Later in the day, following the public thrashing, Mr Booth the headmaster was sitting wondering where the next backside for a thrashing would come from. He had appreciated the skill of his Games Master and it was a change from his own operation. He had been able to think of his own reaction a little more, and had enjoyed the erection he developed to the fullest. The telephone on his desk rang. It was his secretary.
"Colonel Gillespie is here to see you, sir."
Colonel Gillespie was the local squire and hereditary Chairman of the Foundation, Odminster Grammar School's Governing body. He took a close interest in the school and encouraged discipline, and especially the proper wearing of the school uniform.
Mr Booth rose to greet his guest.
"Can I get you a coffee?"
"If you can afford the time."
"I can just now, thank you."
Miss Trent, the school secretary had been doing the job long enough to be expecting this and coffee and biscuits arrived within a minute.
As they settled, the Colonel asked, "I assume this morning's beating went without a hitch?"
"Exactly as planned, thank you. I imagine that young man will think twice before he does anything so foolish again and Mr Carr did so good a job that his noise will have impressed the whole school that it was no mild punishment."
"Excellent. There's another matter I think you need to be paying attention to now. Some boys are getting slack about uniform."
Mr Booth was puzzled. "I keep a close eye on this and so do the masters and prefects."
"Not close enough. I had to be away last night and returned on the overnight train which then connects with the train many of your boys use. There were far too many who joined the train without caps or who took them off on boarding and remained without them until they were almost due to disembark."
"I'll check it personally. If I catch any, you'll find their names in this book, next time you come."
The headmaster had an opportunity he had been looking for. There could be a fair sized haul from an outing like this. He would be fair, of course. They would receive a warning, even if it was a coded warning. It would then be deliberate defiance and he would have a ready answer for any parent who chose to complain.
Next morning, after prayers in the school assembly, he said, "It has been drawn to my attention that a few boys are letting the school down, travelling to and from school improperly dressed. I refer to those miserable little creatures who have so little pride in the school that they are not wearing their caps. I remind you all that I expect every boy in the school to be wearing his cap for the entire journey. That includes time on bicycle, bus, train or even, for the small number who come that way, in parents' cars. Naturally, it also includes time spent walking. The Chairman of the Foundation himself has asked me to pay particular attention to this matter and I intend to do so. In addition, I am instructing prefects and asking masters to report any failure in this direction which comes to their attention."
A few minutes later, as he sat in his study, he reflected that he could not have been fairer. They had been very clearly warned. Now, he had to make his plans. There were several trains which were used by boys coming to school. As the one which connected with the overnight train had been singled out, he would start with that. Indeed, his research indicated that most of the others would be very difficult since their coaches had individual compartments with no corridor. This one was ideal, for there were separate compartments but a corridor, and so he could check each one without there being a warning to the others and he could progress along the corridor and see each one in turn.
This explained his early rising next day and his purchase of a day return ticket on the first train out next morning. His intention was to go to beyond any station the boys might be boarding and to try to remain inconspicuous until after two stations before Odminster. That would give him time to check the entire train. He was fairly certain that a bus through the village of the final station, which actually ran past the school entrance, would mean no-one boarded there.
Naturally, he had a first class ticket. Not only was he more comfortable, but it was extremely unlikely that boys would be travelling in such luxury. All he had to do was look from behind his newspaper in stations and close the blinds onto the corridor. It worked like a dream. Undetected, he rose as the train left the final likely picking up point. He did not take the risk of looking out for boys on platforms in case he was spotted and everyone was warned. It started well and he had acquired a list of six when something he had not expected happened.
Conrad Rice was a prefect. A much disliked prefect who greatly enjoyed his status. This meant that he travelled alone in a compartment by his own demand. He would have travelled alone in any case because the others preferred to be away from him. He decided that he would go to the toilet. He looked at the door and saw it was engaged.
"It had better not be one of our brats." he muttered to himself.
Just then the door opened and Roy Norris came out.
"I thought I'd made it clear that the toilet nearest my compartment is not available for you lot."
Roy had suffered a public caning only the previous day and did not want to risk further trouble. Under normal circumstances he would have invited the prefect to get stuffed, aware that there would be little he could do about it. Today he was not prepared to risk that and was more conciliatory.
"Sorry, Rice. This is the only one working on the train."
"Don't let it happen again."
He went in and closed the door. The delay for Roy meant that he was able to glance the headmaster moving down the corridor. He went quickly down a full half of the train, warning everyone. There were to be no more victims for the headmaster's list that day.
When he glanced in Roy's compartment, Roy leapt to his feet, opened the door and said, "Good morning, sir."
Unaware of the note of triumph in the sixth former's voice, he replied, "Good morning, Norris. It's good to see you all in uniform and behaving so well."
Roy would normally never have sunk to splitting on anyone, but Rice was thoroughly detestable and that last encounter still rankled.
"We would anyway, sir, but it's obvious that we're going to when there's a prefect on the train."
"Who's that? I haven't seen a prefect."
"Rice, sir. You might have missed him because he went to the toilet."
"I'll tell him that he's being commended for his zeal."
He went away. Roy turned to his companions and said, "I don't care if you think I've split on him. He's a thorough creep and he went on at me a few minutes ago he had a go at me for using his private bogs."
One of his companions replied, "You didn't split on him. You just told the old man what a good job he's doing even if you were lying in your teeth. It' s just too bad if he's back in his compartment when he gets seen because he' ll have lit up again."
This was indeed the case. When Mr Booth found the prefect, he was sitting with his feet on the opposite seat, wearing no cap and smoking.
"Have you a free period today, Rice?"
"Yes, sir. Last period in the afternoon."
"Very well. Report to me then. We'll discuss this episode then."
"Yes sir."
"In the meantime, put that cigarette out, get your feet off that seat and put your cap on."
He left a concerned prefect behind.
It was an unhappy headmaster with his list of six. He simply could not understand how it was that half the train had a collection of offenders while the second half was completely properly dressed. The delinquents had all been instructed to report to his study as soon as they arrived in school.
By the time the boys arrived, the headmaster had settled, ready to receive his motley collection of offenders. Together boys from almost the entire age range stood in front of him.
"We have a complication. The Foundation, in their wisdom, have authorised me and only me to cane day boys, unless I am absent in which case, the authority falls to the next most senior master in school. This means that I have a great deal of caning to do and I cannot share it with anyone. To reduce the load, as this is made more serious by the fact that it has happened in direct defiance of a warning given to the entire school in assembly only yesterday, I'll deal with you all in gym kit. Are any of you in the gym immediately before break?"
Simon Parry said, "Yes, sir. I am and so is Brown."
"Very well. You two report to me when the rest of your form goes to change. Ask Mr Carr to release you. You'll still have time to change during break."
He made similar a similar appointment for Michael Coleman in the fourth form except that his was before afternoon break.
Two others were given appointments during the lunch hour. At last, there was only Stuart Pearce, a sixth former.
"Have you any private study periods?"
"Yes, sir. Last lesson this afternoon."
"Very well. I'll see you then. I want you as soon as you can get here, after afternoon break."
"Yes, sir."
"That period begins at three o'clock. Will you tell Rice that I'll see him at half past."
"Yes, sir."
Once his intended victims had left, Mr Booth sat back in his chair. This was going to be a day like no other day he had experienced. Even if no-one else presented himself, he had a full half dozen backsides to cane and he would be able to admire them all. To crown it all, there would be the shapely posterior of this sixth former. He could not help himself. He felt no guilt about it. Rules had to be enforced, but he was going to enjoy himself. Gently, he rubbed his crutch in anticipation of what was to come.
As for the boys, there was conversation in assorted corners of the school, mainly expressing surprise that the headmaster should have been on the train, though it never occurred to anyone to suggest that he had deliberately gone out so as to catch that train and then catch them.
In the sixth form, Stuart Pearce came in and Roy Norris said, "Sorry, mate."
"What for?"
"I spotted the old man doing the rounds of the train. He'd already got you so I couldn't warn you. We got half the train sorted though."
"Blimey! If it had been at the same rate he'd have really been going to town. He's got six of us anyway."
Roy asked, "Is Rice one of them?"
"He wasn't with us, but he would have kept a prefect separate anyway. But I' ll tell you what. He wants to see him this afternoon. He's whacking me in my free at three and he wants Rice at half past."
"We'll have to try to find what happens then."
The first form boys had seen Mr Carr at the beginning of their lesson with him and explained the need for their disappearance when the others went to change.
He grinned at them and said, "Just make sure that your bottoms aren't prepared for the headmaster with my gym shoe."
Leonard said, "Be fair, sir. We're hardly ever in trouble."
Simon added, "But we'll be extra careful today, sir."
Part way through the lesson, Trevor Pratt caught Raymond White by the ear and said, "If you do that once, more, I'll report you and I don't care if you moan about me splitting on you."
White's response was to punch him.
Mr Car went over.
"What's going on?"
White said, "Pratt was pulling my ear off, sir."
Pratt said, "I wasn't pulling it off. I was just telling you to cut it out."
Mr Carr asked, "Cut what out, Pratt?"
"He was goading Parry, sir, about going to be caned. Each time he went near him he said something and it's not fair."
"Well, now we've got two people who need to feel my gym shoe?"
Trevor said, "Fair enough, sir. You caught us. He punched me and I was pulling his ear even if it was for a good reason."
White said, "It's not fair for me to get the gym shoe, sir. He started it, pulling my ear. I was only defending myself."
Mr Carr replied, "Fair enough. We'll go along to the headmaster to ask him to adjudicate when the other two present themselves."
Trevor said, "Both of us, sir?"
"You can both come but there'll be no risk for you. You've accepted that it' s due. We'll give you yours at the end of the lesson before we go."
White said, "Alright, sir. I hit him so a whacking is fair. Can you do it please?"
Ten minutes before the end of the lesson, Leonard Brown and Simon Parry were about to ask to be on their way to the headmaster when Mr Carr said, "I'll deal with your torment and defender before you go. It might cheer you up a bit."
He had already collected his gym shoe. Realising what was needed, Trevor Pratt ran over and Raymond White followed reluctantly.
"Right, you two," said Mr Carr, "one of you bend over, holding onto the wall frames."
Trevor put himself in place and the gym shoe splatted across his seat.
"Right. Up you get."
Trevor rose, gave himself a slight rub and said, "Is that all, sir?"
"It's enough to remind you not to be an idiot, isn't it?"
Trevor grinned and said, "Yes, sir."
"Besides, you were defending others. White hit you, more serious than a tweak of the ear and he was goading people in trouble quite unnecessarily and unpleasantly. If I were to give you more, we'd be off the scale with him."
He turned to White and said, "Down you go."
"It's not fair if I get more than him, sir."
"It's completely fair. However, you've put it out of my hands. Brown and Parry, on your way. The remainder put gear away and then get changed. Pratt and White will see the headmaster with me after he's sorted the other two. Pratt is simply coming as a witness."
Meanwhile, Mr Booth was sitting in his study. He admitted to himself that he enjoyed using the cane and he believed that he was careful always to be fair. His coming clients had all been warned and he would have to answer to the Chairman of the Foundation if he didn't step in. Now he was counting done the time till his first clients arrived. He was alone in his study and they would knock when they arrived. It gave him a chance to adjust his dress and arrange that his already hardening private organ was comfortable and did not get trapped in a fold in his underpants. Adjustment was so much more difficult when there was someone with him in the study. He gave the organ in question a comforting rub just as there was a knock at the door.
"Come in!"
Parry and Brown entered, closed the door and stood in front of his desk.
"You know why you are both here?"
Simon replied, "Yes, sir. So that you can give us each a caning for not wearing our caps on the train."
Mr Booth wanted to justify himself in the eyes of these boys.
"It might seem to you that we are getting it out of proportion by caning you for this. There are two points for you both to consider. First, to be a member of this school is a privilege and you ought to be proud to wear our uniform. If that doesn't decide you, however, the fact that it is a school rule should. We want to turn out law-abiding citizens and the first stage in moving towards that is being clear that breaking the law will lead to punishment. In school, the rules are part of the law for you. That means that I have no choice but give you the caning you both deserve."
Both boys were wishing that he would get on with it. Their wishes were granted.
"One of you wait outside, please."
Simon went out and closed the door.
Leonard knew the routine. Without being told, he crossed the room to select a chair of the right size, leaned over the back and grasped the legs, presenting his headmaster with a view of a well formed rump held tightly in his gym shorts. Mr Booth gave himself a private rub and collected a junior cane. This boy was only a first former. He crossed to the waiting offender, aimed and then took the cane back. He drove it into the waiting seat and was gratified to hear the gasp it forced from the boy. The advantage of having varied powered canes was that every stroke could be done powerfully and that was so much more satisfying.
Leonard already knew that tears were coming to his eyes and he had only had one stroke. He knew, too, that his own honour would keep him down and that he would not be blubbing. He waited for the next onslaught.
Crackk!
Again pain surged from the line of contact and filled his small form. He waited again.
Crackk!
"Get up and put the chair away."
"Shall I leave it, sir? Parry's the same size as I am so he'll need it."
"Good thinking, boy. Now come over to sign the book."
That was soon done and he was dismissed, only hoping that the headmaster had not seen a tear fall onto the book as he signed it.
"You can go. Send your partner in crime in."
"Yes, sir."
When Simon entered, he saw the headmaster standing, flexing the cane he was so soon to feel. Without a word being spoken, that cane was pointed at the chair. Simon also knew the routine, as did every boy in the school, either because they had experienced it or because they had heard it described on numerous occasions. He placed himself in position, gripped firmly and waited.
Crackk!
The first stroke sent that initial surge of stinging pain through his body. With satisfaction , the headmaster noticed him jump and then re-establish his grip.
Crackk!
Crackk!
The second caning had been delivered. A second caning was signed for and Simon was on his way. Another boy controlling the tears left the study. A satisfied headmaster returned to his chair and gently massaged his groin. This was disturbed by a further knock at his door.
"Come in!"
Mr Carr followed Raymond White and Trevor Pratt into his study.
"Two boys in trouble, Mr Carr?"
"No, Headmaster. One is here as a witness in case there is any dispute."
"What's the problem, then?"
"Initially, it concerns to two boys you have just seen, Headmaster. White was repeatedly goading those two about their impending visit. Eventually, Pratt decided that it had gone on for too long. With a schoolboy's dislike of grassing or however they put it, he took the matter into his own hand, attracted White's attention by pulling his ear and told him to lay off. White's response was to punch Pratt. I told them both that they were due for a dose from my gym shoe to remind them to behave more appropriately. Pratt accepted without demur, admitting that he had been wrong. White declined until he realised that the alternative was a visit to you. However, when Pratt expressed surprise that I had only given him one, I pointed out that White had done a great deal more than he had, including trying to get boys who were already in trouble into more trouble and that a punch was more serious than an yank on the ear, his had to be low so that I did not have to give an excessive whacking to White. In any case, with a lad like Pratt, a single whack was quite enough to establish the fact that he had been wrong. However, White was no longer prepared to accept what I might have been prepared to give him."
Mr Booth looked first at Victor Pratt. "Is that how you would see events, Pratt?"
"Yes, sir. I thought Mr Carr was being very fair to us both and when you know lads in your form are due for a caning, I don't think you can get much lower than baiting them to try to get them into more trouble."
"It's not often that I find myself in agreement with you or any member of your family, Pratt, but I do this time. If Mr Carr had brought you both to me I would have asked him if he would feel I could let you go altogether, taking a risk to defend vulnerable colleagues. Perhaps I shouldn't have said that, in case you feel that Mr Carr was being unfair."
Victor was surprised at the way the conversation was going but replied, "Mr Carr's great sir and he's always as fair as he can be. I was just surprised he only gave me one whack."
The headmaster moved his gaze to Raymond White.
"What have you to say for yourself?"
"If he should get nothing, I should get nothing as well, sir. He started it."
The headmaster raised his voice. "Don't be a stupid little idiot. He didn't start it. You started it by goading and baiting boys who would not risk doing anything in case they got into more trouble. In my book, that is bullying. When a boy tries to keep you out of trouble, your own response is to punch him. Then you challenge a generously mild offer of punishment from Mr Carr. As I have had to cane two boys already today, would you like me to ask Mr Carr to do it on my behalf?"
With his memories of the Games Master's power which had been so recently demonstrated, White burst into tears and sobbed, "No, sir."
"So, you can dish out the teasing but you can't cope with it when it's given to you. However, it does appear that I will have to cane you again."
Victor said, "Shall I go now, sir?"
"No. You can stay and report to your form how well our hero copes with his punishment. Mr Carr, I'd appreciate it if you would remain in case he needs to be restrained. He's never taken a caning well."
Victor moved to the wall and brought out the correct sized chair, Mr Booth told White to get into position and then went to the cane cupboard. He hesitated before he selected the senior cane. This boy needed to be taught a lesson. It might avoid further trouble later on.
Mr Carr glanced at the weapon, privately approved of the choice and moved to near the boy's head.
The headmaster said, "Come on boy, You've been caned before. You know the routine. Pull your shirt clear of your seat."
Reluctantly, White obeyed.
Mr Booth's previous two clients had been wearing gym shorts. Now he had a pair of school uniform shorts spread before him. He could take into account the fact that they would be lined and that the boy was wearing underpants. He took careful aim, and then took the cane back.
Crackk!
He drove the first stroke across the centre of the target area. White felt the full impact seem to take over his complete being. He leapt to his feet and grasped his seat.
Quietly, Victor said, "Come on, White. It's got to happen. Do your best."
Mr Carr was less sympathetic.
"Get yourself down again."
White obeyed.
Mr Carr moved forward and stood with his legs around the boy's head. He said, "It won't provide quite such a good target, but get up a little until your head is between my thighs, just above my knees."
Again, White obeyed and found his head clamped firmly into place.
"Now put your arms round my legs and hold both hands together. That way we will avoid you bringing a hand back under a descending cane. That would hurt much more than the intended stroke across your bottom.
With the boy thus secured, he nodded to the headmaster who started work again.
Crackk!
Crackk!
White was struggling and shouting but he was unable to escape. Victor was almost hoping that three would be regarded as enough. Mr Booth thought differently. This boy had to be taught.
Crackk!
Crackk!
Crackk!
That really was six of the best.
A nod to Mr Carr and the weeping boy was released. He stood and held his damaged rump. Between his sobs he managed to say, "It's not fair. Pratt has got away with it."
The headmaster replied, "I explained that it was completely fair. However, if you want it discussed further, I'll be happy to meet one or both of your parents. In the meantime, come and sign the punishment book."
That chore complete, the three left the headmaster alone.
Mr Carr said, "A word with you please, Pratt."
White made his escape and Mr Carr said, "Two things, Pratt. I told the truth about you and I think the headmaster might be revising his rather low opinion of you. Try not to let me down."
"I'll do my best, sir, but I do seem to get into trouble."
"All your family has done and one important thing about you all is that you would never lie to get out of a punishment and you've all accepted what was due without complaint. The other thing is that the headmaster kept you there so that the form might know how brave Mr White was. Make sure they find out."
Victor grinned. "They will, sir."
Meanwhile, in the privacy of his study, Mr William Booth gently massaged his throbbing organ and contemplated the fact that he was less than half way through the clients he was already aware of and that there could well be other bonuses such as the one Mr Carr had produced.