David left, leaving Victoria alone with the pain in her buttocks. It was 8:47 a.m. She had a little over three hours until noon to clean. She decided to start cleaning.

She started with the living room; she thought it would be easier. Every time she bent over, the pain radiated from her hips to her spine. She began moving slowly, like an old woman. Her hips trembled when she squatted to wipe coffee rings off the table.

Then she used the vacuum cleaner. It was old and heavy, much heavier than modern models. Apparently, David likes all things old-fashioned. Every step caused a throbbing at the injection site. Those stupid needles felt like they were being hammered in, not pierced. Could injections really have been such torture in the 20th century, Victoria wondered.

She missed David's return again. He found her in the bathroom, cleaning, her legs shaking.

So, Victoria, you're still learning how to greet me. You cleaned up well, but you didn't have time to finish. I'm giving you an additional 20 lashes with the belt today for not greeting me, and another 8 for not finishing cleaning on time.

Her mouth was dry. She simply didn't know what to say. She didn't even have the strength to react.

Okay, calm down, said David. "My brother and his teenage daughter are here. My brother and I have important problems in town. We'll have lunch together and then leave, and you'll stay and look after his daughter. I hope you'll find common ground with her. By the way, you and she have similar topics in the school curriculum, so help her with her homework."

Victoria was speechless, but she went to lunch anyway.