Veronica
by obohobo
Chapter 1. The caning
"It wasn't my fault. I shouldn't be made to teach a subject I am not qualified
at."
"Mr. Sixsmith should give me more help to teach the boy. He is supposed to be
head of math's."
"Mrs. Stevens shouldn't have gone on a course for the whole term when there was
no one qualified to replace her."
Veronica Jones sat at her desk cupping her head. It was morning break. She had
just fifteen minutes to compose herself ready for the next class which
fortunately was History, her main subject. She knew what she was talking about
with history but math's. Ugh! She just couldn't get her head around figures. She
had worked hard to get a bare pass in math's to get into Teacher Training
College and hadn't used it since for more than simple accounts done with a
calculator. Now she was expected to teach fourth year algebra. Two double
periods a week, Tuesday and Thursday. How she dreaded those periods. She tried.
She revised the evening before hand but it was hard work. Mr. Sixsmith wasn't
any help. He resented being lumbered with a temporary member of his team and one
that had only a low numeracy level so he largely left her to her own devices.
His attitude, 'It's only for one term, then Mrs. Stevens will be back.'
Veronica at 25 was still young and attractive if a little on the plump side but
she'd tried to be a career woman and focused her efforts towards getting a
graded teaching post and then moving up the ladder until she could at least
become a head of department. For a couple of years she'd had a steady boyfriend
but they had split up when she refused to give up her job to marry and become a
mother.
Still sitting at the desk she silently spoke to herself. "It was all down to
that know-all brat Jeremy Leonards. The rest of the class were all right but
Jeremy was a genius at math's. His knowledge of the subject was far greater than
hers. He could do mental calculations that would take her hours with pen, paper
and calculator. Trouble was, he knew how good he was and used that knowledge to
denigrate her. To show off in front of the others. Still I shouldn't have lost
my temper and hit him. He shouldn't have goaded me and goaded me. He deserved
it. Perhaps I shouldn't have sent him to the head for a caning though. Maybe he
was let off with a talking too." Her reverie was interrupted by the bell for the
next lesson.
*****
Miss Pritworth, the school secretary, brought the note to Richard Rogers, the
head as he sat at his desk. He wasn't in a good mood either. One of the schools
sponsors was thinking of pulling out next term. "It's that Jeremy Leonards
again, Mr. Rogers."
"Send him in please, Miss Pritworth."
Jeremy was ushered in and stood in front of the head's desk. He knew it well.
The head didn't look up for a minute or two and then said, "Well what have you
to say for yourself this time Leonards?"
"I was only asking a question, Sir, but Miss couldn't answer it."
"Jeremy Leonards, you have been sent here on a number of occasions by various
members of my staff. I have caned you twice for misbehaviour this year. Miss
Jones has not sent a single person here until today and her note says, you were
rude to her. Who should I believe? Her or you?"
"I was only trying to get an answer to a math's question Sir."
"Yes and I wouldn't mind betting you were trying to embarrass her at the same
time. If Miss Jones says you were rude then I am going to believe her and cane
you."
The Sir John Linklater School was a private school and corporal punishment was
still used on the boys a few times each term. Punishments were never excessive
but the occasional use served as a deterrent to others.
Richard ordered the boy to bend over a high stool and went to fetch the school
cane from its cupboard. Returning he noticed the unmistakable tell-tale square
outline of an exercise book under the stretched trousers. Jeremy had obviously
come prepared. "Drop your trousers, Jeremy!"
"Oh no Sir. You're not allowed to do that."
"Do you wish me to get Mr. Peters from P.E. to hold you while I do it and then
get a couple extra for the inconvenience boy!"
Jeremy complied and bent over the stool with just his under pants to protect his
backside.
"Hold tight to the stool legs. You know what to expect by now."
WHACK!! A loud howl came from Jeremy.
WHACK!! A second even louder cry and Jeremy almost let go of the stool.
The head waited a few moments and then delivered two more strokes in quick
succession. This time the boy did let go and try to rub his very sore backside.
"Get back down and take your last two boy!" Richard was in no mood to be trifled
with. He laid the last two strokes on with equal vigour, knowing the boy would
have difficulty in sitting for the rest of the day. "Pity I can't see the
stripes on the bare flesh but it would be more than my job is worth to remove
his pants as well as the trousers," he thought. "Pull your trousers up now," he
said to the sobbing boy, "And then come and sign the entry in the punishment
book." He gave the boy a tissue and then a note to take to Mrs. Pattison, the
English teacher who taking his next class. She was a stickler for time and a
strict authoritarian. "Go and wash your face and do what you need to do in the
toilet and then give this note to Mrs. Pattison. It gives you a quarter of an
hour to make yourself presentable again."
"Thank you Sir."
The head led the boy through the secretary's office and sent him on his way.
Outside he heard running footsteps and then, "Look at you, Jerry. Got a smack on
the face in class and now a whack on your bum!" It was a girl's voice. Richard
quickly opened the door again and saw Claire Jacobs running along the corridor.
"Claire! Come here please." When she arrived at the door he asked her what the
rule was about running in the corridor. She replied they were supposed to walk.
"I think you need to give me a reminder as to why you are supposed to walk. He
ushered her through the direct door to his office. "Why the need to run Claire?"
"Thought I would be late for Miss Pattison's class, Sir. Roberta was taking her
time in the washroom."
"Where is she now?" Running footsteps again sounded along the corridor. "I think
you had better get her in here too," smiled the head.
Both girls now stood shamefacedly in front of the head's desk while they were
lectured on the safety aspects of walking along the corridors. Then the head
turned on Claire. "Would you mind repeating exactly what you said to Jeremy
Leonards as you went by earlier? Please use your exact words."
Claire blushed and replied, "Look Jerry. Got a smack on the face in class and
now a whack on your bottom!"
"Were they your exact words?"
Claire blushed further. "Not quite, Sir. I said bum not bottom."
"And is that the sort of language we expect from girls at this school?"
Hanging her head further, Claire replied, "No Sir."
"And was it a kind remark to make to a boy that had just received a caning?"
"No Sir."
"And what did you mean by got a smack on the face in class?" This was the real
reason for all his questioning.
"Miss hit him across the face when he was cheeking her, Sir."
"Did he deserve it?"
"Probably Sir. He was trying to wind her up. And he succeeded."
"Perhaps the pair of you had better tell me exactly what happened."
"Well Sir," Roberta spoke up, "It was near the end of the lesson and Miss had
finished showing us the answer to the math's she had set when Jeremy stood up
and asked something like what would happen if both x and y were negative values.
Miss didn't know and of course Jeremy did and he kept on at her saying she
shouldn't be teaching them if she couldn't do better than her class. He kept on
and on and walked up to her and I thought he was going to poke her with his
finger but he didn't. He was talking quietly as they were almost face to face
and all of a sudden she slapped him on the face."
"It was hard too Sir," chimed in Claire. "That shut him up and then she sent him
to you."
"Does Miss Jones often get angry like that?" enquired the head.
"No Sir, and when Jeremy wasn't there for two weeks a month ago it was a fun
lesson. Usually though it is a bit tense."
The head sat back in his chair and thought for a few minutes and the two girls
wondered if they should be leaving. They knew Miss Pattison wouldn't not
hesitate to give them detention or extra homework for being late. Richard knew
Veronica shouldn't have slapped the boy and if his parents complained to the
governors, it could mean she might be asked to resign and possibly he might have
to as well if he didn't handle things properly. He decided he needed to find out
the full facts. Realising the two girls were still standing there he said, "Its
alright girls, I'll come back to Miss Pattison with you in a few minutes. I need
to get to the bottom of this."
