The following is a pure work of fiction and is the property of the author.
If you are looking to get off quick, read something else. This story is presented in serial form and you'll read a lot of background, before you get any mind-blowing sex scenes and then not as many as in the past.
If you are bothered by same sex relationships, read no farther.
It's a story with some sex, not sex with some story.
Please remember this is fiction. Representation of characters and institutions may not be relevant to today's society.
I do not usually acknowledge e-mails, instead using my time to write.
I do appreciate hearing from you to let me know if this story is meeting your expectations.
Hope that you continue enjoying the story. LJB
Joseph Andrew Collins Chapter 6
"Joe, you have been promoting three of your friends to be Pledged. Can you tell us how much about the Fraternity you have told them ? We want to know how much of the Trials they may know about, or in fact you know."
I was in the Frat House sitting before roughly 35 Brothers who had summoned me. During the time I ate brunch in the cafeteria and walked to the House, I had tried to tactfully prod Brad and Vince to find out what this was about. I ended up deciding the time for tact was over as we neared the House.
"Why have I been summoned ?" I asked.
"Some of the Brothers want to know what you have said to the other three turkeys about the way things are done in the Fraternity." Brad answered.
"Why ?" I persisted.
"The choice of Pledges will be affected by what knowledge is out in the student population." Vince said. I thought for a minute.
"You're saying if I told them too much, they will be Pledged, so they can be sworn to secrecy." I reasoned. "But if I didn't, then what ? Have they already been excluded ?" I stopped walking, forcing both of them to stop and turn back to me.
"Think this through, Tick. Analyze the elements." Brad counselled. I thought about the situation.
"If I say I've told my guys all about the Fraternity and all its Rituals, they are assured Pledge entry, but could be eliminated during the Trials. That means two additional things." I reasoned. "First, three other candidates who may be more deserving and could possibly bring skills of more value to the Frat would not be invited to Pledge. Secondly, I would be admitting that Brad has told me things about the Frat he promised to never disclose to anyone. He could be forced to resign. A third thing would be that I would not Pledge if I were invited, because I would know I had already let the Brothers down and Brad would no longer be there.
If I say that I have told the guys only things that I knew about as they were happening, then my group have the same 25:1 chance of being invited to Pledge as everyone else. If I'm asked about what I know concerning the Trials and Rituals and I tell specific things Brad has told me, I have no way of knowing if he has violated some confidence or not. So the same scenario exists regarding Brad being forced to resign and me declining a possible invitation to Pledge. Have I got it right ?"
"I don't want you to worry about me." Brad stated to me. "I want you to tell the absolute truth, so any perceived damage to the Frat can be repaired." I reflected on this conversation as I gazed at the faces before me.
"I can tell you honestly that my friends know nothing more than any other Freshman about the things to come. I have commented on activities we have participated in already, but I have not prepared anyone in any way." I stated.
"Joe, tell us about your 'Sir' campaign." Andrew instructed.
"I told my friends that if they really wanted to be invited to Pledge, they had to do something that would cause the Brothers to remember who they were. I also had a problem in that I have known some of you so long on a first name basis; I needed to break the habit of using your first names when I spoke to you. I knew that Pledges always addressed a Brother as 'Sir', so I suggested we immediately start doing that, so you would all take notice."
"It's common knowledge on campus that Frat members are addressed as 'Sir' by Pledges in all the Fraternities." Sandy stated. "It was a good ploy to get our attention and by the way Joe, it worked."
"Joe, I need to ask you to tell us what your brother, Brad has told you about the Trials and the Rituals carried out by the Brothers ?" Chris Service, President of the Chapter wanted to know.
"I'm sorry, Sir." I replied. "You know I respect you as a person and your Office as President of the Chapter, but I can't tell you that."
"Can't or won't ?" he returned to me.
"Both." I said. "My brother and I have a very close relationship, which is not news to anyone here. Brad made me promise when he first came to this College that anything he told me about his activities here were between him and me. He's told me things, which would cause our Dad to have a stroke and Mom to disown him." Several of the Brothers laughed and several looked at Brad knowingly, as he blushed. "I gave my word to my brother and I'll never break it."
"I think that answers what we wanted to know." Andrew declared. "Brothers, you know Brad and you know Joe. I think you will all agree with me that they are in many ways of one mind. I think you will also acknowledge that there is no risk to this Fraternity, no matter what our little brother may know." There was a general round of applause as everyone showed their agreement.
"Can I ask one thing before I go ?" I requested.
"Yes, Mr. Collins." Chris acknowledged with a smile.
"Some of you may have heard wild rumours about a few of my friends and a certain relative, forgetting to include me in DPD events." I stated, resulting in a general chortle from the audience. "Would you all please make sure I have at least an opportunity to be nominated as a Pledge ?"
"Mr. Chairman." Sandy Urich exclaimed, waving his hand in the air.
"The Chair recognizes Brother Sandy." Chris stated.
"Brothers, I realize this is unorthodox, but we have a very unusual little brother to deal with here." Sandy explained. "Mr. Chairman, I would like to nominate Joe Collins to receive an Invitation to Pledge."
"I'll second that nomination." Andrew called out.
"Any discussion ?" Chris asked. There was silence in the room. "Hands in favour ?" It appeared every man in the room raised his hand. "Carried." He banged his gavel on the desk in front of him. The room broke out in a ruckus. All the Brothers left their seats and passed by where I was standing to shake my hand, pat me on my head and shoulders and congratulate me.
"Brothers." Andrew called out and everyone quickly quieted down. "Our little brother has made Fraternity history, by being the only individual invited to Pledge while present at a Nomination Meeting. This will become a permanent entry in the Fraternity Archives." There was another loud round of applause.
"Brother Brad. Will you please escort our newest Nominee back to his dorm." Chris instructed. I was pretty happy with the way everything had happened and now had a chance to talk briefly with Brad as we walked the pathway.
"When did I make you promise to keep your mouth shut ?" he asked me as we walked.
"Before you left for College." I certified. "You know, I know what you're going to say before you even do, a lot of the time."
"Oh yeah." he replied. "I must have forgotten doing that."
It was like almost the entire male Freshman year was waiting on pins and needles. I think every first year male who is granted entrance at this College has some aspiration of joining DPD. As I said before, the selections the Brothers make to offer positions are not easily determined. Nearly everyone here is involved in and has shown strong ability in at least one sport. There is also a fairly stiff academic level demanded for entry, around a GPA of 3.6, so your stereotypical dumb jock is not wandering around the House, although sometimes I wonder, knowing some of the stunts these guys have been involved in.
Becoming a DPD Brother is more than just an extracurricular activity. The reputation of the Fraternity is known far and wide. Locally, a professor will give added weight to an explanation for a wrong offered by a Brother, knowing that the Brother telling a lie would dishonour him in the Fraternity and cause his resignation. Nationally, an employment applicant who can verify his membership is considered a superior candidate. Even having been invited to Pledge is a recognized achievement.
The results of Selection Sunday are hand delivered to the Nominees by 12:midnight. Those invited to Pledge, must make their decision and notify the Pledge Master by 6:p.m. on Monday. All Pledges are required to be at the Frat House exactly at 7:p.m. that same night for an instructional meeting about the Trials.
It is interesting that Monday is the same day all the other Fraternities will begin their Rush Week. DPD started holding their Rush Week early many years ago, when the others complained they could not get enough attendance at functions to complete their recruiting programs. It seems everyone held back, hopeful they had any chance at being chosen by DPD. It was also now common for those dropped by DPD in their first week of Trials to be quickly signed up by the other Frat recruiters.
Delta Phi Delta has an unique relationship with the other Frats on campus. They all compete against each other during special debates and activities, but DPD is on friendly terms with each of the other Frats. It's not well known, but the Brothers have helped out families of other Frat members who have had tragedies occur. Several years ago, one of the other Frat Houses suffered a fire and the Brothers of that group lost just about everything, their personal belongings and their residence. DPD took that Fraternity into their House for nearly a year, replaced most of the belongings that were lost from their own funding and led the campaign to build a new residence. They ended up contributing more money to the new house construction than the National Headquarters of the other Fraternity.
I found myself thinking about this and other attributes of DPD I was aware about that others likely had no knowledge. It seems so distant now from when I had actually decided a short time ago not to pledge. I would have been lost without my connection with these guys. They are my extended family.
"What are you thinkin' so hard on ?" Kirk asked me. "If we don't hear from them by 3:p.m., do you think we're cooked ? I don't know why it takes so long to pick twenty guys. I bet I could make a list in a few minutes. Hey let's do it. Let's make a list of who we think will be in the twenty and see how many we get right." He went and got some paper and gave a piece to each of us. We all wrote out our lists. Afterward, we read them out and discussed who we had chosen the same (hardly anyone, but ourselves) and why they should be picked. It wasn't too big of a surprise that Kirk had over 10 people from the football team picked, Chuck from the wrestling team and Pete from the swim team.
"Well sure we did." Pete noted. "They're the people we know best. We spend our practice time with them and other than you guys, see more of them than anyone else."
"Yeah, but Joe's list had a couple from our teams, but more from other teams." Chuck said.
"He doesn't have a martial arts team to draw from, so he had to use some variety." Kirk observed. "His is likely the better way to be looking at it. That's what the Brothers will be doing. I can see why it takes a long time."
"There are a lot of good men on campus." I said. "When you think about it, trying to narrow it down to 10, or even 20 is really a nearly impossible chore.
{At the House} "Brothers, Brothers," Chris called out as he clapped his gavel, "I need a little order here please. I know you're getting tired of this, but we have a job that needs doing. Please settle down and give us your full attention."
"Our list is still over fifty individuals." Andrew commented. "There were so many impressive men attending the Rush activities, it's been almost impossible to decide who has the best potential for our work."
"Well, we have to come up with a formula for resolving the decision making process and we need to do it now." Steve observed. "Obviously the nomination system by the Brothers is not going to do it." He looked over at Brad and saw his friend was deep in thought, not really listening to the discussion. "What's happenin' Dawg ? Hey !" Brad snapped out of his reverie.
"He's made a list." Brad stated.
"What do you mean ?" Chris asked.
"Tick's made a list of who he thinks the best candidates would be to Pledge." Brad repeated. "I can sense it. We need to see who he's selected."
"Yes, I can feel it too." Andrew verified after a few moments. "Your training is progressing well, Brad. Do you think he's made a selection from intuition or has he tapped into our needs ?"
"It doesn't matter." Chris said. "We need to review his list and then determine if there is any reason those on it don't constitute what we are looking for."
{Back to the dorms} "It's finally 4:30, are we going to eat supper early ?" Chuck questioned.
"Invitations don't necessarily need to arrive until midnight." I commented. "If you just sit here waiting, it's going to drive you crazy."
"Too late." Kirk volunteered. "I already passed that point, shortly after noon. Let's go and get it over with, then we'll only have the evening to face." As we all started to prepare ourselves to go to the cafeteria, there was a knock at the door. Everyone froze in their tracks as if we had been caught with our hands in the cookie jar. Somehow, I knew Brad was waiting. Kirk opened the door to find Brad and Vince standing there.
"Come in, Sirs." he invited. They both entered the room.
"Guys, the Brother and the Pledge Master need to speak to me in private." I stated, not sure why I knew. "Would you please excuse us ?" My friends got up and used the bathroom passage to the next room. Brad and Vince remained standing and I moved to a position in front of them. "How can I assist the House ?"
"You made a list of those you felt would be the best selections for invitations." Brad declared. "We would like to have that list. May we ?"
"Of course. You know I'll do anything I can for you guys." I answered. I went to my desk and removed from my notebook the sheet I had written on. Brad accepted it from me. They turned to leave. "Can I do anything else ?" They turned back.
"This will help us more than you realize." Brad told me. "You are very special, Tick. The Brothers are all looking forward to more regularly enjoying what I have come to take for granted over the years, your wit, your love of life, your kindness and the special intuition which make you more than my brother. You are a part of me and I have come to appreciate how fortunate that makes me." He hugged me and I hugged him back. They then left and I stood silent for a few minutes thinking about what all of this meant.
It was 8:30 in the evening when the next knock on our door was heard. Kirk opened the door and two DPD Brothers, Kevin Devron and Harry Stiles were standing there. He invited them in.
"Kirk, we have an envelope for you." Kevin stated, as he passed a large white folder to Kirk. "Joe, we have one for you too, as you know." I thanked them. They had noticed Chuck and Pete were with us in our room.
"I have envelopes for both of you as well." Harry informed them and gave them the papers. "Congratulations to all of you. You've made it to a point an awful lot of guys would like to be at." We all thanked the Brothers and they left.
Kirk sat on his bed for several minutes staring at his envelope. I opened mine. I had seen the invitation before, from when Brad had received his. I looked it over carefully.
THE MEMBERSHIP OF DELTA PHI DELTA FRATERNITY
herein issue invitation to
JOSEPH ANDREW COLLINS
to PLEDGE his intent to join the Brotherhood
and undertake the TRIALS to membership.
Acceptance of this invitation must be expressed in person to
our Pledge Master at the Fraternity House,
on or before 6:00 P.M., of the Monday
following delivery of this document.
I had waited so long for this moment that I just sat and relished it. I was to become a Brother and participate in the same traditions as my Dad and Brother. This seemed to confirm a certain continuity to me, an order of life and a permanence of tradition. I was encouraged I had made the right choice, it just felt right.
"Joe, I'm afraid." Kirk stated. I looked and he still sat on the edge of his bed. He had opened his envelope and read the invitation. "I've felt fear before, but it has always been over something concrete that I could see and identify. I've never felt fear before about the obligations and expectations something presented me. I guess I never cared before."
"It's called growth and maturity, Kirk." I advised him. "Understanding the responsibility, which is implied in this, is a really big step. You've made that step now and the next move is to embrace it and continue to grow."
"The reality of it has hit me." he admitted. "I had such wild ideas of parties and good times and women and all those things you see in the movies. This was the primo Frat and I was going to use it to make my college education one continuous good time. Football and partying with my Bros. If you hadn't kicked my ass, I'd have blindly done my routine and wondered why I was passed over. Nobody's really cared about me until you became my friend and now I face a group of men that I know would care about me and I'm afraid. What if I can't live up to their expectations ? What if I can't be the type of man I've come to see each Brother is ?"
"You can 'what if' your whole life away, Kirk." I suggested. "All any of us can really do is the best we are able. Sometimes that may not be enough, but usually it will carry us through. I believe in you and can't think of anyone I'd sooner try this with, so let's give it our best go." He nodded his agreement.
"So, when do we see the Pledge Master and relay our acceptances ?" he asked.
"No time like the present." I replied. "It's only 9:30 in the evening. I doubt he goes to bed this early." 'Not alone anyway', I thought 'and he'd better be alone'. We told Pete and Chuck what we were going to do and they decided to come with us. We all walked to the Frat House. Mounting the big front porch, I rang the doorbell.
"May I assist you ?" Nathan said, when he answered the door.
"Excuse us, Sir." I addressed him formally. "May we convey acceptance of our invitations to the Pledge Master ?"
"Stay here." he instructed and closed the door. About 5 minutes later the door opened and Vince stood in the entry.
"I am the Pledge Master." he announced. Standing up straight, I addressed him first.
"Sir. I, Joseph Andrew Collins, herein accept the invitation of the DPD Fraternity to Pledge membership." Each of my companions did exactly as I had.
"You will each be present on this porch at exactly 7:00 p.m. tomorrow evening for orientation instructions. Do not be tardy. Bring a change of clean clothing and your toothbrush and plan on spending the night. Good Night." He closed the door. We all looked at each other, wondering if that was the sum of it, but what did we know ? Turning and walking to the bottom of the steps, we stopped when we heard the door open again and close behind us.
"You did that exactly right." Andrew told us. "Tick, did Brad tell you how to make your acceptance ?"
"No, Sir." I answered. "It just seemed that the invitation was formal and the response should also be formal."
"And the rest of you just followed the same format Joe used ?" he asked. My companions all responded, "Yes, Sir." Andrew appeared to be thinking for a few moments. "I'm going to suggest that all of you take a seat on the flat stones here and wait to see how the next acceptance goes. You may learn something about how different people handle unknown situations." Andrew went back into the House and we sat where he had indicated.
It was about 10 minutes later that two guys came along. Kirk recognized them as players on the football team. They stopped to talk with us a minute.
"Hey, dudes." one said, speaking more specifically to Kirk. "You get an invite ?" We all acknowledged we did. They looked at the rest of us strangely, mostly me. I knew what they were thinking about my size.
"So where's the Pledge guy." the other asked.
"In the House." Chuck responded.
"Thanks, dude." he acknowledged. "Guess we better go do the deed." They shuffled up the steps to the front door. One of them pounded on the door like it was the walls of Jericho. Nathan opened the door and stared at the two of them. "Eh, Nate, we came to see this Pledge Master guy."
"Where are you two, ignorant hicks from, the backwoods ?" Nathan growled at them. "There's a doorbell." He slammed the door. They both turned around and looked toward us. I couldn't help myself; I gave them a little wave. One of them shrugged his shoulders and they turned back and rang the doorbell.
"May I assist you ?" Nathan said, when he answered the door. They both shuffled around a bit.
"Well, yeah, dude." one started.
"Who are you ?" Nathan demanded.
"You remember me, Nate." he offered. "I'm R. A. Trunt. You know, RAT."
"Who am I ?" Nathan asked. The two hopefuls glanced at each other.
"You're Nate, one of the Frat boys." he offered further.
"Let me get this straight now." Nathan reviewed. "You're a couple of the 500 guys who were hoping to pledge this Fraternity. That would make you, prospective Pledges. And I'm one of the guys who is already a member of this Fraternity. That would make me, a Brother. Have I got it straight ?" They both nodded their heads like the little ornamental toy dogs from the eighties that use to sit in the back window of some cars. "Well then as a Brother, I would expect that any brain dead, moronic, football, Neanderthal of a prospective Pledge would know that I was none of Nate, Nathan, hey you, fella, Frat boy or Buddy. As a Brother, I, like all other Brothers would be 'Sir' to such drooling idiots. Try it again." He slammed the door in their faces.
"Did this happen to you ?" one of the guys asked, as they walked over to where we sat.
"No." Kirk informed him trying his best to hold a straight face. "It went pretty straight forward for us."
"Why the hell is this Fucker giving us all this grief ?" the other one asked. "I'm going to tell him to fuck off, if he keeps up this shit."
"That's a good idea." I suggested. "They only have about 475 others to pick from to take your place.
"Ain't no fuckin' dude takin' my place." he shot back. "I'm Pledging this Frat and that's the end of it." He marched back to the front door and rang the bell. After a couple minutes Vince opened the door.
"I am the Pledge Master." he announced.
"It's about time. That other dude wasn't going to let us talk to you." the bell ringer stated. "We wanted to tell you we got our invites." He then stood silent, looking at Vince.
"Good." Vince finally responded and closed the door. They both stood looking at the door for the longest time. Then they turned and slowly shuffled back to us.
"So, is that it ?" one asked. "That all we have to do ?"
"Is what all you had to do ?" I asked. "What did you do ?"
"We told him we got our invites." he replied.
"And is that what you were here to tell him ? Don't you think the Brothers who delivered the invitations to you already told him you had them ?"
"Well yeah," he concurred. "but he wanted to know that we were going to join up."
"And just when was it you told him you were going to 'join up' ?" I questioned. He stood there thinking and 'dumb jock', 'dumb jock', 'dumb jock', kept running through my mind.
"So, you think we should go back and tell him that ?" he wanted to know.
"I don't see where it will do any more harm than has already been done." I told him. Kirk was killing himself trying not to laugh out loud. Pete was in the same condition and I'd seen Chuck biting his own arm to keep from howling a little while ago. The duo mounted the stairs again and rang the doorbell. After a minute or so, the door opened.
"I am the Pledge Master." Vince announced
"Yeah, we know." was the response. "The little dude over there said, we should come back. We were to tell you that we were accepting the invitation (pronounced: invite-ay- shun) we got. Okay ?"
"I don't believe this." Vince stood there shaking his head. "How the hell did you get past the screenings ? Are you guys for real ?"
"No Sir, we're not." one of them said, as both of them came sharply to attention. "Robert Allan Trunt, advising the Pledge Master I would be honoured to Pledge DPD."
"Gavin Edward Robins," the second one announced, "advising the Pledge Master I would be honoured to Pledge DPD."
"Son of a bitch." Vince swore. "What the hell have you two been up to ?"
"We apologize, Sir." Robert stated. "We knew there would be a format for accepting the invitation, but not knowing what it would be, we thought we would seek your pity." The smiles on their faces could almost light up the night. I couldn't help breaking out in a loud, full laugh as if someone had started to tickle me. Vince stepped out onto the porch.
"Did you four little assholes know about this ?" he yelled at us. We all leaped to attention.
"No, Sir." we responded, almost in unison.
"Well, I'm going to have to paddle someone in about a minute, so the six of you better get your asses out of here before they all get warmed."
"Yes, Sir." all six of us called out and the others took off running for the pathway. I lingered back momentarily. Vince was still standing on the porch.
"Something I can do for you, Pledge." he growled at me, but I could tell it was put on.
"Yes, Sir." I responded. "I was wondering, Sir, if we could discuss some of the possibilities of this paddling thing."
"You better get out of here right now, you little tease," he growled at me again, "or you may find more happening to your cute little butt than just getting it paddled." I laughed again and took off to catch up to the others. "And tell those other two about tomorrow night." he yelled after me.
"Joe, are you still awake ?" Kirk asked me as we lay in our beds.
"Yeah." I responded.
"What do you think is going to happen tomorrow night when we report to the House ?" he questioned.
"Nothing we can't handle." I assured him. "Are you excited ?"
"Yeah." he admitted. "Do you think they'll let us stay together ?"
"They know we're roommates and that we worked at getting invited together." I reasoned. "At some point they are going to separate us, to see how we manage individually. You don't need to be concerned, I'll be around. Chuck and Pete will be there too. Those two from the football team we met tonight and likely others you already know, but don't realize it. Did you know those two were screwing around tonight ?
"Yeah." he told me. "I knew they were smart fellas and when they started that routine I knew something was up. Everything moved so fast, I just didn't have a chance to clue you in."
"That's all right." I assured him. "I think it was more fun not knowing. I wouldn't have missed for anything that look on Vince's face when he found out."
"That was really something." he chuckled with me. "Was he as mad as he seemed ?"
"No. He let us go didn't he ?" I observed. "I don't think any other Pledge Master would have taken it so lightly, but it isn't a good idea to test him too far. Vince will do what he considers necessary."
"He won't hurt you, Joe." Kirk noted. "I've noticed the way he looks at you. I think he admires you as much as I do."
"Now cut that out, Kirk." I teased. "You're going to give me a hard on. Then we'll have to deal with it."
"Shit." he responded and turned over to go to sleep.