School Daze

Riding slowly and gently away from the fishing hole towards home, Ben, Pastor Fletcher, Lil' Joe, and Billy maintain a comfortable silence for a ways before conversation starts.

"Ben?"

"Yes, Pastor?"

"Remember the discussion we were having on the way out here, about our own adventures?"

"Yes..."

"I think it would be totally appropriate here to share some of that with the boys. I get the sense they're feeling a little glum and perhaps... well... martyred a bit here."

"Really? You think telling them that we, too, have committed the sins of playing hooky and skipping schoolwork is a confession they should hear?" Ben laughed.

The looks on the boys' faces was priceless.

"I do, dear friend. But I think they need to hear the rest of the story as well..."

"Seriously, Pa? You and Pastor Fletcher did this? Yourselves? Really?" Joe asked in his irrepressible astonishment.

"Absolutely, son. And we got caught by our fathers."

"What happened then, Dad?" Billy joined in.

Over the next few miles both Ben and Fred shared tales of their own youthful exuberance at that age, along with the responses of their grandfathers to said adventures. As to the episodes of truancy, the men ended their recitations with their schoolmasters' hickory switch, and their literal inability to sit comfortably for a week.

This last disclosure was a sobering reflection for the boys.

"Now, boys, one reason I wanted to share those stories was that you'll notice in a moment that neither of us are turning for home. The proper conclusion for getting caught playing hooky, is back in the schoolroom with your teacher. That's where we're headed right now. We've already discussed the situation with Miss Jones, and she is expecting us all to arrive there at 3:00, and I can see we will be right on time." the Pastor said.

"You may want to prepare yourselves, boys," Ben said. "You have more consequences to face, I'm afraid."

"But... but Pa..." Joseph stammered, "doesn't she paddle kids for getting caught playing hooky? And what about skipping the test... Oh, no! She's going to KILL us!"

"Courage, son. I have absolute faith that you will survive this encounter. Neither she, nor we, would allow you to come to any harm," Ben assured the boy as his face took on a panicked expression.

Billy looked near to tears as he asked, "Daddy? What about the 'spanked at school' rule? Are we gonna get whupped at school and then go to the barn when we get home?"

"No, son," Fred shook his head gently. "Whatever punishment you endure at school, there will be no further spanking afterwards, assuming there's nothing you've done that we don't already know about. There isn't, is there? If so, now is the time to tell us."

"No, Dad. We've told you everything, haven't we Joe?" Billy looked to Joe, to check if they'd left anything out.

"We've told you everything, sirs. I just... I just REALLY don't want another spanking. You think there's any way out of it?"

"I couldn't say, son. That's going to be up to Miss Jones. I know she's pretty firm about her rules against truancy. You might have stood a chance if you'd not used hooky to duck that test, but as things stand... Well, I think you'd best just resign yourself. If it gives you any comfort to know, however, Pastor and I had to take lickings from men teachers with a hickory switch for this. They laid stripes on our sore backsides, after our pa's had already waled us with their belts. THEN we had to sit and do lines, sit to supper without cushions, and lots of other things without being allowed even to rub or wince."

"And church, Ben. Don't forget church! I had to sit on that hard front pew, right in front of my Dad, without squirming at ALL while it seemed like he'd preach the whole blessed day!" Fred laughed.

"Pastor!" Ben laughed accusingly as both Billy and Joe looked at him with a shocked expression.

"Oh, lighten up a little, Ben. I know how children feel about preaching in church on Sunday! I REMEMBER! And I can assure you, boys, I try very hard to use enough stories and illustrations in my sermons not to be nearly as boring as my father was! And my sermons are a lot shorter, too! It's OK, Ben. God has humor, and so do I."

Ben just laughed, as the boys felt a little bit better about riding inexorably towards their doom.

In just a few minutes, Joseph Cartwright and William Fletcher found themselves standing bashfully in front of the desk of Miss Abigail Jones, Schoolmistress of Virginia City. She was a plain, but not unattractive woman of about 30 years age, who loved her charges fiercely, but could present a strict persona with such perfection as to freeze their blood if she felt it was called for. This, was one of those times. On the wall behind her hung a big varnished pine paddle they'd heard being applied to other students' seats from time to time, although they'd had no personal experience with it. Just seeing it, sitting there behind her as they spoke, made their knees tremble just a little bit.

"Gentlemen," she said, addressing Joseph and William. "Please account for your whereabouts today. William? You first."

Billy gulped trying to rid his throat of a choking lump that suddenly grew there. "We went fishing, Miss Jones."

"Fishing," she echoed. "Joseph, were you and William aware of school being in session today?"

"Yes, Miss Jones."

"And did either of you have permission to absent yourselves from school today?"

"No, Miss Jones."

"And why did you happen to pick TODAY, to play truant? Joseph?"

Now it was Little Joe's turn to find his elusive voice. "Well, ma'am, it was such a wonderful day out, what with the sunshine, and breeze, and..."

"Joseph," she interrupted. "I grant this was a lovely day, but I believe you are close to prevaricating, and I would truly hate to add lying to your list of misdemeanors right now." The two boys rapidly started whispering to one another. Discerning the nature of their discussion, Miss Jones accommodated, "Prevarication is to tell an untruth, to fib or lie."

"Oh, I see." Joe looked at his toes as he started to scuff his toes along the grain of the board slats beneath him. "Well, it WAS a really nice day, but also there was that math test, and we didn't think we'd do too good on it."

"Too well on it, Joseph. And I agree. I don't think either of you would have done well on it at all. Especially since you've not done a lick of solid math practice for over a week, have you?"

"No, ma'am." Joe admitted.

"No, ma'am," Billy agreed, shaking his head.

"Well, boys, skipping school is a serious infraction, a serious breaking of the rules. Add to that that you've either failed a major math test that you had ample study time and notice of... or else I have to draft a makeup exam for you two. Along with the assignments you've not turned in, and ignoring my advice that you get help on this from home. I am NOT pleased with your behavior or performance, boys. It is very disappointing from two of my best students."

"Yes, ma'am," they both muttered miserably.

"How do you think we should handle this, gentlemen?"

"Aww... shucks..." they both thought. It never seemed fair to ask a kid how they thought they should be punished. But Joe thought he saw a glimmer of hope and opportunity here.

"Um, Miss? Do you think Billy and I might have a minute to talk that over, before we answer?" Joe asked.

Both curious and amused, though she could show nothing but her "mean teacher" expression, she decided to grant the request. "Go ahead," and gave a small smile and shrug to Ben and Fred as they stood to the side observing only.

Joe and Billy had moved to the back of the room engaged in energetic debate for a moment or two. Seeming to come to some resolution, they returned to stand at attention before her desk.

"Well, Mr. Cartwright, have the two of you come to some conclusion?" she said, addressing Joe with the dignity that seemed appropriate.

"Yes'm. Seems like we've done some wrong stuff, and broken your rules. For punishment, it seems fair that we'd have to do all the homework we owe, write lines apologizing for our missing school, do extra math homework as punishment, and do all the school chores for a week to make it up to you for having to write a new exam for us. How would that be?"

Somehow, Miss Jones realized she'd been drawn into a contest of negotiation and dickering over the issue of the boys' punishment. Well, she'd brought it on herself asking them what they deserved, so she couldn't complain.

"Well, that seems pretty fair as to dealing with the matters of your math misbehavior. I can accept your proposals. But you've said nothing about playing hooky except writing some apology lines. My policy is that you be paddled. That hardly seems a fair alternative, does it? What do you think?"

This started another brief round of consultation between the boys, as they asked to be excused a moment to turn their backs and whisper together. Turning back around to Miss Jones...

"You're absolutely right, ma'am. Lines alone isn't really much of a punishment. What if in addition to that, we had to be kept in with no recess at all, morning or afternoon, for a WHOLE WEEK..." Joe intoned dramatically, "AND... we had to stay inside at lunchtime, working on those lines? How would that sound?"

It took all of Miss Jones composure and experience to keep a straight face as she found herself negotiating, as if dickering over a new horse.

Ben turned to Fred to whisper, "I've been taking him along when I buy and sell stock lately. I can see that may have been a mistake."

"On the contrary, Ben," Fred whispered back desperately stifling a laugh. "I think the boy's doing a masterful job. Let's see how this turns out!"

"I still think," Miss Jones replied, "you're loading this a bit lightly on your end. However, I can appreciate that you don't want to be paddled. No right thinking child DOES, so there's nothing wrong with what you're doing. Now, I know you've already been punished by your fathers and I can appreciate your efforts to find a suitable punishment that doesn't involve more spanking. I tell you what, I'll give you a choice.

"You may take one of two punishments. You may either forego all outdoor play, recess and lunch, for two weeks... doing lines or assignments I give you for that time, along with the extra math study and homework, and chores you agreed to earlier, AND you will no longer share a desk together, but be separated by two desks distance for at least a month. This punishment would begin Monday. OR, you can take a paddling here, right now, instead of losing any recess or other free time. The chores and extra math assignments would stand. The two of you need not select the same option, but if one of you take the restriction option, you will be separated for two weeks, rather than the month.

"THAT, gentlemen, is my final offer, and you may now discuss it between yourselves. You two go on outside and decide what you want to do."

As the boys left, she stood up from her desk to approach Ben and Fred. Looking carefully out the window to see the boys walking well away to the swings to deliberate, the three adults could finally burst out laughing, keeping it very quiet.

"I'm so sorry, Abigail," Ben said, embarrassed.

"Oh, NO, Ben. I've never engaged in such a conversation. Joe is absolutely wonderful, as is Billy. This was one of the funniest days I've ever had, teaching. Everybody plays hooky one time or another. I did, didn't you? And everyone shirks on a test or a chapter now and again. That's nothing new or disturbing. It's just another 'teachable moment' to me. The lessons just change, is all. But I may have to rethink whether I ever again ask for student input on punishment in the future. I felt like I'm trying to buy a milk cow! Offer, counteroffer, counter counteroffer, going, going, gone! I was waiting for an auctioneer's gavel to fall!"

"So was I", Fred agreed. "Oops, here they come. Back to your bench, yer' honor!"

"Right!" Miss Jones replied, scooting hastily back to her seat, as the boys returned to stand in front of her desk. "So what have you decided, gentlemen."

Billy spoke for them both when he said, "'The coward dies a thousand deaths, the brave man dies but once,' ma'am. My Dad's taught me that. We'd sooner take licks than get split up for a month or even two weeks. Besides, it's just way too nice outside these days to stay in all that time. We'll do the lines, and the chores, and the extra homework, ma'am. But we'd sooner take licks than lose all our recess or get split up, right Joe?" he said, looking at his partner in crime.

"That's right, Billy. If that's ok with you, ma'am."

"Fine with me, gentlemen. So, to be clear, your punishment will be to complete all the back owed homework, plus extra math I shall assign, plus do all the school chores for a week, plus take the make up exam I will write, plus taking your paddlings right here right now. Correct?"

"Yes, ma'am," they both said.

"Very well. You are going to be paddled for three separate offenses. One: being absent from school without leave or excuse. Two: skipping a major examination without leave or excuse. Three: repeated refusal to complete assigned homework despite warnings and opportunity to get help. Agreed?"

"Yes, ma'am," they both said.

"All right. Now, I have some good news for you and then a question. The good news is, I know you've been eyeing this big paddle I keep on the wall behind my desk. I do, indeed, use that when necessary from time to time. But in your age group, for offenses less serious than cheating, fighting, or hurtful pranks, I do NOT use that paddle. You'll take your licks with my ruler. It is heavy and it hurts, but nothing like that paddle, so feel a bit relieved. As to my question, it is simple: Which of the two of you first thought of and suggested playing hooky today?"

Billy spoke up without hesitation, "That was me, ma'am. It was my idea."

Both Ben and Fred were a bit surprised, though neither betrayed that by look.

"Thank you for your courage and that honest answer, Mr. Fletcher. You will take one more lick than Joseph, to help you remember to think more carefully when you consider suggestions to others."

"Yes, ma'am," Billy answered.

Opening her desk drawer, she removed the wicked ruler. The boys now had the chance to observe that it was 18 inches long, a dark varnished wood, and seemed far thicker than any ruler had a right to be - though, in fact, it was just a quarter inch thick. They could see that it would easily lay down a stinging swat, and their backsides were already starting to tingle in anticipation.

"Boys, would you like to use the Necessary before we begin?" she asked, considerately.

"Yes'm, thank you very much. Excuse us..." they said, not quite rushing to the privy. They hadn't realized they needed to go, until they saw that ruler, then realized they hadn't gone since they'd changed clothes.

Miss Jones took the opportunity to address Ben and Fred. "Would you rather stay here, or wait outside? I have no preference."

"If it's all the same to you, I'd like to ask the boys which they'd prefer. I don't want to embarrass them more than they'll be already. But I'm willing to support them just as well."

"That will be fine, why don't you call them to you when they come in and ask them? Then I'll proceed."

When the boys returned, they had a few quiet words with their fathers, who nodded to Miss Jones, as the boys returned to stand in front of her desk.

"Very well, boys. Billy, you will stand there and wait while Joe is punished. It's harder to watch a friend take a licking, and wait for your turn. This is part of your penalty for being the instigator."

"Yes'm," Billy said regretfully.

"Joseph, come here to the side of my desk. Take out your shirt tail, please, and assume the position. Keep your hands flat on the desktop, and do not let go of the desk for any reason. You are not to cuss, kick me, or throw your hands behind you. If you do any of those things, the lick will be repeated. I will ask questions which you will verbally answer, not just nod or shake your head. You will audibly count after each swat. That will tell me when you are ready for the next. Are my instructions clear? Have you any question?"

"No question, ma'am. That's all clear."

"Thank you, Joseph. Are you ready?"

"Yes, ma'am, I'm ready." Joe wondered just how ready he really was. He was bent over the edge of her desk with his already sore bum presented and tingling even as he stood there. This would be bad enough without his earlier spankings, but this was REALLY gonna sting. Well, it was better than splitting up from Billy for a month and losing all his free time. At least it would be over quick.

Miss Jones took a student's copybook and placed it under her right arm as she positioned herself to Lil' Joe's left side and folded his shirt tail carefully up onto his back, giving her clear line of sight to her target.

"Joseph, were you in school where you belonged today?"

"No, ma'am."

"SWAT!" she drew back as far as she could without removing her elbow from her right side, and gave a full force swing to the heavy ruler, striking right across both Joe's seat cheeks with a clear report that echoed through the room.

"EEeeeeee..." Joe squeaked, as he rose up on his toes with the sharp sting of the spank. After about 10 seconds just to breathe, while Miss Jones waited patiently, he said, "One, ma'am."

"Thank you. Now, Joseph, did you play hooky and go fishing, rather than attending school today?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"SPANG!" the ruler spoke again, as he was paddled with as much force as Miss Jones could muster from her slender forearm and wrist alone.

"MMMmmmmm..." Joe tried to keep from crying out as a hornet's nest had suddenly migrated beneath his britches and drawers. Again, he danced on his toes for a bit, catching his breath before counting, "Two, ma'am"

Ben and Fred could feel for him, but were quite aware that she'd chosen a much milder implement than they'd ever faced from a schoolmaster or mistress, and that she was using a technique that kept each swat well below the threshold that would bruise or mark a student. This would sting like fury, but fade with just a little bit of time, leaving no lingering bruise.

"Thank you. Joseph, did you play hooky today to avoid taking the Math exam for which you had failed to prepare properly?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"SWAT!" Again, Miss Jones spanked him right where he sat the saddle. He was starting to wonder if playing hooky was really worth all this trouble. Coming down off his toes as he started shifting weight back and forth to feel some relief, he said, "Three, ma'am."

"Thank you. Joseph, have you any acceptable excuse for not being prepared for today's Math exam?"

"No, ma'am. No excuse."

"SPANG!" the ruler hit home again with disheartening accuracy, as Miss Jones shifted her swats downwards by a half inch or so at a time. Now, Joseph was stepping distinctly from one foot to another, trying to shift the circulation and fiery storm in his seat. He wasn't kicking, but he was lifting his feet and squirming distinctly. "Four, ma'am," Joe counted obediently, his voice a bit huskier than before.

"Thank you. Joseph, did you submit your required homework this week, or make any really serious attempt to complete it?"

"No, ma'am," he nearly whispered, wincing in anticipation of his next lick.

"SWAT!" Joe's wince was not misplaced, as again he caught a blazing swath of pure sting across his seat. This time he stood in place, but hopped on the balls of his feet, as his hands had curled into fists and his palms left sweaty handprints on her desktop. Joe noticed this, for some odd reason, fascinated by his palm prints, as he calmed himself to say, "Five, ma'am."

"Thank you. Now, did you take that practice quiz that you failed, and seek help from Adam or Mr. Cartwright as I asked you to when I kept you after class Wednesday?"

"No, ma'am" he answered, hoping his Pa didn't count this as "something wrong not reported" when they were done.

"SPANK!" the heavy ruler cracked across his seat, leaving its fireprint behind. He thought he hated that ruler. He started to imagine using it for kindling in the class heating stove next winter... accidentally, of course. "Six, ma'am."

"Thank you, Joseph. We are finished, so you may rise when you are ready to." She bent to Joe's ear as she straightened his shirt tail, whispering, "You took your swats very bravely, lad. I'm sorry to do that, but you handled it very well. Well done. Why don't you go wait with your Pa over there?"

"Billy? Your turn. Please pull your shirt out at the back." As Billy positioned himself, Miss Jones turned to Joe to comment, "On the brighter side, Joseph, you can ask your Pa... traditionally, you'd have to go sit down and start on lines for at least half an hour after taking a school licking. Is that not so, gentlemen?"

"Quite so," Fred nodded. "That's how it was when I got switched."

"Miss Jones," Joe asked, before she started, "May I please go outside to wait?"

"No, Joseph, I'm afraid not. You got in this together, you've confessed together, and you'll take your punishments together. I think it will help you think a bit more deeply about consequences the next time you ponder rulebreaking. But this won't take too long."

Billy's ordeal was virtually identical to Little Joe's, but for the additional question: "Did you conceive of absenting yourselves from school without leave, and suggest to Joseph that you play hooky together?" Upon his answer of "Yes, ma'am", he received a seventh swat that Joe had been spared.

When all punishment finished, Ben and Fred thanked her for her time and trouble, the boys apologized to her for the trouble and extra work they'd caused, and all took their leave.

As they left the schoolyard, all still walking their horses, Billy asked if he could go sit a while in a horse trough. Pastor Fletcher denied his request, but said if he wanted to he could go get a bath started, and they could put in some bath salts that may help get some of the sting and ache out. Billy thought that sounded like a capital idea, a bit later perhaps, when sitting seemed more appealing to him, even in a bathtub.

Laughing, they all took leave of one another as both Billy and Joe tried to sneak some rubbing comfort to their backsides, still flaming brightly from Miss Jones' ruler.

After 15 minutes of walking through and then out the other side of town towards home, Ben said, "Son, we can't walk all the way home. You're going to have to mount Cochise sometime."

"I know, Pa. But my bottom's still on fire. I don't even want to think about riding yet," Joe didn't quite whine, as he now rubbed his posterior much more openly, being off the main street of Virginia City.

"I understand, but some of that is just the nature of consequence and punishment son. Here, I can help a little. Let me show you... shorten up your stirrup leathers, and your stirrups will ride higher, letting you stride your saddle standing up. Your seat will still make contact with the saddle once in a while, but not that often if you don't try a jog trot.

A second thing, we can work on riding home... let's teach Cochise a new gait. It's called the 'single foot', or 'rack', or - if a horse is in harness - a 'pace'. You know how at a trot the horse's diagonal legs move together? Left fore, right hind move together... Right fore, left hind, on the next stride?"

"Yeah, Pa."

"Well, in the single foot, parallel legs move together... Left fore, left hind... then right fore, right hind on the next stride. It's the most comfortable gait for covering distance. It's been described as 'like riding in your easy chair', and it's so smooth a stride you can carry a glass of tea in your hand from one end of town to the other without spilling a drop. Here, son, watch me move Buck into the gait."

So saying, he turned on the road, urged his horse into an energetic trot, the used his reins gently to move the horse's head out of balance and rhythm with his hooves. It was confusing, but not painful for Buck, and with just a momentary stutter in his stride, the big gelding started to 'single foot' as Ben seemed to glide forward on his horse at the same speed as a trot, but with no up and down bounce to his equitation.

"Now you try, son. Ride alongside me, and once we get it, we'll just ride on home this way. It's a really useful gait to have on your horse, along with the trot. Come on, let's give it a go."

Together, the two Cartwrights laughed and worked together up and down the roadway a little bit outside of town, but within 15 minutes, Joe had Cochise doing the Single Foot. The boy gave a joyful and triumphal "Whoop!" as they turned for the Ponderosa, managing to get a good finish to the day.

Despite all that had happened, Ben and Joe together had made this into a wonderful day. Family and love were wondrous things.

A/N: I'm going to mark this story "complete", even though I plan a short epilogue a bit later. The drama is finished, but there'll be a short post script for when Ben and Little Joe get back to the Ponderosa, though it may be a few days before I get that up. The Cartwrights have been competing with the Konstantyns for disc space on my computer. :) I enjoy the Bonanza universe, and hope you like some of these short sniglets that bounce past my mental movie screen from time to time. Please feel free to comment and/or review. Thanks for reading, hopefully enjoying! Grace to you, Gentle Reader! - Mort