Yesterday, I was at a garage sale with my parents and my brother. I managed to talk my parents into buying an old wooden chest. When I got it home, I managed to open it. Inside were some chains and cuffs, along with a note saying whoever had it before, had had very good use of them, on several occasions. I picked them up and saw they were hand-cuffs, connected by a chain to foot-cuffs. About halfway was another cuff, much bigger than the rest. At the bottom of the chest were locks and a set of keys (I suppose) belonging to the cuffs. I tried the cuffs on for size, and found they fitted perfectly.
At that moment, my brother entered into the scene. When he saw what had been inside the chest, I saw his eyes light up. He bent down and looked inside. “Look!†he said triumphantly, picking something up from one of the corners. “Here is a handwritten note! Let’s see, what it says.†He read it a couple of times and then said: “According to this, they’re meant to be worn as a symbol of power. They’re from a distant country, and only meant to be worn by women. Looks like the locks still work. Do you want to try them for real? I’ll put them on you, and you tell me how they feel.†Before I could say either “yes†or “noâ€, he had locked the cuffs on my wrists and was locking the rest on me. Despite having it all on, I found I could walk almost as usual.
However, my brother’s constant yapping was starting to get on my nerves. When I could take it no more, I said:â€Oh shut up, will you!†To my and his astonishment, his mouth closed so fast and hard, I could hear it from across the room. He tried to speak, but couldn’t get a word out. It was, as if his lips had been clued together. I asked him what had happened, but he just shook his head, unable to speak. Mystified about the whole situation, I said:â€Speak! Answer me!†in a commanding voice. His lips finally parted when he said:â€I honestly don’t know.†Then it dawned on me. “I think I do!†I said going back to the note; he had left on the lid of the chest. I think I know what whom ever wrote this, so long ago, meant by the words: “a symbol of powerâ€, and I like!†My brother started protesting, but I just held up my hands and said:â€I don’t want to hear another word about it. Not today, not ever again. And certainly not from you, that’s for sure.â€
I went to look for my parents and found them in the lounge. I ordered them to keep me in cuffs whenever I was at home. Now I noticed something I hadn’t with my brother. Their eyes glazed over, as soon as I entered the room!