Just a quick one, a Saturday Night throw-away. -- I.  
 

 

                          TURNABOUT

                             by

                         Imreadonly

 

Turnabout:
1. the act of turning in a different or opposite direction.
2. a change of opinion, loyalty, etc.
3. a reciprocal action; act of doing to someone exactly as that    
   person has done to oneself or another: Turnabout is fair play.
4. a person who changes things; a radical or disruptive force.

 

Headmaster Winkle shook the Colonel's hand.  "Thank you for coming, 
Colonel.  I hope it wasn't too much of a hardship for you."

"Not at all.  Your message disturbed me deeply, Mr. Winkle.  I 
came as soon as I could get leave."

"I wouldn't have sent it if it weren't serious.  As you know, 
here at Dunbar College we pride ourselves on reforming even the 
most recalcitrant young women through discipline and education.  
But your daughter, Sammy, has left us at our wits' end."

"What exactly has she done?"

"The problem is what she has encouraged others to do.  She was so 
clever about it that it took us several weeks to realize what was 
happening.  Your daughter has been the instigator, the catalyst, 
for numerous pranks, acts of mischief, and crimes of sabotage.  
Laxatives in the teachers' coffee.  Itching powder in the gym 
teacher's undergarments.  Last week, Sammy instigated a ditch 
day, where 60 girls simply disappeared by hiding under the 
bleachers...60 girls.  My arm is tired from caning."

"You caned Samanth...er, Sammy?" the Colonel asked, leaning forward 
in his chair.

"I did not.  Sammy never participates directly, and she always 
leaves some other unfortunate holding the bag.  Nonetheless, I 
would have dealt with her, if your wife had given me the 
authority to do so.  But unfortunately the form your wife mailed 
me specifically forbids corporal punishment."

The headmaster handed the Colonel the short corporal punishment 
form.  It specifically (and this was underlined three times) 
forbade Sammy from receiving any form of corporal punishment.   
"You spoke with my wife?" the Colonel asked.

"Yes, several times, on the phone, before Sammy was enrolled.  I 
tried to call her since, but she is not answering her phone, and 
she is ignoring my letters.  I'm quite surprised.  On the phone 
your wife seemed like a lovely young woman, with a delightful 
sense of humor.  If you don't mind my saying so, she's nothing 
like your daughter."

Although he was in no mood for laughter, the Colonel laughed 
out loud.  The headmaster was visibly flabbergasted.  "Perhaps 
I should explain," the Colonel went on.  "'Samantha' is my wife's 
name.  We don't have a daughter named 'Sammy.'"

The headmaster listened in disbelief as he tried to absorb this 
stunning turnabout.

"The girl you know as 'Sammy' is not a delinquent -- or a college 
student -- and she is not 19.  She is 34 years old, and she is my 
wife.  She teaches English at Crestford and has something of a 
fascination with the subject of corporal punishment.  Samantha 
was upset when my battalion was sent abroad, and she couldn't 
come along.  Apparently she devised this little diversion as a 
way to amuse herself."

"But I am not amused," the headmaster said.  "Your wife's schemes 
have led to the spankings, canings, and slipperings of over 100 
students, many of whom had unblemished records.  She seems to 
have an unwholesome fascination with the suffering of others.  
When discipline is administered, she is always in the front row, 
and she smiles broadly while the stripes are laid on.  I assigned 
her numerous punishment essays, but that hardly seemed adequate 
under the circumstances."

"I quite agree.  In your radiogram you mentioned expulsion.  I 
assume you would like me to take her home immediately?" the 
Colonel asked.

"Instantly!" the headmaster thundered.

Not one for rash decisions, the Colonel rose and walked over to 
the window to consider the fine summer day.  Birds.  Grass.  
Trees.  Lovely.

Samantha was smart, and mischievous, and had a quick wit and a 
wonderful sense of humor.  However, she was not the only person 
in her marriage with these qualities.

"May I see a blank corporal punishment form?" the Colonel asked.

He copied the information from the form his wife had filled out 
onto the new form and then handed it to the confused headmaster 
for his review.

The form was similar, but with some key differences.  Corporal 
punishment was now authorized, anytime, any place, by anyone.   
All instruments were approved, and to the headmaster's delight 
(since Sammy had such a lovely, enticing backside) all spankings 
were "to be administered bare bottom."

The headmaster chuckled.  "Bare bottom" was underlined three times.

"Thank you, Colonel," the headmaster said.  "Naturally this newer 
form supercedes the one your wife gave me.  Given the suffering 
Sammy has caused, I'm sure her classmates will enjoy watching her 
receive her well-earned comeuppance.  Would you like to see your 
'daughter' before you go?"

"No, I'll see her at the end of the semester.  Please tell her I 
was here, and send her my love." 

"I will indeed." 

As soon as the Colonel left, the headmaster raced to the closet 
to retrieve his favorite cane.  It was 12:15, and all the girls, 
including "Sammy," were in the cafeteria eating lunch.
 
The headmaster whistled happily as he bustled down the hallway, 
cane in hand.  Some turnabouts were fun.
 

The End



Edited by C. Lakewood