The sounds of the night owl echo outside her bedroom window.
Drawing the front of her dressing gown together she leans to the glass, peering out into the dark night. The dim light of the candles offered a shimmering glow to those who return her look... the creatures of the night.
She leans back in the rocker again and smiles to herself, a lazy warm night in the comfort of her own home.
She looks around her room, the beautiful antique bed of her great grandparents. The bed they lovingly brought with them from their homeland in Indiana at the end of the 1800's, the mahogany gleaming from the years of wax and polish. And as in a rush of memories, she draws the afghan up to her chin and remembers.
It was not so long ago, that night. And it was because of the personals ad, of all places. She still cannot believe she answered a personals ad. But answer she did.
~*~
Sitting at Starbucks, drinking her usual double tall latte with one packet of Sweet and Low. She settled back to enjoy the early morning with the local alternative paper. Sipping her lattΓ© and thumbing through page after page she came across the personals section with a bemused smile.
Drawing her foot up on the edge of the chair, arm wrapped around her knee, she began to skim the page. She laughed softly as she read of the lonely little girl looking for a Daddy, of the Dominatrix in search of her obedient slave boy, and the gay men and women seeking like kind for secret daytime trysts.
As she read down the page she froze. Sugar Magnolia.
She looked... and looked again, thinking she must have misread. But no. There it was in black and white. The headline of the ad in clear, bold print. Sugar Magnolia.
She read the text that followed. A clear, precise, neatly typed ad.
Where are you, my little Sugar. Jack Straw has been waiting. Jack has been very patient. Now, Jack waits no more. Its time for Sugar Magnolia to come home. And baby... don't forget your ribbons.
Her hands shook, her arm tight around her leg, the other white knuckled as she clenched the paper. All sounds ceased in the little coffee shop. There was nothing but the circle of her table, the pounding of her heart, and the ad calling her home.
She dropped the paper, vision hazing over as memories race back in a swirl. Could it possible be? She shakes her head with a laugh.
"Goodness girl, shape up!" A rueful laugh. There are zillions of Sugar Magnolias, and just as many Jack Straws. Songs so popular, glorified by many.
She looked at the ad again. There was the clencher. The ribbons. She always wore ribbons. Her hair is long, very long... erratic curls and waves that have a mind of their own. She is always trying to tame it with combs, or pins, or tying it back with satin ribbons. She had a rainbow of ribbons.
Its amazing how one looses touch over the years. She had not seen nor heard from Jack in a long long time. His work took him away, she became ensconced in her work, and they just drifted apart. But now he is back. She knew it was her Jack Straw.
There was an identifying number at the end of the ad. With shaking fingers she dialed the access number on her cell phone, heart pounding as it rang. She almost didn't punch in the access code to hear his message... her finger hovering over the number pad until she quickly pressed it in.
And his voice filled her ears, filled her with a familiar, cozy warmth. And it was just like yesterday.
"My sweet Sugar Mag. I am back, back to claim you. You were always mine, and you will always be mine. Leave your number baby. I love you. Master"
How did he know she would see this ad!!! She replayed his short message again and again, the voice so familiar now triggering a myriad of feelings, of emotions. Her belly pulled tight, her panties warm.