Joshua Miles - 25. Shaft

They all fronted up at the piercing and tattoo studio a few days later.

“So you’re here for a PA today young man” said a senior gentleman who spoke slowly, clearly and very deliberately.

“Not today, as I have a UTI, so I thought I would have my nipples pierced. Is the ok”

“Of course, whatever the young man desires. By the way, I’m Albert”

“Pleased to meet you Albert”

“Likewise”

The other boys had convinced Scott to at least wear a T shirt when going out, so he stripped it off in readiness for his procedure.

Then looking the speedo only clad Scott up and down, Albert said “Such a lot of beautiful bare young flesh. A blank canvas for a body modification artist, like myself”

“Thank you for the compliment, but just the nipples today”

“Let me see” said Albert as he placed a hand on each of Scott’s pecs, fingers either side of his nipples. “Mmm, perfect nipples for piercing, this should be easy and give you a beautiful result. Do you want to chooses some jewellery today or just have sleepers put in for now?”

“Just the sleepers. My boyfriends want to buy me a gift for my birthday”

“Boyfriends, is that what you young folk call mates these days”

“No, they really are my boyfriends. We’re all in a relationship together”

“Well I never, you learn something everyday. Now sit in the chair and relax while I get my equipment”

Albert returned with a small tray of instruments, then wiped the nipples with an antiseptic swab. When that dried he sprayed them with a topical anaesthetic. “That will deaden the pain a bit, but not entirely. Everyone reacts to pain differently, so here are a couple of things to help. While relaxing is the best way to go, it’s not always possible, so if you feel the need, hold on to the arms of the chair”

Albert then tightly rolled a small face cloth and said “Place this between your teeth to bite on”

Scott then nervously replied “Thank you Albert”

Ok, are you ready, this won’t take long”

He gripped one nipple tightly with forceps with a hole in each clasp. Then took a long needle, placed it near the clamp and said “Sharp sting, but it won’t last for long”

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Scott endured the procedure without complaint and was proud of himself, especially in front of his partners.

There we are young man, all done, you’re still alive and is that a smile I can see?”

“Thank you Albert, you’re a true artist”

Albert instructed him on how to wash and disinfect the piercing site and gave him a tube of soothing medication and a booklet about aftercare, along with a warning to wash the site regularly and expect full healing to take up to six months.

“You just sit there and rest while I put the instruments in the steriliser”

When he returned he asked “Is there anything else I can do for any of you today?”

“I think Joshua might have a question for you”

“And who is Joshua? What a lovely old biblical name, you don’t hear it much these days. What is it you want young Joshua?”

“Um…ahh…I was wondering how much it costs to have a scrotum pierced”

“What did you have in mind, how many piercing? Most men have about four to six on each side”

“No..no..nothing like that. I was just thinking of one”

“One only, ok. That limits us to a stud or a ring, not many more options”

“Just a ring, is all I want, with a chain attached to it”

“And what is the purpose of this chain”

“Ah wait a moment” he asked as he fumbled in his back pocket for his wallet. “I want to attach this to the chain”

“A credit card”

“Well a debit card, but yes”

“Ok. I can do that but just to be sure I give you the correct service, would you mind telling me why”

“Oh that’s easy, so I can go to the beach without taking my wallet”

“I see, unusual, but doable. I’ll just get some chains to show you”

He came back with a range of long chains, to which Joshua said “No, too long”

“Won’t you need to reach the EFTPOS machine to use the card?”

“No not really I have another idea, I’ll show you later, but you’ve reminded me, I will need to remove the card for the ATM, so maybe a clip that is detachable”

“Got just the thing”

Albert gave him a price for the package and asked “Do you want to go ahead now?”

“Don’t you have other clients waiting?”

“No, it’s a quiet day, as you can see”

“Feeling there was no escape route, he reluctantly said “Ok Mr Albert”

“Then before we start I need to explain that the healing period for a scrotal piercing is 2 to 4 months and you need to be especially careful with sexual activity for six months, by not allowing any bodily fluid from another person to come into contact with the pierced area”

“Oh I didn’t realise that. Perhaps I will leave it for today and have some time to think about it”

“Good decision, my boy”

“But, having watched Scott have his nipples pierced, I think I could manage that also.

“Right, sit in the chair and soon you’ll joining your friend proudly displaying your first body modification. Now lie back and relax”

Albert went to get his instruments and upon his return, said to Joshua “Ready young man?”

“Yes, go ahead”

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The process was similar to Scott’s and Joshua was soon looking down proudly at his first piercing.

“Keen to drum up more business, he looked at Malcolm and asked “What is it you want today?”

Feeling safe in the knowledge that he was still safely under eighteen, he replied “Oh I can’t get a piercing, I’m not eighteen yet”

“Not a problem young man”

“Of course”

Then Albert added “But you can have your ears pierced, under eighteen”

“Oh really, I didn’t know that”

“Yes, so what about it?”

“Go on” said Joshua “Join us”

“Well…I suppose so. Does it hurt much?”

“The ear lobes are the least sensitive part of the body to be pierced” replied Albert.

“Ok, let’s do it”

“Hop up in the chair and relax. Now this instrument will pierce the ear lobe and install the sleeper in one action. Do you want to purchase something from our male range?”

“I hadn’t really thought about it, I don’t think I’m ready to wear ear rings”

“Then just sleepers for now till you become accustomed to the idea”

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When they were all finished, Albert asked “Please come to the front counter and we can settle up”

“Now Joshua, can I have your card”

Transaction complete, Albert turned to Scott and asked for his card.

“No I just have this” he replied as he pulled down the front of his speedos”

“Oh that is impressive and just when I thought I’d seen it all in this business”

“Yes, I did come up with the idea myself because I like to just wear speedos most of the time and there’s nowhere to carry a wallet”

“Well, you can put it away now and I’ll enter your amount into my little machine”

As Scott reached out for the card reader, Albert said “I’d like to try it”

He leaned over the counter, waved the reader in the appropriate position and confirmed the payment had been approved. He then looked at Malcolm and asked “Do you have any cards secreted anywhere on your person, young man?”

“No Sir, I’ll pay by cash”

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When all the transactions were completed, Albert said “As all first timers, I’d like to give you all free membership to our Shaft Club. You will earn points for every dollar you spend in store or on our website. Here are your cards. Would you like me to punch a hole in the corners?”

“No thanks” replied Joshua “We’ll just bring them when we need to”

“Very well young men I hope to see you again soon and remember your hygiene and maintenance instrucions”

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Over the next few months they reminded each other and dutifully attended to their hygiene instructions, as given by Albert. Nobody suffered any side effects.

Joshua and Malcolm returned to the studio a few days later, after they pooled their meagre financial resources, to purchase Scott’s birthday gift.

Upon presentation of the gift they each installed one of the silver studs in his nipples.

Scott looked down and said “I love it, thanks guys, and I love you too”

The End of Part One