The paddle was bigger than Briss had imagined. Descriptions from past recipients were not as exaggerated as he had always suspected they were. There really were holes drilled through it so that there would be very little cushion of air between the paddle and the victim's butt. And there really was athletic tape spiraling the length of the handle like on baseball bats.
Being led down the hallway toward the principal's office by Mr. Beebo, and then watching him go in and then come out with the paddle was, by itself, enough psychological pain to teach Briss and Verne whatever lesson it was that we were being taught. But no! Beebo asked who wanted to go first. Briss stepped up, at which point Beebo instructed him to reach down and grab his ankles. That's when the hitting started.
The first thing Briss realized was that Beebo had completely missed his butt and had connected fully with his stretched-to-the-limit hamstrings. Briss later told others how much that hurt, but so much was lost in translation. Briss howled, stood up, and turned around. "Mr. Beebo, you hit my legs."
Beebo nodded slightly and said, "Grab your ankles."
Briss grabbed his ankles. The second whack landed squarely on his hamstrings as well. At that point Briss realized that striking the backs of his legs was a premeditated affair, and that it would do no good to point out to Beebo the inaccuracy of his aim. The third whack was harder than the first two and it sent Briss stumbling forward; he weighed eighty-five pounds at the time. Beebo motioned with his hand for Briss to get back on the spot and grab his ankles. Briss complied.
This time Beebo placed his free hand on Briss's back to hold him in place. After the next whack, survival instinct kicked in and Brisss broke free and backed up against the wall to protect the backs of his legs. Beebo told him that if he didn't assume the position, he would go get the principal to hold him in place. So he assumed the position and took his last whack. Despite his best effort to not cry, Biss cried.
Poor Verne! When Beebo turned to him, he started begging and pleading, saying that he would do anything to get out of being paddled. Briss guessed that what Verne meant was that he would take a thousand detentions or something. But Beebo's silence and beckoning finger spoke louder than words--this was non-negotiable! Without going into the details of Verne's coping skills, or lack thereof, suffice it to say that the incident was not pretty. Of course, breaking children never is. Briss could attest to that.
In the end, Verne received only three whacks because after the third one, he assumed the fetal position on the floor and Belson couldn't get at his legs or butt. Briss was waiting for Beebo to go get the principal to hold Verne in place for his last two whacks. He was curious to see how such a thing is done, and was almost glad to be there to see it all play out. He felt that he had earned the right. Instead, Beebo told the two to go back to the classroom while he returned the paddle to the principal's office. Apparently, he would not have went to get the principal to hold Briss in place. Yeah, he felt cheated.
On the way down the hallway, Verne, who had a reputation as a tough guy, said, "He was hitting me a lot harder than he was hitting you." Briss didn't think so, but kept that to himself. Verne then told Briss that if he told anyone about his crying and begging and the breaking of his spirit, he would kick his ass. Briss said, "As long as it ain't my legs." That drew a little smile from Verne. Briss wondered what lesson Verne learned from this, or what it corrected in him. All he knew for sure about what it did for him was that it convinced him that he was not safe. He hated that feeling.
Being led down the hallway toward the principal's office by Mr. Beebo, and then watching him go in and then come out with the paddle was, by itself, enough psychological pain to teach Briss and Verne whatever lesson it was that we were being taught. But no! Beebo asked who wanted to go first. Briss stepped up, at which point Beebo instructed him to reach down and grab his ankles. That's when the hitting started.
The first thing Briss realized was that Beebo had completely missed his butt and had connected fully with his stretched-to-the-limit hamstrings. Briss later told others how much that hurt, but so much was lost in translation. Briss howled, stood up, and turned around. "Mr. Beebo, you hit my legs."
Beebo nodded slightly and said, "Grab your ankles."
Briss grabbed his ankles. The second whack landed squarely on his hamstrings as well. At that point Briss realized that striking the backs of his legs was a premeditated affair, and that it would do no good to point out to Beebo the inaccuracy of his aim. The third whack was harder than the first two and it sent Briss stumbling forward; he weighed eighty-five pounds at the time. Beebo motioned with his hand for Briss to get back on the spot and grab his ankles. Briss complied.
This time Beebo placed his free hand on Briss's back to hold him in place. After the next whack, survival instinct kicked in and Brisss broke free and backed up against the wall to protect the backs of his legs. Beebo told him that if he didn't assume the position, he would go get the principal to hold him in place. So he assumed the position and took his last whack. Despite his best effort to not cry, Biss cried.
Poor Verne! When Beebo turned to him, he started begging and pleading, saying that he would do anything to get out of being paddled. Briss guessed that what Verne meant was that he would take a thousand detentions or something. But Beebo's silence and beckoning finger spoke louder than words--this was non-negotiable! Without going into the details of Verne's coping skills, or lack thereof, suffice it to say that the incident was not pretty. Of course, breaking children never is. Briss could attest to that.
In the end, Verne received only three whacks because after the third one, he assumed the fetal position on the floor and Belson couldn't get at his legs or butt. Briss was waiting for Beebo to go get the principal to hold Verne in place for his last two whacks. He was curious to see how such a thing is done, and was almost glad to be there to see it all play out. He felt that he had earned the right. Instead, Beebo told the two to go back to the classroom while he returned the paddle to the principal's office. Apparently, he would not have went to get the principal to hold Briss in place. Yeah, he felt cheated.
On the way down the hallway, Verne, who had a reputation as a tough guy, said, "He was hitting me a lot harder than he was hitting you." Briss didn't think so, but kept that to himself. Verne then told Briss that if he told anyone about his crying and begging and the breaking of his spirit, he would kick his ass. Briss said, "As long as it ain't my legs." That drew a little smile from Verne. Briss wondered what lesson Verne learned from this, or what it corrected in him. All he knew for sure about what it did for him was that it convinced him that he was not safe. He hated that feeling.
