Hit

The dining room is old and dusty, and sunlight is streaming in through the single window. The bars on the window are old and rusted, but strong as ever.


"Come and look out the window with me, honey."
"Why?"
"Because I want you to, Celine."
"Well, sometimes we don't get what we want."
"Is that any way to talk to your mother?!"
"No, it isn't. And that's why I'm talking to you like that."
I walked right into that one, I'm afraid. "How dare you! I am your mother and you'd be wise to know it!"
"No, you're not my mother."
"Well, kindly tell me who is then, dear."
"Dear, my mother is someone who-"
"Gave birth to you? Well, good luck finding her!"
"Well, that too, but my mother would be someone-"
"Who takes care of you? I believe the clothes you're wearing, and the food you eat, and the shoes you wear, and the books you read have been given to you by me."
"My mother is someone who makes me happy." And it sure isn't you, you old skank.
"Well, considering you don't have any friends or any family, other than me, your mother-"
"-ugh-"
"-I suggest you stop being so disrespectful and just appreciate what you have."
"The reason I don't have any friends is because you never let me out of this hellhole."
Stay calm, you can do this. "That's a lie and you know it, Celine! I let you out of here every single day! You play with your friends every evening! I even cry because of how eagerly you want to meet them but grimace at the thought of coming back to me!"
Silence.
"Quite a show, mother. I might even have believed you had the scars on my back from your merciless whipping not still be stinging. I might have believed you my stomach wasn't rumbling from the starvation you let me suffer day in and day out. I might have believed you, mother, if you hadn't spent my whole life telling me I was an ugly piece of junk who you were taking care of for a couple of years until I was old enough to become a whore and earn you back all the pennies you spent on ensuring my survival."
"Lies! Lies, I tell you!"
"Oh stop, won't you. Why isn't your cane out yet? My outbursts are usually followed by your strikes. Why am I not bleeding yet?"


The mother looked over at the one sided glass shield. She knew the man was looking at them through the glass. She decided the time had come to let Celine know that they were being watched. She hoped that would help calm her.


"You see? You see what I have to deal with Mr.Capri? This is the love she has for me!"
"Capri? Who's Capri? Are you going senile? And, for the record, I wouldn't call what I have for you, 'love', actually. Quite the opposite." You senile old witch, you.


A man came out of the adjacent room holding a clipboard and looking stern.


"I think I've seen quite enough, Mrs. Earl."
"You see? Do you see what she treats me like? I need someone to love me! I need care! I need money!"
"Would you like my agency to take her in, Mrs.Earl? We'll pay you good money for the body. The mind can be disposed of with enough time and energy."
Huh, scoffed Celine, she'll never let him take me. She awaits the day when I go and sell my body for her. She isn't going to let some agency have that pleasure. But, who in god's name is this man?
"Uh, no, Mr.Capri, she is still my daughter, and I love her, I just think we may need some money. I will need some way to get help. I know she's a lovely girl inside. I think it was her father's death that has made her this way."
Huh, skank! You killed him! You've threatened me saying you'll do it to me too! How can you lie to this man! 
"Ah, how tragic. But, didn't your husband die nearly 7 years ago? And in the report, uh, you claimed Celine had been giving you trouble for just, let me check, 'a few months'? Can you explain this discrepancy Mrs. Earl?"
HAHA! He did his homework! Answer that you old rag!
"She is a strong girl, Mr.Capri. It's no surprise it's taken so many years for it to sink in and have this impact. This gradual effect is no less than can be expected from her, Sir."
Aw, haell no! I knew she would wriggle her way out of it. The little worm!
"Yes, that sounds about right. Well, Mrs. Earl, I think I know enough now. Clearly, you have great love for your daughter, which, I'm afraid, is something she is unable to recirprocate. I will contact my agency for confirmation, but I'm quite sure I will be able to help you."
"Oh! Thank you! Thank you so much Mr.Capri! You've saved my life! Our life! Our life, ofcourse, our life, always together! Celine, say thank you to Mr.Capri!"
No effing way.
"Merely doing my job, Mrs. Earl."
"Ah, but you are doing it only too well! Perhaps there is some other way I could thank you?"


Mrs. Earl moved closer to Mr. Capri. Celine could only see Mrs.Earl's back now. She tip-toed a little and saw Mr.Capri's eyes widen. Coincidentally, it was around the same time that Mrs. Earl shifted the robe she was wearing. 
Oh, the whore. She's giving herself to him as well! John'd better hear about this! She needs to earn money so can stop offering herself as a sacrifice every time she has to pay for something! The milkman, the dry cleaner, she's a filthy whore, she is.I don't know why John sticks with her.
Mr. Capri had obviously seen enough. He walked out the door just as Mrs. Earl turned around.


"You're going to pay for your behaviour young lady."
"Oh, it's young lady now, is it? No more, daughter? God, you disgust me."
"Don't think you're too much of a treat for me either, you little rascal. You've had your say for the year. Now it's time to get back to reality. I'm going to get my favourite cane and you're going to be reminded why only the presence of a wealthy social worker will enable me to tolerate your few moments of outspokenness. Stay right there. You're going to regret ever saying anything in front of him."
"You sure about that, slut?"


Mrs. Earl stopped in her tracks.


"WHAT did you call me? Did you not hear me? I'm going to beat the living daylights out of you."
"I'd like to see you try." 
"Oh dear! I think you've got amnesia. Why else would you pointlessly refute all the many times I've done exactly that to you?"
"Because, bitch, I've got the stick."