He opened a drawer in his desk and drew out a strap.
A piece of leather two or three feet long, brown and smooth on one side, pale and rough on the other.
It had a silver coloured ring sewn into it at one end.
He walked around the desk folding the strap, doubling it over – and handed it to me.
I looked at that thing and I was scared.
More scared than I’d ever been in my life.
I looked at that strap and I saw a weapon – a weapon that had been specifically manufactured to hurt me.
“Dean, I am going to ask you a very serious question, now.
Before I do, I want you to understand this. I will not punish a boy who didn’t know what he was doing was wrong.
But I also expect boys to accept punishment if they deserve it, honestly.