“Any pain today? Or any stomach issues since the last time I saw you?” Tyler shook his head no to both, hoping he could avoid talking about last time. Maybe if he didn’t talk about it, it would be like it didn’t happen. “Your college has been very specific about their physical. Although I guess it’s because of the problems they had last year.” The previous year a football had sued the school when he injured his knee,

but it turned out it was an old injury that he was trying to get the school to cover the medical bills for. Nothing to do with the swim team, or Tyler, but it looked like everyone was being extra cautious now.

“Well let’s just get started!” The doctor declared, approaching Tyler with a small light. Dr Shaw looked in his eyes, pulled down his lower eyelids, asked him to say “ahhhhh” as a tongue depressor held his mouth open wide. The doctor scraped a swab across the back of his throat without warning, making Tyler gag. “I’m sorry Tyler, just checking for strep.” Tyler stayed silent as the doctor looked in his ears, pressed around his jaw, neck, and shoulders. She looked at his hands, squeezing the tips of his index fingers, at each step noting details on the forms he had provided. Things started to feel normal again, if more thorough than the exams he’d had previously.

But swimming had kept him healthy and muscular, so he knew there shouldn’t be any problems. The doctor checked reflexes, tapping around his elbows and knees, even scraping the soles of his feet to make his toes twitch.

“Let’s lower the gown so I can have a feel and a listen to your chest.” Tyler didn’t agree or disagree, simply sat still as the doctor untied the gown to bunch it around his waist, his legs still dangling from the side of the bed.

The exam continued with the doctor moving her cold stethoscope across his chest and back, tapping and having him take deep breaths, and saying “ninety nine”. It was taking longer than Tyler expected, but he wasn’t busy for the rest of the day anyway. “Lie flat on your back Tyler and I’ll have a look at your tummy.” Tyler adjusted himself carefully, making sure he kept the gown covering his underwear. More pressing, tapping, and listening followed, each getting dangerously close to his waistband. Tyler felt himself stiffen as he watched the gloved hands move around his abdomen. He stared at the ceiling trying to think of something that would distract him, but there was nothing to focus on other than Dr Shaw.

“That all looks fine Tyler. Now Noah can be a chaperone for the rest of the exam. Why don’t you take off the gown and underwear Tyler.” Tyler swallowed the lump in his throat. He had been hoping Dr Shaw wouldn’t do intimate exams again, but hadn’t even thought about their being an audience. But with the steps dictated by the college, he didn’t have much of a choice. The snap of gloves reminded Tyler to follow the instructions, and he removed any clothing that remained. Noah came back into the exam room, making Tyler nervous that someone might see him while the door was open. He did cup his hands in front of his penis and stand with his back to the wall, so that as much of his body was covered as could he could manage.

The doctor sat on a short stool that was previously tucked under away in the corner. “Stand just here in front of me and we’ll have a quick look at your penis and testicles.” Tyler sheepishly inched into position, thinking about the word “we”. Despite leaving his mom behind, he still had an audience. “Hands by your sides now.” He quickly obeyed, taking a shaky breath as Dr Shaw positioned herself eye level with his crotch.

Gloved fingers probed around his member, moving from base to tip and back down again. Tyler felt blood rushing down, making his penis stiffen, which it usually did when receiving this much attention. He wished it would go away, but he had no control over that. Or anything else in the situation. The doctor continued, unfazed by the change in size or texture. Tyler tensed his butt cheeks as she placed two thumbs either side of his urethra, gently opening and looking inside. A final gentle squeeze of his tip released some clear discharge.

“Tyler can you hold this flat against your stomach for me while I do the testicular exam?” Tyler gladly placed a hand over his penis, hiding it from view. He realised wanting to hide it now was silly, given the doctor had just examined it, but he was relieved anyway. One by one, the doctor took a testicle in her hand, rolling it gently between her fingers. The texture of the gloved felt strange to Tyler. As she finished with the testicle, the gloved fingers moved around the rest of the sac, pinching the connecting cords softly.

“You should check yourself every month Tyler, just like this. Feel for any lumps, or any changes. If anything doesn’t feel right, come and see me.” Tyler nodded dutifully at the doctor’s instructions. The gloved finger pressed up into his groin, folding the skin inwards in an unpleasant way. “Turn your head and cough.” Tyler recognised this from movies, famous for being ‘the worse part’. As he turned his head left, he noticed how intently the nurse was watching from the corner. The meekly coughed. “A bit stronger Tyler.” Tyler coughed again. The finger was removed, and his second of relief was sullied by the same happening on the other side. He made sure to cough strong enough this time that he didn’t have to repeat it, not wanting to extend this part.

“That all feels healthy Tyler. Have a seat back on the table.” He crossed his dangling legs and placed both hands over his crotch, desperately trying to cover up. The doctor had turned her back to him, focusing instead on the forms. She flicked through, double checking each required step.