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College Boys - Part One.
Although one could still sense late Summer, I nevertheless felt a cold chill on my body as I lay huddled with my hands cuffed in front of me and my ankles shackled in the luggage compartment of Rick's SUV. I was clad only in thin cotton shorts and a tunic of similar material, the type of outfit that was typical slave garb, and that was not sufficient to keep out the cold. Rick had kept the heater turned down to a comfortable level up front at Charlie's request and thus little of the heat penetrated through to the luggage compartment. I knew better than to say a word, let alone complain, and bore the cold as stoically as possible. At a guess I would say we had been on the road for some three hours which meant that we still had another three hours of driving ahead in order to complete our journey.
Charlie turned to Rick. "Dude, I'm fuckin starving. My stomach thinks my throat's been cut. What say we stop at the next diner and have a burger?"
Rick replied, "Sounds like a plan bro, but we'll have to find a place with slave facilities. Although that ought not to be too much of a problem."
"Oh, shit, yeah," said Charlie, "I'd forgotten about Brad, uh, I mean Ringo. The free man's burden is always with us!" They both laughed at the witticism.
Shortly thereafter Rick attracted Charlie's attention: "Look, up ahead, one of those new Motor Meccas. My Dad was saying that they have every imaginable convenience for the traveler. They are bound to have slave facilities. Let's give them a try."
Rick exited the freeway and the SUV soon came to a halt at an entrance with a neon sign which emblazoned "Slave Parking".
In the 25 years since the re-introduction of slavery and the 20 years since a right-wing administration had, amidst some controversy, been installed in the nation's capital, the free-and- easy atmosphere which had pervaded the people previously, had slowly dissipated. The so-called war on terrorism, despite much evidence to the contrary, had been trumpeted up to such a degree that there existed a latent fear, among politicians and the public alike, that any expressed opposition to the administration's line would be interpreted as an act hostile to the state. Many civil liberties had been curtailed. In addition an alliance between the governing Conservatives and extreme right-wing religious fundamentalists, had created an atmosphere of false social correctness. Abortion had finally been outlawed, gay activists were harassed at every turn, and social mores which advocated no sex outside of marriage, narrow confines for teenage behavior, the diminution of women's rights and those of couples cohabiting outside marriage, were inculcated in the public's minds. In this stifling atmosphere the institution of slavery had strengthened considerably contrary to what one would have thought. It had provided clear economic advantages and thus the powers-that-be had sought to justify it at every turn. The religious establishment rationalized that the Bible clearly sanctioned slavery and thus were in full support of it. It was against this background that Bradley Pierce had found himself sentenced to lifetime slavery.
Bradley and his brother Dallas, who was one year almost to the day younger, had been raised in a working-class family in the south- western town of Sunninghill. The Pierces were by no means wealthy but the family really went short of little. Tom Pierce, their father, had worked for many years for Parker Engineering Enterprises, where he had finally been promoted to the post of chief foreman. He was a typical "blue collar" type and really harbored no further ambitions. The firm was a family-owned one and Tom was fiercely loyal to the present owner, Jack Parker, who he had known since high school days. This type of relationship was typical of those which one would find in small towns.
Bradley and Dallas were in the same grade at school since Brad had contracted rheumatic fever at an early age and had been forced to miss a year's schooling. The brothers were quite close although they had different interests and moved in different circles. Bradley was less outgoing than his brother and had cultivated friendships principally with boys and girls of the same social standing living in the same suburban part of town. Dallas on the other hand had a greater interest in sports and was popular in "jock" circles at school. As a result he had become friendly with kids from more privileged backgrounds and, in particular, with Jack Parker's elder son, Rick, and another boy from a wealthy background, Charlie Smithers. Dallas reveled in his friendship with Rick and Charlie and spent many a weekend at the home of one or the other. There he experienced a lifestyle he otherwise would not have encountered. The large houses the two boys lived in, the presence of a coterie of slaves attending to the families' every whim, an environment in which the lack of money played no part, were all grist to his mill. Rick's father too seemed to take a special interest in his long-term employee's younger son. When Dallas would return home on a Sunday evening, the stark contrast between his own situation, no transport of his own, meat loaf regularly on Wednesdays, fish on Fridays, and having to share a bathroom and a computer with Bradley, really hit home and a resentment started to build up.
All four boys were in the same class during the final year of high school, Brad being a year older than the other three at 19. Naturally as graduation grew closer talk turned to the question of college. Neither Rick nor Charlie had great academic records and, although their parents could have afforded the best colleges, they were unable to gain entrance and thus they had both applied to the same college in a neighboring state and been accepted. They were both keen that Dallas should accompany them but he avoided the issue when asked. Meanwhile, in the Pierce household, the question of a college education for the boys had ultimately to be faced. Tom realized that with the best will in the world he would not be able to afford to send two boys to college. Thus it was that shortly before graduation he called Brad and Dallas into the living room one evening and informed them of the situation. He indicated that Bradley, being the older, would be given the opportunity to attend college. As far as Dallas was concerned, it was suggested that he should obtain a part-time job to fund his studies, which he should pursue on a part-time basis. While studying he would be able to live rent and board free at home. Dallas's reaction was predictable and he stormed out of the room. Not only was he being discriminated against but his cozy friendship with his best buds would be disrupted. He realized that of all the people in his social circle, he would become the only outsider and doubtless be subject to the usual patronizing treatment. The resentment he now felt knew no bounds.
While lounging around in Charlie's bedroom one evening, smoking a joint and enjoying a beer which Charlie had smuggled up from the games room in the basement, Dallas finally plucked up the courage to tell his two friends that he would not be able to join them at college. He outlined the whole sorry tale, having difficulty in holding back tears of rage and shame.
"Jesus, dude," said Charlie, "what sort of a bum deal is that?" It was inconceivable to him that such a situation could possibly arise.
Rick too was non-plussed. "How is it possible that after no many years of work a father is unable to send his son to college?" he asked. "And why Bradley? He aint got better grades than you, Dal. And what's more he just aint the type to fit in at college. He dont play sports and definitely aint the partying type. It's just fuckin incredible."
Dallas's revelation cast a pall on proceedings and neither the weed nor the booze was able to lift their spirits. Eventually Charlie decided to put into words what all three of them had been ruminating on.
"Look, guys, I aint got nuthin against Brad apart from the fact that he is a bit of a nerd. But, really, if you look at the whole picture, how could anyone consider him to be better material for college than Dal. It just don't make any sense. Dal's got all the qualities necessary to make a success of college. Brad, on the other hand, will probably join the debating society and that's about it. He definitely won't contribute to sport and that sorta thing. So he's a year older than Dal but what the fuck has that got to do with anything? I definitely think we gotta do something about the situation."
Dallas's spirits started to rise and he was encouraged by what Charlie had said. Rick had listened to Charlie but he was more practically minded and he knew that in the society they lived in the elder son would always get the nod in a situation such as this. He didn't want to get Dallas's hopes up.
"You got any ideas, Charlie?" Rick asked.
Charlie didn't immediately respond. After some thought he made a suggestion
"Look, guys, the only way I think we can get Dal's old man to change his mind is if we were able to compromise Brad in some way. Tom Pierce, no offence Dal, is a bit of a puritan and if Brad were shown to have behaved in a less than noble way, he might well decide to punish him by sending Dal instead of him to college. I mean, let's be honest here. Dal should really be the one goin to college, not Brad, and it would soon blow over anyway."
Dallas interjected. "Charlie, I don't wanna get Brad in no trouble."
Charlie quickly replied. "Dal, u wanna join us at college or not? If so, we gotta do something. It aint gonna just happen dude."
Rick had said nothing and was clearly unconvinced. However, Charlie undertook to give it some further thought and they agreed to meet again the following night and take matters from there.
To be continued.