-“Are you kidding me? Macy’s is giving free perfumes and creams in every one of their stores? I am going to be there first thing on the morning, and I will go to every store and mall in a thirty mile radius! Thank you for the information Anita. Bye!” Myrna hangs up the receiver.
Walking to the balcony Myrna yells out to Jenny to come upstairs.
-“What’s taking you so long to come? Is your head in the clouds again?”
-“No, I had the water running for rinsing the pots and pans, and I did not hear you.” Jenny said this as she rushed up the stairs to where Myrna was standing wearing a scowl.
-“I find that hard to believe that is the only reason Jenny, after all you were spotted kissing with that boy Oscar. Just know that I have eyes everywhere Jenny, and you better be careful how you tread.
I am saving you for the ripe opportunity, but if I find that you are messing with that boy, who’s after no good, I will put you to work extra time in extracurricular activities!
Mark my words Jenny, you have better tread very carefully and not test my goodwill.” Myrna said menacingly as she scanned Jenny up and down as if trying to read her innermost thoughts.
-“Oh no Myrna, I’ve already told Oscar that I am not interested in getting serious. He does have good intentions towards me though, he’s told me so.” Jenny said this which only infuriated Myrna all the more.
-“You stupid, stupid girl. All that horny dog wants is the chance to pop your cherry, and to have some fun with you, and make you some babies. You think there’s room here for that? And how can you work with a belly? I don’t want you to go near that boy again Jenny, that is just asking for trouble.
If you ever come here one day pregnant, you will have the wiping of your life! I will personally skin you alive for not listening to me!
Remember I look out for you, and I want you to be safe and well.
By the way, tomorrow we have a special day ahead of us. You will be going with me on a full day of shopping. Well, actually it is not shopping as we need to get in line for free stuff! If you go with me, I will collect double the stuff.
Listen to me well Jenny, I know I never take you out, but that is only to keep you safe from the police or immigration.
If they see you they will do awful things to you! Why they put women in jails with other common criminals and they put them in small, crowded cells. You will get beaten and molested by the police, and the guards, and murderous criminals jailed in with you!
I know that you’ve heard this all before, but now you are not a kid anymore. You have to be extra careful because you don’t know how horribly you will suffer in the hands of the crooked authorities here.
Now, go to bed and get up as usual and do the usual chores, but instead of going to the factory, we will go to see the wonderful malls!”
That night Jenny could hardly contain the butterflies in her stomach. Not so much as to what Myrna had warned her about, she had heard that threat ingrained in her psyche since she was nine years old, when Myrna had brought her here to work in her home.
Jenny had never ventured out of the house except to go to work in recent years to Myrna’s factory.
Jenny felt a mixture of excitement and trepidation, to go out and see lots of people in real time. She found it hard to sleep with all excitement of tomorrow swirling in her head.
Jenny trashed and turned in her sleep. Vivid dreams of the police chasing her disturbed her peace. In the middle of the night, Jenny awoke from one such nightmare.
Turning on her side she concentrated on the image of her angel by her bed. She asked him to accompany her tomorrow and to keep her safe.
Before succumbing to sleep, Jenny felt the soft brush of a kiss upon her cheek.
To be continued…
