I was seated at my desk in the small room off the main lounge which I keep as my private study when the doorbell rang. I found Beth Holden standing outside. Beth was one of two daughters from the house across the street and she looked worried.

“Come on in, Beth,” I offered. Her demeanor had me concerned. I showed her into our lounge and asked calmly, “How can I help?”

Now Beth is not only a neighbor but also a student at the high school where I teach part-time. I guessed, therefore, she wanted to consult me about a problem she was having at school, maybe with her school work. I wasn’t entirely wrong.

“I’m really sorry to concern you with my problems, sir, but I just don’t know what to do.”

“That’s fine, Beth,” I told her. She wasn’t one of my students, but she was a neighbor, and I always said I’d try and help her if I could. “So, what’s the problem?” That she had addressed me as ‘sir’ outside of school was unusual. She normally just called me by my first name.

“You see, earlier this afternoon there was a fight between a couple of girls when we were alone in our home room. I wasn’t involved, but when they came close and it looked like they might crash into me, well, I kind of pushed them away.”

“Okay,” I replied guardedly, already getting an idea where this might be heading. “But it was just these two girls fighting? No one else was involved?”

“There was another girl, a friend of one of the girls, who was trying to break them up.”

“I see. Go on.”

“Well, these two girls carried on fighting and the other girl kept trying to separate them, and they all looked like they would clatter into me again, so I pushed them all away to protect myself, and at that moment Mr Jacobson came into the room. I guess he heard the noise and came to investigate.”

Jim Jacobson is a vice-principal of the school and a good friend of mine.

“I bet that stopped the fight mighty quick,” I joked.

“Er, yes.”

Clearly Beth wasn’t in the mood for humor.

“So, what did Mr Jacobson have to say?” I asked.

“All four of us had to report to his office after school ended. He told us our behavior was unacceptable and that we were all being written up for violent conduct.”

Immediately, I saw where this was heading. Violent conduct is an automatic paddling offense at our school.

“Presumably, you’re all four going to be paddled after school tomorrow. Is that correct?” I asked.

“Yes sir.”

“How many?”

“Five. We’re all getting five swats, sir.”

“That’s pretty standard, Beth. But I’m sure you already know that.”

“Yes sir, only, well, I was only trying to stop them crashing into me. I mean, it’s not like I was fighting or anything.”

“Did you tell Mr Jacobson that? He’s usually a pretty reasonable sort of guy.”

“Sort of. But he felt I should just have stood away and not pushed them.”

“What about the third girl who was trying to stop the fight? Did she explain her role in all this?”

“Not so much. I mean, she did sort of, but kind of agreed she was involved.”

“I see. So, do you want me to have a word with Mr Jacobson? Maybe get him to reconsider?”

“Yes. No. I don’t know. I mean, I’m willing to accept some responsibility. Like, maybe I shouldn’t have pushed them away so forcefully. It’s just that I’ve never been paddled before and the word is Mr Jacobson doesn’t exactly hold back when he spanks you. Maybe I could just have three swats? Then, how is it going to look if I get treated differently to the other three? I just don’t know what to do, sir.”

The way Beth spat the words out in quick-fire manner confirmed she really was in a bit of a state and didn’t know what to do for the best.

I nodded slowly as I considered Beth’s situation. Beth was sixteen, a few pounds on the heavier side, with dark hair cut to collar-length. Today, she was wearing black leggings and a pink T-shirt tucked into the waistband. I knew her to be a good student, caring, thoughtful and generally never in any kind of trouble.

“What do you think I should do, sir?” Beth prompted me when I didn’t answer immediately.

“Okay, this is what I think,” I began, speaking slowly and, I hope, sensitively. “Firstly, we’re not in school now, so call me Geoff. Secondly, it sounds, from what you tell me, that you can’t claim to be totally innocent. And I guess everyone in your form room knows you’re in line to be paddled. If you somehow manage to wriggle your way out of a spanking, then they won’t look too kindly towards you. It might be best for you to keep quiet and take your punishment.”

Immediately, I could see from Beth’s expression she didn’t particularly like that idea.

“This third girl, the one who was trying to break up the fight, what’s her feeling on all this?”

“She didn’t really say much, just accepted she was going to get five swats like the other two.”

“I feel that kind of makes it even harder for you to somehow not get the same, Beth.”

Beth nodded. “Yes, I see that.”

“Look, I can speak with Mr Jacobson and make sure he knows how it is from your point of view. Honestly, I don’t think that will make much difference to how he deals with you. Presumably, you’re all getting paddled together tomorrow after school?”

“Yes sir, I mean Geoff.”

“Would it help if I gave you a ride home afterwards? I know you usually get the school bus, but maybe you’d feel more comfortable if I drove you home?”

“You mean for my butt?”

I laughed, although I’m sure Beth was being serious. “Actually, I meant you’d maybe prefer to avoid the other students. You’d probably have to endure some teasing. But perhaps my old Cadillac’s suspension would be softer than the school bus.”

Beth still didn’t smile. “So, you think there’s nothing that can be done? I’ll just have to show up and take my spanking with the others? No other option?”

“Like I say, I’ll have a word with Mr Jacobson and see. That said, I do think you should stop tormenting yourself by trying to figure out how you might avoid it. You’re giving yourself a whole heap of anguish by doing that. It could be better to accept the inevitable and prepare for it so you can take your place in the line, walk into Mr Jacobson’s office with your head held high, bend over and take your licks.”

“I know that makes sense, Geoff, but it’s going to hurt, isn’t it?”

“Yes, I can’t deny that. But only for the few seconds it takes Mr Jacobson to apply the five swats to your butt. You’ll feel a mite sore afterwards; that won’t last. Have you told your mom about this? I’m sure she’ll support you too.”

“No, I haven’t told her, and I don’t intend to. It’s not school policy for the parent to be informed and she’s got enough to worry about with her divorce from dad still being sorted out. Please don’t tell her, Geoff.”

“Don’t worry, I won’t. This is a private talk in confidence. I still think you should tell her though.”

And that was just about the end of our conversation, aside from a couple of pleasantries.

The following morning, because I didn’t have any lessons until the afternoon, I was doing a few chores around the house when the doorbell rang. It was Jennifer, Beth’s mom.

“Hey Jennifer,” I greeted her. “The coffee’s on. Can I interest you in a cup?”

“Sure, always ready for coffee.”

We went through to my kitchen and drank our coffee sitting on stools by the counter.

“Don’t look so worried, Geoff. I know Beth came to see you yesterday and I know what she wanted to talk about.”

“She told you?” I was unable to keep the surprise from my voice.

“No, I got it from Sophie Tamer’s mom. Sophie was one of the two who were actually having some kind of a fight. Sophie was feeling bad because Beth and the girl who was trying to separate them got caught up in it all.”

“But you didn’t mention it to Beth?”

“No. I figured it was up to her whether she told me. Seems she wants to handle it on her own, and that’s fine by me. And I knew she was coming over to talk with you, and I felt sure you’d help her if you could.”

“I don’t think I was much use, to be honest Jennifer. I will have a word with Jim Jacobson though, just to make sure he’s aware of the whole situation.”

“Will it make any difference?”

“I don’t think so.”

“So Beth is going to get her behind paddled? For sure?”

“I reckon so.”

“That could be a good thing, you know Geoff.”

I was surprised. “Really Jennifer? How do you make that out?”

“Well, Beth is a shy little thing. Doesn’t mix easily. Taking a spanking along with the others will help to make her feel accepted. Maybe give her a little street-cred.”

I nodded as I thought. “I’ve offered her a lift home afterwards, so she doesn’t get teased on the school bus.”

“That’s sweet of you, Geoff. Thanks for doing that.”

“She’ll still likely get teased on Monday morning, though.”

“I’m sure, but at least her butt won’t feel so sore, so she’ll be able to handle that.”

“Now you know all about Beth’s involvement, Jennifer, do you think she should get paddled?”

“I certainly didn’t get that she was totally innocent, Geoff. Maybe she was just defending herself, maybe there was a bit of anger too. I feel sure she deserves some punishment, and if it’s to be five swats then so be it.”

We continued chatting over a second cup of coffee before Jennifer left. I had an early salad lunch before driving over to the school; I wanted to catch a word with Jim Jacobson before the lunch break was over, as I had promised to do. I found him in his office eating sandwiches.

“Hey Jim, can I have a quick word?”

“Sure. Sit down. Sandwich?” He offered me a plastic tub that looked half-full. “What’s on your mind?”

“I hear you’ve got Beth Holden booked in for a paddling after school.”

“Correct. Beth and three others.”

“Is there any doubt Beth was involved in the fighting? I’ve been told she was just defending herself.”

“From what I saw, Geoff, there were a couple of mighty hefty shoves she was dishing out.”

“And another girl was trying to separate them? I hear she’s in for a paddling too.”

“I did wonder if that was what she was trying to do. All I can say is she was picking on the girl who was fighting her friend and not doing much to stop her friend. I watched them all for a couple of minutes at least before I intervened. Why? Are you putting a case for the Holden girl and this other one not to be paddled?”

“Not really. Beth came to see me at home yesterday. We’re neighbors, as I think you know. We talked it over and she accepted it would probably be better for her to just take the swats and not argue. I think the third girl accepted she deserved her paddling anyway, didn’t she?”

“Susanne Harper? Yes, she certainly didn’t offer any defense.”

“It sounds all fine then, Jim. I’ve offered to drive Beth home afterwards, so I’ll be able to mop up any tears.”

“Thanks, Geoff.”

I took my two scheduled lessons and then did one or two odd little jobs, by which time it was 2.50. I decided to surreptitiously check the hallway outside Jim Jacobson’s office. Sure enough, there were four girls waiting outside, two standing, two sitting, waiting for their three o’clock appointments. Beth was one of the girls sitting. She was wearing light tan-colored thin cotton pants. Only one girl was wearing jeans with back pockets, the others all wore legging-type pants.

I hung around keeping out of sight until at two minutes to three, Jane Dormond, one of the school secretaries, came along the hallway, smirked at me, and went further along until she entered Jim’s office. A couple of minutes later, one of the girls was called into the office. There couldn’t have been much chit-chat because I soon heard five bangs as that first girl got her spanking.

Just as another girl was called into the office, the first girl walked past me rubbing her butt over black leggings. A similar procedure soon followed and then Susanne Harper passed me in the hallway. She saw me and stopped.

“You okay, Susanne?” I asked, slightly embarrassed at having been spotted. I could see her eyes were watery.

Susanne’s hands were behind her back and she was clearly massaging her backside.

“Yes sir, I guess.”

Susanne continued rubbing her behind as she spoke.

“I-er, I’m waiting to give Beth Holden a ride home,” I explained.

She nodded.

“Are you going the same way? Do you need a lift?”

“Oh, okay,” she replied after giving it some thought. “Yes, I’m sort of on the way.”

As we stood there listening to another girl getting her swats, it began to feel a little awkward, so I said, “I believe you were trying to break up the fight? Is that right?”

“Yes sir, kind of.”

“In that case, weren’t you surprised Mr Jacobson awarded you swats too? Were you not able to state your case?”

“Yes sir, but I figured we’d all been involved so we were all going to get paddled. It wasn’t worth arguing.”

“That kind of sounds like you feel you deserved it?”

Susanne thought briefly. “Yes sir, I guess I do, or did.”

Just at that moment, Beth came along the hallway and joined us.

“Okay?” I asked her, noticing that her eyes too were looking watery.

“I guess,” she almost sobbed. “My butt hurts!”

“I guess that’s kind of the point of a spanking,” I replied. “It’ll soon wear off. Susanne lives on our way so she’ll be coming with us.”

Beth nodded. Just as we turned to head for the parking lot, the fourth girl, wearing jeans, passed us by without speaking. We had to go by the secretaries’ station on our way out and they all stopped what they were doing and stared at the two girls. I noticed both Susanne and Beth stopped rubbing their backsides while they were in view of the secretaries.

I unlocked the doors to my Cadillac coupe and Beth and Susanne both climbed into the rear, both cautiously easing themselves down onto the fabric seating before fastening their seatbelts.

“I guess you’re glad to get that behind you,” I commented, not meaning any humor.

Neither replied.

As we left the parking lot, the girls started talking.

“The rumors are certainly true,” Beth stated. “Mr Jacobson certainly knows how to spank. My butt is still tingling.”

“Mine too,” Susanne replied. “I guess we all knew it was coming.”

“True. I reckon the worst part was waiting in the hallway. Once you got called in, the rest was just unavoidable.”

“You think? For me, the worst part was after you’d bent over the desk and Mr Jacobson was hovering behind you. You knew any moment your butt was going to get pounded.”

“Maybe. Did he ask you if you had anything in your back pockets? I mean, it must have been obvious neither of us had back pockets.”

Actually, Mrs Dormond asked me, but yes, I got asked. I wonder why they do that.”

“Why do they do that Geoff,” Beth asked me.

I noticed she called me by my first name, even in front of another student, but I let it pass.

“I guess because some pants have inside pockets and maybe you might have left something in them.”

“You mean like trying to cheat?”

“Hey, why didn’t we think of that?” Susanne said cheekily.

“If you’d have gotten caught, you’d find yourself back there for another paddling on Monday, Susanne,” I cautioned.

“Well yes, there is that,” Susanne responded. “I guess one spanking is enough.”

“Absolutely!” Beth agreed.

The End

© Kenny Walters 2025