"Looks like about all we have left is music appreciation or chemistry."I looked at Nikki."We have a library full of the best music in the world," she ...miled at me. "Chemistry?"I smiled back. "You betcha, babe!" I turned to Mizz Nevils. "Put Nikki down for chemistry." That gives me a full schedule, Dan," Nikki said."We can handle it, little one," I said."If this schedule is okay, then I can get you to sign right here, Mister Granger?" Mizz Nevils pointed to the bottom line of a form."Nikki can't. "Let me try," Shari giggled, takingher other nipple and putting the clamp in place. "Like this?"she said, turning the screw. She must have given it one more turn than Idid because Beth reared her head back and groaned even louder. She beganshaking her head no-no-no and there were tears in her eyes. Shari giggled again. "She'sslobbering," she said. "I think the term is blubbering." "No silly. Look. She's slobbering around her gag." It wastrue, the saliva. And yet even as he pitied her, he pictured her being hauled backwards sobbing and screaming, her wet hair sticking to her face, those pretty little breasts aquiver. That sight, he knew, would sustain him through some mundane nights with his wife. The cat struck again, the knots biting into that left side of her back where there was less blood. He could hear her, once the initial scream had died down, begging. ?No.. no.. no... no... please...? over and over. And then the wet slap of another. That was the first physical affection I ever remembered him showing me. I smiled back.The rubber boat rolled on the waves as they passed under us. Not waves, ripples that would become waves. And then we were approaching where they broke. They looked huge and I wondered if we would be sucked under. What would happen to Mom?My father screamed loud enough to be heard over the crashing waves. "Row hard, and when I say 'now, ' pull in your oar."My muscles strained and I gritted my teeth as I rowed.