Date: Sat, 2 Mar 2002 08:12:01 -0800 (PST)
From: Orpha Kreed <orphinity@yahoo.com>
Subject: Tending Minerva, Chapter 5 by Orpha Creed

                	Chapter 5

	Orpha pulled into the parking garage of her condo as
she does daily when returning from work. She grabbed
her briefcase from behind the seat along with a couple
of sacks of groceries that she picked up on the way.
She stopped by the mailbox just inside the front
lobby; then bounded up the stairs to the fourth floor.

	"Minerva?" Orpha called as she stepped inside. "Where
are you dear?"
	Orpha put her groceries away and walked into the
great room. She found a note from Minerva lying on the
table, just inside the door where she always sat to
have her morning coffee. "Dear Orpha, I've decided to
move back in with my Mother in Bakersfield. I don't
get a warm cozy feeling that you want me to stay and
you don't seem to want to make a commitment to little
old me anyway. No commitment, no Minerva. Love you,
Minerva."
	Orpha put the note down and gazed out at the ocean as
it pounded the rocks below. Her heart felt as though
it were made of lead as she recalled the days they
spent together. Attempting to fight the depression and
loneliness, she poured her usual tub of vodka on the
rocks and opened her mail. She read several letters
when she realized that she didn't retain anything that
she had read. Everywhere she looked in the condo, she
saw ghosts of Minerva and herself doing things
together, laughing and teasing in their usual way.
Orpha poured another vodka and sat down by the desk
that held the phone. Minerva had scribbled phone
numbers, notes and silly little pictures on dozens of
scraps of paper, stuffed into pigeonholes and
cluttering the desk.
	"I can't believe the bond with Minerva that has
captured me in such a short time," she thought to
herself. Orpha's heart ached as she went through the
little notes looking for some clue as to her
whereabouts.
	"Mom with a phone number with a Bakersfield prefix,"
Orpha commented out loud as she held up a note. Orpha
smiled as she looked at the little "stick woman" drawn
on the paper with the caption: "Mom" written below it.
She stared at the note for a few moments. "Why would
she write her Mom's number on a piece of paper if she
didn't want me to find it. She damn well knows what
her own mother's phone number is. This is another one
of her little fantasies and she's decided to put me to
the test, " Orpha thought as she sipped her second
drink. "OK baby, you want me, you got me," Orpha said
out-loud as she picked up the phone and dialed the
Bakersfield number.
	"Minerva?" Orpha asked knowing full well that it was
her. "Why have you done this to me lover?" Orpha
listened for a few moments as Minerva played out her
role. "I've just taken my entire bottle of sleeping
pills and I'm going to have to get off before I pass
out,"
Orpha announced as she slurred her words while acting
out a fantasy.
	Minerva started crying and screaming into the phone
hysterically.
	"Hey baby, I really haven't taken all the pills yet.
But I will if you don't get your little ass home to
me. You're breaking my heart with this mean trick."
	"Yes Minerva, you know that I adore you," Orpha
responded to Minerva's question.
	"No Minerva, I don't care what you thought. You
belong here with me so I can take care of you dear. I
love you baby, but you must never pull this silly
trick again without our talking about it first. "Do
you understand me love?"
	Orpha hung up the phone and looked at her watch. "She
can make it home before dark if the freeway isn't
completely backed up from construction. Never a dull
moment when it comes to my little waif!" she said to
herself.

	The last glimmer of sunshine reflected across the
surface of the ocean as Orpha slipped out of the
shower and slid into her terrycloth robe. She tied the
belt, put on her glasses and dropped into a chair to
read the remainder of her mail. Orpha put down her
mail as a key turned in the lock of the front door.
Minerva nervously entered the room and locked the door
behind her. She sadly came over to Orpha and slumped
down on the floor in front of her as she ran her arms
up inside Orpha's robe. Mnerva took the belt in her
teeth and pulled the bow knot loose, causing the robe
to fall open. Minerva brought her arms around Orpha's
back and nuzzled her face between Orpha's breasts
without a word spoken. Orpha put her arms around
Minerva and gently rubbed her cheek against Minerva,s
scalp, kissing her on top of the head ever so lovingly
while gently stroking the back of her neck with her
long articulate fingers. Though not a word was spoken,
both women felt the intensity and significance of the
moment, realizing that their lives would never be the
same in their lifetime to come.

	Minerva and I stayed together in a very close
relationship for the better part of a year when she
mysteriously disappeared, leaving all of her
belongings and car behind. I filed a missing person's
report but found that the local saw enforcement didn't
really want to spend a lot of time helping people like
us. That's when I decided to take the matter into my
own hands, which turned out to be one of the most life
threatening undertakings if my entire life.  If you'd
like to hear more about it, Look for "Avenging
Minerva" in the weeks to come under the "Bondage" or
"B&D" category.  Warm, loving regards,  Orpha Creed