The following story is based upon a real incident that happened to me and a couple of friends when I was at school in the 60s.
"You three boys go and stand outside my office!" bellowed Dr Jackson, the headmaster, to three second year boys as they made their way between the two buildings. They were only vaguely aware that the path along which they were walking was out of bounds to junior boys but Michael Fanshaw, Stephen Robbins and Timothy Wright stopped in their tracks once they realised that Dr Jackson was addressing them. None of the three boys had been in trouble before and other than a few detentions and impositions had never experienced any form of serious punishment. They looked at one another with a certain trepidation as they started to make their way to the headmaster's office.
"You know we're not supposed to use the path between the languages block and the art room." Michael informed the others."We should walk all the way round."
"I know,"replied Tim "but everybody uses the short cut. No-one has complained in the past."
"What do you think will happen?" Stephen asked nervously "do you think we will be alright?"
"Sure" came Tim's rather unconvincing response "we may get a detention or lines." Nobody wanted to suggest that a far worse fate may befall them - the cane! When Michael had the temerity to suggest that a possible outcome could be a caning the other two boys dismissed the possibility but without any real conviction.
Tim then looked Stephen in the eye "If you're caned do you know how it's done?"he enquired"Do you get it on the hand or across the backside?"
Stephen looked at the ground "You get your bum whacked." he muttered
"Oh shut up you two" exclaimed Michael "There is absolutely no chance we are going to be caned. Stop being so morbid."
By this time the three boys had reached the head's office. Dr Jackson was waiting for them and ushered them into his office. It was a large room and the three were instructed to stand in front of the large walnut desk while Dr Jackson sat imperiously surveying the three miscreants.
Dr Jackson was not in a good mood and he soon started a tirade about obeying the school rules and his responsibility for maintaining discipline throughout the school. The three boys listened intently becoming increasingly concerned as to their fate. It was becoming clear that they would be punished but it wasn't until Dr Jackson came to the end of his lecture that they heard the dreaded words "....and therefore I propose to cane you." that they realised what their fate would be. Michael and Stephen took the news as stoically as they could but poor Tim started to sniff and endeavoured to persuade the headmaster to let him off.
"Please sir I didn't know the path was out of bounds."he snivelled "please don't cane me."
"You will each receive three strokes and if you don't stop crying you'll get more." Dr Jackson informed the trio.
Stephen, the most thoughtful of the three, was upset because he felt that the punishment was totally disproportionate to the offence. He along with the others was going to have to present his bottom to Dr Jackson so that he could whack it three times with a cane. He knew by now that there was nothing any of them could do to prevent the cane stinging their bottoms. How unfair!
Dr Jackson removed a black covered book from the desk drawer and opened it reevealing pages of boy's names who had previously been caned.
"I want your name and form." he said curtly. The boys provided the information which Dr Jackson entered in the book together with the words " Disobeying school rules" in the next column followed by "three strokes on seat" in the final row. There was no turning back now the three boys had to accept that they were going to be caned and that was that. Three lads who ten minutes previously had been discussing their last rugger match were now going to be caned across their backsides for a minor infringement of the school rules.
All three boys gently passed their hands over their posteriors as if to offer some comfort to that part. Dr Jackson stood up and walked over to a cupboard where he removed a length of flexible bamboo. The three boys could only stare at the cane only too aware how much it was going to sting when applied to their bottoms.
"Right you first Fanshaw." Dr Jackson indicated to Michael to bend over the table "and put this under your tummy. He handed Michael a cushion which slightly elevated his backside as he draped his upper body over the top of the table. Dr Jackson then gently folded back the tail of Michael's blazer revealing his small bottom clad in a thin pair of grey trousers. He was bent sufficiently tightly to be able to distinguish the two cheeks of his bottom which awaited the first stroke. Dr Jackson carefully aligned the cane across the middle of the seat lifted the it high into the air and brought it down with a loud crack across the middle of the target. Michael's head jerked up and his whole body tensed as the cane made contact but to his credit he stayed in position with his bottom presented for the next stroke. After a few seconds Dr Jackson lined up number two just below the first and with just as much force delivered the second stroke. It had obviously stung Michael as this time he responded with an "Ow!" but made no attempt to get up or protect his backside. The two boys waiting their punishment were only too aware how much Michael's bottom was stinging nad what awaited them in the very near future. Dr Jackson did not hold back for the last stroke which landed almost on top of number two which caused Michael's hands to fly back and grip his injured behind. As soon as the last stroke had made contact Dr Jackson informed Michael that he could go. Michael gingerly rose from the table clutching his bottom his face reflecting the intense sting he felt on the cheeks of his bottom. He left the office without uttering another word just as Timothy approached the table to receive his punishment.
Even before he bent over he looked mournfully over his shoulder at Dr Jackson silently pleading with him not to cane him too severly. Tim bent over and Waited while his blazer was lifted to reveal a slightly fleshier bottom than Michael's. Stephen looked on fascinated by the fact that Tim was presenting his bottom for the sole purpose of having it beaten for what was a relatively trivial offence."Why do we have to make it easy for this man to hurt out bottoms for little or no reason " he mused. He was soon brought back to reality by the first stroke cracking across Tim's tight backside. Tim winced but remained in position for the second stroke. Stephen watched as it bit into the soft flesh of Tim's buttocks clearly stinging like hell and very aware that shortly his bottom would be in the same position receiving similar treatment. There was obviously no reprieve for Tim and number three soon bit into his jutting backside causing intense hurt - but at least for him it was over. He was in tears as he stood up grasping his well fleshed rear which was now decorated with three purple weals. After Tim was dismissed the moment had arrived for Stephen to take what was coming to him. He walked over to the table inserted the cushion under his hips bent over and awaited his fate. He felt almost as if his bottom was separated from the rest of his body as it protruded toward Dr Jackson. He felt the tail of his blazer lifted and he steeled himself for the first stroke. The cane gently touched the centre of his bottom Stephen closed his eyes as he sensed that it had been taken away to be followed almost immediately with a loud crack as pain flooded through his his backside .He felt himself jerk forward but he gripped the edge of the table and readied himself for number two. It duly arrived accompanied by a loud smack which stung almost intolerably but to his credit like his two friends he remained in position. Dr Jackson did feel any sympathy towards this boy and the last stroke landed almost on top of the previous ! one. Stephen's bottom was in absolute agony but he was so releved that his caning was over- how did anyone manage to take six? He stood up and after being told to go left the room with one hand gently caressing his punished cheeks.
The other two boys had waited for him a little way along the corridor where they commiserated with one another.
"Let's go and look at the marks." suggested Michael. The other two just nodded. They made their way to the nearest boy's toilet where they dropped their trousers to reveal their punished backsides. All three bottoms were decorated with purple red tramlines with a white line in the middle.
"Mine really stings," said Stephen "I wont be able to sit down comfortably for ages!"
"I'm never going to use that path again"replied Tim ."Its just not worth it."