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.”
“You mean I get to give him… me?”
“Yes, of course, sweetheart. And Nilla and I will teach you the best and nicest ways for you to give yourself to him.”
Louise blushed and tried not to look at me. She started to speak, then her face flushed scarlet. She finally managed:
“But, Mother, uh… well, h-how do I… uh… do it?” Nilla laughed aloud and Mother and I smiled. “Nilla!” Mother cautioned. Then to Louise: “Now never you mind about that, dear. As I told you, we will show you everything. But first I should ask you how you feel about it. You do… uh… care for Lars, don’t you?”
“Momma!” The child remonstrated flushing red and white and red again.
“Louise, dear, we are going to learn to love each other and be very close, and to do that we must be open with each other.”
“B-but, Momma! In front of everybody!”
“Soon, darling, you will learn not to be so embarrassed before Nilla and me. For Lars’s sake.”
“Well, Lars and I have talked about these things.”
“About love?”
“Mother! You don’t have to go and say it right out!”
“But, sweetheart, what I am trying to teach you is that love is not anything to be ashamed or embarrassed about-not between the three of us, anyway. Now, have you let him play with you?”
“Mother!” wailed Louise.
“Stop that, Louise! You are not to pretend the things you did were bad. If you liked them and they made you feel wonderful, you are to be honest about it always. Now, you liked him playing with you, didn’t you?”
Louise looked at her. Blushed again, and nodded. “Yes, Mother. And I’ll try to be honest. I know you always know best.”
“I do, sweetheart, I do. What all of us have always wanted is love and togetherness-the real kind of caring that nobody ever finds, and we have it now in Lars. But we have to learn to overcome embarrassment.” All the time she spoke she was gently stroking Louise. Her hands caressed her back, her arms. Her voice changed gradually to a caressing croon as she stroked her. The child relaxed more and more against her.
“We need to learn to love each other-really love each other. To give ourselves to each other without holding back anything. We must learn to love with our souls… and with our bodies. To give our souls and our bodies… all of us, darling.”
Louise closed her eyes, soothed by the stroking, by the voice.
“L-Lars has all of my… love.” She blushed violently and buried her face in her mother’s shoulder.
“Don’t be afraid to say it. It is beautiful… And now I will show you how to give your love to him. How to join Nilla and I in loving him… like all the Bible women loved and gave to Jesus.”
She was gently unbuttoning Louise’s dress. The child at first hardly seemed to notice.
“Yes, yes, Mother-please teach me.”
“I am, angel, I am.”
“But why… why are you unbuttoning my dress?” Sleepily, only half protesting.
“I am undressed. Nilla is getting undressed. We are all going to lie together in bed and love each other. I am showing you how, as I promised. Just relax, now.” The dress was completely open and Mother was stroking her
