He never said a word as we drove home from my school. He had been called in by the principle to take me home as I had been expelled for one week because of bad language in swimming training. I imagined the anger in him when he was called away from an important business meeting to pick up his son from school for bad behaviour. He said nothing to me at the principle's office as he was told in detail by the coach how I had not only refused to swim an extra 20 laps for being late to training but how I also bad mouthed him when he gave me the order to swim a further 10 for being insolent and ignoring him the first time. I can also imagine what was going through my dad's mind when the principle told dad that since the school had been forced to cease canning and strapping insolent trouble makers like me the behaviour had only increased around the school. My dad must have also felt like a bad parent when the coach suggested that if only parents would discipline their children more often the school could get on and do what its supposed to be doing training minds not behaviours.
We pulled up into the garage and finaly the silence was broken momentarily as my father looked at me and told me to get to my room and get into my simming gear and to stay there untill he said otherwise. At 16 I hadn't been disciplined by my father's hand for over four years. But then again I he hadn't had to be called to the school before either. I didnn't know what to expect from my father when he arrived at my door. But I knew one thing my guts where telling me that he as madder en hell. So I changed into my speedos and sat waiting on my bed. Then after what seemed like hours, though must have been only 20 mins my dad stood there at the door looking at me sternly.
Then in a quite but angered voice he he said "Declan, get on your feet now".
I immediately stood to attention and faced my father.
"Declan" ,he began to increase the tone in his voice, "I have never been so humiliated in all my life. Nor asked to leave an important business meeting to attend your school, which I might add I pay a small forutune to keep you at, to pick you up and be told that you are not only disobedient but foul mouthed as well. And to be futher humiliated by having to listen to those two men accuse me of not discipling my son, and in a sense questioning my parenting".
"But dad", I tried to jump to my defence
"But nothing Declan" my father interuppted with his waivering angered voice." I will not tolerate any of my son's being disobedient, disrespectful to elders, foul mouthed, or wasting my hard earned money".
My father step in side the door and closed it behind him. By now I am sure my brothers were home and eagerly listening in the nearby rooms.
"Declan I am going to see that you understand just how unacceptable this behaviour is" my father shouted as he unbuckled his black hard leather belt and removed it from the loops that held it in place around his hips.
I felt my heart stop as I looked at him fold his belt over in his hand. I knew then they my butt was going to receive a thrashing I'd never experienced before.
"You are going to get the trashing of your life Mr. Now go and lean over the table"
I dared no anger him further, although I knew my but was going to hurt like hell It would be suicide to make him wait. So I went over to my study desk, placed my books on the floor and leaned over the table and grabbed hold of the other side. My father followed me slowly and stood behind me. Then as he removed my speedos down to my ankles he said "Now Declan you will learn not to be like common trash and respect and honour your family name"
I could feel the air on my butt as dad walked to the side of me. I waited silently as he paused. Then the silence was broken with the sound of the leather belt cutting through the air and the crack as the object of discipline landed on it's target. I winced and braced myself as my body went foreward as the power of my father's swing was transfered in to my 16 year old swimmers body. Out of the corner of my eyes I could see him raising the strap again. I clsoed my eyes. Again I braced as the sound once again gave away that tell tale sign that my butt would receive another lick from its opponent. 2, 3, 4, 5 my fathers belt landed powerfully on my rear end and I counted silently in my head. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 my winces turned to tears. I could feel the cool salty water drip down the side of my face. I could also feel the burning and stinging of my father's fury on each cheek of my backside as my father continued to impress his discipline onto me untill I'd received now less I am sure 20 strokes of his belt.
He'd paused. No he'd finished I discovered as he placed his black leather strap back into it original spot. "Declan stand and face me"
Again not wanting to tempt face I turned to face my father sobbing like a child.
"Pull up those swimmers and wipe your face now"
I carried out his request feeling the ever present stinging sensation increase as my simmers tightly covered my rear. I stood waiting to see what was next.
"Declan, let this be a lesson my son. Always respect your elders, never be foul mouthed and nver be disobedient, for surely as I have thrashed your backside today, I'll do it again. Now get out to the pool and do those 30 laps you should have done in the first place and avoided all this mess you are in now".
I couldn't wait to get into the soothing water of the pool. For sure it would cool my rear from dads discipline. I hope this is the last time I have to feel the wrath of my father but they say the teenage years are one of rebellion so who knows.