'And Brito will hold us all for that whole time. I bet he will.'
'You don't know that.'
'He sends reports back to the authorities. He has complete control of us.'
Manuel pulled away and started pinching the skin of his arms.
'What's the matter with me?' he said with disgust. 'Why did I have to be born this way? Why can't I just be normal like everyone else.'
'Darling, shut your mouth!'
I gave Jorge a rigorous shake of my head.
'Is it my biology, like the priest says?'
'Some say we have overly pampering mothers,' Raphael said, his tone mockingly philosophical.
'My mother never pampered me.'
'Jorge, we are all sorry you had such an awful mother.' I hoped that would satisfy him.
'They think we are perverted hedonists,' Raphael said, 'relishing our carnal pleasures.'
'So what if we
