This is the story of how Cassy met her Master and the events that led to him to send her to the clinic in the series "Finding Home." If you have not already read "Finding Home", I would encourage you to read those stories as well. Enjoy. Xantu.
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"Child you work very hard to do things exactly as I tell you. Obedience suits you." Cassy stared up at him her eyes huge. "Where is my smile?" Cassy's lips quivered and she buried her face on his knees. He gently stroked her hair. "What is the matter child?"
Cassy lifted her head. Her voice a breathless whisper. "I... I..." She stopped and swallowed, forcing down the whisper, "sorry, I guess I am not very used to feeling happy, Sir."
"Child it is my hope that we both be happy here. Now lets go downstairs I want see what you can do."
"Yes Sir." Cassy heard the curiosity in her voice. What did he mean?
In the basement he pulled out a gym mat. "Kneel like I told you upstairs."
"Yes Sir."
He opened a closet door under the stairs and pulled out some chains and bars. Cassy watched him, her eyes curious and wary. He took two chains and hung a bar like a trapeze from some hooks in the ceiling. "Come here child, lets check out your upper body strength."
"Yes Sir." She stood and walked to stand in front of him.
"Lets see how long you can hang. I will lift you up and you just hold on. Do not let go." He put his hands on her waist and lifted her. Cassy grabbed the bar. He kept her supported, "Ready?"
"Yes Sir."
He gradually let her take her weight. Cassy was light but she had not exercised much, ever. Her knuckles were white and her arms quivering. She kept a feverish grip on the bar but after just a couple minutes she could feel her hands being forced open, her fingers slipping. She gritted her teeth and pulled herself up and tried to force her fingers back around, a tiny grunt squeaked between her teeth. She managed another sixty seconds and as her fingertips slipped from the bar she let out a frustrated wail. She stood there glaring up at the bar flexing her hands.
"Not very long. But you never gave up. Good attempt. You will get stronger."
He had a clipboard and made notes. He tested her strength. Measuring how much she could lift, how many repetitions of various exercises like sit ups and leg lifts. He tested her endurance for simple things like holding her legs up or standing on her tip toes. He never criticized just measured. He would keep a hand on her shoulder and when she would start to tremble with pending failure he would tell her to release.
By the time he was finished Cassy was dripping with sweat and her muscles where quaking with fatigue. He gently pushed her damp hair away from her face. "You are amazingly out of shape child. A life of books and Ramen has not prepared you for this. But you have a good spirit, you never give up. We can work with that."
Cassy winced as one of her calves tried to spasm and stretched bending over and rubbing her leg. "Thank you Sir."
He laughed, "You are a natural nudist little girl."
Cassy turned and looked at him, a quizzical look on her face.
"You say you have never been naked around anyone, yet all day, not once have you seemed to be aware of your nudity. You neither show off or try to hide your charms. You seem completely unconscious of your body."
Cassy looked down at herself and shrugged. "Sometimes its a little cold, Sir."
He laughed, "You are delightful. Now go take a shower. You are all sweaty. We will do some reading and then I will cook something. Come up to the library when you are all washed off." Once more he gave her a little swat to send her on her way.
"Yes Sir."
Cassy's hair was still wet and smelling sweet from the shampoo when she walked into the library. The lights were already dimmed and he was sitting at the piano, very softly picking out a light series of notes. He looked up and pointed at the pillow next to his chair and turned back to the piano. Cassy gave the pillow a little push with her foot, shifting it a few inches so that when she knelt she could still see him.
His head slightly tipped to one side he gently leaned toward over the keyboard. Cassy could see his eyes were closed. His hands moving slowly from one chord to another. Gradually he began to add a rich melodic thread to the tones he had been painting with. His hands moving with more force, demanding more from the piano. The music swelled and filled the room.
Cassy found herself swaying to the music, feeling the vibrations deep inside her heart. The melody slowly faded leaving minor chords that slowly faded to the small single notes. He sat quietly at the keyboard for a long time till, with his eyes still closed. He stood and silently pulled the lid down over the keys.
Cassy knelt transfixed, her eyes locked on his face.
"I don't usually play for an audience."
Cassy's voice trembled with emotion. "Thank you, Sir."
"Time to read." He sat down in his chair and put his feet on the ottoman. Cassy twisted around and sat leaning up against his chair and began to read.
As usual Cassy became absorbed completely into the story. Her voice painting the pictures, pushing the walls of the library away. Her voice jumped and stammered to a stop when she felt his fingers softly touch her hair. "Don't stop, keep reading."
"Yes Sir."
Her voice quivered as he continued to softly stroke her hair. It took quite a while before she was able to completely regain the flow of the story. She remained acutely aware of his touch, waves of tingles ran down her neck and back, sending little shivers through her.
It seemed like her mouth was dry and she had to stop and swallow several times. Finally a sharp tickle in her throat made her cough.
"Are you OK?"
"I think so. I am just kind of thirsty. My mouth is a little dry, Sir."
"Did you drink anything when you took a shower?"
"No Sir."
"Have you had anything other than that diet Coke today?"
"You made me that drink for breakfast, Sir."
"And after working all morning, and exercising this afternoon you think might be kind of thirsty? You truly are completely unconscious of your body."