'Equally Culpable' by Abel (Child category)

When he sat down behind his desk, after returning every marked essay except theirs, the two girls knew. Hearts pounding, they avoided each other's panicked glances, attempting to concentrate on his description of the ever-so-dull task that the class was to undertake ("quietly and diligently") for the next half hour. But it was what he was not saying that concerned them far, far more.

His silence on the matter continued for the duration of the lesson; the crescendo of dread anticipation growing until the lunchtime bell brought forth the call to be sentenced: "Would Miss Allerton and Miss Mason kindly wait behind. The rest of you may leave."

"The most unambiguous case of cheating I have seen in a long while," was his opening comment. "A foolish tactics in any circumstance, but particularly unnecessary for two girls as bright as you. Would you care to explain how this came about?"

Nicky blurted out the confession she'd been rehearsing so carefully: "It was me, sir. I was stuck for ideas, so I borrowed Elizabeth's paper." Blame me. Let me take the punishment.

"You knew about this, Miss Mason?"

"Yes, sir," Elizabeth mumbled back.

"Then you are equally culpable." He reached into the desk drawer, pulling out the dreaded pink forms. "Your respective Housemasters will want to see these straight after lunch," he instructed. He composed his messages carefully, passing them over so that the two girls could act as messengers of their own fate.

They would be caned, of course: of that there could be no doubt. Not for the first time, for either girl - but for each, for the first time since they'd sworn that the previous time would be their last. Their meals would go uneaten; they'd then walk not to the playground with their friends but alone through the cold corridors; they'd tap gently on the Housemasterial doors. They'd watch as the contents of the note were digested, would listen to the contrived explanation of how this was so disappointing, and frown as their vain hopes of an economical number of strokes were inevitably dashed.

They'd obey the calm, crisp instructions to lift their skirts and touch their toes; they'd steady themselves for the first cut, always so much more biting than in the worst of their memories. They'd count, and clench their teeth, and they'd thank him. And they'd stay brave to the end. They wouldn't cry: brave girls don't, even at this moment of being most alone.

Only this time, they wouldn't be alone. The same scene would be being played out twice, at opposite ends of the school. That would make them both cry; make them wipe their eyes with the backs of their hands before knocking on their Housemasters' doors. Prevent them from starting the process of trying to forget until they'd cried on seeing each other, cried as they'd told tale of their fates, cried as they whispered mutual apologies and swore to remain the truest of friends forever.

(c) Abel 2007
abel1234@hotmail.com
http://www.spankingwriters.com/blog

496 words

Well no mystery about THIS author as his name is at both ends of the story but I would have guessed anyway.  The author is, in my book, one of the best purveyors of schoolgirl discipline stories it has ever been my pleasure to read and I accept this could be partly cultural. I love the intrinsic Britishness of his stories, and the expectation of unrelenting sternness that goes with them. His writing style superbly captures the corollary of crime followed by necessary punishment, fully accepted by the culprits.

Not the very best of Abel but a cut above most of the stories I've read so far.

A true classic of the genre, which I truly enjoyed despite the ending which was a bit too obscure for me to grasp - more likely my fault than the author's.  In any event, a well-written story.

Exceptional writing, I was drawn into the story right from the very beginning.  I could feel that sinking feeling those two got when they didn't get their papers back.  I loved the build-up about what was inevitably going to happen to them both, and the little subtleties about how this was not the first time.  I always love a good school girl gets caned story.

This was a tense piece of anticipation, well written.  It captured the undying friendship of childhood, the kind that as adults, those kids will look back fondly on when they're 40 and wondered where the heck their best friend every got to.  Very enjoyable.