Dealing Flesh Read Free Page B

parts and clothing, and clouded in animal scent, we schlep through the dimly lit corridor of the farmhouse, up the stairs to the room that we share with the “adults”.
    “Supper will be served in roughly forty minutes. But… Pfui Teufel… look at you. You both need to wash up before we eat,” Mother yells out.
    With Otto in need of a shower as well, the “adults” decide that for the sake of saving time, the three of us better share the basement stall, which barely measures two and a half square feet.
    I step inside the basin first, wearing a one-piece bathing suit that I am determined to leave on. Only inches separate me from Otto who towers in front of me. With barely enough room to move, I feel forced to look his way. My eyes catch glimpses of him joyfully lathering away at his private part. I feel horribly uncomfortable, especially now that I notice his thing increasing in size.
    “I know, it’s big,” he brags, wagging his erect penis my way.
    I giggle, but in all earnestness, I wish for the ability to dissolve into thin air. As fast as humanly possible, I wash off any residue of soap on me and escape the enclosure.
    Now that we are gathered around the dining room table, no one mentions a word about the incident. Hence, I file it away in the chest of Forever Buried Secrets .
    ~~~
    Amsterdam, Netherlands – 8 Years Old
    Three weeks have passed since we returned from the farm. This morning, we leave for a weekend trip to the land of the Dutch. An uncomfortable yet exciting feeling washes over me as I walk beside Mother, Bruno and Vicki down the famous Canal Street on this gloomy gray sky day.
    With each step, I feel like I should be watching my back because, according to the “adults”, this area is famous for drug dealing and other questionable behavior. I think that it is best not to let my guard down. Who knows what could transpire at any given moment? Sure enough, while I am brooding over this and more, a couple of strange-looking men approach us. I hear them say something to the “adults,” but can’t make out what. The fellows’ dark secretive demeanors frighten me. As quickly as they arrived, they now take off running, fully disappearing from my sight. Otto reveals that they tried to sell us hashish, something quite common to this vicinity.
    Around the next corner, I spot an inviting red-and-white building. The “adults” set course for it, and Vic and I follow closely. Upon entering, I see them light up like little children in a candy store. “Don’t go anywhere. We’ll be right back,” Mother hollers while hanging onto Otto’s hand as he pulls her along. They both vanish in the far back end of the room. I look at Sis in bewilderment. Next thing I know, Vicki takes off to the other side of the store, and I, although still uncomfortable, explore some of the items displayed on the shelves in front of me. Something tells me I’ve seen similar gadgets and garments inside one of those glossy catalogs at our house…maybe even inside the “adult’s” bedroom.
    Five minutes pass. Sis and I reunite. We look at a few of the magazines and gizmos together, giggling here and there when picking up one that appears overly-bizarre, like the two silver balls that each hang on a string for instance or the band of cheap looking pearls that, as far as I understand, isn’t intended to be worn around one’s neck.
    Now that fifteen minutes have passed, I see Mother and Otto head our way from the back end of the room. They show up in front of my face within seconds, instantaneously herding Vic and I outside where we continue the sightseeing. At one part of the road, several buildings with big showcase windows catch my eyes. Behind the glass, I make out alluring women lolling around in skimpy outfits. I can sense my pulse beat faster. Otto enthusiastically photographs some of the ladies from about twenty feet away. The word Nutten drops from his mouth.
    Utterly fascinated, I watch the prostitutes’ every