John Brooke told himself "This will go well!", pulled back his shoulders, and knocked on the door of the Laurence house. He had an appointment with a mister James Laurence who was looking for a tutor for his grandson. He was let in and led into the library where he saw an older gentleman seated behind a desk.
"Brooke?" asked Mr. Laurence.
"Yes, sir. Mr. Laurence, I presume?"
"Yes, yes. Well sit-down young man." Brooke took the seat across from the desk and nervously waited for the questions to begin. He ought not to be nervous, he had an excellent degree and letters of recommendation, but this was his third such interview in a matter of months. He must find a position soon!
"I've taken the liberty of reading your letters of recommendation and you seem most suitable, I think. My grandson has spent most of his life in Europe, and has had – well, how to describe it? – an 'uneven' education if you will. That's why I think a tutor a better fit for him than a school. A tutor can work on any weaknesses and foster any strengths. Because of all this he's a little undisciplined, if I'm being honest. He's got a good heart, but in some ways he's too mature for his age and in some ways too young. I'm looking for a sturdy fellow to work with him. What do you think about that?"
Discipline thought Brooke. Just what he wasn't really good at. In fact, he'd been turned down in his last interview because he seemed too soft. Well, if this old man wanted discipline, he would show that he could do it!
"Thank you, sir, for speaking so honestly about my potential pupil. Self-discipline is important for any learning to be successful. One must apply oneself. I think I can keep him on task."
"Good, good!" replied Mr. Laurence. "Let's have the boy meet you," he said and asked the servant to have 'Mr. Laurie' called down.
While they waited, Brooke began looking around the room. He saw what he could tell was a well-used library. The books were on a variety of topics and showed a variety of interests. This wasn't a collection bought without care by a 'gentleman' seeking to fill shelves. It would be a pleasure to teach here. He hoped the boy wouldn't be too much trouble.
Laurie arrived and entered the room rather formally. "Son, I'd like you to meet Mr. John Brooke – I think he's going to be your next tutor. Mr. Brooke, Theodore Laurence."
"Laurie," corrected the boy as he offered his hand. "Pleased to meet you Mr. Brooke," he offered cautiously.
"Pleased to meet you, Laurie," replied Brooke. Both man and boy getting the measure of each other.
"What's your favorite subject to study?" Brooke asked.
"Music," replied the boy and his grandfather rolled his eyes.
"Academic subject he means," grouched Mr. Laurence, adding under his breath "which I'm sure you know."
"I enjoy literature – English writers mostly, but I've been reading more American works lately."
"And what is your least favorite subject?"
"Latin. And mathematics. And—"
"I think he understands," said Mr. Laurence, cutting him off. "Anything else?"
Brooke and Laurie weren't sure who was being addressed, so both ended up shaking their heads. "Very well," said Mr. Laurence, "You may go back to your nonsense, boy, and I think you and I have some terms to discuss, eh Brooke?"
Laurie and Mr. Brooke spent a tense week getting to know each other. Brooke was determined to see just what it was the Laurie knew and planned lessons for the next few weeks. For his part, Laurie was behaving tolerably well, not wanting to push his tutor, but still being his begrudging self.
Brooke had thought about how he would handle disciplining this young man, should the need arise. Administering physical punishment was not in his nature, not that he hadn't suffered it himself, both infrequently from his father and more so from his schoolmasters. The 'soft' comment still haunted him, however. Could he thrash Laurie if he had to?
Walking in the woods near the house one day he came across a fallen limb, with several small branches. "One of these would make a fine switch," he thought. Turning quickly to make sure no one was looking, he twisted off a neat branch about three feet long and nearly half an inch thick. As he broke off the smaller twigs to make a smooth implement, he thought seriously about whether he could ever wield it. "If I must, I must," he told himself as he walked back to the house, switch hidden inside his coat. The old man had specifically mentioned discipline and he could not afford to lose this position.
The first sign of trouble came a few weeks later. On a Thursday, Brooke had asked Laurie to read Walden and also to work a set of mathematical problems. The next day, Brooke asked Laurie for his math work.
"I haven't had time to do it," he replied to Brooke's query.
"But I asked you to do it yesterday."
"You also asked me to read this book. I haven't finished the book yet, so I haven't started the math yet," explained the young man, turning back to his book.
"That wasn't what I meant," exclaimed Brooke.
"But that is what you asked me to do."
Brooke was frustrated. Was Laurie toying with him or did he really think he was to read the entire book before doing any other work? He didn't know the boy well enough yet to know, but the word 'undisciplined' was echoing in his head. Was he being tested? He began pacing the room. He could not fail.
Determinedly, Brook walked over to the cabinet where he had hidden the switch. He then stood in front of the boy whose head was still down over his book and said (in a voice rather too loud), "Laurie, you've deliberately disobeyed me. I'm going to have to punish you."
Laurie looked up incredulously, then saw the switch.
"You're not thrashing me!" he exclaimed. "No!"
"Yes, I will!" replied Brooke. He grabbed the boy by the arm and tried to pull him into a standing position. For his part, Laurie pulled and turned and did what he could to break his tutor's grip. In the end, Brooke had the upper hand – at least for a moment – and delivered a few slashing blows across Laurie's backside.
"Be still!" he ordered, surprised at Laurie's resistance. But the boy still fought and squirmed and tried to pull away. Brooke was able to land two more licks with the switch before Laurie gained his freedom. He gave Brooke a look of pure disdain and stormed out of the room.
Brooke tried to calm down and catch his breath. He wasn't sure what he thought was going to happen, but the boy's lack of cooperation shocked him. Was he wrong to have tried to punish the boy?
The reply came rather shortly with a summons to the library to speak to Mr. Laurence. As Brooke walked in, he could tell that Laurie had already informed his grandfather of the day's events.
"Please sit down," said the old man gravely. He paused and seemed to struggle in gathering his words. "My grandson has told me that you thrashed him, is that true?"
"Yes, sir," replied Brooke. "He disobeyed me, sir, he didn't do the work I assigned," explained Brooke desperately. "Should I—" he stopped, not knowing what else to say.
"My grandson and I used to have a strained relationship. We have both worked hard to build a stronger one. When I told him I was hiring a tutor, we agreed that I would only hire a gentleman that would treat him like a young gentleman. I thought you were such a person."
"I AM!" cried Brooke in response. "I'm so sorry for this, sir." Brooke put his head in his hands and decided to be honest. "It is not in my nature to physically punish. It was rarely employed by my father and certainly not once I'd reached my teenage years. Schoolmasters, of course, were different. Wielding a switch or a ruler at every opportunity, no matter what your age. I am, by nature, a gentle man. But I had just lost out on a position because the father felt that I would be too soft with his boys. And then I came here, and you mentioned how Laurie is undisciplined and I guess I thought you wanted me to be hard on him. I'm so sorry for misunderstanding you." He paused. "May I please have another chance?"
Mr. Laurence considered. Wondering how he could make the situation right for Laurie without Mr. Brooke losing all of his authority. He thought of a way.
"I think that might be possible," replied the old man. "But we'll have to have the boy's input as well. Let me take the lead."
Laurie was summoned and was still very upset.
"Young man, I think Mr. Brooke has something to say to you."
"Yes," said Brooke, clearing his throat and wondering how to proceed. "I'm sorry that I thrashed you, Laurie. It was ungentlemanly of me to treat you like a child. It won't happen again." Then he continued, "You see I wasn't sure whether you were honestly confused about the assignment or if you were simply mocking me, which would be ungentlemanly on your part."
Laurie took the apology well, then began to look a bit uncomfortable when his own behavior was raised. He wasn't sure why he said what he said either. Probably he just didn't want to work the math problems.
"I accept your apology, Mr. Brooke," he said graciously. "For my part, I vow to behave properly so we can work together."
"Good," said Mr. Laurence, pleased with the outcome. "Of course, if he should ever misbehave towards you, Brooke, you can always come to me, and I'll have a talk with the boy." Mr. Laurence hoped that that comment would both take the pressure to punish from Brooke and warn his grandson against any future mischief. "Very well," he concluded. "I think that's enough studying for today, but tomorrow morning it's back to work for both of you, understood?"
"Yes, sir," they both replied, and went their separate ways. For now.