Wonderland IX

Delighting in the play of the breeze with her hair, and in the warmth of the morning sun caressing her skin; Jenny stopped for a moment to close her eyes, to further savor this simple moment of content.

If she tuned off the shrill traffic noise of the streets, she found a connection in the rhythm of things. As in the dancing of the tree leaves with the wind, and in the bounce of womens’ hips. Also in the sequence of the baristas serving the coffee with an uninterrupted beat, or in the stop and go of smooth traffic capriciously assigned by the whim of the traffic light. If she focused, she also felt the heart beat of the city itself.

Before crossing the street, Jenny froze in total panic. A police car came to the curb and signaled a right turn. Jenny’s heart beat hammered in her chest.
Even though Marta and Leticia had explained to her that the police were not as corrupt as Myrna had described, and that was simply a ruse to keep her compliant, Jenny could not avoid her reaction.

Jenny had emerged from a dark cave of deceit and ignorance, and even though she was standing under the bright sunlight, the things that had been inculcated in her psych seemed to wield more influence over her, than what was evident under the glare of the sun.

Breathing a sigh of relief when the police car made the right turn, Jenny picked up the pace and gathered her grocery bags, to hurry back to her new home.

Jenny was happily settled as a companion of an eccentric and very interesting old lady.

Marta - Jose’s wife had gone beyond the call of duty by accommodating Jenny in her house for several days, in the same room as her daughter Leticia. They had generously contributed to her anemic wardrobe, by handing down to her some of Leticia’s old t-shirts and jeans.
Marta had vouched for her, and gave her reference to one of her employer’s who lived alone in a lovely old home.

Maude was her name. She was 85 years old, and a very independent and spunky old lady. After learning about how Jenny had been kept in slavery right here in Southern California since she was nine years old, she did not hesitate to right this wrong. Maude still employed Marta as her weekly house cleaner, while she offered Jenny room and board, and a minimum salary as her companion and personal assistant.

After meeting Jenny and having a conversation with her, Maude was adamant about hiring her, even if her son Robert had protested at first as he preferred to have the proper authorities intervene.


-“You mean to say that you never went out until just about the time you ran away?” Robert asked with some skepticism.

-“No, never. What is different about Myrna’s house with the other houses, in not only the brick mural surrounding it, but also that it has iron bars in both the upstairs and downstairs windows.
The doors lock from the outside as well as the inside too.
The only telephones and computers in the house are in her study, which she always keeps locked. Not even for cleaning did I ever go in there.
If seldom they ever took a vacation, I was left alone with the dog, and plenty of food. My only companion was my….the television.

When I was thirteen she started taking me to her business. I also cleaned there, or packaged boxes, and whatever else she told me to do.” Jenny said.

-“Do you know the address of her home, or of her business?” Robert asked.

-“I don’t know how to get there, but I do remember well the business address as I put the address stickers on the boxes ready to ship out.”

-“Okay Jenny, please give me the address. We can’t enroll you in school until I get your documentation from her.”




There was a festive quality in the air. Maude’s granddaughter was getting married, and it was to be a grand affair. Maude invited Jenny to search through the attic, and bring down her glamorous clothes dating back from the decade of the 1940’s.

-“Oh, Jenny, if only you had seen me then. I was as pretty as a fresh rose. It was back then that women dressed like women, and men like gentlemen. I don’t agree with all these jeans, and unisex clothing. Sometimes it’s hard to differentiate between boys and girls!

Oh look at that strapless dress! It’s made of satin, and chiffon.
I wore this dress with silver combs encrusted with mother-of-pearls. Those are are still in my jewelry box I believe.

Jenny, you are about my same size. I want you to pick a dress to wear to the wedding and you can leave it at the dry cleaners. And I will lend you my silver combs for your hair.

You will look absolutely beautiful!

There will be lots of young people at this wedding, and I want you also to meet my grandson. He is very handsome like my son Robert. He is still in college, but of course he will attend his sister’s wedding.

Come, hurry now! Look through all my beautiful dresses and choose one. It is such a shame that they are not worn and displayed – they are so beautiful.” Maude said with nostalgia for a day long gone.




-“I have good news Jenny! We had a serious talk with Myrna, and she released your old passport and birth certificate. With that document, you may enroll in school. You will start in a lower grade, but with private tutoring you can catch up and when you’re ready, you can take the G.E.D test. That is a high school equivalency test.

My lawyer is suing Myrna on your behalf for back pay, and will initiate the paperwork to legalize your status in the United States; there are several ways to do so, even if my mother decides to adopt you, as she has told me she wants to do if it is the last recourse.

The point is that you will be able to go to school Jenny, which is what you want right?” Robert teased.

-“Oh My God Robert! Thank you!” Jenny could not help it as she ran to embrace Robert. –“You have slayed the dragon for me – thank you!” Jenny said as she held Robert tight and looked up with adoration in her eyes.




To be continued…

Wonderland VIII

-“The fare is $1.25. You need to give one dollar and one quarter.” The driver slowly pronounced the words condescendingly, as he gave back the $50 dollar bill to Jenny.

Taking back the bill, Jenny puts it back in the wallet, and searches for two single dollar bills which she then hands to the bus driver.

The driver took the two dollars and made an elaborate gesture of inserting those into the money slot. He looked at Jenny as if the effort to do this was simply too much.

Feeling stupid, Jenny gathered her stuff and went to the back of the bus. Seated on the last row, Jenny reclined her face on the window sill and looked out into the night as the bus drove off.

It was after a few miles that hunger, thirst, and just plain exhaustion took over Jenny.
She broke down to sob without making too much noise. What she missed most in the world right now, was the image of her angel. She felt utterly alone and lost in this dark, intimidating world -- everything was so unfamiliar to her. Calling on her angel, she asked that he not desert her, and asked him for guidance.

Shivering from cold as the air conditioner on the bus was turned on at full blast, Jenny felt that the first step would be to remedy that situation. The massive building of a store loomed just ahead. She got up from her seat and ran to the front door.

-“I want to get out.” Jenny said. The driver offered an exasperated glance, and opened the door at the next bus stop.

Jenny sat on the bus stop to put on her silver sandals once again. She made her way to the glass doors which automatically opened to let her in. So as not to draw undue attention to herself, she decided to copy how the other people behaved.

She pulled a cart and pushed that in front, just like she saw the others do. She decided that she needed a sweater, as the night was unbearably cold. Walking to the women’s clothing section, she moved along to the junior section when she found nothing to her liking there. Jenny chose a red sweatshirt, and a pair of jeans which were on sale.

There was so much cool stuff in this place that she decided to investigate it. She came upon the shoe section and chose a pair of sneakers, as her silver sandals were very beautiful, yet frankly, too uncomfortable to run in. She then chose a bag of white socks, and cotton underwear.

Thinking that she needed a toothbrush and paste, no matter where she went, Jenny went on her quest when suddenly she stopped cold in her tracks. She had come upon the home décor section of this place, and there covered in glass and framed in a burnt gold finish, was her angel waiting for her.

Jenny could not hold back the tears of joy, as she took this as a sign that she was not alone in the world. She ran with her cart and grabbed the framed art, to embrace it lovingly to her heart.

Wiping her tears with the sleeve of her new sweatshirt, she renewed her quest to find the toothpaste. On her way she stopped in awe at every single aisle, while checking out the goods on display. When the overhead speaker announced that the store would be closed in fifteen minutes, Jenny finally stopped her browsing and diligently searched for the toothbrush.

Paying extra attention to the money, as this was her lifeline at this moment, she meticulously counted the money the cashier had asked for. She had been very lucky she thought, that the old man’s wallet was plump with cash. He must be very generous if he had given Myrna $2,000 dollars, she concluded.

Taking her purchases to the store’s public restroom, Jenny changed into her new clothing. She folded her beautiful dress, and set it in a bag on top of her silver sandals. As she walked out into the night, and she saw people rushing to their cars and warm homes, she felt anew the burden of her plight.

She did not have anyone to turn to, and she was so hungry and very tired.

Not true! - she switched her thinking mode. She was embracing her angel, and she had a beautiful pink dress and sandals fit for a princess. She also had a lot of money stuffed in the pocket of her new jeans. Yet most importantly, she now had the freedom to do whatever she wanted with her life - she had herself!

Walking to the main avenue she saw an open eatery. Jenny picked up the pace, and walked towards this beckoning place.

-“Table for two?” asked the cashier.

-“It’s just me. I just want to eat something.” Jenny said wondering why she had asked for two, did she not see that she was all alone? Stupid woman.

Seated at a booth in the back of the restaurant, Jenny opened the colorful menu to be tempted by all the pictures of delicious food. She carefully placed the framed image of her angel right next to her.

-“Anything else I can get for you miss?” asked the waiter once again. Jenny had already eaten a side of pancakes, fries and a burger, and a chocolate milk shake. She could not eat anymore, nor hold off sleep at all.

-“Just more water please.” Jenny turned to look at the wall clock. It read 2:30 am.

-“Miss, you can’t sleep here, wake up please! Don’t you have somewhere to sleep?” The waiter asked. Raising her head, Jenny looked at the clock which said it was 4:00 am.

-“I’m just waiting for daylight to find a place to stay. I need a job, and a place to stay.” Jenny said in hopes that he might indicate of any.

Looking down at her sleep-deprived face with haunted eyes, way too mature for a kid her age, Jose decided to help her.

-“Listen, I think my wife can help you. She cleans houses and she knows a lot of people. My shift ends at 7:00 am. If you want I will open the door to my car, and you can sleep in the back until my shift ends.

All I can offer you is to sleep there until my shift ends, and then take you to see my wife. I am sure that she will find something for you – don’t worry.
I have a daughter about your age, and I would not want to see her alone with no place to go. I’ll take care of the check, just go to the back of the restaurant, and meet me there in five minutes so that I can unlock my car.” Jose said.

He looked like someone who could be trusted, at least he did not look at her with lust - and which other options did she have? Jenny went to the restroom to wash her teeth, and then met Jose at the designated spot.

Before drifting off to sleep, she placed her angel in front of her seat and thanked him for not deserting her. She hoped that perhaps there were angels who pretended to be people, and that she would encounter those in her path. There was so much to see and investigate in this new world which would be her home, and she was excited by the prospect.

Before she fully succumbed to sleep, Jenny felt a sweet kiss once more upon her cheek.



To be continued….

Wonderland VII

Jenny did not realize how she got there. She was lying on a bed, and looked up to the ceiling of an unfamiliar bedroom dimly lit by a bedside lamp. She felt dizzy and a bit disoriented, as she looked down at her beautiful pink dress, and silver sandals, she recalled that she had worn those that evening for dinner.

Her earlobes acutely throbbed, as if they were about to get infected. Jenny was proceeding to take off her cheap plastic earrings, when the old man from the dinner table came back into the room.

-“Honey, you’re awake! How are you feeling? You were not feeling well during dinner and I brought you here to rest. When you feel like it, tomorrow morning we can go to the mall to shop for lots of new clothes, and whatever you need. You are my special guest here.” Peter said with his partial denture back in place.

-“I have to go. I don’t know you. I have to go now.” Jenny said feeling the rise of fear in her throat.

-“You can’t do that Jenny. I paid Myrna two-thousand dollars for you! You can’t leave, until Monday morning, when I will take you back to Myrna.” Peter said with anger disrupting his unpleasant features.

A glacial current of fear ran up Jenny’s spine, which caused her to jump off the bed.
Surely she was faster than this old man with the cat whiskers for eyebrows, and the sagging labial folds. Yet, she realized that she was not as strong as him. He was very tall and strong with a protruding belly in front. She had to keep her wits about her for the opportune moment to bolt.

-“Oh honey, please don’t be afraid. I am not going to hurt you at all. I like you!” Peter said as he walked towards where Jenny stood, blocking her passage. He knelt of the floor as he grabbed Jenny’s hips to pull her close.

Jenny tried very hard not to freak out as the old man distributed lots of little kisses on her bare legs, and moved up to her secret place. He was tender and affectionate in a strange sort of way, and when he kissed her in a certain spot through her cotton underwear, Jenny felt a jolt of electricity.

Jenny almost felt pity for this old man hunched on the floor, kissing her with fervid adoration as if she were a statue of some worth. Slowly, it dawned on her the power that she could wield over him.

She allowed him to nudge her very gently back against the edge of the bed, as he knelt in between her legs. Jenny recalled that Myrna had said that it was normal if a man did that to a woman, and her curiosity won the better part of her, as the deluge of kisses coupled with the nudging of his nose insinuating into the folds, stimulated that secret place between her legs.

Peter slid the pink dress over her hips and tentatively inserted his tongue under the edge of the elastic of the plain cotton panties. This caused such a nice sensation, that Jenny halted her breathing in anticipation.

-No, don’t touch me, just use your tongue and lips.” Jenny said with surprising authority.

Perhaps it was the lack of affection throughout her short life, but the adoration derived from an anonymous and repulsive man, was beginning to become enjoyable for as long as she kept her eyes shut.

His warm and velvety tongue and soft, pliant lips created havoc with her senses, as he lapped her as frantically as Myrna’s dog lapped up the cool water on a blazing summer day. The inquisitive tongue flamed the sparks of fire which caused Jenny to enclose the old man’s head in a grip to keep his tongue firmly in place.

Jenny did not know what to expect, it was exhilarating and excruciatingly intense the tension building in between her legs. She wanted something so badly, but she did not know what it was yet!

When the old man puckered his wrinkly lips around her little button, Jenny thought that she would go mad. Her body temperature surged and her body convulsed as she rode a wave of white hot pleasure. It was unlike anything she had ever felt before in her entire life. She had felt for a moment disconnected from her mind, as she became an unhinged mass of tension that exploded into a million particles of undiluted pleasure.

Coming down from her high, Jenny disengaged herself, and lowered her dress into place. She slid to the other side of the bed and thought as to what do to next to escape.

-“Did you like that honey?” Peter asked with his face, nose and whiskers wet and sticky from her juices. –“I want you to do that to for me too, so that I can feel good too.” Peter said looking absurd with his pants off, and his pecker peaking out of his loose cotton briefs. He had left his shirt on, but taken off his pants and shoes during his ministrations.

Seeing an opportunity, Jenny said to him: -“Okay, but first you have to wash your pee pee. I will only go near it after you wash it good.” Jenny said sweetly.

-“Okay honey, wait here. I won’t take long.” Peter said as he stood up and went into the adjacent bathroom.

It only took Jenny two minutes to delve into Peter’s discarded pants to search for his wallet, and to run out to the front door.
As she was attempting to unlock the main door of this unfamiliar house, she heard Peter yell her name from above.

Her heart froze in her throat, as a dark cloud of panic threatened to paralize her. Yet, Jenny commanded her mind to stay focused and cool. She turned the lock and slipped into the dark of the night after she softly closed the front door.

She stopped behind the shelter of a massive tree to reach down and take off her silver sandals. Grabbing those as well as Peter’s wallet, Jenny ran as fast as her legs could carry her and away from the main road.

Jenny sneaked into a nearby driveway, and hid behind a tree until she heard Peter run out and yell her name. She waited for him to start his car and after hearing the engine roar and distance itself, did she sneak out of her hiding place to view which way Peter drove.

She ran in the opposite direction for miles, until she came to a bus stop. Her feet were cut and bleeding. She sat on the bench to remove the offending debris. Just then a massive bus stops in front of her, and she does not hesitate to jump in an seat in the back.

-“HEY YOU! Do you think that you can ride the bus for free? Yeah you! Come back here and pay the bus fare!” The sourly bus driver yelled to Jenny.

Apprehensive about the angry driver possibly calling to police on her, Jenny quickly attempts to pay her bus fare. She takes a $50 dollar bill out of Peter’s wallet, and hands it to the bus driver.



To be continued….

Wonderland VI

-"Jenny, we have a very special guest joining us for dinner. I want you to dust the living room, clean the windows, and shine the flooring. You don't have to cook dinner, as I am bringing take out." Myrna quickly instructed as she gathered her purse and prepared to go shopping.

-"Oh, by the way Jenny. I need you to be fresh and presentable tonight. After you are done with the cleaning, then shower. I am going to bring you a new dress to wear for this special occasion." Myrna said with a big smile.

This was very unusual behavior from Myrna. Not the cleaning part for Saturdays' Jenny seemed to work twice as hard than if she were working packaging at the factory. But her offer of a new dress was truly out of the ordinary Jenny mused.

Tackling her chores with renewed vigor, the hours seemed to evaporate like steaming water. Exiting the bathroom post her shower, she was intercepted by Myrna holding a large plastic bag.

-"Here Jenny, this is for you. I also bought you new shoes to go with those since you can't wear your sneakers with a new dress." Looking intently into Jenny's face flushed with content, Myrna grabbed her hand and led her to the living room chair.

-"Jenny, you know that I care for you very much, and I always look out for you.
I think it's time that you start to think what you would like to do with your life. Like you saw the other day at the mall, there are beautiful places to go see, and beautiful things to buy.

You are a very pretty girl, and if you are smart, you can get ahead in life with your looks and guile. If you use men, and if you're sweet to them, or make them think that they are in the right, and that he is number one - you can get a lot out of him if you feed his ego.

I know that you saw something the other night, and perhaps you found it disturbing, but know that it's a very natural thing to do between men and women. And a man can do the same for you too, and it is not bad or shameful at all.

It will give you power when you exert your sexuality.

With it, you can control men, and get things your way or perhaps even be compensated. You don't want to work packaging boxes all your life, no?" Myrna slyly inquired as she took hold of Jenny's roughened hands.

-"No Myrna, I do not want to work packaging boxes all my life. I've told you before that I want to go back to school. That is what I want." Jenny said bracing herself for Myrna's fury.

Visibly controlling her anger, Myrna spoke when subdued. -"Jenny, I've told you that illegal as you are in this country, you can't attend school. And listen to me stupid girl; you've got the looks but not the brains. What you need to do is to listen to me and use your body for profit; otherwise you can stay here and take care of me until my dying day!" Myrna said thoroughly disgusted as she stood to walk away.

Feeling disturbed by Myrna's words that evening, Jenny felt as if a dark cloud was enveloping her. Jenny intuited that something was amiss, as Myrna's behavior was way out of the ordinary.

Shaking her head she went to her room to get dressed and find out the contents of this mystery bag. When Jenny opened the bag containing the stuff Myrna had bought, she gasped.

Inside she found the prettiest dress in the color of flamingos. This set off her caramel skin tone when she embraced it in front of the mirror. Then she found high-heeled sandals in silver tone. They shined like pliable silver against the light. In another bag, inside of the larger bag, Jenny found a pink lipstick and silver ear hoops. They looked silver, but upon touching them, Jenny found them to be construed out of plastic.

Putting her worries aside, Jenny poured the pink dress over her head, and accommodated it into place. Next she slipped her feet into the beautiful strapped sandals. She loved how the silver contrasted with her smooth skin.

Putting on the lipstick, she stood back to look at the image reflected on the mirror. She felt beautiful, and glamorous. The height of the heels elongated her legs, and the lipstick made her appear older and sophisticated.

Reaching for the faux silver hoops, she was disillusioned to find that she could not put those on. She did not have pierced ears, nor had she ever owned a pair of earrings before.

-Jenny! Are you ready? Why are you taking so long?" Myrna yelled from above.

-"I'm ready; it's just that I can't wear these earrings Myrna, my ears are not pierced."

-"Come into the kitchen with me." Myrna heated a needle over the fire, and draped a towel over Jenny's shoulders.

-"Okay, this is going to pinch a little bit just hold still." Myrna said as she inserted the needle clean-through with unrelenting pressure.

-"Stop that. Now, I am going to do the same to the other ear." Myrna said sternly as Jenny winced in pain.

After finishing perforating both earlobes, Myrna then inserted the fake silver earrings.

-"Jenny, you can't be a baby about certain things. You see how the discomfort only lasted a few seconds while it went in? I want you to know that it's similar when you go to bed with a man for the first time. The pain will only last a few seconds, and then you will forget all about it almost immediately." Myrna said matter of fact.

The horrified look plastered on Jenny’s face was sufficient response that she did not intend to find out about that too soon.

The feast was delicious, yet Jenny could not enjoy it. She had been asked to join them at the table, and Myrna had even helped to serve and set it up. Her earlobes were itchy and tender, as the weight of the plastic fake-silver hoops abraised the tender, perforated skin.

Besides her itchy earlobes, she was uncomfortable with the looks that old man seating across the table gave her. It was as if she was the main course of the meal and he had abstained from eating for several days.

-“I have to get my teeth out. These are brand new, and last time I ate with those, there was food stuck inside.” Peter said matter of fact, as he excavated into his mouth and inserted his partial denture into his breast pocket.

-“Oh, don’t worry about it Peter. Tell me, isn’t Jenny as pretty as I told you that she is?” Myrna said with exaggerated sweetness. –“Perhaps you will invite her to go out with you and show her around town. Jenny loves the mall and fancy perfumes.”

-“She sure is pretty. What do you say honey? Do you want to go out this evening for a drive, and to do some shopping for you?” Peter asked with a partially vacant mouth.

Suddenly Jenny’s appetite was gone.




To be continued…

Wonderland V

_”Oscar, please don’t look for me. You will get me in trouble with Myrna, she has spies everywhere!” Jenny pleaded.

-“The hell with Myrna! I just found out that I am fired, and for no good reason.

Jenny please leave with me. I won’t be able to see you now, at least not in that fortress where you live. And I will be banned from coming into the factory by the security guards another day.” Oscar pleaded with visible anguish in his eyes.

-“Oscar, I can’t do that. I don’t want to be settled with a family for many years yet.
I don’t know what I want for sure, but I know it is got to be something that will allow me to find myself. If I leave with you, that would signify a commitment to you. I am not ready for that. I’m sorry Oscar.” Jenny said genuinely saddened to see Oscar depart from her life.

-“Jenny, don’t you see that you are her prisoner? You never have a day off, and the pay she says she sends to your family in your country is most likely a scam. She will never let you leave her. I am here now here for you - come with me!” Oscar said extending his hand.

For a moment Jenny hesitated, swayed by the memory of her wonderful day at the mall, if she ran away, then she could be free to visit the mall anytime and even try on some of the shoes and clothes and perfumes. Yet, at what cost? If she had truly loved Oscar, she would go ahead and accept his offer. But he was a dear friend to her; it would not be fair to either of them.

On the other hand, Myrna was acting ultra weird lately. Just that morning she had called Jenny to the bathroom and after locking the bathroom door, she had instructed Jenny to turn around. Myrna then pulled down Jenny’s pants a little bit and then proceeded to inject her with a syringe.

After hesitating several minutes, Jenny embraced Oscar for the last time. –“I can’t go with you Oscar. I care for you as a dear, dear friend, but I have to find my way first.” Jenny said with finality.

Feeling desolate about losing her only friend, Jenny went about washing the evening’s plates, pots, and pans.

-“I told you not to talk to that good-for-nothing boy Oscar. Are you boy crazy all of a sudden Jenny?” Myrna asked with malice oozing off her pores.

-“He simply said goodbye to me today. He is leaving, and I won’t see him anymore.” Jenny said looking down at the sink full of suds and dirty plates, while controlling the urge to cry.

-“You are a stupid girl if you think that you can fool me Jenny. I’ve invested too much on you for you to spoil my goods. If you are that boy crazy, I will take care of that very soon.” Myrna said as she yanked Jenny’s hair.

-“When you are done with the dishes and after mopping the floor, take fresh towels to my bathroom. Hurry up!” Myrna ordered.

Taking the towels out of the dryer and folding those, Jenny made her way upstairs to Myrna’s bedroom.

The door was open and the lamp highlighted the silhouettes of Myrna’s husband reclining on their bed while Myrna kneeled on the floor in between his legs. Her corpulent form was naked, her free flowing, pendulous breasts collapsed without the support of a brassiere to hold them upright.

Yet, that is not what made Jenny drop the warm fresh towels to the floor in shock.

Jenny was rooted on the spot as she saw Myrna engulf that thing in between her husband’s legs. It was hard and standing upright. Meanwhile Myrna worked furiously bobbing her head up and down, as her lips enclosed around that hard pee pee.

That is what Jenny had called it when she had seen her little brothers pee while standing up.

When Myrna’s husband caught sight of Jenny standing just outside the doorway, he yelled out her name. Immediately Jenny ran down the stairs as fast as her legs could carry her.

She ran into her room and locked the door. She was still shaken by that sight. It was utterly gross what she had caught Myrna doing.

Trying to block from her mind that nefarious sight, Jenny focused on the poster of her angel on the wall to seek solace and a sense of calm.

Late into the night, as her tired body burdened by the weight of the efforts of the day clamored for sleep, Jenny succumbed to a fitful sleep.

Perhaps it was her intuition telling her that she was becoming a woman, that image she had been privy to had grossed her out, yet, something had also stirred in her.

Perhaps it was a memory ingraind in her psych, fusing with the advent of the future, yet, Jenny felt the subtle awaking of her sexuality bloom like the tender petals of a rose.


To be continued….

Wonderland IV

-“I don’t have to tell you again Jenny that you must do exactly as I tell you. I want you to simply stand in line in front of me, and ask for the items listed on there.
Don’t talk or look at anyone, do you hear me? Especially not to the police, or guards, or anyone in uniform!” Myrna threatened.

Jenny did not reply; her heart beat accelerated at the prospect of being out in the world for the first time in seven years.
Her eyes devoured everything in sight, and filed it away to examine it later at her leisure under a magnifier glass.

The colossal passage of brightly lit mall was surreal. It was as grand as any palace in the movies, with self-moving stairs, and majestic marble flooring.

The amplified images of beautiful girls beckoned as they seemed to call out to her with a siren’s song.

The clothes displayed on the store front windows were spectacular, and fit for a true princess. And the shoes! Oh, those were sweeter than chocolate fudge. To wear those Jenny thought, would be like stepping into a little piece of heaven, and one would feel elevated to new heights of glamour and beauty.

The throngs of people were overwhelming. The senses went into overdrive, as Jenny ached to touch the things in display. She sprayed the entire perfume samples, one on top of another when her turn came up, and tried on the creams and lotions, even those meant to erase the passage of time.

A pinch on her arm brought her back to reality, as Myrna urged her to move on, as she had already gotten her allotted free loot too.


The wave of people walking towards her and to her sides varied in ethnicity, girth, height, hair color, and it seemed disposition. Why did they not seem thrilled to be here? This was heaven, and a lot seemed to be tired, stressed, and ill-humored.

How could anyone ever feel unhappy here she thought to herself?

After the trek of four malls similar in grandeur, they stopped for lunch at the food court of such mall.

Jenny’s mouth watered as they passed by the various stands at the food court which tempted the palate with scrumptious delicacies.

She was speechless when she caught a glimpse of those seated on the designated eating area. How different from the beautiful models were some of the women who looked to be the size of two women in one.

Myrna was thick, but she had never seen up close such variety of women, children and men. Jenny was mesmerized by how quickly the food was disposed of followed by the automatic drink of a bucket of what seemed to be soda.

-“Stupid girl, here jump on the escalator, and don’t let your shoes be caught in between them!” Myrna told her when Jenny hesitated for several minutes as how to approach this tricky situation.

Jenny did not mind Myrna; she was feeling good to be part of the world. If perhaps only for today, and only under the glass ceiling of the magnificent mall, she would always cherish the memory of this little taste of freedom in the palace of beauty.


By 6:00 pm, when the lines for free gifts expanded to the length of six blocks, Myrna gave up her quest for more free gifts.

-“Bring me all the bags up to my room Jenny.” Myrna said, not allowing Jenny to keep a single perfume or expensive lotion which she had stood in line for almost ten hours for.

-“Hurry up and make dinner. Oh, wait Jenny, I’ve meant to ask you this, when was your last menstrual period?” Myrna asked as Jenny was walking down to the kitchen.

As Jenny settled into her multi-tasking routine of preparing that evening’s dinner, she did not pay heed to that odd question from Myrna. Instead she focused on the still feel good feeling of having experienced a wondrous day.

She turned on the kitchen radio softly to distract away from the noise eminating from the second floor. Myrna and her husband were bickering like dogs and cats in their bedroom.

Jenny wanted to hold on to that good feeling for as long as possible.



To be continued...

Wonderland III

-“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…