I showed up at bankruptcy court a little early for my 8:30 hearing, so as not to be flustered. I'd dressed nicely, business-like, a dark pencil skirt, crisp white blouse, stockings, heels. My long dark hair was in a sensible ponytail. I planned to give the impression of a young woman who wanted to do the right thing, but circumstances had conspired against her, overwhelming her feeble femininity. A girl who was very sorry, your honour. I had a bottle of expensive champagne waiting in the fridge back in my flat to celebrate my new-found financial freedom when I got home.
I checked the list on the corkboard outside the courtroom - there was one woman ahead of me - and I went in and waited at the back. A clerk was reading the list of debts. She was six months behind on her rent, she owed almost ten thousand on a car she'd totaled, and she had ridiculous credit card debt, including expensive clothing shops. I could see her at the front of the small courtroom, her back to the dozen or so members of the audience, facing the judge sitting high on the bench. She was fairly short, and pleasingly plump, with straight blonde hair, and dressed smartly in a business suit with the skirt well below the knee.
"Total debts, your honour, are seventy three thousand, one hundred and twenty seven pounds and sixteen pence," concluded the clerk.
Silly girl. Anything under fifty grand is a regular, dischargeable bankruptcy, anything over has to be paid for at auction.
She knew what was coming - I could see her shoulders shaking as she held back the tears.
The judge looked over his reading glasses down at her.
"Miss Barker, the evidence before this court is that you have lived well beyond your means, spending frivolously without thought for the hard-working men and women left paying for your excesses. Their losses must be made whole. The remedy the law allows is that you will be taken from this place to the public auction house, and there be sold into slavery for a period of six years."
She gave a loud sob, and shook her head violently. On either side I saw bailiffs moving toward her.
The judge continued, "The proceeds of your auction will be distributed among your many creditors with any remaining balance being held in trust to help you rebuild your life when you regain your freedom. Proceed!" He banged his gavel.
The two bailiffs took hold of Miss Barker by the shoulders and brought her forward before the judge's bench. Before she could even react, one of them roughly pulled her jacket off, and the other cuffed her hands behind her back. One then pulled out a pair of scissors of the type paramedics use to cut clothes off injured persons, and quickly cut away her cream-coloured camisole top, while the other pulled down her skirt, leaving her in just her underwear and tights. They turned her toward the audience. Her pretty face was contorted in anguish, tears streaking the mascara down her cheeks. She tried to drop to the floor and curl up in a ball, but they were ready for her, and held her up for our inspection. She had a nice full figure, wide hips, and a curvy belly. I could see her bra held sizable tits. I'm straight, but I couldn't wait to see them.
Three more snips, and one bailiff yanked the bra away. She squealed and squirmed, and her big tits and belly jiggled deliciously. The taller bailiff grabbed her under the armpits and lifted her off her feet, and the other crouched in front of her, and in one swift, practiced motion, pulled her tights, shoes and panties down and off her, revealing a mass of dark pubes (ha - I knew she wasn't a natural blonde!). She kicked her legs in a futile attempt to escape, but only succeeded in revealing more of herself to us, and increasing her shame and humiliation. I Idly wondered what it felt like to be stripped bare in public like that, and I had to admit, there was a certain tingle in my crotch at the thought. Maybe something to roleplay with my boyfriend...
The bailiffs tried to walk her toward the door, but she struggled and squirmed, so they had to pick her up, one on each side, one arm around her back, the other holding up her knees, so her legs were spread wide. Despite her wailing, there was a hint of excitement in her eyes, and I definitely saw a sparkle of wetness in the pink between her gaping, furry pussy lips. I thought it would be fun to own a girl like that, if I had the money.
Out the door they took her, and off to slave-processing.
In my early twenties, me and my girlfriends would sometimes go and watch the public parts of the processing, usually just to ogle naked men being measured and tested, but occasionally to gloat over the fate of an acquaintance, or even friend who'd been caught shoplifting and been sentenced to a month or two. There's nothing quite as satisfying as seeing the girl you caught your boyfriend with being paraded naked and humiliated to the auction block.
I was lost in my thoughts when I heard my name called by the clerk, "The next matter before this court, Miss Jennifer Simons."
I stepped forward to the dock, which was really just a table facing the judge. The bailiffs had retaken their places on each side of the courtroom. I flashed them each a quick smile - they wouldn't be needed for this case.
"Your Honour," read the clerk, "Miss Simon appears before the court to beg discharge of debts totalling below fifty thousand pounds. She has no material assets beyond the allowed clothing and personal effects." Damn right - I made sure to only spend money on having a good time!
He proceeded to read the rather short list of my credit card balances, and confirmed the total owing of forty nine thousand, eight hundred and fifty three pounds. Nice - I'd really done well!
The judge frowned at me. "Miss Simons, it appears you have successfully gamed our legal system, and in effect, stolen nearly fifty thousand pounds from your fellow citizens. Your kind disgust me, but I am left with no choice but to discharge your debt." He raised his gavel.
There was a sudden banging of a door and a commotion behind me.
"Your honour," called a reedy voice, "I beg to be heard on this matter!"
I spun around - what the fuck?
A skinny, disheveled-looking middle-aged man in an ill-fitting suit scurried down the aisle waving a sheaf of papers, and stood panting beside me.
The judge frowned at him. "What's the meaning of this?"
The man collected himself. He passed the papers to the clerk, took a deep breath, and spoke.
"Your honor, the Borough Of Wandsworth has been pursuing a debt incurred by Miss Simons for the past four years."
"What is the nature of this debt?"
"A parking fine, plus fees and interest."