48 Hours on Blue Bayou Pt. 26: Julie

This slave comes to the end of the piles of items about the same time it comes to the end of this "Operations Exercise" dream. It has been an enjoyable experience: observing processes, thinking of efficiencies, considering options, planning extensions of the process. First Lady things.

Madam Chan brings me a bottle of sports drink and to a new station. "We test a new detergent. You remember salesman and pitch? We wash one hundred loads, different items, towels, bedclothes, tablecloths. After Dryer station, we examine items. Forms filled out." Proudly, Madam Chan points to a box almost filled with forms.

"Now, you analyze forms. What questions work. What questions all give same answer. Read extra comments and make up new questions. Then, set up next tests. You have questions?"

My Supervisor's slave has no idea what questions one could ask about a detergent. OK, one is obvious: did it clean the stuff? But, Madam Chan has asked a question and is waiting for an answer.

"Please, Madam Chan, let this slave first examine the forms. Then, this slave can form a better question. Thank you, Madam Chan."

My Supervisor nods and replies, "Yes, slave, examine first, then think, then we talk about questions. Slave, you speak properly."

This slave nearly has to hold her face to prevent its grin from breaking something. This slave's Supervisor has agreed with its plan. And, the Supervisor has complimented this slave's Third Person speech. It is the first mark of approval this slave has earned since its return.

The forms are mostly check-offs on grades for observable variables: whiteness, cleanliness, residual stains, freshness of smell, softness of feel, ease of ironing or folding. The boxes for the grades go from One to Five, but there is no key to indicate which is better or worse. And, there is room for comments to be written in. Most are in English, which means this slave will be able to read them. This slave notices that the penmanship looks like that of children. Someone has told the clerks in this operation to be very sure their comments are legible.

This slave starts to tally the observations for the first question: whiteness. There are only a few checks for "Not applicable: colored item." The rest of the marks fall mostly into two boxes: one and five. This slave does the second question: cleanliness. There's no "Not applicable" box here but the marks again group mostly into one and five.

This slave begins to smell trouble. As this slave is about to start on question three: stains, Madam Chan passes and this slave's wave catches her attention. This slave shows her the tallies for #1 and #2, and says, "Please, Ma'am, the detergent can't work very well or not at all at the same time. There must be a problem with the people who marked the forms?"

Madam Chan's face clouds up immediately. Her slave has attacked her workers and, like a Mother Hen, she's going to protect them. This slave hurries to add an explanation.

"Please, Ma'am, what were the instructions for the people who marked the form? In particular, did these workers know whether box 5 was very good or very bad, or whether box 1 was for very good?"

Madam Chan sees the problem immediately. She waves a hand — this slave has no idea of what her meaning is — and heads off, her pace rapid and determined. This slave pages through the comments added by some workers, looking for a common thread but finding none. In a few moments, this slave's Supervisor, her face grinning, returns.

"You are smart girl, slave. I check two shift leaders and one says #1 is good while one says #5 is good. They get into fight saying other one is foolish child not to know this. I stop fight and ask each if detergent is good or bad. Each says good."

My Supervisor's slave smiles and says, "Thank you, Ma'am. So, most all the marks are for good detergent. Now, this slave will tally the other questions with the understanding that the box for question one will show whether the other scores are for good or bad."

My Supervisor couldn't look happier. She produces another bottle of sports drink and leaves her slave to its tallying. This slave isn't a computerized statistics program, but pretty soon it is clear that the detergent does take out the stains and the fabrics feel soft. There is no clear trend for "freshness" or "ease of ironing or folding."

My Supervisor's slave explains this at Madam Chan's next visit. Madam seems pleased but, as with all bosses, has another question. "So, do we buy new detergent?"

This slave bends its head in submission. "Please, Madam Chan, there is a little more to study. It is important whether the items are easy to fold or to iron, yes? So, we should do a few more washes, some with new detergent and some with old detergent. Then, we fold or iron the items, but we do not tell the workers which detergent we used. After they fold or iron, we ask for a score. Then, we see which detergent is easier to work with. This time, we tell the workers that #1 is good and #5 is bad. It is important for workers not to know which detergent we use in the washing. To keep this secret, we use each detergent in random order, so workers cannot guess that today is new and tomorrow is old detergent. Only the one who does the wash knows which detergent, and you explain that he must be very careful not to tell anyone until after the test is finished."

My Supervisor is grinning! She likes the plan. This slave knows only the basics of the Random Assignment Double Blind Controlled Intervention Trial, what some have called the Gold Standard of Science, from her High School Science courses. But this grandmother, who probably never went to High School, sees the logic as soon as it is laid out.

Madam Chan points to her slave. "Slave, you make list for one hundred loads, fifty with old and fifty with new detergent. One copy."

She is about to go off when her slave waves furiously. She turns, puzzled. Her slave begs, "Please, Ma'am, may this slave use a small coin to help make the list?"

Her face is more puzzled, but she reaches into a pocket and withdraws a small coin made of two metals, a silvery nickel alloy outer ring and a brass inner core. One side shows a bauhinia flower, the Hong Kong orchid, while the other side shows a large 10 on the brass core and "Ten Dollars" on the nickel outer ring. My Supervisor's slave announces "New Detergent" for the flower side and "Old Detergent" for the Ten Dollar side.

Coin flips lead to a list of New and Old designations with this slave's Supervisor grinning more as the list grows to one hundred designations. Madam Chan takes both the list and her coin and marches off to set up the new test. If only this slave could make all of its Masters and trainers so happy!

Fifteen appears and works her magic with the handcuffs. Madam Chan waves as her slave is taken back to its room. The handcuffs are removed and Fifteen orders "Strip!" Obediently, this slave removes the sports bra and boy shorts. It is a cute outfit, even for the Laundry, where it drew many glances from passing workers. Fifteen has more orders. "Slave, your next appointment is dinner with your Master. I will come for you at 6:30 PM. You may shower and rest until then. Clothes will be available."

Clearly, Fifteen is not at the lower rungs of slave ranking any longer. This slave's Inner Goddess approves: Fifteen has always been careful and diligent with any task. Now, apparently, she has been tasked with overseeing the movement, care, and feeding of this newest slave. This slave vows not to make Fifteen's job difficult.

The shower is welcome. The nap is heavenly. When the door lock clicks, this slave is already sliding into Position One. Fifteen has its dinner dress. It is a tunic, modestly cut but as short as a minidress. The lingerie is a tanga thong of tulip lace. The label says Commando, and this slave very nearly will be "going commando" tonight. Fifteen points to the bathroom and orders "Brush and comb." This slave gets the articles and kneels before her as she gets its hair flowing freely. It is longer than this slave likes, which is just above the shoulders. For the auction, the Empress' prep team styled it in a wave, but this is not yet one of Fifteen's talents. This slave's overseer puts its charge into Transport Mode and we head to Master's dining room.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Chapter Fifty-nine: Dinner and Dessert

The room shows arrangements for dinner for one, with a kneeling pad to the left of the single setting. My Master's slave notices that there is only a basic presentation of silverware and only a water goblet and wine glass above the main server. Master will not be having a banquet tonight.

Fifteen puts her charge into Position One on the kneeling pad, pats it on the head comfortingly, and wishes it a good evening. This slave cannot read the expression in her eyes. Is she worried about her care of Master's newest slave? Is she sad that this slave has been relegated to the proverbial Square One? This slave chooses to focus on the tenderness of her stroke, the move that all the trainers have taught this slave to treasure. Then, she is gone, but her charge is still in Transport Mode.

Alone, this slave trembles a bit. There has been no instruction, no preparation for this evening. No one has said whether conversation would be free, prohibited, or some combination, with some topics or responses allowed and others taboo. A quick glance around shows no gag awaiting use. This slave settles into its waiting mode.

Master enters and goes to the kitchen door, greeting Chef with a hearty "Anytime you're ready." He rinses his hands at a basin on the sideboard, drying them with a convenient napkin. Until the time he takes his seat, he has not glanced at the slave adorning the kneeling pad to his left. Now, he leans back and turns, inspecting his asset coolly. His asset falls into the Obeisance Position and kisses a nearby shoe. Master's hand strokes the asset's head.

Not a word has been spoken, but this slave learns that its Owner, its Master, still cares for it! For a slave, one who knows that, sometime, its Owner's hand will wield a whip, this knowledge is what will sustain it. A slave will be alert to tones of voice, turns of phrase, body movements and, perhaps, even the alignment of the phases of the moon to keep this information fresh.

The first course is a shrimp salad. Master uses the tiny, three-tined cocktail fork to spear one, dips it into the spicy cocktail sauce he loves, and devours it. A moment later, a similar presentation appears before this slave, and it takes it gently from the fork. This slave's Master has signaled that he retains his sense of responsibility for his asset! His asset's muscles and mind relax with this good news!

Similar presentations follow for the garden salad (Roquefort dressing: one of this slave's favorites), soup, and a baked white fish with carrots and broccoli. Master sips a white wine; his asset enjoys cold water. There are also bites of warm dinner rolls.

Comfortable silence reigns throughout dinner. Master leans back as the last dish is removed and opens a conversation.

"I enjoyed that meal. Slave, did you notice that Chef provided one of your favorites tonight?"

It takes this asset a moment to recall the dishes, identify the salad dressing, and answer its Master. "Yes, Master, your slave appreciated the salad dressing. At the appropriate time, your slave will express its thanks to Chef for his thoughtfulness."

Master nods. "We did this to show how many people here at the Enterprises are involved with you. What you do or don't do has an impact, an effect, on people all over this building and out to our projects. You saw many of our Project Leaders at the Round-up meeting. They are depending on your skills and efforts to pass messages up and down the informal lines of communication that any group of people uses. The Security Service, the ladies in the Concierge Service, even the kids we hire as Go-Fors, know about you. The new slaves you helped introduce to slavery last month depend on you for guidance. Your crime was not simply against your Owner, it was against this community. That is why your correction was so long and so involved.

"When you first entered slavery, your trainers had some talks and instructions for you. Apparently, you did not fully understand the meanings and implications of those talks. Now, with your correction putting you back at Square One, I would like to repeat those talks. Perhaps, this time, you will understand more completely. So, for this evening, all your speech rituals and restrictions are off. We will speak easily and directly, person to person. Do you understand, and, more importantly, do you agree?"

The reply is en route as soon as there is breath to power it. "Please, Master, I understand and agree. Speak easily and directly, all rituals and restrictions set aside. Thank you, Master."

I am overwhelmed! Over my period of slavery, I have heard many stories about other slaves, how they succeeded or failed. Only now — perhaps — can I appreciate the lessons behind each story, can I see how each action affects others, can I accept my role in this community. I have not given all that much thought into why I couldn't understand this before; I've mostly pitied myself for screwing up so badly. That my Owner, my Master, wants to talk with me about these basics of my slavery emphasizes the importance of these ideas.

My Master nods and continues. "Julie, I've heard you say the Laws of Slavery. I've watched the feeds from the slave corridor showing your interactions with those three newbies. I know you have the legal stuff about slavery down pretty well. Now, what I'd like to know is whether you have any thoughts about the ideas, the conceptions, we have about slavery. Why do you think we keep slaves in the Enterprises?"

I take my usual breath and open my mouth — and then shut it. I have not thought about this at all! Well, there is the obvious stuff, but Anne told me immediately to get my mind "up and out of the gutter" that first night. My face must be showing my confusion, because Master grins and waves his hand.

"OK, it seems obvious that you haven't got a clue about this. But, you actually should. We've told you many times that we want you to have your Master at the center of your universe. That may be a grandiloquent way of putting it, but what do you think we mean by that?"

I do my breath thing and try to answer. "Please, Master, I thought that you wanted me to give up thoughts about what I wanted, that you wanted me to concentrate on what you wanted or needed. I thought the idea was for me to be constantly checking and attending to whatever you were doing, or were planning, so that I could have anything you wanted or needed ready when you called for it." I sit back in the Position just a bit, pretty sure I've gotten it right.

The nice smile warms my Master's face. "All right, I'll accept that for starters. Now, why would we want you as a slave to perform those functions? After all, we do have lots of regular workers we've hired at the Enterprises."

Damn! I've had enough oral exams and conversations with the law partners to know that this isn't going to end well. These conversations are just to push me towards a point where I have to admit there is something I don't know.

That's when the penny drops. Master wants me to admit I don't know. It's pretty obvious: if I understood why he wanted a slave, I could have — would have — done a better job. I was always focusing on the task, like making the Minister happy. I had never considered why it had to be me who would make the Minister happy.

Master is reading my face, seeing the confusion, uncertainty, and the sadness that I am feeling. My Inner Goddess, usually a help with a fast retort, is nowhere to be found.

"Julie, I've been watching your face, and it has been quite a sight these last few minutes. So many emotions, so many thoughts are reflected there. OK, let me see if I can explain the ideas behind your slavery. See if they make sense to you.

"Now, it's always nice to have someone available for the physical pleasure parts of life. As a slave, you take the training we provide for the various Arts and apply them as we like. I'm proud of this part of your work. From the Empress on down to the salesman from the UK, everyone has rated your work quite highly. But, of course, we can hire girls — from agencies to kids fresh on the streets — for this work. Why do we prefer slaves?

"It isn't for the talents or the bodies that we prefer slaves. The point is the owning of a slave. The fun comes from selecting the slave, trying to see if they have the emotional structure we want, training them to do what we want, rather than what they might like. For each slave, can we create the person we want? Not only for particular tasks, but for particular bodies. Can we produce a slave with the strength, the flexibility, the desires to do what we like, when we like, and enjoy what we want her to enjoy?

"And, when we have a bad day and want to take it out on somebody, we have whipping boys or girls who have to take it and have to say 'Thank you.' That gives us such a powerful feeling that the bad day disappears. Do you see how real, how marvelous, any of this is to us?"

My answer comes a bit haltingly. "It's all about the power exchange, isn't it? I had thought it was about getting the task completed 'up to standards.'" I shake my head. "Master, it's not about the climax, the orgasm, is it? It's about the making love, isn't it?"

Master's smile widens a bit. "My dear, I think you're beginning to see a lot more of what this kind of slavery involves. I like the way you just put it. I may just add that to my future welcomes for new slaves.

"Now, we have a new slave in the room you used for the Minister. She has done well in her Anal Arts class, but not so well in her Oral Arts class. We want her to know, to accept, that her Path in Life now is to perform these arts well. She has been told nothing about tonight's assignment. We're going to use her for both those arts. I'm going to take her anal virginity and she's going to lick you to a good orgasm. I want you to explain her task to her and supervise her efforts. Do you understand?"

It takes me a moment to grasp the implications of Master's quiet command. My Master trusts me to supervise a new slave's training? He wants me to have an orgasm? My Inner Goddess is astounded: It means he wants you to join him in making this new girl into a proper slave! It means I am accepting what a slave does, what a slave thinks. In a way, it means letting go of myself as an individual. I will become a part of my Master.

I have taken too long to process this revelation. My Master suggests, "Perhaps a few taps with a cane would help you understand and answer?"

My understanding clarifies: with the cane, or a whip, or some other instrument always available, I really don't have any choice; I am a slave, and I will conform to my Master's desires. My answer spills out. "Yes, Master, I understand. Instruct and supervise the new slave. Thank you, Master." No other answer is possible.

My Master's smile returns. "I didn't think any differently."

My Master stands and signals his slave to rise. A twirl of his hand makes me turn to present my cuffed hands. He unlocks the left wrist and "parks" the cuff conveniently on my right wrist. He turns to start the short trip to the "Minister's room" and I follow, at his side and a step behind.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Chapter Sixty: I Supervise

Three, the redhead from Ireland, bought with virtually no training, is waiting for us. She is naked and without any restraint, none being needed in a locked room. Her Position One is quite nice, but I can see some trembling: she is scared and unsure, a state a new slave is almost always in. Master allows me to approach the girl, and I pat her on the head, as I would have wanted. It does calm her a bit.