One evening Lawrence and his son took Faith to a career night at the local college.
They brought her downstairs early for dinner. She prepared the two men's meals and Arnold poured feed into her bowl on the floor. A small amount; that meant she was going to be "exercised" and they did not want her stomach full for it. She heard them talk in low tones about their plans.
After she washed and dried the dishes, Lawrence led her to the front hall. He attached a leash to her collar while Arnold brushed her hair. Slowly, so as not to pull on any snags. She smiled her thanks demurely; she was growing quite fond of the boy.
She donned her little shift and the three of them left the house.
They arrived early; she removed her shift, folded it and placed it on an empty chair before being led up to the stage. Lawrence stood at the podium with the other two beside him while the auditorium filled.
He introduced tonight's program on the "lady trade." Faith was an example of inventory, and his son would serve in the roles of her trainer and then her client.
He nodded to Arnold who put Faith through her paces, marching her around the stage with the leash as reins, making her sit, stand, kneel, and beg. He gave her a cookie as a reward and she touched her head to the floor.
What happened next came as a surprise to her.
Arnold led her to the front of the stage, nearly to the edge. Her ex-husband wanted her to talk about herself; to describe for the audience her condition, how she arrived there, and her feelings about it.
Briefly, since they did not have all night. She had three minutes, and to enforce that...
He gestured to his son. Arnold held up a padded garrote, the kind that leaves no marks on the skin, and fastened it loosely on her neck.
At the end of each minute the boy would tighten the loop. At the end of three, she would be finished. He pointed at her to begin.