The Au Pair
Set in a dystopian near future, an au pair comes to London hoping to lift her life from a...

001 :: A Record of Facts
Her first words in London were to a border guard. A nondescript looking man. ...

002 :: Terms and Conditions
The border guard held up his hand miming lifting a suitcase. Luggage....

003 :: Airport
The young woman was seated with her head resting on her hands when a young man came into...

004 :: The Train
The young woman stared out the train window. She watched her new country...

005 :: The Shops
The street was bright. Warm. It was busy. Nice shops. The young...

006 :: Delivery
The young woman and Simon had been standing at the door for nearly five...

007 :: An Entrance Hall
Peter gestured for Naomi to step into the house. Her first step into her new...

008 :: Welcome
Peter knelt next to the small table. He gestured for Naomi to sit. On the...

009 :: How to undress
You can get undressed now. (Peter) Naomi nodded. She was expecting this. ...

010 :: Pubic hair
It is alright to shave your pubic hair. (Peter) Naomi read what he had said. Yes....

011 :: Shower
Would you like to shower now. (Peter) Naomi examined where Peter had shaved her. ...

012 :: Pic
Would you like to take your pic now. (Peter) Naomi looked at him. You must have a...

013 :: Sex talk
Naomi and Peter were sitting on the bed. Neither looked comfortable. You can...

014 :: Watchers
Today I am going to show you the house. Then I will teach you what to do. The...

015 :: The House
Peter followed Naomi up the stairs. She led them to a very large room. The...

016 :: What we do
Cinema. Peter. Select. (Peter) The screen lit up. It had a...

017 :: Making Sushi
Time to cook. (Peter) Naomi stood watching Peter wiping down the kitchen...

018 :: A Table
Peter placed a stool at the end of the coffee table in the sitting area. He laid a...

019 :: Phoebe and George
Hi Peter (Phoebe) Evening Phoebe. Can I take that for you. Diane is in the...

020 :: Letter
Dearest Sister Day two. I woke up to my first full day in London feeling so...

021 :: Exploring her Skroll
Naomi woke in an empty bed. She had gone to sleep alone. Sprawled. In...

022 :: Playback
Naomi touched the picture of the master lifting sushi from her nipple. It was the...

023 :: Ear worm speaker

Naomi looked at the door. It opened. Peter came in.

Good morning. (Peter)

He glanced down at her Skroll. He saw John tapping on a blank screen.

John has a stealth screen on his Skroll. It is so clever. I will get one as soon as I can afford it. It monitors all cameras and eyes and only reveals to John’s iris. Or whoever he authorises. (Peter)

Naomi looked at him confused.

May I. (Peter)

He pointed at her Skroll. He raised his eyebrows. She realised what he was asking. Leaned away. He touched her picture. He touched the translate symbol.

It will always translate for you now. (Peter)

Yes. (Naomi)

Life is now your very own subtitled foreign film. (Peter)

Peter had not spoken English. Naomi read his words. The Skroll could translate anything.

What do I do day. (Naomi)

English. (Peter)

Naomi stared at her Skroll. Clearly annoyed.

Look. Look. I no need English ever again. I do anything I need with a Skroll. Everyone in London has a Skroll. No. (Naomi)

No. The reason you are here is to learn English. The reason they pay so little is to give you the English experience. So you can learn English. (Peter)

Peter glared down at Naomi. She did not look up at him. She did not touch her Skroll. She lay motionless.

Sorry. The only way to learn English is to speak it. Let me show you. Pass me your Skroll. Please. (Peter)

Naomi held up her Skroll. She still did not look at Peter. Peter held his finger at the one end. He cupped his hand at the other. A tiny speaker dropped onto his palm. He picked it up between his thumb and forefinger. He held it to Naomi’s ear. It wormed its way in. She screamed. She shook her head. She tilted her head. She banged her head. She hit herself again. Peter grabbed her hands. He pulled them down. He held her firm. Face down on the bed.

It is okay. It is alright. (Peter)

Peter knelt on the bed. He pulled her into an embrace. Held her with one arm. Held up her Skroll with the other.

Sorry. Sorry. It is okay. It is meant to be like that. (Peter)

Naomi looked at the Skroll.

Sorry. There is so much to learn. I forget what it was like when I first came here. I forget how different it is to the other world. (Peter)

Naomi relaxed. She rested her head against him.

It is just the remote speaker. It adjusts to the shape of your ear hole. It fits snug so it is all you hear. And so it does not fall out. You get used to it. Soon your ear will feel wrong without a speaker. (Peter)

Naomi closed her eyes. A tear slid down her cheek. Peter wiped it away with his finger. She lifted her head. Leant away from him then kissed him on the cheek. He turned towards her. She leaned forward slightly. Like she was going to kiss him again. On the lips. She stopped. Her hand moved down. Like she was going to grab his cock. She stopped. Peter reached for her face. He tucked her hair behind her ear. He knelt up. Away from her. He put the Skroll between them.

Is the speaker okay in your ear. (Peter)

Naomi nodded. He tapped the Skroll a few times. He pointed to a new symbol next to the translate symbol.

You tap that. You type the sentence you want to say. Then the sentence plays in English in your ear. (Peter)

Nomi tapped the symbol. Typed.

You smell mintee. (Naomi)

Fresh for my morning duties. You smell like sleep. (Peter)

024 :: Coffee
Naomi typed on her Skroll. She spoke in English.. Show my....

025 :: Dreams
Tell me your dreams. (Peter) To have a house like this. To have parties that are...

026 :: Miller
Shall I tell you our duties for today. (Peter) Yes. Please. (Naomi) We have to tidy...

027 :: Letter
Dearest Sister, Day Three. This is the best time of the day, the time I can type...

028 :: First Morning Duties
Naomi woke before the alarm. She sat up. Bold red figures appeared on the...

029 :: Reflection and Revelation
Naomi opened her Skroll. She tapped on her image. Scrolled back to her...

030 :: Breakfast
Peter’s Skroll buzzed. He spoke quietly for Naomi to read the translation...

031 :: Letter
Dearest Sister, Day four. Sometimes things are a little silly here. I made...

032 :: Learning to ehhlie
Peter came into the room. Naomi was lying on the bed. You get used to the...

033 :: Shopping
Naomi and Peter walked down the high street. Across the lights. Back forty...

034 :: The Poor
Peter opened his Skroll. He tapped. The screen changed to blue. He...

035 :: The Gym
Shall I show you the gym. (Peter) Naomi nodded. Peter stood. Naomi...

036 :: Free to laugh
Naomi and Peter walked back to M&S to collect their order. This time the door...

037 :: Two animations by Jack
Naomi lay on the bed. Opened her Skroll. She tapped on the picture of...

038 :: Music to play memories to
A pot of water was boiling in the kitchen. Naomi stood next to it. Peter...

039 :: Letter
Dearest Sister Day five and today I report that everything is just right in...

040 :: Second morning duties
Peter woke Naomi. She jolted. She looked frightened as she worked out where...

041 :: Music, magic and sex
Naomi opened the bedroom door. Peter was sleeping. Naomi put one earpiece in her...

042 :: Cooking is not my thing
Peter came up the stairs. Naomi sat at the breakfast bar. Two bowls. ...

043 :: A mother
Naomi and Peter were sitting at the end of the garden. What this. (Naomi) Oh. ...

044 :: As if not spoken aloud
Peter and Naomi sat in silence at the end of the garden. The Thames on the one end...

045 :: Bathing Diane
Naomi lay asleep on the lower terrace. Peter woke her. Diane will be home...

046 :: Watching a film with Peter
Peter looked up when Naomi entered the cinema room. He pointed to the sofa chair...

047 :: Letter
Dearest Sister Day six and I hope you will write to me soon. Everything has...

048 :: The au pair at work
Naomi awoke in the dark. Her movement caused the alarm to light up. Red...

049 :: Practicing anal
Naomi sat watching the door. Waiting for Peter to come in. When he did she...

050 :: John sets Naomi a task
Naomi sat wrapped in her towel. Just out of the shower. Peter lay on his...

051 :: Cooking breakfast with Maelle
Peter stood in front of the open fridge. Naomi sat at the breakfast table looking...

052 :: Street Advertisement
Naomi closed the door quietly. She was wearing her ehhlies. She had her...

053 :: Sparkle protests
Naomi stopped at M&S. Orders and collections. She tapped the...

054 :: Silence like discouragement
They were quiet in the house. Quite like they did not know how to start a...

055 :: Letter
Dearest Sister Day seven and I can see the potential for me here. The streets...

056 :: Flirting one oh one
Naomi put her Skroll on the shelf. She pulled on her pink gloves. She started...

057 :: No one to talk to
The Skroll buzzed. Naomi picked it up. An alert. Diane wanted to be...

058 :: A numbers games
Peter heard a sigh. He started. Turned to the screen. They were nearly...

059 :: A bull horn
Peter. Bring the bull horn to my room when you are done. (Diane) Diane left the...

060 :: Lessons in erotic dance
Naomi woke before her alarm. She looked at the bold red numbers floating above her...

061 :: Watching the Voyeur
Peter watched her come to the bedroom. She smiled at him. Your dance was totally...

062 :: Practice, practice, practice
Peter came up the stairs. Naomi tidied away her breakfast dishes. She went down to...

063 :: Letter
Dearest sister, Day eight and I am dictating this letter right under that very screen...

064 :: A secret message
Naomi leaned against the advert. She smiled as Jack approached. An...

065 :: Life is peaceful
Naomi did not exercise for long. Half an hour at the gym. She skated...

066 :: Double-time clean
Naomi. Naomi. (Peter) Naomi sat up. Looked at Peter calling her in. ...

067 :: Letter
Dearest Sister, It is still day eight and I am writing an additional note. It is...

068 :: iQ explained
You need to shower. (Peter) She looked at him. Peter stood at the door. ...

069 :: The Man
069 :: The Man A visitor was sitting on the chair. Facing the fire. Diane...

070 :: Letter
Dearest Sister There is so much potential here. Wow, that is quite a sentence to...

071 :: MdMa
Naomi woke in an empty bed. Peter was upstairs taking coffee to Diane's...

072 :: Talking about fucking
Naomi lay on the bed with the speakers in her ears. She was doing an exercise on...

073 :: Liking a minidoc
Peter liked Naomi’s minidoc. Your minidoc is really wow. Were you being a...

074 :: An unexpected request
Peter showed Naomi to the level 1 English classroom. A small room on the...

075 :: The au pair cafe
Peter waited for Naomi in the corridor. He made the sign of drinking from a small...

076 :: Saturdays
You can keep your clothes on today. (Peter) Naomi opened her Skroll. She looked...

077 :: Pegging
Peter entered the room carrying a little black bag. We have to practise this....

078 :: Riding in the dark
At eight Naomi checked her Skroll. Jack was in his house. She dressed. ...

079 :: The invisible man
The door opened. A man led Jack and Naomi down a corridor. They entered a...

080 :: LonMet report
Naomi closed the front door. She leant her back on the door for three...

081 :: Official warnings
Naomi woke. She looked at the time on the wall. She reached for her...

082 :: Personal warning
Peter woke Naomi. Diane wants you upstairs. (Peter) Naomi sat up. ...

083 :: letter
Dearest Sister I guess when you see this you will say you told me, and you were...

084 :: Pretending everything is fine
Are you in trouble. (Peter) Naomi nodded. She held up her Skroll. Peter...

085 :: Detailed notes
Peter woke in the night. What are you doing. (Peter) Nothing. Just writing...

086 :: Peter steps in
Peter woke alone. He lay for a while staring at the ceiling. Maybe thinking...

087 :: An empty bench
Peter checked his Skroll. Naomi had not moved. Still at the river near the...

088 :: Never the right thing
Peter stood in the street in front of Jack’s House. He opened his...

089 :: Do better
Peter stood looking out the kitchen window. Hi. (Diane) Peter spun...

090 :: Reset
Peter did not reset Naomi’s Skroll. It would reset automatically when she...

091 :: London lottery dream
Outside London the dream of being a John is at its most potent. Especially in the...

092 :: The second referendum
London is only for the rich. The clever thing was creating the border cities. ...

093 :: Hank and Rita
At the time of the referendum Hank lived in Bristol. He had voted yes. He was...

094 :: The au pair plan
Hank worked in Gatwick Airport Processing deportations. Processing failed au...

095 :: A new walled city
Hank worked as a security officer in Gatwick Airport when he first came to the service...

096 :: Tinsley House
Hank worked in Tinsley House. Documenting illegals. Processing immigrants. ...

096 :: Watching the sex tape again
Hank was watching from the second floor window when she arrived at Tinsley House. ...

097 :: The process
Hank was watching from the second floor window when she arrived at Tinsley House. ...

098 :: Remember me
Hank left her in the cell for half an hour while he processed the others. He left...

99 :: Being watched
Hank was being watched. Hank knew he was being watched. Or he thought he was...

100 :: The interview
The au pair looked up when Hank entered the room. Hank smiled at her. He...

101 :: Hank makes a plan
Mariam watched Hank lead Naomi out of the room. She tapped her screen. The camera...

102 :: Life outside London
Hank was right. Outside London they did not care about au pairs. Outside...

103 :: Women in limbo
Mariam opened a camera of the common room. The one Hank had said. The escape...

104 :: Biometric checkpoint
Mariam disconnected her car. The charging bay was the privilege of her senior...

105 :: Finding Naomi
Marram drove slowly through the industrial estate. Passed prefab corrugated...

106 :: The argument
Mariam and Naomi sat in the car. Mariam opened her Skrolll. She sheared for...

107 :: Driving on small roads
Mariam drove her small car down small roads. Smaller roads have fewer...

108 :: Welcome to the collective
Mariam led Naomi into the house. It was an old fashion house. Not 360...

109 :: Settling in
The group sat at the table quietly sipping their drinks like they were waiting for...

110 :: Morgan's garden
Madison was sitting at the table when Naomi came down the next morning. Drinking...

111 :: Patrick's flirt is wasted
Patrick walked to the vegetable page where Morgan and Naomi were gardening. ...

112 :: Lunch time conversation
A feast was spread on the table. A large lasagne. Salad. Breads. ...

113 ::
the nude understanding of the nudist language