After they got in the truck she turned to him and said, "We're going to the park to discuss this report. But this is significant enough that the lessons to be learned need to be reinforced so that you will never forget and that you will SLOW DOWN! Cross your wrists."
She began to lash them together. She doubled the rope and looped it around his right wrist, which was beneath the left. The rope then went over the top of his left wrist and, after taking a ninety degree counterclockwise turn, it went beneath his right. She brought it up over his left, and then down under his right. Up over the left, down over the right. The rope made that 90 degree counterclockwise turn after each over/under wrap.
When only one foot remained she cinched the tie by going between his wrists, around the rope only. She tied a secure knot that was out of the reach of his fingers and teeth.
"Ow! That's tighter than you've ever tied me before!" "You will not be this way for very long. I am trying to get your attention." She reached into the glove box and produced his wrap-around sunglasses--the ones that she had told him to paint black on the inside with fingernail polish. They fit closely around his face, effectively blindfolding him. Finally, she pulled the seatbelt across his lap and shoulder, over his right arm, then tucked it under his left and clicked it in place.
She took the shoulder strap in her hand and pulled upward on it. The lap belt tightened cruelly over his thighs. "Ow!"
"I think that's enough. Open your mouth." He complied immediately. She put a red seedless grape in his mouth. He bit it and enjoyed the juice. "Did I tell you to eat that grape?" She slapped the inside of his thigh. "No, Ma'am." "Open. Keep it open." She put five grapes in his mouth.
"There are five in there now. Five must come out when we are finished today. They are not to be chewed, swallowed, or dropped. Do you understand?" He nodded.
She put the truck in gear for the short drive to the park. A long driveway lead down to the gazebo and picnic tables that stood near the water. She parked near one of the spaces and released his seatbelt. She draped his Navy blue North Face jacket over his wrists. After leaving the truck, she walked over to his side to help him out. He had the door open and was beginning to climb out on his own.
Taking his elbow, she guided him to the ground and slammed the door. "We will sit at the table here and discuss the situation." She had no problem covering the short stretch of grass and stones even in her candy apple red platforms. She guided him to his seat.
"It's too bad that you can't see this. The water looks beautiful and the colors across the bay are so vivid and gorgeous!" They both breathed deeply the unseasonably warm October breeze and the feel of the sun on their skin. He could hear the small waves breaking on the rocks. He found it to be true that the loss of one sense--his sight via the sunglasses/blindfold--would enhance the other senses. He was about to find out how much another sense--pain--was also enhanced.
She knew the names and the data from the current report by heart. "This first file. Here's what you did wrong..." Her hand wrested on his thigh and, as she went through the details, she pinched his skin between her index finger and thumb, first with only the tips of her digits, but then she transitioned to pinching him with her fingernails.
"And what's the lesson here, boy?" He tried to mumble through the grapes. "Did you say, 'Slow Down'?" He nodded. She also had a thick rubber band that she had stretched between those same fingers. Reaching over with her other hand, she stretched the band to the greatest extent possible and then let it go. SSNAPPP!! The sting of the rubber band surprised him and he called out loudly.
She pinched him again. "There is more of that coming. You will NOT react like that again. Will you?" He shook his head from side to side.
"Now, the second file." Again, she began to pinch his leg. She made her point and then went to the rubber band again. SNNNAPPP! SNNAPPP! Twice. Second file. She had hit exactly the same spot with the impact as she had the first time around. This time there was a more intense sting that sunk in at the same, already tender spot.
"Here's the third one." SNNNAPPP! SNNNAAAPPP! SNNAPPP! He winced, but controlled his vocal cords.
He then remembered that there were 10 items on that report that she was going to discuss. He did some quick math in his head. 82. That was how many times she would snap that rubber band if she kept up this pattern. He would remember that number. She would probably ask him at the end of this lesson.
He was embarrassed by the content of the report itself. He had already learned the lessons on his own. Reinforcement was always welcome. This kind of reinforcement would make the lessons unforgettable. And the growing welt on the inside of his thigh would be a visual reminder for him for a few days.
Yes, the temporary loss of sight was intensifying everything about this lesson. It would be etched indelibly in his long-term memory. He would long remember the information from the report as well as the iron-tightness of the ropes around his list, the feel of the grapes in his mouth, the sound of the waves on the rocks, the breeze on his face...the sound of her voice in his ear.
He hoped she enjoyed it as much as he. Yes?