Helping My Brother
By: Randall Austin
(© 2012 by the author)

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

Chapter 12

(Notes from the journal of Craig Soffel)

The Clackamas County Social Services building is a massive affair. Although it is only 12 stories high, it covers the span of an entire city block. It not only house's the county's social services agency, it also is the headquarters of Oregon state's Social Services Authority. The building contains everything from holding cells, hearing rooms, auction rooms, show rooms, the largest servant training center in the state, as well as several retail stories serving the needs of servant owners. As a child the building both fascinated and terrified me as I tried to imagine what was taking place behind all of those windows.

As I made my way into the building with my dad and Marty to the hearing room where Marty and I would find out our fates, it was my hope that I wouldn't have to find out what went on in the deeper recesses of the building.

I had been nervous and upset for the entire week, but now as dad, Marty, and I, took our seat in the courtroom, I felt like crying from fear. But I was resolved that if I was sentenced to a term of indenturement, I would not stay in the states. The only reason I attended the hearing and didn't skip town was because I had found out that Social Services was so backed up on their training schedules, that if I were to be indentured, it would be at least three weeks before there would be room for me in the training program. During that waiting period my plan was to escape to Canada.

We didn't have to wait long for the judge and his retinue to enter the hearing room and pronounce the verdict.

The bailiff asked me to stand, and the judge spoke, "Craig Alexander Soffel, the charges you made against your brother, Martin, were brought about because of ignorance of the law. Unfortunately for you, ignorance of the law is not an excuse for someone who holds a handler's certificate, however junior its reach and permissions. Therefore, this court fines you $5000 for the jeopardy in which you placed your brother, Martin Soffel."

"Further, we have determined that for you to remain eligible to serve as a servitor overseer in this State of Oregon you must once again successfully take the state's servitor handler's training and exam."

"Please visit the bursar after this hearing to arrange payment of your fine and to hand over your state issued handler's certificate, which we have deemed invalid."

The judge banged his gavel and ordered Martin to stand, "Martin Justin Soffel; in the interest of saving the taxpayers of Oregon State costly reviews, it is customary for our agency to review a servitor's record and term of service every time a servitor's dossier has cause to come before the review board. Although your term of service was originally set at four years, on review we have decided that a change in your term of service is warranted."

"Martin Justin Soffel, on review of your record of service this court finds you to have successfully acclimated to servitude. For that, you should be proud of yourself. We have reviewed the initial charges brought against you by court order that resulted in your receiving a term of indenturement of four years; and we have taken into consideration the charges against you brought by your brother, and the single charge filed by your father. Though the charges brought by your brother, Craig, have been shown to have been improperly rendered, we have redressed that issue. But in our review we, nevertheless, can take into consideration the sum and substance of all charges. It is our verdict that because of the success you have achieved as servitor; and because of the pattern of willfulness that constantly enters into your affairs at unguarded moments; and because society and yourself are best served by your remaining indentured; and because the service you provide your family and society is wholly salutary on your behalf; and because the Oregon State Psychiatric Review Board has determined you to be a recidivist; and because it pleases both your immediate family and this court; the State of Oregon hereby remands you to a term of indenturement for life. Martin Justin Soffel, you are now the property of your father for him to do with as he wishes."

"This court is adjourned."

Marty screamed, dad tried to calm him down, and the bailiff snapped his fingers to summon the guards. "Get him leashed and muzzled!"

Two guards quickly had Marty muzzled and leashed as ordered, and the bailiff then ordered the guards. "He is to be taken immediately into the surgery unit to be surgically processed as a lifer!"

The bailiff saw dad and me and let us approach Marty. Dad hugged Marty, "It's going to be okay son. Some mistakes have been made. But I think we have all learned something from this experience."

As dad hugged Marty, Marty looked dazed. I was just as dazed as Marty was. Dad spoke to us, "Why don't you two boys hug each other and make up."

I eagerly hugged Marty, even though it was very weird hugging a muzzled guy who was attached to a leash held by a burly guard. I told Marty that I loved him, and was sorry for the mess up. Marty didn't say anything, but my apology must have moved him because he was crying.

To be continued...

Posted: 07/13/12