THE morning sun filtered through the kitchen window, casting a warm glow over Orlanda as she prepared for the day ahead. Her hands moved with practiced efficiency as she worked. Oswald and the rest of the household had had breakfast, and he and Nathan had already left for work, leaving her behind as usual, all alone, that Carlson was able to get her the other day.

She had cleaned the whole house with the vacuum cleaner, done the dishes used the night before and that morning, picked flowers from the garden as usual and cleaned the kitchen. That was her work for that morning.

Now, she stood at the kitchen...