"I offer you a choice" said the Headmaster. "You either pack your bags and leave Hartwell this afternoon in disgrace when your parents have come to collect you.."
The two young men glanced at each other. They both knew such an option would cause much anguish to their parents who had sacrificed so much to send them to Hartwell.
"Or," continued the Headmaster, "I am prepared to deal with this matter in a more traditional way. You will receive the beating of your lives and apologise for your grotesque behaviour to the whole school."
Again the two sixth form students looked at each other. The second option was scarcely more welcome than the first but at least bringing shame on their families could be avoided. They had neither been beaten by the Headmaster before. Beatings were rare at Hartwell and were only given when the parents had consented.
"I have, of course, spoken to your parents this morning and expressed to them that I am willing for you to make a choice. And your choice it must be. Now, what do you have to say ? What about you, Richards ?"
Daniel Richards looked first at his friend and then responded quietly to the Headmaster "I would like to receive a beating sir, if I can then remain at Hartwell."
"And what about you, Hargreaves ?" asked the Headmaster
"I feel the same as Daniel, sir. Our 'A' Levels are soon upon us and I feel I have a chance at getting into Oxford."
"Very well, then. A caning for each of you it is. And you must count yourselves fortunate that you are being offered a choice in the first place. Only your academic promise and otherwise exemplary record here have provided you with that choice."
The two students again looked at each other, partially relieved that their future at Hartwell was secure, but fearful of the punishment which was now iminent.
"You will both be caned without delay," continued the Head. "I have asked Mr. Jones to cane you, as I feel he may have a little more force of arm than I have."
The young men swallowed hard. Mr. Jones, the new, young sports master would indeed be able to wield the cane with more force than the ageing Headmaster. The Headmaster pressed a button on the intercom on his desk and instructed his secretary to call for Mr. Jones.
After what seemed an age, but was in fact no more than a couple of minutes, there was a knock at the door. Mr. Jones entered, dressed as usual in his running trousers and a white T-shirt. He looked rather menacingly at the two young men as he approached the desk.
"I understand you require my assistance, Headmaster ?" he enquired, knowing full well the reason for his presence.
"Yes, Mr. Jones. These two students have chosen the second option I discussed with you earlier. I wish you to carry out the punishment here and now."
"Certainly sir", replied the sports master. He immediately removed the whistle hanging round his neck and placed it in his pocket. Meanwhile, the Headmaster had moved over to a cupboard behind his desk and had removed a long, thin cane of about a metre in length. It looked a vicious implement. Richards and Hargreaves looked fearfully at the cruel rod which would shortly be kissing their bottoms.
"Due to the nature of the offence" said the Headteacher, "You will both receive twelve strokes of the cane, six strokes on your underwear and six strokes on your bare bottoms. This may seem harsh, but as I have already explained to you, the alternative would probably have been more so."
Again Richards and Hargreaves looked at each other. They had anticipated the customary six of the best, but twelve seemed overwealming. The prospect of a bare bottom caning to complete the punishment was a terrifying prospect. But the choice had been made and there was no going back. It would soon be over.
"Richards, you will be caned first. Approach the desk, young man. Hargreaves, you will remain seated until it is your turned to be caned."
Richards approached the desk, unsure as to what procedure to follow. He removed his jacket when instructed to do so and it was taken by the Headmaster and placed on a nearby chair. Daniel Richards was in fine shape. He was a keen sportsman and had built up powerful muscles in the school rowing team and on the rugby field. In his white shirt, blue tie and black trousers he looked a son any parent would be proud of. His bottom was full, firm and round and looked stunning beneath the cloth of his trousers. In short he had the physique of a twenty-one year old.
"Lower your trousers, Richards and bend over the desk, so that your bottom is pointing upwards" instructed Mr. Jones, taking command of the situation.
Richards did as he was told. He undid the belt of his trousers and slowly undid the zip of his trousers. He pushed his trousers down to his ankles. He bent over the large desk . It was an awesome sight. His powerful legs made their way up to two firm globes covered in a pair of white briefs.
Mr. Jones approached the desk and pulled the shirt up Daniel's back to reveal the target area more fully. Daniel's beautiful brief-covered bottom was now the filling between the tanned skin of his back and legs.
"Come back a little so that your bottom sticks up and out more!" instructed Mr. Jones. Daniel did as he was instructed, easing himself back off the desk a little. His bottom was now perfectly positioned, full and twitching slightly, awaiting the first sting of the cruel cane.
Mr. Jones viewed the sight in front of him and could not help but admire the fine buttocks he was about to cane. He remembered when he had been caned by his Headmaster at school. He was only 15 at the time and had yet to develop the fine muscles he now saw quivering before him. Daniel Richard's bottom was about to receive the caning of its young life.
Mr. Jones took a step back and raised the cane. Daniel closed his eyes, gripping the desk firmly. He urged himself not to cry out. The cane landed in the middle of his glorious bottom. Daniel let out an audible gasp as the pain raced through his body, but made no cry. Again the cane was raised and again it flew through the air, landing fully on its firm target, causing pain on both buttock. Daniel gasped at each stroke, but was able to prevent himself from crying out. He had never experienced pain like it. His bottom was on fire. He yearned to rub his buttocks, but kept his hands tightly on the desk. His bottom quivered after each stroke, almost in a gesture of defiance before the cane came down again to kiss his cheeks.
After six strokes, Daniel had his eyes closed and was longing for the ordeal to be finished. He kept telling himself that the punishment was nearly over. But the second stage was still to come. Mr. Jones placed the cane on the desk beside Daniel who opened his eyes to view the cruel weapon which was causing him so much pain. Mr. Jones placed his hands at the top of Daniel's briefs and slowly lowered them to reveal his bottom to the onlookers. The stripes of the first six strokes were clear. Mr. Jones had caned without mercy. He lowered the briefs to Daniel's ankles, just above his trousers.
Daniel Richards was an awesome sight. His bottom was sticking firmly into the air and showed the signs of the initial strokes of the rod. Ever so slightly his bottom swayed as it awaited the contact of the cane on bare flesh. Mr. Jones picked up the cane and moved back into position.
He seemed to raise the cane higher than before and brought the seventh stroke down with such a force that Daniel could not help but make a muffled cry of pain. How he yearned to rub his buttocks! His bottom quivered again. The Headmaster looked on solemnly and Hargreaves with dread as he knew he would soon be in Daniel's position.
The caning continued. Mr. Jones maintained the ferocity of each stroke. Daniel made a muffled cry as each stroke reached his bottom. After twelve strokes his eyes were full of tears and he was near breaking point, but he had summoned the courage from somewhere to prevent himself from crying out loudly. Mr. Jones replaced the cane on the desk. Daniel stayed in position, his bottom well punished, sticking defiantly up and out at his punisher.
"You may get up and dress now, Richards" said the Headmaster.
Slowly Daniel did so. He stood up and slowly reached for his underwear. He pulled them up and covered his glowing bottom slowly, trying not to make the fabric enflame the twelve strokes. Then he slowly pulled up his trousers. Turning around, he looked at Mr. Jones.
"Thank you, sir" he said quietly, half-whispering the words. He made his way to the bench where Hargreaves was sitting and sat down, wincing when his bottom touched the wood.
Hargreaves looked troubled. It was his turn now.
The End.