Rituals

       Girls and priests have taught me the value of rituals  - that rituals root us, recollect us, and keep us mindful.

       It's a debatable point whether girls or priests have been most influential in this regard, but given the forum I'm writing in, I thought I'd talk about a girl.

       As was her custom and prescribed habit, Shelley knelt on her knees, naked, beside my chair, head bowed, placed the palm of her right hand on my thigh, and solemnly intoned - 

"Shelley is her Master's bitch,

 Shelley is her Master's whore,

 Shelley is her Master's slave."

       I yanked my gaze away from my work on the computer screen, looked down at her, and, surprised, exclaimed, "Christ, is it ten o'clock already?"

       A look of apprehensive alarm crept into Shelley's eyes - I had not responded with the prescribed reply to her statement of devotion.  I smiled at her, and said, "I'm sorry, sweetheart - I was just surprised by the time, that's all."  I paused momentarily and then gave her the desired reply - "Shelley is her Master's treasure."

       A delighted, and delightful, smile lit up her face, and her eyes.  I beckoned to her, "Come here, silly girl."

       She quickly scrambled up into my lap and put her arms around my neck.  I laughed softly, and said, "You really love doing that every night, don't you?"

       She grinned and nodded, saying, "I do."  She hesitated a moment, then added, "I look forward to it all evening.  It drives me crazy when it gets to be about ten minutes till."  Her eyes glanced downward, shyly, and she said, "And it makes me wet, too."

       I gave a somewhat bigger laugh, and kissed the tip of her nose.  "Well, sweetheart, let's face it...there are only a very limited number of things that don't make you wet."

       Infinitely pleased with herself, she nodded in agreement and - proudly - pronounced, "I'm such a slut."  A thoughtful look crossed her face then.  She pursed her lips before speaking.  "I really do like it.  It makes me feel...I don't know...safe, or grounded, or something.  It helps me remember who I am."

       Furrowing my brow, I thought that one over for a moment or two, and then said, "Hmm...yeah, I can see that.  I suppose it reminds me who you are, too."

       She giggled and kissed me.  "Shelley is her Master's treasure."

       I kissed her back a bit more intensely, and said, "That wasn't actually the part I was thinking about..."

       Before Shelley, I wasn't much into rituals.  She needed them, so I concocted some for her.  Since then, I have never neglected them in a relationship.  I heartily and unreservedly recommend them.