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Well, his father said. Lets calculate the due punishment. For not spreading your time correctly in the exam, you may have eight of the best I can lay on. Fair enough?
Yes, Sir.
For slipping so dramatically in the ranking, youve earned yourself another eight. Understand?
Yes, Sir.
And Im sure youll agree that with your work being constantly behind all term, its not surprising that youve done so badly, is it, Son?
No, Sir.
So, well award you a further eight for your slackness throughout the term.
Yes, Sir.
So, your total punishment is?
Twenty-four, Sir.
Now, just so we understand each other because its some time since your last strapping I want to be sure you remember the rules of punishment. Do you remember them or do you need reminding?
I remember, Sir. Im to count each stroke aloud and not to move a muscle until the punishment is completed.
And if you do?
Then after the strapping is completed, Ill get two hard cuts of the cane for each time I move.
Right. Now is there anything you wish to say to me before punishment, Jeremy?
Yes, Sir. Im ashamed of my exam result and I deserve this punishment. Thank you for caring enough to correct me. I hope I learn a good lesson so I wont make the same mistakes again.
Well, Ill certainly do my best to help you learn, Jeremy. You may spread yourself over the desk, Son.
Jeremy handed his father the strap and approached the desk. He spread his feet apart and bent down low over the desk, grasping the other side to hold himself steady.
He waited for what seemed line an eternity whilst his father repeatedly flexed the strap and then gently positioned the split ends across his sons bottom, ready to take aim and to commence the beating.
He drew the strap back high over his shoulders in readiness for the first stroke. The strap flew through the air culminating in a loud thwack as the four supple thongs of leather were laid to rest across his sons naked bottom. As it flayed across Jeremys buttocks, the lad called, One, Sir.
His father again positioned the strap, took careful aim and administered another stroke, this time even harder.
Two, Sir.
The punishment was slow and drawn out. At least five to ten seconds lapsed between each stroke. Whilst his father considered that a drawn out?punishment was more beneficial to the lad, Jeremy was pleased that the interval between each stroke allowed him to regain his breath and to steady himself for the next stroke.
This time, however, the boy was not successful. As the third stroke cut across his bottom, the lad jumped.
Stand up, ordered his father. What are the rules about moving during punishment?
Im not to move, Sir.
Correct. Now get a pen and paper out of the drawer and keep a tally of the number of times youve moved, so we know how many cuts of the cane youre going to get.
Jeremy retrieved a pen and paper from the drawer and noted that he had moved once to date. He wondered how many more times he would have to make a mark on the page. He placed the paper on the side of the desk and resumed his punishment position.
Well, what we are up to now? asked his father.
Three, Sir.
The punishment continued . . . . Four, Sir . . . . Five, Sir . . . . Six, Sir . . . . . . . . . . . Fifteen, Sir . . . . Sixteen, Sir.
During these strokes, twice more the punishment paused whilst Jeremy made the appropriate notation on the pad. So far, six cuts of the cane, he thought to himself.
You may take a break for a few minutes, Son, and regain your composure whilst you contemplate both the remaining strapping and the caning that will follow.
The boys father left the room, allowing his son the privacy of breaking into tears without the embarrassment of his father being present.
His buttocks hurt dreadfully as his father had really laid sixteen solid strokes across him; with each stroke four thin strips of leather lashed his bare bottom.
The boy jumped up and down several times and then examined his raw backside. This was a lesson he wouldnt forget for a long time.
After about ten minutes he heard his father returning and he snapped to attention. His father entered the room and Jeremy again handed him the strap.
Well, so far how many?
Sixteen, Sir.
Are we ready for the remainder now or do you want to take a longer break?
No, Sir. Id rather get it over with, please.
What have you learnt so far, Son?
The punishment is doing me a lot of good, Sir. Its taught me to work harder at school, Dad, and I shall make sure that in exams Ill spread my time evenly.
Im pleased to hear it. Right, get yourself over the desk and well complete the punishment.
Three more times the punishment was interrupted as Jeremy again made a note on the pad of his movements.
After the twenty four strokes, Jeremy was sent to get the cane and twelve cuts, very hard cuts with a very thick cane, were laid across his bare bottom two for each time he flinched during his initial punishment.
The boy screamed in agony during his caning, but did not move a muscle. He just couldnt face any more!
The lads raw, bruised and battered buttocks were a salutary reminder to him of the errors of his way. His school work and examination performance showed a remarkable improvement.
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