Chapter 09
Tuesday, November 21, 2017
"Jenny." Aunt Doris called to JJ as she was leaving the study. "Can you come up here a minute?"
Before today JJ would have interpreted that as a gentle request but now she recognized for the velvet draped order it was. "Sure." She said. She followed the older woman upstairs and down to the bedroom she shared with Uncle Steve. The bed was piled high with clothing. "What's all this?"
"Clothing for you." Aunt Doris said. "You need to dress more modestly now dear. You don't want to risk one of the men out there accusing you of defrauding him. That will get you sent off for being a harlot right quick. These were all donated so you can pick out what you like."
"Defrauding?" JJ asked. "I don't understand."
"Defrauding. Stirring up desires that cannot be righteously fulfilled." Aunt Doris looked out the door, closed it, and then dropped her voice on top of it. "I don't have to tell you that men are visual creatures. You're a married woman; surely you know that they can become aroused by the least little thing."
"True. But I don't see how that's my problem. It's not like I can control how they feel."
"Oh yes you can. Walking around flaunting your body is just tempting them into sin. Putting them in that position and then not fulfilling the offer you just made is an act of fraud. That will get you sent off to the pens now."
"Fraud? You mean someone could bring legal action against me?"
"If you didn't give them what you offered, why yes." Doris said. "If you were found guilty there would be a fine, of course, and if your family couldn't pay it you'd be in debt to the court and you'd have to sell off your assets to cover it."
"I don't have any assets here."
"You have your body and your freedom. And you have Henry; he's your property now."
JJ felt a chill settle around her heart. "You are not serious!"
"Oh yes I am. Our new government is based on biblical principles and debt slavery was very common in those times. Look at Exodus 21:2-6, and Leviticus 25:39-55, even the New Testament, Colossians 3:22 or Ephesians 6:5." Doris looked at her steadily. "You do not want to be listed as a female slave from a pagan nation Jenny. It would not do well by you."
"Okay. How do I avoid that?"
"For one thing watch how you dress. Be as modest as possible. And watch your comportment, don't break into the men's conversations and call attention to yourself. Stay with the other women, as a widow you don't need to be putting yourself out there anyway. Keep your voice low and gentle and try not to look the men in the eye."
"In other words act submissive and broken and try not to call attention to yourself."
"As is proper for a woman in mourning. You do all that and everyone in the family would stand up for you if someone did make an accusation. It would clearly be his sinful and perverted mind since you were acting like a proper and god-fearing lady."
"Right." A thought occurred to her. "What if someone decides to force the issue?" JJ asked.
"You mean what are the new rape laws?" Doris sighed. "Deuteronomy speaks primarily to virgins, not widows. It would be a case of his word against yours. If he approaches and you turn him away then he can claim you have defrauded him. If you fight him then it can be considered assault, especially with your background, as well as fraud. And if you complain after the fact he can say you tempted him specifically to do him harm and you will be sent away as an unredeemable harlot, that's worse than slavery. Your best bet is just to let him have what he wants."
JJ felt the chill that had settled into her chest spreading out into her body. "You are not serious."
Doris nodded. "I am. If he's caught and you didn't say anything and had been behaving yourself then he'll be forced to marry you and pay a large fine to the family. Most men who are just interested in a little relief don't want that so they'll be careful not to be caught. It's the best way to end the matter quickly and move on. If it happens just remember that you're protecting your son here. Besides, you're a widow with a child, don't tell me you haven't before."
By now the chill had JJ shivering. "Got it. Okay, what do I wear?"
"You'll want to wash the make-up off your face and braid back your hair so it can be decently covered." Doris and many of the other women in the family wore their hair back and cloth or lace veils over their knots. "I'll show you how to put it up. And then pick out a new wardrobe for yourself. No pants, they call attention to the privates and are improper for a woman anyway. I assume you wear sports bras, packed a few of them? Those are perfect; they help conceal the bust line. Granted you're small anyway so you can get away with some of these long-sleeved t-shirts. Now you're better off with jumpers, skirts and blouses are for younger women looking to court. Denim is a real workhorse but some of these prints would be nice on you for church. Want to keep the shirts and the background to any prints in black, being a widow and all. And your shoes will do fine for now. You've never trained as a keeper of the home, have you?"
JJ dug into her suitcase and found her make-up remover. "I…no. I, um, had a housekeeper back in DC. She came in once a week."
"Well we'll start on lesson plans first thing in the morning; see what you already know and what else you might want to learn. Even if we get house slaves it would be good for you to know how to properly manage things. Now go wash your face and I'll get what we'll need for your hair."
Down the rabbit hole JJ thought as she headed for the bathroom, everything has gone completely insane. I just need to protect Henry, keep him safe and with me. My family will come for us. My family will come for me.
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Footnotes for this chapter at my AO3 site.
