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SAVING MY ASSASSIN<br />
question could result in belt whippings, spankings, or being<br />
sent to bed without food. She made it clear to me that I was<br />
there to serve her and to keep quiet, and nothing else.<br />
Stephen seldom punished me; on the other hand, I seldom<br />
got his attention or got to spend time with him. <strong>The</strong><br />
only times I felt he acted as a father to me were the few times<br />
he received promotions and would come home tipsy. <strong>The</strong>n<br />
he was funny, and he played with me, gave me gifts, and<br />
made me feel like I was his daughter.<br />
For example, one afternoon I was cleaning the kitchen<br />
floor when I heard the door open so wide that it slammed<br />
into the wall behind it. Stephen appeared outside the door,<br />
hardly keeping his balance. He hesitated for a few seconds,<br />
trying to take his next step, and his arms were full <strong>of</strong> gifts.<br />
“Dad is home!” Oana screamed behind me, and she and<br />
George came running to the door.<br />
Holding on to the door for balance, Stephen handed out<br />
his gifts. “A new baby doll for Alina. A stroller for your doll,<br />
Oana; a fire truck for you, George.”<br />
And then to me, he said, “Bring me the baby doll I gave<br />
you last year, Virginia!”<br />
So I ran and brought him the doll.<br />
“Here is a new dress for your doll.” Stephen knelt down<br />
beside me and helped me dress my doll. His breath almost<br />
made me dizzy. With his big fingers he managed to close<br />
the baby doll’s dress. He tickled me as he returned the doll<br />
to me.<br />
“Do you like it?” he asked. “Arnel, my coworker, gave<br />
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