Matthew Briggs and Christopher Hodge arrived at St Marks public school on the same day. St Marks was a prestigious boys school with a high academic reputation underpinned by firm discipline. Dr Robin Fortescue had been the headmaster for four years and and he had ensured that the standards set by the previous head were maintained by a combination of good teaching and firm discipline.
Matthew and Chris had been assigned to the same house under the experienced eye Of housemaster John Crosby who fully supported Dr Fortescue's methods of exercising an iron hand to control the behaviour of the pupils. The boys were popular with their classmates and soon became firm friends with one another sitting next to one another in class and spending much of theior leisure time together. It was not long before they both found themselves having to report to Mr Crosby for after forgetting to do a piece of prep. Mr Crosby had made it very clear at the interview that any misdemeanour would be dealt with in the traditional way with either the cane or slipper applied to the appropriate place. The two boys stood in front of the housemaster looking rather crestfallen as Mr Crosby announced that as it was their first offence he would be lenient and would only apply two strokes of the plimsoll to the seat of their trousers but that any repetition would mean more strokes just with underpants for protection. Neither Chris nor Matthew were aware that nothing gave John Crosby more pleasure than to be confronted with a boys bottom for the sole purpose of punishing it. Chris stepped forward and bent over projecting his bottom for the application of the slipper. He remained in position as he felt the housemaster gently fold the tail of his blazer over his back in order to reveal his bottom clad in thin grey trousers. Mr Crosby then picked up the slipper and gripping it in his right hand delivered an almighty smack to Chris's tight little bottom. To his credit he didn't attempt to rise but the force of the whack caused him to take a couple of steps forward but without delay he quickly resumed his position to await the second whack. It was not long in coming and his throbbing backside absorbed number two which landed precisely on top of the first stroke. It was his first experience of corporal punishment at St Marks and if Dr Fortescue and John Crosby had anything to do with it there would be many more to come. Chris st! ood up grasping his throbbing cheeks unable to think of anything except the hurt in his seat. He stood to one side as Matthew was invited to take Chris's place and present his bottom for a dose of the slipper. By now of course Matthew was extremely frightened but he knew had no option but to take what was coming to him by offering his bottom so that it could receive two solid strokes of the slipper.
After the punishments had been carried out and a futher warning given the two boys were dismissed and took the opportunity to compare the damage. Both sets of cheeks were well marked with a deep red welt covering the lower half of both bottoms. Although both boys managed not to cry they both resolved without any hope of course never to misbehave again.
During the remainder of that year and into the following year they cemented their friendship spending most of their leisure time together. Unfortunately for them both they were unable to maintain the vow of good behaviour which resulted in them having on several occasions to feel the smack of the plimsoll and on one unforgettable day having to report to Dr Fortescue to have their backsides caned for breaking a window after being told to stop playing football in the playground. The bruises took 2 weeks to disappear and both of them found sitting down comfortably impossible for 2 or 3 days afterwards.
There was a hierarchy of punishments at St Marks with a public caning at the pinacle. During the 18 months that Chris and Matthew had been at the school there had only been one public caning when a third year boy was caught with a packet of cigarettes and had received 6 strokes from Dr Fortescue in front of the whole school straight after morning assembly. For these special punishments a boy had to remove his underpants so that there was only one layer of clothing between his tender bottom and the cane. It had been an unnerving experiences for both boys to see a fellow pupil have his bottom thrashed while the whole school looked on.
It was during the second year that Matthew realised that he was beginning to quite enjoy seeing other boys have to present their bottoms to be punished Although he hated being slippered and caned himself he liked to watch as boys in PE and games lessons were ordered to bend over and were made to feel the crack of the slipper across their bottoms. He would also when possible stand inconspicuously near the headmaster's study so that he could observe boys waiting to be caned and boys emerging from the office grasping their beaten bottoms grimacing with the intense sting. PE and games lessons had the added attraction for Matthew of being able to see bottoms that still sported the marks of the cane and slipper and also boys changing into shorts to be punished. His friendship with Chris was unaffected by his new interest and curiously Chris did not appear to notice Matthew's interest in corporal punishment.
Both Matthew and Chris received letters regularly from their parents and it was when a letter arrived announcing that Chris's mother had sent him a new model tank taht Matthew could see that Chris was extremely excited. The only snag was that the parcel could not be delivered to the school but had to be collected from the local post office but temporarily even that fact could not dampen Chrios's excitement. He turned to his friend
"Hey Matthew look mum has sent me a model of the new Centurian. All Ive got to do is collect it from the post office."
"And how do you propose to do that?" replied Matthew"You know it's a strict rule that we are not allowed to leave the school without permission."
Chris thought for a moment and then looked Matthew straight in the eye.
" I'll go tomorrow during periods 3 and 4. We've only got french and latin and old Smithty wont miss me!" Chris retorted. Matthew just nodded. He hoped for Chris's sake that the plan would work because the consequences were unthinkable if he was caught.
They both went their separate ways but for some reason Matthew turned round as Chris walked away. Matthew's gaze focused on Chris's bottom; it was a bottom that he had seen slippered and caned and he had to admit he had really enjoyed seeing the cane bite into those tender cheeks. A plan was beginning to form in Matthew's mind which would result in Chris's bottom getting the thrashing of its life. He really liked Chris and wouldn't do anything that would harm him but his bottom was a different matter! He had to formulate a plan so that Chris would be totally unaware that anyone had informed upon him. Obviously he would not be able to see Chris punished but he would stand outside the head's office and hear the cane as it landed on Chris's helpless backside and he would be able te see the weals left after the cane had done its work.
That evening Matthew stared intently at Chris's bottom as they got ready for bed. As far as Matthew was concerned it was ideal material to be caned-two milky white fleshy cheeks in need of a sound thrashing. Chris of course was excited at the prospect of getting his new tank; Matthew was excited for other reasons.
The following day started uneventfully with morning assembly followed by a double lesson of mathematics. Chris whispered to Matthew
"I'm off now see you later."
Matthew smiled "Best of luck I'll cover for you." He watched as Chris made his way round the back of the gym and across the field keeping his eyes focussed on the back of Chris's trousers.
"Poor little bottom" he muttered to himself.
The class filed in for the third lesson which was French and Matthew sat alone with no one next to him. Mr Smith assumed that Hodge had a legitimate excuse for not being there and did not give the matter another thought. At the end of the lesson when the other boys had left the room Matthew approached Mr Smith and said that Hodge had been there during the previous lesson and had not said anything about being absent for French.
"Thank you Briggs I'll look into it" replied Mr Smith with a slight smile playing over his face. Mr Smith naturally reported the absence to Dr Fortescue who on further investigation found that Christopher Hodge had also absented himself from his latin lesson. He decided to search the school but of course Chris was nowhere to be found. Chris managed to slip back into school unnoticed and joined the queue for lunch with Matthew.
"Did anybody notice that I'd gone?" he asked Matthew breathlessly.
"No I think you're in the clear" Matthew replied encouragingly, "I don't think anyone noticed."
Chris felt a sense of relief that he had "Got away with it" and he couldn't wait to open the package which contained the model tank neverthless he would wait until school finished late that day before he showed his present to Matthew. It was during period 5 that a 4th former knocked on the door of Chris's English lesson and informed the teacher that Dr Fortescue wanted to see Hodge immediately. Chris's heart sank surely no one had seen him leaving the premises perhaps it was something else. Matthew watched as Chris left the room annoyed that he was going to be able to hear Chris's caning or see him emerge from the Head's study clutching his backside.
"I'll just have to make do looking at the weals" he thought to himself.
When Chris arrived at the Head's study he was immediately ushered inside to be confronted by a headmaster who was apoplectic with rage. He railed at Chris telling him how irresponsible he had been what could have happened if there had been a fire and how he was responsible for his safety. Chris just stood there with his head bowed knowing that this was going to culminate in 6 strokes of the cane across his small bottom. When Dr Fortescue had finished berating Chris he announced that he would be publically caned the following day and would receive eight strokes. Chris jaw dropped almost unable to take in what he had been told and subconscientiously his hands went to the back of his trousers as if to comfort his bottom for its impending ordeal.
Matthew was puzzled when Chris arrived back in the classroom. His eyes were red as if he had been crying but he showed none of the usual signs that he had been caned. He sat down on the hard chair without wincing and it wasn't until after the lesson that Matthew learnt the full truth. When he was told that Chris was to be publically caned he had difficulty in hiding his excitement but naturally he did his best to console his friend without raising any suspicion. As it happened the next lesson was PE and Matthew situated himself behind Chris as he got changed. He was able to see the part that was going to be thrashed the next day - it looked so helpless and vunerable but would present a perfect target for punishment. That evening Chris did not even open his present and following prep just sat on his bed rubbing his eyes. Matthew naturally felt sorry for him but was so looking forward to seeing his bottom caned; it was almost as if he saw his bottom as something separate.
"Dont worry being caned is not the end of the world" he said to Chris. "My dad says that's what boys backsides are for." A watery smile passed over Chris's face. Tomorrow he or rather his bottom was going to be the star of the show, he must try and be brave. Matthew turned to Chris
"Can I have a look at your bum?"
"Yes if you want." replied Chris. Chris turned over on his front and Matthew lowered the back of his pyjamas to reveal a perfect milky white behind. Matthew gently squeezed each cheek noting its resilience.
"I know its going to hurt but it wont suffer any permanent marks" Matthew tried to reassure Chris. "Try and be brave." Chris just nodded and they both made their way to bed. Obviously Chris only slept fitfully while Matthew had trouble sleeping for different reasons.
The following day the boys got dressed Chris having to remember to leave his underpants off to allow the cane to do its work. Curiously the assembly was quite normal except that Chris had to stand at the front and was not allowed to wear his blazer. Matthew stood a little way behind Chris and repeatedly glanced at Chris's backside wondering how he must feel. Chris's hand would gently rub the back of his trousers wondering what it would feel like in a few minutes. When Chris saw the instrument of punishment 3 feet 6 inches of flexible bamboo his whole body shivered and the cheeks of his bottom involuntarily clenched. Matthew on the other hand was beside himself with excitement almost unable to wait for the punishment to commence an emotion he had to conceal.
As the prayers came to an end and the notices read out the time had come for the proceedings to start. Dr Fortescue gave an account of Chris's deeds explaining the dangers associated with such outrageous behaviour and he finished by saying to a silent assembly
".....and therefore it is my unpleasant duty to administer eight strokes of the cane to this wretched boy in the hope that there will never be any repetition of such stupid and thoughtless behaviour. Hodge come out here!"
Chris made his way up the steps on to the stage almost unable to walk. His saw a small cushion on the table which momentarily distracted him as he didn't know what it was for. He then heard the dreaded instruction from Dr Fortescue
"Bend right over the table and place the cushion under your pelvis." Chris stepped forward and bent over ensuring the cushion was under his pelvis. The cushion had two purposes firstly to prevent the edge of the table bruising the top of his legs when the cane made contact with his bottom and secondly it elevated his seat slightly ensuring the cane would land precisely where it was intended. The table supported his upper body and he was able to grab the far edge which of course meant his bottom was in perfect position to be soundly caned. Matthew had a perfect view of Chris's rear. It was clear that there was only a single layer of thin cloth covering Chris's cheeks which was so tight that both cheeks were clearly delineated under their thin covering. Dr Fortescue looked down on the waiting bottom - he was going to give it the most severe caning that he had ever administered. Matthew whispered under his breath
"Thrash it soundly"
Dr Fortescue laid the cane across the centre of Chris's backside tapped it twice raised the cane way behind his shoulder and with all his force whipped it across Chris's behind. Everybody saw it bite into Chris's tender cheeks and knew how much it must have hurt. Chris's head flew back but he stayed in position with his bottom perfectly positioned to receive the second stroke. Number 2 landed with an equally loud crack and Chris's mouth flew open with a moan of protest. Dr Fortescue like Matthew was thoroughly enjoying himself ;he would have liked to bare the bottom for its caning but he knew that was just not possible. Strokes 3 and 4 stung atrociously but to his credit Chris kept his bottom perfectly presented for the second half of the caning. Dr Fortescue looked down at Chris's small bottom which protruded from the top of his legs. He knew that under that thin cloth red purple weals would adorn those two milky white hemispheres. He wasn't in any mood to relent - that bottom had to be stung and stung it would be. He laid the next stroke over a previous weal which caused poor Chris to cry out and tighten his grip on the edge of the table. If Chris thought that Dr Fortescue would reduce the force of the strokes he was sadly mistaken. Number 7 landed with an ear splitting crack just below the centre of Chris's backside which caused it to jump off the table but once again Chris made no attempt to remove his bottom from the line of fire. In truth Matthew would have liked to see Chris's bottom receive another eight strokes but he had to content himself with watching Dr Fortescue put all his energy into administering the last one which seemed to bury itself into the firm flesh as it made contact with the target. Dr Fortescue was extremely pleased with his efforts and he instructed Chris to get up and whispered a "Well done" to him .
Chris was sent to the matron for his bottom to receive appropriate attention. He was excused the first two lessons while his cheeks were attended to. The flesh had not been broken but his bottom was covered with thick purple weals which would take up to a month to disappear. Matthew couldn't wait to see the results of Dr Fortescue's efforts and as soon as Chris emerged from matron's room he persuaded Chris to show him the marks. For Matthew it was a wonderful sight to see such a well fleshed bottom so thoroughly thrashed particularly when he was the cause of its state.
Chris never did understand how the head found out about his trip to the post office but his bottom had paid a high price for the tank that his mother had sent him.