Anoraks

Postby datblygu » Fri Sep 18, 2009 1:14 pm

Anoraks do hold a fond place in my memory that they may not have done were it not for something that happened to me many years ago. This 'anorak incident' (if I may call it that) occurred when I was a boy growing up in 1970's Britain. I believe it was 1977 - the Queen's Jubilee - a great year for punk rock and anoraks. I would have been around twelve years of age.

May I also assure any doubters that this is a true story.

There was a small group of us – mostly boys – who would often gather at a friend's house (his name was Gareth) during school holidays to play and generally hang-out. We indulged in those typically boyish games that involve running around outside an awful lot and generally making a healthy nuisance of ourselves (this was before computers and play-stations put a dampener on such activities).

On one particular occasion Gareth's parents didn't seem to be around and we found ourselves in the care of his older girl cousin whose name was, I think, Jane.

Jane must have been around fourteen years of age: which, to a twelve year old boy, is practically grown-up. I remember her as being a rather pretty, friendly girl who enthusiastically joined in our boyish romps whilst also maintaining a semblance of 'big-sisterly' order over us. Her presence on this occasion had no doubt been wisely requested by Gareth's mum and dad.

I am not sure how long we had been running riot but Jane must have thought it had been long enough as she hit upon an idea to amuse us that might be a little less rowdy than our games had been hitherto. She carefully explained what she had in mind.

Two volunteers were required for a little game. The volunteers were to wait out-of-sight on the front-door step while the other boys, directed by Jane, would prepare a “test” to be undertaken in the back garden.

I, along with a boy called Steve, were chosen as the willing volunteers although I cannot recall volunteering. No matter. We did as we were told and left the main party to go and sit on the front door-step leaving the others to do their work in the back garden. We conjectured wildly as to what this test could possibly be.

After seemingly an age, Jane appeared before us and explained that we were to carry out a simple obstacle course the other boys had cleverly laid out on the lawn. We were first to have a “walk-through” of the course and were to commit it to memory. We would then be required to re-walk the course – only this time we would do it blindfolded.

So far so good.

The course itself seemed elementary enough - consisting of a series of low jumps rather like those that horses complete at a show-jumping event. These jumps, such as they were, had been cleverly created by the boys from broom handles, buckets and the like.

I remember being a little annoyed that during my walk-through of the course Jane insisted on keeping hold of my hand the whole time. It felt silly in front of my sniggering pals that such a simple feat should require help from a girl. Nevertheless, I allowed her to lead me around the course. The walk-through completed, she led both Steve and myself back to the front of the house. I kept thinking that it didn't seem so arduous a task - even with the handicap of a blindfold.

Once we were well away from the main theatre Jane produced from her pocket a long silk scarf (presumably appropriated from Gareth's mum's bedroom). We were ready to begin. She flourished the scarf in one hand and theatrically called for her first victim. Steve's hand immediately shot up and Jane asked him to step forward.

Steve was duly blindfolded with the scarf and told to admit if he could see anything through it. He couldn't. Satisfied the scarf was doing its job she led him away by the hand to complete his test. I watched the two retreating forms and settled back down to await my turn. I don't know why but the feeling of anticipation was palpable: a whole swarm of butterflies seemed to have taken flight in my stomach.

Throughout the time that Steve was gone I could hear hysterical laughter emanating from the back garden. I was tempted to sneak around the side of the house and steal a look but resisted the urge and remained sat on the door-step listening to these curious sounds of merriment.

Eventually, after some ten minutes of waiting, Jane reappeared by the front step. She was carrying her navy blue anorak which I did not register in any way as significant at first. Its function would become apparent later however. I got up boldly to accept my blindfold but, instead of producing the silk scarf, Jane shook out her anorak. I must have appeared a little confused so she held it open in both hands and cheerfully invited me to put it on.

The anorak, as I mentioned, was navy in colour and typical of the type popular in the UK at that time. It was basically a lightly quilted, cross-stitched jacket complete with integral hood. It had a zipper at the front and draw-strings both around the hood and in the bottom hem – presumably to keep the rain from blowing up your backside. People of my age who grew up in the UK will recognise this description with a cringe - or a smile depending upon your viewpoint.

Not particularly wishing to don a girl's anorak I asked Jane what it was for. She would only say that it was part of the test. Reluctantly, I went to put my arms into the sleeves of the garment as bidden when Jane pulled it quickly away explaining that I was to wear it back-to-front – like a straitjacket (whatever that was). I was more confused than ever but complied nevertheless. In fact, it still puzzles me now as to why I allowed myself to be bossed around so easily.

Once my arms were in as far as they would go, Jane spun me round 180 degrees so as to access the zip at the front – which was now at my back. She zipped it up as far as it could go i.e. to the nape of my neck. I remember seeing the big hood sitting ominously just in front of my face. She then busied herself with tightening the drawstring around the bottom hem. I felt kind of funny. Here I was encased in this girl's coat which, in addition to being the wrong way round, was at least two sizes too big for me - my hands hadn't even appeared from out the sleeves. I said nothing however and awaited my blindfold.

Instead of blindfolding me as I anticipated, Jane told me to put my hands behind my back so she could tie my wrists. This was a startling development! She must have expected my alarm at her bold request because she quickly added that it was only to ensure I did not remove my blindfold (apparently Steve had tried to do this on hearing the laughter and nearly compromised the game).

Now, at this point those butterflies in my stomach became bucking horses as, although I had never been tied-up before, I had always wanted to be! I swallowed hard and did as I was told and allowed Jane to push up the cuffs of the anorak to obtain access to my wrists to tie them. I assume she used the silk scarf I had seen earlier as the binding felt soft and slippery. I don't suppose she tied me very securely but, to someone never tied-up before, it felt very shocking and permanent. She made me grasp her hand to ensure that I was not bound too tightly.

The first stage of her plan complete she now turned me around to face her once more. I was glad the anorak came down well below my waist as I seemed to be progressing swiftly to a raging erection.

The next step was an even bigger surprise.

She reached down and around into the pocket of the back-to-front anorak and produced a roll of beige medical tape which she held up in front of me with a flourish. Recognition dawned. My eyes bulged and I heard myself stammer out a query as to what that was for – as Jane seemed to expect I would. I had seen enough detective shows on TV to understand the alternative uses for sticky tape...but surely not that...

She smiled and explained that Steve had been far too vocal during his ordeal and that a gag would, she was afraid, be necessary for a chatterbox like me.

Despite the passage of years I can still recall the sublime mix of horror and turn-on I felt at that precise moment. I can also clearly remember that the tape she unrolled in front of my disbelieving eyes was of the cloth type that you find in most first aid kits. This is indeed where she must have obtained it as she also produced a pair of the round-ended safety scissors that tend to be stored in such kits too.

She proceeded to pull off a generous length of tape whilst, with her other hand, she held the scissors with which to cut it. I began to argue, rather ineffectually, that it was not necessary to do that to me. But she didn't seem to hear. Then taking each end of the sizeable strip of tape in the fingers of both hands she held it out taught and instructed me slowly and very deliberately to close my eyes, tilt my head up and purse my lips.

It seemed futile trying to object in the face of Jane's commanding self-assurance and, furthermore, there was a large part of me that so much wanted to experience this.

My legs would barely support me as she brought the tape down to rest on the lower half of my upturned face. A surge of excitement rushed through me as I felt the contact with my lips. Once the sticky tape was settled in position I felt Jane's fingers work dexterously to smooth it down around my mouth. She carefully pressed down with her fingers over my, now, sealed lips and methodically moved outwards towards my cheeks. Both ends of the tape actually stretched as far as my earlobes.

The tape, as well as long, was exceedingly wide and went from immediately beneath my nose to hang below my chin. Not satisfied with simply smoothing it down in any old manner she produced the scissors again to make little snips along the overhang to allow it fold neatly under my chin. If she had intended me to remain silent at all costs she had certainly been successful. I felt for that first time the unique mix of delicious vulnerability and coyness I subsequently feel when enjoying such games with a partner.

Ablaze with embarrassment and a weird sense of guilt at feeling such emotions I opened my eyes to see Jane standing observing me with a curious half-smile on her face. It has often occurred to me in the years since that this was probably something she had always wanted to do. And furthermore, she would have been pleased with the sensational result. She asked me to say something and, of course, all that came out was a pathetic mew. She seemed delighted.

After congratulating herself on subduing a hitherto noisy boy she remembered the others were waiting for us. She placed her hands on my shoulders to turn me back around. I had no idea why because I was in a daze. But the mystery as to the necessity for the back-to-front anorak was quickly resolved as she lifted the hood up over my face. There was no need for the scarf blindfold Steve had worn. I experienced a sudden shock of claustrophobia as my world went dark and fuzzy. I wanted her to stop but the soft fleecy lining of the hood was already pressing around my face shutting down my senses. It carried the scent of her hair. The hood got a whole lot snugger around my face as Jane pulled the drawstrings tight before before tying them off at the back of my neck. She had certainly ensured I would not gain any unfair advantage during the stupid test!

Realising that I could actually still breathe I relaxed a little and entrusted myself to Jane's care. It would seem I had little choice.

Then, with her hands on my shoulders, she steered me away to the back-garden to conduct her test - albeit with extreme care. No wonder! Imagine the explanations should a mishap have befallen me.

The ensuing test, for those who are interested, was quite an anti-climax by comparison. The humour in the situation (strictly for the onlookers only) was in the fact that the lawn had, since the initial walk-through, been cleared of the obstacles so that this unseeing (and curiously silent) participant was stepping daintily over...nothing at all. Being the reasonably intelligent guy I grew up to be I should like to think you all believe me when I say that I had already figured this out – but went along with it anyway.

One final note.

Only Jane had been present during the tying-up process. I was to feel acute embarrassment however when, with the test over, she methodically undid her handiwork in front a whole load of laughing kids, thereby revealing my unnecessary and, frankly, humiliating tape-gag. My playmates, who had no comprehension of my enforced silence, seemed a little taken aback – and more than a little relieved they had not volunteered.

Re: Anoraks

Postby Plueschbabycd » Sat Sep 19, 2009 4:37 am

Hallo your Story remind me one my childhood in late 70er and early 80er. I get Anoraks older relative. I play some harmless TUG inspired form some escape Show in TV. My brother my Parker in same way to me. I like soft teddyplush lining. So make fun. The rest no story worth because tied up was very simple, escape was no problem.
Andrew
"Don´t dream it, be it." Dr. Frank N. Furter in Rocky Horror Picture Show