I should put my clothes away properly, I thought. I wentinto the bedroom and gathered the stuff up from the floor, hanging it upcarefully and putting ...way my lingerie, makeup and jewelry. As I wasdoing so, I noticed my black leather jacket hanging on a hook at theback of the closet. I took it out and tried it on, examining myself inthe mirror. It was actually a girl's jacket, bought during one of therare moments when I actually had some extra cash, and it was a nice one.Maybe, I thought, maybe. “Ok,” I said and went in the kitchen to put some groceries and fruits that I had bought with us in the refrigerator. I went back to the living room and saw that Sameer was asleep on the sofa. “Oh, the poor thing is tired from driving for so long,” I muttered and bent to give him a light kiss on his lips. Since I had already slept during the drive, I decided to check out the room and have a nice bath. There were 8 rooms in total; on the ground floor there was 1 kitchen, 1 dining room attached to. ‘Yes, Mommy,’ I said. ‘Thank you.’ Next she picked up the rubber rain boot and filled the pint glass with water from inside the boot. It had been marinating in there since the last time she’d fed me, absorbing the flavors of the boot. The water had turned grey and I could see bits of dirt and insole floating in the glass. Mistress picked up the key ring again and unlocked the trapdoor in the side of my cage. When I was on my knees with my head poking out the top, this door. I remembered my experience with Darlene and her step-father. If I helped this young woman, would I be getting myself in trouble?I didn't have time to continue my one-man debate. I'd unconsciously moved the woman behind me, putting myself between her and the two men. They were Hispanic, probably Mexican, mid- to late-twenties, both shorter than I, both heavier than I. I knew nothing about gangs, but they looked like gang members. I don't know why. Maybe it was the blue and white bandana tied.