When I was twelve I joined an organisation called 'The Boys' Brigade' and when I was thirteen I went to camp with them for the first time.
A few weeks ago I read an account on this archive of a boy's experience of his initiation at his first Scout camp and I was reminded of what happened to me at my first camp. It occurred to me that it might be of interest to some readers of this archive.
The Secret Camping Club
The day after we arrived at the camp I was asked by the older boys in my tent if I wanted to join 'The Secret Camping Club'. I was told that nearly everyone joined and you got a pretty rough time if you didn't. In order to join I had to be 'invested' which involved submitting to an ordeal.
I was a bit apprehensive about the 'ordeal' part but agreed to join and later that day I was taken off to the woods to be invested in 'The Secret Camping Club'.
I had been told to wear football shorts and when we arrived at the appointed place I was told to take off my shirt. Two older boys stood one either side of me and the tent leader stood in front of me holding a tin of shoe polish. Another boy stood behind me. The rest just sat around and watched with ominous smirks of anticipation on their faces. It was explained that I had to repeat line by line the words of the Camping Club promise which went something like this:-
As I give you my vow, Make a mark on my brow.
I will do you no harm, Make a mark on my arm.
I will give of my best, Make a mark on my chest.
I will tell you no lies, Make a mark on my thighs.
After each second line of the couplet the tent leader smeared a dab of shoe polish on the appropriate part of my body. Then he read out the final line, 'This ordeal I'll pass'
I started to repeat it; suddenly and before I had time to work out what part of my body rhymed with 'pass' the boy standing behind me slipped his thumbs into the sides of my waistband and in one quick tug pulled both my shorts and underpants down to my ankles. The boys standing either side of me grabbed hold of my arms and pulled them back forcing me to lean forward and present my bare bottom for what was to come.
Although I was mortified by my enforced public nudity I knew there was no point in struggling. I expected the tent leader to come round and rub some polish on my bottom. 'This ordeal I'll pass, make a mark on my arse'. Best just keep still and get it over with.
However this wasn't quite what had been planned. I did not know it then but the boy who had just stripped me was armed with a smooth, whippy stick. Without recognising it for what it was I felt it's touch against my bottom.
Almost immediately I heard an angry buzz, a loud crack as the singing stick bit into my cheeks. A second later I cried out and writhed as a searing stripe of pain burnt its way into me. I'd received my final mark.
Caning was a frequently employed punishment in schools. I had seen other boys caned on hands or bottoms and I had seen some real 'toughs' reduced to tears by it. I was terrified that one day I would get it too but so far I had managed to keep out of trouble and avoid it.
Now the unthinkable had happened, I couldn't believe it, I'd actually been caned! My little soft bottom, hitherto virginal and unviolated by any instrument of corporal punishment, had been deflowered at the hands of a group of laughing boys and I had unwittingly cooperated in the rape of its innocence.
For the next couple of days I suffered further assaults on my already injured pride with calls to 'show us your Camping Club badge' - an unrefusable demand to lower my shorts and display the single blue and purple ridge that was destined to adorn my cheeks for several more days to come.
oOo-
I hope you found all this interesting - I haven't embroidered the account to make it more 'entertaining'. It's as accurate as my memory can make it. This has been a first time for me though and I'd be grateful for any criticisms or comments. Did I go into too much detail or not enough ? Was it too 'tame', would it have been better to have livened it up a bit. I'd be interested in any accounts of other people's initiation experiences too. Please email me on xcalibur46@hotmail. com. All will be replied to.