Slap Leather

In the torture chamber of dominatrix Madam LeStrange, the General moaned with pleasure. The raven haired Madam LeStrage, garbed in her leather corset and stiletto heals brandished her riding crop at the supine form in front of her. The General was strapped in firmly. He was in his full ceremonial uniform from the waist up. Below that he wore not a stitch save his regulation boots.

"Now that ve have you" she smiled and continued in a mock-German accent "you vill tell us all your secrets".

The general gave a couple of coughs. His health was unreliable. Then he cried, "Never", his white moustache trembling with anticipation.

Madam LeStrange leant over him and whispered in his ears the words that always thrilled him, "Ve have vays of making you talk!"

The General panted with delight. But then his breathing became harsher. His cough grew violent. Madam LeStrange was alert. Not this time, she thought. As the General slipped out of consciousness, she untied him. Opening his tunic buttons, she vigorously massaged his heart. Gradually, the old man's breathing steadied. Madam LeStrange relaxed, he would be all right now.

The General had been a ladies' man all his life but age took away everything in the end.

Stepping out of the room, she first checked all the curtains were drawn. Then she paused in front of the hall mirror to loosen the strings in the corset. Slipping on a pink nylon robe, she tugged off her heels in favour of comfortable house slippers. She also put her black wig on the dresser. There would be no more work for Madam LeStrange today, thought Sally Moorcomb. Making her way to the tiny kitchen, she filled the electric kettle. A weak groan emanated from the back room. Sally knew it was time for Madam LeStrange to greet her rising gallant.

Slipping on her flirtatious smile like an old worn shoe, she returned to the chamber. "How is the tiger?" she cooed.

The General opened his eyes, the momentary confusion was replaced was with a wolfish grin. "Never better. How was it for you?" he asked.

"Oh it was amazing" she cried. "Darling, you don't know your own strength".

The old man chuckled. "How long was I asleep?" he asked.

"Only for a moment. I swear you recover so fast" she replied.

"Good. Mustn't get late, Doris bless the old girl, tends to worry. But what she doesn't know won't hurt her". he said pulling on his trousers.

"Would you like a cup of tea first? I've got a kettle on the boil" said Sally.

Meekly he followed her out of the room and sat at the bare dining table. Sally returned to the kitchen and dropped in two Typhoo tea bags into the boiling water. After the minute she poured the content into two mugs adding one spoon of sugar for herself and two for the General. She found him in front of the hall mirror checking his uniform for any suspicious wrinkles or stains. Satisfied, he sat back and picked up his cup.

"Hmm, nice and strong just as I like it. Doris prefers Earl Grey, can't stand the stuff myself" he said sipping his brew.

"How is she?" asked Sally. This was risky she knew, it was hard to predict the old boy's moods.

"Who?" a look of confusion descended his face.

"Doris, your wife" she reminded him.

"She's dead. Has been for three years now" he exclaimed.

Sally tensed, she had been unprepared for the abrupt change. He was staring into his mug. The past was flooding back. "My gun" he said. "She was still clutching my gun when I found her on the dining room floor". Sally put down her mug and held his hand, squeezing gently. His eyes rose to meet hers' but were brimming with tears. "I never meant to hurt her" his voice trembled. "I told her I was sorry. I told her I would stop". With her other hand, Sally gripped his shoulder. She knew where he was going. "If only it hadn't come out so soon after Blake's death in Afghanistan" his sobs were uncontrollable now. Sally pulled his head to her shoulder as he cried. "The boy was just trying to follow his father. It was all my fault ... It was all my fault" his tears were flowing freely.

Sally stroked his arm. Unconsciously she tried to breath slowly. Slowly, the rhythm of his shoulder soothed the old man. She deliberately levelled her voice. "Steady now General. Remember the men all look up to you. What was your motto?"

"Forward! Always forward" he said weakly. With that, a lifetime of training an habit took over. His back straightened and he gave her a stiff nod. For a few minutes he sat drinking his tea in silence.

There were no more men, Sally knew. In one of his lucid moments he had confided that after his breakdown, he had been put in a sinecure to wait out till his retirement. It hurt his pride, she knew. He came here because it made him believe he was still capable and virile. He had said the shock had been too much at once. But Sally suspected it was that returning every day to an empty house had slowly sapped his will.

He looked up at the clock. It was nearly five and a thought seemed to strike him. "What day is it?" he asked.

"Tuesday" she said.

"No, I meant the date."

"Its October the twenty first". Sally replied.

"Good God! I almost forgot all about it" he exclaimed rushing up. At the door he paused, "I suppose I ought to give .. that is.."

"We took care of everything earlier" Sally reassured him. Then batting her eyelashes, she spoke in her husky Madam LeStrange voice, "See you later, tiger."

Giving her a roguish grin, he stepped out and crossed the road. Sally closed the door. She had only been paid half in advance but no need to remind him about that now. There was no time. She had to pick up Johnny from football practice. Anyway, she could charge him double anytime she wanted. Actually sometimes she thought she could bleed him and leave this silly business behind but somehow she could never bring herself to do that.

She locked the door to the back room. Then at the dresser, she carefully wiped every trace of makeup. It wouldn't do to show that to the other parents. Slipping on her floral print dress and cardigan, she opened all the curtains to let in some evening light. Johnny must come back to something cheerful. She would roast ham tonight, he'd like that.

Putting on a pair of old sneakers, she left the house and made her way to the bus stand. From across the street, she saw the General at a gift shop. He had a box of toy soldiers in his hand and was selecting wrapping paper. Sally settled in to wait for her bus. The General strolled out of the shop, parcel under arm and looking for all the world without a care.

As he crossed the road and passed her, Sally spoke softly, "Goodbye General".

He stopped, looked at her without recognition. Then he gave a polite nod and smile and continued. But Sally had seen the gift label.

"To Blake, Happy 11th birthday, love Dad"