Found Out



Nicholas Kempson of the fourth form, Arnworth College, knocked
confidently at the door of his housemaster's study. As he waited for
the order to enter, he recalled the many times during his school
career that he had knocked at that self same door with his young
heart beating hard, knowing that he would most likely be leaving the
interview with a very sore bottom.

Arnworth College was a small and exclusive private day school for
boys and placed great emphasis on the House System. There were four
houses and the house to which a boy belonged could be determined by
inspecting the individually coloured rear segment of breast pocket of his
dark blue college cap Each boy also sported a house ribbon on the his
blazer breast pocket. Housemasters took charge of the more serious disciplinary matters in
their houses, being empowered to beat boys when deemed appropriate.

Being a rather high spirited lad, Nicholas had suffered a fair number
of canings over the years but had never become innured to corporal
punishment. Battle-scarred he might be, but he still had a healthy fear of
a 'house swishing' and did his best to keep out of trouble.

One of the many offences for which an Arnworth boy could be beaten
was for not wearing his school cap when travelling to or from
school. This rule was much resented, especially amongst the older
boys. The state schools in the town had no such rule and cap-wearing
in those establishments had, as a consequence, virtually died out.

That morning Nicholas had travelled to school without a cap on his
head and his name had been noted by no less than two prefects.
Ordinarily this would mean a summons to his housemaster's study later
in the day to explain himself, yet Nicholas had not been worried.
Indeed, he was visiting his housemaster of his own volition, for he
had an important note to deliver.

'Come in!' rang out the commanding voice of Mr Ashworth, the
housemaster. 'Ah, Kempson, I was going to call you here to see me
later about a little matter concerning uniform. You've saved me that
trouble...'
'I think this note will explain matters sir.'
Mr Ashworth perused the letter.

Dear Mr Ashworth,
I'm afraid that Nicholas has come to school without his cap today. He lost it
in the town after school on Friday afternoon and I will not be able to purchase
a replacement until Saturday at the earliest. Please excuse Nicholas from wearing
a cap in the meantime.

Yours sincerely,

Mrs Elizabeth Kempson

'Exactly how did you come to lose your cap, Kempson?'
'I was leaning over the bridge in town throw some bread to the swans when a
sudden gust of wind blew it into the river sir. I'm afraid my cap got washed away in the current.'
'And that is the exact truth as to the matter, is it?'
'Oh yes, sir'
'And now I suppose you want an Excuse Chit?' 'Yes please, sir.'
'Of course I want one,' thought Nicholas to himself. 'I'll need it to
show all those pettifogging masters and bossy prefects. And since today is
Monday and mum can't get me a new cap until Saturday I'll be able to
enjoy a whole week of not having to wear the stupid cap. I'll be able to swank about
capless like a sixth former, knowing that I have the Excuse Chit in my pocket...'

Mr Ashworth, in the meantime, was busy writing out the Excuse Chit
which would confer temporary immunity from the cap rules upon
Nicholas Kempson:

ARNWORTH COLLEGE

EXCUSE CHIT

NAME Nicholas Kempson FORM IV


The above named boy is excused from wearing his school cap
until next Monday 12 June.

SIGNED P W R Ashworth Housemaster

Early the next morning, Dr Waring, the respected headmaster of
Arnworth College, could be found gazing at a curious package which
had just landed on his desk. It was addressed in a shaky hand, and he
wondered what on earth it could contain. Unwrapping the brown paper,
he was surprised to find an Arnworth College cap and an accompanying
letter:

Dear Headmaster,
I am sending you this cap which belongs to one of your boys. I know
he was from Arnworth college because they are the only boys of
that age in the town who wear school caps. I am a widow of 72 and
often have to wait at a bus stop in the town centre at the same time as
groups of boys from different schools. In my opinion, their manners often
leave a lot to be desired although Arnworth boys, in their smart caps and
blazers, are usually better behaved than most.
However, I have to report that last Friday afternoon and incident occurred
which caused me a great degree of upset. A boy from the comprehensive
school and a boy from your college started pushing one another about and
using bad language, greatly to the distress and annoyance of myself and other
members of the public waiting in the bus queue. When the bus arrived these boys
continued their horseplay as they boarded and I regret to report that my
shopping bag was knocked from my hand. I had to stop to retrieve my shopping
from the pavement and unfortunately missed the bus. The next bus was late and
did not arrive for nearly half an hour.
The Arnworth boy lost his cap in the scrum when the other lad threw it from the
bus as it drew away. I was able to retrieve it from the roadside. I am now
returning the cap since I am sure he would like it back. I also earnestly hope
that you will have a quiet word with the owner about his anti-social behaviour.

Yours Faithfully,

Mrs Edith Dunning



Dr Waring frowned. This was inexcusable conduct: the culprit had to
be discovered and punished. He examined the name panel in the grubby
lining of the cap, but the smeared ballpoint pen writing was now
illegible. However, the coloured rear segment indicated that the owner
belonged to Mr Ashworth's house. The headmaster took the cap and
letter to Mr Ashworth, asking him to take immediate steps to trace
the boy concerned. Dr Waring also recommended an appropriate
punishment which, in the circumstances, even the mild mannered Mr
Ashworth considered to be fitting.

Following registration that afternoon, Nicholas Kempson's form-master
informed him that Mr Ashworth wanted to see him directly after
school. During afternoon lessons the imminent interview preyed on the
boy's mind. Why did the housemaster want to see him? Sometimes a
pupil was called in for a pep talk about his work - but Nicholas's academic
progress was fine.

Surely it wasn't about that tussle at the bus stop on Friday when he
had lost his cap? He had been arguing with his friend Tony, who lived
in the same street but attended the comprehensive, and tempers had
become a bit heated. What if someone had reported the incident to the
school? If that was the case, Nicholas knew that he could be in a spot
of trouble.

'Enter!' For the second time that week the fourth former was
reporting to his housemaster. His heart sank when he noticed a rather
dusty looking school cap lying on Mr Ashworth's desk.
'Yesterday morning you reported the loss of your cap, Kempson. You
stated that it had fallen into the river. This cap has been handed in
today. I wonder whether it might be yours...'
'B-but it doesn't look like mine sir,' stammered the guilty schoolboy.
'Try the cap on, will you... well, it seems to be a very good fit.'
'Y-yes, but I don't think it's mine sir.'
'No other boy in this house has reported the loss of a cap this week.
I would suggest that you tell me the truth! This cap was sent to the
school by an elderly lady who doubtless could identify you as the
owner if necessary...'
'Alright sir, I'm sorry sir, I lost my cap during a bit of ragging at the
bus stop. But it was only a bit of friendly fun...'
'The finder of the cap has also sent us a letter according to which
your so called ragging was more like a full scale fight. How dare you
behave in such a disgraceful way?'
'Im very sorry sir.' Nicholas hung his head in shame. He was already
anticipating a painful conclusion to the interview.

In point of fact, Mr Ashworth disliked having to cane boys and
considered that corporal punishment was employed rather too freely at
Arnworth College. The housemaster generally gave a boy several
chances, warning him and even showing him the cane, in the hope that
the threat of a beating would prove sufficient, However, on the rare
occasions when he did cane, Mr Ashworth alweays caned hard, ensuring
that the offender would certainly fear a repetition.
In the case of the boy now standing shamefaced before him the
housemaster knew that he was left with no alternative but to beat him
- and to beat him good and hard. Kempson had indulged in reckless
anti-social behaviour whilst in his Arnworth College uniform and had
then told a pack of lies. It was necessary to teach him that such
conduct inevitably brought stern retribution.

'The headmaster recommended that I give you eight strokes of the cane...'
'Eight strokes!' thought Nicholas, 'that would be murder!'
'And that those eight strokes be inflicted upon your bare flesh.'
Nicholas Kempson stood dumbstruck. The ' prospect of eight stingers had
been enough to freeze his blood - but eight on the bare ....
'I am prepared to offer you one concession. If you so choose you may
suffer half the punishment on your hands since, by the letter of the
law as I interpret it, that is also bare flesh. It is for you to decide.'

The frightened schoolboy stood deep in thought. Although he had
suffered some very painful house swishings in the past, he had never
been caned on his bare bottom. It was well known that when he had to
beat a boy, Mr Ashworth did not spare the rod, and Nicholas recalled
that the cane had been blisteringly painful across the trousers.
Surely it would be doubly so on the bare bottom.
'Well Kempson, what have you decided?'
'I'll have four on my hands sir, thank you sir.' It must be better than the
full eight on the bare bum, Nicholas reasoned.
'Take off your blazer. Now hold out your right hand.'
The housemaster took a thin springy punishment cane from the cupboard
and swished it through the air. With great reluctance Nicholas offered
his upturned palm.

The boy did not want to look but somehow could not avert his eyes as
the rod whizzed down with a furious hiss and lashed his hand. The
stinging pain it produced was dreadful.
'Now the other hand boy - out with it!'
Fully aware now of the searing pain his left hand was about to
suffer, Nicholas wanted desperately to pull it away. But he knew
that he would have to take the punishment eventually and might even
receive additional cuts if he gave trouble. So with an air of
resignation he closed his eyes and waited for the blow, although he
could not close his ears to that malevolent hissing noise. The thin
cane scythed through the air and now both palms were burning.
'Right hand again!' The unfortunate schoolboy was already close to
tears. How that cane hurt! It took all his willpower to hold out his
right hand again and keep it in place. In a moment the stinging was
redoubled.
'Now the other hand again! At once!' Another forceful cut of the cane
and Nicholas Kempson was the miserable possessor of two painfully
throbbing hands. He stood rubbing his palms together, wishing that
the hot tingling would go away. He wanted desparately to run off and
place his hands under a cold tap.

'You will now take down your trousers and underpants.'
Still wincing at the smarting pain from his hands, the schoolboy fumbled with
his clothing.
'Get a move on Kempson! We'll be here all night at this rate!'
A minute later Nicholas was standing with his trousers and pants about his
ankles, with only his shirt tail covering his naked bottom.
'Bend over and touch your toes!' 'But sir...' 'Do as you are told!'
In Nicholas's opinion, it was bad enough having to bare his backside
in front of his housemaster. But to have to bend over and touch his
toes like some junior kid added to the shame. Seniors were usually
offered the dignity of a chair to bend over.

Mr Ashworth looked at the unfortunate boy, bent over and touching
his toes with his trousers and underpants about his ankles. He felt a little
sorry for him, but at the same time angry. After all, Kempson had made him
look foolish in front of the headmaster.
'Surely you questioned the boy closely about his account of how he
had come to lose his cap?' Dr Waring had opined. 'Excuse Chits should
be issued most sparingly.'
'I'm afraid I accepted his story at face value, headmaster. I like to
think that boys in my house tell the truth...'
Well, now the boy was paying the price of his mendacity.

'Tell me Kempson, are your hands still hurting?'
'Yes sir,' moaned Nicholas from his contorted position,
'Well soon your backside is going to be hurting as well - and it
serves you right!'
The housemaster lifted the boy's shirt tail to expose the target
area. 'SWISH-THWIP!' The cruel cane bit into the bare flesh, imprinting a
burning line of fire. Nicholas felt as though a red hot poker had been laid
across his poor behind and let out a pitiful groan.
Three more excruciatingly painful cuts followed and by the end of the
punishment Nicholas Kempson's tears were flowing freely.
'You may now get up. I trust you have been taught a lesson to
remember.'
'Y-yes sir,' sobbed the schoolboy. 'Please may I get dressed now?'
With his bottom burning and his hands still tingling Nicholas pulled
up his pants and trousers, put on his blazer, and then stood at
attention in front of his housemaster.
'Here is your cap, Kempson. It needs a thorough brushing, but at
least your parents will be spared the expense of buying you a
replacement.' 'Thank you sir...'
'Oh, before you go I must inform you that the headmaster has placed you
on Caps Rule for the remainder of the week.'

How rapidly the life of a schoolboy could change, thought Nicholas as
he made his way home. This morning he had been the proud possessor of
an Excuse Chit which exempted him from the compulsory wearing of the
stupid school cap for almost a whole week. Just a few hours later he
had received the thrashing of his life and instead of being excused
his cap had been placed on the much loathed Caps Rule.
This meant that he would now have to keep his cap on his head at all
times - during assembly, during lessons, in the dining hall, during breaks.
Everybody would know that he was under punishment and he could look
expect plenty of snide remarks from masters, prefects and other boys. Life
was certainly no bed of roses for a schoolboy who was found out.