National Insurance was only there to provide a state pension when she retired, although if you believed what government ministers and the national pre...s had to say you'd think that the state had never been so generous to those citizens who'd found a way to claim benefits. Iris envied such wealthy scroungers, but she'd never met one. If she had then maybe they could have told her how she could scrounge even a penny off the state. If there was just one of the Government of National Unity's proud. “You could say that. Now come on, we’ve got work to do.” she leads me back to the bedroom. “Here, let me help you get that on.” “You’re not seriously going to make me wear that, are you?” “Do you want to make Mistress Lexie mad? Do you want to get punished?” This can’t be happening to me. How did I end up in this situation? “Just put it on. There’s no getting out of this. Once Mistress Lexie has you by the balls, you’re hers for good.” I let out a long sigh.“Here, let me make it easy for you.. Catherine turns eighteen today, old enough to enter the lottery, but she is the smartest of us. She aced all her tests and has earned meat classification A. Her number only enters the lottery on the official holidays, New Year, Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. The whole family and a bunch of friends and neighbors will turn out for her party and coming of age barbecue.I will be the pig at the feast.I slide open the patio doors and step outside. The chill air. I'll take care of the sign outs." Thank you," I guided Erika to Cinderella and we headed for the gate."Momma, this is like too big for Ice Cream," she said."That's why we're going to the big Mall. It's open all night. Besides youmight find something there to cheer you up."I started asking about her classes, and her classmates. Then her roommates.Before long we'd reached the Mall.She seemed to relax a bit inside the Mall, as we browsed the differentshops. I knew where the uniform shop was but.