It was just a month away from the Easter Season and the boys at St. Jude's were anxiously preparing for this years performance of the annual Passion Play depicting Christ's crucifiction and agony on the cross. As usual, the responsibility of producing and directing the play fell on two 17 year old juniors: Scotty and Brian who were both planning to major in theater while in college. It was their sole responsibility to cast, rehearse, direct and finally stage the production on Good Friday before the entire school.

The first thing Scotty and Brian did was select the boy who would play the part of Jesus. As a rule, it was usually awarded to the most popular and cutest boy in the 9th grade. This year the part was awarded to Ryan, a 14 year old boy on the swimming team. Both Scotty and Brian thought that Ryan was the most gorgeous boy in school and the fact that he had a swimmer's physique only cemented their decision to cast him as the crucified Nazerine. Two months ago he was told to let his wavy blond hair grow and now it was nearly shoulder-length and almost perfect. Ryan's countless hours in the swimming pool had given him a deep bronze tan which ideally accentuated his slim smooth physique. Standing about 5'8" and weighing 125 lbs. he appeared to be the perfect choice!

In addition to the Ryan, several other boys were cast as Roman soldiers. These roles went to younger 12 year old boys in the 7th grade. Selected were Ricky, Kevin, Aaron and Bobby all just 12 and popular boys in their own right. When they learned of their roles in the play they were thrilled beyond belief for they all thought that Ryan was the hottest boy in school! They couldn't wait for rehearsals to start.

For about a week the rehearsals went rather routinely. Ryan, as the lean-bodied Nazerine, was required to carry a large oaken cross down the aisle of the auditorium while the four younger boys prodded him along with wooden spears (actually broomsticks). Since these were not yet full dress-rehearsals, Ryan was usually dressed in faded denim jeans and a tight-fitting T-shirt. The oaken cross was quite heavy and as Ryan bore it down towards the stage his knees buckled afterwhich he fell. Ricky, as he was directed to do, jabbed his make-shift spear in Ryans ribs causing the teenager to wince in discomfort. He struggled to his feet and finally made it to the stage. As he collapsed to the floor in utter exhaustion, the cross was lifted from his shoulders and laid out on the floor by the four younger boys.

"OK you guys--now drag Ryan over to the cross and position him on it like we showed you," ordered Scotty.

"Cool!" replied Kevin as he and Bobby grabbed Ryan by the wrists and proceeded to drag the 14 year old over to where the cross waiting.

"Now Ricky--you and Aaron get the rope ready OK?" Brian directed. Eagerly the boys grabbed several lengths of clothsline. As Ryan was lifted up on the cross his bare arms were stretched out on the crossbeam.

"Now tie his wrists to the ends ok?" Scotty suggested and the boys did as they were told. Ricky and Aaron each grabbed Ryan's wrists and stretched his arms to the crossbeam.

"Owwww!!!" winced the older boy as his arms were stretched.

"Quit bein' a baby!" Ricky teased as he tied Ryan's wrist securely. Aaron did the same to the other wrist and Ryan found his bare arms stretched to the limit.

"Bobby and Kevin--you guys tie his ankles down." Brian ordered.

"No Prob!!" quipped Bobby as he and Kevin securely tied Ryan's ankles to the bottom of the cross. While they were doing this, Ricky and Aaron couldn't help but stare at Ryan's outstretched body before them! The skin-tight T-shirt left little to the imagination for it perfectly accentuated his well-developed pectoral muscles as well as his tight washboard stomach. Even his adolescent nipples and navel were outlined by the tight fabric!

"Now raise up the cross and anchor it in it's base," said Scotty. The four 12 year old boys then raised up the heavy oaken cross and anchored it as they were told to do. Then they stood back to take in the sight or Ryan hanging sensuously from the cross!

"AW man--check it OUT!" Ricky squealed excitedly as he feasted his eyes on Ryan's helpless body. All the 14 year old boy could do was twist his lean body sensuously as the other boys watched. Suddenly, the bottom of his T-shirt crept up from inside his sagging jeans and exposed a ribbon of smooth skin just beneath his navel which was still hidden by the damp T-shirt. Seeing this, Bobby quickly grabbed his "spear" and started to jab Ryan's exposed skin while the other boys looked on and giggled.

"Hey! C'mon--cut it out!" protested Ryan helplessly as Bobby continued to poke his bare skin. Now Scotty and Brian laughed as they watched the teenager being playfully tormented by the younger boys.

"Hey Bobby---show us his BELLY-BUTTON!!" Kevin giggled. Bobby eagerly complied and used his spear to push up Ryan's shirt even higher so as to expose his dimpled navel.

"AWESOME!!!" said Ricky while he picked up his spear and prodded the older boy's now fully exposed and inviting navel. Ryan continued to squirm helplessly as Brian and Scotty did nothing to stop the playful antics of his captors. Now it was Aaron who took up his spear and boldly used it to jab the front of Ryan's sagging jeans. An obvious protrusion just to the right of Ryan's fly suggested that his body was responding to the younger boys "tortures". But before it could go any further, Scotty and Brian decided to end the day's rehearsal.

"OK you guys--that's enough!" yelled Scotty.

"Yeah---now lower the cross and untie him" added Brian and the four "soldiers" reluctantly did as they were told. As Ryan's arms were finally untied, he gave the boys a dirty scowl as if to convey his displeasure. But they only giggled among themselves and pointed at the front of his swollen jeans. Embarassed, Ryan pulled down his T-shirt and quickly got up from the floor.

"Next rehearal is Saturday morning dudes," Scotty told the group of boys.

"Thats right--and be ready for a full DRESS-REHEARAL too!" Brian warned.

"YEAH!! Ya mean a full UN-dress rehearsal dontcha!!" joked Ricky as he glared at Ryan who could only stare at the floor in frightened anticipation.

"Whatever," Scotty said as he dismissed the five boys.