I had only heard about these red pieces of paper--and now, as I took it, gulping and slowly looking down at it--It was as horrible as I had heard. In big black letters was written, "NOTICE OF CORPORAL PUNISHMENT"--It laid out for my parents exactly what I had done, and my penalty: my age--fourteen lashes with a leather belt on the bare buttocks.
"Oh, Please, No. Please give me another chance."
"I would advise that you read your handbook. This is another chance to avoid expulsion. Also, failure to return this notice shall result in suspension and don't get any ideas about signing your father's name, because that will mean expulsion from school."
Silently, and with fear in my heart, I went to class, and showed my friends the piece of paper.
That night, I went into my parents' bedroom right before bedtime, and, beginning to cry, I showed them the red piece of paper--knowing full well that I would be punished for misbehaving at school. I pleaded my side of the story and it was ignored as my father angrily signed the paper authorizing the sentence at school to be carried out.
"Jonathan, You know what this means--we have warned you, haven't we?"
"Yes Sir. I have to get a whipping at home too." I was resigned to bend over immediately and take the belting on the spot before going back to my own room and to bed.
"Yes, I am going to have to whip you." My father sighed. "I am going to give you a choice. Since technically, you have not been whipped at school yet, you can choose to take your whipping tomorrow night after you get punished at school. Or, If you prefer, I will whip you now--of course, then the Dean of Discipline will know what happened when he sees your bottom. It is your choice."
A short reprieve! "I think I'll just take it tomorrow night--then no one else will have to know."
"All right. You are to come straight home from school and do your homework so that you can go straight to bed when I get finished with you."
I went to my room and tried, fairly unsuccessfully to sleep--thinking about the next day. When morning came, I claimed that I was sick, but my parents had me dress for school anyway, my mother saying, "My stomach would hurt too if I had awaiting me what awaits you today."
I dropped off the punishment notice, and then went to first class, PE where I couldn't get into the game of basketball--awaiting my summons to the office. While showering, I was glad that I hadn't taken my whipping at home the previous night because the other kids were checking my backside to see if there were marks yet.
Mike, the victim of my assault came up, looking at my rear end, "Soon, it will burn. Soon, it will burn. You're lucky you don't have my dad, cause he would have already burned mine if I got a red slip." I just thought to myself how I was still far from off of the hook at home.
Next, I went to Geography--still no summons...then English--still no summons. My stomach was becoming more nervous as the Dean of Discipline was having me wait...then came Reading...almost time for lunch and still no summons.
But wait! An office assistant came into the room and went to the teacher, handing him a piece of paper. The whole class perked up--my heart began to beat faster--was he coming for me? The whole class by now knew that I was waiting to get it--they all wanted to know if I had finally been sent for.
"Jonathan" The teacher looked up from the note. "The Dean of Discipline would like for you to come to his office now. It would probably be a good idea to take your books, because you may be there until after class ends."
I slowly stood up from my desk, picking up my books, I asked the office assistant, a Senior if I could stop by my locker and put my books away. After the slight detour, I nervously walked with the seventeen year old senior who was trying to soothe my fears--he even knew what was to happen--and we got to the Dean of Discipline's office.
I knocked on the door, and again, he was in.
"Enter." I walked in, closing the door behind me.
"Jonathan Morrow reporting to be punished," I nervously announced myself, standing before his desk at attention--not able to take my stare off of the leather belt doubled over on the desk.
"How did your parents like your actions of yesterday, Jonathan?"
"Not too well, Sir, In fact, I am going to have to get it again tonight. Family rule."
"Do you think that it will help you remember not to misbehave again?"
"Yes Sir."
"All Right. Take off your jacket and put it on that chair." I did as I was told, feeling my bottom squirming in my pants. "Now, loosen your britches and let them fall." The grey flannel fell down to my ankles. "Now, pull your shorts off of your buttocks." I pulled the Fruit of the Looms down to my knees--now exposing my clenching bottom.
"Sir, Please, Don't be too hard on me!"