Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 57623 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 288(@200wpm)___ 230(@250wpm)___ 192(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 57623 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 288(@200wpm)___ 230(@250wpm)___ 192(@300wpm)
“Come here, Melissa.” Jane crooks a finger and indicates for Melissa to stand in front of her desk.
The girl likely knows well enough that this is what happens right before one is caned. Penners and the others have told stories about what goes on in Miss Strict’s office many times.
Melissa is now sobbing, but she obeys, shuffling forward with the most reluctant steps possible to stand before Jane’s desk.
There is a brief moment in which Jane must decide whether or not to go through with some kind of physical punishment or not.
Perhaps Laura’s words linger in her mind. Perhaps she simply decides to show mercy. Either way, her cane is not picked up for this girl.
“Usually, lurking outside my office would earn a girl a caning,” Jane informs the terrified young lady. “But I don’t believe you were entirely aware of the significance of your misbehavior, and I am certain you would not repeat it.”
“Never again!” Melissa gasps. “Absolutely never again. If I never see you again, I will count myself very fortunate. I mean… in this context, ma’am. Not in general. I don’t mean… I…” She trails off in a little whimper.
“You will not go unpunished,” Jane says. “You will stand in the corner, with your nose to the wall for the next fifteen minutes. While you are there, you will not only reflect on your behavior, but on your choice of companions.”
Melissa nods. “Because Storm is a bad influence.”
“I did not say that.”
Melissa looks confused, and Jane realizes she may not have said that, but she does appear to have meant it.
“You must make your own decisions, and not be led by others. Influence is something one allows others to have. It is not an inexorable property exerted by one person over another. You could have chosen to let Penelope and Storm come and get themselves into trouble on their own. Couldn’t you?”
“Yes, ma’am,” Melissa agrees, wiping her tears on the back of her sleeve. “I understand.”
She is beginning to calm down, which pleases Jane. If she is to have occasion to have a second reckoning with Melissa, there will be harsher and much more physical consequences. But this is her first offense, she is showing a great deal of remorse and contrition, and Jane does not beat girls simply for the sake of doing so.
Jane goes to her notepad and makes a quick note before folding it and handing it to Melissa.
“You will write three hundred lines for me, due by tomorrow morning. I must not allow myself to be led into trouble by others. Put that in your pocket so you do not forget.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Melissa says, tucking the paper away.
“And now you can go to the corner. Yes. That one,” Jane gestures to the wall over by the couch. Melissa does as she is told, shuffling into the corner.
“Hands by your sides,” Jane says. “Nose against the wall. That’s right. Now you will stay there until I tell you otherwise.”
Melissa does as she is told, standing absolutely stock still. That is one advantage of those who are scared, they tend to be obedient and easy to handle.
Jane has to wonder if Penelope will be as obliging.
She crosses to the door and opens it for the girl waiting in the hall with a sullen look on her face. It does not rectify itself when she sees Jane, if anything, it deepens.
“Penelope. I will see you now.”
Penelope enters the room, brimming with attitude.
“If I cry do I get out of being punished too?”
She clearly has no intention of being obliging.
“This is your second time in my office, and you should have known better. Bend over the desk, please,” Jane says, brandishing the paddle she has chosen for the task. It is an old-fashioned wood piece, oiled and shiny with holes drilled and chamfered so they reduce air resistance but do not welt the bottom they are applied to.
Penelope rolls her eyes. “I don’t see why I should be punished merely for hearing something, Miss Strict. I think you’re doing this because of the rumors.”
“What rumors are those?” Jane regrets the question as soon as she has asked it.
Penelope gets a very smug look on her face. “Rumors that you prefer to punish boyfriends instead of the students here. You’re only paddling me to cover for the fact…”
Jane has no idea where Penelope got this level of audacity from. Perhaps Storm is a worse influence than she imagined. The last thing any disciplinarian needs is a plague of impertinence spreading among her charges. She decides to make very certain to stamp it out here and now.
Penelope’s yowl as she is put firmly into place with the assistance of her earlobe is enough to frighten every cat in miles.
“Stay there,” Jane says sternly. “Lower your skirt and your underwear. You will be taking this paddling on the bare.”