I.
"Steven get your ass out here, I need your help!" my mother hollered at me from the front room, sounding angrier than usual. I knew I just had to see what the hell had caused this.
I had passed Jimmy, Kelly, and one of Kelly's spawn on the way to the site of the commotion, as the three of them had apparently figured it a good idea to hide in the kitchen where my mother couldn't see (and thus possibly vent at) them, but still be close enough if any of us needed them.
In the front room, I finally saw what the ruckus was about. Dad had bought another girl, and hadn't consulted my mother. The poor thing looked like it'd come from a breeder, which would definitely explain the shaking, and the look of sheer terror on her face. There was no way she would have been prepared to see real trees, much less deal with a spitfire like my mother. Adding to her misery, the poor girl had been gagged, kept nude with only a ribbon tied around her torso to give her any appearance of decency, and had an envelope attached to that next to the bow.
"Mom, Dad," I said, "Could you two shut up before she wets herself? You know we'll never get that out of the carpets."
Thank god, they actually did.
As I walked over to look at her more closely and try to calm her down, I swear I heard my father whisper forcefully to my mother "See! I told you it'd teach him responsibility."
Deciding it would be best to get her out of my mother's line of sight, I grabbed the poor girl's leash leading her away from my parents and into the den, before gesturing for her to sit down on the floor as I took the envelope. It was a birthday card and a copy of the title to the girl in front of me, which was just peachy.
I folded the title back up, and placed it and the card down on a side table before I crouched down.
I tried to put the gentlest look I could on my face, and then I removed her gag.
"It's alright," I cooed "everything is going to be just fine."
Judging by the look in her eyes, she didn't believe me. Frankly, I didn't believe me either, so there was that.
"So I'm Steven," I said "and I'm going to be your new master. What's your name?"
She looked away, before speaking. "I don't have one."
Yep, definitely from a breeder then. "What did they identify you by then?"
"We were only given a number. I was A1386G."
"Well you look like a Marie," I said, "can I call you Marie?"
She nodded.
"Good. Marie, if you go down the hallway to the right all the way to the end, you'll find the kitchen, and there will be a woman named Kelly in there." I paused, as she nodded, actively attempting to memorize the instructions. "Introduce yourself to her, and then tell her that the young master wants you cleaned up and dressed in something decent. I'd tell her myself, but I have other things to do."
She nodded again, and then stood up and went off down the hallway to follow my directions.
I pocketed the copy of the title, and returned to the front room, trying not to look anywhere near as angry as I was.
My parents were still bickering in the front room. Kelly's oldest daughter had decided to start washing the front windows outside so as to get a front-row seat. I couldn't say I blamed her, that was some juicy gossip material they were throwing around.
"So," I said, interrupting my parents, "what was the big idea?"
My father began, "Well, your mother and I were thinking of what to get you for your birthday..."
"For the record," My mother interrupted, "I wanted to give you the Buick."
My father rolled his eyes "Dolores, you just wanted the excuse to get a new Mini." He turned back to me "I'm not too sure you're ready for your own car, so I wanted to get something that'd teach you responsibility."
"...Which is why you went behind mom's back and got me an agoraphobic basket-case of a slavegirl, who you both then proceeded to traumatize." I finished.
"Well, when you put it like that..." my father said, trailing off.
My mother laughed her evil, grating laugh from her seat on the couch. I sighed.