This short story is an entry in the 2003 Soc.Sexuality.Spanking Summer Short Story Contest and is copyright by the author and commercial use is prohibited without permission. Personal/private copies are permitted only if complete including the copyright notice. The author would appreciate your comments
Category: Adult
Anticipation
By
"It is the judgment of this court that you be taken immediately from this place to the courthouse square where you shall receive forty strokes with a cane well laid on your bare bottom," said the man in robes as the gavel pounded.
She couldn't believe it. It couldn't be true. Just three days ago she was shopping downtown when a local miscreant was hauled up to the platform erected between the courthouse and the tavern. She pushed out the thoughts that were creeping slowly into her mind. She kept reminding herself that proper women had no business watching this sort of thing, yet something compelled her to remain to witness his punishment.
As the bailiff approached, his eyes had an almost sympathetic look. Nevertheless, without a word, he indicated for her to follow. The reality of the situation had not yet penetrated the fog that surrounded her since the guilty verdict had been read, and she offered no resistance as she was led down to the holding cells beneath the courthouse.
"Listen up," the attendant was addressing the entire group of six women who had been sentenced that morning. "Everyone's here now. We'll get this over with as quickly as possible. You all need to do your part by following the instructions you're given, and we'll get through this, OK?"
"You all need to remove all clothing that you're currently wearing now," she continued. "You'll be given one of these to wear before and after your turn," she explained in a matter-of-fact way, pointing to a dark blue jumpsuit with the word PRISONER stenciled on the back.
She felt a stir between her legs as she peeled off her dress and removed her bra, throwing both into a small plastic bag just given her. She hesitated a moment as she grasped the elastic band of her panties, then pulled them off and placed them in the bag too. Two of the women were sobbing as they disrobed. Everyone else seemed to remain aloof and silent.
"It's time to go out to the square," the attendant said. "Just follow the directions you're given and it will be over before you know it." She felt like she should thank the attendant, but she said nothing as she went out. Under the thin cover of the jumpsuit, her nipples quickly responded to the cooler outside air. She knew she was being punished, yet she could not escape the physical wetness between her legs or the paradoxical simultaneous ecstasy and embarrassment in her psyche.
Her name was called first. She stepped forward. Two attendants met her and expertly had her out of the jumpsuit in just a few seconds. She hardly even noticed as they bent her over the bench and secured the wrist restraints first, then buckling the ones that would hold her ankles in place, spread apart about shoulder's length. She shivered as she saw the man walk up to the platform, select a cane and take his stance behind her....
The End
© Copyright Mscott, 13 June 2003
Reviews
Jon <mrheadmstr(at)aol(dot)com>
This story is a judicial caning piece in the mold of some of the South African punishment stories. The author attempts to put the reader in the head of the woman about to suffer the judicial cane. We don't know her offense; it doesn't matter. All that matters is what she is thinking as she nears her moment of truth.
The entire story takes place inside this woman's mind; the distractions, miscellaneous thoughts flitting by, fascination with erotic thoughts of the cane all serve to blind her to the awful truth of what awaits her when she mounts the punishment block and her bottom is bared. The author succeeds -- you are there.
WildThing <entirely_real(at)yahoo(dot)com>
The idea of exploring the inner perspective of someone who is about to be publicly punished and finds herself turned on by it is a good one. But the author doesn't go far enough with it or focus narrowly enough on the internal dialogue to make it work.
The writing itself is competent, but the structure of the story doesn't flow well. The paragraph about the heroine witnessing an earlier punishment confused me initially about what was happening, and it's not clear how it is supposed to be connected to anything else. It would be all right to write this kind of story without explaining the heroine's misconduct, if it were more narrowly focused. But the way the first two paragraphs are written leads the reader to think an explanation is coming.
Rosa
The author told the story well enough that s/he made contact with me in many places. I thought it was a very good description of the background situation, sequence of events and included her anticipation, but I wasn't able to really feel the strength of her fear/excitement/anticipation as the focus of the story. The angle of public punishment is hot!