Ben Stroud was a well built 16 year old. He was good at sports, playing cricket in the summer and rugby in the winter, playing in the schools first eleven and the first fifteen. At the moment he was sitting silently in a stunned state as the Headmaster had read his name out at morning assembly along with his three friends to report to his study at the end of the school day at no later than 3.35pm.
Every one knew what that meant. It meant that Ben, Jack, Colin and Jason were going to get their behinds warmed in no uncertain manner.
The Headmaster went on, "These four boys were seen raiding Mr. Brown's orchard in Park Road and he has identified them from a school photograph that appeared in the local paper last week."
All boys had raided the orchard over the years, it was a fairly common practice in fact Ben and his friends had raided the orchard before, but had never been caught. Ben thought, '_s_h_i_t_ I haven't been caned since third form and that was only a couple of whacks.' He looked along the row. Colin was sitting one along from him had gone pale, while Jack and Jason were sitting behind them, he couldn't turn around in case he got into further trouble. After assembly was over he joined Colin as they went to their first period.
First period was math and Mr. Freeman their teacher for math and science was also their form teacher. After calling the roll he said, "Well Mess'rs Blake and Stroud, you are in trouble along with your cohorts in crime and if you were not going to be punished by the Headmaster, I would thrash you for bringing the class and the school into disrepute."
Ben sat there, 'It's not fair,' he thought. 'I'm going to get this all day and all we did was raid a couple of apples each.'
The period dragged on, at last it was 9.45am and the bell went for the end of the period. As everyone was getting ready to go to the next period, Mr Freeman raised his hand for silence and as the room went silent he said, "Boys, Blake and Stroud are in trouble of their own making, I wouldn't sympathize with them too much. You may go." The class rose from their desks and made their way to the next period.
History was next and the teacher Mr. Gray did not refer at all to the two friends coming punishment. At the end of the period it was break time for 15 minutes.
Ben and Colin met Jack and Jason as they walked about the grounds taking in the fresh air after the stuffiness of the class rooms. Normally they would have been practicing either cricket or throwing passes with a rugby ball depending on the season, but today they were in no mood for doing much, they just mooched about talking quietly.
"I wonder how many?," Jack finally asked the question that was in all their minds.
"At least six," said Colin, who was no stranger to having his backside worked over with a cane.
Ben felt even worse. How was he going to take it. His parents hadn't hit him since he was ten years old and now he was going to get a real whacking. Already his stomach was doing flip flops at the thought of what was coming.
Jason didn't say any thing, just staring ahead.
"I say Jase, what do you think?" asked Ben.
"Its alright for you lot, but my old man will want to see the damage, and he will add to it just to drive the lesson home, as he says," replied Jason.
"Hell, will the Head phone our parents?" asked Colin.
"Bound to," said Jack and then the bell went calling them to the next period.
The next two periods dragged by. Ben feeling more miserable as the day wore on. By the end of the morning he had got detention for not paying attention. The teacher, remarking that if Ben was not already going to be punished that day would have given him the cane. It seemed as though he had gone from being the top of the pops to the bottom in one fell swoop.
Lunch time. Just as the bell was going for the first period that afternoon, the head prefect approached the four friends sitting quietly. They had not been invited to join the usual lunch time game of footy or ball practice.
"Ah, I've found you guys together, so I don't have to repeat myself. You are to report to the headmaster in your gym kit at 3.40pm. That will give you plenty of time to change after the last class."
After the prefect had gone Jack said, "_s_h_i_t_ and I was just thinking that at least we had some protection because of our flannel shorts and underpants, now it will be just thin cotton and no underpants."
The afternoon wore on. The last period of the day was science again with Mr Freeman. Ben and Colin were working on a joint experiment that had taken them several days to get this far. Mr Freeman usually came around several times during the period offering advice, but today he was never far away, almost as though they could not be trusted. At the end of the period he dismissed the class a few minutes early, but told Ben and Colin to remain behind.
Ben was on the verge of being sick. His stomach felt terrible and looking at Colin he didn't look much better.
"I wanted a few minutes with you two criminals alone."
Ben flared, "I'm not a criminal," he almost shouted, his voice shaking.
"Sit down while you can and listen Stroud, you too Blake." They sat on the stools that went with the high benches in the Science Lab. Mr Freeman sat with them.
"What I'm going to tell you both is this. I hope your two friends are getting a similar talk from their form teacher because it is the make or break time in your lives. You have been caught stealing apples. That makes you thieves. What has gone before doesn't count. It might have been the first time you have raided the orchard I don't really want to know. But you have been caught taking something that was not yours because you did not pay for the apples. I know it's a game to go raiding orchards, but it's also thieving because you are taking something that belongs to some one else without paying for what you are taking. Do you understand what I'm getting at?"
Ben thought for a moment, "I think so Sir. What you are saying is, what we may think is a game, but it is actually stealing."
"That is exactly what I am saying Stroud. What about you Blake?"
Colin looked at Mr Freeman, "Well Sir, to be honest I half thought it was wrong, but it was just a lark, a bit of fun."
"Blake it was not fun for Mr Brown to have his orchard raided periodically by you boys, was it?
"I suppose not Sir,"
"I suggest you cut along to the gym and get changed for your interview with the Headmaster. I will be there as a witness, oh and by the way your parents have already been informed."
"Thank you Sir."
They left the Lab and made their way to the gym where they found Jason and Jack already changed.
"Come on you guys, we've only got five minutes to get to the Head's office."
Ben and Colin started stripping down, grabbing their gym gear of white cotton shorts and blue singlets with white socks and sneakers.
"Hey, Ben, I bet that peachy arse of yours is going to smart something horrid," joked Jason.
"So will yours," retorted Ben more brightly than he felt. His parents hadn't whacked him since he was ten, and apart from the two strokes he had received for continuing to talk in class after being told to stop, in the third form his bum had remained uncaned.
Jason on the other hand with Jack and Colin had been caned a few times. Colin admitting that his father also caned him at home.
"Come on we've got two minutes to get to the office, lets go," said Colin.
They raced to the office glad that the rest of the school had gone home apart from the two form teachers and the Headmaster, so there was no one to see their humiliation. Arriving at the Headmaster's door slightly out of breath, not quite panting, they waited momentarily and then Jack knocked.
The door opened and Mr Freeman put his head out, "Wait you boys, we will let you know when we are ready." And he shut the door.
Ben felt as though he was going to be sick. He even wondered if he had time to rush to the toilets and spew before they were called. The boys could hear the murmur of voices through the door, but could not hear what actually was being said.
After five minutes, but it seemed like hours to Ben, the door opened.
Mr. Johnston, Jack and Jason's form master poked his head out, "Come in you lot."
The Headmaster was sitting behind his desk looking very stern. The two masters were standing along side the desk. On the desk were two canes, both longer and thicker than the one Ben had been whacked with in the third form.
Well, Blake, what have you got to say for yourself?" asked the Head.
"Nothing Sir," said Colin.
"And you Davis?"
"Nothing Sir," replied Jason
You, Henderson?"
Nothing Sir," said Jack.
"That leaves you Stroud."
"Nothing Sir," said Ben, even though he was feeling terrible.
"Well. Well. Well. Gentlemen, we have here four boys, with nothing to say. Most unusual, I would say," this with a raised eyebrow to the two form masters.
"I agree Headmaster, most unusual," Mr. Johnston said.
"I take it then boys, that you plead guilty to the charge of stealing from Mr. Brown?"
"Yes Sir," they replied one after the other, as the Headmaster looked at each of them.
"Then let the punishment fit the crime. I have been told by your form teachers that in the preliminary discussion, you thought it was a lark, a game, so instead of expelling you as I was first inclined to do, you will be caned. As my office is rather small I want Blake to stay and you three to wait outside at attention until you are called in. Am I understood?"
"Yes Sir," Jason, Jack and Ben made for the door and stood in the corridor at attention.
Through the closed door they could hear the murmur of voices until the slightly raised voice of the Headmaster was heard, "Blake I want you to bend over now, and touch your toes." There was a pause and then the muffled whack of a cane meeting a tightened seat, followed by an other pause and ten seconds later an other whack.
A total of eight whacks came and then Colin stumbled out the door followed by a grim looking Mr. Freeman, "Stand with your hands on your head Blake, Davis follow me please." Mr. Freeman and Jason went into the office and the door closed.
Colin stood there nearly in tears, with his hands on his head. "Hell it hurts, it's the worst hiding I've ever had, worse than Dad has ever given me," he said in a low choked voice. "They gave me extra because I told Freeman that I knew what we were doing was wrong, but did it anyway."
In the office voices murmured on. There was a pause then again the muffled whack of a cane followed ten seconds later by the following stroke. This time there were only six muffled whacks before Jason came out, tears glistening in his eyes, followed by Mr Johnston.
"Stand against the wall with your hands on your head and no talking. Come with me Henderson." Jack followed Mr Johnston into the office and the door closed.
The three boys in the corridor, two well caned with their hands on their heads, the third still standing at attention, although a little slumped, listening to the murmur of voices, but not hearing what was being said. By now Ben was just about a real mess, he wished he had gone to the toilet to pee, to be sick. But he had to stand at attention and pretend to his friends that he could be brave enough to take a good hiding, listening to each of them in turn receive theirs. God the wait was terrible.
Again six strokes sounded through the door and Jack stumbled out red in the face with tears coming out of his eyes, followed this time by Mr. Freeman.
"You know what to do Henderson, no talking, come Stroud." He turned and went into the office waited for Ben to follow and then shut the door after them.
"Stand there," said the Headmaster pointing to a spot in front of his desk.
Ben stood on the spot indicated.
"I am very disappointed in you Stroud. You have had an excellent record in this school until this stupid act got you caught. I want you to be honest. Have you ever done something like this before?"
"Yes Sir."
"What have you done?"
"Well we, I mean I have raided Mr Brown's orchard before once Sir, last year."
"No other raids or illegal visits to shops to steal cigarettes or some other articles?"
"Never Sir."
"I believe you Stroud. Mr. Freeman told me of your earlier conversation and I am surprised that you did not think what you were doing was wrong. You in fact now realize that you were stealing, is that correct?"
"Yes Sir."
"As I said earlier, I am disappointed in you. You have excelled through the school both in sports and academically. Only you and you alone have brought yourself to the position that you are now in, do you understand?"
"Yes Sir," said Ben starting to feel a bit like a parrot.
"Mr. Freeman has spoken on your behalf Stroud, otherwise you would have been expelled, along with your friends outside."
"Thank you Sir, said Ben looking at Mr. Freeman.
"As I was saying, went on the Headmaster, " you would have been expelled, however he persuaded me that a less severe punishment would suffice. You will be caned and caned severely. I want you to move to the end of my desk and bend over and touch your toes." The Headmaster picked up one of the canes from his desk and flexed it.
Ben moved to the spot indicated and bent over waiting and wondering how many. He felt the cane lightly touch his bottom about halfway down.
The wait was over................