It was a long day that’s for sure.  I am exhausted.  I decided to tell Mary straight away that sometimes I have problems with going to new places.  I warned her that I might be really nervous.  She was really nice about it.  Somehow just telling her took a lot of the anxiety away.  We talked so much about sewing and babies on the way to Seattle.  I didn’t even have a chance to get too nervous.”
Bob nodded, “I knew you could do it just fine.”
Junie giggled nervously, “Well, I don’t know about fine.  But I did it.  I was scared a lot of the time.  When I started to find excuses to wait in the car, Mary was really sweet and talked me into going into the store.  She did all the talking to the people.”
Donna stood up and pulled on a robe.  “I am starving.  What is on the dinner menu?”
Junie smiled a tired smile, “I have a tamale pie in the oven, ready to eat, and a big green salad in the refrigerator, Ma’am.”
Donna put an arm around Junie as they walked into the kitchen, “Darling girl, you are a treasure.  You had your big day and yet you have a wonderful dinner all ready for us.”
Junie yawned and then shrugged as she set the table, “I made it yesterday.  I knew I would be exhausted today.  Being around new people and places always wears me out.”
“Have you been home long?”
“Not really, I got back only an hour or so before you.  I did stop for a while at Mary’s house, helping her unload her stuff, before I came back and I was worried that you would be home waiting for dinner.  When you weren’t home I was a little worried something may have happened to you.”
Donna laughed a rueful laugh and tenderly held her crotch in her hands.  “Oh something did happen all right.”
Junie frowned in concern and looked down at the rash on her wrist.  “Is there anything I can do to help you feel better?”  She cautiously ran a finger across it and then idly scratched it lightly. 
Donna cautioned her.  “Don’t scratch it.  You will just make it worse.  I am feeling lots better now.  You can help me put on some more of that lotion later on tonight and it should be almost all better by morning.  For me, a rash from nettles only lasts about eight hours.  We will have to see how your skin reacts.”
Junie obediently pulled her fingers away from the red bumps on her wrist and made a small face, “I see what you mean about the itching.”
As they ate dinner Donna asked Junie about her trip some more.  “Did you buy lots of nice fabric?”
Junie laughed, “I could have easily bankrupted myself, but I did get some things.  I got some nice satin brocade for our corsets, something to make curtains with for my windows, and some canvas for that swing Bob and I were talking about.  I also picked up some bones and busks.”
Bob spoke up, “Bones?”
Junie laughed, “In the old days they used whale bone in corsets.  It’s all steel and plastic now, but they still call them bones.  A busk is the fastener that goes down the middle that the laces go on.”  Junie looked thoughtful.  “One of the women at the wholesale store told Mary that there was a demand for custom corsets, especially for large sized women.  Mary said she thought it would be a great way to make a little money.”
Donna looked up, “You go ahead and make ours and see how much of your time it takes up.  I don’t want you locking yourself up in your sewing room all day long with that demon television.”
June giggled, “I haven’t even bought it yet.”  She forced her face into a more solemn expression, “Yes, Ma’am, it was just something someone said.  I guess I was just thinking out loud.  I would never do anything that would interfere with my duties here with you.  I guess I just liked the idea of maybe having my sewing hobby pay for itself a little.”  Her last words were a little wistful.  Junie forced her tone to lighten and changed the subject away from her disappointment. “Anyway I have a ton of projects here to get done with before I could think about doing anything like that.  I was thinking about asking you if you would like me to go through your closet and maybe alter some of your lawyer clothes into something a little more fun to wear.”
Donna made a face.  “I don’t care what you do with those things.  I hate them.”
Junie laughed, “Well, I can’t make them worse then and maybe you will like them better when I am done.”

Bob put down his fork and sighed, “Another fine meal, Junie, thank you.  I am going to go out and take the dogs out for one last walk, though I don’t think they have all that much energy to burn off.  After that I think I will turn on the hot tub.  I feel like taking a soak.”
Donna made a pot of coffee as Junie efficiently loaded the dishwasher and wiped off the counters.  As Junie put the leftover tamale pie in the refrigerator she commented, “This will be good with poached eggs in the morning.”
Donna pulled up a chair and climbed up to look on a high shelf in the pantry.  Junie looked in the door, “What are you looking for, Ma’am?” 
“I know I had a bottle of Irish cream liqueur in here somewhere.”  Donna’s voice was frustrated. 
Junie laughed, “Oh yes, I put all the alcoholic beverages in the cabinet over the refrigerator.  It is in the front row.”
As Donna moved the step stool into the kitchen, she asked, “How do you remember where it is in the cupboard?”
Junie giggled, “It all comes from being compulsive, Ma’am.  Its brand name starts with ‘B’ and they are alphabetized.”
It was Donna’s turn to laugh.  “Alphabetized?  I would have thought it would be by size or color.”  She looked in wonder at the sparkling clean bottles, arranged in neat rows in the cupboard.
Junie was giggling almost continually, “Oh, it could have been.  But I did that when the FBI men were here and I was feeling especially orderly that day.”  Junie paused and thought out loud, “I wonder how Monica is doing?  I should write her again.”  Then she laughed again.  “Man, I can tell I am tired; my mind is all over the place.”
As the coffee pot was finishing the last soft little familiar gurgles of its brew cycle, Junie got out some mugs and stood looking at them bemused, “You know what I am in the mood for is iced coffee.  Do you and Bob like iced coffee?”
“I don’t know.  I have had some iced coffees that I thought were good and others that were too sweet.  Go ahead and make up three and we will try them out.  Remember, Bob is not a big one for sweets after dinner.”
Junie had a tray with three tall, ice filled tumblers and a pitcher filled with a rich creamy coffee mixture and another filled with ice water ready to carry out to the hot tub when Bob came in.  She poured a glass of iced coffee and offered to him.  “Taste this and tell me what you think.”
Bob sipped it and nodded, “This is good.”  He headed towards his bedroom, “The hot tub is going good.  Get us some towels and come on out.”
Junie quickly carried out the tray with the drinks to the deck and then scampered down the stairs to take off her clothes and grab the towels from the laundry room.  By the time she was back both Bob and Donna were already sitting chest deep in the gently bubbling water sipping on their iced coffees.  Donna raised her glass to Junie.  “Splendid idea this iced coffee.  I can taste the Irish cream in it.”
Junie sighed as she eased herself into the hot water and tucked herself under Bob’s arm.  “Oh, this feels so good.  But I think I could fall asleep and drown if I am not careful.”
Donna laughed, “You and me both, sister.  Today was a big day.  Let’s plan for an easier one tomorrow.”