Principal Barns was sitting behind his desk writing something down on a piece of paper when I stepped in front of his opened door. He looked up when he noticed I was there and smiled. "AH, Mr. McClure....come in. I've been waiting for you." He said in a voice so friendly, it made my stomach turn.
I stepped inside, feeling kind of relieved to see him smiling at least, but the feeling didn't last. A few more steps in and I noticed Mr. Logan sitting in the corner. I froze at the sight of him.
Mr. Burns smiled when he saw that I had seen the science teacher and pushed his chair back so he could get up. "Come on." He said as he stood and walked around to the front of his large mahogany desk and sat on the edge. "Don't be shy."
Deciding that none of this was good, I took a step back - ready to make an immediate exit - but was stopped by something that felt similar to a brick wall. I whipped around to see what the hell was blocking my path, and looking down at me was coach Adams, grinning wide. "Good afternoon Mr. McClure" He said.
I backed a few paces away from the large towering man, which put me right in front of Principal Barns (a far less threat).
"I guess by the look on your face, you know why you're here."
"Not really, no." I lied. I knew exactly why I was there. The only thing I didn't know was ........HOW THE HELL THEY KNEW IT WAS ME!
"No?" He asked, looking a little surprised. Then he crossed his arms over his chest. "Well then, let's see if we can jar your memory some ......Do the words Green Pick-up truck mean anything to you?"
"Sure. Green is a color and a pick-up truck is a vehicle that you can drive providing you're tall enough to see over the steering wheel." I said arrogantly, the last part being an insult to Mr. Logans height. No one even knew how he was able to drive the thing.
"All that being true." He said quite gruffly. "I am referring to the Green Pick-up that belongs to Mr. Logan."
(Oh you mean the green truck that I slashed the tires on) I wished I had the guts to say. Instead I said "I don't know anything about it."
"Again, let me try and jar your memory." Mr. Burns said with a grin. "Yesterday you thought it would be funny to slash Mr. Logans tires, leaving him quite stranded after school."
I pointed to myself. "ME!" I said trying to look and sound shocked, but I came out sounding arrogant. (I was no actor).
"Yes." He said.
"Well, I'm sorry you think that, but I didn't --"
"Didn't do it....Yes, yes I know. The famous 'I didn't do it' by Michael McClure. I know the story well." He said sounding quite amused. The Coach and Mr. Logan found it quite entertaining as well, but I didn't find anything amusing in it.
"Well, good. I'm glad you know it. I guess that means I can leave now. Y'all have a nice day now....BYE-BYE." I said with as much arrogance as I could muster, and started for the door, but the coach stepped in front of it.
"All right, lets cut the comedy act MIKE. Coach Adams was on the field and he saw you do it."
I looked over at the large muscular man standing cross armed in the doorway. "I saw you." He said with a grin.
I dropped my head, then brought it back up with a big evil grin attached. "Did you have a nice walk?" I asked Mr. Logan.
"NO, Mr. McClure. I did not." He said looking quite angry.
Principal Burns broke in suddenly very angry himself. "But you don't really care about that or feel the least bit sorry do you?."
"Yeah, I'm sorry." I said in a matter of fact tone.
"For what you did, or for the fact that you got caught?" Mr. Burns asked.
I shrugged and jammed my fist down into my pockets. "Both, I reckon." I said casually, then he just exploded on me.
"Vandalism is a serious offense Mr. McClure! An offense with requires expulsion!"
(Oh _s_h_i_t_) I thought. Play time was over. Things were getting serious now. "Expulsion?" I asked as I wondered how much a flight out of the country was going for these days. I mean I would never survive having to go home and tell my father - to his face - that I had gotten expelled for slashing my science teachers tires. He'd kill me first, then ask questions later.
"How do you think you father would react to that?" Mr. Burns asked. (God was he reading my _f_u_c_k_ing mind)
"UHMMMM...I don't really know. I'm thinking maybe....... ....death."
Coach Adams - who knew my father well - chuckled.
"Well, you can relax because I'm not going to do that... ...I wanted to, believe me, but Mr. Logan asked - and I have agreed - to bend the rules this one time" He told me.
"Great, see ya later." I said and went for the door again. Coach Adams gave me an even more intimidating look which told me that he was not about to move and I wasn't big enough to make him.
"Afraid not Mr. McClure." Mr. Burns said as he stood up suddenly and walked behind his massive desk.
My stomach did a flip when I saw him reaching for his bottom drawer. (OH God) I thought. (Here we go......... ..THE PADDLE)
"What I am going to do is give you the maximum number of strokes the school board and the law will allow......" He said as he held the thing up a little, as if showing it to me.
My stomach performed another twisted flip as I thought about this. (The maximum number the school and the law would allowed .....Christ how many was that? Fifty? One hundred?)
"And don't you worry. I already called you father. He will be here shortly."
(Ahhh _f_u_c_k_!) My mind screamed. (_f_u_c_k_, _f_u_c_k_, _f_u_c_k_)
"Now then Mr. McClure lets get started." He said as he unbuttoned his cuff and started to roll up his sleeve. "You know the drill.........Right here in front of me... ....Elbows on the desk."
I just stood there starring at him.
"And I'd appreciate it if you wouldn't fight."
"And I'd appreciate it if you wouldn't hit me with that paddle." I said still not moving.
"Come on now." He said waving me forward with the paddle, but there was no way I was able to do that. I mean what did he think.....That I was a fool? I stepped sideways and slipped behind the opposite end of the massive desk.
"So you choose to fight." He said with a sigh, then he tuned and spoke to the coach - who was still blocking the door. "I think I'll need your help here Mr. Adams." He said.
Coach Adams uncrossed his arms and stepped forward without hesitation. When he was next to Mr. Burns he spoke to me. "Why don't you Just cooperate." He said. "You know you deserve it."
"I don't think so pal, so why don't you Just go and _f_u_c_k_ yourself." I said giving him an angry look.
Oh he got pissed at that. "You watch your mouth you little _s_h_i_t_." He said and started around the desk himself, but Mr. Burns stopped him.
"Tell you what Michael....You cooperate right now, and I'll knock off a swat. Now what do you say? We got a deal?" He said.
I looked at him in utter disbelief. I mean he sounded like a used car salesman for Christ sake. Knock off a swat. _f_u_c_k_ that.
"_f_u_c_k_ you!" I said.
His face turned stone cold except for his burning eyes, then he gave coach Adams the signal. Each of them took a side. Mr. Burn approaching from the right, Mr. Adams the left. All the while fat Mr. Logan sat comfortably in his seat in the corner.
I backed off as the two men came toward me, but there was no place to go. I mean I couldn't go threw them or climb the ceiling over them, or.......(Wait...a minute......OVER) I thought, and a second later I found myself running over the top of Mr. Burns big heavy desk, and jumping off the other side.
The looks on their faces as I did this were priceless. I mean I had actually pulled it off. I was on my way out the door and there was nothing anyone of them could do to ----
I never finished the thought. Instead I found myself looking at the floor, coach Adams about to lift to my feet. I started to fight and struggle, but I was no match for the man. He pulled me over to the desk and pushed me face down over the edge, and with one strong hand over my neck and another on my back, held me in position.
Mr. Burns quickly came over and stood on my left. "You get six young man." He announced then I felt the paddle rest against the seat of my jeans briefly as he measured for his target. A second later I couldn't feel it any more which meant It was about to come crashing down, so I curled my lips in against my clenched teeth and squeezed my eyes shut, preparing for impact. Next thing I heard was a whoosh as the paddle cut through the air , then..... ....
!!!CRACK!!!
He nailed me, hard, causing an immediate explosion of pain. "OWLLLLL......you _f_u_c_k_!" I shouted out in both anger and pain as I tried desperately to push off the desk.
!!!CRACK!!!
"OWCH......!" God it stung so bad it brought tears to my eyes. "Stop it!"
!!!CRACK!!!
"OOOOLLLL OWLLLL.......!" My voice broke up on that one, and I began to loose it all together as I fought and squirm like mad, but nothing helped my position. I was pinned, and would stay pinned till it was over.
!!!CRACK!!!
"AHHHH...OOOOLLLLLL! No more...please.....Stop it!" I yelled. (How many was that? Two? Five? Oh god please be five)
!!!CRACK!!!
"UHHHH.......sob sob sob.............please......AHHHH!!" My backside was up to inferno status and I was desperate to get away.......(GOD, HOW MANY MORE) my mind screamed.
!!!CRACK!!!
"UHHHHH.......god! Please, no more." I pleaded through my tears. "Please. I'm sorry for what I did."
I don't know how many minutes or hours went by before I realized that it was over and I was no longer being held down. I was just laying there, crying all over Mr. Burns mahogany desk, my ass pulsating with burning waves of heat and pain.
"It's over son, you can get up." Mr. Burns said finally.
I pushed myself up with my arms, and just stood there in front of him sniffing and trying to figure out a way to rub my ass without making it feel worse, but came up with nothing.
"Do you think that taught you anything?" He asked.
"Don't know sir......." I said my voice catching on my words. "......but I'll sure remember it for a while."
He snorted. "All right. Well your brother is here to pick you up. You're father got caught up in something at the last minute."
(THANK YOU GOD) I thought, and gave a little sigh of relief.
"When you're done composing yourself --."
"I'm done." I told him quickly not wanting to spend another second in that room.
"Then you're free to go." He said and walked me to the door. Just as I was about to step out he grabbed my arm. For a second I thought I was in more trouble.
"Just wanted you to know that I didn't like having to do that to you....."
(Yeah right) I thought bitterly.
"......And I hope I never have to do it again." He said and then let me go.
I walked on without responding.
When I got to the front office Drew was holding up the wall with his shoulder. When he saw me he straightened up and took a few steps closer. Mr. Burns spoke to him.
"Hello son. Long time no see."
"Hello Mr. Burns. How you doing?" Drew said giving him a smile.
"Not good under the circumstances." He said.
"Sorry about this. My father told me to asked if you could get a dollar amount from Mr. Logan so he could reimburse him for the tires." Drew said.
"I have that right here." Mr. Burns said holding out a white envelope to him. "It's all in the letter if you could just give this to him."
"Will do." Drew said then his eyes shifted to me. "You ready?"
"Uh huh." I said and walked out , limping slightly.
To be continued........