"That was an order and a dismissal. I managed to curtsey in a ratherclumsy manner, saying at the same time with a new found respect forChris, "Yes Mis... Christina, right away Miss!" As I was scurrying to thekitchen I heard Jennifer saying to Chris, "SHE has a great potential,but she needs lots of coaching and some..." And then I lost her voice.But I realized that for the first time they referred to me as a 'she'.That sent waves of excitement throughout my nervous system and made methink once. Their statistics are skyrocketing. Drug pushers, both "legal" and illegal, love our modern system of education.So, this is what I've lived my life with. The old line of "hang in there, it'll get better," is just so much wishful thinking, so much bull shit. I'd resigned myself to putting in my time like everybody else until I realized that I wouldn't be able to be with Jack for a couple of years if I did.But I knew I was going against the grain. It was something people just didn't do. The fact. “I shall see if I will accept this gift.” Under the direction of the two slaves, Xena slithered forward. She was tense, in dread of what was now going to happen. She was a gift. Nothing more. And a gift must please. There was a silence. Then the sound of drink being poured into a clinking goblet. Then the slurping sound of drinking. Xena remained with her nose pressed to the marble floor. She was shivering with dread. “Kneel erect,” ordered the slave Ibi. Her Master had made a signal. Xena. I could see she was eyeing me with some degree of interest as I sunk beneath the bubbling waters with what I hoped was a graceful and confident air of nonchalance. I did turn down the offer of the potent drinks that she was swigging down with complete indifference in the before noon time hours.It was only moments later that we were engaged in risqué conversation about the benefits of having identical twin lovers that she started to play "footsie" with me under the water and in all honesty I.