Ariel and Ag - Just Chatting (The Sequel) By Karma Furthering our relationship. I didn’t send the message. I sat for a long time, staring at the message I had written to Ariel. The cursor blinked over the "Send" button. My finger rested on the mouse; all that was needed was a miniscule amount of pressure, a mere twitch, and the message would be sent. I finally sighed, carefully moved the cursor from the "Send" button to the "Delete" button and clicked. With a heavy heart I exited, not even bothering to make any farewells. I went back to my program screen and opened Word97. Slowly at first, and then more rapidly, I typed. "Since my recent acrimonious divorce and subsequent relocation into a one-bedroom utility apartment..." I typed, edited, deleted, moved, reworded and revised for the next three hours. I finally saved the finished file, turned off the PC and went to bed. The next day I sent the completed file via e-mail to several of my (that is, Karma’s) closest cyber-friends, people who share my love of muscular women, and people whose input and opinions I have come to respect and value. After some thought, I also sent it to Diana to be posted in her library. Over the next few days the reaction and feedback trickled in. I was obviously outvoted. A sampling: "Click ‘Send’, my friend! Opportunities like this come along but once in a lifetime!" "Why are you hesitating? She sounds like a dream come true!" And, the following, straight to the point: "You can be such a fucking idiot! Send!" Thanks, Mom... No, just kidding... I had avoided Trivia Chat the way mothers with young sons avoid Michael Jackson. I did not want to encounter Ariel until I was ready. I thought and I thought, and then I thought some more. Finally, I was ready. It had been almost two weeks since I had last chatted, and when I apprehensively logged in, I was greeted with a barrage of {{{{{{{{{{ag!}}}}}}}}’s and ’s and a few (long time no see). I saw a "missed you" in there and my eyes suddenly stung from the unexpected show of friendship. Finally, a line appeared: "{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{ag}}}}}}}}}}}} where you been?" No this time, I noticed. The Private Message indicator came up, and I opened it. "ag - what’s going on? I arrive this weekend" I started typing, but before I could send, a new message appeared: "i’ve been practicing " I smiled and kept typing. I glanced at what I had written: "ariel - we need to talk. I have been less than honest with you. how much would it take for you to lose any respect you have for me?" Send. A moment later: "a lot - outside of you being a child molester or wife-beater, it would take a lot for me to lose the great amount of respect I have for you." I heaved a heavy sigh of relief. I typed. Send. "I have a side to my personality that few have seen. I would like to send you a story I wrote that may explain. ok?" A longer pause. I waited. Finally: "ok - send it to
. i’ll be waiting" I went to e-mail, typed in her message, attached my file and sent it on its way. I then sat, headphones on, listening to "Thus Spake Zarathustra" and waited. Fifteen minutes later, I heard "You have mail." I opened the new e-mail message and stared at the short reply: "Send it" A great gust of relief and happiness swept over my body, and I quickly returned to the Chat Room, but not before I typed a quick message in e- mail. This type I clicked on "Send" In the room a few minutes later, I was welcomed back by the regulars, also receiving a (very big grin) from Ariel. We played, it was fun, life was normal. Just as I was ready to leave for the night, I got a new Private Message: "wanna have a warmup?" What? "sure" "ok - meet me in private" A minute later I was in a private room, just me (KarmAgBullet, by now) and Ariel. "what’s up, ariel?" "sit down here at this table" Whoa! This could be interesting. "ok, i’m seated" "good - so am i - put your elbow down here by mine" "which arm?" "oh - right, i think - it really won’t matter " "ok" "grip my hand - it’s ok, i won’t hurt you" "ok, but i’m not too worried" "are you ready?" "i’m all set" "1 - 2 - 3 - go!" Pause. "how you doing, ag?" "fine - are you holding out ok?" "no problem - think it’s going to rain?" "not here - clear skies - how about there?" "maybe - a little thunder now - you still ok?" "yes - though you are stronger than i expected" "hmmm... so are you - i thought i’d win by now" "no way - let me try a little harder" "mmm... took me by surprise, sweetie" "are you going down?" "i was - but i recovered - you should see my arm" "why?" "you’d like my muscles" Big grin. "what are you wearing?" " a sleeveless t-shirt" "i’ve got you now!" "don’t think so - i’ve got a lot left" "me too - this could take a while" "not really - here - take this!" "oh-oh! wow!" "i told you - my arm is really big and hard now" "that’s not all that is..." " you pervert! just for that, i’m really going to put you down!" "uh-oh!" "ha! i have you halfway down" "it ain’t over til it’s over" "it’s over! Hmmm... almost..." "<-- inching back from the brink" "no way!" "here i go!" "and there you went - you’re down, sport!" "argh!" I leaned back from the keyboard, more than a little surprised at the intensity of our cyber-encounter. Ariel, to my amazement, had gotten into it much more than I had any right to expect. I typed: "you ok?" "yep - just finishing my celebration dance " "" "was it as good for you as it was for me? " "very much so... " "good - i have to go now - later..." "ariel?" "yes?" "thank you..." "my pleasure, ag - - nite..." "nite" Very, very big grin.