t I was kept at my best behaviour over the weekend although my uncle always found some reason to criticize my actions. Fortunately, the two canings I got each day were restricted to eight strokes each. All too soon Monday arrived and it was time for school and then off to Mr. Reinhardt.
Mr. Powers was in a "good" mood and only whipped 3 boys during the entire day. I got away with 3 across each thigh. After school I rushed over to Mr. Reinhardts house and this time I arrived early.
Jack frowned at me when he saw me standing there and snapped, "Why are you early? Cant you ever be on time, boy? And stop tugging at your shorts. Its very bad manners. So come in, what are you waiting for? An engraved invitation?"
He took hold of my ear and pulled me squeaking inside.
"Get into the study and take out your books. I will review some of the old subject again and this time I want them perfect. Remember what happened the last time? Well, today it will be worse if you fail again. Ive just about had it with your willful laziness and stubborn refusal to do you work properly. I have a little surprise for you, so watch out."
While I unpacked my books, Heather joined me on the seat an did likewise. Mr. Reinhardt seemed in a very bad mood and had me quaking and anxious before we even started. Heather wa smiling and quite at ease. Apparently she had her lessons under control.
We worked in silence for a while as we tried to answer questions on the tests we were given and write out long compositions on various subjects. I was wondering what that surprise Jack had mentioned might consist of and lost my concentration on what I was writing. It was a very boring subject anyway and I had not spent much time studying it.
"Put down your pencils," Jack ordered after some time. "Heather, lets have a look at your results."
He checked her answers and shook his head. "Not very good, Heather. Please review questions 8, 12, 23 and 46. Then do them over." Heather took back her sheets and went to work.
Next it was my turn and, like the last time, I did not get away as easily as Heather. "Stand up, Michael," he roared at me. "Just what exactly are you trying to pull here? Are you being impertinent submitting this kind of nonsense?"
"Oh, but please, sir -"
"Take your shorts right off," Jack snapped, his face so threatening that I didnt dare protest. I looked at Heather who was grinning at me, turned away from her and took my shorts.
"Now come over here," Jack instructed me, pointing to the sofa. "Lie on your back, right there. Now lift your legs. More. More. I want to see your feet over your shoulders. Further over. More."
I lay on the leather cushions and brought my knees back towards my ears but not far enough to please Mr. Reinhardt. "Pull behind your knees more. Now keep them there until I allow you to lower them."
I watched him from between my legs as I lay there. As I realised how exposed I was, and in plain sight of that girl who sat and watched, I felt so ashamed and humiliated I wanted to die. Instead, I started to cry. Through my tears I saw Jack return from the cupboard holding something I had not seen before.
"This, my boy, is what the French call a martinet. They use it on all those French little schoolboys who refuse to study. A martinet has several hard leather thongs with a nasty little knot at their business ends attached to short wooden handle. I will now use it on you. You will remain in position throughout or risk starting the punishment anew."
He stood by my head and I couldnt see him any more. But suddenly, after a brief pause, I saw something swoosh through the air and land - oh, God, right between my buttocks, along the cleft and across my bum hole. The burning pain made me scream with pain and surprise. The tails of the whip were hard and sharp, stinging acutely where they fell. But the little knots were very hard and bit even deeper.
"Be quiet, boy," Jack said and brought those leather strands down again, right across the same area. Only this time the knotted tips landed right on the hole and the agony was indescribable. I howled and cried bitter tears.
"You let go of your knees, boy," Jack said quietly. "So lets start again."
This time I held out for 3 strokes before flailing my legs in panic. The leather tails had landed on my private parts and stung like acid.
"Very well, it seems we will have to secure you. Otherwise this is going to take too long." He went a way for a minute or two and when he returned he produced two small leather belt which he used to tie my ankles to the sofa legs. It was a wide sofa and the legs were set wide apart with the result that my own legs were now spread to the breaking point. My chin dug into my breastbone and I thought my neck would break. My bottom was now facing the ceiling and split as wide open as was possible. I saw Heather looking at me parts.
This time the martinet swished between my legs, branding the inside of my thighs. The pain was hellish and I screamed again. I didnt know whether to keep my eyes open and see the leather tails coming at me, or keep them shut and not know when to expect the next stroke. Either way it was quite distressing
The next 3 strokes all fell onto the cleft once more and on my inflamed hole. After perhaps ten or 15 lashes, Jack changed his position and stood next to me. Then he whipped the instrument across the backs of my thighs and across the buttocks.
I struggled but was quite helpless. My ankles were firmly secured and I had no way of closing my legs or protecting my tender parts. The tips bit everywhere, the cleft, mostly on the hole, between the legs, the inside of the thighs until the entire area was an inferno of flames and hot coals. I couldnt count the strokes because I was too busy hollering and yelling at each stroke, but it took a long time before he finally put the whip down.
He stood for a moment looking down on me. "This was 20 strokes," he calmly announced. "The minimum for the martinet to make an impression on a stubborn boy like you. You will stay in this position a while longer and you will then repeat the entire exercise. You will get another 20 if you dont perform."
He turned to Heather who had quickly begun to scribble. "Have you finished?"
"Er - no, not yet. I was watching Michael getting punished."
Jack laughed. "Well, hurry up and finish. We still have to start on a new chapter."
He unbound me at last and let me up. I could hardly stand and had to walk like a duck, with spread legs, to get back to my desk, pull up my shorts - something which hurt considerably when all the tight, rough seams rubbed against my sore and tender inner areas.
I sat uncomfortably, still crying, and tried to do my work again. I didnt really know how to improve it, because I hadnt studied it well enough, and Mr. Reinhardt obviously realised that. I sat and watched Heather present her second attempt and getting praised for her efforts. Then she started work on the next lesson.
"Very well, Michael, you have had enough time now to get it right. Lets have a look."
I waited anxiously as he reviewed my new efforts. When he had finished, he put the notebooks down and looked at me for a moment. He saw the fear in my face and smiled.
"Afraid youll get another thrashing, boy?" he asked.
"Yes, sir," I whispered, still hoping to be let off.
"And you are quite right," Jack said, watching my reaction closely. He saw my eyes fill with tears and he nodded. "Yes, you have reason to cry. It was a very bad lesson you produced the first time and it wasnt any better the second time around. What did I promise you if you didnt improve?"
"Another 20," I whined.
"That is correct," Jack affirmed. "And it will be done exactly the same way. Only this time the territory has been duly prepared and the effect of each tail will be considerably enhanced. I am sure this will be of no surprise to you. Come, now, off with your shorts and onto the sofa. You should know the procedure by now. Hurry up."
It was terrible and I thought unbearable. But I was tied down and had no choice. He let me scream but gave me extra strokes for it. He whipped me as hard as he could and seemed to enjoy it. Heathers presence made everything even worse and I was still tied down when her mother came to fetch her.
I was mortified to be seen by this stranger in this completely exposed position and closed my eyes, hoping I could disappear.
"This is Michael, isnt it?" the woman asked, looking openly at my exposed buttocks. "Been naughty again?"
"Yes, Marie, and very lazy, Im afraid. I had to take some more serious measures with him today. It seems that without repeated corrections he just wont work."
"Ah, yes," Marie said indifferently. "Boys seem to be inherently lazy. Well, Heather, we better go. I still have some shopping to do. Goodbye, Jack."
I was still tied up when they left. It was another 20 minutes before I was allowed to go home. It was a slow trudge back.