You do it every time we see each other. Just a light pinch on my sides, because you know I’ll do the same to you. I’ll poke you in the sides, maybe a bit on the ribs, and you’ll giggle and shy away, pretending not to like it. But one day I figure it out.
We’re sitting on the couch watching TV when you gently taze my sides. But this time, instead of fighting back, I start to cuddle you.
“Why do you always tickle me like that?” I ask.
“To get back at you, dummy.”
“Nuh-uh,” I say, “you always do it first. Actually, I think you do it cause you really like when I tickle you.” You start to blush, nervous that I’ve discovered your secret. You quickly poke my sides again, trying to distract me. “See? Right there” I say. “You really want me to start tickling you.” I gently wrap my arms around your midriff as I lean in towards you and lower my voice. “But this time I’m not going to take your bait. I won’t tickle you unless you admit to me that you like it.”
At this point your face is bright red. You’re so embarrassed that you can’t even talk straight. “Uhh… mmm… nope” you manage to say.
“How about this? I’m going to leave my hands right here around your sides, and if you want me to tickle you then all you have to is say so.
“Mmm.” You squirm around on the couch. “What’re you doing?” You can feel my hands on your sides, and they’re begging to be tickled. You try one last time to poke my sides, hoping that will be enough to set me off.
But I ignore it and whisper: “no more games. The only way I start tickling you is if you admit that you like it. Now answer honestly…” I lean in close. “Do you want me to tickle you?”
Silence, as you consider whether it’s worth it to expose your secret in order to get those sweet tickles that you’ve been craving. You finally give in. In your softest, cutest voice I hear you squeak “yes please.”
“Sorry, I couldn’t hear that, what did you say?”
“Please what?” Your face is still red from embarrassment, but I’m not letting you off that easily. “I want you to say it.”
You pause for a second, panicking just a bit as you try and work up the courage to get ‘the t-word’ out of your mouth. “Please tickle m-”
But before you can finish I’ve already started. You erupt in giggles as I start punishing your soft sides and gently working my way up to your ribs. This time I’m relentless, and I pin you down with my body so you can’t squirm away. You squeal in delight as I playfully jab at your ribs. After a minute you’re out of breath and I give you a break. Even though the tickling is over you’ve still got that grin on your face.
“See… I knew that you like it”
