An interracial fantasy created by International Writers Curt B, Julie Van and Wunderboi
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Chapter 17
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Gerald stood at the kitchen sink and looked out of the window but did not see anything as he daydreamed his way through the task of washing-up and cleaning after yet another very satisfactory Sunday afternoon 'garden party'. The guests had all departed leaving him alone, just as he liked it, and he knew everyone had fun (some at his expense, he chuckled) but now with the chill of the evening having set in they had things to do elsewhere that didn't include him which was fine; he loved to be left alone with his thoughts.
He took a scouring pad in his rubber-gloved hand and focused his attention on dislodging the charred meat that was stubbornly adhered to the grill. It was a task that didn't require much concentration which is why once again his mind drifted and he was soon lost in the reverie of reliving the past year and Sally and his return to Hawksville. There were some aspects that he was a little hazy about but in general, he thought it to have been a comforting journey that had begun with the rescue of his life from a dead-end job to where he now was, an executive with a prestigious company which was destined to become even more successful. He had been told by his bosses that their success was entirely due to having good people such as himself who made such a significant contribution. He felt very good knowledge about that and he convinced himself that is why he was getting all these benefits.
It was Sally's sister Janice who last year had gotten in touch and mentioned that her company, Rhino Industries, was recruiting and needed people with Gerald's financial skills and experience. He followed up on her suggestion and sent in his CV and he and Sally were both extremely excited to hear back that his application had been accepted.
He mused that at the time he didn't know too much about the black-owned South African firm which had opened up in his old hometown. He had done a little research which revealed that they had an assembly plant and distribution centre for a growing line of highly popular electronics products which, at the time, was focused on their flagship product, an innovative cell phone. There were other products in the pipeline such as flat-screen TVs and sound systems and it was rumoured they were looking to branch out into several other markets, hence their need for additional workers and staff to help oversee everything. What stood out about the firm was the fact that they favoured hiring local black residents as opposed to whites; a policy well received both locally and by the state which was desperate to cut the rate of minority unemployment which had arisen after the closing of so many textile and furniture firms. However, when 'needs must' and the skills they required were not present they had no qualms in recruiting qualified whites especially when they were of the married kind!
As he scrubbed and scrapped at the obstinate crust on the grill he could hear the unmistakable sounds of bedsprings squeaking drifting down the hallway from one of the bedrooms. He smiled to himself thinking that it was most probably Sally 'entertaining' Able, their neighbour; they just couldn't get enough of each other was his thought as he turned his attention back to his soapy task and his daydreams.
Rhino's offer was a 'no brainer' and he immediately handed in his notice and together with Sally they'd driven back to Hawksville to begin the process of re-establishing themselves back in the town where they had both been born and had grown up.
He remembered that on arrival at the firm's offices they were directed by the receptionist to take a seat in the modern-looking lobby where they saw a display of the firm's products. Their attention had been drawn to a huge flat-screen TV, which was showing an ever-changing display of ads touting the firm's various products. As they watched the ever-changing display they had failed to notice the low-frequency hum coming through the speakers. It wasn't an unpleasant sounding noise it had a rather soothing effect, so soothing in fact that the couple both soon found themselves fixated on a rapidly swirling, multi-coloured rainbow. They later confessed to each other than with the comfort of the armchairs and the warmth of the foyer that they may have nodded off into a shallow sleep.
Gerald's musing as he stood at the sink would have taken longer had he known what had occurred next for, in reality, the 'shallow sleep' was a deep trance of which he had no conscious recollection. To them, the swirling pattern continued for what seemed to be just a few seconds but it continued for several minutes. In that time the light pattern of lights had completed a process of hypnotizing them both and under the trance was programming their brains, flooding them with an array of new thoughts and images which completely transformed the way their minds saw things. Old ideas and beliefs were quickly erased and replaced by a new set of values in keeping with Rhino's owners long term goals of removing racial prejudices; opening their minds to a new set of religious beliefs and, most central, the belief that whites were inferior to blacks in all regards but most importantly when it came to all things sexual.
After what seemed a few seconds the screen reverted to displaying the same swirling light show pattern as before and the accompanying faint humming sounds faded to be replaced once again by the constantly changing series of product ads.
Gerald recalled that at this point they had both felt a jolt as they emerged from their slumber and that a tall, good looking black man was standing before them. He introduced himself as Mark Brown, the firm's Personnel Manager, and laughing at their surprise awakening commented that, yes, the office was rather warm but brushing their embarrassment to one side invited them to follow him to his office as he had some important paperwork they'd both needed to complete.
Once in his office, the first thing Mark told them after congratulating Gerald on accepting the job offer was that as part of his employment package the firm wanted to provide them one of the newly remodelled homes in a racially integrated subdivision, a benefit provided to their favoured new employees. The particular house being offered had three bedrooms, two full baths, a large backyard complete with in-ground swimming pool.
Sally and Gerald had looked at each other in disbelief at their good fortune. "Say no more, where do I sign?" said Gerald with as much dignity as he could muster. Such an offer, even if it might be conditional and come with strings attached, they didn't need to discuss much for it would have been crazy to turn down a chance to work for this firm.