All rights reserved. Other than downloading one copy for personal enjoyment, no part of this story may be reproduced or transmitted by any means, except for reviews, without the written permission of the author. As in real life, the sexual themes unfold gradually and are kept to a realistic level. Comments on the story are appreciated and may be addressed to the author, Dwight Wilson, at adm2780@yahoo.com
This story contains descriptions of consensual sexual contact between males, adult and minor. As such it is homoerotic, designed for the entertainment of mature adults. If you are not of legal age to read such material, or if the subject matter would create irresolvable personal moral dilemmas, please exit now.
Note: I would like to thank Colin and John for their continued support and patience while I try to write this story. Their support and efforts at editing and correcting my errors not only keep me in line, but contribute significantly to a better story.
Chapter Fifty-Eight: New Horizons
Jeremy was almost overwhelmed by the number of people and the festivities at his home. He had seen parties or celebrations this big and bigger, but his training made him block out everything except what people demanded of him. The only times he had attended parties like this was when he was part of the entertainment. This time, he was the center of attention and it was almost too much, both mentally and emotionally.
Since he was awakened that morning, everything that happened or was said was about him. Never had so many people expressed an interest in what happened to him or how he felt. He was so frightened during the hearing that most of it was a blur. He remembered the judges asking him some questions and trying to answer them as honestly as he knew how. He remembered thinking it was strange that adults would ask him questions. The only time adults asked him anything in the past two years was to ask him if he knew how worthless he was. The intent was to admonish him for not swallowing fast enough or not clamping down to make himself tight for them. He did remember the judge telling him he was free and that his name was Jeremy Marshall. He also remembered breaking down at the end and crying so hard it hurt.
Now was not a time to hurt. Now was a time to smile and be happy. Surrounding him were his friends Ted and Derek and their families. He also recognized Mark, Clayton and Clayton's mother. Suddenly, he panicked; he couldn't remember Clayton's mother's name. Then he smiled because he knew he would be forgiven for the lapse, not punished. There was another boy there. Jeremy studied the boy but couldn't remember why he looked familiar. This was another lapse for which he would have been punished. Jeremy began to realize how much his life had changed and was changing. Clayton walked over; his arm was around the shoulders of the boy stranger.
"Jer, congratulations, man. This has gotta be a red-letter day for ya, huh?" Clayton patted Jeremy on the shoulder and showed Jeremy the biggest smile he'd ever seen. Clayton was really happy for the boy. "Jer, I don't guess you remember my brother, Marich. He was here the first day you came, but I don't think you were in any condition to remember any body. Marich is the same age as you."
The two younger boys greeted one another, hesitantly, as younger kids often do. Jeremy noticed that Marich had an olive toned complexion and the darkest eyes he had ever seen. His hair was almost black; it was also thick and wavy. He also knew that a boy with Marich's looks would have been very popular and well used as a pleasure slave. Ted and Derek introduced themselves and Elizabeth's two boys appeared. The seven boys formed a circle to talk about whatever it is boys their age talk about when standing in the middle of a room over flowing with adults. Soon, a couple of the boys spotted the punch bowl and food. Seven boys then focused on a single goal; the buffet pulled them like a magnet. After filling their plates, the boys decided to escape to the patio where the adults wouldn't bother them and continued their conversation.
Arthur, Linda and Daniel moved through the room introducing everyone. The intent had been to have a small gathering to celebrate, but someone forgot to define the term 'small'. No one really cared because the event was momentous enough to be celebrated for more than one evening. Two open bars had been set up and stayed busy. After a while, Arthur tapped his glass to get everyone's attention and called the boys in. Jeremy stood in front of Arthur and Linda, with Arthur's arm draped over the boy's shoulder. Arthur expressed his and Linda's gratitude at the support they and Jeremy had received and thanked everyone for coming to help them celebrate a momentous day. Everyone agreed that it was a very appropriate toast and quite short for an attorney.
During the toast Arthur mentioned that Jeremy would be going to the hospital the next day to have the last vestiges of his slavery days removed; his chip and tattoo. Arthur noticed the concerned look on the boy's face and knew he needed to talk with him later.
Daniel and Amos Crawford stood together talking when Daniel spotted Mary, Clayton and Marich's mother. Daniel motioned for her to join them and then introduced her to Amos.
"Amos, Mary is Clayton's mother. He's one of the boy's we picked up while working with Captain Jackson. Clay has spent the past several days back home. Of course, Mary wants him back home and we wanted to determine if it would be feasible for him to return. Can you tell us how the visit worked out, Mary?"
"Overall, I don't think we could have asked for anything better. We did have one short period where there was some trouble, but it wasn't Clay's fault. His father, who was the one responsible for Clay being on the streets in the first place, came by the house unexpectedly. When he saw Clay, he went ballistic and we had a show down. I told him how ashamed I was of him; but, mostly, I was ashamed of myself for not standing up to him more the night he threw Clay out. When I threatened to call the police on him for breaking the court order keeping him away from the house, he left. Clay was pretty shook-up, but he settled down and everything worked out from there."
"Mary," Amos spoke with a concerned voice, "you say he has a court order requiring him to maintain a distance from the house. Does he have visitation rights with the boys?"
"Only with Marich, nothing with Clay. He threw Clay out of the house and disowned him. That was the main reason for our separation and now pending divorce."
"So, you're telling me the only reason the boy was on the streets was because of the father's actions, correct?" Mary nodded. "I'll assume you know that he is still responsible for the boy. There's never been a TPR hearing for Clay. If he tries to give you any more trouble about the boy, why don't you suggest that he discuss abandonment with his attorney? This state frowns on parents not fulfilling their responsibilities to their children. Have papers been filed for the boy to return home?"
"Not yet," Daniel answered. "This was a trial run to see how everyone handled the situation. The plan is for Clay to speak with a counselor when we return. Their conversation is protected and Clay knows that. The counselor will then give me his recommendation. We also thought that Marich should be able to speak freely with a counselor."
"Sounds like a good approach for both boys." Amos commented. "However, my concern at the moment would be with the father. Mary, has your attorney mentioned anything about support or visitation rights?"
"He told me there is a statutory schedule for support and I told him I'm not interested in getting any support. I also understand there are statutory provisions regarding visitation. Right now, my real concern is not with Marich, it's with Clay. His father will not agree to see him and I really don't want to see Clay hurt like that."
"I fully agree." Amos responded. "At least, with the part about Clay getting hurt. However, even if you don't need any child support to take care of the boys, have you thought about taking the money and placing it in a trust for their educations? You know, bad things can happen to good people, even those that own their own business, regardless of how successful they are. Put the money into a trust and if it's needed later, it will be there. As for visitation, consider making it a requirement that he sees both boys at the same time, or he doesn't visit either of them. The boys can look out for one another. Mind you, I'm only giving you food for thought; I'm not interfering in any way with an attorney-client relationship."
Daniel looked at Amos and laughed. "Amos, if you do ever decide to interfere, let me know so I can run far away, okay?"
As the evening wore on it became obvious that a decision had been made to leave all the boys with Arthur and Linda as support for Jeremy. The boy was to have surgery the next day and the other boys would help keep him distracted for the evening. Ted's and Derek's parents left, as well as some of the other neighbors. Arthur escorted the guests to the door and realized that many of the newspaper people and photographers were still outside. Each time a person came out of the door they were almost attacked by the group hungry for any kind of news or pictures. Arthur knew people would be curious about Jeremy, but hadn't anticipated this level of activity.
After helping a couple to clear their home, Arthur approached Daniel, Elizabeth and a few others with his concerns.
"I'm worried about the group of people outside. Every time someone leaves here they are almost attacked. What would those people do if Jeremy were to walk out front? We need to be able to protect him; particularly tomorrow."
"You know, we have at least two other boys close to Jeremy's size." Daniel began. "Suppose we dress them the same, put a coat over their head so no one can identify one boy from the others, and then put them in separate cars for the trip to the hospital?"
"Daniel, don't you think that maybe you've been watching too many cloak and dagger movies?" Walter asked with a chuckle.
"Maybe, but it works in the movies, why not now?" Everyone realized Daniel was serious. "The main thing will be to move him away from here. When it's over and assuming he's up to it, he can travel to Fort Ogden with Mark. No one will bother him there."
"When is Mark going back?" Linda asked.
"It could be as early as tomorrow afternoon." Linda looked surprised.
"But, he's just been set free and we haven't had any time with him yet."
"Mo-om" Daniel cried out. "He's been here for several weeks. To you he should be no different now than he was yesterday or last week. I thought we agreed he should go there and we pushed this freedom hearing to avoid him having any conflicts with the police there."
"Well, you're right Daniel, but still . ." and everyone began to laugh at Linda who was rapidly regaining her motherly instincts. While they laughed, Arthur saw Jeremy walk up to the patio door and signaled for the boy to come in.
"Sir, can we go swimming, please?" Arthur wrapped an arm around the boy's shoulder and pulled him in close.
"You may on one condition. You must stop addressing me and talking to me like I am your master. You are a free boy now, you have no masters. Can you do that?"
"Yes, sir." Jeremy answered without emotion and while looking Arthur straight in the eye. The others laughed and the boy didn't understand why.
Before he said anything else, Arthur looked the boy in the face and had to smile. "Jeremy, would you boys like to stay in the guest house tonight? We'll let Daniel and Mark use your room; just for tonight, though."
"Yes, sir." Arthur could only laugh and waved for the boy to go back out and play.
Soon, seven naked and excited boys came running out of the guesthouse and jumped into the pool. The adults sat around and enjoyed watching boys being boys. They grabbed at one another, forcing each other under the water. Someone always had to be doing a cannonball off the diving board. Arthur watched Jeremy at play, he had never seen the boy this relaxed. He remembered when he first tried to teach Jeremy how to swim and how frightened the boy was. Now, he took to the water as though he were born to it.
When Elizabeth, Walter and Amos left, Daniel said he was about wiped out from a long and satisfying day. Arthur decided he needed to get the boys to start settling down or they would never get to sleep. He let the boys know it was time for bed but he called Jeremy over to speak with him. Arthur sat on the end of the chaise and held the hips of a very wet, very naked, and very happy twelve year old boy.
"Jeremy, I wanted to talk with you for a minute. I noticed earlier when I said something about getting the last vestiges of slavery removed, you had a very concerned and almost frightened look on your face. Is there something you want to tell me?" Jeremy looked at Arthur and then down at his feet.
"You know, I thought we had an agreement. If there was something bothering you, you would tell me and then I would do what I could to take care of things. If you don't talk to me, how can I help? You have to trust me at some point." Arthur waited and could tell Jeremy was reliving a very bad memory. It was bad enough that the boy was almost in tears.
"Jeremy . . . come on now, trust me. What's wrong? Did they hurt you when you were chipped?" Jeremy just nodded. When Arthur put a finger under the boy's chin and lifted it, Jeremy fell into Arthur, wrapping his arms around the man's neck and cried. Arthur held him for a moment and then placed a hand just under the twelve year old bubble butt, and lifted the boy onto his lap. He let Jeremy cry it out before speaking.
"What happened Jeremy, talk to me, son." Jeremy left his head on Arthur's shoulder and stared into the night as he spoke.
"About the third day I was at the place with a bunch of other boys. They kept all of us in the same room. We ate there and slept there. All of us was naked; they said we didn't need no clothes. A man came in and said we was all goin' to get chipped and numbered and that number'd be our name from then on. A bunch of the boys was cryin'; I couldn't cry no more." Jeremy paused for a moment and Arthur said nothing; he just held the boy tight and rubbed his back. Jeremy needed to say this his way.
"When they made us line up and start down the hall we saw two big white doors. Every time they opened we could hear boys in there screamin' and cryin' 'cause they was bein' hurt. I remember one time thinkin' a tattoo was cool, but I got scared, real scared. I wanted my momma or dad to come get me so bad, but they said I didn't have a mom or dad any more. We just kept walkin', real slow and all I heard was boys screamin' and cryin'. Some of the boys got so scared they got sick or peed right there on the floor. When they did, they got beat and beat real bad." Jeremy took his head off Arthur's shoulder and tried to sit up some, but remained in Arthur's lap. The adults inside watched.
"Then I didn't really even know what sex was. I'd never been with a man and never played with another boy. Some of the boys in the neighborhood did, but they said I wasn't old enough or big enough yet. When I went through the doors all I could see was this boy layin' on a table. There was a man standin' in front of him holdin' his arms down; I could see there was somethin' stuffed in his mouth, but you could still hear him screamin' some. His legs was spread out by these shiny pipes stickin' up off the table and another man was pushin' down on his back. Another man was standin' between his legs doin' somethin' to him. I got so scared I peed on the floor and got beat with a paddle." Jeremy paused a moment to sniff. Arthur rubbed the boy's back and pulled him in close.
"When they told me to move, I just stood there. All I remember is bein' picked up and dropped on the table and somethin' was pushed in my mouth. I started screamin' before they touched me. Somethin' cold and hard was pushed in my hole. I never hurt like I hurt then. They didn't care how much I screamed or it hurt. One of 'em said for me to just wait till they popped my cherry. I didn't know what he was talkin' about. When I felt that thing come out of my butt, they moved the table up and somebody grabbed my ankle. Somehow they used somethin' to bend my toes back and then they burned me. It was my tattoo number bein' put on. They told me the only way it'd ever come off was for somebody to cut my toes off or the front of my foot." Jeremy then looked at Arthur and began to cry hard.
"Easy, son, easy. Now I understand." Arthur whispered in the boy's ear and patted his back. Then he picked the boy up and carried him as they circled the pool and Arthur continued to talk to him.
"Jeremy, we didn't know that had happened to you. If we had, we would have taken the time to explain more about what's going to happen tomorrow. Listen to me Jeremy, I promise you, cross my heart and hope to die if I'm not telling you the truth, no one is going to hurt you like that; we will not let it happen. No one will cut off your toes and no one will cut off part of your foot. Do you want to know what's going to happen tomorrow?" Jeremy nodded, but said nothing.
"In the morning, you can not have anything to eat or drink. You and I will go into the bathroom and I have to give you an enema to make sure you're clean. Do you understand what that is?" Jeremy nodded. "When we go to the hospital they will put a needle in your arm. A tube will be attached to the needle and they will give you something to make you very sleepy. You may still be aware of a lot of things going on around you, but it will be like a dream. When they put that hard thing in your hole, they implanted what is called a chip. A chip allows the authorities to track a runaway slave. We are going to take your chip out." Arthur then didn't say anything for a few minutes, but strolled holding the boy.
"You will be taken into a room. You will be naked, and placed on a table. The table will not be cold. You may feel something, but it will only be like me touching you with my finger. The doctor is going to put a small rod in your hole," Arthur patted the boy's bottom, "and using a clamp on the rod, he will remove the chip. While you are still lying on the table, another doctor will remove the slave tattoo on your foot. You will still have your foot and all of your toes. I promise. And, you know what else?" Jeremy shook his head. "Linda and I will be there on either side of you holding your hand the whole time. One of us will always be with you. When it's over you will feel a little sore, but remember, it should be a good kind of sore. The doctor said it will take about three days for your foot to heal enough for you to walk comfortably. Can you handle that?"
"You'll be there the whole time? Promise?" Asked a very frightened little boy who was trying very hard to be brave.
"Promise. Now, why don't you run inside and say good night to everyone and then go join your friends. I bet they are waiting on you to have a good time."
The boys sat in the guesthouse waiting for Jeremy to join them. Occasionally, one of the boys peeked out the window and reported that Mr. Arthur was still talking with Jeremy. The boys sat around impatiently waiting. While they waited, Derek was enjoying watching all the young boy flesh bouncing around him; he particularly liked Elizabeth's two sons.
Elizabeth's boys had gone most of their lives without wearing any clothes. On rare occasions, Elizabeth made them put on clothes which they shed as soon as possible. Their almost perpetual state of undress had allowed them to get deep, even all-over tans that most boys envied. It also allowed them to experiment in ways their mother didn't know about and have experiences well beyond their years. Derek watched the boys and couldn't help it when the evidence of his interest began to grow. His own nakedness made it impossible to keep his secret.
Clayton read Derek like a flashing neon sign and suspected Ted to also be gay. Clayton made it a point to never judge someone else by their sexual preferences. He also knew that most of these boys were young enough they could just be experimenting with a new thrill and male-male sex was just a convenient outlet. Clayton couldn't help but smile as he watched the boys. What surprised him was when Marich leaned into him and remained there. The brothers had always been close, but this time was different; Marich had a boner and Clay wasn't sure what to do or say. Clay decided he had to move when he realized that his brother's boner was giving him one also. That was one of the big disadvantages to running free, it was impossible to hide certain feelings.
"Okay, guys, game time!" Clay announced. "Everybody, get on your knees then sit back on your ankles. Form a circle with your knees about twelve to fifteen inches apart. Your knees have to touch the guy on each side of you." The boys watched Clay and then Marich as they dropped to the floor. Ted joined them, followed by Derek and Elizabeth's boys. With a little shifting around, the boys formed a circle with their knees touching like Clay had instructed.
"Okay, good," Clay continued. "Take your left hand and arm and wrap them around the shoulder of the guy to your left; leave your right hand in your lap. Also, don't look around, you have to stare at the person in front of you. Now, use your right hand to reach over and grab the dick of the boy to your right, and hold it." The boys looked at one another, initially unsure. Each of them then developed a smile and reached for their neighbors package. Some of the boys made it a point to play with the whole package before settling down with a good drip on the pole. These actions caused the boys to break into giggling fits.
"Okay, now, don't squeeze, that's cheating. Just let your neighbor's dick rest gently in your hand. Close your fist just enough so the palm of your hand touches all the way around the pole. Make sure your fingers are up far enough to cover the head. Gently squeeze so your neighbor gets a good hardon. When you feel the dick you're holding get hard, say so and we'll keep going."
"Hey, Clay," Ted spoke up, "are we about to have a good old fashioned circle jerk?"
"Kind of, but the trick is to not shoot off. You shoot off, you lose. You lose, you got to kiss the ass of all the other boys. Kissin' ass means to pull his cheeks apart and kiss just above his pucker. The only guy that doesn't lose in this game is the last guy. First guy to shoot kisses everybody's ass. Second guy kisses the ass of the guys that held out longer than him, and so on. Everybody got it? Of course, the trick is to get the guy to your right to shoot before you do. You can not pump him. All you can do is squeeze the pole and rub the flat of your thumb over his head."
"Yeah, but what about these two? They aren't old enough to shoot, yet." Marich complained.
"Believe me, I've seen them at Fort Ogden. They may not shoot, but they can have one wild dry orgasm and you'll know when it happens. They scream like banshees. Alright, remember to look only at the guy sitting straight in front of you. If you shoot, don't stop workin' on the guy you're holdin'. If the guy you're holdin' shoots, still keep goin'; it'll drive him nuts. Begin."
Six boys sat in a circle with one arm over their buddy's shoulder and the other hand holding another buddy's pride and joy. They stared at one another and soon the giggles began. Following the giggles were low moans and whimpers mixed with quick breaths. Heads rolled back in pleasure, mixed with trying to concentrate so they weren't the first to shoot a load of sweet boy juices. Derek began to moan and then whimper. Marich was working on Derek and enjoyed hearing the boy vocalize his pleasure. This was a game Marich and Clay had played many times and both were very good at focusing on something other than the pleasure emanating from between their legs.
Derek became the loudest. His cries of pleasure pushed the other boys to vocalize their feelings. Ted's head lolled from side to side as he bit his lip and held his breath, trying to control the feelings coursing through his body. All the boys laughed as one of the younger boys started almost screaming. What was so funny was he screamed like a banshee. He was the first to have an orgasm. It may have been dry, but the sounds and convulsions emanating from the young body attested to its intensity. The young boy panted for breath but kept his hand wrapped around Clay's tool. The problem for Clay was that as the boy progressed through his orgasm, he squeezed Clay's tool harder and harder.
The boys in the circle fought to keep control and show the other boys how strong they were. The last one to shoot also got his ass kissed the most times. Six young bodies squirmed with sexual desire and shone with a light sheen of perspiration. One by one the boys lost control of their bodies. Except for the two younger boys who were not mature enough to shoot, boy juice flew through the air and landed on the boys, the floor and the furniture. After the young boy went over the edge, Derek was next, followed by Elizabeth's other young son, Clay, Ted and then Marich. At the end, six boys coated in sweat and boy juice fell back exhausted and grinning at one another. Then the boys were shocked.
Since Jeremy was outside with Arthur, they had not locked the door. As the boys lay on the floor trying to recover from their game, the door opened and Jeremy walked in, followed by Arthur.
"Why, hel-lo, boys." Arthur said with a slight smile. "Why are all of you are so worn out? Been doing exercises?"
"Uh . .uuhhhh . . yeah, Mr. Arthur, that's it, we been doin' exercises. You know how it is, gotta keep the baby fat down." Ted answered, but not very convincingly.
"Yeah." Arthur responded. "Care to try again guys? Looks to me like you fellas have been playing a little game." Arthur sniffed the air, deliberately exaggerating the action. "Kind of smells like it, too. Somebody want to explain the rules?" Arthur knew the boys had been playing a boy's game involving sex. They weren't the first to do it and certainly wouldn't be the last. Arthur sat in a chair and decided to he would enjoy his little mental torture game with the boys. All the boys looked to, and pointed at, Clay for the explanation. Clay knew he was in a hot spot.
"Well . . . sir . . . you see, it's kinda like this. We was all just sittin' here wonderin' what to do while you and Jeremy was outside talkin'." Clay began to stutter out an explanation, deliberately talking slowly while his mind raced.
While Clay struggled through his thoughts, Arthur extended his hand towards Jeremy who walked over and stood between Arthur's legs. The boy leaned back and felt the warmth and protection of his mentor as Arthur placed both hands on the boy's abdomen. At first, Jeremy thought the boys might be in trouble and felt that sickening knot form in his stomach when you know something bad is about to happen. Jeremy watched and laughed to himself as he listened to Arthur. Jeremy had learned quickly how to observe a person and read particular expressions. He watched Arthur's eyes and knew he was teasing the boys.
"You know, it looks to me as though you boys figured out something to do while Jeremy and I talked. Do you think it would be fun if I joined in the game?" Six boys looked shocked.
"Ooohhhhhh," Arthur feigned sudden understanding and then continued, "you mean it was one of those games. Let me guess. You guys got in a circle. You put one arm over your buddy's shoulder and held another buddy's pride and joy with the other hand. The idea was to masturbate your buddy and make him shoot first. Let's see, if I remember the game correctly, the loser either had to kiss the winner's bottom or his penis. Am I right?" Six boys sat back and looked at Arthur, astonished that he would know such a game. Their grins gave them away.
"Fellas, you forgot one thing. Before I was a grown man, a husband and a parent, I was a boy. A boy who could get just as horny as you guys and played games with his friends, just like you've been doing in here." Six faces looked down and blushed.
"Now, I'm not going to lecture you and I'm not about to think anything I say is going to stop you. What you're doing is perfectly normal for young boys. It will be part of the memories you carry with you for the rest of your life. You know, Jeremy and I were talking outside and there's something that's been bothering both of us. We think you guys have been holding back some because of what Jeremy had to do over the past two years. Am I right?" The guilty look on the boys' faces told Arthur he was right.
"Listen guys, I appreciate you trying to show consideration for Jeremy. He knows, and I hope understands, that what he did was because he had no choice. If he didn't do what he was told, he was severely punished. Think about it this way. There were other boys there too. When they had to entertain a client, the boys didn't usually get any personal satisfaction. Does that tell you anything about what the boys probably did when they were left alone? I'm not sure what games he knows, but nothing would really surprise me." Arthur paused to watch the boys look at one another, trying to hide a grin, and then at Jeremy who sat in Arthur's lap, smiling and blushing.
"Only two quick points and I'll leave you boys alone. What is said in here and happens in here stays in here. I don't want to hear of anyone getting hurt, okay? The last thing is that you don't leave the guesthouse a mess. You're boys and I won't object to you behaving like boys. However, if my wife comes out here and finds boy juice staining her furniture, heaven help all of you; and that includes Jeremy. He's a free boy now and he'll have to live by the same family rules as the rest of you. With that, I bid you all good night." Arthur made it a point to push the door lock in as he left and closed the door behind him.
The plan had been for Arthur and Linda to take Jeremy to the hospital. Daniel decided he wanted to be there and all the boys wanted to be there for their friend. When they got up that morning all the boys were hungry. Arthur looked at them and knew they hadn't had much sleep, but he wasn't going to ask why. The boys came in saying they were famished, causing Arthur to laugh to himself. When the boys found out that Jeremy couldn't have anything to eat, they decided to wait also. Linda tried to get the boys to eat anyway, but they wouldn't budge.
As they neared the hospital, Jeremy became very nervous. Arthur, but no one else, knew the pain the boy had suffered when he was chipped and tattooed. Part of the agreement between Arthur and Jeremy was that they could talk about 'boy stuff' and it would remain private, between them only. As they walked through the main doors, two photographers stood discreetly to the side. Jeremy thought he was going to be sick. Arthur and Linda felt the fear and tension in the boy. Everyone at the hospital that may have contact with the party had been advised this was a special procedure and that the boy had just been freed. They were all instructed to be extremely patient and understanding of the circumstances. Notwithstanding hospital rules, the Sinclairs were to be allowed to stay with the boy through the entire procedure.
After checking in, they were shown to the pre-op area. When the nurse tried to prevent Daniel and the boys from following them, the senior nurse cleared them through with the understanding that once they began administering medication to Jeremy, only Arthur and Linda could remain with him. Nurses constantly moved in and out of the area, inquiring if anyone had any questions or needed anything.
The hospital was quiet. They were in a room by themselves. Surrounded by friends and protectors, Jeremy began to calm down until a nurse brought in the IV cart. Arthur noticed a look of almost sheer panic on Jeremy.
"Jeremy, look at me." Jeremy continued to stare at the cart; perspiration formed on his forehead. "Jeremy, look at me, son. I can tell by the look on your face that you've seen a similar cart and something bad happened. Do you remember that Linda and I made you a promise that we wouldn't let anything bad happen to you? We're right here, son, you need to trust us." Arthur then turned to the nurse.
"Nurse, can you tell us what the cart is for?"
The nurse looked at Jeremy and felt sorry for the boy. She also knew why the boy was scared. When a slave was to be put down, a cart very similar to the one she had brought into the room carried the necessary equipment and chemicals. She guessed that Jeremy had seen or heard of this being done.
"Jeremy, do you remember that you haven't had any fluids since midnight last night?" The nurse spoke quietly and very calmly to soothe the boy. "I need to put this needle in the back of your hand. This bag I'm holding is like sugar water. We have to replace the fluids in your system while the doctor does his job. Also, I'm going to put a needle in the line to give you medicine that will set things so you don't feel any pain. Is that alright?"
When the nurse said she was going to put a needle in the line with medicine, sheer panic registered on Jeremy's face. The nurse knew why and again approached Jeremy.
"Jeremy, I know why you are afraid and it's not what you're thinking. That is not going to happen to you, do you understand? No one will harm you here. We are here only to help you."
Jeremy looked at the nurse, then at Arthur and Linda who tried to give the boy reassuring looks. He thought for a minute and then, still keeping a death grip on Arthur's and Linda's hands, nodded to the nurse.
"Jeremy, I want you to understand that the medicine we give you today will not put you to sleep. You will feel like you're in a kind of dream world, but you will be able to tell that your parents are with you. I promise you that I will not give you anything, or do anything to you, without telling you first and letting you ask questions. Deal?" Jeremy tried to smile and nodded.
The nurse kept her word and stepped into the room often to speak with Jeremy. Her constant coming and going helped calm the boy. After what seemed forever to the boy, but was really only a short time, the doctor walked in and explained to Jeremy what he was going to do.
"My name is Dr. Williamson, but you may call me John if I can call you Jeremy. Is that alright?" Jeremy again tried to smile and nodded as he whispered a response. "Jeremy, I know you're frightened, but there is no reason to be. What I am going to do is give you a little shot that will make the area around your anus feel numb. You've already had a shot to help you relax so we'll take you into the room in about five minutes. Once we have you on the operating table I'll explain everything I do and let you watch through a mirror we have set up. Arthur and Linda can watch too. Then at the end of all this I'll have a special present for you. Are we ready?" Everyone, including Jeremy, nodded. "I'm going to scrub down and I'll see you real soon."
The time had come for the boys and Daniel to leave. They all said 'later' to their friend and left for the waiting room. Elizabeth's photographers were in the room with Elizabeth. To everyone's surprise, the station had arranged to film the procedure and it would be broadcast via closed circuit into the waiting room. The room had been reserved exclusively for this procedure.
When Jeremy was wheeled into the operating room and then lifted onto the operating table, he noticed the table wasn't cold steel like he had seen at the vet's office and other boys told him about. The room was cool and he was naked, but they kept him covered with a sheet and blanket; they let slaves freeze, no one cared. He had trouble focusing, everything seemed to be in something like a fog. He could hear voices around him, but what they said didn't always register with him. He knew that Arthur and Linda were with him, holding his hands. The way they held his hands was not to restrain him, but to make him feel more secure. He recognized the doctor when he approached Jeremy. He also recognized the long shiny rod the doctor held, it was almost identical to the one used to chip him two years earlier. Jeremy wanted to run, but couldn't hardly move his legs. His legs felt very heavy, but he really didn't feel much with them. He was confused.
"Jeremy, I know what this looks like. Look at the end and you will see two little claws. We call them pinchers. This is almost identical to the tool they used to chip you, but this one is designed to remove the chip. Remember the shots and medicine you had? With the shot and medicine you shouldn't feel this go in you. If you do, you let me know and we'll stop. You should feel no pain whatsoever. I'm going to begin the procedure now."
Jeremy felt something touch him, but it didn't hurt. Instinctively, he tightened his muscles, or at least he thought he did. He looked in the mirror and could see his naked body, at least the lower part of it. When the doctor moved out of the way of the camera he could see that something was in him. He felt it moving and the nightmares began all over again. Too many times were things put in him that he didn't want there. The only thing that kept him from crying out was the presence of Arthur and Linda and the doctor promised it wouldn't hurt. Jeremy fought with himself to be brave. He turned his head from side to side, he didn't want to know. Then he heard a clunking sound, like metal on metal. The doctor appeared next to him. Jeremy looked at the mirror again and for the first time ever, he saw his own pucker. There was nothing sticking out of him any more.
"All done; it's out. You are no longer chipped young man." The doctor smiled.
"How? When did that happen?" Jeremy was confused, he hadn't really felt anything. Then he remembered again what the doctor had said and what Arthur and Linda had promised.
"Jeremy, it's time to remove your tattoo. This is going to feel real strange. When it's over and all the medications wear off, you will feel some pain, but it shouldn't be real bad. To get rid of the tattoo we have to cut into the skin, just deep enough to get under the tattoo. When we finish there won't be a tattoo, but there will be a deep cut that has to heal. You won't be able to walk on that foot for about a week and it must be kept clean. When it begins to heal over you will have to do stretching exercises so the scar tissue doesn't hinder your ability to walk or run. Okay? Here we go."
Jeremy fell asleep before they got him into recovery and then into his own room. He was in recovery only about an hour when he began to stir and responded to the nurses. Now, he just needed to rest. Arthur and Linda remained beside him the whole time, just as they had promised. Elizabeth, Daniel and the boys sat in the room, waiting. The only topic of conversation was the operation and what the boys had seen. They were awe struck.
A little more than three hours after the surgery, Jeremy began to moan and then move. Linda stood next to his bed, then she sat on the side of the bed, still holding his hand. Gradually, his eyes opened and he was able to focus on what was around him. The first thing he saw was Linda and felt the warmth of her hand. He immediately reached up and wrapped his arms around her neck. He bawled; he didn't care where he was or who saw him. The pent-up fears of an abused young boy poured forth. Linda maneuvered herself to lay with him, cradling him as only a mother could. As he bawled, Arthur gently rubbed the boys back. Elizabeth, Daniel and the boys left the room to give them privacy.
When everyone walked back into the room an almost naked Jeremy sat on the side of his hip. He was wearing a hospital gown, but since nothing was tied together, he was mostly exposed. When the boys walked in they started laughing at the site of Jeremy slapping and pinching his butt. He looked up at his friends, blushed and smiled.
"It's numb. I can't feel nothin'." Jeremy told them.
"Anything" Linda corrected, causing the boys to laugh even harder.
"Welcome to our world." Ted told his friend, nodding towards Linda after she had corrected his grammar.
The doctor and two nurses soon walked in smiling. They looked at Jeremy and his friends and thought it would be nice if every procedure they performed turned out like this one. The doctor examined Jeremy's foot and bandage. Afterwards, he had Jeremy lie on his stomach and stick his rear end up. When Jeremy told the doctor he couldn't feel anything the doctor smiled and told him not to worry, he would just as soon as the medicine wore off.
"Young man, do you remember me telling you there would be a special present at the end of all this waiting for you?" Jeremy looked a little confused. He did remember someone saying something about a present. Not knowing exactly what to say, he smiled.
"This is a picture of what the bottom of your foot looked like when you came here this morning. This other picture is what it looked like after the surgery. Don't worry about the redness, it will heal and be just like nothing ever happened. This other envelope that Linda has contains pain pills if you need them, and I suggest you at least use them today, and instructions on caring for your foot. As for your backside, don't worry; everything will return to normal before this day is over. Now, I'm going to get you a wheel chair to get out of here. Suppose you get dressed and be ready to meet all the people out front."
"Doctor," Jeremy spoke hesitantly, then smiled as he said "thanks."
As they approached the main lobby Jeremy could see a crowd of people. He knew it was like this after the court hearing yesterday but still didn't understand why people found him so fascinating. The newspaper cameras flashed and the television cameras filmed. They stopped him in the middle of the lobby and a man approached them carrying what appeared to be a book.
It wasn't a book, but a marble slab which the man set on some concrete blocks next to Jeremy. Jeremy was then handed a big hammer. The boy could only look at them, confused. The doctor reappeared.
"Jeremy, this is the really special present I promised you. This is the chip I took out of you. This is the little gizmo that said, no matter where you went or what you did, you were a slave." The doctor placed the chip on the marble slab and looked at the boy and then at the hammer and chip. Jeremy understood.
With hammer in hand, Jeremy attacked the chip. He lifted the hammer and pounded the chip as hard as he could, time after time. Arthur let the boy strike the chip several times before stopping him. Jeremy had demolished the chip and pounded out a lot of frustration. When Arthur took the hammer, Jeremy showed everyone the biggest and brightest smile they had ever seen on his young face. There was more too, there was a twinkle in his eye.
"Jeremy," Elizabeth, holding a microphone, approached the boy. "How do you feel now, Jeremy?" Jeremy thought for a moment and then showed, for the first time, a boy's mischievous smile as he answered.
"Hungry. They wouldn't let me eat nothin'."
"Anything." Linda corrected, causing the boys to laugh again.
End Chapter Fifty-Eight
To Be Continued: comments welcome; contact Dwight Wilson at adm2780@yahoo.com