Chapter 1
I could not believe it; my application for an apprenticeship had been granted. I was to start next week at the oil refinery. OK, sheet metal work was not the most romantic of professions but at least it paid well for an apprentice and that was all that mattered to me. I could learn a trade and get paid well for it in the process.
I had just turned 18. I was a shy boy and had no real experience in the world. My body was slim, not an ounce of fat on me. I was told I was good looking but had no conception of it at all. I liked certain sports like running and training with weights. I would dearly loved to have been more muscular but no matter what I did I could not put on any weight. I had no sexual experience to speak of. My only vice was masturbation, I was terribly shy around girls and found myself blushing in the presence of other good looking boys. I didn't know what homosexuality was all about in those days. I know I liked to play around with my own body and would masturbate several times in one day. My fantasies were strange and I was too embarrassed to talk about them with anyone. I would constantly envisage myself in torture situations. I think it all stemmed back to when I was very young. My brother and I played a game where we would lightly flay each other with a small stick. The sensation of the stick hitting me on my bare back excited me very much. So I am guessing all this kinky torture stuff came from that one small episode in my past. Anyway, as I said, all this was my little secret and I could not have possibly talked about it with anyone.
Naturally, like a lot of boys my age, I loved my cock. It was not long but it was quite thick. To me it was a work of art and having seen some in pictures I thought mine looked better than most. I did not have much pubic hair; in fact, I had very little hair on any part of my body apart from my head. I had quite a thick head of light brown almost blond hair. I kept it at medium length just coming down over my ears. There was some curl to it and I was very proud of my hair which I washed every day to keep it looking good
My first day as an apprentice was rapidly approaching. I had no idea what to wear. I went out and bought a couple of pairs of jeans and some denim shirts. I went for the hard wearing stuff as the job sounded like it would need something like that. I really didn't know what to expect but it all sounded very exciting.
So the day came and I strolled in through the gates of the refinery. I had not seen anything quite like it before. It was all big metal structures with all sorts of valves and pipes coming out of them. I could hear lots of steam hissing from all over the place. There was also the occasional roar of something very high pressure being released. It was interesting but scary at the same time.
Once inside the gates I was taken to the sight manager's office. He was a man in his mid fifties with a bald head and white hair at the sides. He was a big built man and had a very imposing appearance. His name was John Blunt, I laughed inwardly. 'Blunt by name and blunt by nature,' I thought to myself. He wore a very smart tailored grey suit which gave him the appearance of someone in charge.
"Well young man, this is it. This is the place where you have chosen to spend the next five years of your working life!" He leaned back on his chair and ran his eyes over me.
"You don't seem to have much of a physique but I am sure this work will build you up in time." He continued to stare at me.
"So I need to be muscular then?" I replied, meeting the man's incessant gaze.
"No not really my lad but this is a tough place and sometimes it can be a case of the survival of the fittest. I am sure you will get used to it in time. Most of the apprentices that have passed through here have managed to get through it."
I was not sure what he meant by 'survival of the fittest,' but I wanted to give this job my best shot. There were not many jobs that paid this well while under training.
"Come on then, let me introduce you to the men." With that he got up from behind his desk and led me out.
We walked across some open ground to a large wooden hut. Blunt opened the door and ushered me inside. There I found about a dozen or so men all seated at long bench tables casually chatting. As I entered the hut it all went quiet.
OK lads, this is our latest apprentice who has just joined us. I feel sure you will all give him a warm welcome and make him feel at home here."
There was a small amount of muttering going around the room.
A big man nearest the door spoke up. "Ah fresh meat and such a bonny lad as well. He should fit in very nicely." Everyone in the hut laughed
"Anyway, I will leave him in your capable hands." With that Blunt walked off and left me standing in the doorway staring at all those faces.
"What's your name young fella?" Said the big man at the front.
I swallowed before I finally managed to squeak out the words. "My name is Brian."
"Well we are very pleased to meet you Brian." Come and sit down and tell us all about yourself."
So for the next few minutes I gave them all a brief resume of my life thus far. There was not much to tell really as I had led such a sheltered life.
I learned that the big guys name was Ronnie Scott. He had a rough unshaven appearance and I thought to myself that I would not like to get on the wrong side of him. He came from one of the rougher parts of Glasgow. Eventually all the men introduced themselves to me. They came from all parts of the UK. They all looked like a pretty tough bunch; I was like a fish out of water among them. I guess we all have to start somewhere in this life and here I was, about to give the whole show my best shot.
Right at the back was a younger looking man called Bobby. He told me he was nearing the end of his apprenticeship. He volunteered to show me around the refinery.
I was quite relieved to have him as my guide on the first day. The others were so intimidating and made me dreadfully nervous to be around them. I put it all down to my underlying shyness to the world in general.
Bobby was great, he had an amusing and witty quality to him and I felt very comfortable in his presence. The refinery was huge and Bobby told me that we could not possibly see it all in one day.
"I will get the lorry driver, Alfie to show you the rest of it. There is a place called the tank farm. It consists of 14 square miles of oil tanks. You have to see it to believe it. It is so desolate down there; it is like being in another world. You can walk around for hours and not see another living soul."
Bobby could see the incredulous look in my eyes. "I like you Brian but you will have to toughen up to work here. Being a new apprentice has its drawbacks believe me!"
I was puzzled. "What do you mean by drawbacks?"
"Well I won't go into them in detail at this time because I don't want to scare you away on your first day. But be advised, things will happen to you as a young apprentice!"
With that remark he scared me even more. "Please, tell me what you mean, you are worrying me now!"
"Have you come into this job without any knowledge of what goes on then?" He looked surprised.
I stammered. "Well errr....yes!"
"Well as a new apprentice you will experience what I can only call initiation ceremonies."
I just stared at him and wondered what the hell he was on about! "Tell me about these ceremonies."
Bobby was hesitant. "I don't want to put you off this job Brian but I think all apprentices go through these experiences no matter where they work. Don't worry, you will survive. Look at me, I have." He let out a small chuckle
