This story is a retelling of Basils excellent "The Revision Class" - told from the point of view of Parker, one of the boys who gets punnished. Basil himself suggested that a "boys version" of this story would be welcome. I hope this version lives up to the original. All comments are very welcome.
Andy Parker was turning into the corridor towards his Technology class. Just ahead of him, he spied the form of his mate Reggie Wilkins. Parker jogged up to his friend and shoved him playfully in the back and stepped beside him.
"Hey Wilkins" smirked Parker. Wilkins had looked annoyed at being shoved, at first, but his frown broke into a sly grin as he saw who had done the pushing.
Wilkins nodded in acknowledgement and shrugged his shoulders in an attempt to look cool about being shoved and said "Hey Parker ."
Parker grinned at his friend and said "Do you think Simkins will bother turning up today ?"
Wilkins chuckled annd said "I hope so - I dont know if I could handle having a REAL tech teacher this term".
Mr Simkins was a tempory teacher, filling in for Mr Jackson the usual tech techer , who had taken leave for the rest of the term to recover from an operation. Mr Simkins wa s and older, retired man who was not used to the impertinent, boisterious behaviour of his 16 yr old charges and so had only minimal control of the class.
The two boys laughed easily. They had known each other since the first grade, and had grown up together, playing football and chasing girls. At 16 they were both in their last year before entering the university entrance courses. The big difference between them was that Parker had never been in trouble - he had always been dutiful, hard-working, polite and very accedemically talented and so was a real favourite of the tecahers. He also managied to not come across as too much of a "tecahers pet" to the other lads because of his excellent skill on the sports field.
Wilkins, on the other hand, was a class leader at causing trouble. He was very skilled at avoding getting into trouble and so hadnt felt the cane nearly as often as he deserved to, but he had been caught often enough to have had several canings - but none were hard enough to break through his tough exterior and he remained largely unrepentant for his attitude and behaviour.
They had really started to enjoy the Tech classes after Mr Simkins came in, as they could chat with friends and muck about without him being able to control them. They both knew they could pass Tech easily and so didnt feel any need to co-operate with the class. Parker had never been so disrespectful to a techer before, but as there were no apparent concenquences, apart from a lot of support and approval from his class mates he drifted into sitting at the back and mucking up with Wilkins and a bunch of other boys.
Parker and Wilkins and drfifted into Mr Simkins classroom a few minutes late, as usual, and dfifted to the back of the class and started an animated conversation with the usual group of other boys. Whenever Simkins looked over in their direction, they each had a book out to prtend to be reading, but most of the time they were whispering and passing notes and giggling.
That was, until, they were surprised to see the Headmaster, Mr Jones, stride into the room and glare at them.
Parker and Wilkins exchnaged concerned glances and focussed on their text books as best they could. Mr Jones strode to the back of the classroom, saying "Leave them to me Mr Simkins."
He stood bfore Parkers desk and fixzed each boy with a determined stare and said "Gentlemen, as you seen unable or unwilling to work as you should here, you may come and revise with me. Take one textbook each and go to Room 7, lining up in silence outside the door."
Parker and Wilkins knew better than the argue with the headmaster and so they obediently stood and grabbed a book each and silently walked out of the room, their heads hanging. For the first time they noted the resentful looks which the half of the class who DID want to study, had been giving them. They also noted the grim satisfaction in Mr Simkins face as they marched out in silence.
Parker felt his heart racing and a nervous tingling in his backside as he walked to room seven. His palms felt clammy and he had an awful feeling he was going to get his first serious caning in high school. Wilikins looked about nervously and whispered to his friend "You think well get the stick Parko ?"
Parker looked at his friend "I reckon we might - the Head sure looked mad at us ..."
Wilkins sighed and then looked up and grinned "Well at least you are getting it too this time - about time you got it. AND I wont get a lecture about "why cant you be more like Andy" from my Dad"
Parker frowned slightly and then grinned at the truth of Reggies words as they walked on in silence and lined up outside Room 7. The boys leaned against the wall and thought in silence - each contemplating their fate and trying to summon the will to take what was about to happen as manfully as possible.
Parker was lost in thought when he heard a slight gasp from one of the other guys and felt the tension level increase a notch. He looked up and instinctively stood to attention as he saw the headmaster approaching with a fearsome looking cane in his hands. Parkers eyes widened slightly as he recognbied it as the senior cane the headmaster used on school assemblies. That was the most feared and painful cane you could get at school, and Parker had an awful feeling he was about to experience it first hand.
The Headmaster opened the classroom door and snapped "find yourselves a desk each and stand behind your chair"
Parker quickly found a desk beside Wilkins and both lads stood nervously to attention behind their chairs. The eyes of every boy were on the cane the headmaster was flexing between his hands as the class settled into place. They nervously noted the heavy, stright backed chair which the headmaster put at the front of the classroom, ready for a boy to stretch over.
The headmaster looked across the 9 lads assembled and said "Gentlemen, when I tell you to sit, you will open your textbooks and revise silently for the remainder of the lesson."
Parker released the breath he had been holding - hoping that the cane really was just there to scare them. Such hopes were dashed as the Headmaster continued, saying "... And while you do so, I shall cane you."
Parker and Wilkins exchanged glum looks - each taking some comfort in sharing such a predicament with his best friend.
Mr Jones pointed the cane at Atkinson, the boy sitting at the front-most desk. The headmster said "You will watch the clock carefully, and when the second hand reaches twelve, walk without fuss or reminder to stand behind the chair . You will bend over when told and stay in position until told to stand. Then it would be appropriate to say thank-you."
Atkinson nodded nervously while the Headmasster continued saying "Meanwhile the next boy will be watching the clock , and when the second hand reaches twelve he will too step forward. And so on around the room."
Mr Jones nodded at Atkinson and watched the rest of the boys open their books and earnestly start to read. Most of the boys were furtively looking up to see Atkinson stand as the second hand hit twelve and go to stand before the chair at the front of the class. The boy nervously gripped the back of the chair and waited .
The headmaster walked behind the boy, just as Johnstone, the next boy, started to look between the clock and Atkinson nervously.
Mr Jones flexed the cane for a moment before barking "Bend Over !". Atkinson immediately complied, and every boy in the room watched nervously as he bent over - his unifom trousers tightening across his backside - presenting a supurb target for the cane.
Mr Jones promptly raised the cane and brought it sharply across Atkinsons waiting backside with a resounding THWWWAAAACK !!! Every boy winced in sympathy - feeling his own backsdie tensing at such an obviously painful stroke.
Atkinson had taken it well. His backside was throbbing with the fresh stripe and he was not looking forward to any more strokes when he was suprised to hear Mr Jones say "Stand up."
Atkinson stood uncertainly and looked back at his Headmaster in surprise. The first stroke had hurt, no doubt, but he could easily take a single stroke, even with the senior cane. Every other boy in the room had also given up any pretense of working and were watching Mr Jones intently.
Mr Jones merely said "Return to your seat" and then turned back to the class, who immediately made themsleves busy looking at their texts. Atkinson grinned uncertainly at the class, who were watching him carefully. He walked back to his seat, trying to act like nothing had happened. he did , however, sit very carefully.
The headmaster flexed the cane a few times, walking the length of the class between desks until he turned to watch Johnstone stand, as the second hand hit twelve, and go to stand before the chair.
Parker looked up from his book, suddenly aware that he was "next". He watched proceedings carefully, not daring to really believe hed get away with just one stroke. He watched as Johnstone was told to bend over and also recieved a single, sharp THWWWAAAACK, before being told to stand. He thanked the Headmaster and was told to sit down. Johnstone grinned at Parker, putting on a tough image, acting like it hadnt hurt. Johnstone did make sure he rubbed his backside a few times before carefully sitting.
Parkers heart started to beat faster as he saw the second hand move towards twelve. he stood nervously and walked to the front. he hadnt been caned for years and didnt know how well he could take this. Still he was a big strong lad, and he was determined that he wouldnt disgrace himself in front of his mates. So whe the headmaster told him to "bend over", he took a very firm grip of the lower rung of the cahir as he stretched over , feeling the thin fabric of his trousers tightgen across him bum. Parker had never wished for the new pair of woolen trousers , which his mother kept nagging him to get, more than at this moment.
Parker shut his eyes and heard Mr Jones step behind him. Then there was a sudden "swish" followed by the explosive pain of the cane biting into his backside with a sharp THWWWAAAAACK. Parker opened his eyes and released his grip, suprised that the cane hadnt hurt more. He heard Mr Jones say "get up" and so he stood easily, surprised at how easy hed found the stroke to take. It took an effort from Parker to not grin like an idiot infront of the class.
The Headmaster told him to sit and so Parker swaggered slightly down the desk aisle, to an approving grin from Wilkins - who was next. Parker did stop grinning smugly however when he boisterously jumped into his seat as though nothing had happened, and felt a very sharp pain in his bum. He winced slightly as the pain faded and opened his text.
Wilkins watched the second hand, amused at Parkers antics - it was obvious the cane didnt hurt much if Parko had felt he could clown around after a stroke. If someone inexperienced in being caned like Parko could take it and laugh then Wilkins would have nothing to worry about. So Wilkins virtually leapt out of his seat and stood before the chair.
Her assumed the position when told and held the chair loosly, begininbg to think of this whole punnishment session as a joke, and so was suprised at the very hard THWWWWWAAACK of the cane across his bum. It took all his self will to not stand. The cane had bitten into his bum. For a moment he thought Parko must be some super tough guy, but then he realised that Mr Jones was given it harder to him because if his record.
So with a deep breath, Wilkins stood when told, thanked the headmaster and tried to match Parkos swagger as he rerturned to hsi seat. he was more careful about sitting as his backside was throbbing uncomfortably. Wilkins was verty glad this seemed to be the only stroke, as he knew he couldnt take many like it without a few tears.
The remaining boys in the class each took their turn for their single cane stroke. As Jackson, the last boy, made his way back to his desk, Mr Jones eyes turned back to the front of the class and settled on Atkinson.
Looking at the clock it suddenly dawned on Parker that the headmaster hadnt said anything about only going arounbd the boys once, and the second hand was heading back towards 12. He knew it was too good to be true that they would only get one stroke each!
Parker worked out that the headmaster was allowing a minute for each boy, and there were 9 boys and 45 minutes left of the class - so they were likely to get 5 strokes in total. He stole a quick glance at Wilkins who had obviously worked it out too and looked very glum. 5 of those strokes was no laughing matter - they were going to have to did deep to take them all manfully. All the lads still felt throbbing pain in their backsides, and trhey realised that the headmaster was ensuring that each subsequent strokje would be as painful as possible, by waiting so long betwene each stroke.
Soon Atkinson was standing before the chair again, bent over and took anotehr stinger across his muscular bum. He looked a bit less smug and self assumed as he gently rubbed his bum, return to his seat. Both Johnstone and then Parker repeated the performance, taking their strokes in silence, but not looking so confident upon returning to their seats. Mr Jones knew he was really getting through to these boys !
Wilkins was soon out the front again. he held the chair and waited for the next stroke. Mr Jones lined up the cane down on the sensitive lower part of his backside, and swiiished it down with a very sharp THWWWWWWAAAAACK !!!!!!
Wilikins obviously felt it as there was a sharp intake of breath from the lad who stood suddenly as his hands flew back to rub his bum. The others watched shocked - obviously Wilkins was getting it extra hard !
Mr Jones glares at Wilkins who blushed and rubed his bum sheepishly. The headmaster said "You were told to stay in position. Step to your right. If you rise too early a second time I will repeat the stroke ; this time you will give me 50 press ups"
Wilkins sighed in relief and stepped to the side and dropped easily to the floor and started to work through the press ups. Parker knew his friend would get through that many press ups easily in less than 60 seconds, as they both had worked through plkenty of press ups at footy practice.
Wilkins had softly counted 30 press-ups when the second hand hit 12 again, and the next boy, French, stepped forward. Wilkins continued with his pressups as the Headmaster told French to bend over, and then administered a sharp THWWWWAAACK of the cane.
Wilkins stood at the same moment as the Headmaster told French to stand and both lads returned to their seats. Wilkins grinned sheepishly at Parker and the others - worrying that they thought less of him for flinching. Parker offered a reassuring smile to his friend - knowing that only an exceptional stroke would have caused that reaction.
The next two canings went quickly and soon Atkinson was standing before the chair again. He bent over as told, but the Headmaster swung the cane hard and low and caught Atkinson on the underside of his backside and the lad yelped and slood and grabbed at his bum. The rest of the class looked up in surprise as Atkinson tried to bend back over.
The Headmaster told him to give him 50 press-ups. Unfortunately Atkinson was not a fit sportsman like Wilkins, and he strugfgled with the press-ups. He was only at 25, as Johnstone stood and bend over for his stroke of the cane, and then only at 40 when Parker strepped forward.
Parker nearly gasped at the sharp pain of this third stroke. He only just managed to resist rubbing his blazing bum as he stood. Atkinson was told to stand too and they both returned to their seats.
Wilkins was prepared this time and gripped the chair tightly and so took his third stroke quietly. Neither French nor the last boy Jackson managed to take theirs without moving and both did a set of 50 press ups. Both were on the same team as Wilkins and Parker and did them easily.
As the round returned to Atkinson again - 18 minutes remained for the lesson. Jackson was completing his press-ups as Atkinson bennt over and gripped the chair tightly and managed to maintain position manfully. As both Atkinson and Jackson returned to their seats, Atkins tried to dicsretelly rub his eyes and wipe away a tear.
All the boys were able to take their fourth and then fifth strokes with a grim and stoic silence, holding onto their chair tightly. Any swagger or smug sense of toughness had bene definately beaten out of them. Wilkins was now sure he was getting it harder than the others but was determined to not complain and take it "like a man". None of the boys were sitting comfortably, and all shifted uncomfortably as they tried to take their minds off the pain by studying their text books.
After Jackson returned to his desk afyter his fifth stroke, all the boys looked like they were in real pain and had learned the lesson that they would better to pay attention to Mr Simkins and concentrate in Tech class. They were all relieved when the lunch bell sounded.
Mr Jones told them to stand. he placed the cane on his desk and stood back and said "You have a Technology lesson again on Thursday. I wiullgive you the option of attending it and working solidly for the entire period or returning here for more revision with me- and my cane."
Parker looked around at his friends and their glum expressions and realised tthat tey all agreed that they had learned their lesson and would co-operate with Mr Simkins. He knew none of his friends would need to see Mr Jones at the next lesson.
Parker himself felt a deep sense of personal failure that he had got so carried away by misbehaving. He was a good student and had never before taken part in "picking" on a substitute teacher - prefering to work quietly to being disruptive. The steady caning that he had observed and been subjected to for the part 45 minutes really brought home to him how badly he had behaved. At 16, he (wrongly) thought he was past hormone driven stupid adolescent behaviour, but clearly he wasnt. He also realised that it took a severe caning to bring him to his senses.
The Headmaster continued saying "You will now return your textbooks and go to lunch - unless you feel that you have not been sufficiently punnished , in which case you should remain behind."
With that the class picked up their books and started to quietly file out of the room. All boys were quiet and chastened and so their exit was unusally orderly. Mr Jones arranged some papers on his desk..
Wilkins stood behind his desk and didnt move. He just looked at the top of his desk. His backside was throbbing in pain like he had never experienced in his other canings. He had resolved that he never wanted another caning again while at this school. Half of him wanted to flee the room and get lunch, but another part wanted to face up to the punnishment he knew he deserved for his bad attitude ove the years. Wilikins was surprised to realised that he had decided, during the caning, that it was time for him to grow up.
Wiklins looked up and saw the whole class had filed out except Parker, who was also studying his desktop and standing resolutely in place.
Both boys looked up suddenly when they heard Mr Jones voice say "Parker?"
Parker stood to attention and said "Sir, I feel I have let myself down today and am ashamed . I am worried that i have affected my exam chances and I know I can not afford to do so again. You have caned me hard - and it has really hurt - but to truely remember today and learn from my mistakes you should probably give me a sixth stroke. I dont want any more, but I cant affort for this to happen again."
Mr Jones looked at Parker for a long moment and then asked "How old are you, Parker?"
"16 , Sir" was the reply.
Jones then asked "Wilikins ?"
Wilkins replied "Also 16, Sir"
Jones smiled slightly and said "I mean, why are you still here ?"
Wilkins stood at attention too and took a deep breath and said "Ive had several canings down the years , sir, but never one like this. If Id known this pain a couple of years ago, I would have been different. I tend to agree with Parker and want this to be my last caning at school and one that I can remember."
Both boys stood diffidently at attention, in silence, while Mr Jones went and stared out the window for what seemed like an eternity, but was really a couple of minutes.
Mr Jones turned and said "Very weoll, I agree to your requests. You have clearly thought this through and I understand your feelings on the matter. But as you are both 16 and the usual maximum for that age is 8 strokes, I shall give you another three each".
Parker and Wilkins looked at each other in dismay. They couldnt very well back out now, but this was really going to hurt a lot.
With a sigh, Parker stepped forward to the chair and bent over . Mr Jones stepped forward and brought the cane sharply down and across the muscular backside three times. Parker took it in silence but was clearly in pain , and on the second stoke his legs buckled slightly. The lad stood slowly and quietly returned to stand behind his desk, rubbing his backside and his eyes.
Wilkins stepped forwards and also bent over and took three stinging strokes in silence. He stood slowly and also rubbd both his bum and eyes and returned to standing behind his desk.
The headmaster looked over both boys and gave them a shgort lecture about howe tey could both be leaders of te school when in 6th form and that if they changed their attitude they both could go far, and that he hoped this caning at last got it through their thick skulls. He the told them to go to lunch.
Parker stepped forward and held out his hand, which Mr Jones accepted and shook, and said "thank-you very much Mr Jones. I will remember today."
Wilkins then also shook the Headmasters hand saying "Ill remember this lesson too Sir, thank-you.".
The two sudued boys left the classsroom and walked down to the lunch area, where the other lads from the revison class were marvelling at the two staying back for more.
Parker and Wilkins both knew they would have to put up with a lot of teasing about volunteering for extra cane strokes.
But they knew they had done the right thing !