Mom nodded obediently, her eyes full of calculation.

She locked the ape in the storage shed, even put it in a red dress.

Then she started her "business."

Our village had way too many men and few women. Plus, most guys were lazy good-for-nothings who couldn't find wives.

Plenty of desperate singles around.

But since it was still an animal, nobody dared come at first.

Mom stirred things up again: "Y'all act so horny usually, why so scared now? This ape feels better than any woman!"

Late one night, an old bachelor snuck into the shed.

Once one man came, others followed. Mom's business started booming.

During the day, I'd hear the ape's screams. It made my skin crawl.

Mom told me to feed the ape daily - not too much, not too little.

Just enough to keep it alive.

I'd carry leftover pig slop to the shed.

The place stank so bad it made me gag.

The ape would crouch in the corner, constantly pulling out its own fur.

All living things have souls. Watching something alive being tortured like this broke my heart.

But if I set it free, Mom would kill me.

I put down the bowl.

The ape jumped up at the sound.

It glared at me with venomous eyes, letting out fierce roars.

That look... it seemed so familiar...

My father's face flashed through my mind.

That's exactly how he used to look at me when he'd beat me.

Fear took over. Before I could think more, I stumbled backward in terror.

Thank God for those chains holding it back.

Otherwise, I'd be dead meat by now.

Mom heard the commotion and rushed in.

Without a word, she grabbed her whip and started lashing at it: "You beast! You should be grateful I'm feeding you at all. Stop that howling!"

The ape hugged itself, grimacing in pain.

But it wouldn't back down, still giving Mom that poisonous death stare.

"Still giving me the evil eye? I'll beat you to death!"

Mom finally stopped when she'd worked out her anger.

Then she turned to glare at me, "Useless girl, can't even handle this simple task!"

That night, I tossed and turned in bed.

I couldn't shake that ape's hateful stare from my mind.

It was eerily similar to Dad's eyes.

But I quickly shook that thought away.