What They Did to Julian
By: Randall Austin
(© 2011-2012 by the author)

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

Chapter 1
 

Casey Young and Lloyd Reese were a bit scared as they arrived at the Whatcom County Social Services Training Facility.  To a lot of young free men, being around any facility that has anything to do with ‘slaves’ is a scary thing. 

And they were nervous, for it was an awkward moment for the two 18-year olds to be visiting their best friend, Julian Raider, in the Social Services ‘holding pen’.

Black haired and fair skinned Casey, and brunette haired and dimpled Lloyd, both super groomed themselves and dressed neatly for their visit with their friend and former high school teammate, Julian.  Dressing up is something a lot of free men do when visiting servitor facilities, as if to impress upon the staff that they are respectable free people, and not some unkempt slave.

Free people, no matter how unkempt, are in no danger of being considered slaves, even in a slave training facility; but thinking they might be at risk in such an environment is an instinctive reaction for a lot of free males.  This was especially so for two young men who never before had any first hand dealings with slaves.

The news of what happened to Julian Raider was not only the talk of Bellingham, Washington, but was being followed with great interest nationwide.  Julian Raider, until his arrest, conviction, and sentencing to ten years of indentured servitude for drunk driving and causing a 16-car accident, was a model student and top athlete.  He was almost certain to have a Division One college scholarship, with a full ride to one of the country’s top tier schools. Every top Division One football program in the NCAA was scouting him. Several of these schools had NFL players that had played in their programs call him and try to entice him to go to their Alma mater.

Julian Raider was, of course, not the first young man of special abilities and skills to be indentured or imprisoned for a crime; but what helped to create the media sensation surrounding Julian’s case was not only that Julian was a sports sensation and promising hero, but his special good looks and self-effacing good nature endeared him to everyone.

Web sites devoted to Julian Raider quickly sprung up during the trial, with photos posted of Julian from childhood through his high school athletic successes.  Girls nationwide were falling in love with Julian, and one group of teen girls even sought to start a fund-raising venture so they could purchase Julian’s lease of indenturement.

The thought of such a handsome, gifted, and sweet young man sentenced to a ten-year term of servitude fueled the fantasies of men and women, young and old, straight and gay.

When Casey and Lloyd checked in at the reception area, they were surprised at how well appointed the reception area was, and at the politeness of the female receptionist.

The receptionist got on the phone and summoned an attendant to escort Casey and Lloyd to Julian’s ‘holding pen’.   The term ‘holding pen’ summoned unpleasant images for Casey and Lloyd, and they feared that Julian was probably being housed in some dank barn-like enclosure.  They feared that they would have a hard time treating their old friend in a natural way under such circumstances. 

Casey and Lloyd were expecting the ‘attendant’ to be some sort of stern, uniformed, prison guard, weighted down with cuffs, a pistol and holster, and a night stick; but the attendant turned out to be a pleasant young man of about 30 years, dressed in neat, casual, business attire.  He was gracious and introduced himself, “Welcome.  I am Steven Serano and I will be your attendant here at Social Services while you are visiting with Julian.  Please don’t hesitate to ask me for any help you may require here at the facility, whether it’s finding restrooms, vending machines, or any other such thing.”

As they walked to Julian’s holding pen, Steven spoke, “I am glad you came to visit Julian.  He is doing well.  I know he will be glad to see you.  He has been telling me about some of the great times you shared.”

Casey and Lloyd were surprised.  The training facility didn’t look anything like a prison as they had imagined it would.  Rather it was more like an office space.  There weren’t cells in the area they were in, rather just what appeared to be offices with typical wooden doors, with a window and a blind.  When they got to an office marked #425, Steven gave a gentle knock, and Julian could be heard saying, “Please come in.”

Casey and Lloyd were not only greatly relieved when they saw Julian and his ‘holding pen’, but they were quite taken aback.  Julian was sitting in an easy chair, expensively and elegantly coiffed, chatting and laughing on a cell phone.  He gave an ‘I’ll be with you in a moment’ sign to his two friends and Steven.

The so called ‘holding pen’ was a luxuriously appointed room, with leather furniture, a refrigerator, a large flat screen television, computer, a wine rack full of wines, and fruit and nuts attractively arranged on a centrally located coffee table.  On top of that, the room had a fairly good view of Samish Bay.

There were no locks, whips, chains, restraining devices, to be seen, nor anything even closely resembling such items.

In silence Julian first shook hands with, and then hugged, his two friends.  As they hugged, Casey and Lloyd both noted that Julian was wearing a refined cologne; noted because they had never known Julian to ever wear cologne.

The greetings were interrupted by a knock on the door; Julian called out, “Please enter.”

An official with Social Services smiled, “I’m sorry to interrupt.  How are you doing today, Julian?”

“Oh, I’m just great, Mr. Clark!”

Mr. Clark, dressed in a suit, and pleasant and relaxed in nature, spoke, “Julian, it looks like we have two clients who would like to meet with you today.  A Mr. and Mrs. William Taylor, and a Mr. Baldwin.  The Taylor’s will be here within the hour.  Is any time best for you to meet with them, Julian?”
 

“Oh no, Mr. Clark.  Any time is okay with me.”

“Thank you, Julian.  By the way, is there anything you need?”

“I have everything I need, Mr. Clark.  Thank you.”

Mr. Clark, smiled, gave a quick nod to everyone, and exited.

Casey, pleased at how well Julian was being treated, smiled, “Wow, you’re being treated like a celebrity, Julian!”

Julian beamed.  He too, like his friends, had been worried that he would be treated and humiliated like some lowly beast once he had been indentured, and wouldn’t be able to ever again face his family and friends with dignity.  But the entire indenturement process wasn’t like anything he had imagined and feared. 

In fact his treatment as an indentured servant was the opposite of what he had imagined, and at one point during the first days of his indenturement he asked one of his handlers if he was being treated differently from other newly indentured persons because of his fame as a Division One college scholarship candidate.

The handler, Aaron Goldstein, laughed, “No, of course not.  A lot of people think slaves are treated like animals.  Individual owners may or may not treat slaves like crap.  But for Social Services, an arm of the US federal government, the indentured are big time money-makers, and its goal is to make sure that you guys rake in as much money for the system as is possible.”

“On top quality specimens, such as yourself, we do not submit you to training, but leave you as sort of a clean slate so that the party that actually purchases your lease can get you trained up in precisely the way they want you.  No one is going to buy a slave that is cowering and shivering in fear, and sweating like a pig when he’s being examined.”

“It is my job, here at Social Services, to basically pamper you and make sure you have everything you need to relax you and help keep you pleasant and happy.”

For Julian, his handler’s words, rightly or wrongly perceived, were an indication that his existence as an indentee would probably not be as bad as he had feared, and they effectively ended many of his concerns regarding his future.

Julian, more to show his friends the privileges he was allowed rather than because he wanted to be a gracious host, asked Casey and Lloyd if they would like a glass of wine.  His friends were amazed that he had wine in the room, and that he could offer it to them.  Casey and Lloyd accepted the offer, and a smiling Julian proudly selected and opened for them a fair quality red wine.

As Julian handed the filled wine glasses to his friends, he apologized to Steven, “I didn’t ask you if you wanted any, because you’re on duty.”

Steven smiled, “Of course.  I knew that, Julian.”

Casey wondered, “Aren’t you going to have any wine, Julian?” 

“I can’t have any alcohol until after 5 PM.  There could be clients who might show up at any time and be interested in interviewing me.  So it’s sort of like a job.  No drinking on the job.”

Julian and his two friends chatted happily, so relaxed were they by the surroundings that the boys were soon laughing and joking like their old selves, and inviting Steven into the conversation with stories of their exploits, both on and off the football field.

After about an hour of visiting, Mr. Clark called Steven and told him that the Taylor’s had arrived and he would be bringing them over so they could interview Julian.  When his friends suggested that they probably needed to leave, Steven assured them that they could stay if Julian was okay with it.  Julian was happy to have his two friends stay a bit longer.

The Taylor’s were an extremely attractive couple, William Taylor, 45 was elegant, and his wife, Virginia, 35, was a knockout.  As Julian was being introduced to the Taylor’s, Casey and Lloyd made eye contact and gave each other a ‘what a hot babe’ eye wink.  Casey whispered to Lloyd, “I wouldn’t mind being her slave!”

The Taylor’s were obviously pleased with seeing Julian in person, and their smiles were wide.  Mrs. Taylor asked Julian if he could cook.  Julian replied, “Not very well.  But I am a very fast learner!”

The questions sounded to Lloyd and Casey like the kind one would ask someone being interviewed for a housekeeping job.

After about 20 minutes of questioning, Mr. Taylor spoke to Mr. Clark, “Mr. Clark, we are impressed.  We would be interested in a ‘viewing’, if that would be okay.”

Mr. Clark nodded, “Of course that would be okay.  That door next to the bathroom door is the exam room.  We can go in there.”

Julian gave a big knowing smile to his two friends, almost as if he was looking forward to stripping and showing off his naked body for the hot Mrs. Taylor.

Once the Taylor’s, Mr. Clark, entered the exam room and closed the door, Lloyd shook his head, “Boy, slavery sure isn’t like anything I imagined!”

Casey shook his head, “Julian seems to really be enjoying the experience.”

Steven laughed, “Yeah, some servitor positions are definitely better than others, that’s for sure.”

After about 15 minutes, Taylor’s, Mr. Clark, and Julian all came out from the exam room, with smiles and laughter.  It was obviously not a bad experience for Julian.

Mr. Clark spoke, “Mr. and Mrs. Taylor, since you did express an interest in purchasing Julian’s lease, and told me that you have to consult with a business partner first, I need to let you know that there is another party interested.  A Mr. Arnold Baldwin is arriving here from California, and is expected to be here in about an hour.”

Mr. Taylor recognized the name, “Arnold Baldwin.  Is that THE Arnold Baldwin from the Baldwin/Fletcher Farms out in Fresno California?”

Mr. Clark nodded and smiled, “It sure is!”

A feeling of dread hit Julian, sudden and hard.  Lloyd and Casey opened their mouths, shocked.

Mr. Taylor was impressed and looked at his wife, “Wow.  We better hurry and decide.  I can well imagine why Arnold Baldwin would like to get his hands on Julian.  He is now head of Baldwin/Fletcher Farms, and it has become the biggest tourist attraction in Central California!”

Mrs. Taylor nodded, “My father took me there once when I was twelve years old.”  Virginia gave Mr. Clark a smile, “Boy did I ever learn a lot about life that day!”

Mr. Clark led the Taylor’s out of the ‘pen’, but before he closed the door, he reminded Julian, “Julian, Mr. Baldwin should be here within the hour, so perhaps you could redo your makeup and redress your hair.”

A preoccupied Julian answered, “Yes sir, Mr. Clark, sir.”

Julian sat down, and no one said a word.  The Baldwin/Fletcher Farms and canneries were world famous.  Billed as an agricultural amusement and theme park, it is a place where children get to learn about human livestock in a real life setting. 

The main attraction and centerpiece of the theme park is a giant circular, rotating, restaurant, set in the middle of an active multi-crop field, where dining families can watch hundreds of naked, though fancifully decorated, field slaves tend to the crops.

After several minutes of silence, Steven spoke, “Julian, perhaps you should get yourself ready, as Mr. Clark instructed.”

An almost dazed Julian walked into the bathroom and closed the door.

Casey shook his head, “What a bummer it would be if Julian ends up at Baldwin/Fletcher Farms.”

Steven spoke, “I doubt if it would be a bummer for Mr. Baldwin.  Just imagine what huge crowds Julian would draw!”

When Julian exited the bathroom, it was clear that he was preoccupied.  His makeup was obvious, and his hair was not too neatly styled.  Steven was gentle, “Julian, I think I need to give you some help.  Let’s go back into the bathroom.”

Julian followed Steven into the bathroom.  Lloyd spoke quietly to Casey, “Poor Julian is really worried.”

Casey nodded, “I would be too if I were him.  Imagine ending up like one of those field boys.  Especially when the whole world knows who you are!”

When Julian and Steven emerged from the bathroom, Julian once again looked like a picture perfect model, though a preoccupied one.

Steven got a call on his cell.  “Okay Mr. Clark, I’ll let Julian know that you and Mr. Baldwin are on your way up.”

To be continued...

Posted: 12/09/11