Writer's note:
This expanded version of my original story is being submitted after an updated script was submitted to me by a reader. Thanks, Jim!
I think it is great and would be interested in your comments.
Boot camps for wayward youths have been around for ages. They are designed to instill some sense of normality and discipline into the lives of troubled teenagers. Just as there are many different degrees of anti-social behaviour amongst our troubled youth, there are as many different styles of management in the operation of these boot camps.
Jack Norris was one such operator of one of these boot camps and was from the old school of disciplinarians. He firmly believed in a strict no holes barred approach in the rehabilitation of wayward teenagers where young delinquents, as he referred to them, would soon be taught to behave themselves, even though it meant they might well suffer extreme discipline and punishment in the process.
His methods were fully approved by a large section of the community who were fed up with the consistent pandering to the whims of the do-gooders and the bleeding hearts in society. Jack's approach to his charges was nothing short of backbreaking physical work coupled with regular beatings at the slightest sign of laziness or disobedience and his services were in great demand by parents who felt that it was high time that their offspring were brought back into line. Other parents simply wanted their sons to experience some solid discipline as part of the growing up process to ensure their boys stayed in line.
Hastings Farm catered only for boys, with a maximum number of just eight at a time, ensuring that Jack was able to keep a very close eye on their daily lives. By day the boys laboured hard on the 1000 acre property, either in the fields or tending to the livestock. Each youth was assigned a daily target of work to be completed and any failure to do so in an appropriate manner would always be accompanied by a visit to the punishment shed, a visit that the boys naturally dreaded.
The punishment shed was located close to the main farmhouse and took the appearance of a discipline master's dungeon, which is exactly what it was designed for. Here the boys would be taught the error of their ways. In the very centre of the room was a round wooden pole – six feet high with a horizontal beam across the top. This was the whipping post to which the boys would be tied for major punishments. Spread around the wall of the room an assortment of implements for punishment was on prominent display - riding crops, leather straps, paddles, canes, whips and a razor strop, all with a lethal appearance and warning of what was about to befall any boy sent here for correction.
Two punishment benches took pride of place near the back wall. It was here that the majority of the discipline was administered. Here the youths to be punished would be bent over the benches whilst their backsides were lashed mercilessly. If it were felt necessary, the recipient would be strapped to the frame to prevent any movement.
Although Jack had a small staff of overseers to supervise the boys' activities, it was he, himself, who administered all punishments and the boys feared him. If Jack were unable to administer punishment when one of his supervisors deemed an immediate thrashing was required or that a boy should be separated from the others, then the youth would be taken to one of two small cells, almost completely void of all light, at the edge of the punishment room. Here the boys would be stripped naked before being locked away to await Jack's availability to administer the necessary correction. The boys detested being locked in the darkened cell as much as they disliked the ensuing thrashing.
No boy ever treated a visit to the punishment shed in a lighthearted manner and it is no surprise why this would be the case. A period of training at Jack Norris' boot camp would, more often than not, make a major difference to the attitude, conduct and obedience of any of its residents.
For some time Harold and Enid Rawlings had experienced problems with their twin 16-year-old sons, Luke and Mark. The boys' schoolwork had slipped dramatically and each of them was tending to mix with the wrong crowd. At home they did not attend to their chores and when reprimanded they tended to become quite cheeky to their parents.
Until two years ago Harold had no trouble keeping the boys well in line with a thick leather strap and they were both developing into fine young citizens. But as he had now become incapacitated he was no longer able to exercise proper parental authority. The boys were aware of this and they simply defied him at every occasion as they also did with their mother. The final straw was when he discovered that they had been stealing household money from their mother.
The Rawlings had spoken to some good friends, John and Robert Edwards, who also had two teenage boys, about the problems they were experiencing with both Luke and Mark. They were told about Hastings Farm and how it had helped get their own children back on the straight and narrow. Admittedly, they told them, it was a drastic action to send them there, but it worked wonders and the boys had never looked back. John warned the Rawlings that their sons would be in for some regular solid hidings and that they would have to undertake some intense physical work but if it would do the same for Luke and Mark as it had done for their own boys, they would never regret it.
As parents, with a very traditional view of bringing up boys, this sounded exactly what they wanted and what their boys needed and so they wasted no time making a booking. When they phoned Jack Norris, and told him of their problems with the boys, he explained in detail that this could well be the answer. They must understand, he told them, that it was not a holiday camp in any sense of the word. It was a very strict boot camp and the discipline would be solid and frequent to get the boys back in line.
Without hesitation, the boys were booked in for a fortnight over the coming school holidays. All they told the twins was that they were off to camp in the country over the vacation and the boys seemed thrilled and excited. Little did they know what lay in store for them. It was only on the drive to the camp that their parents told them of the type of camp they would be attending.
As they arrived at Hastings Farm, Jack Norris was there to greet them. By this stage the boys were quite anxious, to say the least. Norris wanted to make perfectly sure that both parents fully understood what was in store for their sons.
"I presume you both understand that the boys will be given regular beatings? It's an essential part of our process."
"Yes, we're well aware of that" Mr Rawlings replied. "It's exactly what they both need. Isn't that right, boys?"
The boys were speechless and didn't even answer. They couldn't believe what they were hearing and just merely looked at each other in horror.
"Your father asked you a question" Norris said to the boys curtly.
"Oh, they're just demonstrating why they need training" Rawlings said scornfully. "They've been spared far too long."
After Harold and Enid left, Jack turned his attention to the two cute teenagers standing before him. At this stage he was unable to identify who was who, except for the clothes they currently wore.
Standing before him were two handsome, well developed young blond boys with striking blue eyes. Each of them had a short cropped head of hair and their bodies were well tanned from the many hours they had been exposed to the summer sun. Both were keen swimmers and had obviously spent many hours in training, both in the water and at the gymnasium.
Luke was dressed in a brief pair of white nylon shorts and was wearing a mesh vest, through which Jack could easily see his rippling and well developed chest. The lad's thick set thighs and biceps were indicative of a young man who had spent many hours working out in the gym. With great anticipation, Jack could barely wait to get the boy stripped and to see those buttocks.
Mark had an equally striking figure, his babyish face also belying his years, with the same short cropped blond hair and blue eyes. Jack was unable to assess Mark's physique as he was wearing a pale blue track suit but with the same style of joggers that Luke wore.
"From this point onwards, you will address me as 'Sir'. Do you understand?"
The twins looked at each other and then replied in unison, "Yes, Sir."
"Follow me to the office boys and I'll tell you what's in store for you both for the next fortnight" Mr Norris commanded.
Wondering just what was in store for them, Luke and Mark followed behind as Jack Norris led them to the office. Once inside the office, Jack seated himself behind a large desk and laid down the rules and procedures that the boys were to follow for the next fortnight. The twins were not invited to sit but remained standing in front of the desk.
"You have been sent here to learn to be obedient, to learn discipline, and to learn respect" Jack told them. "From the discussions I have had with your parents, it's clear that you have a lot to answer for. Your school work has slipped because you are lazy. You are slack at home and at school. You are disobedient and disrespectful. And you are mixing with the wrong type of person. Have you anything to say for yourselves?"
The twins just looked at him, still in shock at what was happening.
"I asked you a question" Jack said threateningly.
"I don't understand" Luke said nervously.
"Oh, I think you do" Jack smiled. "Are your parents wrong?"
Luke just looked at him with an open mouth.
"Don't look at me like a fish, boy. Stand up straight, both of you!"
Both boys stood up straighter, looking at Mr Norris fearfully.
"Your whole attitude needs to be altered" Norris told them. "And that is precisely what we are going to do over the next fortnight. Do you understand what I have said so far?" he asked.
"Yes" replied Luke.
"Yes, what?" demanded Mr Norris angrily.
"Yes, Sir" Luke replied.
Norris glared at Luke. "You think you're above politeness, do you?"
"No, Sir" Luke replied fearfully.
"You boys have even more to learn than I realized" Norris smiled. "I can see you're going to be an interesting challenge."
He turned to Mark. "And you, Mark, what have you got to say?"
"Nothing, Sir" Mark said quickly.
Jack Norris continued: "Whilst you are here, you and the other boys will have regular chores to do. You will work hard at all times. There will be very little free time. Occasionally the boys who do well may be allowed to go swimming in the dam or horse riding on the property, but only if I think your work and your behaviour warrants it. If it doesn't, you will be punished and punished severely. Do you understand?"
"Yes Sir" both boys answered.
"Punishments are a regular event here. Boys are sent to this camp because they need to be straightened out. I believe that a good thrashing on a regular basis is what all young boys need to accomplish that."
"Have you had a good hiding recently, young man?" Jack asked as he turned to Luke.
"No, Sir." Luke replied nervously.
"And you?" he asked, now addressing Mark.
"Not for a couple of years." Mark replied.
"Well, then, one's long overdue." He looked at them with a grim smile. "I'm going to start you both off you with a good flogging. That way you'll know exactly where you stand and what's in store for you at the slightest sign of any disrespect or disobedience."
The twins looked terrified.
"Follow me!" Mr Norris ordered, leading the boys out the back and through to the punishment room.
The boys gazed in awe as they looked around the room.
"This is where most punishments are administered" he told them. "And this is where boys' attitudes start to change for the better. Sometimes, all eight boys at the farm will visit here together and witness punishments as a warning. Other times, just those boys to be punished will be brought here. This time it's just for you two, so we can start to change your attitudes immediately. In addition, for the next two mornings you will come here to the punishment room straight after breakfast."
He glared at the twins. "Do you understand what you've just been told?"
"Yes, Sir" the terrified youths answered.
Luke raised his hand hesitantly. "You're not going to punish us each morning, are you?"
Norris glared at him. "You address me as 'Sir', boy."
"I'm sorry, Sir. I forgot."
"Your memory obviously needs reinforcement. As to your question, of course you'll be punished. Why else would I tell you to report here?"
Luke looked stricken. "Each morning?"
"That's what I just said. What's the matter, boy? Have you a hearing disability?"
"No, Sir" Luke said miserably.
"Right, well, let's not waste time. I want you both stripped completely. Shoes, socks, shirt, pants. You can put them neatly on the table over there." Mr Norris instructed.
The boys slowly stripped to their underpants as they surveyed the various instruments of punishment on the wall of the room. They carefully put their clothes on the table as instructed and then faced Mr Norris.
"What was the instruction I gave you boys?"
"To strip" Luke replied.
"Did you hear me say the word 'completely' or not?" Mr Norris asked.
"What? Underpants, too?" Luke asked.
"Yes!"
"You mean we're going to get it on the bare?" asked Mark in horror.
"Of course. Do you think we're trying to keep the punishments from hurting you?"
The boys looked at him in horror.
"Well?" Mr Norris glared. "I asked you a question."
"No Sir" Luke stuttered. Mark's mouth was trembling.
"That's correct, we're not. Every punishment will be on your bare butt and will be designed to hurt as much as possible. So drop those pants and do it quickly."
Both of them dropped their underpants and put them on the table with the rest of their clothes, awaiting the next instruction.
Jack Norris gazed intently at the two young lads before him. The wait to see these two boys stripped completely naked had finally ended. Rarely had he seen such fine physical specimens. Each of them was such a perfect example of a young Adonis – perfectly developed bodies all over, well tanned throughout except for the Speedo line now that they had removed their underpants and had exposed their tender young bottoms. And those buttocks? Two solid well rounded orbs on each of them, just begging for the strap. He smiled. They wouldn't have to wait long.
"Luke, do you see the riding crop on the wall to your right? I want you to bring it to me."
"Uh ... I'm not sure I know what you're referring to, Sir."
"Go over to the wall." Luke did so. "Move three paces to your left." Luke did. "Put your hand on the implement in front of you."
Luke touched the plaited leather whip in front of him. "This, Sir?"
"That's the one. Bring it to me."
Luke looked at it apprehensively as he took it off the wall. Including its stiff handle, it was about three feet long. He brought it to Mr Norris.
"Bend over that bench, boy. Let's see if this helps your ability to remember how to address me."
Luke began to cry. "But, Sir! I said I was sorry. I won't forget again."
"You certainly won't, boy. Not when you know what the result of forgetfulness is. I told you to bend over. Do I have to punish you for disobedience, too?"
"No Sir" Luke sobbed.
Luke bent over the bench and held onto it, moaning in fear as Norris went out to his side and reached back. A moment later, Norris swung.
"Jesus!" Luke shrieked. "Holy _f_u_c_k_ing Jesus!"
The crop had slashed across his buttocks. Where it had landed, Luke felt a white-hot line of fire.
"Oh, Jesus!" Luke sobbed. "Please Sir! Please don't hit me again with that!"
The only answer Luke received was another slash across his butt.
"_f_u_c_k_!" Luke shrieked, screaming in terror. "_f_u_c_k_ing Jesus!"
Mr Norris paused. "Get up on your feet, boy."
Luke stood up, sobbing in shock.
Mr Norris looked at Luke in disgust. "You uttered blasphemy, boy."
"I'm sorry, Sir" Luke stuttered.
"A boy who blasphemes is gagged and beaten severely. Did you not hear me tell you that earlier?"
Luke shook his head in terror. "I ... I'm sorry, Sir! I'm truly sorry!"
"I will not punish you for that this time, boy. But I will not warn you again. Understand?"
"Yes Sir" Luke sobbed in relief. "Thank you, Sir."
"Get back down. I'll start over."
"Oh, Sir!" Luke sobbed. "Please don't!"
"You're being disobedient. You have three seconds to get down, boy. One .. Two .."
Luke dropped back down on the bench, sobbing in terror. He shrieked as the crop cut into his buttocks again. And kept on shrieking as another five cuts slashed into him. The pain was like nothing he'd ever experienced.
"Are you going to remember how to address me now?" Norris smiled.
"Oh, yes, Sir!" Luke screamed. "Yes Sir!"
"Good. Get up on your feet."
Luke quickly did as he was told.
"What about you, boy?" Norris said to Mark. "Do you need something to help your memory too?"
"Oh, no, Sir!" Mark said quickly, looking at him in horror.
"Right, then, we're back to you, Luke. Get back down on the bench. This next punishment is for taking so long to get down last time."
"No!" Luke said in horror.
Mr Norris smiled. "Do you want two punishments, Luke?"
"No Sir" Luke sobbed, returning to his earlier position. "Please don't do this, Sir."
"You were the one who asked for it" Mr Norris shrugged.
Luke shrieked as the crop slashed across his buttocks once more. And as five more cut into him.
"Get up!" Norris ordered.
"I hope you've learned something from this, young man. Am I going to have to punish you for disobedience again?"
"No Sir" Luke sobbed, desperately holding his buttocks. His buttocks felt as if they were on fire.
"Good." He looked at Mark. "What about you, Mark?"
"No Sir" Mark stuttered, sobbing in fear. He was horrified by what he'd just seen his brother receive.
"Then kindly put the crop back where you found it, Luke."
Luke did so and returned to his place, sobbing from the pain in his butt. Both boys were rivetted in fear now.
"You will notice, boys, a number of different instruments around the room. Today we are going to start with the razor strop on your butts. For the next two mornings, it will be something different. When you return for further punishment, it will sometimes be the cane, sometimes the leather strap, sometimes the riding crop, other times something else. But whatever it is you are going to very quickly learn two things. First you are going to learn that a visit to the punishment room is nothing to be treated lightly. Secondly you are going to very quickly change your whole general attitude and learn the importance of good conduct and obedience."
Both boys sobbed as they contemplated what lay in store for them.
"All right, we'll start you off today with 20 strokes each" Mr Norris stated as he reached for the razor strop. "Luke, since you seem to be the biggest challenge, you can go first. I want you to take your position at the punishment bench there, just as you did a minute ago. Mark, you put your nose against the wall over there until it's your turn."
As Luke bent over the bench, Jack instructed him to spread his feet and to grab hold firmly. "If you move, I'll tie you down and give you both additional punishment."
Mark by now was facing the wall as instructed. "You understand that too, Mark?"
"Yes Sir" Mark sobbed.
"I'll give you ten strokes first, Luke. Then I'll give Mark his first ten before returning to give you the rest."
Luke held his breath as Jack Norris approached the prone young man in front of him and doubled over the razor strop. Jack took careful aim and laid a resounding crack across both cheeks of Luke's butt. The boy flinched but did not utter a sound. After the warning about blasphemy, he was trying hard not to say or do anything that would bring more punishment down on him.
"Obviously not hard enough" Jack thought to himself. "That stroke won't count."
He paused for a few moments before striking the boy a second time. This time he hit harder, right where Luke's buttocks joined the back of his thighs. Luke shrieked in pain and terror. And screamed as the strap slashed into him again, this time across the middle of his buttocks. He broke out into raucous sobs as more blows flayed his buttocks. By now, Mark, who hadn't even tasted the razor strop, had tears flowing down his cheeks.
Eight more solid strokes followed in slow succession, allowing sufficient time between each stroke for the boy to fully savour the punishment and for the pain to register appropriately. Luke screamed and sobbed as each stroke whipped across his backside. The last stroke, particularly, was excruciating as Mr Norris laid it across Luke's upper thighs. The lad was in great pain and beside himself in anticipation for the remainder of his punishment at the bench.
As soon as the last stroke cut across Luke's butt, the boy was instructed to stand but to remain facing the bench. At this point Mark was instructed to turn around. He was horrified. His brother's body was shaking as he sobbed. His butt was a mass of red and purple bruises.
"Well, Luke. Are you starting to learn why you need to change your attitude?"
"Yes, Sir" the boy wailed. "Please don't give me any more!"
"Didn't you hear what I told you earlier?" Jack said in amusement. "You're only half way there, boy."
"It's too much!"
"I'll be the judge of that" Jack laughed. "You're getting beaten until you learn respect and obedience."
"But I've learnt already" Luke pleaded. "Must I take more?"
"You certainly will. Ten more to come, maybe more if you continue complaining about it." Jack looked at Luke scornfully. "Well? Are you going to complain?"
"No Sir" Luke sobbed.
"What a pity" Jack sneered. "Perhaps you'll ask for more by being disobedient. Is that your plan, boy?"
Luke shook his head, sobbing in fear.
"Bend over the bench again. You're being disrespectful and will be punished for it."
"How?" Luke wailed, turning to look at him. "What did I do?"
"You didn't answer me. And now you are being disobedient. I told you to get down."
"No!" Luke sobbed, bending down over the bench.
Jack reached back and swung into Luke, slashing the strop across his buttocks. Luke shrieked in pain and terror as five more strokes were laid on him.
"What do you say when I ask you a question?"
"Yes Sir or No Sir" Luke bawled.
"See that you do, boy. You're obviously going to need many more lessons."
"Oh, please, Sir! I'll do what you say!"
"You certainly will" Jack smiled grimly. "And now you're going to get punished for disobedience."
He reached back and smashed the strop into Luke's buttocks.
"No!" Luke shrieked. "You can't do this"
"You'll see what I can do, boy. Stay down or you'll really get it!"
Luke shrieked and shrieked as Jack slashed blow after blow down on his buttocks. Finally, after another dozen blows, Jack stopped.
"You going to be disobedient again, boy?"
"No Sir" Luke bawled, sobbing frantically. "I'll do what you say, Sir!"
"You'd better. Get over there and face the wall. We'll give Mark his first dose now and then I'll get back to you. Mark, take your brother's place."
Both boys instantly did as instructed, without hesitation, sobbing in terror as they did so. They were on their way to learning that instant obedience, without question, was the only way to avoid punishment. They looked at each other fearfully as they passed. They had a long way to go yet before the fortnight at Hastings Farm would be over.
"Feet apart!" Mr Norris snapped as Mark took his position over the bench.
Jack Norris again gazed at the new set of buttocks facing him – firm and rounded and looking ever so responsive to the good flogging that was about to befall them. He reached forward and touched Mark's butt with the strop, smiling as Mark flinched.
"You going to ask for more too, boy?"
"No Sir!" Mark sobbed, trembling in terror. Seeing what Jack had done to his brother was more frightening than anything he'd ever experienced.
"We shall see" Norris sneered.
He reached back and swung hard. Mark shrieked in terror as the first lash of the razor strop landed across both buttocks. He jumped up, grabbing his backside in an attempt to relieve the pain.
"I thought I warned you both not to get up during punishment, young man."
"I'm sorry Sir! I couldn't help it! It hurt so much."
"What did I tell you would happen, Mark, if you moved during punishment?"
"I don't remember" Mark sobbed, not wanting to repeat what they had been told.
"You're lying, boy. Either that or you're even dumber than I figured. Get back down on the bench. Now!"
Mark slowly returned to the position.
Jack reached back. "Maybe this will help you remember."
Mark shrieked and shot to his feet as the strop slashed ito him.
"Get down! And stay down!"
This time Mark stayed down as the strop slashed into him.
"Do you remember now?" Norris asked grimly. "Or do you need more to make you remember?"
Mark was sobbing so frantically he could hardly speak. "You .. you said we'd get more."
"That's right, both of you will. Don't say you weren't warned."
"You can't punish Luke too!"
"I certainly can. And I'll punish you for insolence too, young man. Boys like you don't tell me what I can do." He looked at Mark and smiled. "See those two canes over there on the wall? Bring me the lighter one."
Mark was crying as he fetched the cane and handed it to Mr Norris.
"Bend over" he instructed. "Put your hands on the floor."
As soon as Mark had done as he was told, the cane crashed into his buttocks. The boy screamed. And kept on screaming as five more hard cuts landed across his butt.
"Now for your brother. Get over here, Luke."
"But, Sir!" Luke pleaded. "I stayed down and didn't move."
"I told you to get over here, young man. I'm tired of your disobedience."
"But .." Luke's protest died in his throat as he saw the expression in Jack's eyes.
"Get over the bench, boy. Your disobedience has just earned another ten of the strap for you and your brother. You'll earn another ten for yourself if you're not in position in three seconds."
"Yes, Sir" Luke sobbed, quickly getting in position.
He shrieked as the cane cut across his butt. And kept on shrieking as five more blows landed.
When Jack stopped caning Luke, the boy started to get back up.
"Get down!" Mr Norris shouted angrily. "Did I say I was finished?"
"No Sir" Luke answered fearfully. "I'm sorry, Sir."
"I can see you're indeed going to be a challenge" Mr Norris said grimly, reaching back with the cane. "I think I'd better show you what that means for you, boy."
"Oh, no!" Luke shrieked. "Please Sir! Please!"
Luke shrieked and shrieked as Mr Norris laid into him. Norris didn't stop until Luke had received another ten cuts.
"Back on the wall" Norris finally ordered. "Your turn again, Mark. Bend over."
Norris was still holding the cane. "You're giving me more of that?" Mark sobbed, looking at him in horror.
"I certainly am" Norris said curtly. "You're getting another five cuts for insolence. Why? Do you want more like your brother?"
"No Sir" Mark cried in horror.
"Then bend over fast, before I change my mind."
Mark bent over, shrieking as five more cuts of the cane slashed into him.
When Mr Norris stopped, Mark stayed in position. He didn't dare move until ordered.
"Well, that's more like it" Norris smiled. "You're beginning to learn how to behave. Are you ready for the rest of the strapping?"
"Yes, Sir" Mark sobbed.
"Fine. I'll start over."
The boy resumed his position over the bench and Jack Norris returned the cane to its position on the wall. Slowly he returned to Mark, picked up the razor strop and again doubled it over before.
Norris smiled at Mark's fear as he reached back. "You know what's coming now, don't you, boy?"
"Yes Sir" Mark wailed.
He shrieked as the strop slashed into his butt, this time just managing to keep himself from jumping up.
"I think I'll give you a couple extra this time" Norris smiled. "Just to see if you will jump up again."
"Oh, please Sir" Mark begged, sobbing in raucous terror.
"Oh, please Sir" Norris mimiced, smashing another blow across Mark's butt. "I'll give you fifteen."
Mark shrieked in an agony of terror as Norris laid another fifteen strokes across his backside. The last three strokes flayed across his thighs.
Mark was a quivering mess when told to rise.
"Your turn again, Luke."
Luke exchanged places with Mark, sobbing in fear. His sobs quickly turned to shrieks as ten blows of the strap slashed across his buttocks and down onto the backs of his thighs.
"Now you again, Mark."
Mark was sobbing in terror. "Oh, please Sir!" he begged. "Please don't beat us any more!"
"What insolence!" Norris said contemptuously. "Didn't you hear me tell your brother what would happen if you complain?"
"Yes Sir" Mark wailed, realizing his mistake. "I'm sorry, Sir!"
"You certainly will be" Mr Norris smiled. "You just earned you and your brother another ten of this strap. Now get over here before I make it another twenty!"
Mark raced over to the bench, shrieking as the strap slashed into him. He barely managing to keep himself in place through the next ten strokes.
"Get back on the wall" Jack demanded. "Both of you stay with your eyes to the wall until I get back. You each have another twenty strokes coming to you when I get back."
Jack left the boys to their sobs. Luke gradually talked Mark into a less frantic state.
They were left alone for an hour to contemplate the remainder of their punishment. As Luke and Mark consoled each other over their bruised and welted butts, both wondered how they could possibly withstand a repetition of what they'd just received. And how, beyond that, they could survive the fortnight to come. They talked strategy for a long time.
Upon his return, Jack asked the boys if they were going to learn anything from their visit to Hastings Farm.
"Do you know why you have been sent here and are being punished?" Mr Norris asked.
Luke glanced at Mark and allowed his brother to answer.
"Yes, Sir. We have been talking about it. We've learned our lesson, Sir. Both of us have been completely out of line and we won't do that any more. We have been lazy with our schoolwork and disrespectful and disobedient to our parents."
"And?" Mr Norris asked.
"We won't do that any more, Sir."
"We both deserved to be punished" Luke chimed in. "But we've learned our lesson now, Sir. We'll be better in the future."
Mr Norris smiled at their obvious ploy. "I certainly hope so. I'm glad to know that this form of lesson is so effective. You'll have many more of them over the next fortnight."
The twins looked at each other fearfully.
Mr Norris smiled. "You are not going to leave my camp without my being perfectly sure we've got the message through. Now, let's get on with the rest of the strapping. You both have another twenty strokes coming.
"Oh, please Sir!" Luke begged. "Please don't give us so much! We've learned our lesson."
"That's very encouraging" Mr Norris smiled. "This is having a good effect, is it?"
"Yes Sir" Luke pleaded. "It's opened our eyes, Sir."
"Excellent!" Norris laughed. "Then you both must get more of this."
"Oh, Sir!" Mark sobbed. "Please!"
Norris laughed again. "Are you trying to convince me to give you more, boy?"
"Oh, no, Sir!" Mark sobbed.
"Right, then. Luke, you're first again. You have three seconds to get in position."
He picked up the strop as Luke again spread himself over the punishment bench. Luke shrieked without stopping as he took another ten solid lashes across the butt. Then his brother changed places with him.
After ten blows of the strop, Mark was sobbing hysterically. He was obviously less able to take the punishment than Luke. He could barely stand as he changed places with Luke, sobbing in terror as Luke received another ten. When it came time to change places again, Mark fainted in fear.
Norris slapped Mark back to awareness. "Wake up, boy!"
Mark looked at him vacantly. Norris smiled and turned to Luke.
"I think you'd better take your brother's punishment" he told Luke. "Get back on the bench."
"No!" Luke protested in terror. "Oh, please Sir! Please!"
"You were the one who was most disobedient" Norris said scornfully. "Look at your brother's condition. Do you really think he should take your punishment for you?"
"No Sir" Luke sobbed. He moved back to the bench. "But ... Sir, it's not fair!"
Mr Norris looked at him scornfully. "I don't like your attitude, boy. Go bring me that cane."
Luke looked at him in terror.
"Did you hear what I said, boy?"
"Yes Sir!" Luke sobbed, quickly retrieving the cane.
"Bend over and touch the floor."
Luke shrieked as Norris laid the cane into him, barely able to keep his position as Norris kept raining blows down on him. When Norris finally stopped, he'd give Luke a dozen cuts of the cane.
He picked up the strop. "Get back down on the bench, boy. You're getting fifteen of these."
By the time Mr Norris had given him another fifteen blows of the strop, Luke was totally devastated. When told to get up, he could hardly stand.
"Get your clothes on" Mr Norris ordered. "Both of you."
He marched them outside and handed them over to a supervisor.
"Keep a close watch on these two" he said curtly. "They're lazy as well as disobedient. Tell Purfold to bring them in for more punishment the moment they deserve it."
The rest of the afternoon was spent in back-breaking labour, punctuated by occassional swats on their butts to encourage them. They worked at a frantic pace, desperately trying to avoid being sent back for more punishment. Neither of them would forget this visit for a long time.
Not that they had that long to wait for punishment. Again as promised, the next morning after breakfast they both returned for their next dose. This time, Mr Norris selected the riding crop for their punishment.
"Oh, Sir!" Luke begged, starting to sob. "Please Sir! Not that! Please!"
"You're complaining?" Mr Norris smiled.
"No Sir" Luke sobbed hopelessly. "Excuse me for saying anything."
Because of the condition of their butts, they were only given fifteen strokes each. Although the punishment was less than on their earlier visit, both boys suffered far more, both because their butts were already extremely tender from the previous day's flogging and also because each of them received three of the strokes across the upper thigh where the pain was doubly intense. Each stroke of the crop cut into them with searing pain.
After being beaten with the riding crop, the twins were turned over to the foreman.
"Make sure they don't slack off" Norris told him.
The rest of that day passed in a daze. The boys were so sore that it was hard to bend over. The work was back-breaking and continuous. And they had hardly slept the night before. By the middle of the day, the two boys were exhausted. When the foreman left them on their own for half an hour, the boys dropped to the ground to rest. Mark closed his eyes and slept.
"What the hell is going on?" the foreman's voice thundered. He'd come up on the boys unawares.
The twins jumped to their feet, babbling excuses.
"The boss said you were lazy" the foreman grinned, taking out his belt. "I guess he was right."
"Oh, please don't beat us, Sir" Mark wailed. "We can't take any more."
"Well, isn't that too bad" the foreman laughed. Suddenly, his voice became grim. "Get those clothes off and get the _f_u_c_k_ over that log."
The twins didn't dare disobey, looking at his belt in terror as they dropped over the log. The foreman walked up, stood over them, and smashed his belt into their butts. The boys shrieked in pain as blow after blow smashed into them.
After that punishment, the boys were not left alone. Additional swats smashed into their butts whenever they paused.
By the end of the day, the boys were utterly exhausted. They dropped onto their cots before dinner, moaning to each other about the soreness of their buttocks. Thankfully, the foreman had said he wouldn't report their malingering to Mr Norris. He'd warned them he would, next time.
After dinner, Mr Norris brought them into his office. "I like to review progress on a daily basis" he told them. "I want you to tell me what you've learned from today's events and what you believe you still have to learn. I warn you I expect absolute honesty from you, especially about yourself."
He looked at Luke. "You go first, Luke. What have you learned today?"
"To be obedient and respectful, Sir."
"That's all?"
Luke looked at Mr Norris apprehensively, trying to guess what he wanted to hear. "To work hard too, Sir."
"And did you work hard? Did you satisfy Mr Purfold?"
"I believe so, Sir. He certainly worked us hard."
"That's his job" Norris shrugged. "You gave him no reason to punish you?"
"No Sir" Luke said nervously. Mark looked at him in surprise.
"What about you, Mark?"
"I don't have anything to add, Sir."
"Nothing at all?" he smiled. "Tell me about your parents, Mark. Were they right to put you here for a fortnight?"
Mark shrugged. "I can't argue with their decision, Sir."
"That's not what I'm asking. What conduct on your part prompted them to place you here with me?"
"I think it was everything, Sir. Our school performance. Our lack of respect."
"Why lack of respect, boy? Don't you love your parents?"
"Yes, I do" Mark replied, tears beginning to form in his eyes. "I don't know why we were bad, Sir."
"I presume you know this fortnight is expensive for them. They told me they're giving up their own vacation in order to pay for your stay here."
"I didn't know that, Sir."
"Did you do more than just show lack of respect? Lie to them, for example?"
"Oh, no, Sir!" Mark said quickly, looking to Luke for support.
"Why are you looking at your brother?"
"I don't know, Sir."
"You never lied to them about drinking or smoking dope?"
Mark shook his head, starting to sob. He and Luke had done exactly that several times in the last few months. They'd been found out but had somehow evaded punishment.
Mr Norris looked at him grimly. "You're lying to me now, aren't you?"
"No Sir!"
Norris looked at Luke. "Is he?"
"No Sir."
Mr Norris rose from his desk. "Follow me."
He led them into the punishment room. "Strip."
"Oh, Sir!" Mark sobbed. "Please don't punish us!"
"I said 'strip'!" Norris roared. "Now!"
The boys quickly stripped off their clothes, sobbing in fear as they did so.
Norris looked at Mark in amusement when they were naked. "You think you can lie to me and get away with it? You're a fool, Mark. Did you think your parents wouldn't have told me about your escapades?"
Mark just looked at him and sobbed.
Norris turned to Luke. "As for you, boy, you lied to me about that and also what happened today."
"No I didn't!" Luke said resolutely. "Honest, Sir!" He looked at Norris's scornful smile. "Not about today, anyway."
Mr Norris smiled and shook his head. "I'm surprised at you boys. Your father told me you were being dishonest with him but he never told me you were stupid. Do you not think Mr Purfold reports to me on the day's events each evening?"
Luke looked at him in terror. "He told us he wouldn't tell you."
"So you did lie to me."
Luke nodded, beginning to sob.
Norris smiled. "Have you forgotten that you are to respond when I tell you something or ask you a question?"
"No Sir."
"I'll repeat what I said. You lied to me, didn't you?"
"Yes Sir" Luke sobbed.
"You lied to your parents, too, didn't you?"
Luke was sobbing frantically now, as was Mark. They both knew their buttocks were toast.
"Answer me!" Norris shouted.
"Yes Sir!" Luke wailed.
"As did you" he said to Mark.
"Yes Sir" Mark sobbed.
"Get me that cane" Norris told Mark. "The one you brought me this morning."
"Oh, Sir" Mark wailed. "Please! We're so sore already."
"You just earned yourself another punishment for disobedience, boy. Get the cane now! And bring the riding crop, too. You have ten seconds, boy."
Mark rushed to the wall and brought the two implements back.
"Bend over the bench. You know the rules."
Mark did as he was told, shrieking as the riding crop slashed across his rear. He shrieked and sobbed as five more blows smashed into his buttocks.
"That was for disobedience. This is for lying,"
Norris picked up the cane and started slashing into Mark's butt. By now, Mark was shrieking in near- hysteria.
That evening was in retrospect the worst they experienced at Hastings Farm. Norris alternated between the two boys, beating each boy ten to fifteen times each set. He alternated between the crop and the cane, too. By the time he finally stopped, the boys' buttocks and thighs were a mass of purple welts.
"Lie down on the benches" Norris demanded.
The boys screamed as Norris poured disinfectant over their scarred buttocks. He did that several times, working it into their cuts with his hands. Then he applied a soothing ointment.
"All right, boys. You can get up now. Stand up and look at me."
They did as he ordered, still sobbing in pain and terror.
Norris looked at them grimly. "There's nothing worse than lying. I hope this evening's punishment helps you understand that.
The boys both nodded frantically.
"Will you lie to me again?"
"No Sir!" the boys chorused.
"Or to your parents?"
"No Sir!"
"If you do, what you got this evening will seem like baby slaps in comparison. I hope you understand that."
"Yes Sir."
Norris looked at them in disgust. "Get out of here. Go to bed."
The boys could hardly walk. They crept to the dormitory, sobbing in desolation. They lay on their cots, ignoring the jeers of the other boys. They lay there for a long time even after lights out, sobbing and feeling the pain. They slept fitfully that night, dreaming nightmares of more beatings.
More were awaiting them. Just what would their punishment be for the next morning, the boys wondered as they reported to the punishment room. They stripped and awaited Mr Norris' arrival. The waiting was almost as bad as the punishment itself they felt. Eventually Jack Norris arrived.
"Turn around, the pair of you" he commanded as he addressed the twins. "Bend over the bench."
As he examined each of them, he slapped them firmly across their butts with his hand and they jumped. They were extremely sore and badly bruised.
"Getting tender?" he grinned. "You'll really feel it this morning."
"Oh, please Sir!" Mark begged, unable to keep from pleading.
"Please what, boy?" Norris grinned. "Tell me what you want. Another thirty or forty on your arse?"
Before anybody had a chance to utter another word, the farm foreman suddenly rushed in, dragging an 18-year-old young buck by the scruff of the neck. Mitch Parsons was the eldest of the farm's current inmates, and was quite obviously due for some correction.
"What's this?" Jack demanded of his foreman.
"I thought you would want to deal with this immediately. I've just caught this young man well on the way to being as drunk as a skunk."
"What?" demanded Jack Norris. "Drinking here? Why wasn't he working?"
"He snuck away. We found him in the dormitory drinking from a bottle of Jack Bean."
Norris looked at the youth angrily. "What do you have to say for yourself, boy?"
Mitch had drunk enough to lose all his inhibitions. "_f_u_c_k_ you!" he grinned. "That's what I've got to say. _f_u_c_k_ you and everyone else here."
"Tie him to the post. Now!" Jack commanded.
The foreman dragged the boy to the whipping post in the centre of the punishment room, tying his wrists firmly to the horizontal beam fastened to the top of the pole. Both Luke and Mark wondered just what he was going to cop for his disobedience. They didn't have long to wonder.
Alcohol was strictly forbidden at Hastings Farm and everyone knew it. The boy had smuggled it into camp when he was admitted three days ago. It was well known amongst all of the boys that the possession of alcohol, let alone its consumption, was one of the most major offences they could commit at the boot camp.
This was really going to be a major punishment and young Mitch knew it. He had been warned by the others of the consequences if he were caught. He was too drunk to care.
"You _f_u_c_k_ing _s_h_i_t_" he grinned. "Didn't think I could smuggle this in, did you?"
Jack Norris smiled at the boy's wit and thanked his foreman for bringing the matter to his attention.
"Do you need my help?" the foreman asked.
"Thank you, no" Norris said, dismissing him. He would handle this from now on.
He looked at the twins and smiled. They could well learn a thing or two from witnessing this punishment.
"Mark" he instructed. "Undo his belt and get his trousers off."
Mark approached Mitch and, as instructed, undid the boy's belt and zipper. He then lowered the boys trousers to his ankles.
"And the underpants" Mr Norris commanded.
Mark stepped behind, put his hand in the elastic and dragged Mitch's underpants to his ankles.
"Oh, that tickles" Mitch giggled.
"Do you want me to take them right off?" Mark asked.
"No" Mr Norris replied. "Leave them where they are. It will stop him jumping all over the place. Now get back where you were."
"Luke. On the wall over there are several straps. I want you to bring me the one marked 'Number 6 Strap'. Move it, boy."
Luke collected the strap and handed it to Mr Norris and then, without being told, returned to his place alongside Mark. Would this be what they were also going to get today, the twins wondered?
The strap was a fearful looking instrument, the heaviest of all the various straps on the wall. The 'Number 6 Strap' was about 24 inches long and some 4 inches wide, attached to a wooden handle. The strap was made of a very thick cow leather and was appropriately named as the end of the strap was cut into six separate strands. It was nicknamed by the boys as 'The Prison Strap' and they feared it more than anything else.
Now that Mitch was in position and stripped from the waist down, Jack Norris approached the boy and ripped the shirt from his back, exposing the boy's broad muscular back and shoulders and leaving the boy totally naked except for his pants, now around his ankles.
"Anything to say for yourself, boy?" Mr Norris demanded, addressing the naked young stud before him.
Mitch giggled. "Give me another drink."
Norris laughed and picked up the strap. "You're getting something different, boy."
The buffed young stud strapped to the whipping post was obviously a solid young man with his broad muscular back and shoulders. But how long would he be able to withstand the punishment that was about to be inflicted upon him? Jack Norris was about to test that on the muscular back and solid looking butt that was stretched before him. The boy wouldn't forget this in a hurry!
Norris drew back the strap as far as he could and with a mighty force flayed it across both cheeks of Mitch's butt.
Nothing happened for a minute. Then the boy screamed in agony. His half drunken stupour did not alleviate the pain in any manner as the strap continued to lash across his already bruised and battered buttocks.
Fifty heavy strokes were delivered in all across the buttocks and thighs, slowly and painfully, before Jack handed the strap back to Luke with the instruction to put it back on the wall. Mitch was crying continually now, like a young baby. He was obviously relieved that it was now over.
Little did he or the twins know what was yet to come.
"I shall be back shortly" Mr Norris exclaimed as he left the shed. "The three of you stay exactly where you are."
It was an hour before he returned; an hour in which the twins contemplated that they were probably next to taste the 'Number 6 Strap' and they were quite visibly upset. The three strapping young boys, all naked, were by now full of tears.
Eventually, Jack Norris returned and instantly approached Mitch at the whipping post. He slapped the boy's butt firmly with his hand and then went round in front of the outstretched boy.
"I think you we can take a good bit more, yet, don't you boy?" he asked.
Mitch was cold sober now."Please, Sir. No more, I've had enough."
"No, you don't tell me when you've had enough. I tell you. Luke, fetch me the strap again."
"The same one, Sir?"
"Yes, Luke, the same one, the 'Number 6'. Quickly."
Luke quickly retrieved the strap and handed it to Mr Norris. Jack could see that his victim's backside had already taken a really solid flogging and, without advising the boy in advance, decided to lay the rest of the punishment across his back and shoulders. The first stroke landed across Mitch's shoulder blades and, as expected, the lad screamed in agony. Jack then continued to flay the strap up and down Mitch's back. The boy was sure regretting that alcohol he had smuggled onto the property.
After twenty solid lashes he decided that the lad had had enough. He smashed a couple of blows across the boy's buttocks and then went round to the front of Mitch, where he lectured the boy and abused him for his disobedience. After about fifteen minutes of haranguing the crying boy, he turned to Mark.
"Cut him loose, Mark!"
As instructed, Mark untied the leather bands around Mitch's wrists. As they were released Mitch slumped to the ground, all the time continuing to cry so profoundly.
"I think we might spare you both from any further punishment today" Mr Norris commented, addressing the two boys, "and let those butts of yours recover. I doubt if it will be too long before we have to give you another dose. Anyhow, today you've witnessed young Mitch here getting his correction. If nothing else, it should provide a good warning to you both."
"Thank you, Sir" they both acknowledged.
"As I said, Luke and Mark, it's a warning because the next time there is a need for you to be back here, you'll be taking Mitch's place at the whipping post and getting the same strap. Do you both understand?"
"Yes, Sir" they replied.
Their relief was enormous. They did their best to avoid any more punishment. For the rest of that day they were successful.
When it came time for their evening conference with Mr Norris, the twins were wracked with apprehension. Mr Norris looked at their obvious terror in amusement.
"You two think I'm going to punish you again?" he grinned.
Mark looked at him and began to sob.
"Why are you sobbing, Mark? Did you do something today for which you deserve punishment?"
"I don't think so, Sir" Mark sobbed.
Norris looked at Luke. "Well? Did you?"
Luke shook his head. "I'm not aware of anything, Sir."
"You're being more careful in your claims" Norris smiled. "Does that mean last evening's punishment taught you something?"
"Oh, yes, Sir" Luke said fervently. "We won't ever lie to you again, Sir."
"What about to your parents?"
"Nor to them or anybody else, Sir."
"What if telling the truth would cause pain to them? Is it ever moral to lie?"
Luke hesitated.
"You're wondering what's the safest thing to say?" Mr Norris grinned.
"Yes Sir" Luke smiled nervously.
"May I suggest an answer? That it's never moral to lie to avoid punishment or to avoid responsibility."
Luke and Mark both nodded. "I think you made that very clear last night, Sir" Mark added.
"That was the idea" Mr Norris nodded. "Is there anything you've done before arriving here for which you deserve to be punished?"
The twins looked at him fearfully.
"No lies" Mr Norris smiled.
Luke nodded and looked at Mark. Mark looked at him and sighed. "We should tell him how we paid for the drugs, Luke."
Luke sighed. "I suppose so." He looked at Mr Norris. "I don't know how much you know about that, Sir."
"Your parents told me a little" Mr Norris shrugged. "Why don't you assume I know nothing?"
Luke told him about how they'd stolen money from his mother's household money to pay for their experiments with drugs. Mr Norris quizzed him in detail and was relieved to discover that they hadn't actually done much with drugs. Their real crime was stealing to pay for the marijuana they'd obtained.
"What punishment do you deserve for all that?" Mr Norris finally asked. He looked at Mark. "You tell me, Mark. You've let Luke do most of the talking."
"I don't know" Mark replied. "Telling you this makes me feel very ashamed."
"How do you think your parents feel?" Mr Norris asked softly.
"Terrible" Mark sobbed. "That's why we lied to them."
"Is that true, Mark? Or did you lie to protect yourself?"
"Maybe both" Mark answered honestly.
"Good. That was an honest answer."
He turned to Luke. "What do you recommend as a punishment? You agree you deserve punishment, don't you?"
"Yes Sir, I do. But ..." He began to sob, hanging his head.
"But what?" Norris asked gently.
Luke shook his head. "Nothing" he sobbed. "We deserve whatever you choose to give us, Sir."
"Mark?"
Mark nodded his head as he sobbed. "Luke's right. We know we've been bad, Sir. And ... that it's been hard on our parents."
"If I punish you, I will tell your parents that you've admitted everything and accepted punishment willingly. I think that will make them feel better about you."
"I would appreciate that, Sir" Mark sobbed. He looked at his brother. "We both would."
Luke nodded agreement. "Give us what you think we deserve, Sir."
"Right" Mr Norris nodded. "Follow me."
The twins followed him into the punishment room and stripped without waiting to be told to do so.
"You know what you're getting this time, don't you?" Mr Norris smiled.
The two boys nodded, sobbing in terror.
"Go get it, Mark."
Mark shook with sobs as he returned with the 'Number 6 Strap'.
"How many will you give us?" Luke asked tremulously.
"What do you suggest, Luke? How much will compensate for the hurt you caused your parents?"
Luke bit his lips. "I don't know, Sir. I'm not sure any amount can."
"You're admitting what you've done goes a long way to doing that" Mr Norris said gently. "All right, I'll give you what I think you deserve."
To emphasise the punishment each of them was forced to tie his brother to the whipping post. It took just one or two strokes across those already sore buttocks with the strap before each of them was in an almost uncontrollable state. By ten strokes, they were both shrieking hysterically. By fifteen, they were frantic. By twenty, they had almost passed out.
"You'll get the rest tomorrow morning" Mr Norris told them.
That night, the boys couldn't sleep. Every time they started to doze off, they awoke in a nightmare, shrieking as they remembered the pain. In addition to their own pain, they fully appreciated now what Mitch must have gone through when he had been awarded a total of 70 lashes. They couldn't imagine how he'd managed to survive.
The following morning they returned for another ten lashes each at the whipping post.
After the punishment was finished, Mr Norris lectured the sobbing boys. "That was thirty each altogether" he told them needlessly. "I could give you a lot more, but I think that's enough to expiate your guilt. You did well to admit it and I respect you for that. Your parents will respect you for that, too."
"Thank you, Sir" Mark sobbed. Luke nodded.
Mr Norris looked at them and smiled. "That particular slate is washed clean, boys. Just see that you never repeat it."
"No Sir!" the boys chorused.
"Right, then. It's time for you to get to work. I hope I don't have to punish you for malingering."
"No Sir" the boys chorused.
Both Luke and Mark had by now thoroughly learned the importance of obedience, hard work, and good conduct at Hastings Farm. They didn't dare do anything that risked being sent back to the punishment room.
For the entire ensuing week, they were model workers. They successfully kept themselves out of all trouble and were obsequiously respectful to everybody.
As the days went by and they became more accustomed to the work, the days became easier. Indeed, after a week went by of model behaviour, they were permitted an afternoon off as a reward. They thoroughly enjoyed themselves both swimming in the dam and riding the horses. Their time at Hastings Farm was fast drawing to a close and they were looking forward eagerly to going home.
"We're almost there" Mark grinned at Luke as they sat around after swimming. "I can't believe we've gotten through this week so easily."
"We're not there yet" Luke grinned.
"It's only two days."
Jack Norris was extremely pleased with the change he had witnessed in the boys' attitudes. That night, after dinner, he called them to his office.
"I am very pleased with the rapid improvement you have shown since you have been with us" he said to the boys. "It is not too often a boy goes a whole week without visiting the punishment room as you've managed to do. I congratulate you both."
"Thank you, Sir" they both replied. "And thank you for letting us ride the horses" Mark grinned. "That was really neat."
"You're welcome" Norris smiled. "It's a pleasure to see boys who deserve it. You've demonstrated to me that whilst you've been here you've learnt to be both obedient and respectful. I hope that will last when you get home."
"Oh, it will, Sir" Luke replied. "We've learned our lesson."
"Good" Norris smiled. "I hope you've also learned to tell the truth."
"We have, Sir" Luke replied. "We definitely have" Mark nodded.
"Well, tomorrow is your last full day with us. I want you to take away a permanently good attitude. So, to make sure your improvement is lasting, I'm going to give you both a good caning."
"What?" Luke paled.
"You heard me, boy. You're here to make a complete break with the past. I think you have. And I'm proud of you for what you've done. But I think it will be useful for you to have a lasting reminder of the consequences of the attitude you had when you arrived."
"But ..."
"You're certainly not going to complain about this, are you?"
"No Sir" Luke gulped.
"I'm sure you both understand that we can't risk you going back to your old ways" Norris smiled.
"We won't slip back, Sir" Mark replied. "We've learnt our lesson thoroughly. Isn't that right, Luke?" he asked, glancing at his brother.
"Yes we have, Sir" Luke replied.
"Well, we're going to make sure that stays true. I want you to have a vivid memory of this fortnight. I'll cane you tonight and give you another punishment tomorrow morning."
"But Sir ..." Mark wailed.
"Shut up, you idiot" Luke whispered, poking Mark hard with his elbow.
Mr Norris looked at them in amusement. "You still haven't learned to take what you're given, have you, Mark?"
"I'm sorry. Sir" Mark sobbed. "I'm very sorry."
Mr Norris laughed. "Not half as much as you will be, boy." He smiled at them both. "As yet, you haven't visited the cells during your stay. So for tonight, after your first caning and Mark's extra punishment, you will spend your time there. Tomorrow morning I'll give you what I expect will be your farewell punishment – one that you'll remember for a long time, I'm sure."
Jack Norris again led the boys out to the punishment room. The tears were already visible in both boys but they knew not to question or argue in any way. As they entered, Jack reminded them of what they did on their previous visits. They were to strip naked, carefully fold their clothes and place them on the table.
This the boys did. Once again Jack had the two blond young twins naked before him. He marvelled again at those perfect bodies, honed by their many visits to the gym. It was a week since he had seen those firm rounded butts ready to be whipped into shape and once again they appeared to be pleading with him for his attention. This would quite possibly to be his last opportunity.
A heavy bamboo cane about 3 feet long lay on the table ready for use.
"You may each spread yourselves over one of the punishment benches" he told them.
"How many are we going to get?" Luke asked.
"Sixteen each" Jack Norris replied. "The same as your ages."
They looked at each other fearfully. Sixteen cuts with that heavy cane would really hurt.
"Twice" Mr Norris added. "Since there are two of you."
As they leaned over the benches Mr Norris strapped their wrists and ankles to prevent any movement, before he stepped back and surveyed those bare butts before him. He picked up the cane and positioned it first across Luke's buttocks and gave him a couple of gentle taps. The boy flinched, sobbing in terror as Norris drew the cane back. Luke shrieked as Norris laid it hard across both cheeks. The impact was like a line of fire.
The procedure was repeated with Mark; a few gentle taps to line up his target and then he slammed the cane across the boy's butt. Mark's shriek was even louder than Luke's
Slowly, over the next thirty minutes or so, Jack Norris alternated between Luke and Mark, one stroke at a time. Walking around from behind one boy to behind the other, Norris allowed sufficient time between cuts for the pain from each stroke of the cane to have its full effect and for the welts to rise. The boys's shrieks rose to a crescendo as stroke after stroke was laid down on them.
Norris was a master practitioner with the cane and laid each stroke on a new spot parralel to the previous stroke. When there was no clear space left he laid the cane diagonally across their butts. The final stroke for each of the boys was the most painful as he laid it on the crease of the lower buttocks where they joined the thighs.
By the completion of their punishment, the boys were howling in pain. There was not a hint of white skin left on either of the boy's butts.
Jack put down the cane and picked up the riding crop. "Now for the extra Mark requested."
By now, Mark was hoarse from screaming. "Oh, please!" Mark whispered. "Please!"
"Whatever you request" Jack laughed.
He beat Mark savagely with the crop, lashing into him half a dozen times.
"I think I'll not give you more now" he told the sobbing boy, looking at the boy's bleeding buttocks. "But you have only to ask if you want it. Do you?"
"No Sir" Mark sobbed, shaking his head frantically.
"Very well" Norris smiled. "Perhaps you'll ask for more tomorrow."
He untied the two boys. The twins slowly rose to an erect position, still sobbing raucously from the pain. They rubbed their butts in a futile attempt to alleviate the pain. Those once tender cheeks had formed into ridges from the caning.
"Right, boys. One of you in each cell."
The two naked youths had never before seen the inside of the cells and surveyed their surroundings as they entered. The boys were crying uncontrollably. There was absolutely no furniture, save for a small pan in the corner for the occasions when they wished to relieve themselves. A dirt floor was to be their only comfort for the night.
As the doors slammed behind them, being night time the cells were now completely dark. The only solace they had was to be able to speak with each other as the cells were not completely soundproofed.
"Will he cane us again tomorrow? Or will it be the 'Number 6 Strap'?"
These and many other topics of discussion cropped up as the night wore on. But one thing was sure. The boys were determined that their conduct in the future would not ever encourage their parents to send them back to Hastings Farm.
As the night wore on, the boys cried themselves to a restless sleep, waking frequently, unaware of the time and wondering how long they had to go before they were to be thrashed. As morning came and the sun rose, slithers of light entered the cells. They were both awake by now and becoming more and more anxious as they knew the time was drawing close.
Eventually they heard footsteps and the cell doors opened. As they looked up they saw Mr Norris standing before them. Again tears of terror formed in the eyes.
"Right, lads. Up you get. Out here."
The boys rose to their feet and followed Mr Norris into the punishment room.
The punishment that morning was the 'Number 6 Strap'. This time, they were strapped down on the bench so that Norris could alternate between them.
"This'll be the same amount as last night" Mr Norris told them cheerfully. "Just remember your age. Next time you're here it'll probably be twice seventeen."
By the end of the punishment, the boys were barely conscious, let alone able to stand.
"I think we'll put you two back in the cells for a while until you calm down" Mr Norris told the boys, "and then you can get out on the fields to work for the rest of the day."
As he again locked them away, the boys lay on their stomachs, sobbing and rubbing their butts. He left them there until lunch time when they dressed and joined the others for lunch. Afterwards, as previously advised, they put in a solid afternoon's work in the fields. It was hard. Their legs and buttocks were so sore, each step was painful.
"Watch these two carefully" Mr Norris told the foreman. "They may think they can slack off since it's their last day."
The foreman did as Mr Norris asked, watching them constantly and periodically swatting the boys' butts to keep their minds focussed. Twice he stopped them and made them bend over for a beating with his belt.
For the boys, that last afternoon was their worst. Surprisingly, Mr Norris said nothing about the foreman's punishments at the evening performance review.
"Do you think he'll beat us again?" Mark asked Luke afterwards, sobbing at the memory of the morning.
"I don't know" Luke whispered.
That night, they were so worried about the next morning that they couldn't sleep. Time passed very slowly as they kept sobbing at their memory of that morning's punishment and guessing about what Norris might still do.
Their parents arrived the following morning and were surprised at the extent to which the boys' attitudes had changed. After meeting with them, Mr Norris had the boys brought in.
"I must say, your methods are effective" Mr Rawlings congratulated Jack.
"We do our best" Jack smiled. "Right, boys?"
"Yes, Sir" the boys chorused. "We've learned our lesson, Dad" Luke said earnestly.
"Excellent" their father beamed. "It looks as if this has been a worthwhile experience for you boys. I just hope the change is permanent."
"It will be, Sir" Mark said fervently.
Mr Norris smiled. "You can be proud of your boys, Mr Rawlings. They showed guts and honesty while they were here. If they continue like that, they'll do very well in life."
"We're sorry for what we did, Dad" Luke told his father. "And grateful to you for bringing us here. We'll not let you and Mom down again."
"Good" Mr Rawlings beamed. "You're forgiven, boys. Give your mother and me a hug."
The boys hugged both their parents, sobbing in emotion.
"You seem to have cured them" Mrs Rawlings smiled at Norris. "We're very grateful."
"If not, don't forget that the price you paid includes our free alumni program. Bring them back for a day whenever you feel they're forgetting how they're to act. We'll be happy to refresh their memories."
Needless to say, the twins' returned to their homes as different young men. They had matured enormously. Their schoolwork improved rapidly. Their conduct and obedience at home took a remarkable change for the better and their relationship and respect for their parents was at an all time high. Any time their parents were annoyed, it took only a brief reference to Jack's offer to make the boys act as desired.
It had to. There was no way they ever wanted a return visit to Hastings Farm.