The Adventures of Fiona McCormack
A Story by Jenny O’Brien
Inside the office, the Mother Superior pondered over the best course of action. She didn’t really want to lose four girls at once, or the fees that they brought with them, for that matter. But she was also well aware that, in the view of the rest of the school, any action short of expulsion, would be regarded as a let off and would have a disastrous effect on the general discipline of the school. Justice, she thought to herself, mustn’t just be done; it must be seen to be done! She weighed up several options, before dismissing them as impractical, seemingly unable to formulate a plan that would satisfy all the conflicting requirements. It was at times like this that a school head, like the captain of a ship, had to make their own mind up and live with the consequences of their decision. Slowly an idea started to form in her mind. As she weighed up all the possibilities and considered all the ramifications, it seemed to meet all the criteria she had set herself. After another ten minutes reflection, she opened the door and asked Sister Teresa to bring the girls back in. She had made up her mind.
The four girls trooped back in and resumed their positions in front of the desk. The Mother Superior studied them carefully. They all looked pensive and Rebecca was biting her lip. “Girls,” she announced finally, after letting the tension build for a moment, “I have had a very difficult decision to make, one of the most difficult of my headship. I have decided to allow you to choose your own punishment”. The four girls looked shocked, as did Sister Teresa, who was standing behind them. The Mother Superior continued, “However, there are some conditions attached. My first instinct was to expel you all. That will be your first option. Should any one of you elect to be expelled, then that is what will happen to all of you. For the second option to take effect, all four of you must agree to it. Is that clear?” The four girls all nodded vigorously, desperate to learn what the second option was to be. “The second option”, said the Reverend Mother, who was speaking very deliberately, letting each word sink in, “is that you each agree to receive a severe beating with a ruler, tomorrow morning, before the end of term assembly”. “I’ll take the ruler”, said Pippa quickly, but just as Fiona was going to agree as well, the Reverend Mother stopped her. “Please don’t interrupt. I haven’t finished yet”.
“I did consider”, continued the head, “a public beating, in front of the whole school at the ten o’clock, end of term assembly”. Rebecca visibly winced at the thought. “And I only dismissed the idea, not because you don’t deserve it, but only because it seemed unfair to all the other girls, to subject them to witnessing such a unpleasant spectacle on the very day they return home for the holidays. I do, however, believe that it is necessary that the whole school should be aware of the severity of the punishment, so I have decided that the beatings should take place in this room at nine o’clock, after which, you shall go out into the hall, where your chastised bottoms will be displayed until you are collected by your parents”. Fiona’s heart was now racing. The only way through to the Chapel, where the assemblies were held, was via the hall outside the head’s office. If the girls were to be displayed there, the entire school would pass by twice, once on the way in and once on the way back from assembly.
The Reverend mother, who hadn’t finished speaking, interrupted Fiona’s thoughts. “I shall be calling your parents in, as they arrive, to explain what has happened. You shall remain in position, in the hall, until your parents leave this office”. That was one humiliation that Fiona was glad that she wouldn’t have to go through, unlike Rebecca, who was almost hysterical. “Please don’t tell them”, she cried, “they don’t need to know, do they?” “Don’t be so silly, girl”, said the Head dismissively, “You surely don’t think that I would send their daughter back to them, bruised and sore, without explaining what happened? What would they think if they discovered the marks and didn’t know how they had come about?” Rebecca looked destroyed. “Anyway, you always have the option of choosing expulsion!”
“Finally”, said the Reverend Mother, “There is the question of the sentence”. She walked over to an umbrella stand. “I believe that my usual ruler would be inadequate on this occasion, so I have obtained a suitable replacement from the Art department”, she said as she pulled out a wide, three-foot ruler from the stand. All the girls were familiar with the yardstick, albeit in different circumstances and were well aware of its weight and flexibility. “I propose”, said the Reverend Mother, flexing the stick for effect, “that you each should receive six strokes, three on your knickers and three with your knickers down. Pippa Harris, in recognition of her appalling record and her leading role in this wicked act, will receive the same again. Any questions before you make your decision?”
Fiona immediately sprang to Pippa’s defence. “It’s not fair”, she complained, “We are all equally to blame for what happened. It’s not fair that Pippa should get a worse punishment than the rest of us. If she gets worse than the rest of us, I will vote to be expelled!” The Mother Superior was impressed by Fiona’s loyalty to her friend, especially as she undoubtedly had the most to lose from being expelled. The other girls, after all, had affluent parents who could buy their daughters into another school with ease. Fiona on the other hand, had nobody. She considered the matter for a few moments before addressing the girls. “Do you all agree with Fiona”, she said, choosing her words carefully, “that you are all equally culpable for what happened?” The four schoolgirls, remembering their oath, nodded. “So you all accept full responsibility for what has happened?” she asked. Again, all the four agreed. The Mother superior thought for a couple of moments, before announcing, “In that case, I have no option but to offer you all the same punishment. The second option is that you all will receive twelve strokes of the ruler, six on your knickers and six on the bare bottom!”
Fiona gasped. It was a victory for fair play, but not in the way she had intended. Though strangely enough, she really didn’t regret her protest. At least this way, there could be no bad feeling between the four girls. Placing the Ruler on the desk, in full view of the girls, the Reverend Mother said, “You have fifteen minutes to make your decision. Remember, if you wish to choose the second option, you must all agree. If you fail to reach agreement, then I will have no option but to expel you all”. And with that, she left the room, taking Sister Teresa with her. The four girls were now alone and free to talk for the first time in several hours. “Not much to discuss, is there?” said Pippa glumly, “but thanks for sticking up for me there”. Fiona smiled back. “No problem. All Untouchable together”. “I don’t think that we’ll be untouchable tomorrow morning”, said Hannah with a resigned sigh, “Are we going to go through with it then? I vote yes!” “Me too” said Fiona. “And me” said Pippa “It can’t be much worse than all the other times, can it?” The others all thought that it would be a lot worse, but were too diplomatic to say so. All eyes then turned to Rebecca, who was still in a state of shock. “I don’t know if I can”, she said softly, “I don’t know if I can take this”. “But surely you don’t want to be expelled”, said Hannah in frustration. “No” said Rebecca defensively, “but I can always go to another school. I just don’t think I can take the shame of it all”.
The conversation went round and round, but Rebecca’s mind was made up. When the Reverend Mother returned, she immediately sensed that the four girls hadn’t been able to agree and from the body language, guessed that Rebecca was the one holding out. In an attempt to break the impasse, she decided to ask each girl individually, finishing with Rebecca, in the hope that she may change her mind under pressure. “The ruler”, confirmed Pippa. “The ruler”, said Hannah with a resigned shrug. “The ruler please, Reverend Mother”, said Fiona over politely. She then turned to Rebecca. “What is it to be girl, the ruler or expulsion?” In a voice so small, it was barely audible; the reply came back, “Expulsion Reverend Mother”.
The Mother Superior was disappointed, but rules are rules. “I shall be calling your parents tonight, to let them know that they shall be collecting you permanently tomorrow. I suggest that you spend this evening getting your things ready and packing your bags. You must all be off the school premises by five o’clock tomorrow afternoon.” Fiona was horrified. “What about me, Reverend Mother?” she wailed. “Nobody is going to collect me!” “I have already contacted Social Services”, said the Reverend Mother, “just in case this happened. I am sorry, but I can’t make exceptions. They will be here to collect you tomorrow afternoon”.
Almost unheard, covered by the sound of Fiona’s crying, came a tiny voice. “Please Reverend Mother, may I change my mind?” The relief was palpable, from everyone! “Of course you can dear”, said the Head, using the word “dear”, for the first time in anyone’s memory. “Sister Teresa, can you please escort these four girls to the sick room. I think that they will be better off sleeping there for the night and can you make sure that they are here at nine o’clock sharp tomorrow morning? As the four schoolgirls left the office, accompanied by Sister Teresa, the Reverend Mother added “There will be a full uniform inspection, prior to commencing the punishment, so unless you would enjoy some extra strokes, I suggest that you make sure that you are properly attired! Remember, you are going to be on show tomorrow and I will not tolerate anyone letting the school down, whatever the circumstances. Do you understand?” “Yes, Reverend Mother”, the four schoolgirls chorused as they walked across the hall, towards the sick room.