The Times

Shayla came across this article in the London Times while taking a peek at a message board she reads occasionally.

'Sex slavery' Shayla can understand how people who don't know any better could jump to that conclusion. At the same time, though, why is it that it happens so often? Dominance and surrender does not equal sex, & vice versa. One thing stands out to shayla.

"Lee Thompson, 31, lives at the address with the Essex teenager, and describes himself as a master who trains slaves. He has been banned from one shop in the town for turning up with a girl on a leash."

Shayla would not have any problem with it at all if he asked her opinion about it, but Master wouldn't allow shayla or miranda kneel at his feet in a restaurant, either. No doubt simply because it wouldn't be appropriate. We're Gorean, but we still live in this world. It doesn't mean that you toss your brain and good sense out the window once you take possession of a girl, or accept a man's collar. Actually, you've got to think more.

The three of us go out regularly. And we do not compromise what we are, or the dynamics of our relationship with each other when we're out of the home. We do, however act in a manner appropriate to where we are, one that still leaves no doubt as to who's in charge. Master still is the final decision-maker in things. However, we remain sensitive to the people around us. If someone asks miranda or shayla a question which we'd defer to Master, we simply tell the person that they'd have to ask him. Master gives his commands to us as he always does, as simply phrased requests. Being Gorean doesn't mean shoving our ways into other people's faces. Most of the time when we go out, it's obvious to the people around us who's in charge.

It brings to mind one day two months ago, when we all went to a nearby crawfish festival (only in the south would you find such a thing). Miranda and shayla always wear our collars, but that's the only "physical" sign of our status in relation to him. Of course, the fact that Master'd had us wear the same things, identical tops, short denim shorts, & heels, also was a give-away. Come to think of it, we also got stopped four separate occasions so that people could get photos with us. The rest is simply body language and manner. While we were there, one lady stopped Master and shayla to ask them some questions. She'd noted the dynamics between us, and surprisingly enough had the initiative to ask. This led to a conversation that lasted about 45 minutes. Master was tactful, but at the same time didn't hedge or beat around the bush. She and her friend were fascinated, enough so that shayla gave them the link to this blog.

Shayla's not certain if the women ever actually have stopped and peeked at this site. But they left the conversation informed, a little more educated than when they first approached. And like so many other times, we were able to show others that there can be more to servitude than what always seems to be expected.

And as fun as it might have been (as shayla's acquired a touch of exhibitionism from miranda), Master didn't have to command us to his feet to make any kind of point.

shayla

Aloe

Shayla has a black thumb. Most, if not all houseplants, suffer in her care. There was a time when she was seven that she killed a cactus (please don't ask). Time hasn't changed that tendency much. That's not saying she doesn't do her best to keep the poor things healthy, because she does. Careful not to over/under-water, give them enough light, & so forth. But for some reason it never seems to work well for her.

Last month while working in the yard, Master uncovered an aloe plant. It'd snuck in somehow under a bush that was growing in the wrong spot. Shayla was a bit surprised when he handed it to her. He wanted it potted, so she potted it. No questions, no 'buts'. Just got the supplies together, & with miranda's input did as she was told. Nobody told the plant, though.

Since it had been growing outside, shayla placed it on the back porch, where it would get (she thought) the right amount of light, watered it carefully (not too much, aloe's closely related to cactus). Five days later it was already a sick brownish-green. Two weeks later it seemed completely dead. Her black thumb had shown itself once more.

You know how things are when you're busy with life. Turn your back on something, next thing you know, it's two, three weeks down the road. So it was with the aloe plant. Until last night when she had to go out to the back porch. The aloe had not only revived, but had sprouted a few more leaves. Along with some unanticipated weeds, which were removed. So now it's just as fat-, firm-fleshed as one could hope.

It's back like nothing'd ever happened. It's odd how some things change when you just let them rest. Something to think about in there, isn't it?

shayla

Mother's Day

We all went to Master's sister's for Mother's Day. It seems to be the family gathering spot for all holidays, regardless of who/what's being celebrated. The first stop was to Master's mother's house. We visited with her for a while as Master's brother got ready. She's in her late 60's, still working, with the silver-gray hair and smoothly aged face that any woman would kill to grow old into. Simply beautiful, by any standards. It's no wonder where Master got his good looks. He swears up & down that she's a saint, & shayla's never been one to need be told that. She can tell just by observing her. Her house is old, neat as the proverbial pin, and has that relaxed feeling of a home that shayla believes would put anyone at ease.

It's a short drive from there to Roger & Lolly's home. Though Roger married into the family, he's considered, and treated as, blood by everyone in the family. Every time shayla's been to visit, there's a continual level of controlled chaos. A very informal family, with nephews, nieces, & the dog all drifting from one area to another. Shortly after we arrived the card table was (as it always is) set up in the garage, Roger, Master, miranda & shayla settling down for a game of hearts. This is a routine feature of all gatherings there. There's always a game of hearts or dominoes going on in the garage, a group of people off to one side sitting by the work-benches, watching baseball/football/a NASCAR race, drinking beer & nibbling (either before or after the meal).

Catherine was seamlessly absorbed into the group of sons/nephews/nieces; playing catch with the dog and each other, riding around the property behind one of the boys on the 4-wheelers. They were driving while sitting backwards, among other things. All of them being careful with themselves, each other, and the 'toys' they were playing with. This is one thing that's always impressed shayla with the kids in Master's family. All of them, including Roger's son, Carl, handle the 4-wheelers and guns on the property with more respect, capability, and maturity than shayla's ever heard of or encountered, while still enjoying every bit of it.

Though Carl still acts like the 11-year old he is. We were hip-deep into a hearts game (Roger, as is the norm, was winning), when Carl commented to his father about needing some more bird-seed. 'The birds aren't coming around anymore, I haven't got anything to shoot!!' (shayla did mention that the nearest house is too far away to shoot, didn't she?) At which point he pulled two ziploc bags from one of the freezers in the garage, proudly showing miranda & shayla his work. A pidgeon in each one, intact, the feathers still on. They're to be disposed of when his back is turned, shayla understands. Boys. Makes shayla wish she had at least one brother when she was growing up.

Master will often sit at the bar in the kitchen for a while before leaving, talking to his sister while she picks up. There are always stragglers in the family that come in after everyone else has eaten, so Lolly's as much packing things for others to take home as she is putting things away. Often they'll compare notes on growing up, tease each other about things that took place. Though the caring they have for each other is evident, even in the depths of the teasing.

It's something that has stunned and humbled shayla every time she is with Master's family. So often, to so many people, family gatherings are the backdrop for bringing up old tensions, strife. Even the best-intentioned will occasionally get sucked into it. With Master's family, there's none of it. No undertones of tension, no power plays, no backbiting. For Master, it's just ordinary. But it's something to strive for. Shayla'd heard of families like this. But to see it is something totally different. It's an example to follow.

shayla