Chapter 12
Dr. Coté held his hand. “You have no reason to be afraid anymore. Alexei will follow through on every promise he makes to you unless it puts you in some kind of danger. You are no longer physically addicted to drugs, although you may still have a psychological addiction. This we cure by using substitutes like candy and exercise. You’ll be weak for a few more days but after that have Alexei take you to the park for a little exercise. Go to the zoo. Walk with him around the city. He is new to New York.”
“He won’t want to be seen with me. It’s clear that I was a prostitute and an addict.”
“It’s barely March. Wear long sleeves. The tracks will go away. I know that Alexei is as needy as you are. He will provide you with anything you desire, just ask. I have to go because you need your rest. If you need to talk to someone other than the boys or someone in this house, I’m under E on your list. No matter when you call, I will make time for you.”
“I used to be really good at school until my mother married him.”
Eugene stopped and turned around. “Who did she marry?”
“Arthur McConnell, my stepfather. I left because he snuck into my room at night and touched me. I didn’t know that by leaving I put myself in the position of receiving those kinds of touches for seven fucking years. I’m gay, but I didn’t ask for that.”
“No, you didn’t. Do you want me to contact your mother?”
“No, she didn’t believe me when I told her what he was doing even though I told her repeatedly. That’s why I ran.” Donal turned his head to the pillow and started to cry again.
“I believe you and Alexei will believe you. Trust him. He is incapable of hurting you and programmed to please you. You are precious to him.”
“Why?”
“All in good time. Eat your dinner. I hear Katya with the cart.”
A tiny woman carrying a huge tray came in the room. “I am Katya. We no talk at breakfast. My English, not so good, I cook and clean for Alexei. Boris is my Mate. Oh, wrong word…husband. Boris is my husband. I make pork chops and borscht. Try, you like.” Katya set the tray on his knees. “I go watch Food Channel. Learn to cook and speak American. I like it here, no FSB.”
“FSB?”
“Russian secret police, bad men who hurt the Alph…Alexei.”
She took his list from the nightstand. “I am Y for Katya. Here, they said you not see letters. I send Boris out, he find these.”
Katya pulled out a small pair of half glasses. “These for read. Help make letters not blurry.”
Donal looked at Katya in awe, grabbed her, and hugged her tight. “You don’t know what you’ve done for me. I missed reading. Do we have any books?” Donal noticed that Katya smiled at his use of the word we
Katya cackled. “Mr. Colin writes books. He bring when he come before. I have downstairs. I get.” Katya hurried out of the room.
Donal tried on the glasses and studied his list. He could read the letters, the full names of all of the people on his list. Donal started to sob again. It felt as if he were doing seven years of crying in one morning.
Alexei came running inside the room. “What is wrong? What can I do to help?”
“Katya already did. She got me glasses.” At Alexei’s appearance, the tears stopped immediately. Donal wondered at that. He sat up in bed bemused. Everyone was so nice to him, and Alexei kept calling him little mouse seemingly in affection.
“Eat your supper before it gets cold.” Alexei scolded as he bent over and fussed with the plates, trying to cut Donal’s meat.
“I can feed myself.” Alexei handed Donal the knife and fork, and Donal tentatively cut a piece of pork chop and brought the fork to his mouth rolling the morsel around on his tongue. “Katya doesn’t need to learn to cook American. She cooks really well now.”
“You are well-spoken for having stopped school so young,” Alexei observed.
“I came from money, and I listened when the more cultured johns spoke to the other whores. I tried to imitate them to get rid of the lilt. My mother came from Ireland, and I had the lilt from her. Apuso beat me for it. He said I had to speak like an American.” Donal cut himself another piece of the pork chop.