It was Friday evening, and 19 year old Andrew Ross felt happy with life. The Glasgow youth had just started a two week holiday, which he was going to spend with 4 of his mates in the Isle of Man. It was the first time he had been away on his own, in fact it was the first time for over 5 years that he had been away at all. Before his Father had died, family holidays had been a regular occurence, but since then, holidys had been out of the question.
Andrew had left school at 16, and taken an apprenticeship as a machine operator at a local engineering firm. For the first two years, the pay was low, and, as the eldest son, Andrew had felt obliged to make a substantial contribution to the household budget. At 18, however, Andrew had qualified as a machine operator, and was now earning "real" money. In addition, overtime was always available when extra money was needed. In view of this, Andrew felt that he could now afford a holiday. He enjoyed being with his mates. They had been friends since school, and all shared a common interest in football. Andrew was the only one who actually played football, but they all supported Celtic. Even if they could not go to many of the matches, they enjoyed discussing the match over a few drinks, and singing anti Rangers "rebel" songs at the tops of their voices. Yes, thought Andrew as he started to get undressed for bed in the bedroom he shared with his 15 year old brother Robert, things were certainly looking up.
"Wake up Andrew. Time to get up!"
Andrew gradually came to life, opened his eyes, and saw his Mother leaning over the bed, gently shaking him by the shoulder.
"Thank's Mum," said Andrew sleepily, sitting up in bed.
"Wake up Robert. Time to get up!"
Robert sat up in the bed next to Andrew, and, as usual, just grunted.
Andrew folded back the bedclothes, and started getting out of bed.
"Don't be long," said his mother. "Breakfast will get cold."
Andrew made his may to the bathroom for a quick wash, then returned to his bedroom, stripped off his pyjamas, and started pulling on a clean pair of underpants. He noticed with a mixture of amusement and irritation that his Brother was sitting on the bed, yawning, and showing no signs of getting dressed.
"Come on Robert, you heard what Mum said, you don't want to be late for breakfast."
"Piss off!" was the terse reply.
"Charming! Will you miss me when I am away?"
"Miss you, that's a joke, I wish you were going away for good. Then I could have the bedroom to myself, and would not be disturbed when you come in drunk late at night!"
"You might say that now, but you know where to come when you need money," replied Andrew.
During breakfast, Mum was fussing around. "Make sure you have a good breakfast Andrew, you have a long journey ahead of you."
"I'm only going to the Isle of Man, mum, not Timbucto!"
"Have you remembered to pack everything? Toothbrush, toothpast, your anti-asthma medication?"
"Yes Mum."
"I hope you have packed several pairs of clean underpants."
"Of course mum," replied Andrew with a sigh.
"You may sigh my lad, but knowing you, you would wear the same pair of underpants for the whole fortnight. If you had an asthma attack and had to be admitted to hospital, what would the Nurse think if you were wearing a dirty pair of underpants?"
The taxi finally arrived to take Andrew to the station.
"Make sure you stay out of trouble, remember they still have the birch in the Isle of Man!"
As she watched her son leave, Mrs Ross had mixed feelings. She was very fond of Andrew, and believed the death of his Father had hit him hard. Andrew was 14 at the time, and he and his Father were close. It had been particularly difficult for Andrew because his older sister had just left home to follow a career in London. Andrew had accepted his responsibilities well, looking after his younger brother and sister, but Mrs Ross knew that Andrew was no angel. On more than one occasion she had been called to the Police Station to fetch him, when, after a spell of drinking with his mates, he had been involved in a fight. He had always managed to escape with a warning, but would this continue?
The five lads met up in the Buffet of Glasgow Central Station. On the face of it they were an unlikey group to be friends. Apart from Andrew there was Doug, a building labourer, with big muscles, and little brain, who liked a good punch up. He was planning to join the Army. Iain was a car mechanic. He had a big mouth and liked to talk tough. Mick was a warehouse worker. He enjoyed a puch up, but was nothing like a strong as Doug, and usually came off worse. Simon was the group leader. A shopworker, who enjoyed organising things. All of them liked and respected Andrew. They were impressed with the way he had coped with the death of his Father. They all beilived if Andrew had been able to stay on at school, he would have done well, and might have gone to University. Andrew was also the sober one of the group. When arguments started, Andrew usually managed to sort things out.
"I have sorted out the sleeping arrangements," said Simon. "Doug and Mick will share a room, and Andrew, Iain and I will share another."
Andrew smiled to himself. Simon had done well. Everybody knew Doug snored, but he and Mike were good friends, in fact Mike looked up to Doug, and would be more that happy to share a room with him.
"Is that settled, then? Good. Let's get the train to Ardrossan."
The ferry from Ardrossan to Douglas was crowded with holiday makers from Glasgow going to spend their holiday in the Isle of Man. Andrew and his mates spent most of the crossing in the bar, and when they arrived in Douglas, had managed to put away a good few pints of beer.
After checking into the hotel and unpacked, they all went out to explore the sights. After a while they found a good pub serving cheap beer, and all agreed they intended to get completely pissed!
Andrew never knew exactly how the trouble started. They all had drunk a large quantity of beer, and started to sing at the tops of their voices Celtic Songs. After a while, a man approached their table and told then to shut up. Suddenly a fight developed, punches were thrown, and Doug picked up a chair a hit somebody with it. Within a short while, the Police had arrived, bundled the five boys into a van, and took them to the Police Station. It did not take long for all of them to be charged with assault causing bodily harm, and behaviour tending to a breach of the peace. After being charged, they were all released on police bail to appear before the Magistrate the following Monday.
Once released, Iain went to the hospital for treatment for a broken nose, and the others returned to the hotel
Later in the day, back at the hotel, the 5 lads met to decide what they should do. After a while, Andrew suggested they should plead guilty, but claim they were provoked. After all Iain had suffered a broken nose. The all agreed this was the best course of action to take, and decided to try and forget the event, until Monday, and enjoy themselves as best at they could.
Monday morning arrived, and they were all up early. Andrew was worried, but tried to appear confident. He had phoned his mother the previous day, and she had agreed that the decision to plead guilty was right. Andrew wondered if he might be birched, but thought it unlikey. Only very tough criminals were birched.
The appearance was a frightening experience for Andrew. He had never been in court before. As agreed they pleaded guilty, and this was accepted by the Magistrate. At the end of the hearing, the Magistrate told them all to stand up to hear their sentence. First Iain. On the charge of behavour tending to breach of the peace, a fine of £5. On the charge of assault causing bodily harm, a fine of £15. The Magistrate turned to Andrew. Andrew felt a hugh feeling of relief. No mention of the birch! The Magistrate spoke. On the charge of behavious tending to breach of the peace, a fine of £5. On the charge of assault causing bodily harm, a fine of £15 and nine strokes of the birch. Andrew was stunned! This was far worse than he expected. Mike and Simon were given the same sentences, as was Doug, except Doug was fined £35 instead of £15.
All five were led away and taken to a waiting room. A poliice officer arrived and said they could appeal against the sentence, or agree to get it over with immediatly. After a short discussion, they all agreed to accept the sentence, and be birched straight away. None of them wished to prolong the agony.
Andrew, Doug, Mick and Simon were then taken to a Police Station, and told to wait. None of them had much to say. After a while, they were taken to a room to be examined by a Doctor. Andrew remembers made to strip to his pants, and be examined, then told to dress, and go back and wait. When they had all been examined, the Policeman came in and said, "I have some good news for you all. You have been declared fit to take a birching! Wait there until your name is called."
Andrew now felt sick with fear. He hoped he would be called first. The door opened, and a voice called out, "Michael, follow me."
A few minutes later the door opened again, and a voice called out, "Simon, follow me." A little later the door opened again, and a voice called out. "Andrew, follow me."
"This is it," thought Andrew. He was led down a number corridors, and into a cell. The cell was sparsely furnished, with a few chairs and a wooden table. The Doctor was present, along with four Police Officers.
"Stand at the table and take down your trousers, ordered on the the Police Officer."
Andrew started to undo his belt, and unzip his flies. Suddenly he felt somebody pulling his jeans down to his ankles. Two Policemen grabbed his arms, and bent him over the table. While this was happening, Andrew felt his pants being pulled down, and his shirt being lifted up.
"It's a pity your mother isn't here to see you now. What would she think if she could see you with your pants down, your bare buttocks exposed, ready to receive a birching? Would she be proud of you?"
Andrew did not reply. He did not think a reply was called for.
"Are you ready?"
"Yes," whispered Andrew.
"Good. Start birching!"
Andrew heard a swish, then felt a terrible pain as the birch struck his naked buttocks. He could not help shouting out. Stroke two, again a terrible pain, then tree, and four. Would it ever end? After six strokes, Andrew felt blood trickling down his bottom. After nine strokes it was all over.
Andrew pulled up his pants and jeans, and after about half an hour, left the Police Station. It was impossible to sit down for the rest of the day, but after that the pain gradually subsided.
The remainder of the holiday was a muted affair. Everybody tried to enjoy themselves, but all were aware that at the end, they would have to return home to explain there behaviour to their parents.
When Andrew met his Mother, he was very scared.
"I cannot hide the fact that I am disappointed with your behaviiour. You have set a bad example to your brother, and brought shame on the family. When I first heard the news, I intended to tell you to pack your bags and get out. You have to thank your Grandmother and Brother for talking me out of it. Your Grandmother pointed out that you had been a good son, and your Father was a bit wild in his youth. Nevertheless, he had grown up into a good husband and father. When I told Robert I was thinking of kicking you out of the house, he was very upset. He begged be to let you stay. I hope you have learned your leson, and let's now forget the affair."
As Andrew was undressing for bed that night, Robert was in bed but still awake.
"I think I must thank you for standing up for me," said Andrew.
"Forget it. You would have done the same for me. Did you really get nine strokes on your bare bottom?"
"Yes, I did."
"Did it hurt? Be honest?"
"Yes it did. It hurt like hell!"
"Do you still have the marks?"
"Yes I do, would you like to see them?"
"Yes please."
Andrew pulled down his pants, lifted up his shirt, and showed his bottem to his brother. The marks were still livid.
"Wow!" said Robert. "Just wait till I tell the boys at school that my brother got nine strokes of the birch on his bare buttocks, and I have seen the marks. Nobody will want to pick a fight with me now!"