I couldn't understand why I wasn't getting promoted at work. Don't get me wrong. I make a damn good living. But it just seemed that I was always following orders and not giving them. I have always done the right thing. If my boss told me to do something I did it. But other guys, ones that argued with the boss, ended up getting promoted before me.
It didn't make sense to me, but it looked like the way to get ahead was to be a difficult employee. My wife said it was the same where she works. The ones who did a good job and did what they were told would be considered for promotion but never got beyond an initial interview.
I knew we both had leadership qualities and one day our bosses would see that. Until then we'd just keep doing what we were supposed to and wait for our day to come.
Recently we had some new neighbors move into the house next door. Priscilla and I went next door yesterday to welcome our new neighbors. We took along a basket of goodies, some wine, and information on local sites and activities. Just being good neighbors and welcoming the newcomers like you should.
We introduced ourselves to Kim, a beautiful Eurasian woman, who met us at the door. She looked so young it was hard to imagine she was married and not in school. Kim was wearing an off-white dress that didn't conceal her dark and very large aureoles. Her nipples appeared hard and distended. Her face was flushed and damp looking. I hoped we hadn't caught them at a bad time.
However, she seemed very happy to see us and invited us in to meet her husband. We walked through the house to the family room where her husband was looking out the sliding glass door.
"General, we have guests." I was surprised that Kim called her husband by a military title and not his name. He just stood there, not moving. The shorts he was wearing allowed him to display a tanned body, rippling with muscles. Not like a body builders' muscles for show, but muscles hard from work.
He turned around and his eyes instantly bored into mine. He had such a commanding presence I immediately understood why Kim called him General. I had the nervous feeling of a mere mortal meeting a God. Kim touched my arm and said, "General, this is Tom." His eyes quickly scanned me from head to toe. With a look of contempt he dismissed me and turned his attention to my wife.
Kim then took Priscilla by the hand. She smiled slightly and her eyes glinted as she said, "General, this is Priscilla."
The General's eyes coursed slowly over Priscilla. I felt as though he was seeing right through her clothes to the body underneath. As his eyes moved over her body and came to her hips I saw a dark scowl come over his face. He pointed at my wife's hips and said, "Pants!"
No one moved or spoke for several heartbeats then he said, "Ten lashes!"
I heard Priscilla's sharp intake of breath. I was afraid to turn and look at her so I just looked from the corner of my eyes. I could see she was afraid. Her nostrils were flared and her breast rose and fell quickly with each panic stricken breath.
Kim giggled as she reached out and started unfastening my wife's pants. "The General doesn't approve of women in pants."
"Stop it." Priscilla was only able to whisper, but the General heard her.
"Twenty lashes!"
Kim knelt down and pulled my wife's pants off of her. Priscilla just stood there and made no move to stop her. My own breath was rasping in my throat as I fought to think of what I could do to get us out of this horrible situation.
My wife was standing there beginning to cry as the General said, "Get her ready."
"Yes sir, General." Kim was giggling as she spoke. She quickly moved in front of Priscilla and started to remove her blouse.
Without thinking I blurted out, "Hey! You can't do that."
The General glared at me and rumbled, "Twenty lashes for the prick, too."
Kim started laughing out loud now. She looked at me with a smile, daring me to speak as she removed my wife's bra and then her panties. I was trembling in shame at my inability to step forward and protect my wife from these crazy people.
Priscilla tried to cover herself with her hands. The General's scowl deepened and she dropped her hands to her sides. Kim took her arm and led her from the room.
The General stood glaring at me for a couple of minutes and then left me standing as he went into the room where Kim had taken my wife.
I could hear my wife whimpering and pleading, but I was afraid to move from where the General had left me. Then I heard a loud smack of leather against flesh and Priscilla screamed. I stood stock still, cringing inside, and wondering why I wasn't stopping this madness.
