A part of me wanted to lie to her. An overriding feeling prevented me from trying to do so. That feeling probably came from the fact that I was unable to move all of my body and the realization that she must be controlling it. “It was an accident,” I said as innocently as possible. “This old woman gave me the ring and said it would grant wishes. I didn’t believe her, so I wished for the woman…well, you…that I saw to be naked.”
“And why would you wish for something like that, young man?” she asked. Her expression remained unpleasant and her body language, with her arms folded across her chest, matched it.
“Because I’m a guy and I like to see beautiful naked women, I guess,” I said. I really didn’t have a better possible answer.
“Really?” she chuckled derisively. “You find me beautiful, young man?”
“Isn’t that what I said?” I shot back at her with an equally harsh tone.
The very brief look of non-anger on her face vanished immediately. “You have quite the attitude, do you not, young man?” I was about to answer but she held up her hand and stopped me before I could start. “I do not need you to answer that question. I think you need an attitude adjustment. Fortunately for you, I know how you can get one.”
“Oh, and how’s that?” I asked. Again my tone was both harsh and one of daring, in the sense of daring her to do something. Again, this was probably not my smartest decision.
“Since you show no signs of respect, I will have to show you,” she said. Suddenly I felt like I had control of my legs again. “Run away, young man,” she said. I lifted each leg one after the other to confirm I had control of them again, but I did not actually move in any direction. “Go ahead, I dare you,” she said with extra emphasis on the word “dare.”