Julie

Chapters 23 and 24

 

Chapter Twenty-three

In the morning Julie asked the question she knew she wasn’t supposed to ask. “What’s going on?”

“Jerry is going to be outed today. In assembly.” Crissi’s words were the start and some of it did make sense, but some didn’t like going out into the parking lot and Frank’s blue Ford had been replaced by a newer silver Chevy. Not so new that the paint wasn’t starting to go on the horizontal surfaces. The hood and trunk were no longer shiny and if she were taller, she expected she’d see the top of the passenger compartment looked faded too.

There were four suitcases; one was for her. If everything came off okay today, Frank and them would go to the party tonight. If not, then they were going on a trip out of town. Frank didn’t make it sound permanent but even she could tell, things were iffy. Amy, who was also going to be outed today, was welcome to come along.

There was a bunch of pertinent personal stuff; mostly Jerry’s, that helped put everything in perspective, but didn’t explain why they’d spent the evening screwing each other in just about every way possible (not every way -- Jerry was a faggot and there were some things he just didn’t enjoy doing).

At school Julie had her purse and knife and was glad Alexander wasn’t in geometry class. As it was, Lance and BJ got dire looks as if they cared. The stage was set but she had no idea what time the curtain would go up or what her cues and lines would be, and only an inkling of the play she’d be in.

She’d attended outing assemblies in the past and participated along with everyone else in their role as enthusiastic cheerleader chorus. The players on stage: the court, the judge, the prisoner who was masked until finally outed. Accusations and proofs were provided. The court explained the perfidy of the prisoner, whether faggot or whore, and then a group was chosen, as if by lot, from the audience to act as executioners of the court’s will. It was more fun in first assembly where everything was brand new. Second assembly, after the prisoner had suffered the court’s will, was obviously just bad theater, until the execution was reenacted by the audience members.

It was all good clean fun, a great waste of an hour, and except for the boring parts -- singing the national anthem, saying the pledge of allegiance, stopping for prayers at appropriate moments -- assembly was a chance to yell and scream to one’s heart’s content. And the twelve executioners got to do a lot more.

Julie had never experienced a double outing, a faggot and a whore, but understood from Frank and the others that it wasn’t that rare.

Assembly was called at the beginning of Bible study and she was amongst the mass of students who attended the first assembly. As a ho she was separate from everybody, no longer having female friends except for a few hos and teases. Naturally, as a member of that group she was obliged to sit in the front, in a wooden chair with pink bow, placed between the first row and the stage. Hos were prone to causing distractions at large public events. She sat between two teases she didn’t know, a handjobber on her left and blowjobber to her right. The blowjobber was fairly modest, wearing a skirt (and signs of recent use). She said her name was Josi and smiled. The handjobber had a bad case of acne and was shy. Julie didn’t see Crissi or Crystal. Sandi and Nellie were at the other end of the row. Clara from the party was nowhere to be seen. Perhaps the missing girls’ last names began with a letter after L which meant they’d be at second assembly.

On stage Mr. Strong sat in the center. On the right side of the stage was a lone wood stool. On the left five chairs stood empty. After everyone settled, Mr. Strong led the assembly through the anthem, pledge and opening prayer. Everyone sat down and Mr. Strong requested the sergeant-at-arms to bring the court into session. Their names were called: Mr. Trakis who taught biology; coach Busoni; Mr. Anderson who turned out to be Jim the art teacher; Mr. Ryley who taught the senior boy’s Bible study class; and Mr. Trager who taught social studies and psychology.

Another prayer was given asking the Lord’s guidance in the day’s affairs and then, after the assembly was seated, Mr. Strong said, “Mr. Sergeant-at-arms, please bring the defendant.”

Jerry, who wore a hood, was led onto stage. If she hadn’t known, she wasn’t entirely sure she would have suspected who it was. The sergeant-at-arms helped Jerry sit; Jerry couldn’t see because of the hood and moved awkwardly because his hands were held in handcuffs behind his back.

“Thank you,” the principal said. “Charges have been made that the accused is a vile homosexual, practitioner of forbidden sordid acts of debauchery whose very description would debase the ears of the innocent present in this room.” Mr. Strong advanced to the front of the stage. “The court has evidence which it has inspected prior to this trial. We need to pray.”

Julie stood and mumbled the words. She went to church but didn’t consider herself religious like some of her classmates. Her current state might have been a result of her lack of belief but she didn’t think so. She thought now, over a week later, that what led her to become a ho was her awareness, unconscious more than conscious, of how wrong things were. She didn’t think God actually made men better than women, certainly she was a lot smarter than most of her classmates male or female. Something didn’t add up and after Wednesday night she couldn’t pretend any more. After mumbling the prayer she sat down.

Mr. Strong continued, “Unless there is a defense, the court proceeds to judgment and execution, and in most cases there is no defense. Today, however, a number of witnesses seem to refute the evidence the court has seen. The court will hear their testimony. Let the defense counsel call their names.”

Frank walked onto stage, shook hands with the members of the court and Mr. Strong. “Thank you, sir. I wish to call Courtney Cooper, Josh Kaplan, Jeremiah Cassini (a group in the audience clapped at this name until Mr. Strong motioned for quiet), and Michael LeRoy. I myself was a witness to this and another incident. Please step forward.”

The students entered from the wing at the right of the stage; all were awkward to be there. Mr. Strong had them swear on a Bible to tell the truth and then he sat.

“On May thirteenth, a Wednesday, I was with the prisoner and one other, who sits in the front tow. We both used her naturally,” a number of students in the audience laughed and cheered, “and these witnesses were present. They used the person in the front row in a variety of ways.” More cheering and Mr. Strong motioned with this hands for silence.

“This was witnessed by you?” Mr. Strong asked the students on stage. “With your own eyes, that the use was natural?” The students nodded. “You must say yes or no.” They all said yes. “Most interesting in the light of the other evidence. Does the court have any questions?”

Jim stood, “I have a question for Mr. Busoni, my colleague. Are all of these boys classmates of the accused? I can see by the coach’s face, the answer is yes. My second question is, aren’t some of the witnesses also teammates of the accused?”

“Yes,” coach Busoni said. “Cassini isn’t on the team, though.”

“I wish the witnesses were less partial.” Jim sat down.

Julie was thinking, Crissi said he was a good fuck and I have a date with him, the asshole.

Mr. Trakis stood. “In my profession it is well understood that some individuals, while capable of union with a member of the opposite sex, actually prefer perversions best not mentioned here.” He sat down and crossed his legs.

Coach Busoni stood. “I can’t be impartial in this and asked to be relieved. I can’t help but feel that there is some error in this evidence,” he slapped the sheaf of papers against his palm. “The accused is a good boy, good student and God fearing.” He sat down.

The other court members passed. Mr. Strong turned to Frank. “Do you have other evidence?”

“Another time, the prisoner made natural use of the person in the front row.”

“You’re his friend, otherwise you wouldn’t be defending him. I’m afraid that is not evidence enough.” Mr. Strong approached the front of the stage. “Let us pray before passing sentence.”

“Mr. Strong,” Julie shouted. “Mr. Strong.” She stood and waved her arms.

He looked down at her. “You’re out of order, Julie. Please sit down and let us proceed.” He smiled to the audience as if asking them to forgive the audacity of whores.

“But I was there, Mr. Strong.” There was laughter in the audience.

“That is neither here or there, Julie. Sit down.”

“Mr. Strong.”

He motioned her toward him. “Now listen. All of you listen. Julie is a whore. Her testimony has no bearing unless backed up by the testimony of a man or two women. Or, in our case, a boy or two girls. That is how our legal system operates. The court has no interest in what Julie has to say unless a man or a woman can affirm it. We’ve disqualified these witnesses as biased. Please sit down and please be quiet or I’ll ask the sergeant-at-arms to remove you from the assembly.” He watched her, still smiling in spite of the seriousness of his speech.

“But that’s what I want to say. There is another. A person who is not a student.”

Mr. Strong turned to Frank. “Is this true?”

“It is but I don’t know his name and had no time--“

Mr. Strong asked her, “Do you know his name?”

“The tag on his uniform said Duell, which I assume is his last name. He’s a security guard at the mall. He saw everything. He joked about there being a tape of what we did.”

“Sit down, Julie. Thank you, I think.” He smiled at her. “Sit down.”

Mr. Strong motioned for the sergeant-at-arms to come to him. They whispered for a minute and the sergeant-at-arms went off stage. “The sergeant-at-arms is attempting to find this person. If the sergeant-at-arms is unsuccessful we’ll pass sentence before assembly is over. If he’s successful but Mr. Duell is unable or unwilling to attend in time, we’ll pass sentence without his testimony. The evidence is overwhelming, but circumstantial. We’ll give the accused every benefit of the doubt.”

The sergeant-at-arms returned to the stage and conferred with the principal. “We’ll adjourn this hearing and proceed to the next. Remove the accused. I understand the personage in the front row will be a witness in the next trial. She’s been a very busy,” the principal paused and shrugged. The audience laughed. “Please wait for counsel to assist you before coming on stage, Julie.”

The crowd broke into rhythmic clapping which provided intermission between the acts as Jerry was led from the stage.

 

Chapter Twenty-four

Crissi came up to Julie and handed her a brown, roughly woven sack. “It’s like this one,” she said touching the sack she was wearing. “If we’re to be on stage we have to wear them.” Julie put it on and followed Crissi out of the auditorium. “You did well,” Crissi said.

“It’s unfair.”

“It’s how things are done. We whores are an offense to the sight of man.”

“No, I mean the whole trial. It’s a farce.”

“Try not to scream it to the rooftops during the trial. Back here.” They went up steps, through a door and a long hall. “You mustn’t talk to Amy.”

Julie waited in the wing as the new trial began. Frank and Jerry were back here somewhere but she couldn’t see them. Amy was a few feet in front of her, arms held by two girls. Mr. Strong said, “The second trial is more straightforward, the evidence clear and incontrovertible. The accused is, by the evidence shown to the court, a member of the unfortunately growing community of wantons who have chosen, willingly, the way of sin over the path of righteousness.

“The temptations that befall young girls today are many and varied. TV, movies, lurid novels, all promote a disregard for a girl’s most precious possession, her virginity. Some cast if off willy-nilly like the young girl we heard from earlier. In spite of her intelligence, careful upbringing by dutiful parents, religious training, in spite of all this she chose a state that she’s made plain to all who see her by her gross nakedness. Her presence amongst us affirms the peril of blandishments offered by the world. Not so many years ago she would have been cast out of our community. It’s understood now that her presence offers an outlet for boys who are also, as we witnessed earlier, in peril. Some like the poor youth in the earlier trial would have benefited from such an outlet if they’d been able to make use of it. Some youths, forgetting that the flesh is weak, try to face the dark one on their own and fail. She is temptation and we must resist temptation to sin. But sinning with her is no sin compared to a sin we daren’t speak of.

“While we can’t applaud a proud proclamation of a fallen state, we must appreciate the honesty of that proclamation. No pure soul can be seduced into marriage by such a one. She will bear fatherless children since none willingly would give them a name. There are some though who masquerade as good girls, who lead boys astray with visible professions of innocence. Harlots in everything but name they reap unworthy esteem their sisters justly forgo.

“Bring out the accused.”

Amy was led by the sergeant-at-arms to the stool and helped to sit. She wore a sack dress also, like Crissi’s and hers, that went down to her ankles but left her arms bare. In Amy’s case, the sack was over clothing and Amy’s arms were covered down to her wrists. She was hooded like Jerry and handcuffed, and like Jerry she offered no resistance.

Mr. Strong led them through another prayer. “Come out when I call you as a witness,” Crissi said. She went to stand by Amy’s side.

“We have medical evidence of the accused’s non-virginal state,” Mr. Strong said. “As well as an affidavit of a boyfriend of the activities she wished him to participate in. Normally that is all that is needed, but the accused’s defense has a witness who will describe unusual, potentially mitigating events. The defense counsel may come before the court.”

Crissi, shook hands with the court and the principal. Crissi spoke quickly, “The prisoner’s defense is that the affidavit of her accuser is false. The defense is that the accuser orchestrated her rape and loss of virginity by others and himself. Unfortunately, because of events beyond our control we’ll only be able to present partial evidence to demonstrate this defense.”

Crissi walked to the center of the stage. “The night the prisoner lost her virginity, May thirteenth, is surrounded by layers of mystery. The place, the actors and the orchestration of the rape. I wish to call a witness who was not a participant in the rape. Miss Julie Lester.”

Julie walked onto the stage. There was no clapping or cheering this time.

“Miss Lester. Can you describe, broadly, the location, actors and the events? Broadly, please.”

Julie looked at Mr. Strong, then Crissi. “I was invited by--“

“No names, please,” Crissi said.

“A friend to a party. He took me to a house, I don’t know where it is though he’d taken me there before, and left me. Two classmates were there and about twenty other boys, older, were also there. Another classmate, a woman like me, was brought by her father. He was paid twenty dollars and she was taken to another room and joined by seven of the older boys and at times the two classmates. She can tell you more about what happened in the other room then.”

“She’s still sick, Julie. Go on.”

“She was beaten up. I don’t know by whom.”

“Must we listen to this meander?” Jim asked.

“As long as it seems to be pertinent,” Mr. Strong said. “Go on.”

“Amy was brought by my friend as his date. He took her upstairs and came back down a few minutes later--“

“That’s it? That’s the evidence?” Jim said.

“Please continue,” Mr. Strong said.

“Nineteen boys and a classmate went upstairs. I was taken to the other room where the girl who shared my state was unconscious. I heard them upstairs and was told by my friend that they were breaking in a whore. That’s a quote. I--“

“We need to be specific here, Julie,” Mr. Strong said. He got out of his seat and approached her. “Did the accused call out?”

“She screamed. More than once. It was--“

“Think carefully. Did anyone try to assist her?”

“I was downstairs. From the sounds, I think not. They were laughing.”

“She was laughing with them?”

“No. The boys were laughing. She was crying.”

“You heard her?”

“Yes.”

“She wasn’t a willing participant?”

“No.”

“You didn’t help her?”

“I couldn’t.”

“Why not, Julie?”

“I was bound. I was being raped myself.”

“It’s impossible to rape one such as you.” He turned to the audience. “You say she called out but none helped her. That isn’t rape, Julie, if no one heard her.”

Julie was angry. “It was rape, sir. I was there. We both were raped. Repeatedly.”

“Neither of you were raped.” He sat down.

“Stay here, Julie,” Crissi said. “I have physical evidence to back Julie’s claims.”

“This is unorthodox,” Mr. Strong said.

“I’m willing to request this be taken to a civil court.”

“Proceed.”

“I wish to call Frank Damare.”

Frank came onto the stage with a folder. A student wheeled a projector onto the stage.

Jim stood. “Frank Damare is the counsel for the other accused.”

“That’s right, sir,” Frank said. He used his finger to adjust his eyeglasses. “Mr. Strong, the court. Working for counsel I was able to obtain photographs taken at the party by one of the participants. I also have photographs taken outside during and after the party by a person I’m not able to name. I’ll show those last.”

“You intend to show everyone?” Mr. Strong asked.

“Yes, sir. It seems the best and fastest way since we’re short of time.”

“No photographs of actual--“

“I have them here to present secretly to the court.”

“One slip up and you’re expelled.”

“I’ll be careful, sir.” The screen was ready; Frank turned to the projector and shone the first photo. It was of the wall of panties. “Miss Lester?”

“That’s the front room downstairs. The prisoner’s were added while I was in another room. I saw them as I was led out. May I?”

“Please.”

Julie walked to the screen. “These are hers.”

“You’re sure?”

“The blood was still wet.”

Another photograph of a dark room. Julie studied it. “That’s me. You can’t see me because of the boys.”

The third photograph was upstairs, in a room with a mattress. “My friend took me up here on the twelfth. I think it was this room but I’m not entirely sure. There were no bottles or cans on the floor when I was there Tuesday.”

“Bottles of what?” Crissi said.

“Beer. They had coolers full of Coors downstairs.”

“That’s all I can show publicly of this group of photographs.” Frank carried the folder to the court and distributed photos to the members and Mr. Strong. The principal looked at one photograph, turned the stack over.

“Is that all?” he asked.

“There are more,” Crissi said, “but first I want to ask Frank a question. Who were these boys.”

“The photographs come from a seminary student who attends college, just outside of town. As far as I can ascertain, most if not all of those involved were students there.”

Jim stood. “There is nothing here to indicate the accused is not a harlot of the worst kind.”

Coach Busoni stood. “On Thursday, Lester came to class with a split lip and a black eye. We talked and she made accusations. Strong accusations, which I naturally discounted. Until now.” He shook the photographs in Jim’s face. “These photographs are horrible. Neither of the girls look to be willing participants.”

“You wouldn’t know willing if it bit you.”

“I witnessed an amazing team building performance by Lester on the day in question. She was willing, enthusiastic and unmarked at the end of the hour. My class appreciated her efforts. There are no faggots, sir, on my team or in that class. I can verify that.”

“Coach Busoni, thank you.” Mr. Strong turned to Crissi. “You have more photographs.”

“We have, sir, but have been instructed not to show them.”

“Then let us proceed to finding a verdict and sentencing.”

“Wait a minute,” Julie said. “Why not show them?”

“Miss Lester!” the principal shouted.

“I want to know why evidence can’t be shown in this court.”

“Miss Lester!”

“Because Jerry Fletcher took the photographs,” Frank said loud enough for everyone in the audience to hear.

“You’re expelled.”

“Thank you, sir.” Frank clicked the button and a new photograph appeared on the screen.

“That’s Alexander Fox,” Julie said.

“You’re expelled, Miss Lester.”

“And he’s fucking Amy Johnson.” Julie turned to Amy. “Oh God, Amy. Zeke cut you too?”

Go on to read the next two chapters.

Julie Story Page
Chapters 1 and 2 | Chapters 3 and 4 | Chapters 5 and 6
Chapters 7 and 8 | Chapters 9 and 10 | Chapters 11 and 12
Chapters 13 and 14 | Chapters 15 and 16 | Chapters 17 and 18
Chapters 19 and 20 | Chapters 21 and 22 | Chapters 23 and 24
Chapters 25 and 26