“Wha-what the living hell are you talking about, Karin?” Father exploded. “Is this some sort of silly joke you’ve cooked up or what?”
“Look, Bill, I’m not joking! Not joking at all. Now please, unless you want to be whipped or ejected from the household for insolence, be quiet unless spoken to!”
“B-But, Karin, what the hell is going on… you…”
“Bill, I mean it! Just listen and I’ll explain all you need to know.” She cast him a freezing glance which silenced him and continued:
“It does not matter what anyone thinks of it or doesn’t think of it. I am in love with Lars! He possesses me completely, and since I happen to hold the purse strings, so does he. I don’t advise therefore any trouble nor any attempt to displease him.”
Gunilla stretched her arms behind her like a cat. She smiled at Mother: “If you beat me with a poker you couldn’t get me to displease him.”
“I know that, dear” Mother replied, “I was just speaking for those not so properly disposed as you are-without coercion…”
“Karin, what nonsense is…”
“Bill, I’m not kidding! If you want to be cut in then keep your mouth shut and do as you’re told!” Father opened his mouth-then thought better of it. Mother went on:
“Now here is what we will do first. You, Bill, will go to the bank this afternoon and withdraw 10,000 kroner for Lars. Pocket money. You will open an account in his name with 500,000 kroner which he can draw upon at will and from which 1000 kroner will be sent to him here weekly.” (My God, I thought, that’s almost a hundred pounds a week!) Without pausing for reply she swept on: “Now I want you after that to make arrangements with a personnel service for us to get a new maid every month. One of us will go in a few days and give them the description of the type Lars wants next.”
“Mother,” I interrupted, “you will keep Annie, won’t you?”
She raised her eyebrows. Then smiled graciously: “But of course, if you want her, dear. We can have an extra maid every month. You will have whatever you wish, dear.”
“Thank you, Mother.”
“Now, Nilla, you will take Lars on Raggar orgies to get him whatever teenagers he wants. I will be his contact in society for aristocratic girls and women. And Louise will bring home little girls for him from school. In everything we do, we will arrange our lives to suit Lars. Beyond that,” she turned to Father, “you may do as you please.” She paused, but Father only glowered at her.
“Now your first present, darling, will be Louise. We will bring her in, undress her, and you can make love to her. Nilla, would you get Louise, please.”
“Wait a minute,” I interrupted: “This all sounds great, Mother, but I don’t want Father here if you are going to undress Lou!”
“You heard him, Bill,” Mother said. “Why don’t you go to the bank and the personnel office while Nilla and I give Lars his first present!”
“Now, just a minute, Karin, this has gone far enough. If you think I’m going to be pushed around at the caprice of some goddamn kid you’ve got another think coming. I…” He was on his feet striding toward Mother in a threatening manner. Strange things rose in me. He had to be taught a lesson. And he wasn’t going to threaten Mother.
“Listen, you,” I said. “I think we’d better come to an understanding right now! Mother told you that I’m running things here now, not you. Since you happen to be Nilla’s and Lou’s father I’m disposed to be lenient with you. But I’m not going to have any nonsense. If I tell her to throw you out she’ll do it-and cut you off without a cent! Not to mention what we might do with that confession of yours. And believe me, if you say one more thing, or fail to carry out one instruction I give you-or if you offer a single word of complaint about anything, you’re through. Period. I won’t be forgiving, and I won’t change my mind. I know this has been a shock to you so I am disposed to forgive your insolence thus far. But it is the end. One more peep out of you and you’re finished.”
He gaped at me. Then looked at Mother for confirmation. Her gaze was steady, firm, inflexible. “Yes, Bill. Exactly as he says. If he tells you to leave I’ll have you thrown out immediately.” Father stared at her incredulously, shaking his head in disbelief. He turned toward Gunilla. She said with a smirk:
“Don’t expect any sympathy from me. You’re just lucky he’s nice and that Mother has a soft spot for you. I don’t.” Her face glowed suddenly: “Besides, I love him, worship him… I will do anything he desires. And don’t look to Lou, either. Oh, she might sympathize with you, but it won’t do you any good. She loves him, too. Totally. Will do anything for him. I’m afraid your day is over, Pop-might’s well face up to it.”
He stared from one to the other. It began to sink in. He saw it. Then accepting it all, he took a new tack. He turned to me: .”Look, kid, so all right, I get the picture. But why be so tough on me? I never did anything to you. Why not share the wealth a little-you got plenty of money and plenty of women-why not spread the joy around. You and I can be partners-after all, it is my wife and kids-have a heart. We can be partners in all this. I can be a big help to you-teach you the ropes and all…”
I said: “It may be true that you’ve never done anything to me, but I love Mother and you have done plenty to her. I know all about it-have seen your together-heard you talk. And what I didn’t hear I got from Gunilla. In a way I hate you for having treated her like that and I actually haven’t made up my mind yet what to do about it. But I will. Meantime, I think you had better pass a little test just to show me that you are going to be a suitable servant around here. If you fail it, you are out. Even if you pass it, I may not forgive you your crimes against Mother. But I will see… I’ve decided to have Mother before they bring in Louise. Your duty is to prepare her for me. Now. Spread her out on the bed! Get water for him Nilla so he can wash her cunt, and make her ready to receive me. NOW. Commence.”
Father stared at me. Lowered his head. Bit his lip. Shuddered as though from a whip. Then slowly walked to Mother. He eased her to the bed. She smiled and allowed it. He opened her robe, exposing her nakedness. His eyes glowed at the sight, as Nilla brought a basin of water.
“Just a minute! I didn’t say to lust after her. She isn’t yours to lust after ever again. She’s mine! Don’t forget it! Now prepare her, but without relish for yourself. Understand?”
He looked at me. Finally he nodded and with shaking hands took the wash cloth. As he washed carefully between her legs, she treated him like a servant, indifferently; but she looked constantly with worship at me.
When he finished he laid down the cloth and towel confused. I stood in front of Mother and ordered him to put my prick in her. He did, and I could see his will was permanently broken. I dismissed him. I enjoyed Mother a little, but then grew impatient to go on.
I turned to Gunilla. “Now you can bring in Lou, Nilla.” She smiled, left, and immediately returned with the child.
Louise wore a pretty little ruffled, rose-covered dress which came only about two thirds to her knees. She wore white socks and little black shoes. She had a light blue bow tied in her hair, and a lollypop in her mouth. The teddy bear dangled from one arm. She looked about eight years old.
Mother sat up and held out her arms. “Come here, sweetheart,” she said. “I have some nice things to tell you.” Louise glanced shyly at me and did as she was told. Mother held her against her breast and stroked her hair.
“A lot of things have happened, dearest, things which will make you very happy.”
“What, Mother?” The child looked up at her expectantly.
“Well, Lars is going to be in charge of the house from now on, and you, Nilla and I are going to spend our time giving ourselves to him as presents. We will give him other presents too, but the main one we will give him is ourselves. And then he will give us things too. He will give us love, and happiness and joy.”