Ted Williams was very sore as he climbed the steps to his house that Thursday afternoon. He had been playing around with Huck Finn in the morning, and had consequently was late to school. The teacher had given him seven strokes with the hickory switch, and he could feel each hot red line under his trousers.
Those hot lines were only part of Ted's worry, however. He carried a letter to his father from the teacher relating the punishment, and the reason. Judge Williams was a kindly and quiet man, but he was a man of rules. One of his rules was that a switching at school meant a much more sever bare bottum switching as home. Judge Williams favorite homily was "I never yell at my boys. I let them do the yelling." He had six boys, and each knew exactly what he meant.
A few hours later Judge Williams returned home, and Ted handed him the letter. The judge's face puckered in annoyance. "I'm verry sorry about this Ted, but you know the rules. Go and make several willow switches, and we'll have a man to man talk about this in the woodshed after dinner."
Ted hung his head. He took his lithe twelve year old body out to the willow tree in the back yard, and began to cut the switches. He cut 10 long switches, and bunded them together. Severe experience had taught him not to skimp on the switch. He knew that if his dad had to cut the switches he would be twice the strokes, plus an extra beating the next day. If Ted had lived in a different era he might have thought he was getting to old to be spanked, but in the 1850's and with his dad the thought never crossed his mind. What did cross his mind was memories of past whippings, and anticipation of the one to come. He rubbed his already tender behind, and went back to the house for dinner.
After dinner Judge Williams looked across the table at Ted and said, "Let's go out, and have that talk." Ted nodded, and they arose from the table.
The woodshed was a small building with wood stacked along each of it's foor walls. It cntained a small stool, and Judge Williams moved it to the center, and sat upon it. Ted approached him. The judge undid his shorts, and pulled them down until they covered Ted's knee high socks. The judge then spread his legs out as far as possible, and motioned Ted to kneel over his left leg.
Ted's lower legs were on the ground. His buttocks and thighs formed a helpless target. He knew better than to offer any resistance. Swish! The switch landed on Ted's bottom and thighs. The sting was incredible, and Ted felt a sob forming. He tried to choke it off. His father waited until the pain had reached its high tide, and just before it might subside swish! it came down again. Ted began to sob. Swish! Red were welts forming all over Ted's bottom and thighs. With each swish! Ted's sobbing became more pronounced. He always wanted to take a beating in silence, but the sting was too much.
After six cuts of the switch Ted'sthe Judge motioned for Ted to arise and bend over the other knee. He repeated the the procedure. When the beating was finally over Ted's chest was heaving with continous sobs, and both his asschecks were line with redhot stripes. On the thighs where the switches landed there was a small amount of bleeding.
The Judge lifted Ted up, and remained silent for a moment as Ted pulled himself together. Finally he spoke. "Ted, I hope you learned you lesson for today?"
"Y..yessir. It won't happen again" Ted stammered through tears.
"Whether it does or not is up to you Ted. Just remember that if it does the Woodshed is still here waiting. I can't cotrol what you do, but I can and will make sure you recieve the consequences of your actions"
"Yes sir."