At 10:15, Mrs. Beatle releases everyone for recess, except for Nellie, of course.

"Mary, what do you want to do?"

"Let's just sit here and talk. I don't feel like playing right now."

"Okay."

"Laura, you know, that could just have easily been us being spanked with that belt a hundred times instead of Nellie."

"I know. We were that close to being in trouble." I was surprised that Mrs. Beatle asked me to help her punish Nellie."

"I was also surprised, but not only that she asked you to help her, but also at how severely Mrs. Beatle punished Nellie."

"Same here."

"I mean, a hundred lashes with a belt."

"I know. Mary, as much as I dislike Nellie, I think a hundred lashes were a little much."

"I agree, but maybe Nellie deserved it. You know how mean she has always been to us, especially to you."

"She is always mean to me."

"Remember when you stole that music box of Nellie's?"

"Mary, please don't remind me. I'm wincing just thinking about it. You know how severely Pa punished me for doing that."

"I know Laura. As much sympathy that I felt for you, you did deserve it."

"I know. I will never, ever steal again. No matter how tempted I am."

"I'm glad to hear that Laura. I never want you to go through that kind of punishment ever again. While Pa was punishing you it felt like he was punishing me too."

"Really?"

"Yes. I felt it."

"You did?"

"Yes. I had to check to see if welts were on my bottom because it hurt, and, you know what, they were there."

"Really?"

"Yes."

"Wow."

"I know. I was shocked."

"I bet." I was hit by the belt a few times, but didn't tell Mrs. Beatle because she was going so fast and mostly hit Nellie. Nellie did get hit by it a hundred times; it just grazed me a few times."

"Wow. Are you okay?"

"Yes Mary, I'm ok. It reminded me that I don't want to do anything to where that would happen to me."

"Good."

"Class, recess is over. Let's go inside and get ready for our history lesson. Come on now, time to go back inside. Laura, Mary, let's go."

"Oh, sorry Mrs. Beatle, we were not paying attention. We were having a conversation and were just focused on it."

"That's okay. Let's go on in now."

"Okay."