Lesson Learned

scarlett arrived nervous. Every time she was called to Headmistress's office, she would begin to feel anxious and have the impulse to run into the woods to hide -- however, she knew that that would be futile; the Madame would find her and march her back, holding scarlett's elbow or ear with a surprisingly painful grip, scarlett had even seen Madame pulling a student who had violated the rule about tardiness by a short lead. 

The door opened and it was the Madame on the other side, her gaze sharp. scarlett's heart sank and the butterflies took off in a frenzy. Standing nearby, Headmistress observed; scarlett presented herself to Headmistress, and the Madame who had taken up her traditional spot; on the Headmistress's right, arms crossed, her dark lips pursed.

Standing, trying to stay calm, scarlett didn't dare look as the Madame began to stalk around her, her arms still crossed, watching every move scarlett made, commenting to the Headmistress on how the past month had gone. Her gloved hands punctuated particular comments. Pausing to question scarlett in a near hiss.

Scarlett froze as the Madame observed her uniform. She had hoped that neither the Madame nor Headmistress would notice the clear uniform infraction -- scarlett realized that was wishful thinking as the Madame lifted the hem of her skirt with her gloved hand. Face red and hot, scarlett admitted she was trying to avoid punishment for seams being askew, by flouting the uniform code entirely. scarlett's heart sank, she thought the Madame would discipline her right then and there, it appeared the Madame was about to strike, but held back; scarlett wondered if it was due to the Madame's recent reign of terror across campus. Scarlett had heard from another girl that the Madame had been severely disciplined herself by Headmistress for going too far and disciplining girls who did not deserve it -- scarlett appreciated the Headmistress's clear rules about discipline and how it would be used. scarlett was less sure about Madame.

The Madame cackled and she and the Headmistress debated scarlett's fate. But before delivering the sentence Headmistress inquired as to scarlett's other tasks and her schooling. The Madame delivered her assessment with what sounded like a gleeful sneer -- obviously the Madame's own taste of discipline hadn't sated her thirst to enforce the Institute's standards.

scarlett would be learning a lesson today. One that she wouldn't soon forget.

At the bench now, scarlett found herself on the receiving end of a very swift paddling. This was more of a maintenance spanking, it was explained, to keep her focused as she continued her probation and her learning. scarlett wondered if this probation would ever end, but she thought better of making that inquiry; the Madame was wielding a very mean looking crop. She was right. This crop was extra mean, and, in the Madame's hands? The point was made.

Headmistress, having paddled scarlett herself, to reinforce her learning, then said that scarlett would be continuing her lesson today by writing down three rules she was to remember. A single pen sat on a lovely silver tray across Headmistress's office. Headmistress instructed scarlett to go and kneel down, to be ready for her lesson.

The Madame settled beside her, taking out a small notebook, opening it to a blank page for scarlett to write on. The Madame, handing scarlett the pen and reminded her of what she was to write, each one three times:

I will not snoop. I will not gossip. I will not conspire.

Each word a reminder. The pen was weighty, the Madame mentioned casually it was her own pen, the one she used every day. scarlett blushed; now she was going to be extra careful in her writing, what with the Madame sitting next to her, watching carefully -- scarlett didn't trust that the Madame might not strike at any moment. 

Her heart pounding, scarlett sat back as the Madame reviewed her work. The Madame complimented her gently on her attention to detail and penmanship. Handing the book back, she gestures to the Headmistress, who is waiting for scarlett patiently. Bringing the book to her obediently, the Headmistress also compliments scarlett, and asked scarlett if she would remember her lesson. scarlett nodded vigorously, thinking that if she were to agree, she would be released.

Not so fast. The Madame suggests that scarlett needs to learn more and Headmistress agrees. Standing in the middle of the room, scarlett feels her wrists restrained and pulled up slightly. Then she is ordered to stick her bottom out. A gag is put in scarlett's mouth; one with a clip on the end, for the Madame to place the book scarlett wrote in, open to the page of her lesson. And then the Madame starts in on her target, scarlett's behind. Already achy and sore, scarlett feels the bite of Madame's crop. Headmistress joins in as the Madame circles around her, slapping at scarlett's inner thighs. Spying a mark, the Madame lights up; another target -- which she takes full advantage of.

scarlett was becoming a drooly, aching mess now. Headmistress and Madame continue to strike scarlett, reddening her bottom and her thighs. scarlett can feel the welts across her bottom forming with each bite of the cane or the crop. scarlett is glad for the wrist cuffs holding her up, because she would have surely collapsed in a heap by now. When Headmistress believes she has had enough, scarlett is let down, only to then be ordered across the Madame's lap -- but not before scarlett has to select an implement.

Having chosen what she thought was a safe implement, scarlett cursed her assumption. Any implement in the hands of the demonic little Madame? Not safe at all. The Madame begins with her gloved hand, the heat of each slap against her bruised skin making her wriggle and squeak. The Madame tightens her grip to keep scarlett still and strikes repeatedly with the implement scarlett handed her.

Once again, Headmistress determines that scarlett has had enough and she is released, only to find several of the implements that have been used laid on the bench. scarlett is clearly not done learning today. Headmistress removes the gag and tells scarlett to put the implements in order of ouchiness as Headmistress and the Madame observe, seated and discussing their charge and her progress. scarlett takes her time, thinking that this all might be a trick and trying to untangle which implement stung the most. Once done, the Madame immediately points out the lack of precision in scarlett's work. How some implements are askew and they are unevenly spaced.

Ordered back to the bench, the Madame and Headmistress both follow her, the Madame striking first. Then the Headmistress, having taken a vintage razor strop from her cabinet, smacks scarlett hard in quick successive strikes; hard enough to elicit a pained squeal after each.

The strop is especially stingy and elicits a squeak from scarlett with every blow. Headmistress is particularly adept with its use. In a moment of humanity, the Madame seems less sure of herself with it, Headmistress offering her some instruction on how to deliver a blow with it. Madame makes a couple of attempts, but her typically precise targeting is askew. Seemingly unperturbed, the Madame hands it back to Headmistress, in favor of her crop with its biting and unrelenting accuracy. Headmistress, having set aside the strop for the cane adds her share of swats. scarlett is tender everywhere and still a little drooly, and her head is spinning from the lessons she has had to learn. Headmistress, places her hand on scarlett's back to calm her, reminding her of the importance of her service and the protocols she is expected to follow.

Time will tell if scarlett can remember