Ryan didn't know how long had elapsed. He thought it was hours, but he wasn't sure. Suddenly, the box was in motion. He kept expecting Snake or maybe Vinnie to open the lid. But the motion stopped, then he heard straps tighten around the box, and then Snake's motorcycle roared to life. Snake had changed his mind and was taking Ryan to Vinnie to change him back, thought Ryan with relief.
The motorcycle stopped. The straps came undone. The box was in motion under Snake's arm again.
"Hello, Jason, is that the item we discussed?" asked a female voice.
Vinnie's grandmother? Ryan wondered.
"Yeah, thanks for the rush job. Just do it as we discussed," Snake half whispered.
The box lid came off. An older woman peered in. She frowned, and put on rubber gloves.
"Normally, items are clean before we embroider them."
"It's clean enough, and I'm paying double for speed and confidentiality," Snake snapped.
"Sure you don't want the snake on the pouch?"
"No just around the edges of the pouch and at the base of it."
"You're the boss."
"You got that right."
The next thing Ryan knew he was stretched out on a computerized sewing machine. The needle whirred and jabbed his arms and back with different color threads weaving the picture of a naked blond guy with the number "34" on his biceps being devoured by a giant snake across the back of his waistband. Then he was flipped over. Big black outlined green letters spelled out SNAKE'S JOCK across the front of the waist band. "34" was embroidered on each side of the waistband. Ryan ached all over. She took him off the machine while wearing the gloves. No matter how hard Ryan screamed she heard nothing. At least it was over- no she put him back on the machine. Eek his leg straps. Then his pouch.
Ryan was sore and sobbing. Snake asked to use the dressing room. He was going to wear his strap home.