Back on the Trail
Chapter 3 : From Bad to Worse
It was all that dumb TJ's fault. It had all started about three weeks ago. Miss Parker stood in front of the class and announced,
"Boys and girls we have a new student. This is Theodore James Tucker; his family has just moved into the area. I trust that you will all do your best to make him feel welcome. Theodore you make take a seat right behind young Luke Spence there in the fourth row," she said as she nodded toward the empty chair.
"Yes 'am, but could you call me, TJ please, I detest Theodore," said TJ as he moved to take the seat she indicated.
"Very well, TJ Now the lower grades will study their spelling words quietly, while the fifth and sixth grade students will please take out you readers and turn to page 63," instructed Miss Parker ,turning to move toward her desk.
"Ouch!" yelled Luke as he grabbed the back of his head.
"What seems to be the trouble Luke?" asked Miss Parker with a very stern look on her face.
"I'm sorry, Miss Parker, Theodore seems to have hit me on the head," answered Luke still rubbing his head.
"It was by accident, Miss Parker, and it's TJ, pip squeak," growled TJ giving Luke a menacing look.
"Very well boys, let's get back to our lesson. TJ please be more careful in the future," scolded Miss Parker.
From that day on TJ took every chance he could find to pick on Luke as well as the other younger boys. This continual teasing and bullying had caused Luke to become increasingly irritable.
oOo
Luke crossed the school yard coming from the outhouse, when TJ came up behind him and shoved him into the dirt.
"Augh, look the little baby fell down," taunted TJ
"Theodore, ya big lummox, you did that on purpose," shouted Luke as he brushed himself off.
"Can't prove it, shrimp, now scram before I pound you one," answered TJ
Luke fumed, wanting to get even, but TJ was three times his size. As he walked toward the school room Luke got an idea. Fingering the knife in his pocket he slipped off to the cactus bed near the back door of the school room. Cutting an extra prickly one, he quickly headed back to the school house. He slipped into the classroom as soon as he'd seen Miss Parker going toward the outhouse.
As the school bell began to ring Luke slid into his seat. After a few minutes Luke felt strange none of the other children were coming inside as he made his way to the door way, he heard Miss Parker speaking,
"Class before we go inside, I would to make a quick announcement. As you all remember we will be having our annual spelling bee so today we are going to have a practice spelling bee. I would like all the girls to be seated on the left by grade and all the boys on the right in the same order. Quickly and quietly please." Said Miss Parker stepping aside and noticing that Luke was behind her.
Minutes later, Amy was crying.
"Amy Chambers, whatever is the matter," sighed Miss Parker.
"I sat on a prickly pear, Miss Parker. I think I got needles stuck in my… It hurts, please Miss Parker...Ouch! Help me." She cried through a burst of tears.
When Miss Parker stooped beside Amy, she could see that she did have several cactus spines in her leg and bottom. George can you help Amy over to Doctor Shaw's office? Mark, will you run down and tell her mother what happened. Reaching down and carefully picking up the cactus, she tossed it into the trash before turning to face her class.
"Would someone care to explain this," she said in a stern voice.
When no one answered Miss Parker looked around at all the children. When her eyes spotted Luke, she remembered that he was alone in the classroom just before the incident.
"Luke Spence, you may go stand in the corner. We will talk when class is dismissed. Now the rest of you take your seats and let's began our afternoon lessons."
Luke stood in the corner, sulking He hadn't wanted to hurt Amy; how was he to know that Miss Parker would pick today to have them switch seats. But, Luke knew that this answer was not going to help his case. Unfortunately he was also too proud to tell the truth; that dumb TJ will think he has won again.,
Luke nearly jumped out of his skin when Miss Parker called to him nearly an hour later. "Class dismissed. Luke come to my desk please!"
Luke stood in front of the desk, his head down.
"Do you have an explanation for your behavior, Luke. I am most certain that you were the one responsible for the prickly pear. You were the only one that had the opportunity to do it?"
Luke had been hoping that while he had spent some time in the corner he could have come up with a suitable defense. Or that perhaps, he could play on the fact that Miss Parker couldn't possibly prove it was him. But, Miss Parker was not only a good teacher, she was also as smart as a Pinkerton detective, though Luke and he gave up any hope of finding any suitable defense. "It was just a prank ma'am, I didn't mean to hurt Amy," he answered honestly.
"Luke, you have been disrupting class and pulling pranks repeatedly. This one is the last straw; you could have caused someone to get serious hurt. As it is Amy will be in considerable pain. I want this note signed and returned tomorrow, and I want a little less mischief and a little more school work out of you from now on." admonished Miss Parker as she dismissed Luke.
Luke rode home, knowing he was in big trouble. He knew that even if he told his dad that he was being bullied, he'd still be in trouble. Flint would say; ' that vengeance was never the answer. Besides, Luke didn't want to tattle to his dad about TJ; that would only make things worse. So, as he turned down the lane he decided to stick to the prank gone wrong story.
As Luke dismounted and put his horse away, Mark came over to get the story.
"Luke, how'd you get tangled in all that mess?' asked Mark.
"Would you believe, I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time?" answered Luke with a lopsided grin.
"No little brother and neither will dad. He said for you to get your chores done then wait for him in his office." said Mark patting Luke on the back. "Did Miss Parker whack ya?" asked Mark.
"No she just gave me a note for dad. I reckon that my backsides not safe yet," answered Luke, as he finished with his horse.
Luke then finished his chores, before he finally trudged towards Flints office. He flopped into the empty chair in front of the desk, and stared at the back of his dad's high back leather chair. He suddenly jumped to attention, as Flint swung his desk chair around and glared at him.
"It's about time young man," replied Flint in a stern tone of voice.
"Oh a sorry sir, I...Ah, didn't know you were in here," stuttered Luke as he stood on shaking knees.
"You were kept after school for the third time this week. What do you have to say for yourself," growled Flint.
"I was just a prank, dad; a prank that went wrong," replied Luke nervously passing the folded note to his dad.
"Sit down son until we get to the bottom of this," groaned Flint taking the note and begun to read it.
Luke squirmed anxiously watching the anger rise in his dads face.
"Luke, what have I told you about pranks and school?" asked a very stern Flint.
"That, there is no place for them at school, sir," answered Luke, his head lowered and facing the floor.
"Look at me, Luke. Miss Parker tells me that this is not the only disruption you have caused this week. She has kept you after school three out of the four days this week. What do I send you to school for son?" growled Flint, working not to yell.
"To learn. Not to cause trouble, Sir," replied Luke looking straight at Flint, knowing the answer his dad expected.
"Then you and me agree that you deliberately disobeyed me?" ground out Flint.
Luke sort of saw the whole mess as an accident, therefore he only accidentally disobeyed, but he knew that his dad would never buy that, so answered, "Yes Sir."
"Well young man, as I see it; this time your prank not only disrupted class, but it got you cousin, Amy, hurt. Do you have anything to say for yourself before we discuss your punishment?" said Flint acting a little calmer now and secretly pleased with the boys honesty.
"No sir, ceptin' that; I didn't mean to hurt Amy, honest," pleaded Luke.
"Luke, when we talked yesterday, I promised that we would be doing more then talking if you were kept after school again this week. You apparently didn't take me seriously. I understand that there will be a doctor's bill, caused by your little prank. You will leave for school early tomorrow and you will stop and apologize to your aunt and uncle. And, you will give up you pocket money each week until the bill is paid is that understood?" spoke a very stern Flint.
"Yes sir, I am sorry" answered Luke.
"Obviously you planed to cause someone pain with your prank," fumed Flint, "Luke, your prank caused Amy considerable pain. Go upstairs to your room, I'll be right up."
Luke climbed the stairs, mumbling, "That darn TJ he makes me so mad that I'm making dumb mistakes. Lately, I can't do anything right. Just wait till I'll get you Theodore," he finished, as he flopped down on the bed.
"Luke when you are sent up to your room for punishment, where are you to go!" reprimanded Flint as he walked into the room ten minutes later.
Jumping to his feet, Luke looked surprised. "In the corner sir…" answered Luke, his eyes wide, when he noticed his dad carried a wooden hairbrush.
Flint crossed the room and pulled out the chair motioning for Luke to stand before him,
"I want you to remember the pain you caused Amy, or the pain you meant to cause someone else. I also want you to remember that when I tell you something, I expect you to heed my word. I want you to know that if you don't; you will suffer the consequences." Flint watched Luke's face making sure that he understood.
"I think you know what to do let's get this over with," said Flint.
Suddenly the stinging pain of the only other time he had been paddled with the brush flashed across his mind. He had only gotten three whacks then and it had stung so bad,
Luke backed up, covering his backside with both hands as he pleaded.
"No dad, please. I will never pull a prank again, please," appealed Luke.
"Luke, I'll not ask again, If I have to bring you over I will use my hand first, then the brush."
At once Luke came to his senses, and moving over to Flint, he pushed his britches down and lay across Flint's lap.
Flint applied twelve sharp and stinging whacks to Luke's upturned cotton clad backside. Though, his long johns did nothing to diffuse the burning pain the flat of his mothers hairbrush produced. When Luke was crying and promising never again to misbehave; Flint knew he could end the spanking. He lay the brush aside and stood Luke to his feet. Luke reached back and started to rub, but Flint grabbed his hand.
"Not this time buddy. You make sure you remember that sting, cause next time there will be no cotton drawers to cushion the blows, now pull up your britches and go wash for supper," responded Flint, tussling the boys hair before sending him on his way.
Luke sat down at his place at the supper table thinking, ' cotton cushion, who is he kidding, my backside is on fire.'
oOo
Luke arrived at his Uncle Robert's and Aunt Susan's early the next morning and apologized to Amy and her parents. He then reluctantly agreed to walk Amy to school. He was not yet to the age of liking girls and didn't want to be seen carrying even his cousins books.
"You meant that cactus for TJ, didn't you? He's such a bully. You should tell Miss Parker how he picks on you and Steve and the others," said Amy.
"I can't and don't you either. Promise? Only babies tell. I will take care of it, please promise not to tell, Amy, please," begged Luke.
"Okay, but I think you're nuts. Hey There's Laura; thanks for walking with me, Luke See you later," called Amy as she ran away.
No sooner had Amy left then TJ appeared.
"Looky, looky, if it ain't the baby boy. How old are you anyway; three?" TJ taunted.
"leave me alone TJ. I'm not bothering you," said Luke turning to leave.
Just at that time Steve came running up,"Beat it you big ox. Leave my friend alone," shouted Steve.
TJ shoved both boys into the dirt and then held Luke's face to the ground,
"Next time you put a cactus in my chair, I'll wallop you good, then I'll stuff ya cactus down your britches to see how you like it!" Sneered TJ, jumping up and stomping toward the school room.
Steve and Luke ran to the pump to rinse the sandy dirt from their mouths.
"Boy I wish we could get even with him," spat Luke.
Once inside the school room, Luke tried hard not to get in any trouble but TJ kept poking and prodding Luke.
Just when Luke thought he could take no more, Miss Parker stood. "Alright children, we will be having an early lunch then we will return for our spelling bee. You have just over one hour; dismissed TJ. will you come to my desk please?"
Luke and Steve had had enough of TJ, enough of Miss parker and enough of school. They ran to the big tree.
"Come on Luke it so hot, Mark won't tell, he's played hooky more times than anyone. Come on if we go now we can swim for at least half an hour and get back in time for the spelling bee. " pleaded Steve.
"I don't know Steve, If we get caught…"
"Luke, we might as well be shrimp weenie babies if all we ever do is worry about getting caught." Begged Steve. " It won't be as much fun without you."
Luke suddenly grabbed up his lunch pail, ran for where his horse was tied and stuffed it into his saddle bag. They trotted down the back alley toward the livery stable, where they could take the trail to the swimming hole.
But both froze in their tracks.
"Lucas Spence, Steven Turner! Stop right there! Get your little butts over here."
Dropping their heads the boys followed Flint to a bench just in front of the stable.
"Just where do you think you are going?"Asked Flint.
Both boys had dismounted and were now digging circles in the dirt with their toes as they looked down.
"I better get an answer, an honest one in three seconds or by the..."
"Swim...mmming," gulped Steve.
"We was gonna jist go for a quick swim dad, its hot?" added Luke.
Flint bent down a leveled each boy with a hard stare, then fired off a series of statements disguised as questions. "Are you supposed to leave the school yard? Are you supposed to go off to swimming holes by yourself? It takes half an hour to get to the swimming hole how did you intend to get back to school? or did you intend to return at all?"
"No, No, Ride, and yes... I mean no... ahhh, " stuttered Steve, not sure which question he was up to answering to.
"He wasn't asking whispered Luke, out of the side of his mouth, trying to warn his friend, "That's jist his way of tellin' ya that..."
"You're in for a heap of hurt," finished Flint.
Sitting down, Flint pulled first Luke and then Steve over his Knee administering ten firm swats to each backside in turn. He never missed a beat as he paddled the dust evenly out of both boys britches; one swat for Luke then the consecutive one for Steve and so on until both boys wriggled, squirmed and kicked begging for a reprieve. Steve and Luke were still yelping as he stood them up and pointed towards the school and ordered, "March!" With tears streaked faces the boys did as they were told.
Once there, Flint opened the door and pushed both reluctant miscreants inside. Miss Parker had just started the afternoon session, and looked up in surprise when she saw Flint entering. She frowned when she saw the guilty looks on Steve and Luke's faces.
"Pardon me for interrupting you class, Miss Parker, but I think that these two belong in here." announced Flint.
Both boys flushed scarlett when the rest of the class chuckled at their misfortune.
"Thank you, Mr. McCullough," said Miss Parker. She looked at the boys and Flints expression."The two of you may go stand in the corner and we will talk after class," she smiled, guessing that the boys would rather not sit right now.
"You heard her, and straight home after that; both of you! Understood," barked Flint.
"Yes sir," said the boys on the way to the corners at the front of the room. They were sure their faces were burning as brightly as their backsides as they passed their classmates.
Flint closed the door and walked away shaking his head. 'Never a dull minute,' he thought as he headed for the blacksmith that he had come originally in town to see.