Paul Evens had had butterflies in his tummy when the head boy, Arnold Thomson, had chosen him to be one his fags. Thomson had three fags each working two evenings a week, he did not see any reason to make one boy work six days a week when there were plenty of boys to choose from, and Paul was to work on Mondays and Tuesdays. The thirteen year old had turned up for his first turn of duty in his PE kit (compulsory wear for fagging so as not to get uniforms dirty) a shaking bundle of nerves. Thomson, seeing the state the Paul was in had tried to put the boy at ease.
"Look Evens," the prefect had said, "forget anything you may have read in books or seen in movies about prefects. You will find that I'm not like that at all. I do not run around my study with a magnifying glass looking for a speck of dust you may have missed in order to find an excuse to whack your hide off! Just do as I tell you and you will have nothing to fear from me! I have never whacked anybody unless they have done something to really deserve it!"
Thomson meant it. Yes, he had inherited the prefects' enthusiasm for whacking bottoms, but he also had a conscience and took his duties seriously. He never tried to look for silly reasons to chastise a boy, there were plenty enough genuine cases! In reality Thomson was not the ogre he was made out to be by the boys. A youthful looking seventeen year old, he was full of fun just like any other teenager. He wanted a good relationship with his fags. He had chosen Paul because he fitted all the criteria that Thomson wanted. He was intelligent, hard working and handsome!
Gradually Paul began to trust the head boy. It was all the more surprising therefore that he turned up one Monday evening in a somewhat nervous state. He was quiet and on edge. Thomson got the impression that Paul was trying to approach him and ask him something or say something to him, but could just not pluck up the courage to do so. Eventually Thomson could stand the suspense no longer! He went up to Paul, got hold of his shoulders and turned the boy toward him.
"Out with it Evens!" said Thomson in a friendly voice.
"Out with what Thomson?"
"You've been like a bear with a sore arse ever since you got here today! You're trying to say something to me, aren't you?"
Paul was silent for a second or two. "Er! Well! Yes Thomson!"
"Don't be nervous. I'm not going to bite! Get it off your chest boy!"
"Well you know you just don't sneak on other boys in school! It's why I don't like to say anything!" said Paul tentatively.
"Yes I know! I've been through it too, don't forget! You've obviously got a good reason to want to speak up! Let's have it!"
"You know somebody cut two of the climbing ropes in the gym yesterday and it looks as if Adams is going to get the blame?"
It had been the talk of the the school that day. On Sunday afternoon a carving knife, accidently left on a table just outside the kitchen had been stolen and later two climbing ropes had been cut through in the gymnasium. The knife had later been found discarded in some long grass. Adams had been seen in the area that afternoon. Thomson knew that the headmaster had questioned Adams but had come to the conclusion that the boy was completely innocent. Thomson was not going to tell Paul that, lest he changed his mind and would not tell what he knew!
"Yes! Go on!" prompted Thomson.
"Well," continued Paul, "I know he didn't do it! I don't like to tell on anybody but I don't want to see an innocent boy punished for something he didn't do!"
"Quite right Evens! Carry on and tell me what you know!"
Paul was nervous but continued his story.
"I was in the toilets near the C3 classroom this morning when Wolfe and Digby came in. I heard Wolfe say 'We've got away with it! Adams looks like taking the rap! No one saw us anywhere near the gym!' Then Digby said 'Thank f----!. I've been on edge ever since we cut those ropes!'"
"There's just one thing that doesn't add up here, Evens! They came in and said that in front of you?" asked Thompson.
"They didn't know I was there. You see, they were at the urinals and I was in one of the cubicles!"
Thomson smiled. "I see! You were doing a sit down job!"
Paul's rosy cheeks started to turn even rosier!
"alright boy! Don't blush! It's a normal human function! This is a matter for the headmaster, of course!
"I'm worried about reprisals now!" said Paul.
"Don't worry!" Thomson assured him, "There is no way the headmaster would implicate you. Your name will be kept out of it!"
Thomson dialed the headmaster."Thomson here sir! Sorry to trouble you after school hours but I have something very important to tell you!"
The prefect gave the headmaster the story Paul had told him."Yes sir," Paul heard Thomson saying, "There is a snag here. If I bring Evens to your study we shall be seen, and everybody will put two and two together and..... Oh! Thank you sir! Sorry to put you to this trouble!"
He put the handset down and turned to Paul."Like I told you, the headmaster said that anything you say will be confidential. He is on his way here now!"
Paul was looking nervous again. "Stop shaking!" Thomson told him, "The headmaster dosn't bite either!"
Thomson was wondering what the headmaster would do when he reached the door. He was the boss, so would he knock and wait to be invited in? On the other hand, nobody just barges into the head boy's study! As it turned out, the headmaster compromised! He gave a couple of knocks as he opened the door! Paul was made to repeat his story again.
"Hmm!" went the headmaster when the boy had finished, "Good boy Evens! You have done the correct thing to report this." Then addressing Thomson, "I need to speak to you alone about this, Thomson."
"Yes sir!" replied Thomson, "Alright Evens, you can have the rest of the evening off."
After Paul had left the headmaster told Thomson "I will have Wolfe and Digby in my study immediately after assembly tomorrow morning. I want you to be there. Now I will explain how we will approach it."
The next morning two very apprehensive sixteen year olds stood before the headmaster's desk. The headmaster was seated behind his desk and Thomson stood beside him. The two of them being sent for together made the boys fear the worst! Could the head somehow have found out something about the cut ropes? But how? Nobody saw them! Their worst fears were soon realised!
"As I am sure you both know," the headmaster began, " A carving knife was stolen from outside the kitchen on Sunday and two climbing ropes in the gymnasium were cut. Do you two boys know anything about it?"
"No sir!" they said one after the other.
"No?" said the headmaster inquiringly. Then he looked at Thomson. "Thomson!" was all he said to him, giving the head boy his cue.
Thomson addressed the two boys. "Yesterday morning you both went into the toilets near the C3 classroom. In there you, Wolfe, said to Digby 'We got away with it! Adams looks like taking the rap! No one saw us anywhere near the gym!' And you, Digby, replied 'Thank' - and here you used the F word - 'I've been on edge ever since we slashed those ropes!'"
The two boys looked flabagasted! The headmaster had told Thomson not to end with a question such as "is this correct?" It must not look as if he had any doubt as to what was said. Nor was Thomson to give the slightest clue as to how he knew.
"Well?" said the headmaster probingly.
The boys were nervously licking their lips not knowing what to say. Then all of a sudden Digby burst into tears! It was almost as good as pleading guilty!
Wolfe eventually spoke. "I-I-I'm sorry sir! I don't know why we did it! I just picked the knife up because it was there and hid it under my jacket. I was looking round for something to use it on and then when we got near the gym the ropes came into my head and...."
"It was sheer wanton vandalism, wasn't it? It beggars belief that two senior boys of this school could act like a pair of uncivilised yobs! Which one of you cut the ropes? asked the headmaster.
"We did one each sir!" said Wolfe.
"Is that correct, Digby?"
Digby, still crying and with his hands covering his face, nodded and blubbered an almost incoherent "Yes sir!"
"If it were not for the fact that you are sitting your exams in a month's time I would have no hesitation in expelling you both!" the headmaster told them, "I shall inform your parents and invite them to pay for the damage you have caused. You have stolen a carving knife, - a bethel weapon; damaged school property and were prepared to let somebody else take the blame! Each of these offences ought to earn you six strokes of the cane! However eighteen strokes would not be allowed by the governors! You will each receive nine strokes!"
The headmaster looked round at the head boy. "Thomson! Take Digby outside and stay with him. I will deal with Wolfe first!"
Still sobbing and still covering his face with his hands, Digby was led outside. Thomson regarded him as an utter wimp. He had seen eight year olds face the music better than this! Outside the door was a long wooden bench fixed to the wall. It had reputedly been there for a hundred and fifty years and was there for boys waiting to go into the headmasters study. At a pinch it would hold about a dozen boys! If only the bench could talk! Thomson wondered just how many boys had had their last sit down for a day or two on that bench over the last century and a half!
"Sit down there!" ordered Thomson, who remained standing himself.
It seemed a long wait before they heard any sound from inside the study. Then suddenly they heard - CRACK!.The swish which preceded it could not be heard through the closed door. Digby gave a noticeable jolt and the tears started to flow faster.
CRACK! CRACK! CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!
It was at the sixth stroke that they heard the first sound from Wolfe; a short, sharp "arrrgh!"
CRACK! "Arrrgh" CRACK! "Arrrgh" CRACK! "Arrrrrrrrrrgh!"
There was silence for about five minutes, then the door opened and Wolfe appeared. He was in agony. He was gripping the seat of his trousers and trying to pull them away from his bottom! He did not look at Thomson or Digby but ran past them and disappeared down the corridor. Digby was by this time looking a nervous wreck!
"Bring Digby in, Thomson!" called the headmaster.
"I think you had better stay, Thomson," continued the headmaster when they were all inside the study, "I had enough difficulty keeping Wolfe over the desk! I am sure we are going to have trouble with Digby!"
The headmaster told Digby to stand beside the end of the desk and then ordered him to drop his trousers and briefs! It was to be a bare bottom caning! So now Thomson knew why it had seemed such a long time that Wolfe had been in the study. It takes a little while to remove and replace clothing. While it may make a difference with a spanking or a slippering, in the case of a caning the pain factor is much the same whether over the trousers or on the bare bottom. The headmaster's reason for choosing to punish on the bare was to increase the humiliation. Boys of all ages tend to have a macho image of themselves, and their ego comes down with their trousers! At least, that was probably true of Wolfe, but in Digby's case there could have been very little ego left even before he dropped his trousers!
"Bend over my desk, Digby!" said the headmaster, and then addressing Thomson he said "Go to the other end of the desk, please Thomson, and hold onto his wrists!"
Thomson grabbed Digby's wrists. He could feel the boy trembling, tears were still trickling down his face.
Swish CRACK! Swish CRACK! Swish CRACK!
Digby did not just call out! He screamed! He was twisting and writhing! Thomson was having a job to hold onto him! It did not deter the headmaster!
Swish CRACK! Swish CRACK! Swish CRACK!
Digby squirmed and kicked! He yelled and screamed!
Swish CRACK! Swish CRACK! Swish CRACK! "Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgh-arrrrrrrrrrrrrgh-arrrrrrrrrrgh!"
"Release him Thomson!" ordered the headmaster.
Digby sprang up, grabbed hold of his scorching arse and broke into a dance! Some disco music would have been appropriate here! He was roaring for all he was worth! The headmaster and Thomson stood and watched his antics, giving him time to compose himself a little.
"Get your trousers up, Digby!"
Digby pulled up his briefs and trousers. It was obvious that he would continue crying for some time to come.
"I sent Wolfe straight down to his class." said the headmaster, "That is where I want Digby to go as well. You had better accompany him, Thomson, to make sure that he gets there!"
Thomson slipped his hand under Digby's upper arm, allowing him to keep both hands clasped to his backside, escorted him from the study and took him to his classroom. Thomson knocked on the door and opened it. He could see Wolfe, still plainly in considerable pain, standing behind his desk.
"I have Digby here sir. He's been to see the headmaster!" said Thomson, stating the obvious!
He pushed the crying boy through the doorway and pulled the door shut!
"Phew!" he said to himself, He's been quite a handful!"
When the day's lessons were nearing their end Thomson sent one of the prefects to tell the two boys to report to him as soon as the class was dismissed.
"What do you want with us, Thomson?" asked Wolfe when they arrived, "We've been punished!"
Thomson smiled. "Don't I Know it! I was there, remember! Have either of you sat down since this morning?"
They both shook their heads.
"I have sent for you because I want to see your stripes! I didn't get that privilege this morning! Turn round and drop your trousers and briefs!"
Reluctantly they both did so.
"Bend over and touch your toes!"
Thomson lifted back their blazers and shirt tails.
"The headmaster certainly knows how to lay it on! Your backsides are covered with black welts! Right! Get up and replace your clothes."
They dressed themselves and turned to face Thomson.
"I think perhaps matron should have a look!" Thomson told them, "Your bottoms need a bit of attention!"
"Oh! No. Please Thomson, not that! It's not necessary!" said a very embarrassed looking Wolfe, who did not relish the thought of matron rubbing lotion onto his bare bottom!
"You heard me!" replied Thomson as he picked up the telephone. "Matron? This is Thomson. I have Wolfe and Digby here. The headmaster caned them this morning! I would like you to have a peep at their marks! Can you see them now?"
A short pause, then - "Good! They will be with you in five minutes time! Let me know if they are not!"
He put down the telephone. "You've got five minutes to get to matron! Scarper!"
Shortly after they had left Paul arrived.
"I suppose you know that Wolfe and Digby were dealt with this morning, Evens?"
"Yes Thomson! It's all round the school! They were standing up for lunch in the dining hall today!"
"Ah! Yes, of course they were!"
"What do you want me to do first?" asked Paul.
"Do? Oh! Well! I think you deserve a little reward for your part in this matter! You can have this evening off!"
"You mean I can go, Thomson?"
Thomson gave him a pat on the bottom! "I mean just that! Hop it!"
"Thanks Thomson!" said a grateful Paul as he left the room.
"You silly fool, Arnold!" the prefect said to himself, "Now you've got to clean your own shoes!"
He opened his study door. A junior boy was just passing by.
"Hey! You, Morton! Come in here!"
A timid boy crept through the doorway!
"Y-y-y-yes Thomson?"
The prefect pressed a coin into the boy's hand and held out a pair of shoes!
"Clean these shoes Morton!"
That soon solved that little problem!