Lindsay had seen the sign several times before and she didn’t really believe it, but this time she was actually scared. She had no money for her rent, the power was off and she didn’t even have enough to buy a can of soda. The little sign really caught her attention this time and she could call the toll free number from a payphone without any money.



George Code didn’t have an office; he came to meet Lindsay in the park and brought her a contract. He was a very pleasant man about 40 with thick dark brown hair and a quick smile. He listened to her as she told about her terrible day, then he explained that all her outstanding bills would be caught up, and any further costs would be totally covered. The contract he presented was a 10 Year Indenture of Servitude, she would agree be a ponygirl and trained to pull carts or sulkies.

As George explained the contract to her, she began to like the idea of having someone else take all her troubles away. She would be supported and actually required to run required to run? and pull a little cart or a sulky. She might even be a racer one day, and live a life of privilege. The Ponygirl Racing Association also specified that a percentage of her winnings, should she become a racing ponygirl, would be held for her.

What would I wear? she asked. What kind of clothes should I bring?”

Nothing, he said as a matter of fact. You should bring running shoes, several pairs of your favorites. George didn’t leer nor stare at her body.

You mean I’d have to be naked? she asked.

Well, horses don’t wear anything, he said casually. Neither do ponygirls.”

Would I have to,um,well do stuff?”

There are very stringent regulations. You might think it’s too lonely. George had a pen for her to take. Lindsay took the pen absently, and toyed with it as she read. She wanted to sign she didn’t put the pen down, but the idea of being naked all the time scared her. She was so desperate, though….

After she read it, she took a deep breath and signed it. She had nothing better in sight, especially that required running. He said they would be in contact with her to make arrangements, and he even bought her a cold soda pop before he left.



Lindsay sat in the park for a while before heading home and found the complex manager waiting by her door, with his hair combed; he was very polite and apologized for his earlier remarks. He also asked her to notify her boss that he came to talk to her. Lindsay nodded and smiled. She went inside to the cool air conditioning and stereo. When she left the power was off, and she left the stereo on, loud. When the power was restored it came back on, loud. That evening she went to bed and slept well for the first time in nearly a month.

A knock on the door woke her at 8 in the morning, she answered the door in her oversized purple t-shirt, a leftover from her first boyfriend. The neck stretched over her lean left shoulder and long slender legs stretched out below. The two men there were very polite to her, and said Mr. Code had sent them. They left a big envelope and told her that her cell phone should work now, and left immediately after that. When Lindsay started to close the door she noticed that it was freshly cleaned, the ominous note from the manager was completely washed off.

She opened the large manila packet and found directions to the stable and a smaller manila envelope for all her personal papers, like her driver license and birth certificate, and of course her safety deposit keys. A letter told her that she had an appointment today with a local doctor for a check up and to take a blood sample and x-rays. She was expected to be at the stable in ten days at 8AM. It also had a polite little reminder to please be punctual”. There was also a packet containing 1450.00, with a note saying it was to cover expenses and for gasoline for the 200 miles to the stable, and another note simply said to Use It.