The island of Extrafess is 25 miles wide and 50 miles long with a population of around 200,000. The island has three main towns, the largest being Oxenmere, which is on the north-eastern tip. The town serves as the only link to the mainland via its twice-a-day, thirty-minute ferry.
The inhabitants of Extrafess had recently voted to leave the jurisdiction of the more liberal mainland and became an independent enclave. Economic links to the mainland and indeed the shared currency remained which allowed for easy export and import of essential natural resources such as fish, oil and gas. However, the island secured the right to govern many other aspects of everyday life for itself.
In the three months since the elections, the new governing body had passed many new laws, the ‘Discipline Bill’ being the most notable, most talked about and definitely the one which had the most support from the islanders. When campaigning started for independence, it became clear that the vast majority of inhabitants, including many influential members of the community, had become increasingly frustrated with the behaviour of the young people on the island. Parents, teachers and the police had, over the years, seen their powers to control youngsters in the 16 to 25 age bracket eroded and there was a determination that law and order should be re-established if the island was granted some form of independence. Islanders were no longer prepared to have petit theft, anti-social behaviour, such a graffiti, possession of mild drugs and under-age drinking, go virtually unpunished. They wanted law and order.
The ‘Discipline Bill’ covered the re-introduction of formal corporal punishment through the setting up of an independent, disciplinary committee and the recruitment of a male and a female beadle. Unruly or disrespectful behaviour in the home, at school or in public places could be reported in person or online to the disciplinary committee.
The Bill empowered the disciplinary committee to investigate and subsequently sentence those found guilty of offenses worthy of more than a simple reprimand to corporal punishment. For anyone between the ages of 16 and 25, a maximum of 20 strokes of the razor strap across the bare bottom could be issued.
The elders on the island were all too aware that previously those in positions of power had abused corporal punishments and this had led to the original ban on the mainland. They were determined not to make the same mistake. With careful consultation it was agreed that the island would appoint a male and a female beadle who, as experts, would attend to the practical side of the island’s discipline. Members of the disciplinary committee would also be present to ensure that sentences were carried out in an appropriate, proportionate and impartial manner.
The general view was that the reintroduction of the short, sharp deterrent was a step forward and would lead to better behaviour and safer streets. The islanders hoped to show the outside world that regulated, controlled and properly documented formal discipline would work when applied effectively alongside custodial sentences. Some believed that their approach might become a blueprint for the modern world where behaviour and standards were slipping and youngsters were becoming more unruly.
Miss McCormick was a spinster and had for the last ten years been headmistress of a girls’ boarding school. In her early teaching career she had spanked several girls with slipper and tawse. She knew that these spankings had taught the girls a short, sharp, yet well-deserved lesson; even the girls she had punished agreed it had been unpleasant at the time, but effective. The cessation of corporal punishment, she thought, was a mistake and when, now aged 60, she saw the advert for beadle on the island of Extrafess she could see that semi-retirement from the everyday bustle of school life was very attractive.
There were plenty of applicants for the job but Miss McCormick’s CV and background stood out, and so on the first day of September, having been appointed unanimously by the disciplinary committee, she began work.
She had already acquainted herself with the Discipline Bill. The first job was for herself and Mr Wardle, the male Beadle, to look over the punishment room. In the middle of the room was an old-fashioned gym horse. It had four sloping legs and a solid, brown, velvet-like vaulting pad on the top. It was adjustable although it’s current height looked perfect for youngsters to bend over, grasp the far legs and present their bottoms for a spanking. It looked old-fashioned but sometimes the old ways were the best.
“This will certainly provide a very good presentation of those bare bottoms,” Mr Wardle commented.
“Yes, it would be difficult to miss the target,” Miss McCormick responded, with a chuckle.
On the wall hung several razor straps. These looked freshly made from leather, were three inches wide, a good three-eighths of an inch thick and about three feet long.
Miss McCormick nodded her approval and Mr Wardle smiled in agreement as they handled and swished a couple of them. The young police constable who was showing them round was then invited to bend over longer of the sides of the horse and grasp the far legs.
“That’s a perfect position” Miss McCormick said, as she took an imaginary swing and tapped the constable on his bottom.
Mr Wardle laughed. “It won’t be long before we get to work and test this room out for real,” he agreed.
“Let’s hope you behave, eh?” Miss McCormick laughed as the policeman stood back up and promptly went bright red with embarrassment at the thought.
The first Saturday in September was soon upon them, and the disciplinary committee sat for the first time at 9.00 am. Anyone sentenced to the strap would be held in custody and at 2.00 pm the punishments would commence. It was possible for the juveniles to delay their punishment by a week or two if circumstances demanded it.
Miss McCormick was in court when Violet Smith, aged 17, a petite, thin girl was sentenced to six strokes of the strap for being drunk underage. There was no doubt about her guilt, given she was caught on CCTV leaving the pub and staggering along the high street. She had pleaded guilty and hence the sentence was reduced from twelve strokes. The gallery was full and there was a collective gasp as the recommendation was given followed by a general murmur of approval. Violet looked horrified and burst into tears as she was led away.
Later in the morning, Grace Jones, aged 18, a buxom young lady with long brown hair, full breasts and a curvy figure, was sentenced to nine strokes of the strap for spraying paint on a commercial building in the shopping centre, her face also being quite clearly caught on CCTV. She didn’t look too bothered and put a brave defiant face on it when she pleaded guilty.
Both girls agreed to take their punishment the same day.
At 2.00 pm exactly, Miss McCormick entered the punishment room from her office. Through the door on the other side of the room, a female constable entered with Violet Smith, Violet’s mum and a member of the discipline committee. The mother and committee member were seated to the side of the gym horse and Violet was invited to removed her jeans and underwear. She pulled down her jeans, stepped out of them and then removed her white, tight-fitting cotton knickers. The constable took her clothes, neatly arranged them on a table by the door through which they had entered, and left the room. A red light came on over the door as it was locked.
Miss McCormick began. “Violet, please bend over the horse so that your tummy is on the top and you are firmly grasping the legs on the far side.”
“Yes, ma’am. I’m really sorry,” came the reply. She already sounded worried and nervous.
Once bent over, she was pretty much on tip-toes, but the padded top of the horse took her weight and she was able to hold onto the legs on the far side. Miss McCormick selected a strap from the wall and moved behind Violet, standing to her left.
“Violet Smith, sentenced to six strokes of the strap for being drunk under age.” Miss Cormack spoke in a dispassionate voice and looked at the witnesses to make sure she had got the punishment right.
Both mother and committee member nodded.
The strap was raised and, CRACK, it was whipped down quickly and firmly against the white, bare cheeks of the poor girl. She squealed and a dark pink patch appeared across her bottom. Clearly, she had never experienced anything like this as she wriggled and held on for dear life.
“Aghhh! I’m so sorry, honest I am,” she protested.
Miss McCormick looked at her handiwork and decided she really hadn’t lost her touch with the strap. It was a number of years since she’d thrashed Vicky Laidlaw, she even remembered her name, but the effect was exactly the same. A young lady regretting her actions.
The strap was raised and, CRACK, another stroke rained down. The girl’s bottom was now looking sore in two places which overlapped and Violet howled and wriggled even more.
Miss McCormick was doing a good job here and this young lady was beginning to learn that the island was prioritising law and order. No doubt this little madam would soon be telling the press and, most importantly, her school mates just what happens under the new regime. The first strapping of its kind in years was sending a clear message to the community, and the committee member smiled inwardly.
CRACK, the third stroke lit up Violet’s bottom again and it was now looking very sore indeed. More howling and wriggling followed. This bottom was going to be sore for a few days, Miss McCormick was adamant about that. She continued her work with enthusiasm.
CRACK, the fourth stroke whipped the bottom catching it low down. There wasn’t much white flesh which had not been visited by the strap and the 17-year-old’s bottom was now a livid red and looking a little swollen. Violet was sobbing her apologies and begging for the strapping to stop but another CRACK sounded and the bottom wobbled again against the leather.
The final stroke, CRACK, was just as firm as the rest and, against an already sore backside, it clearly hurt.
“Aghhh!” Violet cried out, gritting her teeth and trying to combat the pain. Her bottom was now very sore. Both buttocks were a mixture of purple and bright red.
“All done, Violet,” Miss McCormick said.
The girl eased herself upright quickly so that she could rub her bottom vigorously. She was a little shaky as her mother walked over and hugged her.
“Well, honey, you deserved that. Your behaviour has been poor recently and both myself and your father have been worried about your drinking. I hope that was a lesson?”
Violet nodded. “Yes, mummy,” she said.
Violet’s mother turned and thanked Miss McCormick, then nudged Violet who, through her tears, added her thanks.
The red light over the door went out and the constable came in to escort Violet out, collecting her clothes at the same time.
‘Getting dressed will be a painful experience,’ Miss McCormick thought, but the lass would be taken care of in the ante-chamber and will be seen by the doctor before leaving. Before- and after-punishment care was all part of the procedure.
“Well done. That is exactly what we have been in need of and had in mind,” the committee member complimented Miss McCormick on her work. “She will be sore for a few days, but not scarred for life and will think twice about drinking under-age in the future, I dare say.”
“I hope so,” Miss McCormick smiled.
After a couple of minutes, the door opened again and Grace Smith strode in with the constable, looking quite confident and sure of herself. She was wearing a white blouse with a short black skirt. Her mother was not with her. As she was over 18, she did not need to be accompanied by a responsible adult.
“Skirt and knickers off, please,” Miss McCormick asked in a pleasant enough voice.
Grace stood tall, reached under her skirt and pulled down her black cotton knickers. She handed them to the constable with a glare and then unhooked her black skirt. She had quite an ample bottom which certainly invited a spanking, Miss McCormick thought.
The committee member had re-taken her seat as the constable left the room and the red light went on over the door once more.
“Bend over the horse, please,” Miss McCormick commanded, pointing at the spanking horse.
Grace did as she was told and her bottom was sticking up as it rested on the top of the padded part of the gym horse. She was able to keep her feet firmly on the ground, take her full weight on the horse and hold halfway down the legs on the far side.
Miss McCormick had already replaced the strap she had used on Violet and had taken a different strap off the wall. She wasted no time in walking in front of the girl so that Grace could see the strap, and then took her place to Grace’s right hand side.
“Grace Jones, nine strokes of the strap for wilful deformation of a public building,” she declared.
“Whatever,” Grace mumbled.
The committee member nodded and Miss McCormick raised the strap high and gave Grace a good hard slap across the middle of her bottom, CRACK. It was certainly what this girl needed and Miss McCormick knew exactly how to deal with these sorts of girls. The white flesh suddenly revealed a bright red band across it and there was a yelp which emanated from the poor girl. Grace struggled to hold on to the horse and grunted as the pain spread out.
“No, no more please,” she begged, already sounding like she was crying. Her bravery had now wilted away after just one stroke and she was genuinely reconsidering her actions.
There was no reply and the next sound, CRACK, was the leather slapping against flesh and another yelp as another scorched patch appeared.
CRACK, a further scorching, well-placed stroke zipped through the air and there was more wiggling, yelping and pleading from the sorry girl.
“I am sorry, Please… stop,” she begged. “I have learnt my lesson.”
CRACK. “Aghhh! Noooo! Please no.” the next stroke hit low on the bottom which was already looking like it had been in the sun for far too long.
The thrashing continued and the whole of Grace’s ample bottom turned crimson under the leather tormentor. She was now crying real tears from the pain and, wriggle as she might, there was no relief from Miss McCormick and the brutal leather strap.
The ninth stroke, CRACK, hit exactly where the first stroke had bitten, right across the centre of what had started out as a lovely white bottom, but was now crimson, purple, dark red and swollen.
There was no doubt that Grace would remember this punishment more than any of the previous telling-offs she’d had from the police, teachers or her parents. She was pretty well known as a troublemaker and wayward girl. Hopefully, this would bring her back into line before she ended up in prison.
With the the punishment over, Grace rose more tentatively than Violet and rubbed her bottom. It felt hot to the touch and she continued to cry.
“I’m sorry I defaced the building,” she sobbed. “I know I deserved this. I won’t be returning.”
Miss McCormick smiled, the red light went out and the constable came into the room to escort Grace out, taking her skirt and knickers with her.
“It’s unlikely she will be putting her knickers on for the rest of the day,” Miss McCormick observed.
“You’re right there,” the committee member said, as the strap was hung back on the wall and the day’s work came to an end.
By Monday morning, the two recipients of Extrafess’s new disciplinary punishments were all over the newspaper, both on the island and the mainland.
‘FIRST SPANKINGS GIVEN TO ERRANT JUVENILES’ one headline read.
Violet and Grace had both given interviews and it was clear the new regime was having the desired effect. The girls confirmed that they would not be returning for another spanking and that the island was setting a different approach for the future. Social Media was of course ablaze with details of the events and the well-spanked bottom of Grace was doing the rounds as she had foolishly sent a picture to a friend on the mainland who promised not to share it.
Miss McCormick had also been interviewed and there was a two-page spread about the beadles and their back stories. For the first month, both Miss McCormick and Mr Wardle had celebrity status on the island. This was the start of the restoration of corporal punishment and it had been a triumph.
The End
© Colin Brooks 2024
Colin is happy to be contacted and take feedback from his stories: colinbrookscp@gmail.com.