We all had New York strip steaks and Cynthia had her bottle of wine, a Cabernet. Elizabeth and I ordered iced tea and Carol ordered soda."What did you...hear at school today?" I asked Elizabeth."About what?" You know about what; about me." I tried not to sound annoyed, but I guess I didn't succeed."Oh, about you? Let me think for a moment. Well, first off, this pregnant girl has named you as the father of her unborn child and is going to sue you for child support." That's total bull," I. ’ ‘Very nice. Unfortunately, they’re too explicit for our operation. Also, they’ll be subject to copyright.’ ‘Yes, of course. I hadn’t thought of that.’ ‘These are better. Privately taken, I assume.’ ‘Yes. By my husband.’ ‘Um. Not bad. But I don’t think they’re quite suitable.’ He rose, went over to a filing cabinet and pulled open a drawer. He handed her a sheet of paper. ‘On the top you’ll see the address of a photographer. She does all that kind of work for us. Knows exactly what we want, so. Was this the dreaded cat-o’-nine-tails? There I was, half naked, arms bound over head, waiting to be whipped. The Skipper stood off to my left side. Ivy was somewhat in front of me, still smirking.?Are you ready for your whipping,? the Skipper asked, feeling my back and sides.?Please no,? I begged.The Skipper ignored my plea. He drew back the whip swung it into me. Shlackk! Across the back. I gasped. It really hurt. Again, shlackk! ?Ow! Oh my god!? ...Shlackk! ?Ohh! Please not so. I’m not gonna let my chance go to waste. I’m here til I die or you get tired of lookin’ at me. I’d work for nothin’, just to get to live here like this, have a chance to get a wife and family with my meals and clothes bought like this. You’ll never be sorry you let me live that day back there,” Otis told him as they sat on the ground out of the wind and talked.“Marshal, I reckon I feel the same way Otis does. Him and me have talked about what you and your family has done for us, and for all of.