Date: Tue, 31 Jul 2001 18:56:48 -0400 (EDT)
From: maxwelllite@webtv.net
Subject: lee and Me, Chapter 13.

Carter was obviously having some friends over for a pool party.  Just about
all of them I supposed had been my former friends.

Even though they all knew by this time that I was Lee's complete fool and
ass-wiping, obedient lackey, I didn't want them to see that I was now here
under Carter's control as well.

I turned to back away and more or less hide someplace, when Ms. Von Der
Linn called out from the house, "Toad."

I went over apprehensively and was told that Carter had informed her that I
wanted to earn additional money by putting in some more hours working with
Worm, tending bar and waiting on Carter's friends by the pool.

Then she added solicitously, "Are you sure that's what you want to do?  You
don't mind?"

"No ma'am, that's fine, I don't mind at all." I replied, while actually I
cringed at the thought.

"All right then, go into the pantry and you will find a white jacket like
the one Worm wears.  Carter likes things more or less formal when he has
his friends over."

I found one that fit and was reminded of a trip I once took to the Bahamas,
where all the waiters wore white jackets.

They bowed, smiled and pretty much kissed butt, just as Carter would no
doubt like Worm and me to behave for him and his friends.  While the idea
was repugnant, it also held a strange excitement, especially so for some
reason, when I thought that Herbert might be there.

Why that should be I really wasn't sure, but he had been in my thoughts
quite often since that night at Lee's pool party.  Probably it was because
of my totally different perception of him that night.

Oh, his physical appearance was the same...Not really obese, but overweight
with soft muscle tone...definitely not a jock type at all.  Not good
looking, but not ugly, either.

He had thin straight blond hair, almost yellow, that he combed down over
his forehead.  He reminded me, in appearance only, of an arrogant German
officer, wearing a monocle, that I had once seen in a war film.  Now only
the monocle was missing.

He had always been a wimp, a condescending smiling sucking-up type, trying
to fit in, and I, among others, had always rebuked him.

But that night he knew things were different and it was obvious he had
enjoyed the transition.  I had to admit that he had fit into his new
persona quite well.  I mean the way he gave orders as if I was his
inferior...  He had said, "Over here boy." and it was not said as a joke.
"Get me that," and when I silently obeyed I could see his confidence
growing.  "That's not what I wanted...go back and get it right this time."

Sure I could have told him where to go, but I was fascinated by the
complete turnabout in our situations, and was finding it to be incredibly
exciting...the situation and the new Herbert.  Although apprehensive about
seeing him again, it was intriguing to think of where it might go.

I headed for the Pool area and the sound of splashing, laughing and
merriment, wearing what I felt was a demeaning white serving jacket, just
like the one Worm was wearing.

Yes, they all knew me to be Lee's ass wiper, but now here I was at Carter's
house serving along side Worm...extra humiliating.

There must have been about twenty teens there, all of them I knew except
for a few. Kay was standing at the bar holding an exotic looking drink in a
tall frosted glass with an orange peel and a miniature umbrella in it.

She wore one of her most daring bikini's and sun glasses. Shall I say it
again? Wow!!

When she spotted me she took off her glasses and looked me up and down
inquisitively for a few moments, then put back on the glasses and turned
her back to me.

Lee was not far from her, surrounded by a bevy of what seemed to be
worshipful followers--my former friends.  He, the center of attraction,
they, listening intently as if in awe of him.

As usual he was wearing the skimpiest of bikinis and sunglasses.  This suit
barely covered his generous equipment, which was noticeably outlined.

When I had first seen Kay, my thought was the usual, "Wow!"  This time, it
was double "Wow!"  I found that interesting and a bit disturbing.

He put a cigarette to his lips and two of the group quickly reached for the
lighter on the bar.

Who would be quicker?  Which would have the honor of being of service to
Lee?  He was the leader all right--certainly much more so than I had ever
been, and also certainly much more deserving of the position.

I had the feeling that those two would-be "servants," and maybe more than
just they, would not be adverse to changing places with me.

Worm was at the bar mixing drinks and opening bottles. My job then would be
to see what anyone wanted and wait on them. It suddenly occurred to me that
Carter would now be getting thirty dollars an hour.

When I became noticed, calls of, "Hey boy, over here," and that sort of
thing filled the air.  I think the fact that I was wearing the white jacket
took some of the sting out.  It could possibly be perceived by some of them
that I was here working for pay, or at least, I hoped that would be the
case.

I found my eyes roaming around the crowd, and then stopped when I saw him.
Herb was indeed here, sitting at a table with a guy I had seen around, but
didn't really know.  I did remember he was a follower and wimp type like
Herbert had been.

Instead of ducking them I had a strong urge to head straight for them. "Hi
Herb."  I used the more macho term.  "Can I get you anything?"  I don't
know exactly why, but it was really extra exciting being subservient to
someone like him.

He looked me up and down with an amused smirk on his face and said, "Herb,
huh?  Yeah, I like that better."  Then to his friend, "How about it, Jason,
want him to fetch you something?"  I noted the use of the word "fetch."
Jason replied, "Not right now."  Herb then said, "Nothing now," a slight
pause and then, "Toad."

"But when we do I'll just," and he snapped his fingers,

Jason smiled sheepishly, as if embarrassed for me by Herb's arrogance.  I
meekly replied, "Sure Herb, whenever your ready."  And then felt compelled
to add, "Anything you say."

Herb tilted his head to one side slightly and with that self-satisfied
smirk still on his face queried, "Anything?"  The connotation was quite
clear and unmistakable.

Our eyes met and I felt my throat grow dry, making it difficult to swallow.
Did he know?  Had Carter told him anything, maybe everything?

He was a friend of Carter's--it was certainly possible, and the more I
thought about it, even probable.

I was becoming more and more vulnerable.  Being At Lee's mercy was one
thing.  That was different.  That was incredibly exciting and I actually
felt I belonged there under his control, no matter how humiliating he made
things.

Then Carter came along--he was a lot like Lee, and since Lee had turned me
over to him it seemed acceptable, and yes, even exciting.

But now Herbert, or perhaps more appropriately "Herb" was looming up in the
background.  Fetching drinks for him and being humble had been interesting
for some reason.  But for him to have the same Damocles sword as Lee, and
now Carter, had hanging over me was a different story.

It was such a short time ago that he was the wimpy follower and I was the
proud leader who looked down, disparagingly, at him and others like him,
such as his friend Jason.

Now here I was standing humbly before them, awaiting their pleasure, more
or less at their disposal, with the very real possibility that they could
bring me to my knees.

I didn't know much about Herb.  I found out later why Carter had befriended
him since they seemed such opposites...at least up until then.

They had met through their fathers who belonged to the same exclusive town
and country club.  It seemed that Herb's family was at least as wealthy as
Carter's.

My thought was that Herb had no doubt admired Carter, his dominant
relationship with Worm, and that this was his opportunity to be something
like him.  He was going to take full advantage...

I wasn't sure how to answer his, "Anything?"  But that familiar subservient
feeling came over me and out came, "Sure Herb, anything at all."

I felt the way I replied had diminished what Herb obviously had in mind by
his query, "anything?"

But as I thought about it I strangely felt as if I had missed an
opportunity by not replying in a more humble tone of voice, "Yes Herb,
anything."

Why "opportunity" I wasn't sure, but I did find the idea of a transformed
Herbert to Herb, practically overnight, arrogant and superior, with Rob as
his humble follower and lackey, an intriguing scenario.

Without a Lee or Carter in the picture, what once would have been
inconceivable could be reality.

I was pretty sure Herb was thinking along those same lines.

It was non-stop for most of the time.  "Hey boy, over here."  "Oh, boy,
refill please," all said with an amused tone.  Some were my old friends, a
few I didn't know, but all seemed to find it amusing that one of their own
was serving as their waiter.

Finally I heard what I had been anticipating: the snapping of fingers from
Herb's vicinity of the yard.

I hurried over and, trying to make light of the situation, said, "Your
order, sir?"  But when it came out it didn't sound light at all; it sounded
exactly like what the words implied.

"We'll each have whatever it is that Kay's having...that looks good...what
is that?"

"Pina colada, I think it's called"

"O.K.  Looks good...so does Kay.  Nice ass, real nice don't you think? She
can park her shoes under my bed anytime."

Having this former nerd talking about her that way was really grating even
though she was Lee's.

"You used to go steady with her didn't you?"  He of course knew I had.
"That's right, you brought her to the party that night...bet you're sorry
about that."

"Things happen." was all I could think to say.

"Well, if she ever splits with Lee, be sure to bring her around to my
house."  My first thought was to say, "She wouldn't even piss on you."  But
with his new persona, who knows?  Now that would really be interesting.

Lee and Kay had been at the bar and I had not waited on them. Finally they
went to a table where one of the wimpy types, one of Herb's crowd, was
sitting, having a bowl of chili.

As he moved to make room, he knocked over the full bowl making quite a
mess.  He rose as if to clean it up, but Lee said, "Whoa, don't bother."
He snapped his fingers in my direction and loudly said, "Toad, get over
here and clean this up."

He had been gone for a couple of days, but he wasn't going to let me or
anyone else forget that he was Lee, the master, and I was Toad, his slave.

I always tried to avoid Kay's eyes during these situations but never quite
did.  Our eyes met and she had that amused expression as if waiting for my
response, but, by this time, knowing full well that I would comply.

I felt all eyes were on me as I went into the kitchen to get rags to clean
up someone else's mess and returned to get on my knees as they chatted as
if I weren't even there.

>From my position I could see only their lower limbs and feet. Lee crossed
one leg and brought his foot up and brushed my lips.. intentionally of
course.

Just another of Lee's little way's of reminding me of my place in our
relationship.  Not that I really had to be reminded.

But of course he had no way of knowing that my awe of him and subservient
compulsion had grown to where I felt I was right where I belonged--on my
knees at his feet cleaning up--while he casually chatted with the most
attractive girl in town, my former steady.

I actually had to admire his confident superior attitude all the more.

Having me there like that at both their feet I thought was another major
coup for him.  A coup in which I found it strangely exciting to allow him.

But did I really allow it, or was it that I had no choice?

If I had no choice, was it because of the damaging and very embarrassing
recent events that we had engaged in and could spread all over town, or was
it that my bizarre compulsion to serve him had grown that strong?

Probably a combination of the two, with the latter being the stronger
element.

I cleared up the mess and then continued running drinks for whomever wanted
them, which seemed to be everyone...it was really non stop.

Then, "snap, snap" once again from Herb. "Two more of the same...Toad"

He obviously enjoyed using the demeaning name Lee had bestowed upon me.

When I returned Herb said, "I've been watching you. You're very good at
this, and I love the white jacket.  Next party I have, I'll definitely use
you as waiter...with Lee's permission of course."

When I didn't reply he added, "I do have to ask Lee, don't I?"

There didn't seem any reason to deny what almost everyone knew so I replied
as if he hadn't embarrassed me at all, "Definitely.  Speak to Lee about
it."  I felt I had come a little further out of the closet with that
statement.

Dawn signaled for me and I scurried over.  There was just something about
her that said, "don't ruffle her feathers."  She was sprawled out on a
chaise under an umbrella and didn't even look at me saying, "Pepsi in a
glass with ice."  I had an urge to say sarcastically, "Yes, your highness,"
but didn't dare.

I handed her the glass and as I turned to leave, she spit out a small
amount and said, "This is Coke, you jerk, I clearly said Pepsi."  She
poured the rest on the ground saying, "Get me what I told you to get, and
then clean up this mess."

As I said, don't ruffle her feathers, so as I silently turned to leave I
muttered what I thought was under my breath and unheard..."Bitch"

"I heard that," she bellowed!  And then she said loudly to Carter who was
nearby, "Carter, this asshole just called me a bitch."

Carter hurried over and got right in my face saying, "Is that right, did
you call Dawn a bitch?"

Oh no, I had given Carter an opening to publicly humiliate me, and after
the last two nights I was at his mercy.

Everyone stopped what they were doing and watched intently.

"It just slipped out." I said meekly And then to Dawn, "I'm really sorry
Dawn, I didn't mean that."

Her irate response was, "Bull crap, he meant it. Carter are you going to
let him get away with insulting me that way?"

Carter responded with, "No way," and brought his open palm forcefully
across my face just as Lee had recently done, and just as then, I could not
retaliate.

That time it had been bad enough with Kay present, but now it was her along
with almost everyone in town that I knew.

I stood there, arms at my sides.  Carter must have been ecstatic.  He was
having his revenge for our past confrontation.

It was obvious to him that I was at his mercy and would not, could not
retaliate, so he struck again even more forcefully, and again I remained
motionless.

"Apologize to Dawn."

I wanted to crawl away and hide, but there was no place to go.

I turned to Dawn who was now standing.  She put her hands on her hips,
looked me up and down contemptuously and said, "Well?"...anticipating my
further apology.

In my most humble tone I said, "Dawn, I'm very sorry and I hope you will
forgive me."

I heard Carter's voice behind me--he had been drinking again--saying, "Not
good enough.  Get down on your knees and kiss her feet."  And then to her,
"Right, Babe?"

Dawn nodded in agreement, saying, "That sounds more appropriate than just a
sorry."

Then a chorus of voices from the crowd that had gathered, "Good thinking,"
"right on," "make him do it man," "Oh yeah."  Then a heckler humorously,
"If he wont, I will."

I turned to Carter and said, "Come on, I can't do that with everyone
watching."

"Are you saying no...piss face?"  The implication was clear, obey or
everyone hears about the last two nights.

I turned back to face Dawn, still standing proudly, hands on hips, with
that smirk on her face. "Well, I'm waiting."

There was no way out. I got down on my hands and knees and kissed one foot
and then the other.

Applause erupted from the throng.  Carter and Dawn had been victorious. I
had been totally broken and humiliated again.

Somehow, it was getting easier.