“Really” was the only thing I could mumble. “ I have been watching you and I adore your shape and your attitude” she said.. We talked for five...or ten minutes and I have no idea what we said. I was dizzy. She went back the twenty feet or so and got her towel and sun block and returned to where we were sitting and flipped her towel open.. “Here, sit” she said as she sat on the towel and patted the spot next to her. She had a firm authoritive voice, but a beautiful voice. I started to move and. ’ Many of the guests tried to get them to stay just a little while longer but they refused to do so. Amanda just smiled and hugged Charlie. She looked up into his eyes and then turned to the guests and said, ‘No, Charlie’s right. It’s time we left. Good bye everyone.’ She turned back to Charlie and gently pushed him out the door, following behind with their fingers still entwined. Finally their friends gave up trying to keep them there and stood waving as they got into Charlie’s truck. All the. She honestly feared what might happen. What he might do with her. And yet, deep down, she knew she would ultimately be safe with him, though pushed to the extent of her limits. The crack of the cane marked the official beginning of their physical connection. Her body tensed rigidly as the sting of the impact announced itself. But the restraints were fashioned securely and she moved very little. A scream welled up inside her and tried to escape from her throat but met the sound-muffling. When I'd put a half mile between myself and my supposed cousins, I dropped my shirt and sneakers and head for the gentle low tide waves. When I was in up to my knees the shock hit me. This was Maine. The water was especially frigid, and already causing pain in my legs. But I kept going until the freezing water was up to my chest. I waited out the pain until it regulated with my body and the water began to feel better. I stood there rolling with the periodic gentle waves passing by and looked up.