McNulty straightened the elbows a bit, made him cross the hands more firmly then laid the thick tails of his tawse on the hands from the tips of the finger to an inch or so below the start of the wrist, both to gauge distance and also to intimidate I suspect as this was a very thick and heavy strap, something which would not go unnoticed as it rested on the palms of a boy’s hands.. He also had to push them down an inch or so as the boy was bigger than he was. He pulled the belt over his shoulder, elbow pointing almost up to the ceiling to get maximum ‘drive’ then with a twist that probably threw him back out, he lifted one foot almost off the ground and brought the tails of the belt down on William’s crossed hands. The tails were a blur and the CRACK!! of the strap was
crisp and violent, like a pistol shot.
School Belt28
