Hard Lessons by Thomas
The boy approached the door with some trepidation. Previous visits here had always been embarrassing and, more often than not, rather painful. No option but to knock.
‘Come in’.
Miss Svenson was sitting at her desk as he entered the room.
‘You sent for me Headmistress?’
‘Yes Thomas. Close the door please and take a seat. I presume you know what this is all about?’
‘I think so Miss.’
‘It seems that you were discovered yesterday afternoon in a compromising situation behind the science block with a young lady. In fact you were in an embrace, kissing her with your hands down the back of her skirt.’
The boy blushed and turned his eyes downwards.
‘Do you have anything to say for yourself?’
‘Well Miss, I thought she was very pretty ever since she arrived at the school and had a bit of a crush on her but didn’t think she had even noticed me. Yesterday I was getting ready to go home and, on my way out, I ran into her in the corridor. I was really surprised when she smiled at me and called out “James. Have you got a minute? I would like to show you something.” She even knew my name and of course I wasn’t going to turn her down. So I agreed to follow her. She was wearing a very short skirt and high heels and I just couldn’t take my eyes off her, the way she walked.’
‘Yes Thomas. Just get on with it,’ said Miss Svenson rather irritably.
‘When we had passed the science block she stopped and turned around beckoning me to come closer. As I caught up with her she flung her arms round my neck and began kissing me – you know tongue inside my mouth and everything. I just lost control of myself and grabbed her. And then the Geography teacher came round the corner.’
‘So it was the girl who instigated the incident?’
‘Yes Miss.’
The Headmistress pressed the intercom buzzer on her desk.
‘Miss Evans. Would you step into my office for a minute please?’
Moments later there was a knock at the door and a young woman entered.
‘Ah Miss Evans. I have just heard some disturbing news and would like your clarification. Thomas here tells me that you were responsible for the unfortunate incident yesterday afternoon. I would like to know if that is in fact the case.’
‘Yes Miss Svenson. I admit that I led James on, perhaps a bit too much in the circumstances.’
‘Very well.’
The Headmistress turned again to the boy, smiling a little wistfully.
‘Thomas. I understand that at your age, what is it, fifteen coming on sixteen, your hormones are beginning to run riot. I also see that Miss Evans is a very attractive girl. So in one sense I cannot blame you for reacting in the way you did. However, there are important things you have to learn. First of all, whatever your feelings, I cannot have these displays on school grounds. Secondly you will in later life have to learn self control. There are many times as an adult when your emotions draw you to behave in a certain way but circumstances demand that you act otherwise. So I am afraid I will have to punish you severely in order that you understand school rules and self discipline. Is that clear?’
The boy looked at her sheepishly.
‘Yes Miss, very clear Miss.’
‘Well you have been here before haven’t you?’
The boy nodded his head gloomily.
‘Prepare yourself then and we will get started.’
Thomas got up from his chair and moved towards the Headmistress’ desk. He unbuckled his belt and let his trousers drop around his ankles, then lowered his underpants, hitched up his shirt tail and leant forward over the desk, reaching for the far edge which he gripped tightly. Meanwhile Miss Svenson went to her cupboard and selected a thick but flexible cane which she flourished experimentally in the air.
Miss Evans looked alarmed.
‘I really think I should leave now Miss Svenson.’
‘Not at all. I require you to witness this punishment. Please sit down in Thomas’ place.’
Meekly the young woman did as she was told.
‘This, Miss Evans, is known as a senior cane with which I am going to beat your young friend’, the Headmistress continued. ‘It causes searing pain upon immediate impact but the recipient also suffers longer term damage as you will soon see. Are you ready Thomas?’
‘Yes Miss. How many strokes please Miss?’
‘That is for me to decide and for you to know when your punishment is over. And remember, you are not to move from that position until I say so.’
‘Very well Miss.’
Another trial swish of the cane after which she swung her arm back high over her head and then lashed down with the first blow. Almost immediately an angry red weal developed where the cane had landed. After a short pause came the second stroke, this time a little higher to similar effect. A further four blows landed before the Headmistress changed position and then continued with another six from the other side.
‘Stand up and put your hands on your head.’
Miss Evans watched in horrified fascination. Despite the severity of the blows, the boy had barely flinched. She observed the pattern of parallel red slashes across his bottom and was surprised to experience a certain feeling of aesthetic satisfaction.
Miss Svenson then spoke.
‘Do you understand why you are being punished?’
‘I think so Miss.’
‘In case you are in any doubt, you have been caned for inappropriate behaviour in school grounds and I will enter this justification for a dozen strokes in the punishment book. Do you have anything to say?’
‘Thank you for caning me on my bare bottom for inappropriate behaviour in school grounds Miss.’
‘I am glad to hear that you understand the correct procedure Thomas. Otherwise we would of course have to begin again.’
‘Yes Miss’.
‘Back down now.’
‘Please Miss, but I have already been punished.….’
‘Back down boy!’
‘Yes Miss.’ And he stretched himself back over the desk.
There followed a repeat of the first twelve which, if anything, Miss Evans judged to be even harder than the first. Again six were delivered from the right and six from the left and at the end the livid red stripes were already beginning to merge into a large purple area of bruised flesh.
‘Stand up and hands on head.’
Thomas did as he was told.
‘Do you understand why I continued your punishment?’
‘Not really Miss, sorry Miss,’ the boy stammered.
‘The second dozen were to remind you not to lose your self control.’
‘Thank you for caning me on my bare bottom for losing my self control Miss.’
‘Very well Thomas, you may get dressed.’
The boy very gingerly eased his underpants back on, pulled up his trousers and did up his belt.
‘Will that be all then Miss?’
‘Yes Thomas. That is all for now. I hope you will remember these two lessons and that therefore I will not see you back here in the near future. You may go now’
‘Yes Miss and thank you Miss.’
The two of them shook hands formally and the boy shuffled out rather stiffly. After he had closed the door Miss Svenson replaced the cane in the cupboard and returned to her desk.
‘You see Miss Evans the discomfort that boy has suffered. The deep bruising will last for up to a week and he will find sitting down very uncomfortable. He will not forget this in a hurry and unfortunately may well associate you with his pain. I hope now that you realise what you have done.’
‘I certainly meant no harm Miss Svenson, but I do understand what you are saying and am very sorry.’
‘Would you please stand up Miss Evans.’
The girl did as she was asked and stood awkwardly beside the high backed chair in front of the Headmistress’ desk. Miss Svenson looked her up and down.
‘That mini-dress you are wearing is quite unsuitable for a school environment, particularly where there are teenage boys’ she observed.
‘I understand Headmistress. I will be more circumspect in future but may I go now?’
‘You certainly may not my girl. We still have to discuss your part in this affair. Now, correct me if I am wrong. When you applied for this job, you understood that it was a temporary position for six months while my regular secretary was on maternity leave?’
‘Yes, that is correct.’
‘Well, temporary or not, I am afraid your behaviour clearly constitutes gross misconduct which normally would result in automatic and immediate dismissal.
‘But Miss Svenson, please.…..
The Headmistress held up her hand to stifle the protest.
‘Hear me out girl. I am not an unreasonable woman. All our parents and most of the pupils realise that I run a strict regime at the school, but that I aim to be scrupulously fair. That means that whatever punishment I mete out is intended to fit the misdemeanour. So to continue with your case. You told me at your interview that you needed to work for these six months to save some money and that then you intended to go to College to study with a view to qualifying as a teacher yourself.’
‘Yes Headmistress.’
‘Whether or not I think you would eventually make a good teacher is not important, but I certainly approve your ambition. I therefore am prepared to offer you an alternative to being sacked. If you are prepared to receive a good spanking from me, I will overlook the matter. What do you say?’
The girl looked somewhat apprehensive and bit her lower lip.
‘Is that the only other way Headmistress?’
‘I am afraid so and I need your answer now.’
‘Very well.’
Miss Svenson rose from behind her desk and seated herself on the chair beside the girl. She patted her lap.
‘Over here please Miss Evans,’ she commanded in a stern voice.
Obligingly the girl bent over the Headmistress’ knees, her mini-dress riding up to reveal rounded cheeks protected only by a pair of flimsy briefs.
Miss Svenson set to work straight away with the open palm of her hand. The girl had been smacked by her mother when she was little if she had been naughty but it was always over in seconds and followed by hug and a kiss. This was very different.
Relentlessly the hand came down spreading the blows around the exposed flesh which rapidly turned pink and then gradually crimson. And the stinging sensation was so much more intense than she had expected. She tried to wriggle and squirm but Miss Svenson’s free hand in the small of her back held her firmly in position. She gave up the struggle and began to sob quietly.
She lost count of how many blows she had felt but it must have been more than fifty when suddenly the onslaught ceased.
‘You may get up now,’ came that voice again.
She struggled to her feet and rubbed herself vigorously in an attempt to ease the pain.
Miss Svenson got to her feet.
‘So do you understand why you have been spanked?’
‘Yes Headmistress. For inappropriate behaviour on school grounds.’
Miss Svenson allowed herself a small smile.
‘Oh no, Miss Evans. You have been punished so far for wearing unsuitable clothing to school. We will now deal with your behaviour.’
The secretary was aghast and for a moment unable to speak.
‘For that I think we should have you experience a little of what you caused your little friend to suffer a few minutes ago.’
She now had to blurt out ‘not that horrible cane, please Miss!’
‘No Miss Evans. I very rarely use the senior cane on the girls. And I promised you a good spanking you will remember. Caning is something different. Spanking can either be by hand or with some other flat and usually flexible implement like a slipper for instance.’
Miss Svenson walked back to her cupboard and selected a heavy leather strap which she tested with a gentle tap on the palm of her own hand.
‘I think this will do very nicely. Now Miss Evans, would you kindly assume the position which you have recently had demonstrated. And please lower those panties and ensure the back of your skirt is lifted. I want to be quite sure of my aim.’
The secretary knew she had to comply and, with a horrified look on her face, sprawled across the desk as she had been told. She also took the precaution of grasping the far edge.
Miss Svenson moved towards her menacingly.
‘Are you ready for your punishment?’
‘Not really Miss.…I mean please don’t hurt me any more. I am really sorry for what I did.’
‘Not as sorry as you will be when we have finished. Now prepare yourself.’
The first slap caused the girl to jerk upright and reach behind her with both hands in a vain attempt to protect herself.
‘As I omitted to warn you to stay still, I will not begin again. Get back down and count out the strokes.’
The girl slumped forward and resignedly breathed out the word ‘One’.
There followed a further five from the right before The Headmistress changed sides. After each the girl counted as instructed, her voice becoming ever weaker. ‘Seven, eight, nine ow! Ten, eleven, ahhhh.….……twelve. Where before she had felt an intense stinging, now she was very sore and felt that her skin was on fire.
‘That completes your punishment Miss Evans. You may stand up and get dressed.
The girl straightened up, rubbed herself gently, retrieved her underwear and very gingerly smoothed down the back of her dress.
‘In the same way as young Thomas will not forget his caning today I think you will remember this experience for some time Miss Evans. I hope you have learned your lesson. The punishment should always fit the crime.’
And indeed Miss Evans did remember. Many years later as a Headteacher in a school of her own she recognised the importance of strict discipline and applied it very much in the way she had learned in Miss Svenson’s study that day.