Heavy Burden
Ms Mukta, and her Muslim friend Ms Afifa, are taking selfies at the public pillory. Ms Mukta, in particular, loves to photograph herself next to prisoner-slaves in the pillory – though she would never want to be placed in the pillory itself! Needless to say, that’s one thing she never has to worry about experiencing, since young women like her are exempt from ever being punished in the pillory. Or, indeed, from ever being punished!
Meanwhile the pilloried slave is suffering mightily, in (literally) large part because of the heavy stone of shame tied round his bowed neck by the magnificent magistrate master-sir; but in part also because he is incapable of paying his respects to Ms Mukta’s red, white and blue sneakers and plain white anklesocks, or, indeed, to the golden ballet-flats and plain black socks of her companion, Ms Afifa.
That’s the real punishment of the pillory – being prevented from kissing the feet of one’s betters! Ha! Ha! It’s a heavy burden the fool in the pillory shall just have to bear!
