Captivation

10: Kitty

Kitty (female): The name Kitty is a Greek baby name. In Greek the meaning of the name Kitty is pure.

"You can't possibly be serious." One of the wealthy ladies Henry knows says to me as we eat dinner outside at some fancy over priced restaurant.

“I am." I tell her. One of them had the audacity to ask if my "flower" had been taken. We weren't even alone, Henry and Ron were with us. When I told them all that my flower was now a field of blossoms they were quite disbelieving.

“You live with a dozen men." The black haired woman raised her eyebrows.

“And you live with one, but that doesn’t mean that I think you’re still a virgin.” I lean back in the chair.

Her face reddens and she looks embarrassed, as if the only way to talk about virginity was to call it a flower.

“I don't believe you." A red headed woman says.

“Maybe you all are just faster than me." I shrug. This simple statement evokes looks of horror from the five women at the table and a surprised chuckle from Henry and a snort from Ron.

“We have a good reputation in this town." A blonde woman tells me.

“One good reason that that makes you different from me." I tell them. "Go." They all look at each other, unsure of how that does, in fact, make them different from me. "You seem like you gave yourselves up pretty easily." I continue, embarrassing them, as they embarrassed me. "How many of you are even married?" I ask. I don't ask how many of them have slept with Henry. My guess is all.

“Harriet's married." The blonde offers gesturing toward the black haired woman. I smirk a bit and take a drink of my glass, more than proving my point.

We sit in silence until Henry decides to be agreeable and start up a nicer more appropriate conversation. I wonder if they asked me about my “flower” in order to figure out if Henry and I had been together.

I look away from the outdoor table after I get bored of their conversation, and see a young girl, maybe fifteen walking over to the corner of the street. I have a feeling that I know why she's standing there as night is falling but I ask anyway.

“Who's that?" I say, interrupting the conversation.

“The town prostitute." The blonde says, wrinkling her nose. I watch the girl, she's petite and looks unsure, maybe slightly frightened. I stand up. "Where are you going?" She asks.

I push in my chair and don’t answer her, I’m pretty sure that my intentions are clear.

“But she sells herself." Harriet says, like the word prostitute is too grotesque for her to breathe.

“Oh right," I say turning around and walking backwards slowly, my voice has harsh as I feel. "How silly of me, we should all be like you. And give it up for free." I bow to their horrified faces and Henry's look of shock at my dauntlessness. I turn away and walk over to the young girl.

She looks up at me, startled when she hears my footsteps. We stare at each other for a moment. Her brown eyes reveal weakness and her dark hair is matted with knots and tangles. She looks like she must be homeless. I don't think twice when I grab her wrist and walk her away from her place of business. I don’t know what to say to her to make her come with me, but I do know that sheer force will work in place.

"Where are you taking me?" She tries not to sound afraid.

“To take a bath. Then maybe I'll brush you hair, and file your nails, cut your hair maybe. Buy you some new shoes. A dress, or three." I tell her. Henry looks at me with a strange emotion on his face as we pass the table on our way back to the house that Henry and the rest of us are living in now.