Unable to find regular work and led astray by bad company, Michael slipped into a life of crime almost without noticing it. But when he went solo and raided a Priest's house hoping to steal the church silverware it all went wrong. Through inexperience, he set off an alarm and before he knew it two burly security guards arrived and arrested him.
It was a sultry summer night but even so Michael was surprised at the lightweight, skimpy uniforms they wore. He'd happily confront a regular cop but found these two men strangely intimidating and offered them little resistance.
Outside in the back of their van they offered him the choice of a lift to the Police Station or an on-the-spot fine. Of course he would have preferred the fine but didn't have enough money with him.
That's OK, they said, we'll take payment-in-kind.
Another community litter patrol, he thought, Cool!
That's OK, they said, we'll take payment-in-kind.
Another community litter patrol, he thought, Cool!
 | ||
| Mitchell - Community Protection Services |
But when they shackled his wrists to a ring fixed to the side-wall of their vehicle and stripped him of his clothes he wasn't so sure, Naked Litter Patrol sounded too scary.
Just then another alarm call came in and they drove off with Michael in the back of the van, naked like that. Michael saw there were other rings further along the wall and wondered if other men would be joining him to receive punishment.
As it turned out, he had plenty of time to ponder what the punishment might be,
but the guards didn't catch any other felons that night.
When their shift ended they drove to a quiet spot and returned to exact Michael's 'fine'.
Just then another alarm call came in and they drove off with Michael in the back of the van, naked like that. Michael saw there were other rings further along the wall and wondered if other men would be joining him to receive punishment.
As it turned out, he had plenty of time to ponder what the punishment might be,
but the guards didn't catch any other felons that night.
When their shift ended they drove to a quiet spot and returned to exact Michael's 'fine'.
That's when he found out it that didn't involve litter
although he did have to bend for it.
although he did have to bend for it.
~
The original picture on which this image is based was originally intended to be the final part of my 'Homeguard' Series which I expanded and transformed into the story 'A Christmas Criminal'
(published here over Christmas and New Year 2015-16). The picture didn't really fit as I explained in my post-script to that story and you can see the original sketch there, but I thought it was worth finishing as a picture and this is the result. The Homeguard service has now transformed itself into 'Community Protection Services' whose initials are very appropriate for this scene.
for other 'mitchpix' click on the label below
(published here over Christmas and New Year 2015-16). The picture didn't really fit as I explained in my post-script to that story and you can see the original sketch there, but I thought it was worth finishing as a picture and this is the result. The Homeguard service has now transformed itself into 'Community Protection Services' whose initials are very appropriate for this scene.
for other 'mitchpix' click on the label below