A pause. I waited for my sentence.
“If I give you a spanking, James, I do not need to record the punishment. I think, under the circumstances, a good spanking is fair. It will not appear on your school record. I will, I’m afraid, have to write a note to your parents explaining my actions. That is my final decision, – so, James, stand up please and remove your blazer.”
I was to be spanked. The fear factor dropped slightly – at least it wasn’t the cane. Mrs Hamilton pointed to a coat stand, “Hang your jacket up on the hook, James.”
As I took it off, Mrs Hamilton moved the chair on which she had been sitting to a central position in front of her desk.