"I'm proud to announce that James Fanshaw will be the Head Boy Of St Justin's school for the next academic year. He and his team of prefects will be responsible for discipline throughout the school and will have my full support." Dr Wellman's announcement to the assembled pupils was met with apprehensive stares from the junior boys who both admired and feared James Fanshaw.
James Fanshaw was an extremely fine sportsman standing over 6 feet and weighing just over 14 stones. He played for the county at rugby and had reached the finals of the national schoolboys tennis competition which he had come close to winning. His views on discipline coincided with those of Dr Wellman as they both believed that any infraction of the school rules should be punished in the traditional way with a cane or plimsoll being applied to that part of a boys anatomy designed for the purpose.
In James's opinion standard at St Justins had began to slip in recent years and he saw it as his duty to to ensure that the school rules were rigidly obeyed and that both Dr Wellman and he would be responsible for a general raising of standards.
After Dr Wellman had left the school hall James Fanshaw made his way on to the stage to address the whole school.
"It is my intention that anyone who flouts the rules will be severly punished. Corporal punishment will be used liberally and is intended to deter boys from commiting any breaches of the rules. If you are caught expect to receive an extremely sore backside!" His message was not lost on the assembled gathering.
Michael Lee was standing near the front. He had been at the school for 18 months and had just celebrated his 13th birthday. He was standing next to his friend Martin Hilton and they both looked at one another when they heard what Fanshaw had got to say.
"He is all talk." whispered Michael "He is just trying to frighten us." Nevertheless both Michael and Martin subconscientiouly ran their hands over the seat of their trousers when they heard what Fanshaw had to say. Michael had already felt the sting of the cane across his bottom from Dr Wellman and did not want a repeat performance.
Fanshaw concluded his announcement saying"There will be a prefects meeting at lunchtime and all prefects will attend."
James Fanshaw had suspected that he would be elected as head boy and had already given some thought to how he would change the disciplinary regime in the school. The only stipulation that Dr Wellman had made was that prefects would not be allowed to use the cane and that all punishment be applied to the bottom of the offender. James had acquired a size 12 plimsoll with a thick rubber sole which would hurt attrociously when applied with full force to the tender bottom of a junior boy. When the prefects meeting convened the plimsoll was left in a conspicuous place on the front desk.
As soon as all the prefects were there James started to explain his ideas to his fellow pupils.
His first innovation was the setting up of a prefects court where any boy accused of breaking school rules would be tried and sentenced if found guilty. Three prefects including the head boy would sit in judgement on the accused. If the boy was found guilty the sentence would be carried out the following evening in order to give the victim time to contemplate his impending punishment. James made it clear that all punishment would be administered to the bare bottom and would be given full force. Another refinement that James introduced was that when sentence was being handed out the victim would have his back to the court with his trousers and underpants lowered so that the sentence would be passed on his exposed bottom - the part that was actually going to be beaten. Previously the maximum number of strokes that could be given was 6 but James had decided to increase this to 18; he wanted to ensure that for serious offences a boys bottom would receive sufficient punishment for the misdemeanour not to be repeated.
It did not take long before the details of the new system were known throughout the school and it was shortly followed by the first boy to have his bottom dealt by James Fanshaw under the new regime. When the lad emerged from the court tears were streaming down his face and his hands were clutching the seat of his trousers. Naturally all the boys wanted to see the results of the the slippering and he was easily persuaded to show them his beaten bottom which although it had only received 4 strokes of the plimsoll was very dark red and visibly throbbed. Michael Lee and Martin Hilton were among the spectators and were visibly shaken at the state of the the boys behind.
"I would hate to feel that slipper across my bum," Martin said sheepishly,"he won't be able to sit comfortably for days." Michael just nodded and silently vowed to stay out of trouble.
There was no doubt that over the ensuing weeks that the standards of discipline improved by leaps and bounds. On average 2 boys were punished each evening usually for fairly minor offences which meant that the number of strokes given was in single figures although one sentence of 12 whacks had been handed out for fighting after lights out which had resulted in the boy being given permission to stand during lessons for the following 2 days.
The evening meal at St Justins was served between 6 and 7 o'clock in the dining room and for some reason Michael had arrived in the dining hall too late and missed his meal. He was feeling pretty hungry and the hunger became worse as the evening progressed. He mentioned it to his friend Martin who wasn't very sympathetic and just told him that he should make sure that he arrived in time for dinner. Unfortunately for Michael there was not an opportunity to get any extra food and although he knew there was food in the school kitchen it was strictly out of bounds and it was out of the question to try and got hold of it. After lights out Michael lay in bed and felt absolutely ravenous. He just could not lay there knowing there was food in the kitchen but he also knew that if he got caught that he would receive a very severe slippering. After some thought he decided to take a chance and try and get the food.
The dormitory was quiet as he gently opened the door and tiptoed down the stairs. He made his way along the corridor through the dining room and into the kitchen. Unfortunately for Michael he wasn't aware that before going to bed one of the prefects would do the rounds making sure that doors were secured and that everybody in the house was safely tucked up in bed. As the prefect walked through the dining room he shone his torch into the kitchen and saw the outline of a figure standing near the cupboard where cakes were kept. He immediately turned the light on and saw Michael standing there with a half-eaten cake in his hand. At that moment Michael froze.
"Well well what have we got here?" The prefect inquired with a smirk on his face."Stealing food is a serious offence and will have to be severly dealt with." Michael was speechless. He knew that he had been caught red handed and that there would be only one outcome. The prefect wanted to make the most of the situation and he grabbed Michael and ordered him to lower his pyjama bottoms. Michael obeyed and was turned around by the prefect so that his bottom was facing the prefect. Michael was a fair haired boy of 13 and his almost pure white cheeks were going to make a tempting target for the slipper. The prefect gently squeezed Michael's left cheek,
"These are going to sting like wildfire." he whispered menacingly."They are well fleshed and are quite capable of taking a sound slippering. You will report to prefects court tomorrow evening." Michael made his way back to his dormitory aware that there was nothing that could save him from a very sore bottom. He spent a restless night often gently running his hands over the smooth cheeks of his bottom.
The following day he confided in his friend Martin explaining to him what had happened the previous night. Martin was sympathetic but also fascinated about what was going to happen. During break when they were alone he persuaded Michael to lower his trousers so that he could inspect the part that was going to feel the plimsoll. Michael was almost in tears as Martin gazed upon the small white bottom which was destined to be so soundly punished. The day seemed to drag but eventually 5 o'clock arrived and Michael stood outside the room set aside for the prefects court. There were two other boys awaiting their fate but Michael was the first to be summoned. Inside he saw James Fanshaw sitting behind a desk flanked by two of his fellow prefects. He was asked whether he was guilty or not guilty to which he had no option but to plead guilty. He knew his fate was sealed.
A brief discussion then ensued between the three prefects. Michael strained to hear what they were saying and fervently hoped they wouldnt be too hard on him (or his bottom!)The final decision lay with James Fanshaw but the three prefects had decided that eight strokes an appropriate punishment. After being told that he had commited a serious offence Michael was instructed to turn around and lower his trousers and underpants. James stared at the small fleshy pair of cheeks in front of him. He really wanted to inflict a thorough beating on such a well fleshed bottom and when it came to pass sentence he awarded 12 strokes of the slipper. His fellow prefects were taken aback but knew that James word was final. Poor Michael gasped at the severity of the sentence. He knew that his bottom was in for a sound beating and there was nothing he could do to get out of it.
He was told to report back at 5.30 the following evening when the sentence would be carried out. When he emerged from the room Martin was waiting eager to know what Michael was going to receive. He knew immediately that the sentence had been severe and was shocked when Michael informed him that he was going to get 12 strokes.
The following day Michael had reconciled himself to his punishment. He accepted philosophically that the cheeks of his bottom were going to have to absorb a differently level of punishment. He visited the toilet and looked at his small vunerable bottom in the mirror.