One of the most simple yet important commands that the Master’s House Boy is responsible for obeying is the ‘Shake’ Command (Rule #2). Shake Commands may be given verbally by the Master or implied by any guest through the action of holding an arm outstretched toward the opposing arm of the House Boy. The Shake Command may be followed by additional Shake Commands from other guests, and one or more of the Shake Commands may transition into an implied ‘Hug’ Command (Rule #221) that a House Boy is also required to obey.

When a 'Shake’ command is received by a boy who is fully or partially immersed in water – including showers, bathtubs, jacuzzi, and pool facilities – it is the responsibility of the House Boy to position himself where the command may be carried out without causing immersion, wetness above the feet or footwear, or injury to the person requesting the handshake. Willfully ignoring the command or forcing anyone to risk injury or immerse themselves in standing water deeper than a one-half inch – or to get wet from running water or falling water of any amount – is a disrespectful act that is subject to punishment. In the case of running or falling water, even as little as a few drops could destroy an electronic device, so the boy is subject to discipline if the liquid in the tiniest amount can be proven to have landed on the other person as the result of the boy failing to comply fully.

In the example photo, a House Boy has gone out to the pool late at night after 'lights out’ for a discreet skinny dip, which the Master sometimes permits during the warm summer months. The boy didn’t realize that the Master’s next-door neighbors were quietly drinking and visiting in their own backyard. When the neighbors heard splashing and activity from the Master’s side of the fence, they decided to investigate and found the House Boy standing in the center of the pool. A quick hello and an offer of a handshake soon followed, which by rule is an 'Implied Shake Command’ that the boy is required to obey.

Situations like these can be awkward because the neighbors may not have seen the House Boy without clothing before, and the boy may be reluctant to expose his nakedness to someone who he perceives as 100% Vanilla and he has only said hello to in passing – while clothed – at the mailbox along the street out front. But these circumstances are not sufficient for the boy to disobey the request for a handshake, even if it means exposing himself naked at the poolside. His best strategy is to put on a big smile and greet the neighbors warmly, hoping that nothing negative will be reported to the Master in the morning. The Master won’t care if the neighbors report the boy for skinny dipping – as they likely will – but any mention that the boy failed to properly greet the neighbors will result in a Level Two Spanking (with an implement like a paddle or belt) on the boy’s bare bottom for disrespectful disobedience. (If it can be shown that the disobedience was unintentional, the Punishment may be reduced to bare hand Level One at the Master’s discretion).