The sheriff opened the cell door wide and watched with a sly smile as Billy Sheffield hobbled in to join J. V. for the night. J. V., startled by the light suddenly coming on while he was at the sink cleaning himself off, quickly pulled his pants up.
Well, boys, I expect youre gonna be sleepin on your bellies tonight. And from what your old man told me, J. V., you gonna be sleepin on your belly tomorrow night, too, he snickered.
J. V. looked over to Billy, saw the wet streaks still on his face, and answered quietly, Yes, sir. I expect youre right on that one.
The sheriff let the big door slam shut with a loud clang, then turned the lights off again as he went back to his post leaving the two boys in the dark.
Good gawd almighty that man can lay on a licking! Billy whispered in the dark.
Tell me about it, J. V. replied. And we aint gettin out of here till morning either. He say anything to you about finding Buddy?
Nah. He didnt say much of anything except to take my pants down and get over the desk. You think were gonna be charged with anything?
I dont think so. I overheard him on the phone with my dad and he said he could talk old man Hollybird out of it if we spent a night here and took a good lickin.
We didnt DO anything, for Petes sake. At least nothin she didnt give out free of charge to a few other guys in school! Geez. All we did was cop a couple of good feels! And have a drink or two.
Yeah, thats all. They got themselves all lathered up over nothin. She sure does have a nice set of titties! J. V. whispered.
Well, from what I saw of you when the lights went on Id say you were in here jackin it off. Still all hot from Patties titties? Billy replied in the dark. And he was, in fact, lying there on his belly, his ass still on fire.
So what if I was? J. V. shot back. I saw that boner of yours out there in the back seat on the levee. She give you a hand job?
Nah. She was willing but Buddy kept pestering to get his share of the action so I hopped out before she finished me off. Man, I dont wanna think about what happens when I get out of here tomorrow. My ol man is going to kill me.
Tell me about it. My butt is blistered already and I know Im going out behind the shed as soon as I get home, J. V. answered. Hey, what are you doin over there. Sounds to me like your jackin yours too: you got hard thinkin about Pattie again? Go ahead over to the sink and jack if you want. He wont be comin back in here till morning unless they find Buddy tonight. And if they do well know it. I could hear every lick he laid on you with that belt of his.
You heard it and I felt it! And to answer your question, yes, I am going to jack it.
After Billie finished his furtive jackoff the boys settled down for the night and, eventually, fell asleep, the effects of the liquor knocking them out. The banging open of the cell door brought both of them suddenly awake and they looked up, droopy eyed, to see J. V.s father standing there in the hall with the sheriffs deputy at his side.
Time to get up boys. Looks like the two of you had some night out on the town last night, J. V.s father said. Hope you got a good nights sleep cause I think you may have a long day ahead of you, he added ominously.
Yes, sir, J. V. replied as he rose from his cot. Before you decide on whats ahead I hope youll at least give me a chance to explain.
Oh, youll be explaining, boy. You will be explaining. Out behind the shed Ill give you plenty of time to explain all you like. Give your face a wash and comb your hair so you dont look like the derelict you were last night. Then come on out to the car. Billie, you come too. I spoke with your dad and he said to pick you up and take you home.
Yes, sir, Billie replied.
The two boys piled into the back of the big black Ford and rode along in silence dreading what each knew would come once they arrived home. J. V. couldnt help but wonder about Buddy Massey, too, and where he was about now. When the cops had showed up at the levee they all took it on the lam with the deputy nabbing J. V. before he could disappear into the bushes. Wherever Buddy was he, too, would be paying a pretty price for last night.
J. V.s father pulled up at Billie Masseys place and there stood Billies father, still in his undershirt, on the porch.
Thanks, Jim! he shouted across the yard. Then to his son he yelled, Dont even bother comin in the house boy. Right out to the barn. Ill be along in a minute.
J. V. felt a little odd alone in the back seat with his father at the wheel. Kind of like a chauffeur for a rich kid. Bouncing along the dirt road through potholes brought back the pains of last nights encounter with Sheriff Hogans belt. His backside still hurt. And he knew he would be hurting a lot more in a few minutes.
They pulled into the drive and when his dad shut down the engine J. V. just hopped out and followed him into the house not saying a word. His mind, however, was working fast to concoct some kind of plausible defense that might help him get off.
Before he could even mount his defense his father turned to him all too calmly and said, Go to the bathroom and get the razor strop, son. You and I are going to have a talk about last night out behind the shed.
Yes, sir, J. V. replied with his eyes focused on the floor. He walked through the house avoiding eye contact with his mother, went into the bathroom, took the strop from a hook by the sink, and then walked out the back door toward the garden shed. Behind the shed J. V. pulled a couple of hay bales out from the neat stack, one on top of the other, and he waited.
When his father came round the corner J. V. did what was expected of him. He handed his father the leather strap, took his overalls down, and then laid out across the hay bales for his whipping.
Well, son, got anything I need to hear before I tan you good?
Im sorry, pa. I really am. We just got to foolin around and Buddy brought a jug of homebrew from the milk house and then Pattie come along and started teasin and showin her stuff. Next thing you know were all down there having a time and she changes her mind and starts to yellin and squealin like a pig in a thunderstorm.
I see. So all this was not really your fault. You were just in the wrong place at the wrong time?
No, sir. Some of it was my fault, J. V. answered. Just thought you should hear how it happened. And nothing really did happen to her, anyway.
Really? Thats interesting. So why would she start squealing and screamin and take the chance of getting caught drunk then?
Silence.
Well, son, you have to learn lessons the hard way sometimes, it seems. And from the looks of your backside Sheriff Hogan gave you a pretty good lesson last night.
Yes, sir. He did!
Well, boy, you know the deal here. You get into trouble at school or with the law you get a second dose of punishment here at home. Twenty licks, boy, if you want to count them out.
Yes, sir.
Now you know why I tell you to steer clear of homebrew and liquor, boy. They do nothin but lead you to trouble. Might seem like fun but you arent old enough to know how far to go and when to stop. You can point all the fingers you want but no one, NO ONE forced that brew through your lips and down your throat.
Craaaaaaaaaack!
And you might want to consider that some girls say one thing and mean another. You best just not take ANY liberties with any girls at this point in your life. You hear me, boy?
Yes, sir, J. V. answered in a voice barely audible.
I cant hear you, boy!
Craaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack!
YES, SIR! J. V. shouted.
As the lecture continued, each point clearly underline with the strap, across town Billie Sheffield found himself in the barn, his father standing there with the wooden paddle kept out in the barn for times just such as this one.
So where did the brew come from, Billie?
Ah, Buddy Massey got a jug from his place.
And you just thought it might be good to go down to the river and get drunk?
We didnt get drunk, pa. Just had a few swigs.
You old enough to drink?
No, sir.
How far did you go with the Hollybird girl, boy. And whatever you do, dont you lie to me on this one. You dont know what kind of trouble you bought last night.
We didnt do anything she didnt ask for and I just copped a feel. Thats it. I plead guilty to that but she wanted it.
That the truth? Nothing but?
I swear!
If thats the truth you probably will be past this today. But not until you get a good taste of the paddle. Mr. Massey opened the door to a small workroom and Billie followed. Take your pants down and bend over the bench, boy. Time for your lesson.
Billie let down his overalls, stepped out of them, then pealed his underwear down. His backside still showed some marks from the strapping the night before. Then he bent across the small work bench and waited while his pa started the lecture and raised the paddle for that first lick