Baby

tender virgin flesh. His big hands wrapped themselves around her throat cutting off her air. Disgusting sounds emanated from him, reminiscent of hogs fighting in their pig slop. By the time he finished, her screams lessened to shocked and gulping whimpers. She cowered defenselessly on the floor as he grunted his way to the bed and collapsed, falling into a deep stupor.
    Netty lay stunned, her beautiful fantasy dissolving into the reality of the burning pain and blood between her legs. She felt numbness on her face. Reaching up, she felt her nose and realized Robert had broken it. Hot tears streamed down her swelling face as she slowly made her way to the wash bowl. She tenderly blotted away at her thighs, wincing at the ruin of her nose in the looking glass above the stand. Gathering up the remnants of her lovely night gown, she achingly pressed the ruined gift to her heart. Oh, Mama , please come take me home.
    Netty slipped into her robe and carefully crept to the bottom corner of the bed where she silently curled up, praying that the morn would come quickly. Suddenly, Robert tossed in his sleep. His foot shot out from under the comforter, slamming into her bottom as he viciously kicked her off the bed.
    “Country trash does not sleep in my bed . ” He snorted drunkenly as he contemptuously rolled over to sleep. She crept over to the tiny divan, careful not to soil the beautiful silk with her blood to await the morn.

    Netty awoke with the warmth of the sun streaming into the room to announce a steamy summer morning on the wane. Her body ached all over. Her nose was swollen twice its size and canted to the side. She glanced at the bed, discovering with relief, her husband’s absence.
    Running quickly to the door, she found it locked. Puzzled, her heart thumping wildly, she knew this could not be a good sign. As she gingerly dressed and packed, hoping to escape back to the cabin and her mama, she heard noises in the hallway. After some fumbling with the lock, the door slammed back against the wall with a bang. Her husband strolled into the room accompanied by his manservant, Eli, and several older housemaids. Upon his order, they grabbed her and plunked her down on a mahogany slipper chair. Amid her protests, she noticed Eli carried a large pair of sewing shears in his rough meaty hands. Robert proceeded to lay out the rules for her. She would be confined to the townhouse with no visitors. She would take all her meals in the kitchen before he returned from work and then retire to her own room. She would help with the packing during the day as they would be leaving town to move to a mansion called Sunnydale in Norristown, in the neighboring county.
    Her head reeled with confusion. She realized Norristown was at least a hard two day walk, maybe more, from the farm. Robert’s automobile, quite a luxury in the eyes of poor country folk, frightened her, yet gave her confidence that the distance would be manageable for her but not her mama. That is, if she was allowed to use the vehicle. As her visible panic mounted, she witnessed a signal from Robert. Two housemaids grabbed her arms, holding her down as Eli approached with the shears. Walking to the door, Robert appeared satisfied.
    “This will be a small taste of my displeasure if you become a nuisance.” Turning smartly, he dismissively left the room. Eli then scooped up a fist full of her long gleaming tresses and with one hack, her hair disappeared.
    She then became his captive. Isolated from all she knew. Her days consisted of packing and desperately staying out of Robert’s sight. She realized the cropping of her hair was meant to demoralize her. He needn’t have bothered. She was so traumatized, she appeared to be the walking dead, even spooking the household staff. Her nose began to heal without the benefit of medical care. As a result, the cant fused permanently, throwing her pleasant features off balance, making her almost unrecognizable. It also left an unsightly bump on the bridge of her nose. The dull and lifeless hair left on her scalp began to show signs of small bald spots brought on by stress. Over time, they became permanent. And the rapes continued. Not frequently, for she realized Robert actually did despise her. But once a week he returned home at dawn, pleased with himself and more inebriated than usual. He routinely appeared at her bedside naked, his ugly purple erection stupid with desire. She dare not cry out for fear he would punish her