WARNING: this story contains incest, pure homophobia, forced domination and slavery, violence and other elements that may be disturbing to those who do not like this kind of thing. If this is your case, I advise against reading it
-----------------------------------------------------------------
My father didn't look for me that night and let me sleep, well, at least try to. The next morning, not knowing what I was going to do or how to deal with what my father was proposing, I got up and went to the kitchen. It was Saturday. He was already there, having breakfast. He had a few papers next to him, which he seemed to be reading. I greeted him and sat down, though I didn't eat anything. I just sat there quietly, with my head down. My father said to me shortly in a very soft voice:
-Ethan, have you reflected? I know it's hard, but unfortunately we have no choice, son....
I shook my head, dejected. I could only stammer:
-Dad, you had promised me....
-I know, son, don't you think I don't know? -he replied just as softly-. But how could I count on this? Do you think I like it? I'd give anything not to have come to this situation, but now we have to face it. Are you willing?
Again, utterly dejected, I shook my head and stood up. I simply could not accept it. My father went to stop me:
-Please, Ethan, don't go away again...
I ignored him and headed for the door. Then what I would never have expected happened. A sharp jolt from the necklace sent me to my knees on the floor. Unbelieving what I had just felt, I turned to my father with an infinitely accusing look.
-I didn't want to do it -he defended himself-. You made me. And I need you to know one thing -he continued in the same soft tone of voice but now much firmer-, I won't let them take you away from me! I'm willing to do anything to stop them! And I will go over your head if I have to, do you understand?
I nodded, frightened and overwhelmed. I had never seen my father like this. I suddenly felt a strange mixture of respect and fear for him.
-Sit down and eat your breakfast, please -he ordered me, in a low but imperious voice, pointing to the chair.
I obeyed, still dazed, and ate for a while, while he went back to his papers, both of us in silence, and when I finished, I looked at him. He looked back at me and said, in a much warmer and more affectionate tone:
-Do you understand that we have to do this? I need us to be in this together, son, we are a team. That's the only way we can succeed and get through this.
-Yes, I guess so, Dad -I agreed. The truth was that he was right, as much as it hurt, so I didn't want to rebel any more, especially since I was still feeling the pain of the electric shock.
-Well, then we can start -and smiling warmly at me he added-, you'll see it won't be as hard as you think.
-Right now? -I said incredulously.
-What better time to start? -he replied cheerfully-. The sooner we get started the sooner we'll get used to it and be able to fool the inspector, don't you think? -And without waiting for an answer, he went on, taking some of the papers: -Look, I have retrieved all my notes from the slave training course. We'll start with those. However, Bill, who is much more of an expert than I am at this, has promised to stop by some evening to monitor our progress and make suggestions. He really is a good friend. We are lucky to have him.
-I'm listening to you, Dad -I agreed in a determined voice. I was now determined to do everything I could to not lose my father. I knew he was doing it for my own good and the alternative was truly terrifying.
-Then let's get started. Stand up, please -I obeyed-. In the presence of his owner or any free man a slave never sits, unless he receives express permission to do so -as he instructed me he consulted his notes-. Now undress. You will always be naked, you will only have the right to wear the loincloth they gave you in the courthouse.
-I don't have that loincloth anymore, Dad -I replied as I took off my pajamas-. I... I threw it away. It was an awful thing. I didn't think I'd need it -I excused myself.
-Yes, I suppose that's logical -he excused me too, sympathetic-. Well, I'll have to get one on Monday, they are, as it were, the "official uniform" of the slaves. In the meantime, I'll allow you to be in your underpants.
"I'll allow you?" I froze to hear my father speak like that. He was quickly slipping into his role. A shiver of fear shook my body. My father noticed it and thought it was from cold.