The American Way
-
A New Direction
The American Way
By:
Randall Austin
(© 2013 by the author)
The author retains all rights. No reproductions are allowed without the author's
consent. Comments are appreciated at...
Bill Levertson - Sherman, Lawson, and Stingle Imports Marketing Director; stood
confidently in front of the roomful of 384 seated social servants in training.
He looked at them smiling, waiting for the talking to quiet down.
About the perimeters of the room stood 65 Sherman, Lawson, and Stingle
'docents'. That is what they were called, and it is what the majority of
servants in training at Sherman, Lawson, and Stingle believed they were, for
they were the guys who showed the new servants the ropes of the training
facility; told them what was expected; convinced them it was cool to be a
servant; informed them that it was 'the decent thing to do' to follow every
command unhesitatingly; spoke to each servant as if he were their best buddy.
In reality the docents were typical overseers such as one would find at any
servant training facility. But Sherman, Lawson, and Stingle Imports was a classy
place, and the docents were a class act who certainly didn't look like
overseers. They were educated, well groomed, and dressed in the natty dress
slacks and jacket uniform of the Sherman, Lawson, and Stingle docents. But
completely concealed from view in the folds of their dress jackets were all of
the emergency control devices every overseer in every training facility
throughout North America carried on his person at all times.
Bill Levertson cleared his throat, "Gentlemen. Thank you for your attention. You
are a special group of men. As you know, this facility currently has almost 4000
servants in training. You gentlemen are unique in that you are Sherman, Lawson,
and Stingle's current crop of voluntary indentees. You have all opted to have
yourselves indentured for varying reasons; but the majority of you are here
because of financial troubles: debt, bankruptcy, and/or alimony requirements.
Self-indenturement is, simply, one of the noblest things we as citizens can
elect to do."
"The fact that you are here proves that you are all intelligent and responsible
citizens. The indenturement program has proven itself to be the most efficacious
system currently in place for getting out of debt. You all have wisely availed
yourself of the indenturement option, and such a wise decision only confirms the
fact that all of you are indeed well educated."
Bill looked at the floor, wiped his hand across his mouth, and continued. "I've
had the great opportunity of talking to a lot of you and getting to know some of
you quite well as individuals. Indeed, that is one of the great rewards of my
job; that I get to meet so many wonderful, selfless individuals who have such a
standard of justice and fair play that they would rather work off their debts
through one of the accelerated labor programs that indenturement provides rather
than run from their creditors. You are all, in short, admirable men!"
The entire room of servants was smiling. Bill paused as he took in the sea of
smiling servant faces. "You have all been accepted into Sherman, Lawson, and
Stingle Imports servant training program for two reasons; you are well educated
and you are attractive men. And those two facts you all were doubtless aware of
when you considered your indenturement options. You could have, for example,
gone through the state social services system, or set yourself up with some
other brokerage firm. But you chose Sherman, Lawson, and Stingle Imports to
handle and process your indenturement. It was a smart decision, I assure you."
"Sherman, Lawson, and Stingle Imports prides itself on being on the cutting edge
of all developments in the world of social servitude. Indeed, Sherman, Lawson,
and Stingle Imports, we believe, has been instrumental in molding much that is
admirable in this country's fair treatment of servants by setting a standard of
integrity that others have followed; if only to remain competitive."
"And now, once again, Sherman, Lawson, and Stingle Imports finds itself at the
forefront of social development. A new direction! Gentlemen, I am pleased to
announce that we have decided to enlist new marketing procedures to ensure that
your eventual purchase and employment provide the highest level of satisfaction
possible, both for yourselves and your future owners."
The servants' smiles did not abate, nor did the conviction with which Bill
delivered his talk to the servants he was in charge of marketing. "Starting
today we are implementing a new approach to servant marketing which we call,
'Able, Ringed, and Proud'."
"While most of the 'Able, Ringed, and Proud' program won't affect you; most of
it all has to do with our promotional procedures; there are a few changes that
will be made from what you are used to. The biggest change will be that we are
going to be piercing and ringing your body in seven places."
There were confused and/or questioning looks on the servant's faces. Bill
noticed and nodded in assurance, "Nothing to worry about. As per your contract,
no permanent body modifications are allowed. There's a strong likelihood that
your owners will not maintain some or all of your rings. But starting today we
will be ringing our entire line in both ears, both nipples, the navel, nose,
penis head." The room quickly was abuzz with chatter. "Gentlemen, I would remind
you that all the ringing we will be doing are listed as 'benign' procedures.
That means they are performed with anesthetic; are at low risk for health
complications; are easily and rapidly accomplished; and can easily and rapidly
be undone."
"Again, gentlemen, the ringing operation will enable us to more accurately
pinpoint an ideal positioning for each and every one of you."
The chattering quieted down as Bill convinced them that by submitting to
ringing, it would help Sherman, Lawson, and Stingle Imports find the best owner
match for them. How that would accomplish such an objective no one asked,
because Bill quickly flashed an even wider smile and continued, "The other
change that will affect you is that from now on we will be a nude-only
showroom."
There was silence from the shock of the announcement. Bill continued, "Most of
you have either completed or are well into your classes on display room
protocol. Nothing is really going to change. When you are on display in the
showroom, you will still cycle through your 28 showroom poses, holding each pose
for 30 seconds before moving on to the next pose. The only difference is that
you will now be nude as you pose in the showroom."
A servant voice called out, "This is unacceptable, and is against what was
discussed in my interview."
Bill responded, "If you will check your contract, which should be in your
belongings drawer in your dorm suites, you will note that the contract does
state that handling terms and conditions are subject to change if required by
market forces."
Another servant voice called out, "This is underhanded."
Bill tried to humor the group, "Oh come on now, gentlemen. This is hardly going
to change anything you're used to."
A fast talking servant asked, "What is the real reason behind the rings and the
nudity?"
"Sherman, Lawson, and Stingle Imports has decided that ringing is in keeping
with the image people want of servants. And if you aren't nude, how are our
customers going to see your rings?" Bill could sense the servants didn't like
his answer, so he quickly deflected, "The rings, by the way come in gold and
platinum, as well as the basic steel."
A voice asked, "Are we just nude on the showroom floor?"
Bill answered with a serious tone, "No. It is important that nudity be full time
to reinforce the image we envision for servants; and to help instill within each
of you the import of that vision."
Another voice from the servants asked, "What about family visitation?"
Bill remained serious, concerned about rising anger, "Yes. Nudity at all times."
There was much grumbling, and an angry voice called out, "This is an outrage. I
am a Christian and it is against my beliefs to appear naked in front of my
daughters."
Bill responded firmly, "While Sherman, Lawson, and Stingle Imports cannot cater
to all the beliefs of its property; we nevertheless are willing to accommodate
you. We can have you seated behind a draped table during visitation hours."
The noise grew in the room. The docents looked to Bill to see if they should
respond. Bill raised a hand to signal them to remain calm and show no concern.
When the noise did not quiet down, Bill called out, "Gentlemen, I must ask you
for silence. There is no need to be upset."
Shouted questions and curses came from the servants, but Bill couldn't respond
because he really could not make the questions out for the din. He called again
for silence.
Some of the 384 stood from their seats, and started to walk out in protest. Bill
called out, "Gentlemen. I did not say you could leave. I must ask all of you to
return to your seats and remain calm and quiet."
When some of the servants continued to make their way to the exits, Bill pointed
to the docents, and nodded for them to do what they had to do in order to keep
the men calm and in the room. Several docents each approached each of the seven
men who were intent on walking out. The docents spoke to the men and convinced
two of them to return to their seats. The remaining five walked past the
docents, and the docents swung into action. They discretely pulled out their
tasers and zapped the renegades with their tasers highest setting.
Using the high setting is standard procedure for quelling a potential riot. What
is desired from the high setting is to set severe examples for the protesters.
The high setting insures not only a full disabling of the defiant ones, but the
loud screams the high setting elicits effectively contribute to the desired
deterrent effect of the tasers.
The five tased men effectively set an example for the rest of the servants. All
379 of the young, well educated, handsome, and fit, men in Sherman, Lawson, and
Stingle Imports training program sat back down in their seats and were silent.
Most of them were seeing for the first time the harsher face of servitude. As
the docents helped the tased men to recover, Bill spoke. "Our first concern is
for you, the servants. It has always been so, and will continue to be the case.
I can understand why some of you were initially upset. But I'm sure you can see
that the so called changes are not really very big changes at all."
The roomful of servants behaved themselves and were silent. Several of them were
red in the face from embarrassment at their situation; at how the group had to
be tased into submission like herd animals. It was a lesson, frankly, Bill was
glad to see them getting, for he knew it was one they would have to get sooner
or later in their training. At least they all now had a better grasp of the
power structure among the world of servants.
Bill continued, "Gentlemen. I'm going to ask you all to return to your dorm
suites. We will be calling you out a little later in the day in groups of 30 to
begin your processing. You will then be permanently disrobed. Then you will be
strapped to a procedure table and the technicians will emplace all of your
rings. That way all of your piercings and ringing will be over within 15
minutes. Are there any questions?
Some sobbing could be heard; but there were no questions.
The End.
Posted: 01/11/13