Worse Than Shameful
Chapter 32. Do As the Romans Do
My brother Bradley suddenly looked nervous after hearing the announcement. Up to this point everything was similar to a regular
camping trip, the main exception of seeing a tall teen wandering about being the information desk clerk without a desk, or clothes.
All boys are to report to the scorer's tent, but not surprisingly, both Bradley and Chad stood their ground, awaiting confirmation the
order does indeed apply to them.
"Are we supposed to go to that tent over there?" Chad asks, looking over at mom.
"Don't worry. I'm going with you. And you can come along, Marie. Let's find out how this show gets going."
As a family unit we drop what we are doing, and head over to the large tent. I could see several other families doing the same. Most of the
boys looked just as apprehensive as my brothers. I figured the nervous ones must be like us, here for the first time. I spotted a couple bigger
boys who seemed to know what's going on, and I recalled hearing from Wilfred, our friendly helper, that he had been here three times. Is that
three years in a row I wondered, or three times in a shorter span? So many questions but few answers at this point.
Inside the tent there were several rows of folding chairs, all facing a slightly raised stage with a desk on it, along with a large whiteboard.
It was the whiteboard that got my attention. There were names written down on the board at the left side. A grid pattern took up
the rest of the board. I quickly scanned the names and saw Bradley and Chad written down on a list that's in alphabetical order.
At the table is a seated woman and I recognized her immediately.
"Oh look there. It's Dorthea," I shouted at mom as I grabbed her hand. "You are right. She did come. But why is she sitting there?"
My mom laughed, and she seemed glad to be able to talk, when she had been hush hush about any details concerning this gathering of
campers. My brothers and I had tried for days to get a word out of her, and now that we are here she can tell everything she knows.
"Dorthea is the treasurer and records keeper for the Triple B association. She is the one who told me about it. Together, she and I...well...
with some help from Delilah, we worked hard to get you guys ready for this."
We stepped up onto the stage. Dorthea spotted us right away, and she waved at us, a big smile on her face. Each family took their turn
standing at the desk. The mom, or for some it could be an aunt, stood with each boy as the contestant signed his name on a sheet of paper.
I recalled hearing it was to be twelve contestants. I scanned the whiteboard, this time counting the names and it came to a dozen.
Finally, we got to the front of the line. Dorthea placed two sheets of paper in front of us, and she went over the basic idea of the agreements.
"This first sheet is an NDA, a non-disclosure agreement. The first rule of the Triple B is that nobody talks to anybody about the Triple B.
And that includes you kids. Don't talk to anybody at school about this. We'll deny anything you say, and you won't be able to prove it. Cameras
are not allowed. This contract also shows that each of you participate willingly...and if there happen to be any injuries, the Triple
B is not responsible."
My mom signed her name first. Then Bradley and Chad signed their names. We then took seats and waited for whatever came next.
We didn't have to wait long. Everyone turned to look when an older teen girl entered with Wilfred. They were carrying a large wooden
box, and the way they were straining I could tell it had some weight to it. Of course I noticed the still naked Wilfred, then I noticed and
recognized the girl helping him. It was Delilah. So that made sense, if the mom is the treasurer and records keeper, then the daughter
would be here to help out too.
The wooden box, which was several feet wide and two feet in height, was placed down at one corner of the stage. Wilfred pulled up the
lid, then he took out a shield. Two women also came into the tent and they placed a box next to the first. Inside this box was a uniform
for each of the contestants. The twelve boys will get to dress up as gladiators.
"Okay boys, contestants you get to wear this for the ceremonial beginning tonight at the bonfire. You may wear this for the next two
days, except during competition events, when swimming in the river, and when you are told by anyone in authority you must take it off."
A uniform and shield are handed to each of the twelve. When Bradley got into his costume he looked like this...
https://www.deviantart.com/rubens00/art ... 1024966832
But that is getting ahead of myself. All of the contestants were told to remove all of their clothing. Everything had to come off. Some of
the boys, the more experienced ones, wasted no time in stripping down. Others were not so quick on the draw, not so eager to remove their
regular clothing. After all, there were many women and girls inside the large tent. I could see there was going to be a potential problem.
What happens if Bradley refused to participate. My brother looked around the tent, saw that most of the other boys were getting into the
gladiator outfit.
"What the fuck. When in Rome...do as the Romans do," he said after pulling his t-shirt off.