Guinea Pig Boys

By: Randall Austin
(© 2020 by the author)

The author retains all rights. No reproductions are allowed without the author's consent. Comments are appreciated at...

RandallAustin@tickiestories.us

Chapter 16

When Terrence Finley and Rex Dalton entered Mr. Galyon’s office they were surprised to see him, for he was dressed in his usual business conservative suit, but his hair was disheveled, and it appeared as though he had recently been crying.

Nevertheless, haggard, he greeted the boys cordially, “Hi boys, please take a seat.”

Terrence asked, “Is it true, Mr. Galyon, that some changes are going to be made in Ward D?”

“Hold on boys; I don’t know what you have heard, and I know everyone is whispering about something big that’s going on, but as of this moment nothing has changed.”

Rex pressed on, “Is it true the experiments in Ward D are being shut down?”

Michael gave a forced laugh and managed to respond playfully, “I don’t know what you have been hearing, but one thing that’s always been true about slaves is that they love gossip.”

Terrence joked in response, “Well then, maybe you should hear some of the gossip that we slaves have heard was going around among the directors!”

Rex, Terrence, and Mr. Galyon, all gave laughs.

Mr. Galyon urged, “It would help if we could ease all the gossiping.  I will be addressing all of you subjects in Ward D tomorrow about a situation of concern, but until that time I am not at liberty to discuss any pending Social Service’s matters.”

“Instead, I have invited you here to find out about how you evaluate your treatment while you have been sectioned here at Jackson County Social Services Research Agency.”

“I know there have been problems, and I have been sent here to investigate the situation.  So I just want you boys to give me a sense, if you will, of how you feel you have been treated.  Have you been treated well or unfairly?  If so, please give me examples.”

Rex and Terrence exchanged glances, and Rex was happy to be the first to take on the invitation, “We’re basically treated like shit.  We’re taunted, humiliated, and abused from everyone from Mr. Bartlett on down to overseers, orderlies, and even the janitors!”

Terrence was fired up by Rex’s forthrightness, and followed with, “You’re the head of this entire country’s Social Services personnel, and it surprises me that no action has ever been taken.  I know that both Rex’s and my parents have tried to get answers about theirs and our concerns regarding our treatment; and most of the guys in Ward D, along with their parents, have voiced concerns, but nothing ever happens.”

“Have the complaints that have been filed never been passed on to you?  You are the guy at the top, so why is nothing ever done?  Why can’t our parents get answers to their most basic questions?”

Michael was clearly affected by Terrence’s words. Stunned, he looked down at his desktop, saying nothing, and was clearly trying to contain himself.

Tears began to stream from Michael’s eyes, followed by gentle sobs.

With a look of concern Rex reached out a hand and touched Michael on his wrist, “Sir, what’s wrong?”

Michael was so distraught that he could not respond. Terrence stood up, “Sir, I’ll call for help.”

Michael, with his head resting on his left arm that was sprawled across the desk, raised his right hand and waved a ‘stop’ signal.  Through a teary voice he called out, “Please guys.  Don’t say or do anything.  I will explain later.”

Rex went behind Michael and put a hand to his shoulder. “I’m sorry, sir if we upset you.  We did not mean for you to take our complaints as a personal assault.  Please allow us to call the nurse.”

Michael nodded his head to affirm the comforting hand and words, “No, I am okay.  Please tell no one.  I just need a bit of time to recover by myself.”

***

Rex and Terrence returned to the servitor’s dining area and ran into Joshua Milliken.  Rex told Joshua that they had just returned from their meeting with Mr. Galyon and asked Joshua how his own meeting with Mr. Galyon went.

Joshua beamed, “It went really well.  Mr. Galyon is such a nice man. He is such a smart man, and is so gentle and kind.  He made me feel good.”

Terrence commented, “Yeah, we like him too.”

And a feeling-good Rex added, “And we like you too, Joshua.  You are such a sweet kiddo.”

When Joshua thanked Rex and Terrence for their kind words, Rex gave Joshua a big hug.  When the hug was over Rex looked at Terrence who apparently wasn’t comfortable hugging, and said, “Go on, give Joshua a hug.”

Terrence complied, giving Joshua a cautious hug. Finding himself comfortable with it, he preceded to give Joshua a bigger and longer hug than Rex had given him.

***

The arrest of the four suspects, Thomas Crotchet, Benjamin Simms, Simon Kettlestick, and Jacob Bartlett, did not go without scenes being made at the Kansas City Social Services complex; mainly because the suspects did not fully realize or suspect the degree of serious consequences there would be for the events that took place on August second.  Nor did any of them expect that justice would be so swift.

Only Thomas Crotchet, as the state’s lead witness, surrendered without incident.

When the police came for Benjamin Simms, he started crying out loud and through his sobs called out, “I didn’t do anything wrong,” in a way that made all who witnessed him being escorted out the door - cuffed and hobbled - feel genuine pity for him.

Simon Kettlestick, never at a loss for words, was defiant, arrogant, and caustic, “You police are the enabler's of the real crooks in our society: mainly your fellow officers in the police force who delight in taking bribes, looking the other way, and feign compassion for the truly dangerous criminals in our society out of fear of retaliation." 

Three officers went up to Simon and silenced him by fitting his mouth with a large diameter ball gag.

And Mr. Bartlett was so drunk on Scotch by the time the police arrived in his office he had to be carried out on a stretcher.  And once he had sobered up and was taken in for interviews and statements before being admitted to the pre-processing procedures and incarceration, he still couldn’t recall his being arrested at his Social Services office.

***

Simon Kettlestick’s questioning and processing were rather unique, since he was a household name to the majority of people who spent any amount of time working in the United States Department of Social Services.

Simon Kettlestick was known as the ‘boy wonder’ of modern servitor overseership, whose innovative style of handling and controlling appeared to be showing the world a new way forward when dealing with the servitor population.

But along with his fame came boxcars full of stories, true or not, about his delight in controlling and humiliating the indentured population.

He was despised by a majority of the Social Services community for the bad reputation he brought to their service; but a huge member of the community thought he was Mr. Super Cool with his brash, abrasive, treatment of slaves, and the way in which he slathered his inappropriate behavior with an angelic altar-boy charm.

When the jail processing guards ordered him to strip they humiliated him with whistles and coos as he slowly and painfully removed his clothing.

Once Simon was naked they brashly tweaked his nipples and tugged his cock.

But Simon responded in typical ‘Kettlestick’ manner, “I’ve got all of your names, you lowlife scum with your loser jobs - and each one of you is going to be unemployed within a week!”

***

Three days after his incarceration, Mr. Bartlett was questioned by his lawyer, Mr. Somalo Bosendorfer, “Mr. Bartlett, one thing the jury will want to know is why you made such profoundly disparaging remarks about Mr. Michael Galyon; comments which would undermine the effectiveness of his investigation of the events that took place on August second.”

“Regarding Mr. Galyon, for example, you told your staff that he was ‘the biggest pansy-assed homo magpie you could ever hope to meet’, that he was ‘not to be trusted’, and that your staff should ‘ignore any and all of his requests until they are approved by you’.”

“Mr. Michael Galyon came to his position at Social Services because of his sterling reputation.  He was, apart from his skill and knowledge regarding all aspects of servitude stewardship, a perfect gentleman - intelligent, kind to everyone whether slave or free, clever, and fun to be around.  The jury will want to know why you chose, at every opportunity, to denigrate his character.”

Mr. Bartlett, sober for the longest period of time in the last 20 months, spoke calmly and without the defensive attitude that had become visible to all in recent months, “Yes, I know that Mr. Galyon is a better man than most of us in this business.  But I have been at this job more than twice as long as he has been, and I know people, whether they are free or indentured.  Mr. Galyon should not be in the position that he is in.”

Mr. Bosendorfer waited for an explanation, and when none was forthcoming, he prodded, “Mr. Bartlett, sir, the jury will want to know why you made all of these negative remarks to your staff about Mr. Galyon.”

Mr. Bartlett shook his head in a show of remorse, “Mr. Michael Galyon is a fine human being.  I can say no more, other than that he is in a position he definitely does not belong in.”

***

Michael Galyon made his way to Ward D to address the servitors, but when he got to the entrance doors of the ward he stopped, shook his head, and once again was confronted by his personal demons.

To be continued...