Even with the sunshine the trail was damp in the shade and I pulled my brakes hard, slid slightly sideways but somehow managed to avoid hitting anythi...g as I made an ungainly stop. Now off the seat and with my feet on the ground, I turned to see what was going on.“I’m so sorry,” she blurted. “I wasn’t expecting anyone to…”“It’s okay,” I reassured with a smile. “Looks like you have a problem.”She showed me that she had a puncture in her front tire, but I was looking at her stunning. I sensed that Ted was just as uncomfortable as me with the situation. Suddenly, whollop!, Ted's smack was mush harder than the girl's had been and I yellped with pain, then another hard smack on my quivering rear. "Stop, you are suppose to be thanking Ted for punishing you Dan so let's hear it every smack", said Barbara. Ted began the punishment again this time after every strike to my tender rear I said "Thank you Ted". This drove Ted on, he was now enjoying his power over me, but soon the. The procession made it’s way across the courtyard, the glorified Tupperware set on a wooden altar. Mourners with eyes downcast set flowers and trinkets in an ever thickening border around the ivory box. As the last lyric of ‘Amazing Grace’ faded into the morning air, a girl with dark hair pulled back into a tight, high pony-tail stepped forward. The wispy tips of her thin hair fluttered in the light breeze. Her makeup highlighted already high cheekbones and gracefully sloped eyebrows. "She looked at me. "When do you want to send that email, Bill?" As soon as possible. That gives people a chance to bitch and me to pound on them in an appropriate manner. It's time people understood that a well-functioning machine works well and no one person is irreplaceable."Matt still looked somewhat dumbfounded. Tracey came over to my desk and we set up the email and worded it to suit me. She grimaced. "That's fairly strong wording."I said, "I am leaving Matt in charge. If he makes someone.