I knew something was up, when I saw my Dad's car drive into my bording school. I was out on the sports field kicking a ball around with some mates, and was stunned to see my Dad walking into the administration building.
I was 16. Tall and broad-sholdered I was popular with all the guys at this exclusive private boarding school because of my sports prowess, and my troublemaking attitude. I'd been caned numerous times, and I usually faced dicipline with a _c_o_c_k_y attitude.
But, Dad's unexpected arrival made me uneasy. I knew I was in a lot of trouble, but had assumed that therefore I'd be given a good thrashing and that would be that. That head never summoned Dad before, and he had never visited the school Headmaster without coming to see me first.
So, I moved our kick-about game closer to the door Dad would come out of and tried to remain calm. An hour later my Dad came out of the building. I dropped the ball and ran up to him:
"Dad !" I said
"Hello son " he said uncertainly "I'm sorry I can't stop" and he brushed past, patting my shoulder.
"But Dad , what are you doing here ?" I pleaded as he got into the car.
"You'll find out " he said, as he drove off.
I noticed many other fathers leaving the administration building, and became even more uncertain. I was lost in thought when ...
"Martin!" I jumped at the voice of the Head Boy, as he said " report to the Headmaster in Class-room D3."
"What for ?" I asked .
"You'll find out " he said, scarily echoing my father's words.
"Should I get changed first ?" I asked.
"No need, that sports kit is ideal - now scoot, or you'll be in even more trouble" said the senior prefect.
I was now fairly certain that I was about to get the caning I was due, but unexpectedly was very nervous, as there seemed to be something alltogether more sinister going on. So, I nervously made my way to the selected class-room.
There were several boys in there, together with the Headmaster. The boys were all younger than me, and looked quite nervous. I put on my _c_o_c_k_y trade-mark smirk and swaggered into the room - trying to impress them.
"Hello sir !" I said cheerily, whith a big wave.
"Martin ... find a seat , and be quiet" said the Head, garvely.
I sat in one of the middle rows. D3 was an old-fashioned room with big wodden desks for the students, and a raised platform at the front, with a heavy, built-in bench for the teacher to sit behind. I was very aware of this room's reputation as the one where public canings tended to happen, as the boy could bend acros the teaher's desk, and stretch to grip the blackboard rim, with his backside facing the other boys, affroding them the perfect view of the whole punnishment. Furuther there was room on the platform for the teacher to stand and get a migthly swing to make each stroke as hard as possible.
Still this was a strange situation. I was uncertain as to how to react. Still I was the oldest in the room, as so was determined to remain cool and keep up my tough image.
More boys filed into the room, all from lower grades to me. Eventually there were fifteen boys sitting bfeore the Headmaster. As I looked around, I could see that we all had the repulation of 'trouble-makers'.
The Head strode onto the platform. He said : "Alright, be quiet, everyone".
He looked around the room with a quiet smile saying : "I suppose you're all wondering what this is about ... well, you are all down in my book for a caning, and you al have been consistent trouble-makers throughout the term, and you all are receiving poor grades".
We all looked at each other in trepidation .... I didn't like the sound of this !
"So, we have been despairing of you. So I've hit upon a plan to teach you all a very painful lesson. I've consulted with all your parents, and we are agreed that none of you will be going home this holiday"
A gasp went through the group. I was shocked - how could Dad agree to that ! I had plans for this holiday.
"Instead you will stay here . You will attend special remedial classes. During this special holiday school, you will all be subject to an extreme punishment regime"
Again, all of us boys looked nervously at one another.
"This punishment regime will involve heavy and frequent corporal punishment which will always be delivered publically, in this room. Now, today I'm going to give you all a demonstration of what that will be like "
We all moved uncomfortably in our seats.
"Now you will all be getting a caning from me today, but I don't have the time to deliver them all at once here, publically. So most of you will get it in private as usual, but I want to show you what the holiday school will be like -so I've picked a volunteer!"
Again, there was much nervous shifting about
"Martin !" he said, to my horror, but not surprise, " get your butt up here". I could feel the relief in all the others turn to interest and amusement as I got up and trugged to the frontof the class. I was told to stand facing the class.
"I've decided to use our oldest and biggest trouble-maker for this demonstration, mostly because his caning will be the most severe, and so should give you a very graphic picture of the level of dicipline you are all going to get. One other benefit is that he has so many other misdemenours I'm quite happy about giving him a few extra strokes at the ned to demonstrate some of the different canes I'll use for different punishements" said the Head. He motioned for me to turn around and stretch over the desk. I was very sorry I hadn't changed into trousers, as my old training shorts would offer little protection.
I tried to keep from looking worried as I turned and bent over the desk, I could feel the shorts tighten around my butt as I stretched across to grab the lip of the backboard. The Head motioned that I put my legs further apart.
He then walked behind the desk and pulled out four different canes. One was much longer and thicker that the rest. He pulled it out and brandished it before the class.
"This is the most extreme cane that will be used on any of you. I will only use it on the older boys, and only those who are very badly behaved. Martin here is the only one who will get this cane from the begining".
I gulped. I'd only gotten the Headmaster's big cane once, and that was 6 strokes over tousers and it nearly made me cry. I wasn't sure if I could take this caning without breaking down in front of all these young guys.
The Head stepped back and said "Martin, you are to get twelve strokes of this cane. I want you to count each stroke. If you miss counting one, we will repeat it, and if you move about too much you will get extra"
"Yes sir " I mumbled .
He drew back and I heard a SWISH through the expectant hush as the first stroke, whacked into my backside.
"One sir " I said as clearly as I could. The pain was bad, but I was determined not to crack. The second , third , fourth, fifth and sixth strokes all hit. Each hurt, but I managed to clearly count them. A total hush had decended over all the boys. I had to show them that I wouldn't be defeated.
The seventh cracked into my butt - hitting the same spot I'd been hit on before. "Oww sir, " I yelped.
"You miss counted " said the Head, let's do that on again, and he whacked my butt even harder.
"Seven sir" I said, although my voice was filled was pain. The next three were excruciating - but I managed to stay down, and not yell.
The tenth landed particularly painfully "Oww sir, that's ten " I yelped. The next was even harder, and I let go of the blackboard, and yelped "Eleven ".
"Don't move !" barked the Head, even though I'd hadn't actually got up, or even rubbed my inflamed butt., "that's two extra".
There was some very excited whispering among all the boys, until the Head yelled "Silence!".
Whack ! "Twelve sir " I said through clenched teeth.
"Good, that's your full punnishment" said the Head "now here's two extra, don't bother counting !"
Two hard strokes whacked into my butt rapidly. I gasped in pain.
Total silence reigned. All I could hear was my heavy breathing. I hadn't cried or been broken. .
The Head said "Stand Marin, put you hands on your head, and face the class". I complied. All the boys watched in rapted silence. I saw the Head standing before me holding the massive cane. He turned to the class saying : "That's a severe caning. Most of you would be caned with this - " he pulled out a smaller cane than the one he'd used on me - " but the procedure is the same".
"However, I'm going to want to beat you in different ways too ! "he said with a smile, "for instance, if you misbehave in class or a tutorial, I'm going to want to punish you more quickly - let me demonstrate on Martin here "
A look of horror crossed my face. My backside was throbbing with pain, and I was confused and upset. I didn't understand why he was picking on me. "Sir ? " I queried
"Yes Martin, you - now face the blackboard and bend-over and grab your ankles"
"But sir !" I complained.
"NOW" he yelled
I sighed and complied. I winced in pain as the fabric of my shorts pressed against the fresh stripes from the previous caning.
"Now normally, of course, you aren't going to get caned like straight his after a serious caning, but Martin here can take " he said as he slapped my backside.
I yelped in surprise.
The Head pulled out a fearsome looking cane - very thin and flexible. He said "This stings like hell - particularly if you've just had 15 strokes, and this is how we use it "
He drew it back, saying "You can take 6 strokes Martin, don't count, they'll be coming quickly"
Suddenly I felt the strokes falling on my bum, I hadn't even drawn breath before four had hit. I gasped in shocked and pain. I stood up and rubbed my butt, hoppin nup and down.
The Head looked at me. "It hurts doesn't it ? "
I nodded as he said "but I didn't say you could get up, get back over and take another 6"
I looked at him in horror and protesed "But sir .. "
"Alright take another 10 then " he said. I sighed and bent back over.
The ten strokes began. I gasped in pain and stared yelping on alternate strokes. Tears started to fall down my face. I refused to completely break down in front of everyone though, and I avoidded sobbing. I remained in position while the Head said : "That's rapid punishment - it still hurts though, doesn't it Martin ?"
"Yes sir !" I said emphatically.
"Alright Martin, get up" he said, as I painfuly straightened up..
I stood with hands on my head again, trying not to cry.
The Head said the one thinf I wasn't expecting " There is a lighter cane for you younger boys that will have the same effect, but there is one furher mode of punishment I want to demonstrate on Martin - the paddle"
I was horrified. This would be lethal after over 30 strokes of the cane. I turned to protest, but the Head shook his head and said, "Lean over Martin, hands on your knees".
Reluctantly I complied. I just wanted to get through this.
The Head pulled out a nasty looking leather paddle. He siad "This will be used on your backsides for immediate punishement when we are outside this room. It may be followed up with another caning - Martin will get 10 strokes to demonstrate"
I put my head down , and closed my eyes and waited for the first stroke.
"Again, don't count, but don't get up" he said.
The strokes whacked into my bum. I gasped with pain, as the pain spread across my butt, and enflamed the strokes from the cane. Tears fell down my face.
When it was over the Head said I coud stand, and go and sit. I stood, and slowly made my way down the isle to me seat.
I winced as I sat down . The Head said "That's the punishment you can expect. You will report to this room on Saturday for the holiuday class to begin. You will have no weekends and no fun - just applied work and punishment. Hopefully this will teach you to grow up".
"All of you except Martin are to report to my study in the order as listed on the board for you canings - Martin you eport to my study now, we need to talk"
So it was with sense of foreboading that I stood again and slowly made my way down the hall.