With Respect
“I’m so glad
you were able to join me tonight Mary,” Clarissa said as she poured the coffee,
“there are certain church related issues I believe we should discuss.”
“I agree, but I
hope they are easily resolved by discussion.
By the way, may I say that outfit suits you?”
“Why thank
you,” Clarissa said with a smile. The fifty five year old woman had long dark hair, which fell
over the shoulders of her dark brown jumper, a silver necklace pendant on her
chest. The velvet pants she wore were a
dark crimson, the lower legs tucked into a pair of over the knee chocolate
brown suede boots. “I do think I carry
this off.”
“I’m not going
to deny that,” Mary said with a smile as she sipped her coffee. The dark skinned woman was a year younger
than Clarissa, and was wearing a black sleeveless top with a large pendant
covering her chest at the open neckline.
Her skirt was woollen, white with a black and grey large check, and came
half way down her thighs, and a pair of knee length black leather boots with a three inch heel completed her outfit.
“So,” Clarissa
said as she looked at her guest, “between us, as the chairs of the Ladies and Welcoming
committee, can we come to an agreement about how to bring in the new ladies who
are attending on a Sunday?”
“Well, I do
have a few ideas…”
In the street
outside, the lights were starting to come on as the sun set over the trees, and
there was very little traffic – mainly cars heading for home, and a solitary
grey transit van that pulled into the driveway of one house. For a few minutes, it sat there, before two
men dressed in black got out and walked to the side of the house…
“That seems
sensible,” Clarissa said as she stood up, “by the way, may I return the
compliment to you on your look? Who does
your hair?”
Mary patted her
styled black hair, and said “Phillipe.
Do you go there?”
“No – but I may
start. More coffee?”
“Thank you,”
Mary said as she watched Clarissa carry the coffee cups to the kitchen, a smile
playing on her lips.
A smile that
was reflected on Clarissa’s face as she went to the coffee pot, and poured the
hot liquid into the cups….
“Good evening,
dear lady – I advise you to very slowly put the coffee pot down, and then turn
round.”
The deep male
voice took Clarissa by surprise, as she put the pot down and turned round to
see two men standing there. They were
dressed identically – black leather jackets over sweaters, jeans and trainers,
as well as leather gloves on their hands – and balaclavas covering their heads,
allowing only their eyes and lips to be seen.
Even that was
not the most striking thing about them – nor was it the gun in one of the men’s
hands, or the large canvas bag the other one was holding. No – the striking thing was the disparity in
height, the armed man standing a foot at least taller than his companion.
“Please, for
give the interruption,” the armed man said, “allow me to introduce
ourselves. I am called Mister Tall, and
my friend here is Mister Small. You
are?”
“Clarissa,” she
whispered quietly as she heard the names, “I’ve heard of you…”
“Our reputations
precede us once more, Mister Tall,” the smaller man said.
“Indeed, Mister
Small – so you will know, Clarissa, that so long as you do as we say, you will
not be harmed, although you will be prevented from raising the alarm.” Glancing at the coffee machine, Mister Tall
said “would I be correct in assuming you have one guest visiting tonight?”
Clarissa nodded
as Mister Small said “well, it would be impolite to deny her the coffee for too
much longer. Please, carry the cups
through carefully – we will follow…”
“That
took…” Mary looked at Clarissa as she
carried the mugs through, and then pushed herself into her chair as she saw the
other two masked men follow her in.
“Good evening,”
Mister Small said as he looked at her, “Clarissa has been kind enough to allow
us to accompany her as you finish your coffee.”
“Allow…”
“They’re
armed,” Clarissa said quietly as she sat on the long couch, next to Mary, and
placed the mugs on the coffee table as Mary saw the gun in the hand of the
taller man. “Mary, I think they’re the
Gentlemen Robbers.”
“We are
indeed,” Mister Tall said, “so I must ask you to make no sudden movements, and
to speak quietly when you do so. Mister
Small, if you would see to the telephone and internet connections?”
“Of course,
Mister Tall,” his friend said as he set the canvas bag on the floor, and then
left the room, Mary watching as he disconnected the phone from the wall.
“So… Why are you here,” she said quietly as she
looked at the masked man, sitting in the chair and smiling?
“Well –
obviously, we are here to rob Clarissa – I do apologise, I did not catch your
name…”
“It’s Mary.”
“Ah yes – well,
obviously we are here to rob Clarissa Mary.
Be assured, if you remain calm and do as we say, beyond a little
stiffness and discomfort no harm will come to either of you.”
Mary and
Clarissa looked at each other, as Clarissa said “I don’t think they intend to
harm us Mary – let us do as they say, and hopefully they will be gone soon.”
“Okay – if you
say so,” Mary said quietly as they took their mugs, and sipped their coffee. Mister Tall looked down at the papers on the
coffee table, and said “Church business.”
“Planning some
ways of making the women more welcome,” Clarissa said quietly.
“A valuable
thing – making someone visiting a place of worship for the first time is
incredibly important, and it is good to make someone feel at ease in a new
situation.”
“Just as you are
doing now?”
“I have no
idea,” Mister Tall said with a smile, “have you ever been robbed before?”
Mary and
Clarissa both shook their heads, as Mister Tall looked at them. “Hopefully, we are making you a little less
afraid in the way we are interacting with you?”
“I have to
admit, you are,” Clarissa said quietly as Mister Small came back in.
“Good – may I
trouble you both to pass your handbags to Mister Small, so that he may ensure
your mobile phones are also disconnected?”
The two women
slowly handed their purses to the smaller of the two masked men, who placed
them on the opposite chair, opened them and removed their phones, before
removing the battery from each one.
“Now,” Mister
Tall said as he stood up, “as I say, we need to take steps to ensure you do not
raise the alarm, or cause any inconvenience on our part or yours. I would ask you to stand on this side of the
coffee table, and face each other.”
“Best do as he
says,” Mary whispered as she stood, Clarissa following them as Mister Small
opened the canvas bag, and took out two lengths of white rope. He passed one to Mister Tall, and then stood
behind Clarissa and Mister Tall stood behind Mary.
“Are you
afraid,” Clarissa said quietly as she felt the intruder gently take her arms
behind her back, and then the rope as it was wrapped round her wrists as a
prelude to securing them.
“I am – but we
can take strength from each other, can’t we,” Mary said as she felt the rope
tighten round her own wrists, bringing them together as Mister Tall wrapped the
rope around and between her wrists. The
way she spoke made Mister Tall and Mister Small look at each other, as Clarissa
said “yes, together…”
Clarissa bit
her lower lip as the rope was passed round and between her arms, then tied off
with the knot and the ends out of reach of her long fingers. She could feel her bracelets as they were
removed from her arms, as well as her designer watch, Mister Small placing them
in a small velvet bag which he set down on the couch.
Mary looked
over her shoulder as her own rings and watch were taken off, Mister Tall
placing them in the same bag, before he went to the bag and took out two longer
lengths of rope.
“What are they
for,” she said quietly.
“To secure your
arms and upper body – please remain still,” Mister Small said as he took a
second length our, the two men swapping as he doubled the rope over, and passed
it round Mary’s arms and body below her chest.
She felt it tighten around her as he firmly pulled the rope behind her
back, and watched as Clarissa had the rope wound round her by Mister Tall,
forming two bands that framed her chest, and forced it out, the jumper
tightening over her breasts.
She was dimly
aware of the same thing happening to her – and then she saw Clarissa looking at
her, her head slightly to one side.
“Are you all
right Clarissa?”
“I… I think so…” Clarissa said quietly as she saw
the way the rope embraced Mary’s arms, her top stretched, the v growing wider
as it showed more of her chest. “It’s
just…”
“There,” Mister
Tall said as he secured the ropes behind Clarissa’s back, “I trust that is not
too uncomfortable?”
“It is –
tight,” Clarissa said quietly as she tried to move.
“Well, I think
it needs to be a little tighter,” Mister Small said, as he passed the rope
under Mary’s left arm, taking care not to touch her chest as he pulled it up
and around the back of her neck, then down the other side and under her arm
again. She gasped as it was gently
pulled the bands tightening on each side as Mister Small tied the ends off.
“Ah yes –
symmetry is so important,” Mister Tall said as he did the same to Clarissa, the
taller woman gasping as the ropes tightened on her as well. She then felt his gloved hands at the back of
her neck as her necklace was removed, and placed in the bag.
Mary felt her
own necklace being removed as well, Clarissa looking at the way her chest
heaved – and Mary noticing how the ropes framed Clarissa’s breasts…
“Now,” Mister
Tall said with a smile as he looked at the two women, “I require you to accompany
me Clarissa on a tour of the house.
Mister Small, would you please make sure Mary is kept secure and safe
here until we return?”
“Of course,
Mister Tall,” his friend replied as Mary watched Clarissa walk from the room,
Mister Tall holding her by the arm.
“Clarissa…”
“Yes Mary,”
Clarissa said as she turned round.
“Just… stay safe please. I don’t want you to get hurt.”
“The same goes
for you,” Clarissa said with a smile.
The two masked men exchanged another look, before Mister Tall walked
Clarissa out of the room, and Mister Small looked at Mary as she twisted round.
“Please,” he
said with a smile, “be seated, and put your feet on the coffee table for a
moment.” Mary nodded as she sat down,
watching as Mister Small crossed her ankles and then began to secure them
together with rope. He looked at her as
he wound the rope round, and said “it can be difficult, can it not?”
“What can,”
Mary said quietly.
“Not been able
to express how you feel because of the constraints of the society you move in.”
Mary looked at
him as he separated the ends of the rope, and passed them between her legs,
before she said “I don’t understand what you mean…”
“You care for
Clarissa, correct?”
She nodded
slowly as the rope tightened still more around her ankles, Mister Small securing
the knot before he took a second length of rope, and began to tie her legs
together below her knees. “It is
something I cannot explain…”
“No explanations
are necessary,” Mister Small said as he secured her legs, and helped Mary to
lower her feet to the floor. “If I may
offer a suggestion…”
“And that would
be,” Clarissa said as she sat on her bed, watching as Mister Tall placed her
jewellery into a second velvet sack.
“If you truly
have such feelings for her, what others think is not important,” he said as he
opened another box. “What is important
is that you are honest with each other.
Is there a significant other in Mary’s life?”
Clarissa shook
her head as the ropes rubbed on her.
“Her husband left her two years ago.”
“and in yours?”
“No – I’ve been
single all my life. A few boyfriends,
but never Mister Right.”
“Is that
possibly,” Mister Tall said as he turned round and smiled, “because there never
could be a Mister Right? Perhaps that
might be the solution?”
Clarissa looked
at Mister Tall, before she whispered “but how…”
“In our line of
work,” Mister Tall said as he looked at her, “Mister Small and I have become
students of human behaviour. I advise
you to not be afraid.”
“But how will
she react?”
“Clarissa,”
Mister Tall said quietly, “how do you think we will be leaving you and Mary?”
“I suspect,”
she said as she looked at the ropes, “unable to move or speak easily.”
“Well,
certainly the latter,” Mister Tall said, “but as to the former – you are aware
that in this position, it is often possible to communicate far more than you
realise, because you cannot use words, and get tripped over your own tongue?”
Clarissa looked
at the masked man, and said “you may have a point – and if she feels the same
way?”
“Then you will
discover together,” Mister Tall said as he looked at her. “Now, are there any other places I should
look?”
“No –
everything I have of value – and use to you – is here,” Clarissa said quietly,
“so now what?”
“Now,” Mister
Tall said as he looked at her, “open wide.” She saw the folded cloth in his hand, and
nodded as she allowed him to push it into her mouth, the wad keeping her tongue
on the floor of her mouth and filling the space.
She watched as
from his jacket pocket he took a wide roll of white tape, peeling a length off
and tearing it loose before he smoothed it over her mouth and jaw, making sure
there were no creases or air pockets as the material formed to the shape of her
mouth.
“There – I
trust that is comfortable?”
Clarissa nodded
as he helped her to stand, and then walked her down to the front room, smiling
as he saw Mister Small looking round.
“Ah,” he said
as he turned round, “all finished Mister Tall?”
“Indeed,” the
other man said as Clarissa looked at Mary, her legs secured and a strip of
white tape covering her mouth as well, the bulging cheeks indicating something
in her mouth as well as she twisted in the chair.
“Rulllrhhtt,” Mary said as she looked at Clarissa, the
taller woman nodding as Mister Tall helped her to lie on her back on the long couch. The two women watched as he crossed and
secured Clarissa’s ankles together, the rope sinking into the soft suede as he
wrapped the cords around and between her legs.
A second band secured her legs together below her knees, as Clarissa
wriggled, Mary unable to take her eyes off her…
“Well, I think
that is everything,” Mister Tall said as Mister Small took the coffee mugs and
walked to the kitchen. “Remain calm,
ladies, and enjoy the rest of your evening.
I am sure help will arrive in due course.”
Clarissa nodded
as Mister Small returned, and cleared the remaining items into the holdall
before he picked it up.
“The Gentlemen
Robbers bid you adieu,” Mister Tall said with a smile, “may we never meet
again.”
Mary watched as
Mister Tall turned the radio on, and then the two masked men left, closing the
door behind them before the front door opened and closed. They looked at each other as Dusty
Springfield started to sing.
Clarissa rolled
onto her side and looked at Mary as she struggled in the chair, watching before
she said “Mrreee?”
“Hmmmmyssclerrse?”
“Hwwrufeelln?”
Mary looked
over, her head to oen side as she said “Screed?”
“Dnttbb – mthssmsuu.”
Mary looked at
her, her chest heaving between the bands of rope, before she said “ysssurrr. Rullrhtt?”
Clarissa nodded
slowly as she looked at Mary, and said “cnuucmmfrrhrr?”
Mary nodded as
she shuffled forward, and managed to get onto her knees, Clarissa watching her
closely as she shuffled forward on her bound knees. As she came closer, Mary tilted her head and
said “whttssettclerrse?”
“cmmhrrr.”
Mary came
closer, her chest heaving as well as Clarissa pushed herself up so that her
head was resting on the arm of the couch.
As she did, David Cassidy started singing.
I was sleeping and right in the middle
of a good dream
Like all at once I wake up from something that keeps knocking at my brain
Before I go insane I hold my pillow to my head
And spring up in my bed screaming out the words I dread
I think I love you
“Whtsstclresseee,” Mary said as she tilted her head, and the
song continued.
This morning I woke up with this feeling
I didn't know how to deal with and so I just decided to myself
I'd hide it to myself and never talk about it
And did not go and shout it when you walked into the room
I think I love you
“Effnkelffu,” Clarissa mumbled quietly at the end of the
last line. Mary looked at her, and then
nodded as the song continued.
I think I love you so what am I so
afraid of
I'm afraid that I'm not sure of a love there is no cure for
I think I love you isn't that what life
is made of
Though it worries me to say that I never felt this way
“Eddntknnwhtmpgenst, edntknwwhtsslebut,
egtssoshtfnkkebut…”
Clarissa nodded
in response to Mary’s mumbled singing, and looked into her eyes as the song
continued.
Hey, I think I love you so what am I so
afraid of
I'm afraid that I'm not sure of a love there is no cure for
I think I love you isn't that what life
is made of
Though it worries me to say I never felt this way
Clarissa
mumbled “blffmm, urellednthftwerre,
Ennllyywennemkuheppendfuseegwweeewl…”
Mary shook her
head and mumbled “btteefnkbttretlledbttrstendlfu,
Duufnkehffecsltmmskuturfss,
Duffnkulfmm?”
Clarissa nodded
as Mary leaned over, their taped lips touching as the song continued
I think I love you
I think I love you
I think I love you
I think I love you
I think I love you
I think I love you
I think I love you
I think I love you
“So how long,
Mister Small?”
“Let’s allow
them some time to get to know each other,” Mister Tall said, “a couple of
hours?”
“I think that
should be enough time for them,” Mister Small said as they drove down the road…
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