Chapter 2. The Indenture
Louise returned on the 4 o'clock bus. Fury written all over her features. It had
been so embarrassing. After she had spent a considerable time much to the
annoyance of the sales staff, Jones & Templey had refused to accept her credit
card. Ernie had seen to getting it canceled. May's face by this time was very
swollen and an array of grotesque colours. Louise stormed in, paused when she
saw her mother's face and for a second it almost seemed as if she was going to
say, sorry but all she actually did was to snarl at me, "You still here? Haven't
you a home to go to?" To her mother she said, "You'll pay for this bitch."
Entering her bedroom for a moment she stood dumbfounded. It was almost bare. All
her things were gone. Her clothes, her ornaments, her cuddly soft toys. Wardrobe
empty, tallboy empty, dressing table cleared. She stared. All she could see was
a suitcase on the bed ready packed with a few clothes and toiletries. They are
sending me away, she thought. "They won't get away with that," she said to
herself as her already foul mood worsened. Returning to the lounge with fists
flying and physically and verbally attacking both her mother and myself, she
demanded the return of her stuff.
As pre-arranged Ernie arrived in full uniform. "Louise Elizabeth Redman I am
arresting you for the grievous bodily harm you have inflicted on your mother.
You don't have to say anything ......" Louise spun and aimed a fist in Ernie's
direction but I caught it in mid flight. Despite her struggles and invective
Ernie and I forced her hands behind her back and fastened them with a pair of
handcuffs.
Being forced to sit in a chair and more or less immobile, didn't stop the flow
of abuse from Louise. A strip of packaging tape across her mouth did. We left
her like that to cool off a little and adjourned to the kitchen and made a pot
of tea.
Returning I stood before her and spoke. "Louise, look at your mother's face. Try
and feel some of the pain she is going through. Imagine what would have happened
if the strokes had been only a tiny fraction higher and she was blinded. This is
not the first time you have beaten her. We all know that and can testify to the
fact. Yet you show no remorse. Only anger that you cannot get you own way all
the time. PC Hargreaves has every right to take you into custody and charge you
with GBH for which you could get a prison sentence of at least three months,
more likely a year. Your mother even though you have hurt her badly, doesn't of
want this but she now has little say in the matter. It is up to PC Hargreaves
whether or not he charges you with the offence. A criminal offence has been
committed and your mother has no rights as to whether or not you are charged.
Nod your head if that is clear." Louise looked daggers at us. "Is that clear?"
This time she nodded.
Ernie interjected. "After your shameful behaviour to your own mother I am very
willing to see you put away. At least it would give your mother a respite from
your viciousness and demands. Prison might do you a lot of good or it might make
you worse. On my visits to various prisons one thing very noticeable is an
excessive politeness to others - unless you are top dog. Top dogs are the
roughest, toughest and meanest inmates and all others defer to them. If they
don't they are often severely beaten, sometimes permanently damaged. Even
killed. With your temper that could easily happen. Out of respect for your
mother, not you, I may decide not to press the charges but I will need a lot of
convincing that it will be in both her and your best interest."
Tears were now flowing freely from Louise. I continued. "We discussed this at
some length while you were away. We decided that it would not be safe for your
mother if we allowed you to stay. Therefore a case of essential items has been
packed for you. Your leaving this house is not negotiable. You are going."
"However, we are giving you two choices. One as you have just heard is for you
to be charged and held on remand until your trial and sentence. The second is
more unusual. Firstly to make up for a little of the pain you inflicted you will
receive a bare bum hiding. Secondly you will indenture yourself as a servant for
a period of two months into my service with up to one months remission for good
behaviour. We have taken the indenture text from an early 19th century document
which gives me as your master, full rights over you. In return I will pay you
£500 per month. This will however, be paid to your mother to compensate her to a
limited extent for the suffering you caused and for loss of work because she
will not be able to at least undertake her waitressing work until her face is
back to normal and she is unlikely to be able to work as a cleaner for some
days. I will now read you the indenture document after which we will remove the
tape from your mouth and release the handcuffs. If there is another burst of
abuse and violence from you then you will immediately be arrested and taken
away. If you control yourself you will be given 30 minutes to go to your bedroom
to study the document and to make your decision. At the end of the 30 minutes
you will either sign the indenture agreement or be arrested. The choice is
yours. Not much of a choice I admit but at least you have the chance to try and
alter your behaviour without getting a criminal record.
"The indenture reads:
This Indenture Witnesseth that Louise Margaret Redman of Little Brompton in the
County of Shropshire doth put herself into the service of Eric Reginald Laxley
to learn the art of servitude and to serve from this 4th day of May in the year
of our Lord two thousand and one until the end and term of two full calendar
months and from thence following to be ended and complete. During which term the
said Louise Margaret Redman her master shall faithfully serve, his secrets keep,
his commands everywhere gladly do. She shall do no damage to her said master nor
see to be done by others but to the best of her of her ability shall prevent or
forthwith give warning to her said master of the same. She shall not buy or sell
nor absent herself from her said master's service unlawfully but in all things
as a faithful servant she shall behave herself towards her said master during
the said term.
And for the true performance of all and every the said Covenants and Agreements
either of the said parties bindeth herself unto the other by these Presents. In
witness whereof the parties above named have hereunto set their hand and seals
the 4th day of May in the year of our Lord two thousand.
Signed in the presence of .............................. Master
............................. Servant
............................. Mother
.............................. Constable."
There was a look of absolute horror on Louise's face. She would never become
subservient to anyone. Or would she? The alternative was prison.
I resumed speaking. "Now Louise, remember what I said. I am going to remove the
tape from your mouth and the cuffs from your wrists. If there is any abuse or
violence the constable here will immediately arrest you and take you away. We
have photographed your mother's face at various times during the day as evidence
so you not be able later to argue about the severity of her injuries. You may
take this copy of the indenture to your bedroom and study it and think about the
alternative for half an hour then you must make up your mind whether to agree to
the terms. If you have any questions you may come down and ask them or ask
either myself or PC Hargreaves to come up and answer them. If you agree to the
terms you will be given your bare bottom punishment right away in front of us
all and then you will get your suitcase and carry it to my house. Remember no
abuse, no violence. Understand?"
Louise nodded. The tape and cuffs were removed and while she furiously but
silently cursed the lot of us, said nothing out loud. Still angry and crying she
snatched the document and clumped upstairs.
We continued discussing the situation. Ernie firmly believing he should just
take her into custody and have done with it but reluctantly allowing his
friendship with us to go along with the 'game' at least for the time being.
Twenty minutes later came a call from the top of the stairs asking me to come
and answer some questions. "Tell me," she said, "Will I have to take more
punishment from you during the two months or will the hiding you are going to
give me now be the one and only?"
"Louise, if you are good and behave yourself impeccably, then yes but in all
honesty I cannot see that happening so you will receive more punishments. I will
be fair if rather strict and the punishments will be related to the seriousness
of the offense."
"Will you want to er...er... have sex with me?"
"Again I must be truthful and say yes. We will be living together in a remote
one bed house with only primitive facilities and little privacy."
"You're taking me to the island? What if I become ill? What if I become
pregnant? I've never had a man before. What if....?"
"Louise," I said, "I think the 'what if' you should have thought about is 'what
if I had been nicer to my mother?' Now your time is nearly up. You must make
your decision. Take your punishment from us or from the government." I left the
room.
A few minutes later she came down and muttered, "I don't really have a choice do
I? I have to sign and go with you."
