About six months ago, I had a meeting with the Ministry of Accountancy where I surrendered all of my debts - to the tune of 50,000 dollars - and dealt with the Court for some sort of consolidated repayment plan. Under the statutes, they didn't have to. Many of the debts were beyond the 120 day limit for appeal and one was even to the Ministry of Social Protection. I wasn't too surprised when they denied my claim for repayment installments, but I was terrified when they ordered, quite casually, the seizing of all my personal assets and a sentence of 30 days in the Ministry's Behavioral Correction's facility.
My saving grace what that I had 30 days to come up with the balance before everything I owned would disappear, I lost custody of my three children and became a slave to the Regent cleaning highways and rest stops or having new drugs tested on me. I made every effort to find the money, begging borrowing and - sadly - stealing it where I could. But by the 25th day, I knew I couldn't get all 50 thousand. I appealed to the court to accept 22 thousand and extend my deadline, but it was too late.
While I stood in the courtroom before three men in powdered wigs, enduring their stares that seemed to spend more time between my breasts than my eyes, I felt as though I were simply another case to be refiled before lunch. The lead jurist was a burly man in his late sixties that all but stated that I wasn't worthy of a third chance and someone like me should have done anything possible to repay the debt before losing everything. I could only wonder what he was thinking I could have done beyond ruining every friendship and straining ties with my family to repay debts in amounts most of my debtors lose over the course of a day's production. I left quite lost and powerless.
As I left the court room, I noticed a man in a dark suit with sunglasses and a goatee beard sitting in the gallery, writing on a note pad. He looked up at me and smiled as I passed. He followed me with his eyes as I slipped out the double doors and made notes the entire time. I turned back around as the doors were closing and watched him rise, turning to the court as he did. With that, I turned around and held my head up for the walk home. When I got there, I wept.
The order came by courier the next morning. It wasn't the order I had expected. It didn't say to surrender myself to the Ministry as it should have. It didn't say that I should prepare for movers to take away my home. It didn't announce that I would never see my children ever again. It said, very simply, that I was under house arrest until further action was filed with the Court. The courier, acting under the authority of the Court, made me sit down on my front steps while he locked a plastic ring around my ankle intended to track my location. I looked up and saw my neighbors and passersby watching him clamp the blinking ring around my ankle. I felt ashamed, as though someone had stitched a scarlet "A" on my breast. I knew the punishment had begun.
The courier couldn't explain what the Order meant and he referred to the name on the bottom: Dr. Anaxandros of Darwin Street. I tried to call, but there was no answer. I knew the address was less than a mile from my home, but I was not permitted to leave. So I went about my business, trying Anaxandros' office from time to time. Not expecting movers or police, I changed into jeans and a T-shirt, listened to some Vivaldi and returned to boxing up my belongings in case there was a change.
About noon, there was a knock at my front door. As I rose to answer, my heart pounding in my chest, it opened and a voice bellowed, "Hello? Ms. Denis?" I stood up quickly, walking around the corner to see the man from the courtroom coming up the stairs toward me, a broad smile on his face. He still wore the sunglasses and carried the note pad with him. He must have been startled by my expression because he stopped on the last step and said, "Don't worry. Its all good. I'm not here to take you away. That's all been taken care of."
I breathed a sigh. I was still nervous what was going on and why he was here. He was about six foot, wore a suit pretty well. About average build for a bureaucrat in his early thirties, but he had a disarming smile. I felt I could trust him...to a degree.
"Miss Denis...Sandi. My name is Dr. Anaxandros. I specialize in personal and group therapy. My work involves training people and companies to be more financially and socially responsible. The Court has seen fit to allow me to take your case for you and passed your sentence to me."
"What does that mean?" I asked, assuming from his smile that this was a good thing.
"Well, Sandi. I've covered your debts. As far as repayment, your credit is clear and no further action will be taken against you by the Court. As a result of the hearings, your six months incarceration will be...well I cant' find a pleasant way to put this...with me."
I stood there. He looked me over. For the first time, I had doubts. I was a bit nervous. He allowed himself, very casually, to look over my body, lingering on my breasts and my hips. I felt my face grow hot. "What does that mean exactly?"
"Do you always keep your guests in the hallway this long? I'd love to continue this conversation, but I would like to sit down."
I returned to reality of formality for a moment, apologizing like a little girl and escorting him to the living room. He walked behind me and I could feel his eyes on my ass. My jeans were tighter than they needed to be and I felt maybe I could get into his better graces by swinging it a little more than usual down the hall.
"Nice place" he said, looking at my certificates on the wall and the art hanging beside and across from them. As we entered the box-filled living room, I turned, giving him a smile I hope didn't look too nervous. "Tea?"
"Thank you, no. I've been in court finalizing these papers all morning and I'd like to sit down." I didn't notice before in the dark hallway, but he had a black satchel over his shoulder that he took off and set next to his chair as he sat. I stood for a moment uncertain what I should do.
"I can see you're a little nervous. That's to be expected. The first thing I would like you to understand..." he smiled again sweetly and politely. "...and pardon my frankness, Sandi, is that you are now property of Anaxandros Industries and serve directly me in all business-related matters."
I blinked, unsure what to say. He pulled out papers from his note pad. I recognized them as court orders from the black headings at the top and the embosses seals. I took a chair across from him.
He continued. "I've also been given permission to classify you as test subject for our new therapy program."
"What?!" I exclaimed. I covered my mouth and stared.
"Did my words not make sense? Should I speak slower, Sandi? Smaller words, maybe?"