Aaron James stood in his bedroom. Here he was nearly 16 years old and he was going to get his backside smacked. It just wasn't fair, he thought. Nobody my age should still be punished that way. But his Father and school disagreed.
Last night his father had said, 'Son, if you are going to behave like a child, then you will be treated like one. Fancy putting a bucket above the door, full of water. You could have hurt someone.'
'It was meant as a joke,' he had replied.
Now here he was, his father had signed the note granting the Headmaster at school permission to give him corporal punishment. It was either that or be suspended for two weeks.
Luckily for Aaron, they were still wearing their winter uniform at school. He had just finished his shower and looking in his underwear drawer, selected a newer pair of briefs, before putting on a singlet then his grey uniform shirt. He went to his wardrobe where he picked out his newest shorts. His reasoning was, if he was going to get whacked he may as well get as much protection as was legally possible. Pulling on the long grey socks and turning them neatly at the top he pulled on his slippers and followed his nose to the dinning room for breakfast.
'Aaron, you look smart today,' his mother said.
His father looked up from his paper, 'There's no harm in looking good for a change. It is a pity that you don't dress like that all the time Aaron.'
'Yes Mum, yes Dad. I don't want to be late for school Mum, is breakfast ready?'
'Here you are Aaron." His mother had dished up a huge breakfast, a whole plate covered with stew on toast. Alongside the plate she placed a glass of milk.
Aaron ate his breakfast and when he had finshed took his dirty dishes to the kitchen and returning to the dinning room asked to be excused. Permission was given and he went back to his room, pulled on his shoes which he had spent 10 minutes cleaning and polishing the night before, went back to the dinning room to wish his parents goodbye.
"If you wait ten minutes, I will take you," his father offered.
"Thanks Dad, but I promised John, that I'd meet him and go over our notes for our joint science project."
"Okay Aaron, see you tonight son, bye."
"Bye Aaron," added his mother.
Aaron went out the side door to the garage and got his bike. He rode to his friend John's home and he and John spent 15 minutes preparing how they would present the project to 'The Beaker' as they called their Science teacher. They left John's home and cycled to school in plenty of time before the bell went.
As they left the bike racks, John said, "What did your Dad say about yesterday?"
"There was no sympathy, he told me that I was lucky that no one got hurt and that I deserved whatever the Head dishes out."
"Hell, no support."
"None at all, in fact he supported the Headmaster. He told me that when he was my age it was common to have your backside caned. It didn't matter that noone has been caned at school for ages."
"I'll rub your bum for you later if you like."
"You're a true friend, you bastard."
"That will be enough of that language James."
"Sorry Williams."
"If I didn't know you were already in trouble I'd put you on report."
"Thanks."
Williams was a prefect and the captain of the first fifteen. Aaron had tried out for the team at the beginning of winter, but had been told he was not quite there and to keep trying. He was now playing halfback in the second fifteen.
"Best of luck after assembly James."
"I'll need it, thanks again Williams."
"You had better get to assembly before the bell goes. I've got gate duty today."
Aaron and John hurried to their lockers and then to assembly.
At assembly the Head droned on about the usual things and then said, "On Wednesday a silly prank was played in the fifth form. It was a prank that could have caused serious injury.. The school would be remiss if it allowed that sort of foolery to continue. I warn you all that any one caught playing such pranks will be punished severely. It is in this connection that I want to see James A, in my office after assembly. I will add that at least he had the decency to own up to what he had done, otherwise expulsion would have been considered." The Head swept from the stage.
Aaron felt his face burning. He was sure everyone was looking at him. He sat in numb silence while the assembly continued. He was unaware of what was being said, until he realised everyone was standing up for the hymn, before being dismissed to class.
John left for their first class while Aaron made his way to the Head's office which was in the Administration block. Arriving at the office he went into the outer office to which the door was open. The Head's secretary looked up.
"My name is James, and I am to see the Headmaster."
"You have the note signed by one of your parents?" asked the secretary.
"Yes here it is," said Aaron handing it over.
"The Headmaster has been called to an emercency meeting at the Board of Govenors in town, so he will see you after school at 3.35pm sharp."
Aaron left the office feeling clammy, his heart was beating as though he had run a long distance race and his knees felt as though they were going to give away on him. He made his way to his locker and then to the first class of the day which was English.
Entering the classroom the teacher looked at him. Usually Aaron enjoyed English and Mr. Blackler was a good teacher, but it was him that the galvanised bucket had just missed.
"Oh James good of you to join us. Finished with the Headmaster already?"
"No Sir, he had to go out I have got to see him after school."
"You have wasted enough of the classes time already James, go and sit down while you can."
Aarons face burned again. Hell, I'll have to put up with this all day. He tried to concentrate on the lesson, luckily he caught what Mr Blackler was saying and was able to answer the question correctly when asked.
Ay morning break he was surrounded by his friends all wanting to know if he had been caned. When he told them that he had to go back to the Headmasters office after school there were few looks of sympathy. Some made swishing and whacking noises with the appropriate arm movements which made Aaron feel apprehensive. However none of them would admitt to being caned before. There had been no canings for a long period. Just then Williams the prefect came along.
"How did you get on James?"
"Ive got to see the Head after school as he had to go out."
"Nothing like a wait to build up the nerves is there James."
"No, I feel sick in my stomach already."
"Yes as I said there is a build up of nerves. By this afternoon you will be a shaking mess if you are not careful. At lunchtime come and practice with the first fifteen, that will take your mind off things for a while."
"Thanks, say have you heard of any one being caned?"
"You mean here at school?"
"Of course."
"Yes when I was in the third form two boys were caned, but since then there has been no one that I know of."
"How long ago was that?"
"I'm in the 7th form now so it was four years ago. By the way, one of those boys was me."
"You?"
"Yes, my mate and I were caught wagging school and teasing a dog, which we later found out belonged to the Chairman of the Board of Govenors. We got three each. It was enough to keep me out of trouble for the rest of the time that I've been here. My friend transferred to another school at the end of the year as his father was transferred by his job."
"Thanks again Williams, I'll see you at lunch time." Aaron made his way to the next period. Thanks to William's invitation the period seemed to move at its normal pace and he found that he could concentrate.
The following period was science. He and John did their presentation and were praised for it. 'The Beaker' told the class that it was obvious that Aaron and John had put time into their project and he hoped that the rest of the classe's projects would be up to the same high standard.
Lunchtime and after eating the sandwiches that his mother had prepared for him, Aaron went to the gym and in the locker room changed into his footie practice togs before joining the first fifteen for the 40 minutes of practice. He found that it was harder than what he was used to as many of the players were heavier than he was and getting tackled was no fun on the frost hardened ground.
The first fifteen's coach, Mr Kerry, said, "Aaron your game has improved a lot. I'll promote you to the reserves so keep up the good work."
"Thank you Sir."
Aaron went to the first period of afternoon school feeling a lot happier. It was history and the teacher was a dry old stick and he droned on. To Aaron even though the lesson usually dragged, today it went at lightning speed. By the end of the afternoon he felt rung out.
As the final bell rang at 3.30pm, he gathered up his math books and made his way to his locker. John was waiting for him.
"Do you want me to wait for you?"
"Yeah, I might need a hand or something."
"Okay, I'll wait at the bike shed. Best of luck mate."
"Thanks."
Aaron only had a few moments before he was due at the Headmaster's office so he hurried to the Administration block. Arriving at the outer office, he straightened his shirt, pulled his socks up and ran his comb through his hair, before opening the door to outer office and going in.
The secretary looked up from her typewriter. "Ah James, the Headmaster will be ready to see you in a few minutes. Please stand over by the window and wait."
Aaron moved over to the window and stood looking out, not seeing anything outside. Hearing the door open he turned and Mr. Blackler came into the outer office.
The secretary looked up again. Aaron expected her to tell Mr Blackler that the Headmaster was busy and to come back later instead she said, "Go through Mr Blackler, he is expecting you." Mr Blackler went to the inner door and tapped on it lightly. Hearing a muffled 'Come' he opened the door and went through it, shutting it softly after him. By now Aaron's nerves were just about in tatters. He had a further five minutes wait before there was a buzz from the intercom and the Headmaster's disembodied voice was heard, 'Send in James.'
Aaron went to the door that Mr Blackler had gone through. He raised his hand to knock and hesitated. Behind him he heard the secretary rustling about as she started to type again, the clatter of the typewriter just about drowned out his very timid knock. He heard the Headmaster call, "Come" through the door and opening the door he walked on shakey legs into the office.
The Headmaster and Mr Blackler were there as well as a third person. Aaron looked at the three men.
"James, this is Mr Cuningham, the school's lawyer. He is also on the Board of Govenors. He is here to see that we don't overstep the law so to speak."
Mr Cuningham looked at Aaron. "James I understand from the Headmaster that you placed a galvanised bucket above a door into the classroom and that it just missed landing on Mr Blackler's head and doing him a serious injury. Is that true?"
"Yes Sir, I told the Headmaster and Mr Blackler that it was I and that I did it as a joke."
"Quite James. Be that as it may, I also understand that your father has signed the note permitting the school to carry out corporal punishment on you."
Aaron gave a sigh, "Yes Sir."
"Well Headmaster I think the lad understands that he has caused havoc and that now he is going to punished for it, turning toAaron, "You do understand why you are being punished James?"
"Yes Sir."
"Very well. Carry on Headmaster."
The Headmaster who had been sitting behind his desk while Mr Cuningham had questioned Aaron spoke. "James I don't approve of corporal punishment, however I must do my duty when required. As you may or may not know I have not had to cane a boy at this school for nearly four years. The fact that you could have killed some one and in fact it was only sheer luck that the bucket did not hit Mr Blackler on the head, you must be punished severely for your stupid act. There are two reasons. One, to stop you doing something so stupid again and the second to act as a deterrent to other boys that might try to do the same. Do you understand?"
"Yes Sir."
"Very well. As you are under sixteen you may only be given six strokes at once. Therefore Mr Blackler will give you six strokes of the belt on your underpants. You will then stand in the corner for ten minutes with your hands on your head and then I will administer six strokes of the cane again on your underpants." The Headmaster looked at Aaron. "Do you understand?"
"Yes Sir."
"Very good James. Normally in the past when a boy was to be caned he is asked to bend over and touch his toes, however since you are getting a double dose we will ask you to bend over the desk. Come to the front of my desk, lower your shorts to your ankles and spread your legs as wide as possible. Bend over, turn your head to the side and place your arms under your head."
Numbly Aaron did as he was told, he pushed his shorts down, spread his legs and bent over as instructed. As his waist was higher than the desk, his backside was the highest part of him.
The Headmaster turned to a cupboard behind his desk and took out two objects. One was the belt. A strip of leather nearly a metre long and about six centimetres wide and one centimetre thick. The second was the cane. Just over a metre long, straight rattan which the Headmaster bent just about double then swished through the air a couple of times.
Holding the cane in Aarons line of sight the Headmaster said, "This is a senior cane James. Very well carry on Mr Blackler."
Mr Blackler moved to the desk and picked up the belt. He hefted it in his hand and then moved to the rear of Aaron and looked down on the twin mounds of flesh tightly enclosed in the pristine white briefs. With Aaron bent over the way he was there was quite a bit of bare buttock showing and Mr Blackler aimed for the lower part of the buttocks with the first stroke.
There was a kind of a whir through the air followed by a whack of leather against flesh. Aaron felt a thump and for a moment nothing. Then a broad band of fire seemed to leap across his bum. The second stroke landed followed by the third. At each succeding stroke his bum got hotter. The fourth and then then fifth struck home. Each landing with a resounding whack/thud on Aarons bum. Mr Blackler steped back, put the belt over his right shoulder, steped forward and let the last stroke fly. It landed again just above the thighs and this time Aaron sounded.
"Ooowwwwuch."
"Right James stand up, pull up your pants and go and stand with your hands on your head in the corner."
With his bum feeling numb he bent over and pulled up his shorts. As he tucked his shirt in he could feel the heat radiating from his well strapped rear. He made his way to the corner with his hands on his head. The Head, Mr Cuningham and Mr Blackler conversed in low tones. Aaron didn't really hear what was being said as he was thinking about what was to come. His backside was already burning and he had six more to come with the cane. Whats more he couldn't even rub his bottom to give it a bit of comfort, he had to stand like a silly kid with his nose in the corner and his hands on his head. The last time he had been like this was at Primary school when he was about seven or eight years old. Suddenly he realised. He had been acting like a kid. Hell he could have killed Mr Blackler..............
He was still thinking along those lines when the Headmaster called him.
"James, come over here and sign the punishment register."
Aaron walked to the desk over which he had recently been bending and soon would be bending over it again. On the desk was a thick book. As he leaned over to sign his name alongside the latest entry. There were columns the first being the date. 13 September 1988. The second column had his name, James A. C. The third column had the reason for punishment. Playing a prank that could have caused a serious injury. The fourth column Punishment awarded. Six strokes Strap on underpants. The fifth column had Teachers Name. Mr Blackler had signed there. The sixth had Students Name which was blank at the moment.
Shakily Aaron signed his name alongside Mr Blacklers'. Before the book was taken from him he saw that the entry above his was indeed nearly four years earlier. 19 November 1984, Williams B D Wagging school/tormenting a small dog, three strokes cane on shorts, the Head's signature V D Dallimore, and then William's signature. Above that was William's fellow truant. Smith J C, the rest of the details were the same as Williams'.
"James it is time to continue with your punishment. Take down your shorts and bend over as you did before."
Aaron pushed down his shorts and bent over the desk with his head in his arms. He saw the Headmaster move behind and to the left of him. The cane tapped across his buttocks getting the distance right. There was a swish followed by a much sharper crack than the belt had made, as the cane met its target. The stroke landed right in the middle of the buttocks and Mr Blackler and Mr Cuningham saw it sink into the material of the underpants before being raised again.
Aaron felt a line of fire errupt across his bum, 'hell,' he thought, 'I hope I can take an other five.'
Twenty seconds past before the second stroke was delivered. It landed just above the first. It was followed by stroke number three, which landed just above the second. The third to the sixth strokes were delivered below the first stroke, the last two just about on bare flesh making Aaron cry out each time as the cane landed on already well belted lower buttock.
"You may stand and pull up your shorts James," said the Headmaster.
Aaron slowly straightened up each movement was agony to the muscles in his bum. He then had to bend right over and pull up his shorts and not bothering to tuck in his shirt, just closed the top button and zipped up the fly, did up his belt. He looked at the Headmaster, proud that he hadn't started crying tears although he could feel that they weren't far away.
The Headmaster was putting the belt and the cane back in the cupboard behind his desk and then turned to the desk and filled in the details of Aaron's latest punishment in the register. He pushed the book across the desk to Aaron then offered his pen for Aaron to sign the book. "You took that punishment well, Aaron, I hope that you have learned your lesson."
The use of his christian name just about finished Aaron, he could feel the tears starting to stream, putting up his hand to stem the flow. "Thank you Sir. While I was standing in the corner I realised what a fool I had been," turning to Mr Blackler he said, "Sorry Sir, I have always enjoyed your classes, and as I said it was meant as a joke."
Mr. Blackler held out his hand to shake Aaron's and said as they shook, "The matter is closed between us."
Aaron turned back to the desk and signed his name feeling better in his mind, although his bum wasn't. He looked at the Headmaster again.
"You may go."
Aaron made his way to the door and left. He went to the toilets near his locker and splashed watewr on his face, then went to his locker and got his books that he would need for homework, put them in his bag and went to the bikeshed.
John was there waiting for him as promised otherwise the place was just about deserted.
"I was just about to send out a search party. What happened?"
"I got belted and caned." "What?"
"Look I don't want to talk about it at the moment, I want to get home." Aaron pushed his arms through the straps on his bag and shrugged it onto his back so that it rode high on his shoulders. He pulled his bike from the rack and turning to John, "Come on."
They wheeled their bikes to the gate. Throwing their legs over bar of the bikes they both stood astride until a break in the traffic let them ride out into the road. Aaron pedaled standing before sitting very carefully on the bike seat, then pulling over to the side of the road stopped. "I'm going to walk. I'm too sore to ride."
Just then a car tooted behind them. They turned it was Aaron's father in the familie's Cortina Estatecar.
He called, "Put your bikes in the back and I'll give you both a ride home."
They did and Aaron climbed slowly into the front of the wagon and John got in behind them.
"What are you doing here Dad?"
"I had an appointment out this way and the people signed up much quicker than I expected, so I thought that I would drive past on the off chance that I would see you. How are you son?" I can give you a ride home and then I've got an other appointment." Aaron's father was a moderately successful Estate Agent.
As they drew up at John's house John got out, got his bike out of the back and then said, "Thanks Mr James. I'll see you tomorrow Aaron."
"Yeah okay."
As they drove the short distance to their house his father said, "When I was a little younger than you I got my backside whacked both at home and school son a lot more often than once. Both school and your grandfather were very strict in those days."
Aaron looked at his father, "Dad I know I did wrong, can we just drop it please."
"Okay Aaron," as they got to their home, "I'll talk to you later."
"Thanks Dad." Aaron was thinking what an understanding Dad he had as he got his bike out of thewagon and wheeled it up the drive as his father drove off to his next appointment. He went inside and called to his mother, "I'm going to my room to do my homework." He shut the door to his room and slumped face down on his bed after throwing his bag in the direction of his desk. It ws then that he finally put his hands back and gently rubbed his aching bum.....