Formal punishments

For clarification this story refers to the Scottish educational system where fifth year pupils would be around 16 years of age and the story is purely fictional

My school was a very traditional institution that constantly refers to its illustrious history and maintains very strict disciplinary standards. This constant referral to past glories was a source of constant irritation to many of the current pupils and a particular bane was the ritual of morning assembly with a reading from the Bible which we were all expected to pay attention to. As per the history of the school the Headmistress alone has the authority to cane the senior pupils and it is done in a very ritualistic fashion. All of the teachers have the right to administer the tawse or paddle to any pupil during classes and they also have the right to cane pupils in the junior years and none of the teachers were slow to use these sanctions. If a senior pupil was to be caned then it took place from 2pm every afternoon in the Headmistress’ office and it was a real ordeal for anyone and if it had happened once you were marked out and it was highly unusual if it didn’t happen again during the remainder of your time at school.

During my fifth year I had by some miracle or another managed to avoid a visit to the Headmistress because I was regularly punished by my teachers and threatened with a visit to the Headmistress for a caning. Quite a large number of my friends had made that visit so I knew all about the rituals and also how severe the canings were so when I was caught smoking in the second week of my sixth and final year when I had reached the age of eighteen and was put down to visit the Headmistress I knew that I was in very deep trouble. I was the only pupil waiting outside the Headmistress’ office that particular Monday afternoon at 1.55pm and my nervousness was not helped by hearing a number of the other teachers caning junior pupils in their rooms. Everyone that saw me knew what I was waiting for and none of them would have swapped places with me for anything.

Eventually the Headmistress rounded the corner and opened the door to her office ordering me into the office and I obeyed instantly as the Headmistress was a truly formidable woman in her late thirties with a very severe manner that gave absolutely no hope of clemency. I stood at attention in front of the desk as the Headmistress sat herself down behind the desk and called up my record in the punishment book to see what it was I had been sent to her for. From this record she would also be able to see my full punishment history in my time at the school and it wouldn’t make particularly good reading for me.

‘I see that this is your first visit to me Ken but your record shows me that you should have been here before now because it indicates that you are a real troublemaker that just can’t seem to obey the rules. Smoking is a very serious offence and would normally receive six strokes of the cane but given your record you will receive twelve strokes of the cane’.

I was shocked by this but there was no possible appeal against the sentence because the Headmistress had complete freedom in deciding on the punishments that she awarded and there was no-one to appeal to anyway. As I digested this information I almost opened my mouth to protest but I realised that doing so would only increase my punishment further so I just waited silently for the next command from the Headmistress.

‘You will fetch the tallest stool in the far corner of the room and place it in the centre of the room. Once you have done this you will remove your trousers and fold them neatly over the back of the chair by the door. You will then stand behind the stool facing the fireplace’ was the string of commands, all of which I obeyed without any hesitation. As soon as I had removed my trousers the Headmistress saw that I was wearing a pair of boxer shorts in direct contravention of the school rules.

‘For failing to obey the uniform code Ken you will receive an additional three strokes of the cane’ which brought my sentence to fifteen strokes and I had never heard of any of my friends getting more than twelve strokes and they had all said how much pain that had caused so now I was really scared. As I was standing looking at the fireplace I couldn’t help but see the large stand of canes that was sitting next to it and this certainly didn’t calm me down any because they all looked a lot longer and thicker than those any of the other teachers had. I watched the Headmistress walk over to this stand and select her weapon of choice. I had been told that she made a great play of picking up different canes, swishing them through the air and flexing them in her hands just to prolong the agony of the person waiting to be caned. True to form the Headmistress did go through about half-a-dozen canes all of which looked fearsome before eventually settling on the first cane that she had picked out of the stand and walked over towards me.

Tradition dictated that prior to the commencement of the caning I had to kiss the implement that was going to be used to correct me so when the Headmistress presented the cane to my lips I gave it a kiss.

‘You will bend right over the stool with both of your hands gripping the bottom spar. You will count each stroke loudly and clearly. Should you fail to do so or should you miscount any stroke then I will stop the punishment immediately and you will be dismissed to return again tomorrow to try again when the full punishment will be given again. This will also happen should you make any other sound during the punishment or if your hands leave the bottom spar of the stool and this pattern will be repeated as often as is necessary until you take the entire punishment correctly. Do I make myself clear?’

‘Yes Headmistress’ I answer before bending over the stool. To reach the bottom spar I have to stretch and also raise myself onto the balls of my feet which had the effect of making my bottom really prominent. With a flourish the Headmistress pulled my boxer shorts down to the middle of my thighs before she carried out a full inspection of my bottom with her hands. I was feeling very self-conscious as she did this and was aware of just how vulnerable my bottom was but also just how tightly muscled it was from all of the rugby that I played for the school. I then felt the cane repeatedly tapping my bottom as the Headmistress made minor adjustments to her position so that she could have the greatest effect on me.

I sensed the cane being pulled away from me and then heard it cutting through the air as it was brought down at great speed in the direction of its target. It landed right across the centre of my bottom with a very sharp ‘Crack’ and it was then driven through so that it remained in contact as the muscles contracted against its bite adding extra venom to the stroke. Immediately a fiery line of pain coursed right through my body and I almost forgot to count the stroke but just in time I managed to intone.

‘One, Ma’am’

I was wondering just how I was going to get through another fourteen strokes like this but before I could come up with an answer to the question things got much worse because the second stroke landed even harder than the first one and very close to it.

‘Two, Ma’am’ I managed to get out quickly stopping myself from crying out. I had been told by friends that the Headmistress really liked to prolong the agony of a caning by giving a very definite pause between each stroke so I tried to count the seconds between each stroke as a way of giving my mind something else to think about other than the pain. It did block out some of the pain for a little while but by the sixth stroke my brain was completely overwhelmed and I could think of nothing else other than the pain. Somehow I managed to follow the rules through to the thirteenth stroke but the fourteenth stroke was delivered right to the crease where my bottom and thighs met each other and before I could stop them my hands had flown round and were trying to rub away the ferocious sting from this stroke. I looked round and saw the Headmistress placing her cane on the desk with an evil little smile on her face.

‘You may get dressed and will return here at 2pm tomorrow when we will try again’ the Headmistress said and the pleasure in her voice was only barely disguised and when combined with the smile it made my blood boil and I lost my composure completely.

‘You are an evil bitch’ I said to the Headmistress.

‘In addition to the fifteen strokes of the cane tomorrow that outburst has earned you thirty strokes of the birch. Do you wish to say anything else?’

‘No Headmistress’ I said realising the futility and stupidity of carrying on the abuse.

‘Very well you may return to class’ the Headmistress said and I walked out of the office calmly before delivering a kick at the wall when I was far enough away from her office for it not to be heard. At the end of the school day I normally walk home with a large group of friends but this time I was very specifically sought out by the people who knew that I’d been down for a caning and these were all female.

‘How did you get on?’ Anna asked first.

‘It was absolute hell. I was awarded twelve strokes for the smoking because of how many times other teachers have punished me and then the Headmistress saw my boxer shorts and decided to add another three strokes’.

‘That’s horrible normally she only gives six or nine on a first visit she must have had a bad day’ Lucy said in sympathy and all of the others were nodding. ‘Did you manage to get through them all?’ she continued.

‘No I didn’t. The penultimate stroke was delivered right down at the very top of my legs and it stung like a bastard so I rubbed it’ I answered.

‘That doesn’t surprise me at all, she always finds a way to get you back for a second day if it is the first time that she has caned you and she always does it just before you have got through the whole ordeal’ Anna replied ‘strange as it may seem it normally isn’t quite as bad on the second day’.

‘Unfortunately it will be a lot worse for me. I saw the smile and heard the satisfaction in her voice as she told me to return and lost it completely. I called her an ‘evil bitch’ and now as well as the caning I’m also going to get thirty strokes of the birch as well’.

I noticed Lucy going deathly pale at this point. Lucy had been birched at the end of last year having been caught hitting another girl and she’d never ever talked about the punishment but her reaction told me everything I needed to know and it scared the living daylights out of me because Lucy was a tough little cookie who could take any normal punishment in her stride. Lucy looked at me and mouthed ‘good luck’ to me.

Sitting down at the family dinner table that night was really painful and an effort at the same time because I didn’t want the rest of my family to know that I had been caned at school because I wouldn’t have gotten any sympathy from them particularly if I had admitted the reason why I’d been punished. Before going to bed that night I took a look at the marks in the mirror and I was shocked to see how red and livid they were. I didn’t get much sleep that night because I couldn’t get comfortable and also I was really nervous about what awaited me the following afternoon. I was still really sore as I sat down in my classes that morning and again I found myself as the only one waiting outside of the Headmistress’ office at 1.55pm. Despite the fact that it was only yesterday that I had been punished the Headmistress went through the whole ritual again including selecting her cane. Knowing what awaited me this time only made this whole ritual even worse. I had worn the correct underwear this morning though so at least additional strokes were not awarded this time because I had no doubt they would have been.

This caning was even worse than yesterday because I was still so sore from it but at least this time I knew that the Headmistress would be delivering at least one or two strokes at the very tops of my legs so I was a bit more prepared for them and was able to remain in position and get the count out when they did land although I did have to clench my fists very tightly on the spar of the stool and I also screwed my eyes tightly shut with the sharpness of the sting.

‘You may stand for a minute or two while I collect the birch for the second part of your punishment’ the Headmistress said. She hadn’t mentioned anything about rubbing my bottom so I thought it best not to do so. I saw the Headmistress bring the birch towards me and my heart sank into my boots as I looked it. It consisted of four long and fairly thick twigs all of which had little nodes on them where offshoots had been cut off.

‘The same rules apply to the birching as to the caning. Do you understand?’

‘Yes Headmistress’ I answered before resuming my position over the stool.

I didn’t really hear the birch descending before the first stroke and then when it landed the sound was not as sharp or as loud but the pain was immediate and very different from that of the cane. It seemed to insinuate itself into absolutely every part of the bottom and while not as sharp it seemed to be more scratchy and cutting. I got my count out very quickly and far more clearly than I would have thought possible. Very soon every nerve in my body was protesting to my brain about the pain and I was completely taken over by it. I felt as if I was being torn apart with every stroke but even if this had been the case I was sure that it wouldn’t stop the Headmistress from completing the entire sentence. She didn’t get that option on this occasion though because I miscounted the tenth stroke calling out ‘eight’ instead. Even though this mistake was in her favour the Headmistress still stopped the punishment immediately.

‘You shall return for your punishment at 2pm tomorrow’ was all that the Headmistress said and I didn’t have the will to make any comment so just answered, ‘Yes Headmistress’.

I left the office and was very close to being physically and emotionally exhausted and wrecked by the whole experience. I could certainly now see why Lucy had gone so pale at the mention of my birching. As I was trudging along the corridor back to my class I was spotted by the Headgirl, Morven, who I was friends with. Morven saw the state that I was in and she immediately took me into the little room that she had because of her position as Headgirl.

‘What has happened to you?’ Morven asked.

‘I was caught smoking on Monday and ended up being sentenced to fifteen strokes of the cane but I couldn’t take them all the first day so was back for the same today but unfortunately yesterday I also called the Headmistress an ‘evil bitch’ so she added thirty with the birch after the caning. I’m going to get the same tomorrow because I didn’t manage to take it all today’ I answered with tears welling up in my eyes.

‘Let me see the marks please Ken’ Morven said and as I bared my bottom to her view her first reaction was to gasp in shock.

‘That looks agony Ken. It’s way too much I am going to do something about it but first I am going to try and soothe away some of the heat and sting’ Morven said with a mix of decisiveness and sympathy in her voice.

‘Thank you for your concern Morven but please don’t do anything that will get yourself into trouble on my account because I’m sure the Headmistress would have no hesitation in doing the same thing to you’ I said while Morven was massaging in some of her hand cream. I really did appreciate the sentiment but the last thing I wanted to do was get Morven into the same trouble as I am in at the moment.

‘She might do but this is far too severe a punishment and in any case you are one of my boys and I am like your rugby team in that I look out for my own’.

Morven was waiting with me outside the Headmistress’ office the following afternoon and she told me ‘today will be the end of your punishment’. We were both led into the office and the Headmistress had a particularly steely look in her eyes as she was looking at the two of us.

‘As you have failed to take your punishment properly on the previous two days I have asked the Headgirl to attend today so that I can suspend the normal rules regarding counting and staying in position. You will be held down over my desk by the Headgirl and she will count each of the strokes for you but in return for this you will receive an additional six strokes with both the cane and the birch. Now remove your trousers and underpants and bend over the desk’ the Headmistress says very harshly.

I had caught Morven looking at her during this statement suggesting that it was not a fully accurate statement and I certainly didn’t believe it as I’m sure the prompting would have come from Morven herself. I imagine that the Headmistress had intended her statement to be very humiliating for me in that I couldn’t take the punishment and therefore had to be held down to receive it. I didn’t see it that way though because I doubted if anyone in the school would have been able to take it any better than I had and because of the friendship that existed between Morven and me having her hold me down was just a confirmation of this. As soon as I bent over the desk Morven walked round to the opposite side of it and took a very tight hold on my wrists before applying as much downward pressure as she could.

I was trying to shut my body down completely before the punishment now that I didn’t have to worry about counting or staying in position but it didn’t work very well as the pain took over all of my brain within the first few strokes. I tried very hard not to fight against Morven’s grasp as I didn’t want to upset her and to help me with this she started to give my wrists a gentle massage while the Headmistress was fully concentrated on punishing me. It was a truly savage punishment this time and by the time it was over the whole surface of my bottom felt as if it had been stripped of any skin and a few times I thought I’d felt some liquid running down my legs which could only have been blood. By the time the Headmistress had laid the birch down at the end of the punishment I was absolutely exhausted and mentally wrecked so I was glad that Morven was there and able to help me out of the room.

‘Thank you’ I said very weakly to her when we were back in her room.

‘You took it incredibly well considering how severe a thrashing it was and it was my pleasure to help you get through it. If you really want to thank me though you could take me out for dinner tomorrow night’ Morven replied before giving me a kiss on the forehead.

‘I would love to take you to dinner tomorrow night. I will make a booking somewhere tonight and let you know first thing tomorrow morning’ I answered with a lot more pleasure in my voice. I was fortunate in arranging dinner that my parents owned a couple of restaurants in the local town. Both of them were known for excellent food but they were very different in every other respect. ‘The Globe’ was a very family orientated restaurant with a very relaxed atmosphere whereas ‘The Jewel’ is a very high class restaurant with full silver service at all times and an excellent chef who blended traditional and new dishes excellently. The clientele at ‘The Jewel’ was very different and the atmosphere was much more formal and this is where I wanted to take Morven. I work fairly regularly at ‘The Jewel’ as either a bar man or as a waiter and because of this I know the place and the staff really well and from what I know of Morven I think she will love the whole experience of dinner there. Because of the family connection I had absolutely no trouble getting a table for 8pm tomorrow night.

Morven was waiting for me at the school gates the following morning and before I could say anything she had asked, ‘Where are we going tonight?’

‘We are dining at ‘The Jewel’ at 8pm tonight’ I answered and was immediately enveloped in a hug that ended with a very demure kiss that was seen by many people including both Anna and Lucy who wasted no time in commenting when we were in registration that morning.

‘We saw you with Morven this morning Ken. Well done you, you will make a wonderful couple’ they both said with smiles on their faces.

‘Thank you, I’m taking Morven out to dinner this evening and hopefully at the end of it we will be a couple’.

‘There is no doubt that you will be a couple by the end of the night’ they both comment with a little laugh.

My parents knew where I was having dinner this evening as they had looked at the reservations book and my mum was curious as to who I was taking partly to ensure that it was appropriate for the restaurant but also out of personal interest.

‘I’m taking Morven Anderson, the Headgirl from my school, out for dinner this evening’ I answered and my mum smiled at me.

I was dressed incredibly smartly in my best suit and tie which certainly passed muster with both my mother and my two sisters so I must have looked pretty good in it for them all to be impressed. I walked round to Morven’s and arrived at 7.15pm and we then got a taxi from her parents into town. Morven looked absolutely stunning in a beautiful black dress that fitted her wonderfully svelte figure like a sheath and its halter neck style managed to make Morven look very modest but very sexy at the same time. Looking at us it would have been almost impossible for anyone to say that we were only just over eighteen and not in our mid twenties which was certainly what I wanted people to think. I sensed Morven’s parents watching as we walked towards the taxi and I did the very gentlemanly thing of opening the car door for Morven and then closing it behind her before going round to the other side and getting in myself.

As soon as we stepped inside the restaurant I knew that I had made the right choice as Morven was very comfortable in the environment and we were sat in one of the most private areas of the restaurant and over some wonderful wine and food we had an excellent conversation about anything and everything. Those staff in the restaurant that knew me made a real effort to ensure that we got the best service and all of the little touches made Morven feel incredibly special throughout the night and as we were waiting for dessert she gave me such a sweet smile that what was left of my heart melted completely.

‘I have had such a lovely night Ken, thank you. It is not often that I get the opportunity to dress up formally and then to have dinner in a restaurant that I’ve heard and read lots about is something else. The food and service are out of this world and the company makes it even more special. What I want to know though is how much this is going to cost?’

‘Your company has certainly made the night very special for me and if I may take the opportunity to say you look absolutely stunning in your outfit. As for how much this will cost you don’t need to worry about that at all. This is my thank you for all of your help at school yesterday’.

‘I insist that I at least pay something towards the meal Ken’

‘There will be nothing to pay Morven. My parents own the restaurant and I work here regularly so the cost of the meal will simply be taken from my wages the next few times I work’.

‘Thank you, it must be incredible working here’.

‘It is hard work but I really enjoy it’ I answer.

I found out later that the cost of the meal wouldn’t actually be taken from my wages because my mother had been really happy that I was taking Morven out that she had authorised the entire cost of our evening to be picked up by the business itself which was an incredibly nice gesture that I thanked her for when I found out. After leaving the restaurant we went to one of the local pubs and because of the way we were dressed there was no hint of age checking when we walked in or at the bar where we ordered another bottle of wine for the two of us to share. We found ourselves sitting on a very comfortable sofa in a nice dark corner of the pub. Morven turned towards me and without saying a word we started to kiss carrying on from where we left off at the school gates this morning. Our kiss soon developed into a very passionate snog that certainly left me absolutely breathless.

‘I have wanted to do that to you for ages Ken but you have so many female friends and admirers that I didn’t think I would be attractive enough for you to fancy’. I looked at her and couldn’t help but give a little laugh.

‘I’m not laughing at you Morven. I have wanted to ask you out for ages as well but you became a prefect last year and then Headgirl this year and I didn’t think that I would be good enough for you because I hadn’t even been made a prefect’. It was Morven’s turn to give a little laugh this time.

‘I guess one of us should have been braver then. Oh well none of that matters now. We have each other now and I know that this is going to be great fun’. Morven said before kissing me again.