A NEW MARRY ANN IN THE ROPEVILLE HOTEL STORY

BY CHRISTOPHER TOILKIEN

[ part 2 ]

A typical California Saturday Morning

The first golf balls flew as the morning sun cleared the trees lining the newly expanded lush green fairways. Pool attendants moved through their opening safety checklist as a line of expectant bathers waited outside the high frost fence. Tennis balls resounded off the hard packed crushed red brick of the courts, and bounced unreturned. The sound of lawnmowers softly clipped in the background as pony's trotted off for their morning run. Soccer balls were in play and basketballs bounced and dribbled.

While those not of an athletic persuasion sat under umbrellas on an outside patio and were served a relatively late breakfast by the sporting crowds standards.

And those wishing a little peace and quiet from all this organization, either sat in or strolled through the newly opened, wall enclosed, Japanese stone garden.

But at the Ropeville Hotel Recreational Complex;

The golf course grounds keepers wore orange coveralls and ankle chains as they were rich little spoiled brats on punishment detail. For wrecking the family BMW, pregging a maid, stealing from a Rodeo Drive store, or some such misdemeanor offence. Well-heeled parents had dealt with the official legal system. But often the kids sentenced by their parents to thirty plus days on an outside field work chain gang at the Ropeville Hotel complex wished the courts had dealt with them instead.

The pool attendants were joined by six staffers in full scuba gear as the six lined up outside the fence were there for the underwater escape event of the new Houdini Escape Artist in training club. One at a time, they would be trust up in a straight jacket, a one hundred-pound weight chained to the strip that ran up between the legs and dropped into the deep end of the pool.

The hotel safety committee had written very strict rules regarding this event.

The student must have demonstrated the ability to escape from the straight jacket while holding his or her breath on dry land. The student must pass a stringent physical. Only one student at a time in the pool. Two scuba divers in the pool with him or her. The Hotel Ambulance and the Helicopter Ambulance must be manned and on standby. But it still was the most desired new activity on the Hotels register, with twenty more students in training. Working their way through Houdini's escapes to wards this graduation ceremony.

On the tennis courts, players became human rackets, as their arms were secured in front of them in a one-piece arm binder with their tennis racket attached. And on the other side of the net was a tennis ball practice machine with a two hundred-ball magazine and a motion detector laser site. Block or be hit. It really improved their reflexes and return skills. Two current players in the top ten rankings attest to its learning curve.

On the basketball courts two teams were in constant action. You see the court surface was akin to a bumper car ride and the players were zapped if they stood still, or made contact with another player. Only be scoring a basket would a player earn a temporary respite from the non-lethal jolts.

On the soccer field, mixed teams ran their little hearts out chasing the soccer balls with their hands and arms drawn up between their shoulder blades. Improved lung capacity and training of the mind to function without arm balancing greatly improved the graduate's game. Hitting the turf after a head but or ball tackle were no longer avoided.

Teams of Orange coveralls rich kids on fieldwork detail pushed dozens of manual lawnmowers to cut the hundreds of square yards of grass in the Ropeville Hotel complex. By the time they reached one end it was time to start at the beging again. Fall leaf collection by hand was reserved for the near incorrigible.

And the always popular, at least with the parents, pony boys and girls in training classes were in constant competition for neatness of turnout, high stepping and speed events.

The relative peacefulness, when compared to all this frantic activity, of the Japanese garden drew quite a crowd. Or was it to view the ever-changing human statuary? One Eurasian and one Caucasian young female were bound in traditional Japanese rope bondage.

As soon as one was carried out and setup, the other was removed, later to be brought back bound in a new style.

Returning or long resting spectators were delighted by this ever-changing tableau.

Not so sure was the Caucasian mannequin.

Mary Ann had slept long and deep, probably due to the additives in the tea, and awoke refreshed.

Mitsui was already up and the two rekindled their friendship in the hot baths.

Just after dawn Mitsui's father arrived and carefully inspected his subjects. Mary Ann turned beat red all over at being exposed to a stranger totally nude. But her new friend stood by and poured soothing words in her ears.

Her father explained the basic tie would be 'Ushiro Gassho Shibari' Or the arms bound behind the back with the writs drawn up between the shoulder blades. With or without the crises crossing rope bra across the front.

Legs would be either free, either bound or one bound and drawn up. If a position became too uncomfortable a simple "Please" would get it changed. Total ending of the bondage exercise was not possible until Sunday afternoon though.

Mitsui was first and after the basic arms behind the body was led outside. He quickly returned and Mary Ann was subjected to the same, but one leg drawn up under her pert rear. As she was carried out, Mary Ann passed Mitsui standing beside the entrance on one foot, the other drawn up to shoulder height.

She was carried out to the rock that acted as an island in the sea of gravel and perched on top.

As the day progressed Mary Ann found herself almost in constant motion. No sooner had she been placed than Mitsui was withdrawn and her rope bondage changed. There was not even a lunch break as she was fed a filling liquid through a straw as she was rearranged.

It was interesting to see those who came to view the garden though. Ordinary adults wandered in right from the beginning, her parents among them. Some stayed for a while and some moved on. A pair of twins, all leathered up as a Pony Boy and Girl were brought in by their staff trainer and asked Mary if her bondage was painful. Mary Ann replied not nearly as stringent as their complete leather pony outfits, complete with that simulated horse hoofed boots appeared to be. But they still inquired of their trainer if opening were available for the Japanese garden display pieces.

Staffers dressed as Highway Patrol police brought in a group of kids in soiled orange coveralls. Complete with blank looking pilot sunglasses during a rest period. They looked tired already, asked no questions, and the sounds of their ankle shackles tinkled in the silence of the garden.

One couple inquired if they could take pictures, but were told only of the inanimate stones not the living statuary.

By the afternoon both subjects were very tired and sun browned. A warm bath and a real meal were all they could get through and by seven PM they were both sound asleep in the tearoom.

Mitsui's Father perched himself in front of the entrance to the Japanese house and awaited Mary Ann's parents.