This story is written by David, please send comments and appreciation to voondave@yahoo.co.uk

The very first day, that I teamed up with my new, formerly retired work partner, Community Servant michael R2D2, was a day that I will never forget.

It was not just because that particular day was so eventful, which, in the daily lot of a Community Servant, it most certainly was, but that, it was on that particular day, that the seed of an idea was planted by michael R2D2, and that continued thereafter, to grow and to flourish, in the fertile soil of my new work partners mind, and that seemed quite impervious, to all of the ‘weed killer’, that I, Community Servant david 007, being so fearful of disaster, so copiously doused it with. At least, I did at first.

The Authoritarian Female Party, led by the very attractive and highly charismatic Founder of the Party, Caroline Flint, had been duly elected by an overwhelming majority, to remain in Government for a 2^nd successive Term in Office.

And I, Community Servant david 007, on the Monday morning following the AFP’s British General Election victory, was assigned, by the local Community Services Liaison Officer, Harriet Harmman, to serve for the next 6 months, as a member of the newly formed Housework Squads, which was one of the many brand new AFP initiatives, specifically designed to attract female votes.

And, it did attract them, like a magnet attracting iron filings.

I was also assigned a new work partner, who was Community Servant michael R2D2. Also, I was assigned to my 2 new Supervisors, who were CSO’s Gloria and Edna, who, as Harriet Harmman had informed me, as a warning to be on my “best behaviour, at ALL TIMES!!”, were Teachers at the CSO’s Training School, and who were also Senior Instructors, in the ‘Art Of Chastisement’.

My new work partner, mike, and myself, had already that morning experienced the expert administration of the ‘Art Of Chastisement’ at the hands of our Supervisors, CSO’s Gloria and Edna, twice, and, it was not even Lunch Time yet.

Our first Chastisement caning, had been administered to us at the Town Assembly Hall, when my new work partner, mike, had vociferously and bitterly complained about his ‘recruitment’ as a Community Servant, a little too much, for CSO Edna’s liking.

Our 2^nd  Chastisement caning, had been given as the direct result of mike’s insults and aspersions, as to Mrs. Adele Alsop’s not being quite so House proud, as she might have been.

Although both of these offences had been committed by mike, it was laid down in ‘THE RULES’, that BOTH 2 man team Community Servants be Chastised, whenever either one of them offended.

And so, twice, and through no fault of my own, and even despite Mrs. Adele Alsop herself, speaking up for me in my defence, in stating that she was perfectly happy with my attitude, and in assuring CSO Edna, that she had been absolutely delighted, with the quality of my foot service to her, I had been expertly Chastised by my 2 new Supervisors, CSO’s Gloria and Edna, TWICE, and, it was not even Lunch Time, yet!

And then, to cap it off, in the AFP van en route to our 2^nd House Cleaning Assignment of the day, CSO Edna had commanded a repeat performance from me, of the one that she had so avidly and excitedly watched me perform for Mrs. Adele Alsop, and CSO Edna had ordered me to take off her uniform yellow cotton ankle socks, and then, and for the rest of the duration of our transit to House Cleaning Assignment number 2, CSO Edna, with all of the power and authority of the AFP at her command, had ordered me to lick her bare feet, for her. “I want you to LICK and LICK and LICK and LICK and LICK!!!!! And, david 007, don’t you DARE, stop LICKING!!”

After about 15 minutes, during which time my new work partner, mike, had sensibly remained silent, and kept his appalled thoughts to himself, as I had licked the proffered bare soles of CSO Edna’s warm and moist, shapely and dainty feet, the AFP van driven by CSO Gloria drew to a halt, and, after switching off the engine, CSO Gloria called, cheerily, “OK! We’re here!!”

Somewhat reluctantly, it seemed to me, CSO Edna lowered her bare feet back into my lap, “you can put my socks back on for me, now, david”. “Yes, Miss Edna”, I replied, compliantly. Then, when I had completed that small and humble service for her, CSO Edna opened the rear doors of the AFP van, and she hopped lithely out. Then, CSO Edna turned back to us, and she called to us, sternly and harshly, and as though we were 50 yards away, rather than 5, “OK, you two! OUT!”

As mike got up from the bench seat, he hissed into my ear, mimicking my pathetic subservience to CSO Edna. “YES, MISS EDNA!! YES, MISS EDNA!!”, and, I felt my face get hot, from this new and unexpected source of shame and humiliation. From my very own work partner!

I was about to say something in reply, to mike’s taunting and hurtful comment, in my defence, when CSO Edna shouted at us, “I SAID OUT!!!”

Sensing the threat in CSO Edna’s voice, I immediately exited the AFP van, and, I had the bleak gratification of seeing, that mike, despite his taunting and sarcastic parodying of me, just a moment ago, was also scurrying to get out of the van, right behind me.

Then, CSO Gloria joined us, and, Clipboard in hand, she read aloud, from her Daily Work Sheet.

“Right then! You two! LISTEN UP!! In addition, to a Standard House Clean, the Housewife, Mrs. Patricia Painter has 2 Special Requirements, for you to perform; the first, is the polishing of all of her silver cutlery and serving dishes and bowls. The 2^nd, is the cleaning and polishing of all of her own shoes and boots, and all of the footwear of her 2 daughters, too. OK, then! LET’S DO IT!”, instructed CSO Gloria, in her competent and businesslike manner.

Although I had only just been acquainted with my 2 new Supervisors, I was already coming to the conclusion that, of my 2 new Supervisors, CSO Gloria seemed the most good natured and fair minded of them, though, that was not to say, that I felt that I could risk taking even the smallest of liberties with her.

After serving as a Community Servant for 5 years now, from the very first day that the AFP had assumed Office, it had long ago been drummed into me, by my previous and original Supervisors, CSO’s Karen and Linda, that, as my status was now that of a Community Servant, it was my place to serve females, and to obey them, without question.

CSO Edna though, I already realized, was of a very different nature altogether, and I was already in fear and trepidation of her. CSO Edna, I felt, had a cruel and malicious streak in her, and, I knew that it was going to be very difficult indeed, if not impossible, to stay on the right side of her, and, that getting into her ‘good books’, was simply not going to happen.

Upon CSO Gloria’s knock, the front door of the House was opened by a young lady, who I guessed to be about 18 or 19 years old. She was slim and quite pretty, with black, shoulder length hair, and that was cut in a style that reminded me of a Queen of an Egyptian Pharaoh. She wore blue jeans, and a rather cute T. Shirt, depicting a litter of kittens in a basket. On her feet, she wore a pair of white socks, and, from her standing attitude, as she stood with one leg bent at the knee, and resting the top of her foot on the floor, I saw that the sole of her white socked foot, was quite dirty, from her walking around like that, and I thought to myself, well, what does SHE care? Why shouldn’t she walk about in her white socked feet, if she likes to? After all, in these days of AFP rule, it was not she, or even her Mother, who would have to bother themselves, with the inconvenience of the tiresome and troublesome chore of washing her dirty socks clean, was it? No, not when there were Community Servants available, who were Assigned by the AFP, to wash and iron their dirty socks for them, as I myself had done for the last 5 years, in the Town’s ‘Sock Room’, so that THEY, didn’t have to!

Then, the young lady, upon seeing who it was at her front door, shouted over her shoulder, “Mum! It’s the Community Servants!”

A moment later, the young lady’s sister, who was about 3 years older, I guessed, at about 21 years of age, appeared beside her at the door. The 2 sisters, I thought, were quite similar in their appearance, and I would soon see, that they inherited their good looks from their very attractive Mother.

Upon seeing us, the elder sister, who apparently also liked to roam around her house in her white socked feet, said, directing her statement at mike and myself, “you’re going to be BUSY, guys! We’ve got lots of shoes and boots for you to clean and polish, for us, so that WE, don’t have to!” Then, to her younger sister, she enthused, “OH! This is SO COOL, isn’t it, Polly? We are going to be waited on, by Community Servants, HAND AND FOOT!!”

A moment later, a rather elegant looking mature lady, who I guessed to be in her early 40’s, also appeared at the door, and, she mildly admonished her elder daughter, for, it was the lady of the House, herself, Mrs. Patricia Painter.

“Now, now! Not so fast, Pamela dear! First things first! I want the Community Servants to do all of the Housework, first, so that WE, don’t have to! Hahahaha!!!!”

Gloomily, I realized that the phrase coined by Prime Minister Caroline Flint, during her Party Political Broadcasts on the run-up to the General Election, had seemingly struck a chord in the female psyche, and was being cheerily adopted, and, not just by the Housewives all over Britain, but also, by the female population in general. And, now that I was hearing it again, the phrase so loved by the females of Britain today, echoed in my head, like a goading taunt, ‘WE, don’t have to! WE, don’t have to!’

CSO Gloria then formally, though pleasantly, addressed the lady of the House.

“Mrs. Patricia Painter? Good afternoon, Madam. We are CSO’s Gloria and Edna, and, we have brought with us, at your request, a 2 man Housework Squad team, Community Servant david 007, and Community Servant michael R2D2, to do your Housework for you. Just as you so rightly say, Madam, so that YOU, don’t have to! The Community Servants will also attend to your stipulated Special Requirements for you, according to your instructions, Madam”.

The happy Housewife, Mrs. Patricia Painter, replied gratefully, “thank you, CSO Gloria! Oh, thank you, so VERY MUCH! Oh, I have to say, CSO Gloria, this is a simply marvellous new service that the AFP are providing, for us! You had better bring them in, then. As my daughter, Pamela, so rightly says, the Community Servants have got a very busy afternoon, in front of them!”

Professionally and proficiently Superintended, as we were, by CSO’s Gloria and Edna, mike and I worked quickly and efficiently, and, 2 hours later, under the expert direction of our Supervisors, we had cleaned the bathroom, made the beds, cleaned all of the inside windows, vacuumed all of the carpets, and washed all of the pots, pans, cutlery and crockery, that the females of the House had piled up in the sink and on the draining board, for mike and I to wash, so that THEY, didn’t have to!

By 3pm, I was sitting at a work table in the kitchen, with a large, cylinder shaped can of silver polish, and making a start on the first of Mrs. Patricia Painter’s stipulated Special Requirements, of polishing all of her silverware, for her.

My work partner, mike, seemed to be having a hard and unhappy time of it, in trying to clean the oven, at least, that is, to CSO Gloria’s high and exacting standards. “Come on, michael! Shape yourself! You are going to have to apply some elbow grease!” To which advice, mike replied, dryly, “I think there is enough grease in here already, Miss Gloria, without me adding even MORE to it!” To which, CSO Gloria responded, “oh! Very droll, I’m sure, michael! If you will take MY advice, Community Servant michael R2D2, you will concentrate MORE, on the efficient application of your House Cleaning duties, and LESS, on making silly jokes!” “Yes, Miss Gloria”, came mike’s muffled reply, from inside the oven, as he rubbed and scrubbed, with increased vigour.

Serves him right, I thought to myself, and chuckled inwardly, with grim satisfaction, as I polished away at 1 of the silver serving dishes. He’s not so defiant, and so full of it NOW, is he? Wait till he has been doing this for 5 years, like I have! And, -------. Suddenly, I was jolted back to my senses, when CSO Edna, who, unbeknown to me, had been peering at me above the pages of the magazine she was reading, from where she sat opposite me at the kitchen work table as she Superintended my work, inquired of me, with deceptive casualness, “is something amusing you, Community Servant david 007?” “Er, no, Miss Edna”, I replied, and I applied myself to my silver polishing, with extra energy. CSO Edna inquired further, “are you sure, david?” “Yes, Miss Edna”, I repeated. CSO Edna then leaned forward, and she laid her hand upon my arm, to still my labours for a moment, and, looking me directly and challengingly in the eye, she inquired, still further, “well, in that case, Community Servant david 007, why were you grinning, like a Cheshire cat?”

Luckily, I was saved, from having to think up a feasible reply to CSO Edna’s awkward question, when CSO Gloria suddenly announced, cheerily, and, I found myself wondering, if her timing was quite deliberate, so as to avert any unnecessary unpleasantness, “OK, everyone! Tea Break! david and michael, you can continue with the silverware, and start cleaning and polishing the ladies shoes and boots, after you have had a cup of tea, here, in the kitchen.

Miss Edna and I have been invited to join Mrs. Patricia Painter and her daughters, for tea and biscuits, in the Living Room. We will be back, in 15 minutes!”, advised CSO Gloria, as she and CSO Edna left the kitchen, for the decidedly more comfortable environment of the Living Room, and the decidedly more congenial company, of Mrs. Patricia Painter and her 2 daughters, Polly and Pamela, and, of course, for their tea and biscuits.

Though I was never a gambling man, I would have been prepared to bet good money, just then, that mike would call out, to the retreating backs of our Supervisors, something along the lines of, “don’t we get a biscuit, then?” But, to my great relief, he did not.

As we sat on our hard and uncomfortable chairs at the kitchen work table, mike had no sooner taken a sip from his mug of tea, when he said to me, “how come WE don’t get a biscuit, david?” “I KNEW you were going to say that, mike”, I replied. Then, mike added, somewhat grumpily, “well, I’ve had no Lunch, have I? And I’m starting to feel hungry”

Come to think of it, I was feeling a bit peckish, myself, since CSO Gloria had decreed that mike and I would go without our Lunches today, as part of our Chastisement sentence for insulting Mrs. Adele Alsop.

I was just on the point of reminding my new work partner, that our empty stomachs were groaning due to his own ill considered remarks, when, seeing that I was about to speak, mike held a cautionary finger to his lips, in the universal gesture, for me to remain silent, so that he could continue to hear what was being said by the 5 females in the Living Room, who had evidently just started a discussion..

As our 2 Supervisors had left the door to the kitchen ajar, we could clearly hear what was being said in the Living Room, since that door was left open, too.

“……..as far as the general run of Community Servants go, in my opinion, they are not a bad pair”, CSO Gloria was saying, in response to a question that I had missed. Then, mike and I listened, intently, and with great curiosity, as CSO Gloria went on, for, apparently, we were the topic of conversation.

“Community Servant david 007, is no problem at all. By now, he has long ago conditioned his mind, to accept the immutable realities of his situation.

I think that david’s former Supervisors, CSO’s Karen and Linda, have trained him very well, indeed. Though, if I am totally honest, I think, perhaps, that they have trained david, a little TOO well.

After serving in the Town’s ‘Sock Room’ for the last 5 years, david 007 is very obedient, and exceptionally compliant, and, he will always respond immediately and positively, not only, to orders issued to him by his or any other CSO’s, but also, to any female member of the public, who may happen to command him, at a moment’s notice, to perform one service or another, for them.

But, I am afraid that CSO’s Karen and Linda, have knocked all of the stuffing out of david, and they have withered his spirit, and, after 5 years of service, under their sometimes overly exacting and demanding style of Supervision, they have crushed his soul, and he has become a rather sad, and pathetic creature, and, I am always saddened to see that, in our Community Servants”.

In response to CSO Gloria’s remarks, CSO Edna snorted, in derisive disagreement with her sister and AFP colleague. “OH! What NONESENSE, you talk at times, Gloria!  CSO’s Karen and Linda, have done the most excellent and highly commendable job, in training david 007, and, it is most churlish of you, Gloria, to criticize them for the fact, that, due to the consistent application of their magnificent and efficacious style of discipline, that they have so totally cowed david, and that they have made him so easy to manage and control”.

At actually hearing of myself being spoken of, in such a cold and clinical manner, by my 2 Supervisors, I felt hot, acidic tears of shame and humiliation spring to my eyes, at actually hearing of myself being so pityingly and pitiably described, by CSO Gloria, and so dispassionately demeaned and  degraded, by CSO Edna.

And, there was no stopping those hot and acidic tears, from spurting from my eyes, and flowing down my face, as the sad knowledge of what I had become, that, as a sort of mental self defence mechanism, I had always tried to deny, was brought home to me, in such a casual, and matter of fact, and so callous and cruel a fashion, as a casual conversation in a Living Room, over tea and biscuits.

I felt mike’s hand on my arm, in a gesture of comfort and support, for which I was profoundly grateful.

But then, mike sat up in his chair, rigidly, as he listened, even more intently, to the conversation taking place in Mrs. Patricia Painter’s Living Room, as he heard his own name being mentioned.

Just then, the thought passed through my mind, of the old saying, that you never hear anything good about yourself, when you eavesdrop on people who are talking about you. And, that old saying seemed to be holding true, today.

CSO Gloria was saying to the Housewife, Mrs. Patricia Painter, “the other Community Servant, though, Madam, michael R2D2, is another matter   entirely. This is his very first day as a Community Servant, and he is having a lot of trouble, in coming to terms with the situation that he has so suddenly found himself in. He is very angry, and bitter, at what he sees as the unfair way in which he has been unretired, and, we will have to exercise a measure of caution and understanding, Madam, with regards to his handling and Supervision”.

Once again, though, CSO Edna found it necessary to take issue, with her sister and AFP colleague. “Gloria, my dear, I am afraid that I simply CAN’T agree, with you! CHASTISEMENT, Gloria, is the key! The best way, to guarantee the conformity and the obedience of the Community Servants, is to acquaint them, and to reacquaint them, and, on a regular basis, too, with the CANE!”

Directly addressing the Housewife, CSO Edna continued, with feeling, “OH! The cane is such a wonderfully persuasive tool of our trade, Madam, when administered expertly, as it is in our hands, to the bare bottoms of recalcitrant Community Servants. Oh, you can take my word for it, Madam! michael R2D2, is no different from any other Community Servant, and, with the right and proper use of the cane, we will bring him to heel, Madam, just as all others of his Class, have been brought to heel”.

Then, as we continued to eavesdrop, mike and I heard the voice of Mrs. Patricia Painter’s eldest daughter, Pamela, as she addressed CSO Edna.

“CSO Edna, my friend, Sally, has recently signed up as a CSO, after finishing her Further Education. Sally says, that Community Servant david 007, has promised to be her foot servant. FOREVER!  FOR ETERNITY!!” 

Then, mike and I heard the gentle clink and chink, of tea cups being placed into their saucers, so as to better enable the gathering of females in the Living Room, to laugh and giggle and chuckle, at this amusing titbit of quaint absurdity, without the attendant danger of having the unfortunate mishap, of spilling tea over themselves, as they indulged in their mirth.

Then, mike and I heard the voice of Mrs. Patricia Painter’s younger daughter, Polly, as she also addressed CSO Edna.

“CSO Edna, it sounds to me, as though you really LOVE your work as a CSO, Supervising and Chastising the Community Servants, and keeping them in their places. You believe, 100%, in the sheer RIGHTNESS, of it, don’t you, CSO Edna?”

At Polly Painter’s insightful statement, a few moments of silence passed, in which I imagined, as I sat at the kitchen work table, that a sort of dreamy and far away look had come into CSO Edna’s eyes, for, when she eventually spoke, her voice had taken on the quality, of someone gazing into the middle distance, where their mind’s eye was better able to focus upon, and to view the replaying scenes of their past experiences.

“Yes, Miss Polly. You are RIGHT! Serving the Authoritarian Female Party, as a Community Service Officer, is much, much more to me, than any other job could possibly EVER be.

It is more, even, than my vocation.

Miss Polly, I can say, without the slightest fear of exaggeration, that serving as a CSO, is my WORK, REST, and PLAY.

When I was just a girl at school, Miss Polly, I had a most WONDERFUL Teacher, called Miss Harrison.

Miss Harrison was my Teacher, and, she has been my inspiration, and my role model too, Miss Polly.

OH! Miss Harrison KNEW, how to use the cane!

OH! Miss Harrison KNEW, how to bring naughty boys to heel!

Miss Harrison, would make the naughty boys face the Class, and then, she would pull their shorts down around their ankles. Oh, Miss Polly! They didn’t like THAT! They didn’t like THAT!

And, Miss Polly, I would watch their faces, the faces of those naughty boys, as Miss Harrison waved her ‘magic wand’, and as she gave the exposed bare bottoms of those naughty, naughty boys, a jolly good CANING! A beautiful THRASHING!

OH! What JOY, it was! To see their humiliated faces redden! To see their lips quiver and tremble! To see their eyes water!

But, the BEST thing, Miss Polly, the very best thing, BY FAR, was to hear them CRY!

To hear those naughty boys wail, in their pain and humiliation, as Miss Harrison made them face the Class, with their shorts pulled down around their ankles, for everyone to see, made my HEART SING!!

Yes, Miss Polly, I DO enjoy my work, and I derive great satisfaction, from knowing that we CSO’s play a terribly vital role, in maintaining the values, and upholding the way of life, that our Society has grown accustomed to, ever since that wonderful day, 5 years ago, when the Authoritarian Female Party, led by that wonderful and glorious woman, Caroline Flint, were established in Government.

And, from what I can see, Miss Polly, not a lot has changed, since Miss Harrison’s day. It’s just that the naughty boys of today, the Community Servants, are a lot older, these days. But, Miss Polly, they still need the Chastisement of the cane, to bring them to heel, and to keep them there”.

In the moments of reflective silence, that followed CSO Edna’s trip down ‘ Memory Lane ’, and her nostalgic recital, of her favourite School day reminiscences, once again, I felt mike’s hand grip my arm. But, this time, it was not as the consoling and supportive gesture of earlier. This time, mike’s gesture had the sense, of an urgent sort of fearful and dreadful anxiety, of panic, almost, and, those emotions were plain to hear, in his voice, as he hissed at me, in taking care not to be overheard, “this has got to STOP, david! THIS HAS ALL GOT TO STOP!!”

Feeling my own panic rise, at the monumental implications of mike’s words, I pleaded with him, with my own urgent whisperings, “mike! PLEASE! PLEASE! Don’t SAY, or DO, ANYTHING! You will get us both into terrible trouble!! You are new, to being a Community Servant, that’s all! You’ll soon get used to it, mike! You’ll see!”

Just then, we heard the voice of CSO Edna, again. Apparently, the Tea Break was now over. “OK, Gloria! It’s time to put those 2 work shy malingerers back to fit and proper use!”

Thankfully, at hearing the sternness of CSO Edna’s tone, and to my very great relief, mike nodded his reluctant agreement to me, and he followed my example, and he made himself busy, with the business of polishing Mrs. Patricia Painter’s silverware.

A moment later, CSO Gloria entered the kitchen, and, upon seeing mike and I already hard at work, polishing the Housewife’s silverware, she said, approvingly, “ah, GOOD! THIS is what I like to see! Community Servants, who can show a bit of initiative, and who can actually be trusted to resume work, all by themselves, when their 15 minute Tea Break is over!”

But, CSO Edna, was not so easily impressed. Flexing her cane in her hands, meaningfully, she said, somewhat sullenly, “and, a good job, TOO!”

And, mike and I both knew, that CSO Edna was not referring, to the quality of our work!

Then, our 2 Supervisors were followed into the kitchen by the 3 females of the House, and, the Housewife, Mrs. Patricia Painter, inquired of mike and I, “how’s my silverware coming along, then?” To which inquiry, I replied, respectfully, “we will not be long now, Mrs. Painter, Madam. We still have a few items of your silverware to polish, and then we will await your inspection of our work”. “Well, let’s have a quick look, then, just to see how you are getting on”, replied the Housewife, reasonably, as she examined the results of our labours.

Then, after carefully scrutinizing several pieces of her polished silverware, Mrs. Patricia Painter announced, giving her verdict, “not bad! Not bad, at all!”

To which expression of satisfaction, mike and I responded, in unison, “thank you, Mrs. Painter, Madam”.

Then, the elder daughter, Pamela, said brightly, “that’s GOOD! Because now, one of you can get started, on THIS LOT!!”, and, in saying so, Pamela and her younger sister, Polly, carried between them a large wicker basket full of pairs of shoes and boots, which was the footwear of the 3 females of the Painter Household.

Instantly, CSO Edna issued her instructions to mike and I. “michael R2D2, you will continue to polish the remaining items of silverware. You, david 007, will begin cleaning and polishing these pairs of shoes and boots, belonging to the ladies of the House”. Once again, mike and I responded in unison, “yes, Miss Edna”, we said.

CSO’s Gloria and Edna, had just sat down on the hard and uncomfortable chairs at the kitchen work table, for the purpose of Superintending the labours of their charges, when the Housewife, Mrs. Patricia Painter, suggested brightly, “CSO Gloria, CSO Edna, is it really, strictly necessary, for you to sit here in the kitchen, watching over the Community Servants? Surely, they can be left unattended, just for an hour or so, while they complete their simple chores? It’s just that, there’s a video that I have rented, that I have not had the time to sit down and watch, until now, and, you are both more than welcome, to come into the Living Room to watch it, with myself and my daughters”.

I could see that CSO Gloria was tempted, to take Mrs. Patricia Painter up on her kind and thoughtful offer, though I suspected, that she rather feared the disapproval of her sister and AFP colleague, CSO Edna, and so, and with an obvious note of disappointment in her voice, she replied to the highly hospitable Housewife, “oh, thank you, so much, Mrs. Painter, Madam. But, I don’t think--------“  But, CSO Edna interjected, “it’s all right, Gloria. You go and join the ladies in the Living Room, if you wish, but, I rather think that I should stay here, to Superintend the Community Servants. I mean, you know very well, what Community Servants are like, Gloria. Give them an inch, and they will take a mile! They will get up to ALL sorts of mischief! You can’t take your eyes off them, for a single, solitary second, and, it is quite unthinkable, to consider leaving them unattended, and-------“ Now, it was the Housewife, who interjected, and, there was a sort of playful and knowing smile on her lips, as she said, “the video, CSO Edna, is about the early days of the Authoritarian Female Party. The video goes back, to when the AFP was just a fledgling and little known and seldom heard about Political Party, and when Caroline Flint, herself, was so selflessly campaigning for the AFP in her own spare time, when she was working as a hospital doctor”.

It was immediately obvious, that Mrs. Patricia Painter had unerringly found CSO Edna’s weakness, if you could call it that. But still, the inherent Professionalism of CSO Edna, held her back, from succumbing to such self indulgency, and from accepting the highly hospitable Housewife’s extremely tempting invitation.

“Oh! It really is, very kind of you, Mrs. Painter, Madam. But, you see, the Community Servants, I really should stay with them, you see, and------“ This time, it was the younger daughter, Polly, who was the one to interject, “I’ll stay with them, CSO Edna! Go on, CSO Edna! Go into the Living Room, with Mum and Pamela, where you will be much more comfortable, and watch Mum’s video about the early days of the AFP, and Caroline Flint. You know you want to, CSO Edna!”

To which statement by the young lady, CSO Edna replied, “well, I must say, Miss Polly, it would certainly be highly irregular, but, well, if you are quite sure you don’t mind, thank you, Miss Polly, THANK YOU!”

Delighted, by this highly agreeable arrangement, Mrs. Patricia Painter said brightly, “GOOD! That’s settled, then! Thank you, Polly, darling, that is ever so sweet and considerate of you!”

When mike and I once again resumed our duties, Polly Painter sat down on one of the hard and uncomfortable chairs at the kitchen work table, and she watched us, in the performance of our humble labours, and, though she remained silent for several minutes, I had the distinct impression, that she wanted to say something to us, but, that she perhaps couldn’t find the right words.

So instead, I ventured, politely and respectfully, “er, Miss Polly, please excuse me, for speaking without your permission, but, didn’t you want to watch your Mum’s video, about the early days of the AFP, then?”

Now, mike and I sat up straight, in astonishment, as Polly’s former reticence evaporated, like mist under a burning sun, and, her vocal floodgates burst open, and her words came pouring out, in an unstoppable raging torrent, and mike and I could only sit there, and be inundated by their amazing deluge.

“NO, david! I do NOT, want to watch that GHASTLY, GHASTLY video!

NO, david, I do NOT, want to watch a horrendous video, about the early days of that HORRID, WICKED woman, Caroline Flint, and her HIDEOUS, ABOMINABLE AFP!

I think it is perfectly DREADFUL, david, how the AFP treat Community Servants, such as you and michael, and, I only wish that there was SOMETHING, ANYTHING, that I could DO about it!

I think it must be quite impossible, for the AFP to ever be voted out of Government.

Of course, no one else knows, that I feel this way. Not even my own family!

I WISH, that we could all go back to the way we were, BEFORE!”

At Polly’s astounding statement, it was some moments, before I was able to reply. “OH, Miss Polly! You can have no idea, just what it means, to us, to hear your kind and sympathetic words!

I believed that there could not be a woman in Britain , who would want to get rid of the AFP, and of Caroline Flint!

But, don’t you see, Miss Polly? In hindsight, I can see now, that we Community Servants allowed ourselves to be meekly herded, and penned in, like sheep. And now, the CSO’s watch over us, and control us, like sheep dogs.

So, you see, Miss Polly, there is no hope for us, now! So please, Miss Polly, PLEASE, don’t risk getting yourself into trouble, on OUR account!”

But, to my horror, mike chimed in, with, “REBELLION!  REBELLION, david! We could start a REBELLION!!”

And, before I could warn mike to keep his voice down, or else he would be certain to be overheard by our Supervisors, and bring catastrophe down upon our heads, he horrified me even more, when he addressed Polly, and implored her, “Miss Polly, will you HELP US?”

And, I didn’t even have the time to be appalled, by mike’s outrageous and highly dangerous appeal to Polly Painter, when that young lady, with shining lights of revolutionary excitement in her eyes, gave her enthusiastic reply. “YES! OH, YES!! I WILL HELP YOU!!”

OH, NO!!  I told myself, that we were inviting disaster, courting catastrophe, with this dangerous nonsense, with this ‘Pipe Dream’ talk of a Rebellion.

“Come on, mike”, I urged my rebellious work partner. “We are getting behind, in our work!”

But, mike would not listen, to my over cautious counsel, as he undoubtedly saw it, as he continued his dangerous discourse with Polly Painter. “Miss Polly, have you got a car?” At mike’s question, Polly’s pretty features creased into a frown of curious puzzlement. “Yes, I have got a car, michael. Why do you ask?” To which, mike replied, and at last, I thought, showing at least a modicum of caution, “well, Miss Polly, I think it will be better and safer for us all, if we keep you in the dark, for now. Until the time for you to help us comes, that is. Upon reflection, I think that david is right, to urge the utmost caution. After all, I am quite sure, that we would only ever get the one chance, at putting into effect the plan I have in mind, Miss Polly”.

I thought to myself, with a sense of growing panic, what on earth, can the crazy notion be, that was running through mike’s stressed out and overwrought mind?

I was just on the point of posing that very question to my work partner, when, suddenly and totally out of the blue, I felt a light, furry presence come to rest on my right shoulder, and my right ear was filled with sound, PUUUURRRRRR.

“YYEEEAAAHH!!” I shrilled, not immediately realizing, due to the suddenness of it, that this was a perfectly harmless and unremarkable event.

Polly let out a delighted and lingering squeal, of highly amused laughter.

“YYEEAAAHAHAHAHA!! Oh, david! You are SO funny! It’s only Mr. Humphrey!! He won’t hurt you, SILLY!!”

Then, Mr. Humphrey, who was a beautiful black and white cat, sprang lightly and gracefully down from my right shoulder, and he softly padded his way across the surface of the kitchen work table, and, in doing so, he seemed to regard, as he carefully negotiated his way through them, the various items of silverware and female footwear that mike and I were cleaning, and that littered the surface of the work table, as though thinking, to himself, what a decidedly stupid place, to put all of these things, where they can hinder a cat’s progress!

Then, Mr. Humphrey leapt into the waiting and welcoming arms of his Mistress, Polly.

Quickly recovering, from the embarrassment of my unnecessary outburst of alarm, I exclaimed, in genuine praise, “OH! Mr. Humphrey is a LOVELY cat, Miss Polly!”

And, Mr. Humphrey, as though perfectly understanding my extolling of him, leapt back onto the kitchen work table, and, he then proceeded to prance and parade about, like a model on a catwalk, aptly enough, and he walked about, and he turned this way and that way, as though showing off his beautiful fur coat to the best possible effect, to his captivated and admiring audience.

And, that was when disaster struck!

Mr. Humphrey, in his exuberant posing and posturing, swished his tail, and, though I knew what was about to happen, I was totally powerless, and utterly unable to do anything in time, to prevent the impending disaster. I could only watch, in mortified horror, as Mr. Humphrey’s tail swished, and knocked over the large, cylinder shaped can of silver polish.

Unfortunately, the can of polish had fallen in such a way, that it rolled along the edge of the kitchen work table, and spilled it’s contents onto the row of freshly cleaned and polished shoes and boots, that was the footwear of the 3 females of the Painter Household.

Polly cried out, in acute distress, and her eyes were already shining with the promise of tears. “OH NO!! Those shoes are RUINED! That silver polish will NEVER come out! Mum will get rid of poor Mr. Humphrey, for THIS! Mum doesn’t like cats, ANYWAY, and she only let me keep him, because he was a birthday present to me from my sister, Pamela!”

Just then, our 2 Supervisors, accompanied by the Housewife, Mrs. Patricia Painter, and her eldest daughter, Pamela, came into the kitchen, to see what all of the ruckus, of my cry of alarm, and Polly’s squeal of laughter, followed by her cry of horrified despair, was all about.

CSO Edna, upon seeing all of those pairs of ruined shoes and boots, exploded with fury.

“SEE! Do you SEE, Gloria? What did I SAY? Didn’t I SAY, Gloria, that you can’t turn your back on them, or even take your eyes off them, for a SINGLE, SOLITARY SECOND? OH! But Gloria, I blame MYSELF, dear! I blame MYSELF! I KNEW, Gloria, that I should never have left the Community Servants alone! I SAID SO, didn’t I, Gloria? I SAID SO!!  OH, Gloria! We shall bring david and michael TO BOOK, FOR THIS!! OH! They will be made to SUFFER, for their-------“.

Interrupting CSO Edna in full flow, the tearful Polly stopped her. “OH! CSO Edna! It wasn’t-------“.

Before Polly could say another word, I interjected, and I blurted out, “OH! Miss Edna! I am SO, SO SORRY!! I am a CLUMSY, CLUMSY FOOL! I was reaching for the shoe brush, and I knocked the can of silver polish over!  I will pay for the damage, Miss Edna! I will compensate the ladies, and I will replace all of their shoes and boots, Miss Edna! I’ll------“.

Interjecting, angrily and scornfully, CSO Edna raged, incredulously, as she demanded of me, “Community Servant david 007! May I ask you, how on earth you propose to pay for replacement shoes and boots for the ladies, out of your Unemployment Benefit Payments, when you are already heavily in arrears to The State, for your Utility Bills? NO, Community Servant david 007! The State, will have to reimburse Mrs. Patricia Painter, and her daughters, for the loss of their footwear!

First thing in the morning, you and michael, will both be brought before the Community Services Liaison Officer, for Further Sentencing. And, I will be recommending, that for the next month, at least, you will be spending your Saturdays, in the Town’s High Street, during the day, tied to the Public Caning Post, and, between the hours of 10pm and 2am, you will be installed in the Footrest Stocks, on ‘Prostitutes Parade’!

NOW! BOTH OF YOU! Stand against the kitchen wall, and prepare to each receive Chastisement, of 12 of the best!”

“Yes, Miss Edna”, replied mike and I, in unison.

As I obeyed CSO Edna’s order, to stand against the kitchen wall, in order to receive my Chastisement of 12 of the best, I happened to catch Polly Painter’s eye, and, she gave me such a pitying and sorrowful look, that also conveyed to me her immense gratitude, for my ‘taking the rap’, for the unfortunate accident of Mr. Humphrey, her beloved cat.

Then, as I faced the kitchen wall, I felt the familiar rough tug, as my uniform white shorts were unceremoniously and humiliatingly pulled down around my ankles, as were my work partner’s, mike, for, of course, mike had to ‘take the rap’, too.

Then, as soon as our bare buttocks were exposed, ready for the cane, CSO’s Gloria and Edna counted out their devastating and anguish inducing cane strokes, to our exposed and vulnerable bare bottoms, as our Chastisement sentence of 12 of the best commenced, and was duly witnessed, by the 3 females of the Painter Household, and by Mr. Humphrey, Polly’s black and white cat.

Then, it was 5pm, and the end of the ‘working day’, for Community Servants assigned to the Housework Squads, and for their Supervisors.

At the AFP van, parked outside the Painter Household, while CSO Edna was busy unlocking the rear doors of the van, CSO Gloria came over to mike and I, and she asked me, directly, “david, did you REALLY knock over the can of silver polish?”

I could not look CSO Gloria in the eye, and I remained silent. But, to CSO Gloria, my silence was nonetheless eloquent, and confirmed her suspicions, and she said, “no, david. I didn’t think so”.

Then, CSO Edna called to mike and I, “OK, you two! In you get!”

But, CSO Gloria said to her sister and AFP colleague, “actually, Edna, dear, instead of taking david and michael back to Base with us, in the van, why not let them walk home from here, since the weather is dry, and as they both only live a few streets away, don’t they? They will be home all the quicker”. “Oh, yes, all right. I suppose that’s fine, by me, Gloria”.

Then, CSO Edna turned to mike and I, and she warned us, icily, “woe betide you, david and michael, if you are late for work in the morning! Don’t forget, we will be bringing you both before the Community Services Liaison Officer, for Further Sentencing!”

“We’ll be early, Miss Edna”, mike and I assured her, in unison.

Finally, CSO Gloria said, in her rather more friendly tone, “OK! Off you go, then! See you both in the morning!”

“Bye, Miss Gloria!” mike and I responded, in one voice.

As it happened, mike’s house was only about a 5 minute walk from my own home, and, we would actually pass mike’s house on the way.

However, when we reached mike’s house, he said to me, in invitation, “fancy coming in, david, for a glass of wine?”  “WINE? OH, YOU BET!! Do you know how long it is, mike, since I tasted wine? Wine has been a luxury that I have not been able to afford, for over 4 years, now!”

With a look of shocked dismay, mike replied, “WHAT! What an appalling state of affairs! Well, david, what are you standing there, for? Come in, and we’ll soon put that matter to rights!”

The predominant thing that struck me about mike’s house, was that it was immediately apparent, as soon as you got inside, that the owner of the house was a keen sailor.

There were pictures, prints, and photographs of boats and other types of sailing craft, adorning every wall, and there were also models of boats, displayed on small tables.

The model that really caught my attention though, in mike’s Living Room, was a highly detailed model of a sailing boat, which I saw was named ‘FREEDOM’.

“Ah, david, I see that you have noticed the replica model of my pride and joy, my ocean going boat, the ‘FREEDOM’. She’s moored at my Dad’s dockyard on the South Coast , near Southampton . I built her myself, david”, mike informed me, with great pride, but without a hint of boastfulness. “She’s a beauty, isn’t she? She can accommodate up to 4 people. Take a look at her, david, while I get our wine, and I’ll pop some pizzas into the oven, too. Relax, david, and make yourself at home!”

I did as my generous host bid, and, as I eagerly anticipated my first taste of wine in over 4 years, I looked at the replica model of mike’s very graceful looking sailing craft.

My eyes nearly popped out of my head, when mike reappeared with 2 opened bottles of one of my favourite wines, claret, and 2 wine glasses. “There you go, david! Help yourself! Cheers!”, said mike, cheerfully, as he handed me the bottle of precious liquid. “I think we’ll have a glass of wine or 2 first, shall we, before I heat up our pizzas?”

“Oh, mike! Thank you! This wine is…..this is just…..” Waving my thanks and appreciation away with a casual gesture of his hand, mike asked me, conversationally, “know anything, about boats, david?”  I gave a negative shake of my head. “Not a thing, mike. Why?”, I asked, though, it was pretty obvious, if all of the pictures and models of boats was anything to go by, that mike knew a thing or 2 about them, and he said to me, “just so that I know, david, not to bemuse you with Sea Faring terms, and with marine jargon, that comes as second nature, to an old salt like me.

Now, david, I suppose you have been wondering, all day, why I asked Polly Painter if she had a car, and if she would help us, and------“ At recalling the sense of rising panic I had felt, at mike’s appealing to Polly Painter for her help, I leaned forward in my chair, and I started to protest, “mike! That was CRAZY! What were you THINKING? Don’t you REALIZE, mike, that you could have got us both-----“ interjecting, mike held his hands up to me, gesturing for me to calm down, and to be quiet.

“Relax, david! Just sit back, comfortably, and enjoy your wine, and just listen to me, for 5 minutes. Will you, david?”, asked my host, reasonably enough.

“OK, Cap’n mike”, I replied, facetiously, and I added, with an exaggerated air of melodrama, “the floor’s all yours, Skipper!”

As soon as I had spoken, I realized, that the first wine that I had tasted in over 4 years, and drinking it on an empty stomach, at that, was going straight to my head, and, I was still on my first glass!

Of course, mike had an empty stomach too, since we had both been deprived of our Lunches, by CSO Gloria’s decree, and, as mike talked, his oratory became more and more expansive and dramatic, as he imbibed more and more of his amazingly delicious claret.

“I’m younger than I look, david. Much younger, in fact. What you see, david, are the cumulative effects, of what a life on the ocean wave has done to my skin.

For 35 years, david, since I was just a boy of 15, I worked as a boat builder at my Dad’s boatyard, on the South Coast . My whole life, david, has been all about boats. Building them, repairing them, test sailing them, and, in my own spare time, sailing the warmer parts of the globe, in my own ocean going boat, the ‘FREEDOM’.

Well, david, sailing around the various parts of the world, is a very time consuming affair, don’t you know, and, my Dad was not in the least bit enamoured, with my always going jaunting off, for weeks, and sometimes even for months on end, instead of putting in ‘my shift’, as Dad called it, at the boatyard.

So, david, my friend, I thought to myself, why on earth, don’t I take advantage, of the Government’s own generous contributions, and start my own Personal Pension Plan? That way, I will be able to retire early, and then, I will be free and able to do all of the sailing that I could possibly want to.

Trouble is, david, I didn’t factor in to my calculations, the Authoritarian Female Party, coming to power.

I retired, at 50, just before the AFP came to power. I am 55 now. When I retired, I found that my Pension wasn’t worth as much as I’d hoped, because there had been a big downturn in the Stock Markets, my Pension Provider said. So, I bought a house up here in the North, because the cost of living is cheaper, and my Pension would go a bit further.

I thought that I had got lucky, and that I had, by the skin of my teeth, just about escaped the scabby clutches of the AFP.

But, david, last week, I got a letter from the Community Services Liaison Officer, Harriet Harmman, telling me, that due to recent changes to the legislation regarding Personal Pension Provision, she regretted to have to inform me, that my Personal Pension was being revoked, and that my bank accounts were being frozen, with immediate effect.

Harriet Harmman also told me in her letter, that she was putting me on notice, to be at home this morning, when 2 Community Service Officers would come to my house for me, to escort me to the Community Services Liaison Office, where she would give me a 6 months Work Assignment, to work as a Community Servant, under the Supervision of 2 CSO’s, to earn my paltry Unemployment Benefit Payments.

In her letter to me, Harriet Harmman said that she regretted to also have to inform me that, as my status was now that of a Community Servant, she had revoked my driving licence, and that she would be confiscating my car, forthwith. She would also be confiscating my computer, she informed me. Also, I was to surrender my mobile phone to her, when I reported to her this morning.

Harriet Harmman also told me in her letter,  that, as my status was now that of a Community Servant, from now on, whenever I wished to travel outside of my local area, I would have to apply to her, stating the reasons for my intended journey, and asking her to issue a Travel Warrant to my destination, for me.

This situation, david, is intolerable, to me. It is TOTALLY, UTTERLY, INTOLERABLE!!!

I have been a Community Servant for 1 day, david, for 1 DAY, and, I have already been caned by our Supervisors, 3 TIMES, david, 3 TIMES!

And, don’t forget, david, that we are being brought before the Community Services Liaison Officer, tomorrow morning, for Further Sentencing!

And, I can tell you right now, RIGHT NOW, that there is no way, david, NO WAY, that I am prepared to go through the same humiliations and torments, that YOU have gone through, during the last 5 years!

Don’t you see yet, david? Do you see what I am driving at, now?

THAT, is why I asked Polly Painter if she had a car, and if she would help us, david. Because, if Polly Painter would drive us down to my Dad’s boatyard on the South Coast, near Southampton, we would be able to board my ocean going boat, the ‘FREEDOM’, and, we could literally, escape to freedom, and we could escape, forever, from the AFP’s Britain. We could make a new start, and spend the rest of our lives, sailing in warm climes, and living simple, carefree lives, far, far away from the reach of the AFP, and from Caroline Flint.

Don’t you see, david? It would mean new, fresh lives, for both of us!

No more CSO’s! No more Harriet Harmman! No more Caroline Flint! No more ‘Sock Room’! No more ‘Housework Squads’! No more CHASTISEMENT, david! NO MORE! NO MORE! NO MORE!”

In the throes of his excitement and enthusiasm, and as he warmed ever more to his theme, mike’s hand gesticulations caused some wine to slosh over the brim of his wine glass, but, in his highly animated and slightly inebriated condition, I didn’t think that mike even noticed.

“Well, david! Come on, then! What do you think? What do you say?”

To which, I answered, “I thought that you wanted to start a rebellion, mike! What’s happened to your REBELLION?”

With a gesture of exasperation, mike impatiently waved my question away.

“OH! A rebellion is quite out of the question, david! Don’t you SEE? It is sheer, ‘pie in the sky’ foolishness! A rebellion would require organization, and synchronization, and means of communications, and, we are capable of NONE of those things!  No, david, I am afraid that, under the AFP, it is a case of every man for himself!

I only said that to Polly Painter, as a way to test her, and to see if we could trust her, and to see if she was being genuine, when she expressed her sympathies towards us and to Community Servants in general. I mean, she could have been a ‘plant’, you know, to test us, or to trick us. Well, after what happened today, we know that we can trust Polly Painter, don’t we? Polly Painter, will be our ticket to my Dad’s boatyard, and to our ultimate liberation!”

“Yes, mike, I think we can trust Polly Painter, that’s for sure!

Well, I have to say, this is certainly a very interesting scheme, of yours. And, what’s more, I really believe it could work!  But, still. I urge the utmost of caution! As you yourself, said today, we would almost certainly only ever get the one chance to escape. So, mike, I think that we should talk it through, some more. A LOT MORE! After all, this could be the most important decision of our lives!”

Greatly encouraged, by the positive nature of my response, mike got up from his chair, and he said, “well, in THAT case, david, I had better go and get us some more wine, hadn’t I, before darling Harriet comes and confiscates THAT, too! Hahaha! And, after all, talking is very thirsty work, isn’t it? Hahahaha!”

“Aye, aye, Cap’n”, I replied, inanely, as I leaned back comfortably in my chair, and, I savoured the taste, and I enjoyed the wonderfully relaxing influences of mike’s delicious claret, washing over me, as it coursed through my bloodstream.

And, I knew, yes, I knew full well, that I was already well on my way, to getting drunk, to getting very drunk, indeed.

When mike returned with more wine, he refilled my glass for me. “Cheers, david!”, he said. “Cheers, mike!”, I shot back at him, happily.

Raising his glass again, in a toast, mike said, “and, HERE’S, to the wonderful, MISS POLLY!” 

“CHEERS!”, I cried, in genuine salutation, to that marvellous young lady, who would be our saviour.

Warming to his theme, mike further proposed, though this time, with heavy sarcasm, “and, HERE’S, to our charming and delightful Supervisors, CSO’s Gloria and Edna!”

“OH! CSO Edna really flew off the handle with us today, didn’t she, mike? OH, HAHAHAHA!”, I laughed, happily, as the wine dissolved my inhibitions, like hot tea dissolving sugar. I added, mimicking mike’s sarcastic tone, “but, CSO Gloria, in my opinion, as far as the general run of Community Service Officers goes, is not so bad! HAHAHAHA!!” At my quip, parodying what CSO Gloria had said of us both, earlier, mike and I all but rolled around laughing on the floor.

Then, when he had sufficiently recovered from the convulsions of his mirth, mike further proposed, “and, HERE’S, to that lovely and wonderful lady, that symbol of feminine perfection, Harriet Harmman! HAHAHAHA!”

I replied, delightedly, “OH! You may be laughing NOW, mike, but, I don’t think you will be laughing, in the morning, when you are brought face to face, with her, for Further Sentence! HAHAHAHA! I KNOW! I am talking from EXPERIENCE! HAHAHAHA! OH, HAHAHAHA!! You won’t be laughing THEN, mike! HAHAHAHA!!!!”

The rest of that marvellous and unforgettable evening, at mike’s house, followed in similar vein.

Our raucous, drunken, and uninhibited ribaldry, wholly at the expense of our ‘betters’, and, underlying all else, the wonderful feeling, of the promise of our liberation, of our golden chance of escape from the AFP, and from our lives of drudgery and humiliation, as Community Servants, made for the best and most pleasurable evening, that I had spent in the last 5 years, since the Authoritarian Female Party came to power, and ruined my life.

Well, now, all of that seemed set to change.

We filled our glasses with wine, and we filled our hearts with hope.

My hospitable host told me, that I could sleep on his sofa, if I wanted to, and, as I was barely capable of walking in a straight line, I thought it wise to take mike up, on his kind offer.

But, the next morning would bring with it, a colossal and devastating bombshell, that would shatter us both, and bring us crashing back down to earth, again.

When mike and I got up the following morning, due to our over indulgence, in mike’s delicious claret, that had fuelled our euphoria on the previous evening, we were both suffering from the most appalling of hangovers.

“NEVER AGAIN!!”, I had wailed, in the traditional resolution of hangover sufferers. But, our dreadful headaches, were about to get a whole lot worse!

Just as we were about to leave mike’s house to report for work, it so happened that the Postman had been about to push some mail through mike’s letter box, but, upon hearing the door about to be opened, the Postman decided to wait a moment, and to hand mike’s mail to him, in person.

After thanking the Postman, mike decided to return to his Living Room, to sit down, while he read his letter.

I didn’t blame him, either, for I had received many such letters, myself, that bore the mark of the Community Services Liaison Office. I had never been in receipt of a letter from there, yet, that had borne good tidings. And, mike’s latest letter from there, was no different.

After mike had opened his letter, and had read it’s contents, he said nothing, absolutely nothing, but passed the letter over to me, for me to read.

The Community Services Liaison Officer, Harriet Harmman, regretted to have to inform mike, that, as his status was now that of a Community Servant, she had confiscated his ocean going boat, the ‘FREEDOM’.

COMMUNITY SERVICE continues, in Part 10.