Conrad Rice was a prefect at Odminster Grammar School. He was thoroughly disliked by almost everyone who knew him and that included most of the teaching staff. When Mr Booth, the headmaster, had carried out a surprise visit to the train which brought some pupils to school, he had expected that his haul would simply be a few bottoms to cane attached to boys who were failing to obey school rules and wear their school caps. However, Roy Norris had been annoyed by the prefect's attitude, and tactfully drew the headmaster's attention to the fact that Rice was on the train. He had been missed earlier because of a timely visit to the toilet. Now it was almost half past three and Rice was due in the headmaster's study.
He stood outside, looked at his watch and waited until the exact moment. He was in enough trouble already and wanted to be neither late nor early.
He knocked.
"Come in!"
He entered, closed the door and crossed to stand in front of the headmaster' s desk.
The previous visitor had been Stuart Pearce. He had been asked to open the window but he now felt that he owed a duty of loyalty to the Headmaster after being told some confidential material about Rice. The headmaster actually half hoped that he would pass the information on that the window was open so that others might learn of the treatment Rice received. As it happened, Stuart had to do nothing. Other members of the sixth form were aware of Rice's appointment and were looking for a chance to eavesdrop. By chance, just before Rice went in, three of them discovered the open window. It was in a rarely used space but in a courtyard leading between the boarders accommodation and the sixth form block. They could stand and listen, and walk on should anyone else appear.
"You wanted to see me, sir?"
"In actual fact I didn't want to see you. It's my unfortunate duty to have to do so. You are a thundering disgrace. Why on earth you were ever made a prefect I cannot even begin to comprehend. I felt like that before today. You are arrogant, conceited, selfish and bone-idle and often rude. You hardly bother to make an effort to carry out your prefect's duties and your colleagues are forever covering for you. Then I find you ignoring the fact that you are in a train half full of cap-less boys, without a cap yourself, sprawling with your feet on a seat someone else is going to have to sit on and smoking."
Before Mr Booth could go any further, Rice said, "Do you want my resignation, sir?"
"I'd like nothing better, Rice. Unfortunately, I will have to write to the universities you have applied to and tell them, not that you've resigned, but that I had to dismiss you for gross dereliction of duty."
"Actually, you won't sir. I had a letter from Birmingham yesterday. It was the last of the ones I'd applied to and I've been turned down at them all. Unless you expel me for this, I'll be staying till I've done my 'A' levels, and then Dad will give me a job in his firm. I was going to end up there anyway. I'd prefer to be allowed to resign instead of being sacked, sir, if you'll allow it. I've got it written out already."
"We'll think about that. As you say, expulsion could be an option. Just work out what we've got to punish you for. If it's caning, you suggest how many strokes would be appropriate for a prefect. On second thoughts, apart from failing in prefect's duties in ignoring the other boys' behaviour we can forget about the fact that you are a prefect. Simply take account of the fact that you are a member of the upper sixth."
"Yes, sir."
"Very well. Failure to be wearing your cap?"
"I know that you gave Pearce six, sir, so I suppose that's what it would be for me."
"Smoking?"
"I suppose that'll be another six, sir."
"Antisocial behaviour in a public place in school uniform, by having your feet on the opposite seat."
"I don't know, sir. That's probably worse than either of the other two. Can you go over six?"
"It might be possible to go up to twelve if I get permission from the Chairman of the Foundation."
"I suppose that'll be nine, then, sir."
"Then we have the failure to ensure school rules are obeyed, resulting in six other boys being caned today."
"No idea, sir. If you can't got above twelve, then I suppose it's twelve, but one other prefect told me today that he thought I ought to have as many as all the others had had because it was my fault."
Mr Booth said, "That seems to add up to thirty three or more, doesn't it? You said you are prepared to resign as prefect. I find that is a relief, because I was going to have to add extra if you were to remain in office. However, it is clearly enough to justify expulsion."
"Not that, sir, please."
"Can you suggest a reason why I shouldn't?"
"Just that it would be a terrible disgrace, sir."
"Very well. I knew that we would have to be making serious decisions about you and your future and so I have already discussed what we should do with the Chairman of the Foundation. I will amend what is offered, in view of your ceasing to be a prefect. As that makes it milder, I'll still be within what he has agreed. You are over eighteen and so we have no worries about cruelty to children. If you are to avoid expulsion, you will receive 12 strokes now. You will report tomorrow in gym kit and then receive a further twelve. After repeating the procedure on the next day I think we will then be able to regard the whole matter as closed."
Reluctantly Rice said, "It'll have to be the caning then, sir, please."
Just at that moment, the phone rang.
"Wait outside, please."
Rice went out and closed the door. It was Colonel Gillespie, Chairman of the Foundation. After a few minutes conversation, the phone was replaced and Mr Booth called Rice back.
"I'm sorry. I have to withdraw that offer. The call was from the Chairman."
"Do you mean I'm going to be expelled, sir?"
"Not necessarily. He's varied it. He feels that, for a prefect, and you were one, to behave in the way you did is too serious for any amount of caning. The birch is still used in some public schools and judicially in some places. In view of the fact that you are ceasing to be a prefect I have managed to talk him down from the minimum of eighteen strokes he was suggesting to a minimum of twelve."
"What's a birch, sir?"
"Actually, I think the ones he will provide will be willow. It's a bundle of probably four or five thinnish switches tied together at one end and applied with maximum force across your bare backside."
"I've still got no choice, sir. It'll have to be that. When is it to happen?"
"I'll have to find out when the gym is free. We'll need to use the horse to hold you down. There's one other thing. This is different from the basis on which you were admitted to the school. I will need your father's agreement. I'll get a letter written for him. Call in at the end of school today and you can take it home for him. By the way, the birch is a fairly fearsome weapon and you'll certainly be cut with it. I'll make arrangements for first aid, but bring some spare underpants and a towel and the rest so that you can have a shower. Make sure you don't go without that letter."
Just as he went out, Mr Booth heard a sound from the window behind him. He crossed and lifted the blind. There was no disguising the fact that two sixth formers were listening and another was just departing round the corner.
"You two, get round here fast."
They ran off. He closed the window and the blind. He knew that he had established the situation where he could be overheard together with arranging that that information would be available. Nevertheless, they should not have been eavesdropping and it provided him with another legitimate opportunity to operate his cane.
Surprisingly quickly, a knock at the door heralded the arrival of two breathless six formers, Terry Pickering and Peter Webster.
Mr Booth said, "Well?"
Terry replied, "Sorry sir. We knew we shouldn't be there but we really wanted to know what was going to happen about that creep, Rice."
Mr Booth said, "As you have said, it shouldn't have happened and you both know the consequences?"
Peter replied, "Yes, sir. It's obvious. It's got to be the whack."
Just then the bell went and Mr Booth said, "I'll see you both tomorrow. Make arrangements before school. It'll probably be a free period as you're sixth formers."
Terry asked, "Will you want us in gym kit like you've been seeing people today, sir? I'll need to bring mine specially if you do. That's why I'm asking."
Mr Booth replied, "It was because I was seeing so many people today. I could expend a little less effort."
Terry replied, "I think it might be better, sir. Like you said, it shouldn't have happened and even though I'm not worried about Rice, you've got to land on guys who listen at your window. Even that slob might have needed to tell you something personal."
Peter added, "I agree, sir."
"Very well. Gym kit it is. Now be off please."
By the time Conrad Rice had got home he had decided that there must be an easier way out of his current situation and he used the technique which had been successful many times in the past. He explained the problem to his mother and had no difficulty in persuading her that the proposed punishment was excessive. She took the letter from Mr Booth and promised to explain things to his father before handing it to him.
The outcome of this manipulation was that his father saw Conrad later that evening and said, "Your mother has explained the problem we've got. Naturally, we don't want you expelled, but there must be some other way out of the problem. Do you think this will provide a cooling down period?"
He passed over a letter. It read:
Dear Mr Booth,
Thank you for the letter which my son, Conrad, handed to me this evening. I regret that he is causing you a problem and would try to avoid his expulsion from the school. Nevertheless, I consider the alternative proposed by the Chairman of the Foundation to be excessive particularly as he has already been deprived of his status as a prefect.
I am there fore requesting the opportunity of an interview with you before any further action is taken. Perhaps you will be kind enough to let me know when it will be convenient for me to come in to see you.
Yours truly,
Melvin Rice
Conrad said, "Thanks, Dad. He might see sense just because of the delay and you'll be able to persuade him in any case if he wants to meet you.
Next morning Mr Booth sat at his desk contemplating the previous day's events and what was to come. He made a mental note that if ejaculation was to become a possibility during a day's work, he would need to keep some spare underpants in school.
The first knock on his door produced Stuart Pearce.
"You aren't in trouble again, are you, Pearce?"
"No, sir. It's just that I wanted to say that, with that pair of idiots listening at the window yesterday, it wasn't me who told them it was open. After you'd trusted me so much I couldn't have betrayed you."
Mr Booth half smiled. "Actually, I was half hoping that you would pass the message on. I have no objections to the whole sixth form knowing what is happening to that young man. It's just unfortunate that they made a noise which made my catching them inevitable. I take it that you know what's going to happen to him by way of punishment?"
"No, sir."
"I can tell you because he would like the news spread without his having to explain. He'd done so much including gross dereliction of duty as a prefect, smoking, lounging about in uniform with his feet on a seat and not wearing a cap that the caning would have been formidable. The Chairman has withdrawn permission for that and left him with the option of expulsion or the birch. He's going for the birch and we'll get it done today sometime."
"I've read about birching, sir. It'll be fairly bad won't it?"
"Yes, but it was in regular use in the Chairman's school. He's all for it. By the way, are you free first lesson this morning?"
"Yes, sir."
"Can you spare the time to come for a discussion here?"
"Yes, sir. There's not work desperate to be done."
"Come along after assembly. Come straight in and get one of the chairs for a seat."
Another knock had Stuart replaced by the eavesdroppers.
Mr Booth said, "Pearce and I had a heart to heart after he was caned and we exchanged confidences. He simply came to assure me that he had not told anyone about the open window and I recalled that I had had it opened hoping that he would pass the fact on. It's my fault that you did it. We can scrub the caning.
Peter said, "I don't know about Pickering, sir, but I don't think that would be right. We were looking for some way to find out what had happened and we walked past and saw the window open. Nobody told us about it so Pearce was right, but I think I ought to have a caning for it sir."
Terry added, "I feel the same way, sir. It was wrong and we knew it. I know Rich is a real creep but even he should be able to talk with you without being overheard."
Mr Booth asked, "As you're prescribing a caning, how many strokes do you recommend?"
Terry said, "At our age, if a caning is due it ought to be at least six."
"It can't be above six unless I get permission from the chairman and I'm not going to ask."
Peter said, "It looks like six is right then, sir."
Terry said, "I agree, sir."
"When are your free?"
Peter replied, "We're both free first period then we've both got lessons until last period, sir."
"Very well. Come along at the beginning of the last lesson. The least you are entitled to is some privacy and last lesson will save your having to sit with sore bottoms through your lessons. No-one will know apart from anyone you choose to inform. Can you afford the time to come along to help in a discussion during the first period."
Terry said, "Yes, sir. At least I can. I'm right up to date with work and was only going to do some reading. I can do that any time."
Peter said, "I'm the same, sir. I'm a boarder and it was so boring last night that I did all the work I might have done this morning."
"Come straight here after assembly."
"Yes, sir."
Soon afterwards, Conrad Rice presented himself. He stood smugly in front of the headmaster's desk and presented the letter which he knew was refusing the caning.
Mr Booth read it and then said, "I see. Very well. I'll have to consider how we move forward from here. What lesson have you, first period?"
"It's free, sir."
"Wait outside here, then. You can stay there during assembly. That will save you the embarrassment of hearing the announcement that you have ceased to be a prefect. I'll see you after assembly and we'll discuss your future then."
After assembly Conrad Rice stood outside, wondering why Terry Pickering, Peter Webster and Stuart Pearce arrived and went in before the headmaster had arrived. A minute or two later the great man himself appeared accompanied by Mr Carr, the Games Master.
Mr Booth said, "You can come in as well, Rice."
Soon there was a group sitting facing the headmaster.
"I have asked you here this morning because I really need advice on what is seen within the school as a fair level of punishment. Forget anything that may have happened recently. Simply treat this as a hypothetical discussion. Assume that we are thinking of a run of the mill sixth form with a normal record. What would be a fair punishment for not wearing cap in a public place on the way to school?"
Stuart asked, "Do you really want us to be frank, sir?"
"Yes please. That's why I'm asking you."
"Well sir, I really think it should be nothing but that's because I think the school rule is unnecessary and stupid."
Peter said, "I think I agree but it is a rule so breaking it gets punished. You know, a car driver might think that driving at forty five miles an hour in a built up area when there's no other traffic and nobody around is alright, but he still gets done for breaking the law if he gets caught."
Stuart said, "I accept that and I thought the six I got for it was fair."
Mr Booth asked, "Is that generally accepted?"
Terry said, "I should think anybody in the sixth form would be expecting that if they were caught."
Mr Booth said, "A different offence? Smoking."
Peter said, "I've probably got a thing about this. I hate smoking, partly because I had an uncle who died of lung cancer and the doctors said it was smoking that gave it to him. I'd say at least six if he was out of sight but if any younger kids could see him it ought to be more because it's a bad example and they'll be trying to do it because it looks like the grownup thing to do."
Terry said, "You'd have to get special permission to go above six, wouldn't you, sir?"
The headmaster didn't get a chance to reply. Stuart said, "Not really, it's two different things isn't it? There's smoking against school rules, but if you are doubly stupid and do it where younger kids can see you, it's leading them astray. If it's like that I'd say at least nine. That would be six for breaking the rule and another three on a sore bum or the other."
Mr Booth said, "What about sitting on a train in school uniform with your feet on the opposite seat?"
Stuart said, "That's another double offence isn't it? There's disgracing the school because somebody from outside could see you and there's bound to be a railway regulation against doing that. You could easily leave dirt of the seat and it could muck somebody's clothes up if they sat on it, especially if it was a lady with a light coloured dress or coat. I'd put that at at least two sixes."
Peter said, "I agree. It could be even worse if he'd stood in some dog _s_h_i_t_ - sorry sir, dog muck, and got something nasty on his shoe."
Mr Booth said, "What does that come to?"
Terry said, "Six plus nine plus twelve. That's twenty seven."
"Would it be the same if it was a prefect?"
Peter said, "Of course it wouldn't sir. Prefect's have accepted the job and they must know that more is expected of them and so they would get more if they slip. In fact, I suppose double would be fair for a prefect."
Mr Booth said, "That was the situation we were in with Rice here until the Chairman of the Foundation withdrew the permission he had given me to go beyond six because it was still going to take far too long. Instead, he suggested that he should be birched and gave permission for that. How many strokes of the birch would you feel was appropriate?"
Peter said, "I've got a cousin who goes to a school where they use the birch. At a guess from what he says, a stroke of the birch is about as bad as two or three whacks from the cane. We got it to 27 for an ordinary sixth former so it could be as many as fifty for a prefect. Call it forty eight because that divides by three. Eighteen strokes from the birch or two dozen if you divide by two."
Stuart said, "That seems fair to me."
Terry added, "I agree."
Conrad Rice spoke for the first time during this discussion.
"I know this is all aimed at me but I can't see the point of wasting time like this. I gave you the letter my father gave me to give to you sir, and he refuses to give you permission to do it to me. Mum says something like that would be barbaric."
Mr Booth said, "You gave me the letter your father gave you. I accept that. What you didn't realise is that your father gave you that letter to make sure that you got to school. If you had known his true intentions, you would have truanted. Let me read you the letter he delivered this morning on his way to work."
He took another piece of paper from a drawer in his desk and said, "I'll miss the opening bit and come to the main body. Your father says, 'I regret these events and regret that I have probably been far too soft with him. I hereby authorise you to use the birch on Stuart Rice, my son. I would have no objections to your going to the limit the Chairman proposed of twenty five. I am also enclosing in the parcel, spare underpants, a towel and washing equipment for him to be able to have a shower and change his underclothes.'"
Conrad suddenly got to his feet and made a dive for the door. Next to him, Stuart moved equally quickly and brought him down in a rugby tackle.
"I don't know what you're going to get but you'll deserve it all and more."
The headmaster stood and said, "Just to prevent any more attempts to escape, I think we need to deal with the matter straightaway. Perhaps we can all escort him across to the gym."
A few minutes later they were in a large space in one of the changing rooms. The door was locked to prevent intruders and to make sure Conrad did not successfully escape. Mr Carr had clearly been expecting things to develop this way. The horse which had the straps the school had seen recently was there. So, too, was a bucket in which the birch rods were being kept fresh in water.
Peter and Stuart saw what was needed and escorted Conrad to the horse.
Mr Booth said, "Take your jacket off, please."
Slowly, Conrad obeyed. Terry took it and hung it on a peg.
"Now your tie and open the top button of your shirt."
That was also done.
"Now drop your trousers and pants."
He stood motionless.
Stuart said, "I can help if you want."
"You can bugger off."
The headmaster said, "Either you take them off or I'll ask them to do so. You are going to be birched. I haven't decided how many strokes yet, though. Bad language could also increase your allocation."
Realising that he was cornered and not wanting to risk an even bigger beating, he obeyed.
"Now place yourself over the horse."
The three boys and the gym master fastened his arms and legs. The gym master then fastened the strap round his waist. There was now no escape.
He lay there looking anxiously around, aware of the vulnerability of his naked seat. He could see the bundles of switches and knew that he would soon be feeling one of them.
Mr Carr lifted Rice's shirt tail well clear of his bottom. For the first time, the headmaster could see the target. It was not too attractive. Rice was overweight and unfit. Yet again, even this sight was reminding Mr Booth that he might not be as hetero_s_e_x_ual as he might have thought. This was at a time when active homo_s_e_x_uality was still both illegal and entirely socially unacceptable. Indeed, they were feelings of which Mr Booth knew so little that he was unable to explain them, even to himself.
Conrad Rice decided to have one more go.
"For heaven's sake, sir, don't use them."
The headmaster's answer was to come back from the thoughts the sight of the naked rump had aroused and return to the task in hand, reminding himself at the same time that the boy richly deserved all that was coming to him and then he aimed with the birch rod, took it back and then drove it into the waiting rump with all the force he could muster. Rice's entire body went rigid, his head shot back and he cried out. He had made his protest but was now determined to try to take what was coming with as much dignity as he could manage rather than leave his headmaster with a sense of having won. It was going to be difficult.
Mr Carr said, "One."
The other boys were now standing back but within full view of the proceedings. Not one of them felt any sympathy for the boy writhing there.
They watched the headmaster take the weapon back again and once again, crash it into the bruised seat. This time, the first specks of blood began to appear. Rice cried out.
Mr Carr said, "Two."
After the fourth stroke, Mr Carr passed the headmaster a second weapon, saying, "Some parts of that one will be breaking by now, headmaster."
The weapon was exchanged. Two more strokes fell and Mr Booth passed the birch to Mr Carr saying, "Will you give him the next six, please? You can manage from the other side and it wraps round in a way a cane doesn't. It's only fair that he's balanced up. Try to make it about the power that I was using."
Mr Booth contrived to put himself out of the line of vision of the others in the room. Once again he was having difficulty with an erection which had got caught in his clothing and was being held uncomfortably. It was not too difficult. Rice was fully occupied with the events around his rear and the others were too interested in the same developments. He adjusted himself and took over the counting role. After eight, the final weapon was taken. Mr Carr completed the full dozen. Conrad Rice's rump was cut and raw.
Mr Booth looked at the rump. It was true that it was very sore and that there was some minor bleeding but it would be perfectly reasonable to add a few more. He said, "Twelve was the minimum that the Chairman was prepared to accept. I could well have kept it to that had your attitude and behaviour today been better. Your colleagues have indicated that between eighteen and two dozen would be perfectly fair. We'll see how you are feeling after another six."
He collected another birch rod and returned to Rice.
Once again, the weapon struck the suffering rump. Once again, Rice almost shrieked as he felt its impact. The headmaster gave him two more before considering handing the weapon to the gym master to balance him up. He realised that his throbbing organ was becoming more excited and there was a possibility of his coming if he continued active involvement. He might as well get something out of the encounter with this disgusting boy.
He drew the birch right back and struck, as hard as he could, low of the buttocks which had escaped the worst of the treatment. There was another satisfying cry from the far end of the boy and, he suspected, a slight leak into his underpants.
Only two to go and Mr Carr was waiting until Rice was ready before giving the count.
"Sixteen."
Once again the birch road was drawn back and once again it slashed forward.
"Arggh!"
Rice cried out as he squirmed in his bindings.
Only one more stroke would be needed.
"Seventeen."
The final stroke was given and Mr Booth knew that, if he was going to come today it would have to wait until later in the day, possibly with one or other of the very much more attractive boys he was to see then.
Rice was lying there moaning.
Mr Booth was still determined to have the boy eat humble pie although he was not prepared to add more simply so that he could have his ejaculation. He moved to where Rice could see him.
"Do you now regret your disgraceful behaviour?"
Through tears, Rice said, "Yes, sir."
"In view of your defiance, even in here, would it be reasonable for us to give you more?"
"I suppose it would, sir, but please don't. I was scared stiff."
The headmaster looked towards the other boys.
"Do you think that will have been enough to teach him?"
Stuart replied, "Probably not, sir"
Rice almost screamed "Are you trying to get me some more?"
Stuart continued, "As I was saying before I was rudely interrupted, probably not, but I doubt if any more would do it, either."
Terry said, "I agree, sir. If he's going to learn, that ought to be enough."
"Undo his straps. We'll risk it's being enough."
Mr Carr said, "I'll get him across to the sick bay, headmaster, after he's had a shower and dressed himself. I've arranged that Matron will give him first aid and put antiseptic on his cuts."
Peter said, "One of us can do that, sir. You'll be wanting to get the gym right for next lesson."
Peter Webster waited until the ex-prefect had dressed again and then led a still shaken Conrad Rice away. The other two boys assisted in tidying the gym and returning the horse.
As for Mr Booth, he returned to his study but, as he followed the other two boys for the first part of the journey, he overheard Rice say, "That was brutal. It was far too much."
Peter replied, "To be honest, I think you deserved everything you got. If I' d been deciding, I think it would have gone to the full twenty five or whatever it was that he had permission to give you."
The headmaster parted from them and was unable to hear the rest of the conversation but was pleased to hear that his estimate of what was right was approved by at least one boy, when not in conversation with him.
Back in his study, he was able to get on with some marking and allow his organ to calm down until the final lesson of the day.
That afternoon, as soon as the school had quietened down, he knew that Pickering and Webster would be back. Even the thought of further canings being required started movement towards another erection. Rice's rump had been a little gross. The two he was to meet were well formed and attractive. They were the sort which increasingly he would have liked to have smoothed and stroked. Recognising this he tried to adjust himself and his underclothes to guard against further difficulties should it become excited.
They arrived together.
Peter Webster said, "Unless you want it different, sir, we've tossed up and it's me to have the first caning."
"You might at least speak decent English, Webster."
"What was wrong with what I said, sir?"
"Let me remind you of what was probably third form English grammar or even earlier. The verb 'to be' takes a complement. You do not say 'it's me'. It should have been 'it is I'."
Webster grinned and said, "I never get that right, sir. Perhaps it's because I'm doing science now. Alright, sir. If we are dealt with like we tossed up, it's Pickering has his second."
"Either order will suit me."
In response to this, Terry Pickering went out, Peter Webster selected the chair that he needed and Mr Booth went to the cupboard containing his canes. There, he hesitated. He had admitted on the previous day that he was partly responsible but both boys had insisted that they deserved punishment. Had it not been for his own responsibility in the matter, he would have taken this matter very seriously and he felt that both boys would prefer it that way. He rejected using the senior cane and, instead, took out one of the specials. With its extra length it would make the impact which was needed to draw attention to the seriousness of the offence.
He checked the waiting boy who was not looking at him, made a final adjustment to his groin region and crossed the room. Once again he found himself facing a bottom encased in thin white gym shorts. He had his duty to do.
Peter Webster knew that he had been wrong. This was the one and only time in his entire school career when he had asked for a caning. He had never resented punishment when it was due but he felt guilty about having heard so much private about Rice. He hoped that Mr Booth would not try to be lenient. He was aware of the headmaster preparing to strike. Then the first stroke cut into his seat, sending out waves of pain such as he had never previously experienced.
THWACKK!
He clamped his jaws together to prevent the cry of anguish which was trying to force itself through his lips. He tightened his grip on the chair to make sure that he did not let go. He could not prevent his body stiffening or his head going back in response.
Mr Booth saw the reaction and felt that he had been right in selecting that cane. He was also aware of the increasing activity within his own trousers and was grateful that he had placed his member so that it had space for comfortable expansion. Webster had accepted that this punishment was required. He did not need humiliation. Mr Booth gave him time to accept the previous stroke and settle down before aiming the second. With the added length which this cane had, aiming had to be done more carefully.
THWACKK!
It was with satisfaction that he saw it strike about an inch below the already visible stripe left by the first stroke. Once again, there was a pause allowing Webster to recover his poise.
THWACKK!
Peter Webster had been counting. He was half way through.
THWACKK!
THWACKK!
THWACKK!
Steadily, Mr Booth had applied each stroke.
"That's your allocation, Webster. You can get up."
Peter stood and Mr Booth said, "You can give it a rub if you like."
Contrary to the established tradition in the school, Peter accepted the invitation.
He felt the raised ridges which now marked each stroke and went over to sign the punishment book. When that had been completed, he said, "Thank you for doing it properly, sir. I was afraid you wouldn't, with our asking for it."
"I thought I knew what was needed."
"You got it right, sir."
"Leave the chair. Pickering is about the same size as you are."
Peter took this as his dismissal.
He was replaced by Peter Pickering who was soon bent over at the same chair. Mr Booth viewed the vision which attracted him even more. A well formed bottom supported by smooth white legs. The now familiar throbbing was developing and the headmaster was horrified to recognise that he would have liked nothing more than to have relieved that throbbing in the bottom which was offered. He also understood that that was a desire which could never be realised with a boy in the school, not only because of the law, but because it would have been completely immoral. All he could do was apply the cane.
Terry waited for the first stroke, as Peter Webster had done a few minutes earlier. Like his friend, he not only accepted that the caning was due. He understood that it was right and that he would have felt wrong if it had not been applied.
THWACKK!
As soon as he had had time to settle after that first stroke, he realised that it was a corker and he was grateful. He felt cleansed by it.
THWACKK!
He clung to the chair with jaws clamped tight as the punishment continued. In a way it was more significant than a punishment. It was a penance.
THWACKK!
Mr Booth was reacting differently, of course. The throbbing in his trousers was reaching fever pitch and he was already asking himself whether he would need to change his underpants after he had finished.
THWACKK!
After that fourth stroke, he knew that he would. He had already begun to come and there were still two strokes to go.
THWACKK!
Another surge left him feeling elated.
Two people in the room were needing that last stroke. Terry hoped that it would really round off the punishment he needed and leave him feeling cleaner. Mr Booth desperately hoped that his ejaculation would be a full one, rather than the starting trickles he had already experienced. In line with his normal practice, he aimed the final stroke low, imagining how it would feel as he drove the cane forward.
THWACKK!
He struck exactly on target. He hit well enough for Terry temporarily to release his hold on the chair and gasp, "Phew!"
For Mr Booth, he reached that climax he had been hoping for. It was the second time he had come during delivering a caning. The first time had taken him by surprise. He had been able to savour that one. Now all he had to do was to satisfy himself that he had not been unfair to the boy.
"You can get up, Pickering."
Terry rose and, as Peter had done before, rubbed his seat. He put the chair back in place and crossed the room to sign the book.
"Thank you, sir. I feel a lot better now."
"You mean now that it's over?"
"There's that, sir, but there's something else. It's difficult to explain and you might not understand but I felt that I deserved it and I'm glad you did it so well."
The session had ended with three satisfied people but when Mr Booth was left alone, as he continued to massage his erection, he thought of the new situation he was in. he had always enjoyed giving corporal punishment but the _s_e_x_ual gratification he was now achieving was something new. He made a solemn vow to himself that he would be extra vigilant to ensure that he never caned a boy without good cause and he never gave more than was appropriate.
Note: the original inspiration for this series was being told of an actual headmaster of a grammar school in the North Midlands whose headmaster had periodically engaged in an expedition on the train to catch boys not wearing their caps on the way to school. The rest comes from my imagination and no incident or person referred to in this or any other stories I have written refer to actual events or actual people, living or dead.