I also remember hearing stories about how my birth rendered her unable to conceive again, that was part of her pain. Some other woman had given my fat...er a child and how it must’ve knifed her seeing me every day. Whatever troubles she had conceiving might’ve been repaired had it not been for me. I blindly walked out the front door, no destination in mind. Where does one go when the very foundations of the world have so thoroughly destroyed? I hadn’t realized until she stripped the blinders from. It all seemed so normal ... so domestic. Back home I’d stay in my room until supper was ready. I wouldn’t help at all. My help wouldn’t be welcome. Mom didn’t like anyone using her kitchen except herself.I sat at the table and watched him. I tried to imagine being married, but it didn’t work. I could imagine him on the tractor. I could imagine him riding a horse chasing a cow. I could even imagine him naked. But imagining him as a husband was impossible. Imagining anybody as my husband was. I did as I was told. I was in a small dressing room/anti-chamber, throughwhich I could see medical machinery in the next room."Madame Wendy, we will do your mammograms before seeing the Doctor.Please remove your sweater, blouse and bra. You can leave your skirt onfor the time being. When you have taken off your clothes, please stepinto the Mammogram room."I did as I was told, knowing that this would be the first time I wastopless in front of anyone but Claudette and, really, not even Jacque.. Albert lost his wife many years ago and lives alone. He doesn’t drive and, because the bus service in our village is spasmodic, I often give him a lift to the big shops. I don’t actually remember how I got roped into being his personal chauffeur, it just kind of happened.Countless times I asked him to cease his lewd behaviour — but it only made him worse. He was forever saying things like, “Come on, darling, just a quick roll in the sack with Albert. Your husband will never know.” Or, “Let me.