Laura's Evolution

Chapter One-3

He brought the next thick veil forward. This settled quickly over my face and had only a small window for my eyes, draping almost to my waist, then he tightened a small tie at the back of my neck, bringing it snugly around my head. The eye window was covered with a fine mesh that nearly obliterated the world beyond and I raised my tightly gloved hand and tried to move it into a better position in an attempt to regain at least some unobstructed vision. It was useless.

“Keep your hands down, Laura!” he commanded loudly, aware of my limited hearing. “You are not to attempt to remove or adjust any portion of your garments.”

“Yes, Master,” I mumbled as best I could and subsided while he continued. I’d managed to touch the mesh of the window and found that there was a second, thicker layer, stiffened and formed so that there was virtually no definition of my features underneath, nor any possibility of seeing my eyes! I was beginning to feel more than a little claustrophobic inside the innocent-appearing clothing and wondered how in the world Middle Eastern women could stand having to wear something like this every day! I would soon find out.

He flipped the final veil forward over my head and it fell nearly to my knees, concealing my gloved and deeply sleeved arms. It consisted of yet another layer of fine mesh over the upper part of my face acting to even further limit my already severely restricted vision and at nose level; it became a heavier satin covering. I could lift it out of the way if I needed the use of my hands, but for the most part, my gloved, wide-sleeved and gauntleted arms would remain concealed within its voluminous folds and I’d be nothing but a silent, black-robed wraith just like hundreds of thousands, if not millions of women in the Middle East. However, I was in North America and would stand out like a sore thumb; a curiosity of the strangest sort, dressed as I was. As much as I hated it, I’d soon be grateful of my all-concealing costume.

“Go and look at yourself, Laura.”

I walked slowly to the full-length mirror, being careful to not trip on the hem of the long gown, then stared through the veils at my reflection. I was – a thing! No one could determine that I was even a female, wearing the ensemble, other than the fact that only women were required to wear this kind of supremely restrictive outfit. Muslims demanded that they dress in this manner for what they considered to be very good reasons – many of which I was soon to discover.

“You look exactly as you should for all of your future ‘though limited public appearances, Laura. From now on, this, or a very similar version, in all likelihood even more restrictive, is what you’ll wear if you’re taken off the property so you’d better get used to wearing it.”

I groaned in subdued protest but said nothing, struggling to accept his words and their iron hard under-the-surface command.

“Very well. Time for us to leave. Take care going down the stairs.”