"You wouldn't whip me would you?" "Boy, I'll do whatever it takes to keep you on the right path."
They'd known each other two years, and had been through a lot, but this was the day before the court appearance, the one that would make Mr. M David's official guardian. Mr. M had been there when David's mom had left, when his dad emerged from jail only to return again after three weeks, and when his only sister Ana had died of AIDS. He'd made him study, bought him clothes, loved him, and taught him how to be a man. Now he'd be his dad, and 15 year-old David was excited, but also a bit nervous. He'd been pretty much raising himself for years and hadn't even thought about being disciplined, but Joe Martin wanted to make sure that they both knew the ground rules going in, before they met with the judge to make things legal.
"You'd really whip me, man?"
"Would you give me reason to?"
"No man. I'm straight. Nothing doing."
"No problem then."
They spent the rest of the evening eating chicken, going over algebra, and choosing clothes for the big day tomorrow.
About a month later, Joe got a call from the high school. David was in the office and was to be suspended for two days for disrespecting a teacher and skipping detention. No he hadn't known about the detention, and that wasn't his signature. He said he'd stop by at 1:00 on his lunch hour. When he got there, David was staring at his shoes and couldn't even look at him much less explain himself. After a few minutes chat with the assistant principal, Joe walked over to David, put his arm on his shoulder and said, "You'd better do some quick thinking if you plan to get out of this mess. Let's go get you home."
Both were silent in the car, and walking to the apartment door. Once inside, Joe sat down on the sofa and told David to sit on the armchair. "What do you have to say for yourself?"
"Nothing sir."
"Did you call Mrs. Aldridge a bitch?"
"Yes."
"What were you thinking?"
"She said people that die from AIDS are all gay sinners and that God is cleansing our world of them."
"And you can't talk in a civilized way to someone?"
"She insulted Ana. She didn't even know Ana."
"She's your teacher. She's wrong, and she's prejudiced, but she's your teacher. You need to show her respect. Tell her about Ana. Tell her about AIDS, but you can't tell her she's a bitch."
"Yeah I know."
"You'll write her a letter of apology. You'll tell her about Ana. Tell her about AIDS. And be polite."
David was silent. Then he looked up. "Don't you need to be somewhere?"
"I've got plenty of time. This is important. Why'd you get detention, and when did I sign the slip?"
No response.
"David?"
"I talked back in class when Louie was ragging on Ron and Mr. Johnson told us to cut it out."
"And?"
"Sir?"
"The note?"
"I signed it. I thought you'd be mad."
"I am. I'm very angry. I don't know what's gotten into you this week, but I'm going to make sure it stops. Today."
Joe took his widest leather belt from a hook and placed it on the bed. He then opened David's backpack and extracted his math notebook. "You write a letter to Mrs. Aldridge and another to Mr. Johnson. Then you sit and you think about your behavior. I'll be back at 4:30. No TV. No Nintendo. No food. You sit at that table and write. Do you understand?"
Nod.
"Do you understand me?"
"Yes sir."
At 4:25, Joe returned, and found David sitting where he was supposed to be. He read the letters, offered some corrections and then said, "Well I guess now you're going to find out that I will take care of your behavior just like I take care of you. Take off your pants and your shorts and lean across that table. Hands on the other side."
David was mortified. He'd already resigned himself to being punished with a belt, but naked? In front of Joe? He rose slowly.
"Now. I'm only getting angrier."
David did as he was told. First time all week, or so it seemed, and leaned over, embarrassed by his body and the zits on his ass. Whack. "_s_h_i_t_!"
"Watch your language and stay over that table."
"Yes sir."
It broke Joe's heart to have to hurt David in any way, but he knew that David needed to know he was serious about behavior. The belt landed on David's buttocks and legs 15 more times, and the boy was bawling before he was told to stand up. He felt like he was on fire, and knew there'd be welts and bruises. When it was all over, Joe gave him a hug, and David said, "I'm sorry Dad."
"I know, son."