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From: artie@netgate.net (artie)
Subject: Story: "Mall Walkers" (MF, mc)
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³Mall Walkers²
Written 09/97 by artie - comments and constructive criticism welcome
(C) Copyright 1997, All Rights Reserved



This is a work of fiction, meant for adults. If you are not an adult, or
are offended by stories with sexual content, read something else. Likewise,
if all youıre looking for is in-out, in-out, in-out, you should probably
read something else.

   *

   It started a few months ago. I was recovering from foot surgery; back to
wearing real shoes after being in a cast and a brace for over three months.
I was under orders to get some exercise. Luckily, I work near the ³Great
Mall² as it calls itself. I started going over at lunch time and walking
orbits for thirty or forty minutes. My temporary disability parking sticker
always got me good parking places when I arrived, and good parking places
when I returned to work.

   This quickly got addictive; I was walking at lunch (and not eating)
three to five days a week. My secretary was helping me keep a good
schedule; she had noticed the improvement it was making, in my health,
weight, and sometimes even my attitude.

   After a while, I started noticing the same people. I especially noticed
one particular woman- early thirties, great looking body, always smiling.
Iıd wave to her, and sheıd wave to me.

   One day I saw her sitting in one of the green leather chairs in the
³Train² theme area of the mall. I waved, and she waved for me to come over.
I was on my third orbit, and had plenty of time, so I went over and sat
next to her.

   ³Hi there- my name is Carol. Itıs good to finally meet you.² She held
out her hand.

   I shook her hand; I was still catching my breath from walking fast.
³Glad to meet you- Iım Tom.² I sat down in the chair next to her; the
chairs were in pairs turned at right angles, so our knees were a few inches
apart.

   ³Your third lap for the day?² she asked me.

   I smiled- she was more perceptive than I was. ³Yes, on my third- I call
Œem orbits.²

   She shook her head. ³Where do you sit and relax when you finish walking.
I donıt think Iıve seen you sitting down.²

   ³I just get in the car and go back to the salt mines.² I told her.

   She reached over and put a hand on mine. ³No, thatıs not good for you,
you need to relax for a few minutes after a brisk walk. You need to cool
off and relax.²

   I agreed that I should probably do something like that. It was nice just
talking to her, let alone having her express some kind of interest.

   We exchanged small talk. It turned out we worked in adjacent buildings-
I work for a high tech company, and she works for a medical concern.

   ³Then we should car pool over here at lunch!² she suggested. Good idea;
I told her- I get the best parking spaces, at least until my sticker
expires. ³Good, and that way I can get you to relax for a bit after
walking.² She seemed proud of herself, having accomplished something
important.

   We quickly developed a routine, one of us phoning the other and meeting
in the parking lot to drive to the mall. At the mall, we would put in two
laps before looking into any stores; shopping could only be done after the
second lap. Then we would sit together, resting and chatting for five or
ten minutes before heading back to work. It was a great deal.

   Talk about dark clouds with a silver lining. I was going through an
intensely bad week/month/life period. A field sales guy had placed a very
large harpoon in my back. He sent an email to my boss, his boss, and a
couple of corporate VPs- but not to me- complaining I was uncooperative. My
boss and I agreed that I was doing the right thing- this guy didnıt want to
understand what ³no² meant, but that still left me with this thing sticking
painfully in my back. I had also been thinking about my wife, my family,
wishing they were still alive. I was on a tight downward spiral, and I knew
it.

   We had finished our laps for the day, and sat in our usual chairs. I
closed my eyes, not wanting to talk today. Carol reached over and took one
of my hands. ³Whatıs the matter, Tom- something is bothering you.² I opened
my eyes and looked at her. She looked genuinely concerned. Eventually I
told her the harpoon story- and that it was just stress, and it was
catching up to me; I didnıt mention other things. She questioned me for a
while, teasing out answers. I had good eating habits, no real bad habits. I
was getting exercise on a regular basis, relaxing a bit in the middle of
the day. I enjoyed her company. No, I prized her company. But still, my
sleep was for shit, I was twitchy, things were catching up to me.

   She sighed, and moved us to one of the larger red leather seats, where
we could sit together. She took both my hands. ³Tom, I want you to lean
back and close your eyes, and just listen to my voice and do what I say. I
can help you with this problem. Trust me.²

   Canıt hurt, I thought. so I closed my eyes and leaned back, enjoying the
feeling of an attractive woman holding my hands. She started by having me
take a few deep breaths and trying to relax. It actually seemed to help a
little. She then told me to start counting backwards from one hundred to
myself. She kept on talking, in a soft soothing voice, helping me relax my
head, my neck, my shoulders...

   Along about seventy and my shoulders, it got hard for me to count- I
kept forgetting where I was; my mind kept wandering. Her voice was clear,
but far away. I was feeling very relaxed, even though I knew I was sitting
next to her in a mall full of people. That wasnıt important. I tried to
count, and followed her voice. Finally I heard her say that if I was having
trouble counting, I could just take a deep breath, say ³zero², and let go
and relax completely. What a relief. I took a deep breath, said ³zero² as I
exhaled, and my mind went blank.

   ³Tom? Wake up, please.² was the next thing I heard. I opened my eyes to
find a wonderful person in front of me, smiling gently. I reached over and
gave her a big kiss.

   When I realized what I was doing, I sat back. ³Carol... Iım sorry... I
donıt know...²

   She sighed and took my hand again. ³Tom, donıt worry. Youıve wanted to
do that for a while, and Iıve wanted you to do it for a while as well.²

   I had to admit to myself that she was right. ³What happened? I was
counting, and listening to you, and then...²

   ³Tom, Iım a clinical psychologist. I hypnotized you, and very easily;
you are an excellent subject. I helped you to relax some, and we talked
about the things that are bothering you. I wanted to continue, but we were
getting into areas that we shouldnıt discuss in the middle of a mall.²

   ³I donıt remember any of that, just listening to your wonderful
voice...² I told her.

   ³Thatıs not unusual- you went into a very deep trance, and often times
people donıt remember what goes on. Did you know we live about two miles
apart?²

   I laughed. We had both been deliberately cagey with each other on where
we lived and our exact occupations. ³So you also know what I do for a
living?² I asked her.

   ³Yes, we talked about that. And we talked about the fact that youıre
concerned about things that you canıt control, which is not good for you.²

   ³Carol, I do feel much better now. Thank you for what youıve done. What
do you recommend next?²

   She took both my hands. ³Well, since we work so close to each other,
with practically the same hours, we should definitely carpool- that will
mean less stress for both of us. We should go out to dinner together this
evening so we can talk, and then I need to continue the session we started
here. Iım still very concerned about you.²

   ³Carol, your concern is wonderful. But donıt you get enough of this
during the day?²

   It was her turn to laugh. ³I deal mostly with people that are in need of
serious psychiatric help- far beyond what I can give them, but the system
insists on routing them through me first. Youıre different. I can help you.
I like you.² She shook my hands for emphasis.

   I laughed again, I was smiling, something I hadnıt done in days. ³OK,
Youıve convinced me. Italian, Chinese, or Japanese- Iım buying.² It turned
out that she knew and liked each of the three places I suggested- all
within a few blocks of each other and about two miles from where we both
lived. We agreed on Japanese, and a time.

   As we walked back to my car, as we had done many times, she took my
hand. I stopped and turned to her.

   ³Carol, do you know what youıre doing? Are you sure about this?² Now I
was concerned.

   She looked me in the eye. ³Tom, trust me, please. I know what Iım doing.²

   ³I trust you, Carol- itıs me I donıt trust.²

   She sighed. ³I learned quite a bit about you a little while ago. I know
what Iım doing.²

   ³OK, if youıre sure.²

   She said she was; I wasnıt going to argue. I hadnıt been out to dinner
with anyone in too many months, let alone someone intelligent and
attractive. We drove back and returned to our respective salt mines.

I went back to my office and barely had time to sit down in my chair when
my secretary came in and closed the door. ³Youıre smiling! What happened?²

   I laughed. ³I had a very good walk. Iım feeling much more relaxed.²

   ³No kidding!² she said. ³I havenıt seen you smile like that in a long
time.²

   The afternoon actually went well. I didnıt pick up any more harpoons,
and got a number of things taken care of by the time I left.

   We met at the restaurant. Iıd reserved a table. ³How was your
afternoon?² Carol asked me after we sat down.

   I looked at her and said ³For the first time in quite a while, I left
the office without my hands shaking and my head pounding.²

   She raised her eyebrows a little. ³I guess thatıs quite an improvement
then.²

   We had a wonderful dinner. After I paid the check and we were starting
to leave, she said ³Weıre going to your place.² I leaned my head down and
frowned, giving her look number three: seriously questioning your sanity.

³Look, trust me.² she said, ³At the end of this session youıre going to be
in no condition to drive. Besides, youıll do better in your house than in
my apartment.²

I sighed and shook my head. ³OK, I trust you. I donıt trust me, but I trust
you.²

She followed me home. I parked in the garage, she parked in the driveway. I
gathered the mail from the mailbox and we went in. It was so strange
hearing her shoes on the tile floor behind me; the sound echoing in a house
that last year had been so vibrant and full of noise, and in the flash of a
horrible instant had become so quiet and cold.

I was uneasy; I turned to her as I loosened my tie. ³Carol, I donıt feel
comfortable- I donıt know how much you know about me, what I told you. I
donıt want you to get hurt. I donıt want to hurt you. You donıt need to do
this.²

She smiled, took the mail out of my hand and put it down. Then she put a
hand on my forehead, said something, and the world faded away.

The next thing I know Iım on my back on the couch, in my sweats. My face is
wet and it feels as if Iıve been crying. I look for Carol. Sheıs sitting in
the chair near the couch, pad of paper in her lap. Sheıs smiling, but it
looks as if sheıs been crying too. I look at the clock- two hours have
passed.

She asks ³How do you feel?²

I took a deep breath and tried to figure that out. ³I feel... Tired...
Drained... Relaxed... And like a great weight is gone.² I looked over at
her. ³I hope it didnıt land on you.²

³No, it didnıt.² She sniffed a bit.

³Carol, do you still think this was a good idea?²

She stood up, and put the notepad and her glasses on the chair. She turned
to me, smoothing her dress, then slowly unbuttoned it and put it on the
chair. She came over and lay down on top of me on the couch and kissed me
like Iıve never been kissed before.

She still thought it was a good idea. I wasnıt going to argue.

END

artie

-- 
artie

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