killed in one of those many wars you are always having over there. Since than every affair and even your marriage has placed you in the dominating roll. You hated it. You went from one affair to another never finding satisfaction. Then one Friday you see me. I am in uniform. It brings back memories of your first love. Since I am not the Arab Sheikh you really want, you dream up this picture of a white Christian Knight galloping up and reaching down to lift you onto his white charger. You picture me slinging you across the saddle and carrying you away into the desert sunset. In fact, to fan this illusion you even gave me the modern version of a white charger, the BMW. You offered me your daughter, in hopes that I would live with your family, thereby making it possible for you to see me anytime you want. What you really would like is get both Kassie and Mary out of your life, making it possible for you and I to live together with me as your white knight and you as the swooning maiden. You want me to dominate you–you need it–yet you also want it to appear that you are the master. How am I doing? Did I get it right?”

“Yes, Yussef, for the most part you have gotten it right. Most of what you say is the truth. I want and need you as my lover and, yes, even as my master. Tonight when I saw you on the stage, I pictured myself as the captive hanging there being whipped by both Kassie and Mary. Then you came charging up on your white horse to rescue me and carry me away,” he said, “but I know that was fantasy and in real life I can not appear to be subservient to any man. As an Arab man I would loose face. That would be a sign of weakness and my life as a community leader would be over.”

“No one is talking about your ‘Public Face’ here. You know I can and will help you keep that illusion. Both you and I are prisoners of our public lives. Neither of us can afford to expose ourselves: you, because of your position in this community and me because of the army. What we do in private has to be kept between the four of us, you, me, Kassie and Mary. Perhaps in the future we will be able to ‘come out’. At that point Kassie and Mary can either stay or leave, but they must have the freedom to choose. Permit them this freedom or I will take Kassie away from you and you will never see either of us again,” he threatened, “do I make myself clear, lover? It is to be that way or no way. Do you agree, Habibi?”

Joseph was laying it out on the line. He was gambling that what Kassie had said about her father being hopelessly in love with him was true. Now was the time to gain the upper hand. It was do or die, shit or get off the pot time.

To be continued…