Justin looked around the room at the nervous, tanned faces of his fellow Jackaroos. His stomach was churning at the thought of standing to get caned like Charlie. He glanced over as Charlie sat down painfully - with a small smile shining through tearful eyes So Justin was amazed at his own audacity as he stood and and said "Me sir, I'll go next".
The boss looked at him approvingly "Good on ya mate - come up here ...." he then looked across the other Jackaroos and said "all you experienced guys should be ashamed that this new bloke already has more guts than you!".
All the guys who were yet to be caned looked at the floor, deeply embarrassed.
Still, Justin wished he was one of them as he bent over the desk.
"Jeez Justin - stop mucking around " said the Boss to sniggers from the room. Justin stood and realised that he still had his jeans on - blushing he pulled them down and bent over again.
He felt the cane tap his bare butt and then heard the swwwwish and felt a sudden burning pain as he heard and felt the craaaack of the cane across his butt. OUCH ... he thought .... _d_a_m_n_ that hurts !! Justin gasped and took a steadying breath before saying ."one "
More tapping and then another crack and gasp of pain. Justin's head was swimming as he tried to concentrate on not crying. "... t... two" he croacked .
Then ... after a pause the third, fourth and fifth strokes whacked into his bum hard and fast. Justin gasped is shock .... "ahhh .. owwww .... bloody hell .... uh ...f-five". His eyes were watering as he tried to not bawl like a baby.
"Seven more mate" murmured the Boss, "you're doing well, it'll be done soon"
Another stroke cracked into Justin's bum HARD ... "yeoooowww ... s-six sir"
Another pause, while Justin breathed deeply. The suddenly and rapidly... THWWWWWWWWWAAAAAAACK .... THWWWWWWWWWWAAAAAAAAAAAAACK ..... THWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWAAAAAAAAAAAAAACK .....
Justin gasped ... "OWWWWWW . bloody hell mate that's...nine ...."
Justin was breathing hard and waited for the next stroke. Again there seemed to be a pause .... then he felt a gentle tapping on his butt .... another pause ... and then ....
THWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACK !!!!!!!.......
THHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACK !!!!!!!......
THHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACCCCCCKKKKKKKK !!!!!!!
YEOOOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWW ... howled Justin, all dignity forgotten. "That's twelve " he bawled. He sobbed quietly as he lay over the desk.
He felt the Boss' hand squeeze his shoulder, saying "Ok mate .. it's over "
Slowly, and painfully Justin stood and pulled his jeans ... very gently over his butt and then turned around to see the sympathetic faces of his fellow Jackaroos. He walked stiffly down to retake his seat ... sitting very gingerly. He tried to smile gamely as a few guys patted his back or ruffled his hair muttering "well done mate".
Meanwhile the Boss was looking for another volunteer ... Justin put his head on the desk and wished that the pain would go away as he heard the sound of another backside getting caned. He looked up to see the muscular butt of Andy with 6 red stripes and the cane lining up for another .. THWWWWWWWAAAAAAAAACK !!! as Andy yelped and flinched in pain.
Justin looked over at Jake , standing, just in his briefs, red-eyed in the corner -with his hands on his head. Justin smirked at the major bulge in the front of Jake's briefs as he realised that his mentor was kind of enjoying this. Justin quickly looked down when he noticed Jake's face turn and smirk at him.
Soon Andy was standing painfully and pulling his pants back up, and then hobbling back down to retake his seat. Scott, Brett and Archie all followed. All took their 12 well - but all were teary eyed and in some pain by the end. Justin stared at the top of desk mostly as he tried to will the throbbing pain in his butt to go away. As Archie stood, red faced and retook his seat, The Boss, Bill Fraser turned and looked at the room saying "Ok guys - you've all had your stripes, and the only thing left to do is to give Jake-o his extra 12"
Justin looked over to see Jake's nervous gulp - at the prospect of more strokes. Justin was thinking - poor Jake... there is no way he'd be able to take this without blubbing !!
The Boss continued "However ... I want to say a few words before Jake gets it. You blokes let me down today, you let Diamentina Downs, down and you let yourselves down."
All the young jackaroos looked down in embarrassment, silently nodding in agreement. They all knew they had stuffed up and had paid for it.
"I'm particularly disappointed with Jake - who is supposed to know better". Jake flushed and shuffled nervously in his place as Boss Fraser continued "Particularly as he had responsibility for our new bloke Justin and managed to lead him astray on his first full day". Justin flushed at the mention of his name.
"However" said the Boss after looking at each of the young men in his care "by taking this punishment so manfully - you have paid for your errors and have a clean slate with me.....," all the Jackaroos smiled with relief with these words, and then laughed as he finished saying "... but I'd advise that you keep your butts out of trouble for a few weeks ".
As the chuckles dies down, the Boss turned to Jake saying "Ok mate - get back up here".
Jake stepped forward and resumed position. Justin winced in sympathy to see his butt with 18 harsh red stripes cutting across it. Jake was in for one tough session !!
The Boss tapped the cane on jake's butt and ..... THWWWWWAAAAAACK ..... THWWWWWWWWWWWAAAAAAACK ...... THWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWAAAACK ...... THWWWWWWWWWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACK ......
Four savage strokes thumped into jake's buns quickfire. Jake was sweating heavily and groaning and crying out ... yeooooowwww ... and sobbing in pain.
Aftre a short pause the Boss gave Jake another four quickfire. Jake's buns quivered from the impact as he whimpered and sobbed in pain, before the Boss gave him his final dose of four and big, muscular and handsome Jake lay accros the table sobbing like a little boy.
The Boss patted Jake's broad shoulders saying "Ok mate, well done ... it's over"
Justin and the other jackaroos watched in awed silence as their leader stood slowly and painfully, pulled his briefs up and turned to face them, with his face streaked with tears and his breathing laboured. He coughed a moment and said " uh ... guys ... uh sorry for getting you into this - especially you Justin - I should have known better... ". Jake took a deep, steadying breath and turned to address Bill Fraser, saying " and ... Boss - thanks for setting us straight - we won't let you down again".
The Boss smiled at Jake and gave him a bear hug saying "I know mate - well you'd all best get off to clean up for dinner".
Jake paused to pull up his jeans as the guys all stood and solemnly shook hands with the Boss and each other as they filed out of the old schoolroom and headed over to their accommodation building.
Silence reigned as the young men went into their room and tied up. A few took the chance to get a quick look at their butts in the mirror as they changed, but no one was in the mood for idle chatter or horseplay. This reflective mood continued during dinner.
Justin joined the others heading back to their dorm, getting ready for bed and soon falling asleep. Again, they were unusually silent .
The next morning - Justin was up, showered , shaved and dressed and ready for breakfast at 6, along with the others as Jake entered the dorm walking a little stiffly, but back in control as the senior Jackaroo. The easy banter of the day before had been replaced by a formality and focus - no one wanted to stuff up right now. They all went over to have breakfast before getting into their work.
For three weeks the Jackaroos were unusually hard working - with none of them needing any punishment either from The Boss or Jake. None were ready to risk a caning again. Justin had been shocked into becoming a model, hard-working, polite young man - and his physique was filling out as a he started to develop the same tanned muscular look he so-admired in Jake.
On the next Sunday after this period the Boss was feeling like he should reward the boys for their progress. He suggested that they take the afternoon to " go down to the Jackson water hole to have a swim and relax - take the dirt bikes and go, just you guys on your own"
Jake smiled broadly, saying "Thanks Boss"
Justin was confused "Where's Jackson's Water hole ?"
"Not far mate" said Jake "a few miles, over on the other side of the property. With the mustering bikes we should get their in about 20 minutes". Jake knew that the Boss was finally trusting them again, if he was letting them use the motorbikes .
Justin looked worried, saying "But I didn't bring any swimming togs". Jake just smiled saying "You won't need any togs mate".
It didn't take long for the boys to assemble the towels, and bikes and head off across the property. It took only 17 minutes before they were racing down a slight hill to the water hole - scattering the few Kangaroos drinking there.
With a "Yahhhhhoooooo" Jake led the charge at ripping clothes off and racing, naked into the cool water. Soon the whole group were boisterously splashing about - releasing all the tension of the past few weeks and just having fun. Justin noticed that most of the backsides of his friends still had the faded stripes from that memorable caning. Jake's stripes were still pretty visible.
Jake looked up from splashing Andy and noticed Justin staring at his butt so turned and started splashing him too. Justin fell over laughing as the other started splashing him as well.
Jake came over close and whispered "Checking out the stripes huh mate ?"
Justin looked up at Jake and saw a mischievous twinkle in his eye, and replied uncertainly "...er ... yeah .... I guess ".
Jake suddenly stood and called out "Hey guys .... quiet a minute "
It took a few moments but soon the group stilled and looked towards Jake, who smiled and said "I've just realised that we never initiated Justin here - coz we all got caned on his first full day." All the other nodded in agreement - realising their oversight. Justin looked worried and confused ... he didn't like the sound of this !!
Jake continued "Whatsay we do it now ??"
"YEEEEEAAAAAHHH !!!" roared the others as they grabbed Justin by all four limbs and lifted him out of the water and carried him, struggling, over to the picnic bench located beside the water hole. The lowered him, face down onto the bench so that he was straddling the bench. Justin was crying out and struggling until Jake yelled "Just stop it !!".
Justin waited nervously as Jake continued "Justin this is a tradition that we've all been through and now it's your turn "
Justin tried to struggle but the others held him tight. Jake continued "We know you can take punishment like a man Justin - take this the same way".
Jake, who had pulled on a tight pair of footy shorts, went to the control panel locker located on the side of the water pump building and opened the door. Justin squinted over and saw him pull out a whip - he gasped as Jake then closed the door and practiced cracking the whip several times before heading back to rejoin the others.
Jake crouched down and whispered in Justin's ear " This whip used to be used on the cattle to keep 'em in line, but now every jackaroo on this station has to take 10 strokes from this whip to prove that he's got the hide for the job"
"Waaait" called out Justin "I've already proved it with the caning on my first day"
Jake shook his head slowly saying "that proves you can take it - we wanna see you actually take it" He cracked the whip loudly and Justin flinched.
"Ok boys" said Jake "get him into position". Justin felt the arms holding him slide him painfully down the bench, until his legs were resting on the ground while still straddling the bench -so his butt was poised and ready !!
Jake stood back and intoned "Justin - this is a test to see if you are worthy to join our band of jackarooing brothers ...." He drew the short whip back and CRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAACK drew it across Justin's backside.
Aaaaaargh ... moaned Justin at the searing pain of the leather biting into his buns.
"You must be able to take this ..... " CRRRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAACK
Justin moaned at the intense sting across his butt.
"... to be able ...." CRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRACK
Justin growled at the pain.
Jake continued " to do ....." CRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAACK
Justin gasped at the stroke .
"...the Jackarooing job ..." CRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACK
Justin gasped loudly as the others held him position .
Jake continued ... " So ...if ...." CRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACK ....
Justin cried out ... OWWWWWW ..........jeeez guys ... let me up !!!
Frowning at the outburst, jake swung the whip back, saying "... you can't " CRRRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACK ...... CRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACK ...
Justin whimpered - trying not to call out.
".....take it .... CRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACK
"Yeouch !!!" moaned Justin
Justin drew back for the final stroke saying "....then don't stay" CRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAACK !!!!!
At this the guys all let go and Justin rolled onto the ground, clutching his backside and moaning and swearing loudly about how that whip stings. The others pulled him up and shaking him by the hand, patting his back and ruffling his hair in one big group, all telling him "Well done mate"!!
Jake gave Justin a hug and also ruffled his hair and simply said "Now you are a real jackaroo mate ". He then put an Akubra hat on Justin's head and pulled its rim down, playfully, before ripping his shorts off and running back into the water.
All the guys charged into the water - tossing Justin in and they all played about for a few more hours before heading back tired and happy. Justin's butt was stinging, but he was enjoying the feeling and was feeeling a major har-on in his jeans as he rode back to the homestead on the bikes.
That night they ate an early dinner and retired early to bed, as the next Monday was going to be busy with hard work.
To be Continued...