A Student's Lesson

"Yes, Yeager. Take your left shoe off, turn to your chair and place your knee on it." Cox's voice showed a hint of impatience. "Quickly!"

Sally knew there was nothing to be gained by delaying even though she was quite at a loss why she was doing this. She bent down, making sure to keep the back of her dress away from the old man's eyes, and unbuckled her shoe. She began to pull her foot out when Cox said, "Keep your sock off the floor. No reason to get it dirty." Sally, grabbing her shoe, held her leg up and balanced herself until she got her leg over the seat and placed her knee down, her right leg still on the floor. After getting into this position she now was aware that she was facing away from the old man and her foot was...Shit! It was stuck out right at him! She looked back her eyes growing wide as she saw 'Old Baldy' change position to stand beside her now vulnerable foot.

The old man couldn't help but enjoy the moment a little. Seeing the lovely girl's dark blue eyes flit back and forth from the ruler to her foot, it gave him just a tiny rush of satisfaction. Even with her upper legs covered, Sally still offered quite the tempting target with her shapely calf extended toward him and only clad in thin white stockings. Yeager did appear so innocent with that look of worry on her face. Still, he knew what this girl had done and it was time to deal out a little punishment. A job that some would say he was born for. He licks his lips. "You will hold your position, Yeager, as I begin your discipline. If you move your foot I will repeat the stroke. For not reading the assignment you will receive three swats of the ruler."

Sally was worried. How bad would this hurt? How... "Snap!" Cox's hand was so fast she didn't even have a chance to stiffen before the blow. A small "Ahh!" of surprise escaped her lips. Then she felt the sting begin at her heel. The next strike was not long in coming and it landed right on her arch. Sally held her position but the stinging was rising fast. She tried to flex her foot to relieve the pain but that was a mistake.

"Hold your foot still, Yeager. You made me wait so I will repeat the last." Cox said as he tapped the heal of her foot fairly strongly bringing back a few more pins and needles to that location. Sally squeezed the top of the chair and got control of herself. Shit! It was only a sec... "SNAP!" Sally whimpered a bit as the strike landed on her arch again making the seeming needles drive deeper in her foot. Clenching her teeth she looks back at the old bastard. He wasn't wasting any time. "SNAP!!" That was the strongest of the four! To the ball of her foot as well! After a moment the pain became apparent as most of her sole sent it's protests up her leg.

Cox took a step back. "You may put your shoe on, Yeager."

That was easier said than done. Sally carefully balanced herself on the chair but found it difficult to slide the shoe over her foot without aggravating the pain. With a hiss she finally got it all the way in. Cox tapped the ruler to his hand. "Buckle up, Yeager. We have much to cover."

Sally sighed. God she hated this man. "Yes, sir," she bit out and managed to keep from making a noise as she pulled the buckle to. Carefully she set her foot down. The pins seemed to stab deeper but Sally managed to stand squarely and face 'Old Baldy'.

Cox walked slowly back to his desk. "You may sit, Yeager. Open your economics book and begin chapter one. You are several days behind your classmates and hopefully you will be joining them all caught up." He then sat in his chair and began reading again looking unconcerned.

Sally opened the book and started to read while occasionally taking notes. As Cox had promised she had no problems with her hands. Then her foot gave another throb. Damn him!

The former instructor watched the teen surreptitiously for a few minutes noting her discomfort. He smirked. It will be very interesting to see how she dealt with the next 'lesson'.

Chapter Six

Sally sat reading her economics textbook uninterrupted by Cox for some time. It appeared that he was serious when the old man said that she would be able to catch up on her work. The pain in her foot began to fade as she finished the book's introduction. Continuing to chapter one, the pupil began to take notes again as obvious test topics were covered. Keynes, command economies, free markets, barter systems. All of these were introduced over several pages and she knew they would be covered in more detail later.

As the minutes passed and she continued to read paragraph after paragraph, Sally found it hard to stay completely focused on the work. Occasionally she would glance at 'Old Baldy' wondering what he was doing or thinking. For the moment he really did seem to be more interested in the book than with her so Sally gave him no reason to alter that. Bearing down, she started to study several charts. If only the rest of the day would be like this.

Of course that wasn't to be. When Sally reached the end of the chapter, she flipped a few pages trying to find the beginning of the next one. That was a signal to the cagey schoolteacher and he looked up. "Finished chapter one, Yeager?"

Sally looked up cautiously. "Yes, sir."

The balding man smiled. To Sally it didn't look pleasant. "Then, Yeager, let us discuss a few things that are interrelated to this subject." He stood up and strode to the front of his desk. Leaning on the edge he looked down at the tense young student. "Of the various economic systems introduced, which one do you favor?"

Sally didn't know what to make of this question. She didn't trust 'Old Baldy' but for now it seemed this was on subject at least. Thinking a moment, she knew she had expensive tastes and there was only one way to get quality goods. "Umm, I think, sir, that I prefer a free market economy."

Cox nodded. "Completely unregulated? Everyone for themselves? Fittest get the spoils?"

Sally quickly shook her head. "Uh. No, sir. There has to be some rules. Laws about deals and contracts and stuff."

Cox tilted his head. "So that there is fairness for everyone involved?"

Sally bobbed her head. "Yeah. Sir." She almost forgot again and she mentally chastised herself.

"In this system would there be an attempt at making everyone equal?" the instructor queried.

Sally now nodded vigorously. "Absolutely! Everyone should have at least an equal chance to succeed, sir."

Cox got a thoughtful look on his face. "Racial, cultural as well as gender equality? Even if there are differences between the individuals?"

"Absolutely, sir!" Sally said earnestly. "They should all be treated as equals no matter their status."

Thaddeus nodded once more. "Yeager, we seem to be in complete agreement on this topic. Very good." Sally didn't know what to do about getting praise from her old schoolteacher. It was at least a hopeful sign.

"You spoke of contracts earlier. Would it be fair to say that all parties involved agree to the terms of a contract?"

Sally began to sense what the old man was up to. It was a straightforward question though and she had to answer. "Yes, sir." She said grudgingly.

Cox spread his hands outward. "Could you expand on that a bit?"

Sally knew she was being put on the spot so she thought carefully. "Everyone involved should be part of the process to create the contract. And both sides must come together and make that agreement...with no surprises."

"Is there a process that the parties would use to come to an agreement? Such as purchasing a car or a house?"

"Like negotiations, sir?" Sally was still cautious.

The instructor smiled, or smirked Sally thought. "Exactly, Yeager. Negotiation or haggling is not only important in economics but can be found in many aspects of our lives. Like the situation you find yourself in, wouldn't you agree?"

Sally's eyes narrowed. She definitely knew that Cox was messing with her now. "Yes, sir."

"So the next part of your lesson will focus on that essential skill. In the process I will make you familiar with what my expectations are when you are receiving corrections so, as you say, there are no surprises." The old man left his desk and headed for the door. "Come along."

Sally looked up worriedly. "Sir?"

"The next lesson will be out here, Yeager," he said opening the door, that weird expression firmly in place. "Don't dawdle."

The instructor gestured out into the hallway and Sally stood up reluctantly. She did look like a meek schoolgirl at the moment and the old instructor liked that. He liked that a lot.

Sally's nervousness turned into dread as the old man led her in front of the third door. What did Cox call it? The Corporal Punishment Room?

"Up to this point Yeager you have been, for the most part, complying with the agreement we have made." The old man couldn't help but notice that the sun was shining through a window at the other end of the passage. It was providing the disciplinarian with an engaging outline of the teen's shapely upper legs and thighs through the lightweight cotton dress. "I will now state my position of what I will require of you to fulfill my portion of the punishment you have earned."

Sally looked back confused. His portion?

"Then, as part of the lesson, you will offer your arguments on why I should alter my plans. Do you understand?"

"I think so, sir." Sally really only had the vaguest idea what 'Old Baldy' wanted. Her jangling nerves made it hard to think.

"Miss Yeager," the former school teacher addressed Sally formally. "As I said earlier, this room is intended for the physical part of your correction. It is my inclination that you require punishment for the improper acts that you performed during our class time together last semester."

Sally's eyes opened wide. "Sir?! No sir!"

"Do you have an argument that would convince me otherwise?" He looked down at the girl expectantly.

Sally thought back. "I...I already have received punishment...the detentions."

The aged man smiled crookedly. "Ah, yes. The detentions you received while several of your male peers got the cane. Not exactly fair is it?"

Sally, remembering what the old man had said about fairness, realized where this was going. "But it was the rules..."

"But nothing, Yeager." Cox snapped. "Or have you forgotten the first lesson I gave you. All those hours wasted and an insufficient punishment to correct your ways. If I had the opportunity to treat you as the boys I'm sure we wouldn't be here now."

Sally remained silent. She knew this man. What could she possibly say to change his mind?

The disciplinarian continued, "Now; about the punishment. Pupils who must enter the room are required to remove all prescribed clothing before doing so."

Sally rolled her eyes. Well that's it for her panties knowing 'Old Baldy'.

The gowned instructor, sensing the girl didn't understand, elaborated. "In your case; all clothing."

"What!" Sally gasped, putting her hand in front of her mouth in shock. "Everything?! But I'm a girl!"

"Yes, Yeager. Even girls," he confirmed in a monotone voice. Especially girls like you he said to himself, "or have you forgotten what you said earlier about gender equality?"

Sally was nearly beside herself. "I know! But this is different! It's not..."

"Appropriate?" he finished. "Tell me why it's not."

"Well, your a man! " Sally thought the reason self evident.

"Of course I'm a man!" he snorted. "You have to do a better job than that if you are to convince me that your argument is valid, Yeager."

"They keep their underthings on, don't they?" she asked indignantly.

With an impatient sigh, Cox shook his head. "Do you know what your cohorts are facing at school at this moment?"

Sally clenched her fists. "I know! I know! They are going to get caned."

"On the bare!" the incensed man barked. "Do you think the Headmaster does less for other serious offenses?"

Sally hated to say it but she had to agree. "No, sir," she sighed. She tried another tack. "But certainly not everything! Does Col... my guardian know about this?" she asked, without thinking.

"Know what, Yeager? That his delinquent stepdaughter's modesty is going to be compromised during the course of her due punishment? Yes, he is fully aware of that fact." The old man confirmed. "But don't feel betrayed. He struggled with the decision but in the end knew what was best."

Sally realized something. "The boys wont be removing their clothes, sir." Ah! Hah! She knew she had him there!

"A very good point, Miss Yeager. That is quite true." The experienced debater let her get her hopes up for a moment. "You're friend Susan, have you talked with her since the incident at your guardian's house?"

The schoolgirl was caught off guard. "No, sir. Why?" she asked, butterflies suddenly flitting about in her tummy.

"Do you know that the Headmaster had a long talk with your friend's father and was assured that she would be punished appropriately?" Cox folded his arms. "I was told her father left the school very angry. It seems you led her into quite the predicament as well, Yeager."

Sally's butterflies suddenly turned into bees. What was happening to her best friend? Dark images of Susan's father standing over her friend with a belt made flashed through her mind. She kept her face as calm as possible as she pondered what may be happening even now.

In truth the instructor had no idea what was happening to Sally's classmate. She could be sitting in her room without a phone for all he knew. It was time for the old gentleman to hammer his final point home. "Since you were the ringleader and according to the Headmaster deserve a more serious punishment; then I see no reason why you shouldn't comply with my demands."

Sally looked dumbfounded but the serious man would not let up. Pointing at the hooks he continued, "Shoes, with socks or stockings inside them, are placed neatly on the floor on top of the cubical. The hanger is used for outer clothing - dresses, shirts, trousers, etcetera. One hook is for underwear." He paused for emphasis. "I'll spell it out to you. In the case of a male pupil, his underpants; in your case, your bra and your panties." He waited to see how she would react.

Sally felt like a trapped animal. Was there no way out of this? The ugly man said she could negotiate but she seemed to be cut off at every turn. Sally looked up at the man's face and saw that his glinting eyes were boring into hers.

Continuing to maintain eye contact he put it to the pretty teenager, "Tell me, Yeager," he inquired with more than a touch of curiosity in his cultured voice, "What worries you more; the thought of receiving a number of stinging cuts on your backside or the embarrassment of me seeing you unclothed?" His peripheral vision took in the sight of her sizable breasts rising and falling as she breathed deeply, probably pondering her predicament and his question simultaneously. "I want an honest answer from you," he continued. "Remember that I have made my point clear. Now it's your turn to make a counterpoint. You just might appeal to my innate sense of justice and fair dealing," he added trying to keep the sarcasm out of his voice.

Sally, from her knowledge of Thaddeus Cox, would not have considered the words 'just' and 'fair' to be apt adjectives by which to describe the disciplinarian as he kept looking at her strangely. However, being in the situation that she found herself in the mere mention of the word 'deal' was tantamount to a turnaround in her fortunes. For the beleaguered girl it was a straw to clutch at. An opportunity to go for. Digging deep to find an appropriate response, she ventured, "I suppose I deserve to be punished; I mean...I don't want to be caned; and I suppose I can't complain because of what I've done." she said, trying to marshal her arguments thoughtfully.

The scholar listened to the incoherent drivel that the teen had just offered. He could see he had a lot of work to do. "Okay, so you say you agree with the punishment. Tell me why you object to what I require? That is the issue at hand."

"I have never taken my clothes off...in front of a man," she answered simply, eyes downcast.

The old man almost let a smile creep onto his lips. "From what I heard from your step-father, you seemed to be showing off your, um, assets to the boys the other day. Am I wrong about that?"

Sally shook her head. "I didn't really show them anything. Susan, my friend, she did."

Cox found her explanations amusing, but he had to keep things moving. "It seems you are worried that I might do something inappropriate. You can be assured that is not going to happen, Yeager."

"That's not it...exactly, sir." She was trying to come up with an argument without insulting or angering 'Old Baldy' any more. Saying she didn't want the disgusting man looking at her wouldn't help her case at all.

"Your negotiating skills leave much to be desired, Yeager," the former teacher sighed. He almost felt sorry for the girl. Well, not really. "Let's try a different method. Item by item."

Item by item? What did that mean, Sally wondered.

"Let's start with your dress. I consider it to be an obstruction to your discipline," he pointed at the one-piece button-down Warrington High summer school dress. "Why do you believe you should keep it on during your correction?"

"I would like to keep it on because," she searched for an argument, "It wouldn't be appropriate for a teacher to see me without it."

Appearing to genuinely consider her plea, he took a moment to keep Sally's hopes up. Of course he had a response ready. "I can't allow that. In case you have forgotten, I am not your teacher. I am here to give you punishment and teach you a lesson." he told her. "If my memory serves me, I've already seen you dressed in a lot less in the school gymnasium. Am I not correct, Yeager?"

Of course he would have, Sally thought. Especially at volleyball practice. "Yes, but..." she stammered.

"But, but, but," he parroted. "I'm afraid such protestations of modesty are lost on me young lady. And since you parade yourself in front of others such as your guardian in much less than your school dress it's only fair you should be punished that way as well!"

There were definite signs of impatience beginning to emanate from the tutor's voice and general demeanor. Sally sensed this and decided to back off the retort that had almost slipped out.

His voice returning to its moderated tone, he said coolly, "So you see, I'm not imposing unreasonable conditions for your correction. It's not as if you've spent years in a convent." He laughed. "Maybe if you had such a strict education like that you would not be in the predicament you find yourself in now."

This was ridiculous! She couldn't see that any of this was reasonable in any way. "If you say so, sir," she grated out.

"I do." Openly perusing the lovely teenager, the old instructor continued to tick off his checklist. "Your belt will have to go for obvious reasons. Since we know what the boys will be doing with their underpants it goes without saying that you will have to lose that as well."

Sally shifted nervously but said nothing. That much she had understood early on, even though she was dreading doing it.

"So that brings us to your brassier." the gentleman took the opportunity to take a long look at the curves more than hinted at by the tightly fitting top of her dress. Seeing his gaze, Sally folded her arms self consciously.

"Sir," Sally stated carefully, she had to win this point, "there can't be any reason to take that off. I mean it doesn't get in the way of...the punishment."

Again the disciplinarian seemed to consider the girl's reasoning. "That is true, Yeager. However, as we discussed earlier, I do believe in a large degree of equality between male and female pupils when it comes to the imposition of discipline." He had the ability to couch what was in effect his twisted desires into a plausible argument. "Nobody complains when males are punished without their tops. Why should there be any difference in the case of girls?"