“Mommy! Kis took Mimi!” A child's voice pierced the quiet morning. Groaning, Tina turned off the mixer and made her way to the living room where she found her two middle children squabbling over a doll for the third time that morning. “Gi' Mimi back, Kis!” The little girl screamed again.

“Garcia, get your damn ass in here.”

Flinching, Tina put the last of the towels on her cart and headed for her boss' office. Five months working for the guy and his language still grated on her nerves; though it was much milder than the garbage that came out of the mouths of most of her neighbors. Had she once been so naive as to think such language a rarity? Maybe in her old world it had been. Now it was a part of life.

The roast was in the oven; it's savory smell wafting through the house. Philip had called to say he would be home late so she had used the extra time to fix something special. The children were all down for a nap, the house quiet without their playful squabbling. The men recently visiting her husband late at night far from her mind. Philip had said it was nothing to worry about, so she believed him and did not worry.