Traveling home from the movies, Master and I were discussing the movie just seen and the parts not seen as I had been instructed to service him during the movie and missing a good portion of it, he was filling me in.
We were traveling on a well used two lane highway to get back home. The passing headlights intermittently lighting up our faces.
Master asked if I had prepared anything for dinner after the movie, and I flippantly respond; "I didn't really have time to prepare anything for your highness...." laughing.
Suddenly a hand struck my right cheek, smacking loudly in the lapse of silence. I gasped and reached up to cover the burning sting, surprise and guilt in my face.
"You will always address me with respect pet." The hard edge of his voice gave credence to his irritation.
Still covering my cheek with my hand, I stumbled over my words trying to quickly apologize. Realizing that I was in very big trouble. "I am sorry Master, I let my tongue get away from me."
"Oh, you will learn restraint, I can assure you that!" Each word spit out like bullets from a machine gun.
I flinch, I realize that he is really, really angry. He has had a hard week at the office and has been very stressed lately. A ticking time bomb, and I had just lit the fuse.
Suddenly the car brakes hard and swerves into what looks like an overgrown driveway. It is an overgrown lot where an old house used to sit, now only a pile of rubble. Master pulls behind the tree line, shuts the car and lights off. There is low boil of anger and irritation emanating from Master as I wait for the tongue lashing. "Get out of the car and stand by the hood!"