Member-only story
Initiation
An Australian short story
The house mother had called lights out only half an hour before when the older boys came knocking on the door. Mark and his roommate, Michael, had not been asleep; both country boys, their first night away from home, they had been making tentative conversation about the farms they had grown up on, the small primary schools they had gone to, the younger siblings left behind. The conversation halted as they looked at the door.
“Who is it?” Mark asked.
“This is your unofficial, official welcome to Rochester Grammar,” came a deep voice, accompanied by muffled chuckles outside the door.
Mark opened the door. He recognised John Reed, one of the prefects who had been tour guide to the new boarders that morning. There were several other older boys with him. They smirked at the younger boys.
“Follow us,” John commanded.
Mark and Michael glanced at each other. It was not a question. They slipped thongs on and followed after John and the older boys.
John led them through the dark boarding house, using his phone as a torchlight. They came to the kitchen. One of the older boys opened a door at the back and grinned. “After you, lads.”
They stepped out into the night. The late January air was warm and still but Mark…
