After work

As a college student I had a job at a second hand bookshop owned by Marylin Stretton, who was twelve years my senior. I used by Ms. Stretton's only employee, and I used to work two days a week for her. The bookstore was located in the historical inner city of town with some 100,000 residents.

At one day, a Saturday in June, I overslept myself and hence I was late at work. Of course, I offered my apologies to my employer when I arrived at work. She seemed to accept my apologies, and urged me to do my job. I thought this would be the last thing about it, but I couldn't have be more wrong than that.

After a busy day, the shop closed at five o'clock in the afternoon. While I did some cleaning, Marylin went to the office to count the money box. Usually this wouldn't take more than half an hour. But when my employer and I were finished with our respective tasks, Ms. Stretton called me to her office.

"Young man, this morning you have been thirty minutes late at work." "I am sorry, Ma'am." "I've heard your apologies. But I am not quite satisfied, yet. You perfectly know that Saturday is the busiest day of the week, especially in summer with all those tourists in town. Therefore I need an extra pair of hands to keep this business running." "I see, Ma'am" "It's good you got my point. However, I believe you need a firm reminder that you have to be at work in time."

I was surprised, and what did she mean with "a firm reminder"? After a short, but tense, pause Marylin Stretton explained what she meant.

"You're a great boy, so I will treat you as one. Since you are perfectly aware of misdeeds and why these are wrong, you have to understand that things have consequences." I asked her: "What consequences, Ma'am?" My employer smiled at me, and said: "You will see."

Ms. Stretton stood up and walk to a closet. Then she produced a school cane from the closet. Subsequently she looked at me:

"Young man, bent yourself over my desk." Due to her stern voice, I obeyed this order without hesitation. After I had taken my position, my employer walked towards me. But at approximately one meter away from me, she stood still.

"Young man, since you was thirty minutes late, you will get thirty strokes with this cane. And you will count ever stroke loudly, and if you don't will start again at zero. Do you understand me?" "Yes, I do, Ma'am."

Then without warning I received the first hit on my seat. An intense shock of pain traversed through my body, but nevertheless I was quickly enough to count "One". The second hit came almost immediately after I had counted the first. Despite the shock of the second hit, I also counted this. Marylin repeated this until hit number ten, after which she took a short break.

The next series of ten strokes was administered in the same fashion as the first ten strokes. Shocks of intense pain traversed my body. Though I happily able to count each and every hit with the cane. After a second short break the third and final series of strokes followed.

After finishing the last series, Marylin let me gain my breath by letting me stand in my position for a few more minutes. Thereafter, she said:

"Young man, I hope you will never be late at work again." "I won't be, Ma'am." While I was allowed to stand up, the woman grasped me and give me a hug. Without resistance I surrendered myself to her. Marylin whispered in my ears: "You have got your punishment, my boy. Everything is fine now."