by Pat Jones
Jodie Browning felt every bit the crisp professional as she crossed the office to greet the headmaster of the Dunbar Reformatory. Although only 25, she was already a rising star at her University, and in her stylish worsted wool blue suit, dressed the part.
"I'd like to thank you for taking the time to meet with me today, Sir," she said, shaking the headmaster's hand. "I've been having a bit of trouble with my Doctorial dissertation, and my department chair seems to think that you might be of some assistance."
"Yes, I spoke with him this morning," the headmaster said, sinking back comfortably into his large leather chair. "Have a seat, Miss Browning."
Jodie sat down on the chair opposite the headmaster. Unlike the headmaster's comfortable perch Jodie's chair was hard and wooden and Jodie fidgeted a bit to find a comfortable position.
"Your chairman told me that you were one of his most promising Doctorial candidates," the headmaster said, looking Jodie up and down. "But he didn't mention what an attractive young woman you are. And so sharply dressed! I am impressed."
"Thank you, Sir," Jodie said, squirming slightly under the headmaster's appraising gaze. "In fact, my doctorial degree is why I'm here. My graduate dissertation is on corporal punishment, but as you know, there aren't many schools that still practice it, and so I was hoping..."
"Yes, your advisor faxed me a copy of your outline draft today. A rather weak start, if you don't mind my saying so. Your conclusions totally lack empirical data and seem to be largely based on your opinions."
"Well, yes, but it's just a rough draft. My advisor thought that if I spent the summer semester here, gathering data, that I would write a paper that would do the subject proud."
"I'm sure you could. Have you ever experienced the strap or the cane?"
Jodie bit her lip and squirmed in her chair, stunned by the casual bluntness of the headmaster's query. "No, Sir, I haven't. I was always... a good girl. I never got into trouble."
"I see. And yet judging from your paper you're obviously curious about the subject."
"Yes, I think my lack of experience is why I'm so fascinated by it. We always want what we can't have. I always wondered what it would be like, but my school didn't believe in it, and it's too late now. Of course, even though I'm too old for a proper school punishment, I still enjoy reading about it."
"No wonder your paper is so thin. Reading a book is a poor substitute for first-hand experience."
Jodie watched nervously as the headmaster opened a large cabinet behind his desk to reveal a daunting arsenal of canes, tawses, and straps. Jodie watched bug-eyed, mouth agape, as the headmaster removed a wicked looking cane from its hook and swished it through the air.
SWISH! SWISH!
The headmaster smiled as Jodie jumped in her chair. Why was the wooden seat suddenly so uncomfortable?
"If I were caning you, this is the one I'd use," the headmaster said, smiling broadly as he proudly bent the cane into a half circle. "Flexible, but with a wicked sting. Specifically crafted for a tight, curvy backside like yours."
Jodie nervously bit her lip as the headmaster expertly flexed and swished the wicked looking cane.
"May I... may I touch it?" Jodie asked tentatively, her heart racing.
"You most certainly may not," the headmaster thundered. "This is an educational tool, not a toy, and it is not to be pawed or played with. When a young woman visits this office, she does not 'touch' the cane, the cane touches her. If you were my student instead of my guest, I'd have the knickers off you for such impertinence!"
The headmaster ended his tirade by swishing his cane in the air several times. "Do I make myself clear, young lady?"
"Crystal clear, Sir," Jodie said, feeling every bit the chastened schoolgirl. "I didn't mean to offend. It was stupid of me."
"Yes, it was. Still I must remember that you are, despite your deceptively adult attire, still a student, and it is in your nature to make mistakes, just at it is in my nature to correct you."
"Yes, Sir," Jodie replied meekly. "Thank you, Sir."
The headmaster placed the cane back on the hook and closed the cupboard door, much to Jodie's relief. "Now, let us return to the subject at hand. You wish to study our school's extensive corporal punishment archive and learn our disciplinary techniques for the next six weeks."
Jodie looked up in confusion as the headmaster passed her a stapled form. "Your department chair sent me your college file, and my secretary has prepared your enrollment forms. I will require your signature at the bottom of each page."
Jodie looked at the forms in amazement. "But these are... student enrollment forms!" she said, not quite believing what she was seeing. "Reformatory enrollment forms, with my name filled in!"
"Yes, fortunately the next six weeks corresponds perfectly with our summer term. As a student, you will be free to study our archive during your study halls, or after your other classes."
Jodie looked up at him in disbelief. "But I'm a teacher, not a student."
"But you didn't come here to teach, you came here to learn. I can't have a stranger pawing through my records, independent of our schools rules and regulations. Of course, if you'd rather, I can call up your academic advisor and tell him you are unwilling to do the necessary research to complete your degree."
"No, it's not that," Jodie said, quickly scanning the forms. "It's... this second page is a corporal punishment form. It says you have the right to punish me... on my bare bottom!"
"It most certainly does. Most young women enter this institution after committing some misdemeanor, rather than for purely academic reasons, but the reason for your incarceration will scarcely matter when you are touching your toes. I can hardly be expected to cane you correctly if I can't space your lines."
"It does matter," Jodie protested. "I'm too old to be..."
"Age is a matter of maturity and behavior, not chronology. All of the students in this institution are 18 years or older. I've had countless young women in their thirties bent over this very desk."
Jodie looked nervously at the massive, foreboding desk, and swallowed.
The headmaster smiled, relishing Jodie's obvious trepidation. "Since you fancy yourself an adult, I'm giving you an adult decision. You said you were interested in the subject of corporal punishment, and wished to learn more. You said you regretted never having experienced a proper school punishment. I'm giving you the opportunity to rectify a deficit in your education, Miss Browning, and earn an 'A' on your dissertation, assuming of course that you have the pluck and the brains to accept my generous offer."
"There are still a few points I'd like to discuss," Jodie said.
"There is nothing to discuss. By signing these papers you will be surrendering your adult rights and privileges, and will place yourself entirely in my care. Ordinarily these papers would be signed by your parents, if you were over 18 but under 21, or by a representative of the court, but since you are a so-called adult, you may sign them yourself."
Jodie hesitated. She had fantasized about being spanked, but did she truly have the nerve to enroll herself in a reformatory? Did she truly wish to surrender her adult identity, and place herself under the shadow of the cane?
"I don't have all day, Miss Browning. I need your decision now."
The headmaster smiled like the cat that swallowed the canary as Jodie signed each page of the form and handed it in.
"Give me your purse," the headmaster said curtly.
A confused Jodie handed the headmaster her stylish leather purse. "I'll be locking this in storage. You won't need it while you're here."
"But my identification and money are in there," Jodie protested. "My car keys, too!"
"You will be issued a school ID card shortly. As for driving, you're not going anywhere. This is a reformatory, not the Hilton, and we don't allow early check outs."
"I need my cell phone. I need to call my father, and tell her I'm here."
"I spoke with your stepmother and she agreed that it would best if we didn't bother your father about this affair."
"My stepmother! That horrible old cow! You told her I was coming here?"
"Yes. It's a pity you two don't get along. Anyway, when I told her about our school's corporal punishment policies, she was enormously pleased to help. She even gave me your measurements for your new uniform."
"My... my uniform?" Jodie gasped. "You can't be serious!"
Jodie watched dumbstruck as the headmaster placed the boxes containing her school uniform on the desk. "Yes, your school uniform. As I said, those adult clothes you are wearing are quite lovely, but wholly inappropriate for the lesson you need to learn. I will give you five minutes to change."
"I'm an adult. Surely you can't expect me to dress like some... reformatory delinquent!"
"Unfortunately for you, my dear, that is exactly what you are. This contract gives me the legal authority to treat you as I wish. If you do not put on your uniform willingly, it shall be my pleasure to call the matrons, and to watch as you are stripped naked as a jaybird. You have five minutes, and I advise you to use the time wisely. You may place your street clothes in the box."
With that, the headmaster left Jodie alone in the office, closing the door behind him.
Jodie opened the box and took out the uniform skirt, holding it against her body. "I can't wear this!" she said, her voice a whisper.
She reached into the box again - worse news here! Jodie stared in disbelief at her white schoolgirl knickers, and her new school tie.
"This is ridiculous!" she muttered.
Jodie sighed and looked at the clock on the wall anxiously. Tick-tock, Tick-tock.
Shaking her head in dismay at the unfairness of it all, Jodie carefully folded her expensive wool jacket and began to unbutton her blouse. "It could be worse. At least that old cow isn't here. I'm sure she'd love to see me in this getup!"
"On your feet, young lady! I didn't give you permission to sit!"
Jodie, looking quite smart in her new school uniform, leapt to her feet as the headmaster re-entered the office. "Stand over there, where I can see you."
Jodie didn't feel like a fashion show, but she knew she had no choice. Clenching her teeth, she quickly obeyed her headmaster's command.
"Good. Now turn around. No, slowly. I want to get the full effect."
Jodie, humiliated beyond words, bit her lip and turned slowly in a circle as the beaming headmaster relished her humiliating tumble from college instructor to reformatory delinquent.
"This skirt is much too short," Jodie protested. "I look like a school girl."
"That is what you are. True, it does show off your lovely long legs, but it also makes it a simple matter to raise your skirt and give your naughty fanny the discipline it deserves. Speaking of which..."
Jodie trembled as she watched the headmaster cross the room and remove the wicked looking cane he had threatened her with only a few minutes before.
A few minutes before when she had been a teacher, the cane had been frightening. Now that she was a naughty schoolgirl, the cane sent shivers down her spine!
SWISH! SWISH!
Jodie stood pigeon-toed and nervously chewed her nails as the headmaster began his lecture. "As I recall, you asked to touch the cane, apparently regarding it as some sort of toy that you could trifle with for your amusement. I think a proper application of this instrument will disabuse you of that silly notion, and others beside."
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