APPRENTICE TANNER Chapter 1 - The Interview

Apprentice Tanner didn't consider himself to be a shy individual. He normally was out-going and playful with other people. But as he sat in the steel chair facing Master Barrett, he could not help but feel nervous and tight-lipped. And when the older man spoke, Tanner was uncharacteristically unsure of exactly how to answer. The initial interview questions were simple and easy enough to speak about, but the young man found himself mumbling his answers. Suddenly, Master Barrett stopped speaking. He sat very still in his immaculate white suit and tie and gazed at the young man for a quiet moment. Barrett had some more serious questions to ask the apprentice. And he wanted to know if Tanner could be completely honest with him. Seemingly out of nowhere, the older man asked Tanner if he were sexually attracted to men. The next question Master Barrett asked caused young Tanner to tremble. Tanner found himself tensing up and weakly denying an interest in men. Unflinchingly, Master Barrett slowly removed his hand from Tanner's knee and sat back. The older, wiser gentleman took a different tact. Now what he wanted to know was if young Apprentice Tanner could PROVE that he wasn't excited by the idea of a man's touch.