Chapter 6

I was distracted from contemplating the disturbing thoughts running through my head when Kisi called us in to eat dinner. I’m jealous. I’m going to have to start watching her prepare our meals more closely. I’ve been preparing most of our meals since I married Todd and I think I’ve become a decent cook. But I’ve never served a meal as delicious as any meal Kisi has prepared since we arrived. And now that I think of it, the main reason I’m only an ordinary cook at best is that my mother never took the time to teach me how to cook. I’ll bet Kisi would enjoy giving Vicky lessons. And I could listen in and probably learn how to be a better cook myself.

After we finished eating I once again thanked Kisi for another wonderful meal. Then I told her we may be inviting Chris’ parents over for dinner. She smiled and said, “I heard some of your conversation with her before she left. I hope it works out, for Chris’ sake if nothing else. But her parents sound like people who are remarkably unsuited for life as a sex slave to Mr. Boateng. I’ve known people like her parents. In my limited experience people like that don’t change. I hope I’m wrong because if they can’t adjust I can’t imagine how they’ll survive.

“Vicky, on the other hand ... Vicky, I’m in awe of you. I don’t believe I would have been able to come up with your solution to dealing with an untenable situation like that created by Mr. Boateng. I have a feeling you three wonderful people are going to adjust and survive intact. All three of you really impress me.”

Todd stood up and said, “And all three of you ladies impress me. Vicky, you’ve always made me proud. But you’re plan for dealing with an intolerable situation from which we cannot escape ... damn girl! You’ve got a lot of balls! I have only one request. I know you have decided to ignore the fact that our house is bugged. But I recommend you try to avoid saying anything that might piss them off. You don’t want to challenge them. I’m pretty sure they’d get off on putting you in your place.”

“Don’t worry dad. I don’t intend to challenge them. But I’m not going to spend the next three years hiding from life, either. Except for the kids I go to school with we’ve only met one of the people who live in this compound. The slightly ditzy broad who lives next door came out and said hello to mom. Everyone else who lives here, or at least all the women, seem to spend all their time hiding in their houses. I can just imagine them sitting around in their houses, never speaking, trying very hard not to think because if they do they’ll either relive the terrors they’ve already experienced or they’ll contemplate their future and the terrors to come. And the girls at school don’t talk about it amongst themselves either. Chris is the only girl I’ve met who doesn’t act like our lives here are normal.

“I have no intention of becoming a silent prisoner in our home the way our neighbors seem to have, afraid to speak, even more afraid that at any minute some strange man is going to come through their front door and humiliate them, rape them, and all they can do is submit. Fuck that. I refuse to live in fear. And for the most part it’s just sex. Everyone who isn’t too fucked up in the head likes sex. Hell, I even enjoyed having sex with mom! Well, I enjoyed most of it anyway. I’m not a huge fan of cleaning a freshly fucked pussy with my mouth.

“I intend to spend my time in this country enjoying myself and meeting lots of nice people. That way I won’t leave here thinking every man in this country is a rapist. And I intend to do everything I can to enjoy every sexual encounter I have. Hopefully, if I’m not terrified and embarrassed to death I’ll enjoy most of the things our “guests” require of us. What the hell, it’s worth a shot.”

After a long moment of silence I said to Todd and Vicky, “I wonder what the people on the other end of those microphones are making of this conversation.”

Todd grinned and said, “Lexi, I’m starting to think you had an affair shortly after we were married. There’s no way that very intelligent, very brave girl was a product of my DNA.”

I grinned and replied, “No dear. It wasn’t an affair. Just a typical Friday night orgy.”

“Why was I never invited, dear? I’ve always been curious about orgies.”

I went over, climbed into his lap and said, “She is incredible, isn’t she? I’m so proud of her. And just so there’s no doubt in your boggled mind, let me assure you that awesome young woman is the product of your sperm and my egg. And I’m just as proud of her as you are. We didn’t get to have the two or three kids we talked about. But the one we had is perfect. We couldn’t have asked for a better daughter.”

Vicky watched us kiss for a moment. As soon as we separated she said, “Okay, that’s enough of that. I thought you were going to watch the news.”

Todd reached for the remote but before he could turn on the television Vicky’s phone rang. She dug it out of her pocket and answered it. She said hello and then just listened for a few minutes. She sat there listening for several minutes before she said, “Okay. I’ll tell them. See you in the morning.”

She put her phone back in her pocket and said, “That was Chris. She sounded dazed. She told her parents about my plan for ... well, you know. They were shocked but they had a lot of questions. After she explained my plan as well as she could her parents decided it might just work. She was shocked. Her parents never mention sex, not even to tell her she shouldn’t have it. That hasn’t changed since they moved here and the rapes started. They want to meet us. They want to talk. She’s starting to think we might be able to make her parent’s lives bearable.”

All three of us are surprised. After the way Chris talked about her parents we didn’t expect them to be open to Vicky’s ideas. I got up and after borrowing Vicky’s phone I went out to the kitchen. Kisi was just finishing cleaning up. I said, “Kisi, I really wish you’d let Vicky and I help you. We aren’t going to take your job away. But I feel guilty just sitting around while you do all this work.”

She smiled and said, “I enjoy my work, Lexi. It calms me and I get satisfaction from it. And besides, it pleases me that you and your family are pleased with my work.”

“I’m afraid I do have one complaint. After eating your wonderful meals I’ve learned I’m not nearly as good a cook as I thought I was.”

Fortunately, she knew I was just teasing. But she explained, “They taught me most of what I know about cooking as part of my training when they hired me. Maybe they’d let you take the course. It was pretty intense but I learned a lot.”

“I’ll think about it. I just wanted to tell you Chris called. Much to everyone’s surprise they’re interested in learning more about Vicky’s plan for dealing with the things that are happening to us. I’m going to call her mother now and invite them over for dinner. Is that okay? And if it is, does it matter to you what day we do this?”

“Lexi! You don’t need my permission! And no, it doesn’t matter what day you do this.”

I put my arms around her and whispered, “God I hope we can arrange to take you home. You’re such a good person.”

I kissed her on the cheek and sat down at the table. I opened Vicky’s phone and called Chris. She answered immediately. I told her it was me, not Vicky and I asked to speak to her mother. Her mother came on instantly and after I introduced myself she told me her name is Avery and her husband’s name is Perry.

I told her we’ve met her daughter and have been very impressed. We talked a little bit about our backgrounds and then I invited her family to dinner and asked what night they’d prefer. I get the impression she’s anxious to meet us and discuss the plan Vicky came up with to deal with our situation here.

She said any evening would be fine with them. I said, “I’m anxious to meet you but perhaps it would be best to do this on a Friday evening. Dinner at six?”

“Makes sense to me. I’ll tell Perry. See you on Friday.”

“I’m looking forward to it.”

I tapped on Kisi’s door and when she opened it I said, “Dinner for seven on Friday. Any chance of having roast pork. I love roast pork but I haven’t had one in ages. It turned out I’m not as good at cooking them as I am at eating them. Is that okay?”

“No problem. I love roast pork, too. But Lexi, that will be dinner for six. I’m aware of the size of Chris’ family and I’m pretty sure there are just three in your family. I shouldn’t be dining with you. Especially not when you have dinner guests. It’s inappropriate.”

“We’ll see.”

“Lexi!”

“Hush. Go to your room. Or would you like to come out and watch television with us?”

She sighed and replied, “I didn’t grow up with television. It wasn’t even available where I lived. When Mr. Boateng brought me here to be trained I had an opportunity to watch a couple of shows. They were American shows. I guess they wanted us to know what life is like in your country. It was interesting at first but only because I was able to get a better idea of what life is like in America. I didn’t think much of the shows, though. I thought they seemed silly. I’d much rather read a good book but thank you for asking me.”

“There is a lot of silly stuff on television. But there are some good shows, too. A few anyway.”

Kisi stepped back into her room and closed the door. I was on the way to the family room but just as I entered the foyer the front door opened and Mr. Boateng stepped inside followed by a man I haven’t seen before. I sighed and waited to see what they want, as if I didn’t know.

Mr. Boateng said, “One of my monitors called my attention to the conversation your family has been having this evening. I couldn’t resist. I have been having sex with women and girls against their will for decades. I can’t recall ever having sex with a slut before. I decided I had to see what it’s like. This is an old friend of mine. Adjo, this is Lexi. As I mentioned, she and her family have only recently arrived. Her sixteen-year-old daughter, Vicky, is the one who has decided the best way to cope with their new lifestyle is to become a slut.”

He turned back to me and said, “Let’s see if you two can actually do it. Go get another blanket and bring it into the family room.”

Todd and Vicky are standing in the doorway to the family room. I guess they heard Mr. Boateng’s voice. I turned and went upstairs to get a blanket. On my way upstairs it occurred to me it would make sense to stash a supply of blankets downstairs somewhere.

When I returned to the family room Todd is sitting in a recliner stoically watching Mr. Boateng and his friend. They’re standing on either side of Vicky. She’s already naked and both of them are exploring her body while Mr. Boateng is telling Adjo all about the evening he came here and had sex with both of us.

I tried to ignore them. I spread the blanket out on the floor and waited to see what they want me to do next.