." No..." I managed to whisper, squinching my eyes shut tight."Tommy ... I want you to promise me something ... can you do that? Can you make me a pro...mise?"I blinked furiously, and ran the back of my sleeve under my nose with s snuffling sound. I managed a nod, and watched as tears started to roll down his red cheeks."Son ... don't be like I was. Don't throw your life away like I did. It's just not worth it. I missed out on so much ... I missed out on so many precious minutes with you ... with. “Nothing just seeing what’s up.”“Can’t you ‘just see what’s up’ when I’m done in the bathtub?” she asks.“Does it matter? I’ve seen you naked a thousand times mom so I think I’ll stay in here.”“Excuse me? Ok, whatever. Why do you want to talk to me in here while I am naked in the bathtub?”“Well, I was wondering if I could ask you something. I know we talk about anything and everything but this is kinda personal and I wouldn’t want you to get weirded out by it…”My hands are so cold and I’m. Do you, Kristen, take this man, Zachary, as your lawfully wedded husband? To have and to hold?In sickness and in health?For richer or poorer?Through good times and bad times?For as long as you both shall live?Do you, Zachary, take this woman, Kristen...However, today was a special day. There were more pickup trucks than cars glittering under the prairie sun in the full church parking lot. Well-off farmers that could afford a Cadillac still drove pickups and talked poor, speaking gravely about. "Do you mean what you say?" "I meant every word, my Lord." "You shall be punished, of course." "Yes, Master. I deserve to be punished." "It shall be done out of my sight. I cannot bear to look at you." This news hit me like a blow. "Captain, please. Punish me yourself. If it is you I can take it. If you let the others torture me I shall die." The Red Devil glared at me. "When you betrayed me you lost whatever right you had to be called mine. You are theirs, now." His hand gestured towards.