Ronald was a craftsman. Over a ten-year period he felt he had mastered the art of constructing wood into shapes and functionalities of his will. Ronald had branched out into metal work but only so much as to augment his wooden creations. His shop was the size of a typical three-car garage and it was his haven. The air hung with the scents of stains and sawdust. There was a continuous hum of some piece of machinery waiting to be put to work to progress Ronald's latest project. Ronald wasn't hesitant or shy about saying that he was living his dream. In the last few months Ronald was getting a little bored with his dream, so to speak.

"I feel like I have made every cabinet or headboard I want to, Mike. I still love doing it but I don't want to keep making the same old things. It has become variations on a theme as it were."

Mike had been Ronald's next-door neighbor for years. He wasn't a craftsman, he was a truck driver but he was always good company and when in town would spend most evenings sitting on a stool at the side of the shop drinking beer and talking to Ronald as he worked. Mike would occasionally lend a hand but only to hold a piece of wood or fetch a tool. He learned early on that Ronald was particular and while he was willing to help, Ronald wasn't quick to accept it. So Mike just enjoyed keeping him company while the sawdust flew. Ronald had never married. Mike had made a habit out of getting married when he was younger but now in his mid-forties he said he was done with that, three ex-wives were enough.

"Ronald I can understand that but it would be a waste if you didn't keep making stuff. I mean I have never seen pieces of furniture as well made or as nice as you make them. And I would have to think that the money is pretty good. I never see a piece sitting around."

"Yeah, I mostly do custom order stuff now. For the most part it is sold before I make the first cut but that's not the point. I can knock this stuff out in no time. It isn't a challenge anymore. I mean the last thing I did that was really a challenge was that Moravian Star floor inlay I did."

"That thing was amazing. I mean it looked three D. I remember you fought with that thing for what three months?"

"Yeah, it was tough but fun. Most of the stuff I have made since then isn't all that fun."

The pair fell into silent contemplation as Ronald dug through a pile of wood planks to find just the one he was looking for. Helping to hold the piece, Mike watched as Ronald set up the machine and started feeding the plank into the planer to smooth it and to get it to the thickness Ronald desired. As the roar of the machine died down Mike returned to his stool and opened another beer.

"Why haven't you ever gotten married? I mean it is fun, sometimes and if nothing else you would be making furniture for yourself."

"I don't know I just never got around to it. I thought I was going to get married once but it didn't work out. She told me I was too bossy. Since then I have been on a couple of dates here and there but nothing serious."

"Well, maybe you should look into that again. Unlike me, you are still a relatively young man. It could prove to be a good distraction for you and it might help you gain some perspective on what you do in here."

Ronald nodded in tacit agreement as he took the power saw in hand and started making the next series of cuts. It was something that Ronald hadn't really given any thought to. He liked women. He liked being around them and as best he could remember, he enjoyed being with them. Now he was thirty-eight years old. He hadn't gone on a date in nearly five years and when he thought about it he couldn't even think of any women he had any regular contact with that he could ask out even if he wanted to. The wood had been his girl for years. As he placed the pieces of walnut on the large table in the center of the room Mike walked over to the table's edge.

"You know, I've been thinking about it and I think I know someone you would like."

"Oh that's alright Mike. I don't really need a date right now. Besides when I do I know some women myself. I don't think I will have to turn to Mike's Dating service."

They both laughed even though Ronald didn't know any women.

"No I'm serious. There is this girl I met a while back. She was the sister of a woman I used to date. She is nice. A heck of a lot nicer than her sister turned out to be. I would have asked her out myself if it hadn't seemed weird, you know, having dated her sister and all. You two are about the same age and I happen to know she is an artistic type. She paints and stuff. You two kind of look at things the same way. And I got the impression that she doesn't mind bossy bastards like you."

Ronald stopped in mid-motion and looked at Mike.

"Well, let's face it. You like things to be done a certain way and you expect people to do them. You are kind of a bossy bastard really."

Ronald thought about it a moment and smiled as he nodded at Mike before going back to work.

"Yep, I guess I am. Now get back on your stool. You are distracting me by standing there."

"See, that's what I'm talking about. Fortunately for you I am so easy to get along with."

"I know, well, I know you will put up with my crap as long as I keep that fridge over there full of beer."

"Well there is that. Look, I gotta go. I'm heading out in the morning."

"Where are you off to this time?"

"Long haul; I'll be gone for eight days. Keep an eye on the house for me?"

"Of course, and I'm going to fix that railing on your deck while you are gone. It bothers me."

Mike knew better than to argue. He knew it was a waste of breath, as regardless of the outcome of the argument, the deck rail would be fixed when he returned either way. Ronald worked well into the night. He was careful about becoming too obsessive about the work and forgetting the time, at least for the benefit of his neighbors. Ronald was careful about using the machinery after eight pm and tried to reserve quiet work such as staining and sanding for the later hours. He had done it a thousand times before but Ronald always stopped at the door of the shop and looked back before turning off the lights. He always felt as if he was leaving something or someone behind when he closed that door at the end of the day.

After his morning coffee Ronald loaded his van and headed across town to the country club. Ronald delivered the latest creation to Robert and Donna Wilkes. It was an elaborate headboard footboard combination. Robert had given Ronald a few sketches and Ronald had taken them into reality for the couple. Ronald was quite pleased with his effort and was looking forward to the Wilkes' opinion. Ronald and Robert struggled but successfully carried the heavy pieces into the bedroom wrapped in moving blankets. The public part of Ronald's job was one of the few times he became nervous. While he had never really been admonished by a customer for doing a poor job, he had seen looks of slight disappointment and those moments haunted Ronald.

Ronald stood to the side as Donna Wilkes cut the tape and uncovered the footboard. She was silent. That lack of comment hung in the air and Ronald started formulating his offer to redo the pieces more to their liking. Ronald had taken a few liberties with their suggested design. Robert Wilkes helped his wife pull the heavy blanket from around the huge headboard. The oak set had taken Ronald two weeks to finish. For Ronald that was a lengthy project. All totaled he had nearly one hundred hours of labor in the two pieces. Ronald stared at the couple's backs as they stood staring at the headboard. Ronald started to speak but was cut off when Robert Wilkes held his hand up in the air. Ronald waited in tortuous silence. The quiet of the room was only broken when Ronald heard Donna Wilkes sniffle.

"I'm sorry Donna. I can make it right. I know you were looking forward to getting this today but I can see that you aren't happy so I..."

Again, Robert Wilkes held up his hand and Ronald stopped mid apology. Donna Wilkes turned slowly and Ronald could see the tears on her face. His heart fell through the floor. Ronald may have screwed up in the past, but he had never made someone cry.

"Donna, I'm..."

"Perfect."

Donna Wilkes spoke in a mere whisper and it caused Ronald to pause. He was unsure he had heard her correctly.

"What?"

"It is perfect Ronald, absolutely positively perfect."

Ronald started to laugh. It was an involuntary response and was uncontrollable. It was fortunate that he reacted in that way as the Wilkes started laughing as well as Donna rushed to him and hugged Ronald tightly. Her tears continued to flow as she thanked Ronald over and over. Robert Wilkes moved up close and shook Ronald's hand as his wife continued to gush over Ronald's effort and praise him at how well he had captured her husband's sketches. After a few minutes of glad-handing and cheek wiping the group calmed enough for Ronald to speak clearly.

"I'm glad you like it. It wasn't easy but I think I did a pretty good job with the posts you drew. I got the loops even and the holes carved the way you said. You know I hand hammered the cast iron loops so I could get the look you were after."

Ronald went on pointing out the features he had executed and continued to receive praise from both of the Wilkes. It wasn't a standard headboard by any means. It was adorned with holes and metal protrusions. It was the most substantial bed set Ronald had ever attempted. The headboard alone weighed nearly two hundred pounds. Donna excused herself to blow her nose and Robert motioned for Ronald to assist him. They were able to wrestle the piece into position. Pushing the bed away from the wall the two men hefted the oak slab in place and pushed the bed back to hold it against the wall. Robert Wilkes moved the footboard into place and leaned it against the bed so Donna could see how the set looked in place when she returned.

"Oh Wow! It is perfect Ronald. It is so much better than I ever hoped. It will work perfectly!"

Ronald was pleased they were happy. Happy customers pay their bills quickly and made good recommendations. Ronald was a little confused over what Donna meant by how it would work. How does a headboard work, I mean it's just kind of there? Ronald thought but chose not to ask. Donna Wilkes bounded to the bed and jumped up on the comforter. Moving to the headboard Robert was quick to point out that it wasn't secure and that she should be careful. Donna nodded her acknowledgement of the slight danger but closely examined the loops and attachments. Ronald watched in enjoyment as she examined every inch of the headboard and offered compliments for each one. Eventually she sat on the pillows and extended her arms upwards at ten and two. The fell in line with two of the metal loops Ronald had fashioned and secured to the oak slab. He had assumed that they were for decoration and had put extra care in their making.

"I can't wait Robert!"

Ronald enjoyed the view. Donna Wilkes was an attractive woman but he couldn't figure out what she meant by her comment. Robert Wilkes looked a little embarrassed and tried to usher Ronald from the room to get a check to pay for the piece. Ronald stood by the kitchen table while Robert Wilkes filled out the check.

"Here you go Ronald, I really appreciate how quick you did this and how great a job you did."

Ronald looked at the check. It was for the full amount they had agreed upon for the work plus an additional one thousand dollars.

"Robert I think you made a mistake. This is too much."

"No Ronald I didn't make a mistake. I included a tip to show how much I appreciate your talents. I know Donna feels the same way."

"Well I appreciate it but I have to ask, what did she mean by that comment?"

Robert Wilkes motioned for Ronald to follow him. They stepped onto the front stoop of the house before Robert spoke.

"Donna would be embarrassed if she knew I told you about this but you have a right to know since you made the furniture. Donna wanted this headboard. She broke the last one and insisted I get one that was sturdier."

"Broke a headboard? How?"

Robert was hesitant and kept glancing back through the long windows beside the front door to make sure she wasn't coming.

"Ronald, Donna is adventurous."

"Robert you are going to have to spell it out. I'm just a wood worker; I deal in absolute measurements so you are going to have to explain what you mean in simple terms."

"Donna likes to be tied up when we have sex."

Ronald blinked several deliberate times as Roberts's statement sank in.

"And that leads to broken headboards?"

Ronald just couldn't connect the two.

"Well, think about the design."

Ronald pictured the sturdy headboard, the strategically placed strong metal loops and carved holes. If a little imagination was put to work Ronald could see how what he had made would work well for placing ropes or cuffs for the proper restraint of a person. Ronald knew he had made the piece more than strong enough. He had considered at one point that a person could hang an airplane engine from the thing so enduring the throes of a restrained person wouldn't be a problem.

"I hope I haven't offended you Ronald."

"Not at all Robert, I'm not a prude! I'm sure that my furniture has been used for sex before this, whether it was designed for it or not. If that is what Donna likes then you should dang sure do it for her? In a weird sounding way, I'm glad I could help."

Robert laughed at the strange statement.

"I'm glad Ronald. You know this might be a whole new revenue stream for you. I mean if you are cool with it, I know lots of other people who would be interested in stuff like that and I am sure they would pay handsomely for it too. There are places you can get specialty furniture but it isn't nearly as nice as the stuff you make and most of the people I know would never be seen shopping in those kinds of stores or on the websites where you could find it."

"Revenue stream huh?"

"Yeah, to be honest what I just gave you is probably half what you could charge other folks for the same thing."

Ronald had considered himself fortunate a minute ago as he looked at the hefty check Robert Wilkes had signed his name to, now he was thinking he may have short changed himself but the information had great value as well. Robert Wilkes could also turn out to be a valuable resource too.

"I'm going to have to do a little research."

"Ronald if you would like I can email you some links to sites that have the kinds of stuff I'm talking about. You can look at the designs and the prices. You will see that I am telling you the truth."

"I would really appreciate it Robert."

Ronald handed him a business card and thanked him.

"You had better get back in there. If Donna gives that headboard a good tug before you screw it to the wall, it could tip over and crush her."

They both laughed and shook hands. Ronald climbed into his van and stopped to imagine Donna Wilkes tied naked to his headboard. The thought made him smile all the way home.

Ronald checked his email after finishing his work for the day. He had been putting the finishing the touches on a large chest. Robert had sent over a dozen website links. Ronald started clicking through each one. While there was the furniture and accessories that Robert had mentioned there was so much more to many of the sites. Ronald was not easily offended and as it turned out, that was a good thing. Ronald saw pictures of acts he hadn't even imagined. After an hour of viewing the sites Ronald had to go take a shower. Returning to his desk, much more relaxed, having given in to the desire for self-pleasure while thinking of Donna Wilkes and velvet ropes. Ronald resumed looking at the sites but now his attentions were more concentrated. The furniture he saw was rather simple in design but those designs were very purpose driven.

Ronald made notes, sketched out a few ideas and even printed some of the pictures as reference. It was getting late and Ronald decided to just grab a sandwich and got some sleep so he could start early. He was planning to give his new projects more thought as he finished up what he had on the table already. He was also going to make a point of calling Robert Wilkes and see if he could help him line up some customers.