I don't own anyone except the teacher
Carly, Sam and Freddie went to a Catholic school. The rules were very strict. The consequences were hash. If you forget your homework 1 time you get 10 strokes on the hand with a metal ruler. The 2nd time you forget your homework its 25 strokes with a paddle.
One day Carly forget her homework.
"I'm sorry Carly," the teacher said, "but the rules are the rules"
"NO," Freddie yelled, "you can't do it to her"
"I'm sorry," the teacher said, "but the rules are the rules. Carly please put out your hand"
"Wait," he said, "do it to me instead"
"What! You can't be serious," Carly said in amazement.
"I'm dead serious," he said, "use the ruler on my hand not hers"
The teacher thought about that for a minute.
"Well," she finally said, "that is what the SON OF OUR MAKER did for us. I think that might be a good lesson to everyone. Unfortunately if we do that it would have to double yours to 20. Are you willing to do that?"
He didn't hesitate for a second.
"Absolutely," he said
"Well then come up to the desk. Put your hand out."
Freddie without hesitation put his hand out. The first stroke burned his palm and he winced.
He forced himself to think of something else.
8, 9, 10
The pain was intensifying and he still had 10 more to go.
I love Carly, he kept saying to himself
The teacher continued
17, 18, 19, 20
"Okay," the teacher said smiling at Freddie, "you can go sit down. You get 20 point bonus on your next test.
"Now class Freddie just showed us a perfect example of the book we're talking about next. We are talking about the book Tom Sawyer. Now if you turn to page 102 you'll find the example of…"
Freddie looked at Carly and smiled at her. At that moment she knew she loved him.