Instead, I take them to an empty classroom that is out of the way, so we won’t be disturbed.As usual, I get straight to the point, “I don’t want...to show up to the dance alone. At the same time, if I ask one of you, the other will read more into it than there is. One of you will end up hurt. I even thought about asking Kim, but I was afraid you would both get mad.”Carol offers, “What about taking us both?”“I thought about that too, but wasn’t going to suggest it because I didn’t want to come. More than amply chastised, Sir,’ said the contrite Karen. ‘You will be punished increasingly humiliatingly every week until you pay off your credit card balance,’ said Dave and again took Karen by surprise. She had hoped this session was it, for her credit card overruns and was dismayed to note that it wasn’t so. ‘God, it will take me a few months to pay it off,’ thought the terrified Karen. She was about to put on her clothes when Nikita suddenly got up and stood before Dave and said, ‘Dave.. ”“I believe he made his wishes known some time ago, when you were sixteen.”“Forgive my sarcasm, but my response is ‘shocking’.”“He is a determined man, your grandfather. But you know that I would never ordain anyone unless the congregation could truly say ‘Axios!’.”“I have a significant impediment,” I replied.“I assume you are speaking about the lack of a wife?” he asked with a smile. “Somehow, I do not believe the grandson of Mikhail Ivanovich is called to celibacy.”Nor the son of Rahil. You couldn't get to know someone more than in a business manner. You couldn't let yourself be weak. You couldn't let yourself feel protected like you did in my arms. You couldn't let another person give you sexual pleasure like I gave you during our morning with the Nomers."Beth didn't say anything but it was obvious she was thinking about what he said."You may be right," she said."I am right. You are a new person." A new person. I like that. I am no longer Captain Elizabeth Nye. I am Beth.".