Rain lead me by the hand out of the bathroom and down the hall to the bedroom. When we were beside he bed, she placed my hand on the nearest pillow and told me to lay down on the bed, face down, with my head on the pillow. By now I was so disoriented that I just stood there for a moment trying to comprehend what was happening. Rain stood behind me and whispered very close to my ear "Lay down or I will make you lay down."
I used my hands and knees to get my bearings and first sat, and then lay on the bed. I turned over on to my stomach and concentrated on calming myself. Fortunately, the hood that covered my face was quite porous, so breathing wasn't a problem. Several hands working together then loosened and removed my robe.
After the hot shower the air in the room felt cool. I was aware of every noise in the room. The pitter patter of small feet. Clinking sounds like metal striking glass. The whoosh of a flame being ignited. Soft whispers in a language that I heard every day but still did not understand. Liquid being poured. All of this over the soft chimes and swishing of the water music.
Finally, I felt the mattress undulate as small bodies sat beside me. I felt a warm liquid poured on to the small of my back, and then the hands I remembered from the shower began to massage me slowly. They started at my shoulders and slowly worked their way down. This was not typical massage. This was playful and relaxing. At one point, I would have sworn that they were drawing or writing on the skin of my back.
They worked their way down to my ass, and my thighs, calves and feet. At each stage more warm liquid was applied. After finishing with my feet, there was a pause and then I felt small feet step onto the center of my back.
Either Helen or Boo was slowly walking up and down my back. This was a little more intense. I felt her heels dig into certain locations and it make me moan softly with pain. I can only imagine that the other two ladies were holding the hands of the walker allowing her to balance on heels and toes and she kneaded the muscles underneath. Just when I was about to finally say that I could not take any more, she stepped off. My back muscles screamed in silent pleasure at the relief.
There was a pause, and then Rain whispered softly in my ear "It's time for you to turn over. Do not remove your hood."
I nodded silently and rolled over onto my back. I noticed that the muscles that had been in pain were now pliant and relaxed. I felt like I could have touched my knees with my forehead had I been so inclined, I was so limber.
"Place your hands above you." Rain whispered again. I heard Helen giggle as I lifted my arms and rested my hands on the cool pillow. Busy fingers placed my hands together in a praying position, and then I felt what could only have been the silk cord wrap around my wrists. Soon my hands and arms were immobile above my head.