For several days after Eddie’s paddling, the entire class was well-behaved. Eddie himself was much subdued from his usual rambunctiousness and tales of the punishment had filtered to the rest. The awareness that Miss Lucas’ paddle was not just an idle threat hanging on a hook had a relatively short shelf life. Eddie remained restrained as two new miscreants arose to fill the void - Nick Harvey and Camille Bridges. The pair would constantly chatter. Miss Lucas separated them and the two adapted to communicating with clandestine texts.

Finally, Erin reached her limit on the disruption the two were causing. “Texting in-class is not allowed,” she announced, reiterating long-standing policy. She retrieved her paddle from its hook and laid the plank on her desk. “Any violators will be paddled,” she noted and then added, “…in class.” A murmur passed through the students. In class punishment was somewhat rare yet not that uncommon and always an attention-getter.

Erin thought the explicit warning would have deterred Nick and Camille from further errant behavior but soon she heard an audible text notification. One of the two had apparently unquieted their phone. Erin strode to Camille’s desk. “Unlock and show me your phone,” she commanded. Camille complied showing an ongoing text thread. The latest message from Nick read ‘paddle us? no way’.

“Mr Harvey, Please read your latest text to Miss Bridges,” Erin demanded. Nick haltingly read the message. “I will demonstrate that I was not bluffing. Both of you to the front of the room, either side of my desk, facing the class.” The rest of the students uneasily anticipated how their classmates would be punished. On the bare? What might they get to see?

Erin picked up the paddle on her desk and moved her chair out of the way. “Mr Harvey, you’ll be first. Stand here behind the desk and prepare yourself. I then want you to bend over, heads-up maintaining eye contact with your classmates.” Nick moved to the intended spot and lowered his jeans. He looked at his teacher, hoping he might keep his underwear on and preserve a little dignity. “Those, too,” Erin commanded. She knew the desk would block the classes view below the waist but they would know he was bare and that was embarrassment enough. She wasn’t averse to giving the class a view of bare bottom spanking but that was an escalation for another day. She tapped the paddle against his bare cheeks and gave him five fast hard swats. “Cover yourself and return to the side of the desk,” she commanded. Nick slowing pulled his underwear and jeans over his sear buttocks. “Your turn, Miss Bridges.” Camille tried to remain stoic as she struggled with the buttons on her jeans. She flinched when the paddle was tapped on her bare bottom and squealed as the oak repeatedly contacted her soft bottom. Erin wondered if any of the boys were not sporting a stiffie at this point.

When Camille and composed herself, Erin instructed, “Back to your seats, you two.” She paused and looked over the class, then added. “I hope this serves notice that disruptive behavior will not be tolerated. As a warning to any who wants to test my patience, anyone disrupting class will not have the benefit of the modest afforded by being behind my desk.” She looked around the class to let the concept sink in. “In case that’s not clear enough, if you misbehave in the future you will get your bare bottom paddled in full view of your classmates.” She figured that would be the ultimate deterrent. What she didn’t appreciate was that there were a few in the class who saw this as a challenge and exposure was an exciting incentive.