A Spanking in Time (Bexhill School) Read Online Free PDF Page B

cigarettes they were and you wouldn’t say. That’s why you all got twelve. If she’d owned up, I might have let you two off with six.”
    “Now you tell me! But we wouldn’t have sneaked on her anyway. We didn’t know we’d have got less if she’d admitted owning the packet. If we had, we’d have laid into her afterwards.”
    “I’ve always rather admired the way the girls stick together when they’re in trouble,” said Evelyn.
    “It’s part of the school ethic,” said Marge. “But it must be damned annoying at times when they all stand shoulder-to-shoulder and you can’t tell which of the wretches is the most guilty!”
    “That’s why my policy is always ‘thrash the lot and you’re bound to get the culprit, ’ ” said ‘Three Taps, smiling. “So, Margaret, did you ever smoke again?”
    “No. I didn’t like it much on that occasion and so I never tried again.”
    “I’d like to think it was the memory of the sore bottom that deterred you.”
    “Well, of course it was that, too.”
    “So much,” said Henry, “for all this new-fangled talk about banning corporal punishment in schools. Typical Labour Party bosh. Short, sharp shock and get it over with. It’s always worked in the past; always will. What do you say, Edward?”
    “I agree. I think banning the cane would be a great mistake. It’s hard enough as it is to keep discipline in the classrooms nowadays.”
    “I agree,” said Evelyn. “The Headmaster and I were discussing it just the other day. We are even thinking of giving each of the teachers a paddle and encouraging them to use it if the class starts getting too unruly.”
    “Jolly good idea,” said Marge.
    “Why don’t we ask those on the receiving end, as it were? What do you think, girls? Would you rather have had detention or extra prep or something than the threat of the cane?”
    Margaret looked at Paula. Paula spoke.
    “Oh no, I don’t think so. Some of the teachers did give us detentions or extra prep, and we hated that. It was boring and so demeaning: everyone could see you sitting there in the classroom while they were having time off. I wasn’t spanked very often, but I’d much rather have had a good smacking and got it over with. It only lasts a few seconds, after all!”
    “I used to hate the wait when I knew I was going to get a thrashing,” said Margaret, “but I agree with Paula, it’s better than detention. I mean, there was even some status attached to getting the cane, wasn’t there, Paula?”
    “Oh yes, we used to show off our stripes quite proudly. The juniors really admired you if you could get through a caning without making a fuss.”
    “It wasn’t so easy – not making a fuss,” said Margaret, looking at the Headmaster and wondering whether she should continue. She decided to go for it. “I mean, when Mum canes people, she just sort of gets on with it. It’s different with ‘Three Taps’ over there!” She nodded at Mr. Masterson.
    “What do you mean, and who’s ‘Three Taps’ anyway?” he asked, smiling, but puzzled.
    “Don’t you know you’re nickname is ‘Three Taps’? I’m sure the girls still call you that,” said Paula, grinning at him.
    “Why on Earth ‘Three Taps’?” he was laughing now.
    “You tell him, Margaret. You had more cause to know why he’s called that!”
    “Come on, you’re keeping us in suspense,” said Marge, sitting forward. “I want to know why you awful girls call my husband ‘Three Taps.”
    “All right, I’ll tell you,” said Margaret, “but promise you won’t get offended?”
    “Of course I won’t, but if you don’t get on with it, I’ll ask Henry whether he keeps a cane around here somewhere!”
    “It’s because of the way you beat us. It’s always the same. You tell us to take down our pants and bend over; you prepare us by lifting up our skirts, and then the ritual begins. It’s the worst bit, isn’t it Paula?”
    Paula nodded enthusiastically.
    “You tap our