Cracked Ice - Part 9

“CRACKED ICE” by Leora Tozer © 2013 Part 9 {Week 2, Tuesday morning}

Art arrived to the office mid-morning and he seemed very more subdued than usual. I sensed something was wrong without even looking at him, so I went to his office to check in with him.

When I asked, Art told me that his shoulder felt a bit sore, that he’d strained it practicing a new bit. I told him I’d be right back.

I grabbed a bottle of Jergen’s hand lotion from my desk drawer and came back into his office. I said, “I’m not a trained masseuse, but my friend who took massage classes used to practice on me. Can I try a couple of massage techniques on your shoulder?”

“It wouldn’t hurt to try,” Art replied.

“If it does hurt, I’ll stop,” I informed him.

I poured some lotion on my hands and rubbed them together. Then I slid my hand under his shirt and rubbed the lotion on his left shoulder, first with a gentle pressure.

“Wait,” he said. I stopped. Art slipped off his shirt. “OK, you can continue,” he said, smiling.

I continued by increasing the pressure, and I could feel his shoulder relax. I repeated the process with his right shoulder and then did some gentle circular motions on his vertebrae up and down his neck and upper back. I could feel the room light up with a bright spiritual energy. I felt as sense of peace through this new energy force.

Art touched my hand and stopped the massage. He smiled, “Thank you. This really helped.”

“Can I try one more thing that might help your shoulders?” I asked.

“Sure,” he said.

I sat in a chair facing him and put more lotion in my hand. “Please give me your right hand.” I said.

He gives me his hand, as if he was bashful, and looked up smiling, his eyelashes fluttering at me. I surrounded each finger with my lotioned hand, slightly pulling at each finger. Art started making faces at me, as if I were hurting him.

“Do you want me to stop?” I asked.

“No,” he said, shaking his head.

“A massage teacher told me that by doing this, it will help a person’s neck and shoulders, since everything is connected,” I explained.

I finished massaging his right hand, and asked for his left hand. I applied some lotion and did the same as I had for the right hand, starting with his pinkie. As was working on his left hand, Leo came into Art’s office.

“Hey, I’m stressed too,” Leo said.

I stood up and said, “Turn around.” I felt his neck. “No, no stress here.”

Leo turned around and looked at me. “I can think of some things that need massaging in my office,” Leo said.

“Well, I can loan you my lotion. Just close the door,” I replied. Leo couldn’t figure this chick out. Most women succumbed to his advances very easily. This one seemed impervious to his charms. Easy come, easy go, Leo thought.

“Nah, that’s alright,” Leo remarked. Art laughed as Leo left his office.

I finished massaging Art’s left hand. “Are you alright now?” I asked Art.

“Yes,” Art answered, as he was putting his shirt back on. “You’d be handy to keep around here, especially when we’re filming.”

“That’s kind of you to say,” I replied. I went back to my desk and put the lotion back into the drawer.

I spent the rest of the morning drafting letters and returning phone calls Everyone else seemed busy as well.