The group of boys thought they were totally cool. Scott Kaleem was the most exotic looking. His parents came from the Middle East. He was the oldest, but the smallest of the boys. Jeremy Haggman and Zachary "Zack" Burnett were medium height, while Holiday Michael "Mike" Noose was towering over them.
Jeremy had stolen cigarettes from his older brother and invited his friends for a smoke.
They thought they were safe enough behind the sports complex of their school. Zack was always the boldest of group and took the first puff. He inhaled deeply, the smoke burned in his lungs. Of course he tried to behave manly and avoid coughing. Zack couldn't prevent it. The others laughed. Zack was embarrassed and outraged, handing the cigarette to Mike and said: "Show me, if you can do it better!" Mike didn't want to be seen as a coward and took up the challenge. He was more careful than Zack and didn't inhale as deep. Still the smoke tickled in his lungs and throat like mad. Mike coughed only slightly and didn't turn bright red as his friend. He passed the cigarette on to Scott. There was suddenly a shadow and Ms Katie Brannigan, the deputy principal, shouted at the boys: "Burnett, Haggman, Kaleem, Noose, off to the principal with you!" She confiscated the evidence.
The principal Stephanie McCall was a stern lady in her fifties, and a visit to her office was a thing to be avoided.
She had the boys lined up before her desk. Principal McCall lectured them about the dangers of smoking. They also had broken school rules and done something illegal, by smoking under aged. "Who brought in the cigarettes?" Stephanie McCall asked. She guessed either Burnett or Kaleem were behind it. The boys stared at their shoes, but didn't answer. "Very well. I'll give you a few minutes to think about it, while I'm informing your parents about your behavior. If nobody is coming forward, you all get suspended for two weeks." Mike was tempted to blurt out it had been Jeremy. He didn't and avoided to look at his friend. Zack and Scott stared angrily at Jeremy. It didn't go unnoticed with Ms McCall. Jeremy had difficulties to decide what to do. He didn't want to admit he had been the culprit, but felt guilty, his friends would be punished because of him and of course there was pressure. The other boys would be unforgiving and never talk to him again, so he admitted he had brought the cigarettes on the school grounds.
"Scott, Michael, Zachary, you are all going to be suspended one week, Jeremy, you two weeks with effect from tomorrow." After announcing the sentence Mrs. McCall rang all parents informing them about the punishment and handed each boy a form to have signed by his parents.
"Oh my, do I really have to go home?" Scott asked. His parents were very strict and he was sure he was getting the slipper.
Jeremy was more concerned about his brother, who was going to kill him. His parents were having a serious talk with him, but that was it.
Zack knew he was going to be grounded forever.
Mike wasn't so sure what was going to happen. His parents hadn't spanked him for around two years and he felt he was already an adult. He hoped they would simply ground him or order him to do extra chores.
Jeremy Haggman
Jeremy's parents weren't impressed with their son's immature behavior. They invited Jeremy for a talk to the kitchen.
"Jeremy, why did you do that, for Christ's sake?" his mother asked. Jeremy looked down, not wanting to answer. "I'm sorry, Mom. I just thought... Well, smoking is cool and we all felt like grown ups." "Smoking isn't cool, especially when you are so young as you are. You are barely thirteen! We can't stop your brother from smoking. He is an adult, but you taking up the habit is out of the question. Understood?" "Yes, Dad." "I find it appalling you took Thomas' cigarettes. I would be surprised, if he would have given them to you." his mother interrogated Jeremy. "I took them and didn't ask for Thomas' permission." "I thought we taught you about respecting other people's property." Jeremy's father said. Rachel and Timothy Haggman expected Jeremy to make up for it. Jeremy had to pay for a new pack of cigarettes and apologize to Thomas. They also didn't appreciate he had others convinced to take part in his machinations. Should he ever smoke again before he was legally allowed to do it or take other people's belonging without their permission, there were going to be repercussions.
Thomas took it better than expected and used a few swear words, but that was it.
Scott Kaleem
Scott reached the front door of his house with slumping shoulders. He walked slowly. When entering the house he heard his mother Fatima screech for him. She was in the living room, waiting for him. Better getting it over and done with. His mother was already prepared and not in a talkative mood. She didn't wait for an explanation. With one hand she grabbed, Scott with the other she picked up her husband Ahmad's size 11 sneaker. Unceremoniously she sat down on the sofa, pulling Scott over her lap. His toes barely touched the floor; his upper body was resting on the sofa. Before Fatima started punishing her son she said: "You behaved like a little boy, so you get treated like one." The shoe whacked down on Scott's left buttock. He jerked a bit, but didn't make a sound. The next wasn't easier to take. It hit nearly the same spot. "OW!" Scott couldn't keep quiet. He reached back, trying to protect his backside, but stopped in time. His mother slapped his hands. "Bad boy! It's dangerous, when you reach back. I might whack you on your hand and hurt you. If you are unable to control yourself, grab a pillow." Scott was grateful for the short respite. He got up and chose a big pillow, covered in cool, soft silk. Back over his mother's lap he held on tightly and buried his face. Fatima Kaleem was meticulous; making sure Scott's complete behind was on fire. He started to squirm and cry out, when they were through half way. When Fatima was finished with Scott after thirteen hard smacks, Scott was crying. He hated being slippered. It hurt so much. "Get off!" His mother ordered unfriendly. "Now listen to me, boy: If we ever catch you smoking, your father is going to spank your sorry ass! It's not going to be pleasant. Is that understood, Scott?" "Yes, Ma'am." Scott felt ashamed and wanted to rub away some of the pain. "Go to your room and think about your childish behavior." "Yes, Ma'am."
Scott never smoked. The fear of getting punished by his father was too great. Ahmed Kaleem was striking harder than his wife and didn't tire as quickly.
Zachary Burnett
Zack was expected by his father, who was a house husband, looking after Zack and his younger siblings. Zack's mother was in middle management and often on business travel.
"Let's talk about it, son." Ryan Burnett filled a glass of milk for both of them and motioned Zack to follow him to the living room. Zack didn't hold back. He and his father were on good terms. "You know, I smoked, when I was fifteen, for a year or so. I thought like you it was cool and I was an adult. Unfortunately it wasn't the case. I quit, because my success in sports was vaining. My coach told me in clear terms, if I didn't improve, I would sit on the bench and watch from the side line. I didn't want to be a looser and corrected my path. Now to your punishment. We are going to the library and we look for books about smoking. I expect you use the time you are suspended to read them all and write an essay about the pros and cons of smoking. I want your own opinion, if smoking is something you are going to keep up or better avoid in future." Zack was stunned. He hadn't expected it at all. After taking into consideration his own experience and learning more about the negative effects of smoking, he decided smoking was nothing for him.
Holiday Michael Noose
Mike was tense, when he arrived at home. He was glad his brother Fin wasn't going to return home until later in the evening, because he was at his baseball training. Mike hoped his parents had dealt with him before Fin was back.
Mike's parents Beverly and Coldham had already discussed what they were going to do with Mike. Beverly sent her youngest son to his room to wait until Coldham arrived from work. It didn't take long. On the one hand Mike wished his father would never return home, on the other hand Mike was more than ready to face the music.
His parents arrived with stern faces and gave him a lecture. To Mike's surprise they seemed to be more concerned about his suspension than having smoked. His mother spoke especially about the shame he was causing her. She worked as a school administrator, and when he or his brother misbehaved in public, it brought a bad light on her. "You are going to be spanked, Holiday Michael. We haven't done it for a longer time, but it seems necessary based on the severity of what you have done." His father explained. "But I'm thirteen and way too old to get spanked." Mike protested. "You are never too old for that." Beverly Noose replied. "If you don't behave appropriately, we are going to smack your bum until one day before your eighteenths birthday." Mike swallowed at his father's threat. A retreat was better, before making it worse, so Mike apologized. His parents accepted, but didn't let him off the hook. They had condemned him to 39 smacks with the hand by his mother and to his shock were introducing a wooden spoon. They had never used an implement before. He found it unfair, but kept it to himself. Couldn't his father do the hand spanking? His mother was the harder spanker and was going to cause enough pain. Why did they have to do it in the first place? Mike was so deep in thoughts, he didn't hear at first his mother's order. "Holiday Michael, please pull down your pants." His mother had taken a seat on Mike's bed and asked him to bend over. His parents had told him he was getting spanked on the bare. He probably had to raise his hips, when he was in position. It could be worse. When he was younger, his mother or father, depending who had done the spanking, had pulled down his underpants, when he was still standing. He hadn't liked it at all and found it highly embarrassing.
His mother wedged his briefs between his buttocks, baring his behind, but not his private parts. Mike was glad about it. Being an adult - as he believed he was - he tried to behave like one, and struggled to keep quiet. Beverly did everything to make it difficult for him. The first set of thirteen spanks were on his right cheek, the next on his left. When two thirds of Mike's hand spanking were over, Mike's behind looked red. It hurt like hell and Mike bit hard on his lower lip, so he wasn't going to cry out. Mike's eyes were watering. He wasn't ready to give in, though. The last thirteen smacks were even harder than the others. His mother was alternating smacks between left and right, the only one remaining landed with a resounding slap on the most meatiest part of Mike's buttocks, covering them both. He couldn't help himself. A small moan escaped. "You were very good." Beverly comforted Mike, rubbing the small of his back. Mike's parents gave him a few moments respite before asking him to move over his father's lap, who had taken a seat beside them to also comfort his son and to get ready for the last part. Mike resented his parents and didn't want to bend over his father's knees. Knowing better than to protest or make a drama out of it, he pleaded with his parents to give him just one more minute. If Coldham and Beverly thought, Mike was disobedient, they would think of something to make his life miserable. Of course they couldn't refuse their favorite son. It broke their heart to have to punish Mike, but it was for his own good. Beverly and Coldham wanted to make sure he was going to be a better person afterwards. "No further delaying, Holiday Michael." His mother said after the time had passed. With a sigh Mike scrambled over to his father. He was resigned and braced himself for another onslaught. Mike was already in pain. Coldham wasn't sure yet, how to proceed. Would it have been his other son Fin, he would have gotten out his cane and whipped Fin hard. Mike was different, though. With a heavy heart Coldham came to the decision, he couldn't spare Mike. Beverly was watching like he had done before and they had agreed, Mike needed to learn his lesson, so he raised his spoon over his shoulder and sent it hurtling down. Mike had never felt such pain before. He screamed, because the part, where the spoon landed, was on fire. He couldn't believe he had still five of those to come and wasn't sure if he was able to take them. Better prepared for the next stroke, Mike managed to only hiss, but couldn't stop a tear escaping. Stroke number three made Mike squirm and caused another flow of tears. Coldham had more patience with Mike than he would have had with Fin. He waited until Mike lay still again. "Half way through, Mike." Coldham tried to comfort Mike. Mike hung on limply. He felt spent and couldn't wait until it was over. Coldham went softer from then on. He thought Mike wouldn't pick up smoking. Mike noticed the sting wasn't as bad as previously and kept his mouth tightly shut. He was really glad, Fin wasn't at home. Mike would have been embarrassed, if Fin would have heard him scream. Their rooms were beside each other. Both parents were doting on him after the punishment was over. They hugged and Mike was forgiven. Still they gave him a stern warning, should Mike be in trouble, they wouldn't hesitate to swing the spoon again. "Would you like some ice?" Beverly asked. Mike nodded. He had calmed down and recovered. The first wave of pain had subsided as well and he started to feel better. With it - as always - Mike's resentment was forgotten.
He never touched a cigarette again, but as an adult and successful architect had the occasional cigar.
©2011
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