When I got back to my apartment late that afternoon, I discovered that my unannounced absence from campus had caused a great deal of commotion in the brotherhood.
"Where the fuck have you been?" Was Kyle's greeting before I even got the front door closed.
"Not real sure why I need to explain myself but I had an out of town date Saturday night. What the fuck is the problem anyway?" I shot back feeling unusually defensive.
"There are several problems lover. First a damn note would have been nice. Your fucking brothers have been searching campus and town for you. There was a suggestion that you might have been abducted. No one could figure why a pledge would leave without telling anyone on the eve of graduation week. Fucking Christ man, the council is spiting mad," He explained clearly exasperated.
"Fuck, no one told me there was any reason for me to hang around."
"I know, there was a surprise ceremony this morning. We showed up to get you at six expecting you to be in bed snoring. Since everyone of your fucking friends in the brotherhood was in on the surprise we had to start checking other people you might be spending the night with. We pissed off a lot of people with early calls who had no idea where you were."
"Didn't Colin's little buddy in the AOK office tell him I took out a car?" I asked stunned that anything had gotten past the council's gofer.
"No, he didn't think to inform anyone about a routine loan of a car to a brother and no one thought to ask him about you. As far as anyone knows you haven't fucked him yet."
"Well actually I have, but anyway why are you so agitated over this?"
"Because I am worried about the penalty you will have to pay."
"Fuck so my ass gets a few welts.." I managed before he cut me off.
"Damn, I thought you memorized every damn word in those ritual manuals. This is a major offense. You should have known that you were restricted to campus starting at midnight Saturday."
"Yeah, I do recall that. But I figured that since I was so far ahead of my pledge class I wouldn't have any requirements until mid-week."
"Don't explain it to me and I wouldn't try that excuse with the council. Fuck, let's go. Anyone who finds you is instructed to deliver you to the council room immediately."
He made a quick call to Colin so he could call off the search and give the council time to assemble. After I took a piss we headed across campus to the house. I was surprised that there was no life in the house when we arrived. As it turned out anyone that was in the house had been sent to round up the searchers. Kyle led me through the eerily quiet mansion to the council meeting room on the third floor. I somehow knew that this visit to the large ceremonial room would be very different from my previous times up there.
The seven council members sat behind the long table at the front of the room. They wore their robes with the hoods up. Their heads were bowed which concealed their faces from view. Of course unlike my first visit to the room, by that time I knew them all well. Brock sat in the center seat. As usual Eric and Calvin were seated to his right. Next to them sat the newest council member, Randy Aber. He had replaced Ray. On the left side were three seniors, Aaron Nelson, Joe Fields and Stan Graham. Though the majority of the council were friends and lovers, I knew I could not expect special treatment. They would do their duty to the brotherhood even if that included casting out a friend. I stood in the doorway while Colin led Kyle up to the table.
"Exulted council, Brother Kyle comes before you with urgent business," Colin said in a reverent tone. "Do I have leave to allow him to speak?"
I knew from the formalness of the words and tone that I was in for a serious experience. I also knew that whatever it took I would not flinch or deny the power of the council. Full membership was close and far too important to loose. Brock raised his head. Though he was speaking to Colin I felt as if his eyes were boring into my body.
"He may speak," Brock said softly.
Colin withdrew and joined me at the doorway.
"I bring before you the wayward pledge. He returned to our apartment unaware of his misdeed," Kyle said in deferential tones.
I was stunned that Kyle was adding the crime of ignorance of brotherhood rules to my absence. I assumed that he did so to show me that only complete honesty would keep me in the brotherhood.
"It is fortunate that you brought him to us so soon. Have you anything more to report?" Brock asked in an unusually stern tone.
"Only that I deeply regret and fully apologize for his failure as I am sure all of us that were responsible for the pledge do also."
"The others may speak for themselves. As for our judgment of you, that will wait until we speak with the pledge. Please wait in the ante room."
As Kyle disappeared into the small room behind the main chamber, I caught of glimpse of Troy and Dom. I felt sick as I realized that my actions would cause others to be punished as well.
"Brother Colin, have the pledge bare himself and then bring him before us," Brock barked.
I was frightened as I quickly stripped off my clothing in response to the order echoed by Colin. The atmosphere had a somber tone that filled me with dread. The thought that I might actually loose all that had been offered to me weighed heavily upon my thoughts. As soon as I was naked Colin took my arm and led me to the table. The other council members raised their heads and Colin back away into the shadows. I had grown accustomed to being made to stand naked before groups of my brothers. I had been examined, fondled, poked and prodded in places and ways unimaginable not long before I began my pledge semester. But that day was different. I felt as if they were looking past my exposed flesh to my very soul when they lowered their hoods and stared at me.
"Pledge you have been brought before us on very serious charges," Brock began solemnly. "The council has been conferring all this day on these matters. We are disappointed and saddened that a pledge with your promise has failed the brotherhood in such a serious way."
Though I tried I could not conceal the emotions I felt at the mention of failing the brotherhood. There was no mistaking the meaning of Brock's words. Thankfully, he continued as if I had not reacted.
"Worse, it now comes to our attention that it was not accidental. In fact it seems that you have admitted being unaware of your duties. Is this true, pledge?"
"Sir, I was not completely unaware. I allowed the requirement to slip my mind as I have not been given any duties lately. I had in my mind that the next requirement I would need to fulfill would fall on this coming Wednesday. I humbly apologize for my transgression and submit myself to any punishment I need serve as penitence."
"John, this matter is not as simple as you seem to want to make it," Brock said sadly, surprising me with the use of my name. "Your actions have a wide effect. Failing to meet so important a restriction at this stage is to disregard our most sacred rites. Further you have brought shame upon those responsible for your training; your sponsors, guides and mentors fail because you fail."
He fell silent as I stood there trying not to squirm. I felt a bit nauseous that not only might I be denied membership in the brotherhood, but also my closest friends were going to suffer a loss of prestige. After several minutes of standing there with fourteen eyes boring into me, Brock finally spoke again.
"Does any of the council have questions for the pledge?"
Eric was the first to speak. As he did so I wondered if I ever again would get to see the hawk as I sucked his cubby cock.
"Pledge, perhaps it would benefit the council to know what was so important that our sacred rules were lost to your memory?" He asked in a compassionate sounding tone.
He was offering me a chance to defend myself with an explanation of some important matter I needed to attend. But all I had was the truth which I knew was not reason enough to violate an important rule.
"A sexual liaison was all that was involved," I said in a voice barely above a whisper.
I thought Joe Fields was going to come over the table as he commented incredulously on my answer. Though almost twenty-three the curly headed stocky wrestler looked like he might still be in high school. His youthful freckled face turned red with apparent anger. I could see that he had balled up his fist and his dark eyes bore into me.
"John your reputation is well known. You do not lack for sexual partners. A majority of this assembly including myself have been intimate with you. In addition to those in the brotherhood who have or would like to have sex with you, it is no secret that you are popular with the female students here as well. How can it be that you had such a great need for a fuck that you had to leave campus? Please explain so that we may know you have not lied to us!"
Until he mentioned it I had barely remembered having sex with Joe. I had been hanging around the frat house with my pledge mates one afternoon when Joe asked me up to his room. Once in his room he simply told me that he wanted to go to bed with me. We got naked, made out in his bed for awhile and then sucked each other's cocks. It was unimaginative but fun enough. However, it was not something I sought to repeat. I had the feeling for him I was just another mark on his score card. Since he used my first name I used his in return.
"Joe, it was not an overall lack of sex that precipitated my going off campus for a date. But it was a partner that was not obtainable on campus. My partner was a woman that I met while visiting Adam Donaldson," I started hoping the mention of Adam might have a mitigating influence on the outcome. "It was an overdue liaison I believe. But there was a reason that my sexual need was higher than usual this weekend. Most of my brothers were occupied with graduation prep or helping my pledge mates complete tasks. As for my popularity with campus women, it seems on this particular weekend that all the females that might be readily available for sex were otherwise occupied. Since I had a prior commitment to visit this woman it seemed a better alternative then jerking off or attempting a pickup of a new partner."
