THE UNIFORM INSPECTION
by
Alex Birch

October of 1918 was a bleak and cold one in Britain.  The entire nation was
shorn of manpower and resources from the dreadful toll exacted by the First World
War, thus many women went to work for the first time, anxious to ensure at least a
subsistence level for their children.  The War was dragging to an end with the Allies launching the
Amiens and Meuse-Argone offensives, the Germans soon pushed further and further back to a
position of what would eventually be seen as hopeless.

While the British were at last enjoying a turn round in the fortunes of war,
very little of that could be seen at home where every street in every town was a picture of
austerity and hardship.  If the deprivations of war were not enough, the country lay under
the dark shadow of the worst influenza epidemic the world had ever known.

The local churchyard of Nechells in Birmingham was typical of the country at
large with coffins piled up against the church wall, deaths coming so frequently
during the month of September 1918 that there was not enough time or space to bury the dead.  It
was a nation robbed of its youth by the war and of its old people by the onset of a
deadly disease.

At 8am in her home in nearby Barwell Street, twelve year old Prudence
Barratt had time for little of this musing.  She had far greater worries than that.
Today her school had a new Headmistress and Prudence was nervous.  There was no rationale to her
state of mind except a fear of the unknown and her love for Mrs Graydon who had taken
early retirement in order to look after her war wounded husband.

Prudence recalled her first day at the new school just 12 months before,
when again her mind had been in a ferment of nervous anxiety.  It was the first time
she had to wear a uniform.  The Barratt household had buzzed with pride , her mam chivvying
the youngster to hurry up and get ready lest she be late for her big day.  Pru's older sister
Beryl, eight years her senior, was proud of the nipper too though it wouldn't have done to show it.
There was an element of envy too, for Prudence was the first of the family to get a
scholarship to the St Winifreds Church School, an establishment which shared its academic tuition
between some scholarship students amid a majority of fee paying children.  Its reputation
in the area was first class and an opportunity for a few working class girls to achieve something,
escaping the drudgery of factory life.

The uniform had been a problem for Agnes Barratt, her husband away in the
forces and with precious little money coming in from the metal castings factory
where she slaved to make ends meet.  Beryl was no longer any financial help, her husband too
away in France, and, now heavy with child, she was unable to continue the heavy lifting work
at the laundry. Between them, however, the two women scraped and begged for material, Agnes'
skills with a sewing machine eventually producing something vaguely akin to a St Winifred'
s uniform. Prudence had been, predictably, ungrateful and horrified.
'Mam, they'll laff at me in this!!' she had wailed in horror when she tried
on her new creation.  Agnes had sighed sadly at the display of ingratitude but
understood her younger daughter's concerns.

'No they wont...' she replied softly '...we havent the money for new clothes
and there's a war on.  If those snotty little runts whose parents pay for 'em start
poking fun, you tell 'em you got there cos of your brains, not cos of your money...that'll shut em
up!!'
Of course all little Pru's worries had been entirely justified, her listless
walk through the gates of her new school heralding the gathering of a gaggle of chortling
girls, all immaculately turned out, who pointed and guffawed as the hapless ragamuffin
with the cobbled together ill matching uniform walked with head down and close to
humiliated tears.

It had been Mrs Graydon who found the sobbing youngster by the toilets and
gently discovered the problem.  She realised immediately from the appearance of the
kid what had happened and, at assembly that morning had delivered a homily on the
sacrifices many families had made for the war effort and how much in debt everyone was to
the heroes so far away.  She had pointedly remarked how cruel it was for the pupils whose
fathers had been spared war service to mock the deprivations of others and how it must stop.
She had made Prudence feel proud of herself and her family once more and the little girl
fell in love with her head teacher from that moment on.  She had become a good pupil over those 12
months and Mrs Graydon had occasion to visit the Barratt family to tell them so.

Eventually during the year, Agnes Barratt scraped up sufficient money for a
new uniform....blouse, gymslip, knickers and ankle socks.... and Prudence was
the happiest girl alive.  Of course they still scraped along on a wing and a prayer and there
were days when the uniform was in the wash when Prudence had to make do but Mrs Graydon had
been so understanding with Pru and other girls in a similar position, that her
academic performance went from strength to strength.

Then, just as the school year was coming to an end, came the sad news from
the war front that Mrs Graydon's husband had been invalided out of the army after
inhaling mustard gas and that his lungs were permanently damaged.  The Head Teacher , full of
emotion,
addressed the girls and told them how much she valued each and every one of
them and how
much she would miss them all.  There were a few tears in assembly that
morning and
Prudence Barratt's flowed more than most.

The Chairman of the Board of Governors, after paying fulsome tribute to Mrs
Graydon,
told the girls that efforts were already in place to find a replacement and
that a new Head
Teacher would be in place by the start of the new school year.

So it was on this day in October 1918 that Prudence, dressed in her best
school
uniform yet full of trepidation, set out for school wondering what sort of
creature would replace
her beloved Mrs Graydon and what life held in store for the new term.  She
arrived at the
school gates, stomach fluttering in anticipation, just as the bell rang and
the girls began to
stream into assembly to begin the new school year

Prudence, along with her 2nd year class, filed into the large hall and stood
in line near
the stage at the front of the huge hall. She gazed up at the assembled
figures of authority,
most very familiar to her, but her eyes were drawn to the dark haired woman
in a grey dress
who sat between Mr Turnbull, the Chairman of the Governors, and Miss
Trotter, the physics
teacher.  It was quite apparent, before any introductions were made, that
this was the new
Head Teacher.  She appeared to exude power and authority in her very manner
and the
deferential manner of Miss Trotter served only to confirm the opinion.

 Prudence was unable to tear her eyes away from this imposing creature,  a
woman in her late thirties she guessed,
with dark hair and flinty, humourless dark eyes.  She was attractive, in a
severe way, and
Prudence imagined how easily she could intimidate with just a glance of
those steely eyes.
The little girl began to tremble as the opening hymn was announced and
everyone on
the podium stood up.  On her feet the newcomer seemed even more imposing,
tall and correct
of bearing, her face scanning the hall taking in the appearance of the
throng of girls in front of
her.  The hymn over, Mr Turnbull, moved to the lectern and addressed the
hushed hall.

'Good morning girls and welcome to the new term at St.Winifreds.  We had the
misfortune to lose the services of Mrs Graydon last year but I am pleased to
inform you that
the school has succeeded in finding a new Head Teacher whose record of
academic success
and discipline is second to none.   I would like to introduce, without
further procrastination,
Miss Violet Winterton!'

One could have heard a pin drop as the imposing figure of Miss Winterton
moved
towards the lectern and gazed out at the sea of faces before her.

'Thank you for the introduction, Mr Turnbull...' she began, and Prudence
thought how
deep and strident her voice was, so unlike the soft tones of Mrs Graydon
'....and good morning
girls.  I am proud and honoured to be your new Head Teacher and I intend to
continue the
work of my predecessor in order to make this school the model of excellence
for which it is
renowned.   First class though it is, however, there are few things in this
world which cannot
be improved upon with a little hard work and application.

I believe that academic success goes hand in hand with a sense of pride.
Pride in
oneself, pride in one's school.  This is clearly manifest in our appearance.
I am aware that you
girls are from different social backgrounds and means.   I know too there is
a war on and that
many of your parents are away in the forces.  This is laudable though I know
it means
hardship for some.  However there are agencies which supply funding for the
needy and I am
not prepared to accept hardship as an excuse for a falling away in standards
of appearance at
my school.'

Gasps began to ripple through the audience as the impact of the words were
absorbed, gasps which were stilled by a sharp rap on the lectern and the
sight of those steely
eyes scanning the audience for any signs of chattering.  Miss Winterton,
having established
her authority, continued:

'I arrived early this morning to meet the staff and took the opportunity to
study you all
from the window as you arrived.  I have to say how impressed I was with the
turn out of the
large majority of our girls.  However there were a few of you who were quite
clearly not
wearing the full St. Winifred's school uniform or whose clothing was grubby.
I am not
prepared to tolerate a continuance of this and thus I intend to institute a
programme of uniform
inspections!'

More gasps from the assembled girls led to another blow on the lectern and
an angry
glare of those steely eyes.
'I am something of a fanatic when it comes to tidiness and discipline...'
she continued,
in an atmosphere where a pin drop could be heard '...and I will reinforce
these inspections with
punishment for those who fail to obey this requirement.  This will vary from
lines and
impositions to stronger medicine should the message not get through.   I
will have no
compunction in using .....' she paused and stared dramatically around the
hall '....corporal
punishment on any girl who persistently ignores the code of conduct in this
school..and that
includes wearing the correct full uniform at all times!   Thank you girls,
that will be all for now.  I
will be drawing up my plans for the school year together with the teaching
staff over the next
few days'

Miss Winterton nodded her head in thanks as applause began from the staff
and
governors on the  podium , dutifully followed on cue by the assembled girls.
When assembly was over, Prudence made her way to her first class in a
subdued
mood, a frame of mind echoed by her two best friends who walked beside her.

'She seems a right tartar..' whispered little Beryl Matthews, glancing round
nervously
in case the new Head was on her heels '..and what does 'corporal punishment'
mean?'  which
had also baffled Prudence.  They both looked to Emily Ford, always regarded
as the brains of
the trio, and were not disappointed.
'Oh Beryl, you are dim at times....' Emily said in disgust '...it means she'
s allowed to
smack your bottom!'
Prudence and Beryl stared at their friend in disbelief.
'She couldn't do that....' Prudence gasped '...me mam wouldn't allow it!
Even me
mam n' dad never did that!! '
Emily sighed in despair
'Havent you two ever read the school rules?  Course she can do it!!  Just
that Mrs G
never believed in it.  Your mam aint got any choice.  She signed the form
same as mine!  We'll
have to make sure we don't give her cause, that's all!'

In the Barratt household that evening there was an explosion of anger from
Pru's
mother the like of which the little girl had not seen for many a year.
'Agencies for the needy??  Not prepared to accept hardship??   Who the
bloody hell
does the snotty cow think she is?  I ain't beggin' for 'ardship money for
nobody!!  I'm going to
that school and I'm going to tell 'er to 'er face that......'  but Beryl
Barratt laid a gentle hand on
her mother's arm.

'Mam, that ain't going to do our Pru any good and you know it. 'Ers done
well at that
school and 'ers got the chance to get away from our sort of life.  Make
summat of 'erself.  If
you go down making a scene it'll only go against 'er.  You signed the form
when 'er got 'er
scholarship.  You know it says school uniform must be worn  and you know
they 'ave the right
to give 'em ..wotsit called...corporal punishment.  Mrs G was so
understandin' of our troubles
but I spose they ain't all got the same view.  We'll just 'ave to make sure
our Pru don't get
copped.  If that means begging at the Agency, mam,then I'm prepared to do
it.  I don't like it
neither but we can't let 'er get into trouble!'

So it was that with the grudging acceptance of her mother, Beryl Barratt
joined the
queue at the War Hardship Agency and faced the demeaning  committee of town
worthies
who poked and probed into the family's personal circumstances with intrusive
thoroughness.
After an interrogation which left Beryl close to humiliated tears, she left
with enough vouchers
to purchase a second St. Winifreds skirt  but that was all.  Her pregnancy
was the subject of
comment, one committee member observing that it would have been sensible had
she and her
husband taken some precautions given the family circumstances and maybe they
would not
be in such financial straits now.  It had been all Beryl could do to refrain
from smacking his
face but she gritted her teeth, conscious of her mission.  She was told to
apply again in two
weeks but the signs were not hopeful, and they would just have to keep
washing and cleaning
to keep Prudence looking spick and span.

The new regime at St Winifreds began within days of Violet Winterton' s
appointment,
the new Head suddenly sweeping into Prudence' class midway through a
mathematics lesson.
'I wont delay you long, Miss Pimlett...' she announced '....but I would like
each girl to
come out to the front as you call her name from the register.  I will
inspect one girl at a time'
Dutifully the young maths teacher began to read the register and the first
girl, with
tightened stomach and ashen face, rose from her desk .  She passed muster
and the relief
flooded her face. Soon it was Pru's turn and she felt sick as she rose and
presented herself to
the Head's inspection.  To her delight and relief, Violet Winterton smiled.
'Excellent,
Barratt...'she said '....just what I like to see.  You may return to your
desk'.

The inspection continued until it was little Beryl Matthews' turn.  All eyes
were on the
plump little girl as she rose slowly from her seat and walked to the front.
After a brief
inspection, Miss Winterton's spoke angrily.

'Matthews, you have an egg stain on your blouse and your gymslip has a small
tear.  I
am not prepared to accept scruffy dress of this sort in my school.  You will
stay for an hour
after school and write 500 lines 'I must take pride in my appearance'.  Is
that clear?'
Beryl, tears welling up in her eyes, muttered 'Please Miss Winterton, my mam
expects
me home by...' but her protest was cut short by an angry shout of 'Silence
or I will punish you
more severely!  I understand many of you girls live close to Matthews home.
One of you will
let her mother know she has been detained and why.  That is all!'

The inspection proceeded, Miss Winterton finding fault with two more girls
who
received a similar punishment, then, with a curt nod to the mathematics
teacher, the head left
the room.  The lesson proceeded as the girls sat in a state of shock,
Prudence only too
relieved that she had passed muster.
On their way home that night, Prudence and Emily called in at the Matthews
home
and passed on the message to a very angry Gladys Matthews. 'What sort of
world does that
damn woman live in?  How does she think we keep our kids spotless at times
like this?....' she
muttered '....now 'er dinners ruined too!  Damn and blast the cow!'  The
reaction of Agnes
Barratt was similar with a muttered 'Just let 'er try that stunt with you
that's all!'

Needless to say, with such a strict regime, Prudence was indeed brought to
book
within the week for a soiled gymslip and given a similar punishment.  When
Agnes Barratt was
told, she became extremely angry and, despite the entreaties of both Beryl
and Pauline,
resolved to demand a meeting with Miss Winterton the very next day and have
the whole
matter out with her.

When Agnes arrived at the school she was greeted by the Head Teacher with a
polite
but icy disdain.  Poor Agnes burned with humiliation when Miss Winterton
laid out the school
rules on the table and said acidly 'If you feel that your daughter cannot
comply with the very
basic regulations governing tidiness, Mrs Barratt, then perhaps you should
remove her from
the school!'

Agnes had her say, burned herself out with anger and frustration, which Miss
Winterton simply absorbed with clinical detachment, and Agnes realised she
was beaten.  She
rose from her chair and bid the Head Teacher a curt  goodbye, tears not far
away as she left
the office, stung by the implied rebuke that she was unable to keep Prudence
clean and tidy.
From that point on Prudence' cards were marked and it was no great surprise 
when the little
girl found herself in trouble again the following week for another clothing
infringement, this
time receiving a 2 night detention.

While Agnes smarted with impotence, convinced that her daughter was now
being
singled out, Beryl arrived home from a visit to a friend, her face shining
with excitement and
mischief.
 'Where's our Pru.?' She asked and Agnes told her,  adding that it seemed
that they
could do nothing about the situation

 'Well I'm not so sure our mam....' Beryl replied, gleaming '...because you
wont believe
what Sally told me today.  She was returning home the other evening through
the park and....'
she leant closer to her mother's ear in the manner of a conspirator and
finished her narrative.
By the time she was done, Agnes' eyes were agog with disbelief and a new
optimism filled her
soul.  She grinned at her elder daughter and pinched her arm with delight.
'Let's arrange another little chat with your friend Sally....' she said
mischievously
'...with  a little more information, I think we might be able to stop that
snotty madam right in her
tracks!'

 By early November 1918, Violet Winterton had been in post for a month and
there was
little doubt that the entire school had smartened up, thanks to the heavy
threat of retribution
hanging over each and every girl who failed to comply with the dress code.
However the
school was now in a regime of fear, far from the joyous spirit in which Mrs
Graydon had left it.
Even between the four walls of the staff room, disquiet was expressed by
most of the teachers
at the change in the atmosphere, but jobs were precious in these trying
times and no one was
prepared to risk their own with a protest, so the staff simply went along
with the new rules with
considerable reluctance.

 By now, over 50 girls had found themselves in detention for dress code
offences
though as yet no one had received corporal punishment.  That was to change
very soon.
 Miss Winterton's zeal for perfection reached its zenith one Monday morning
when,
before the lunch break, a message was sent to each class by the Head that
during the lunch
break every girl was to go to the assembly hall.  No further explanation was
given but each
class was given a ten minute time slot during the lunch break  in which to
comply with the
instruction.

 Prudence, in common with her classmates, was in a state of terror.  What
could Miss
Winterton want with them in the assembly hall?  During the morning, she
could hardly
concentrate on her lessons, constantly fidgeting with her uniform and
checking that all was in
place.  She was flawless that day she was certain but the fear refused to
subside.
 So at lunch break, the second year class filed over to the assembly hall,
every face
pinched in trepidation of what was to follow.  As they walked in to the
hall, eyes were drawn to
a stern Miss Winterton, arms folded grimly, standing next to a large mirror
which had been laid
flat on the floor.

 'I expect you are wondering what purpose this serves, girls....' Violet
Winterton began
'...well you are about to be enlightened.  A school uniform at St Winifreds
includes
underwear...to wit, a pair of bottle green knickers.   It has occurred to me
that in my
inspections thus far, underwear has been sadly neglected and yet is just as
fundamental an
element as anything else.  I intend to inspect your underpants.   I shall do
this without
unnecessarily exposing you to immodesty in front of your classmates.

 Girls please remove your shoes, pull your skirts outwards, raise them a
little and walk
across the mirror.  Alphabetical order if you please!'
 Suddenly Prudence felt sick.  Horribly, nauseatingly sick.  How could the
fates be so
unkind.  She had only two pairs of the regulation underpants and both were
in the wash.  It
was the one area in which the family now gambled and she was wearing a pair
of Beryl's
dowdy grey hand me downs which had definitely seen better days.

 Her name was called and the little girl began that slow walk across the
mirror, eyes
closed, her body trembling as she was brought to a halt by a harsh command.
 'What are those things you are wearing Barratt?   Certainly not school
regulation
issue!'
 'Oh please Miss Winterton...'Prudence pleaded '...my school ones are in the
wash.
Please Miss I.....'
 'No excuses, Barratt.....' the icy voice replied '....take them off NOW!'

 A gasp erupted from the assembled girls, hushed by the Head teacher's
steely glare
as Prudence cried in shame and hesitated.
 'Do as you're told IMMEDIATELY or it will be worse for you!' the Head
thundered.
 Reluctantly Prudence reached under her skirt and pulled down her
underpants,
weeping quietly and shamefully aware of the stares of her classmates as she
did so.  She
slipped them off her feet and picked them up.

 'Give them to me!' the Head ordered and Prudence, her hand shaking, passed
the
offending item to her tormentor.   Miss Winterton took the knickers between
thumb and
forefinger as if they were infected, then took them in both hands and spread
them out for the
entire class to see.  Prudence hung her head in abject humiliation as her
knickers were
displayed to all.
 'Not only is this item of apparel...if that is not too kind a word..not
school regulation,
Barratt but it's a shoddy disgrace for underwear.  Look at them girl!  There
are more holes
than material.....' at which some of the girls giggled as Prudence cried
into her hands '...and
you should be ashamed to come to school in such a state.
 Very well, Barratt, you may return to your lunch break....minus your
underwear...and
you can collect these from me at 4pm after school.  We will take the
opportunity to review your
continued slovenliness at that time. '

 Prudence stared at the Head Teacher in disbelief.  Spend the entire
afternoon without
any knickers on?  She stood rooted to the spot.
 'Are you deaf as well as scruffy, girl?'  Miss Winterton shouted and
Prudence, her little
frame shaking with emotion, turned and walked out of the hall.  As she
walked, sobbing,  down
the corridor she found her hands drawn to her sides desperate to keep her
skirt down,
shamefully conscious of her nakedness beneath.  She reached her classroom
and went back
inside, too frightened to go into the playground for fear that the
combination of a high breeze,
and even more likely, the mischief of her classmates who had witnessed her
shame might
result in humiliating public exposure.
 She sat at her desk and cried her heart out, conscious not only of her
nudity but the
appointment with Miss Winterton at the end of the day.

 After lunch the girls filed back into class to find a red faced Prudence
already seated
there desperately hoping that Miss Watson the geography teacher would be
early and not
leave her to the mercy of her classmates.  It was not to be, for though she
was spared
physical interference, a chant of 'Prudence Barratt's got no drawers, got no
drawers, got no
drawers' began almost immediately as the little girl put her fingers in her
ears to drown out the
mockery.
 Eventually to Prudence' relief, Miss Watson arrived and the open mockery
stopped
but for the rest of the afternoon, the hapless Prudence was the subject of
finger pointing and
grins from the other girls which she tried desperately to shut out.

 As the clock ticked on towards 4pm, Pru's stomach began to do cartwheels
and she
was compelled to ask permission to leave the room twice during mathematics,
the last class of
the day.
'Something you ate, Prudence?' Miss Pimlett enquired solicitously and
Prudence
answered in the negative.  'I..I just don't feel well Miss' she faltered and
a voice from the back
of the class shouted 'Its cos she's got to see Miss Winterton to get her
drawers back, Miss'
and there were ripples of laughter before an angry Miss Pimlett banged on
the desk and
shouted 'Enough!'

She acompanied Prudence to the door and said softly 'Never mind love.  You
come
back when you feel better' and Prudence smiled gratefully for the kindness.
At 4pm the bell rang for the end of lessons and Miss Pimlett considerately
stemmed
the flow of pupils heading for the door, allowing Prudence to leave first,
thus avoiding another
trial by mockery.
'Go on Pru...' the teacher said quietly '...best go straight there and get
it over with!'
and the little girl began the slow walk down the corridor to the Head
Teachers office.
Prudence stared up at the huge oak door, gulped hard and knocked.
'Come!' came the sharp order and Prudence opened the door and walked in.

The Head Teacher was standing, arms folded, behind her desk as Prudence
entered
the office , her steely gaze fixed on the little girl who stood trembling
before her.
'So Barratt, have you felt ashamed, spending the entire afternoon without
any
underwear!!  Come on speak up girl!' she snapped.
Prudence could feel the tears welling up again as she muttered 'Yes Miss
Winterton!'
The Head snorted her disdain.
'I should think so too.  I hope you will never have to undergo that
experience again,
Barratt!  I was disgusted by that scrap of material you classed as knickers
which I suppose
you have now come to claim back?'
The tears were flowing freely now as Prudence replied meekly 'Yes Miss,
Please
Miss'
The Head Teacher's face creased into a grim smile.
'Very well, Barratt....' she said , reaching in to her desk drawer ' ....you
may have them
back.  However before you claim them it seems to me that right now you are
ideally dressed
for a timely reminder about school discipline.  You have already received
two detentions and
its about time you received something a little more painful!'

The girl's eyes widened in shock and she gasped as Miss Winterton produced a
thick
leather strap from her desk and slapped it firmly across the palm of her
hand.
'Right Barratt, bend low across the desk and grip the far side...firmly!  Do
it NOW!!'
Stricken with shock Prudence stumbled to the desk and bent over it , her
hands
gripping the far side for dear life, her little bottom thrust up through the
thin skirt.
Miss Winterton walked around the desk and took hold of the skirt, lifting it
right up the
girl's back and tucking it into her blouse.  Prudence lay still in terror,
her bare bottom now
completely exposed.

'Lets see if this can mend your ways my girl.  Six strokes!!' Miss Winterton
announced.
Prudence closed her eyes and prayed silently as she heard a rustle of
movement and
then THWACK, the heavy strap whipped across her naked buttocks.   Prudence
cried out in
agony as her bottom was suddenly stung by a million bees  and she was unable
to resist the
temptation to move her hands back to the punished area as she wailed in
pain.
'Get back in position!...' the Head snapped, '...and if you move your hands
again I will
repeat the stroke. Do you understand?'

Prudence , weeping copiously, resumed her position with some effort and the
strap
came down for a second time, a little lower on her sensitive bottom cheeks.
She howled in
pain and wriggled her bottom but somehow managed to stay in position.
Strokes three and four followed rapidly and this time Prudence was unable to
obey.
She shot bolt upright clutching her bottom and crying piteously.

'Get back down girl!! ...' Miss Winterton demanded '...and that's three more
for
disobedience!'
Whatever courage Prudence had left disappeared at this point and she cried
and
begged to be let off but Violet Winterton was having none of it.
Prudence got back in to position and somehow managed to take the five
strokes on
her bottom and thighs without moving her hands but she was screaming by the
time the
punishment was over.

'Stop that stupid row and get up!' the Head demanded as Prudence, her eyes
pouring
tears as she wailed, got up hastily and began to dance around on one foot,
clutching her
punished bottom which was now a mass of red weals .
Miss Winterton stared at her impassively and then pointed to the shabby
knickers on
the desk.
'Take them and go....' she ordered '...and let that be a lesson to you.  I
never want to
see you in such a state again or you will get worse than that!!'
Prudence picked up the underpants with one hand, her other still clutching
her
exposed bottom as she stumbled to the door, any modesty now completely
forgotten as the
burning anguish ravaged her bottom and legs.

The little girl ran down the corridor and out into the playground, her eyes
blinded with
tears as she fled towards the school gates crying in pain and utter
humiliation.  Almost
unconsciously she fled past a group of her classmates who gasped and giggled
in equal
proportion.
It was only then that Prudence realised she was still holding up her skirt
and that her
crimson bottom was on display to everyone.  With a sob she let go her skirt
and covered
herself, running pell mell down the main road, almost running into two
neighbours in her
hysterical flight before she turned the corner into Barwell Street and
fumbled for the latch on
her gate.
Gasping and crying she banged on the front door until Agnes opened up and
stared in
horror as her beloved little girl, red faced and weeping copiously, fell
into her arms.

An hour or so later after Prudence had been sent to bed with a sedative, a
furious
Agnes Barratt was still being calmed by her elder daughter.  Beryl took
charge of the situation
immediately,  her mother beside herself with rage and incapable of rational
thought for the
time being.
'Now don't you do nothin' rash our mam....' she said quietly....'not until I
've been over
to Sally's anyway.  I'll see what 'er and 'er young man with the camera have
come up with and
with a bit 'o luck we can go over to that school tomorrow and sort this out
once and for all'
 Agnes nodded her agreement, her expression grim.
 'Lets hope we're in luck, Beryl love ...' she muttered '...because when I
saw those
welts on our Pru's arse I could have bloody killed that woman!'

 At 10am the next morning, two grim faced women entered the gates of St
Winifreds
School and walked through the front entrance.  They walked straight on down
the corridor until
they reached the office marked Head Teacher and walked straight in without
even a cursory
knock.
 Miss Winterton was in conversation with Miss Trotter and both women looked
astonished as Agnes and Beryl stormed in to the office.

 'Would you mind having the decency to knock, please ladies?....' Violet
Winterton
snapped angrily '...and as far as I know you have no appointment.  Please
make one with the
school secretary of you wish to talk to me.  This interruption is very
unseemly'

  Agnes Barratt walked up to the desk and stuck her face as close to that of
the Head
Teacher as she could without actual contact.
 'Don't you lecture me on decency you snotty cow!....' she growled as Miss
Trotter
gasped nervously '...and we aint goin' nowhere.  You can talk to her later!'

 Miss Trotter began to protest but one look from an angry Beryl and she
subsided into
silence, backing meekly away from these two obviously deranged women!
 Violet Winterton took a deep breath.
 'I can guess what this is about, Mrs Barratt...' she said wearily
'....alright Miss Trotter I
will speak to you later' and waved the timid Physics teacher towards the
door, an exit she
gratefully accepted.

 'I suppose you have come to whine about the punishment I administered to
Prudence
yesterday...' she began '...and I hear she is not in school today.  Well I
hope there is a good
reas...' then she stopped in mid sentence her face suddenly ashen as Agnes
Barratt tossed a
sepia coloured photograph on to the desk in front of her.

 'Whaaa..how did you..how could...' Miss Winterton stammered as she began to
tremble her eyes wide with horror.
 'I aint come to whine about anything....' Agnes spat  '...Ive come to show
this school
what sort of a slut they have as a Head Teacher!!   I don't think anyone
could doubt that this is
a picture of you, Miss Winterton, even with your mouth full!!   I 'ave to
admit your boyfriend 'as
one to be proud of and no mistake.  Pity the picture don't show more of 'im
don't you think?'
 Violet Winterton was suddenly shaking with rage and shame.

 'How dare you blackmail me...' she screamed '...tha..that's disgusting.  I'
m entitled to
my privacy and ....'
 Beryl reached into her handbag and passed her mother a second picture which
she
tossed contemptuously onto the desk.
 'You're performing lewd acts in a public park....' Agnes sneered '....and
thanks to
these new fangled lenses, we can now see who the boyfriend is!' and the
picture clearly
displayed Mr Turnbull, Chairman of the Board, his eyes closed in ecstasy as
Violet Winterton,
half undressed and on her knees,  performed enthusiastic oral sex.

 Miss Winterton collapsed into her chair weeping.
 'I don't know how you got these....she whispered '...but this will be the
end of my
career if you release them. I'm sorry I whipped Prudence but she broke the
rules and....'
 Agnes paused for a minute and stared at the Head teacher in disgust.
 'You are a cow and no mistake....' she said '....apologisin' for beating
Pru now you got
your back to the wall.  Well it aint just about our Pru.  Its about the
misery you have inflicted on
this school since you've been here.  You've got no 'eart or'understandin'.
How you can punish
a child for the sin of poverty is beyond me.'

 Beryl moved forward menacingly.
 'Mam I reckon we ought to take that strap out of 'er desk, pull her drawers
down and
give 'er a dose of 'er own medicine'
 Violet shrunk back in her chair
 'Oh God you wouldn't!!' she cried and Agnes shook her head.
 'You aint worth it ...'she said coldly '...and I think these pictures have
'umiliated you
enough!  Now I aint no detective but I think it wont take long to prove that
Turnbull wangled
you into this job and that you've been 'is fancy woman for some time.  It
wouldn't take much to
check your credentials !'
 'What do you want from me?' Violet Winterton muttered, her body sagging her
face a
picture of defeat.
 'Your resignation in writing to the Board of Governors today...!' Agnes
demanded '....or
these pictures go to the Church School Commission and to the rest of the
Board.  I'd suggest
you tell your boyfriend to quit as Chairman too.  He's a disgrace to the
post!'
 Violet Winterton looked up in desperation and then reached into her desk
for her
notepaper.

 The children in assembly were singing lustily and Prudence Barratt was
singing as
heartily as any.  The little girl looked happily at the podium where Miss
Pimlett stood, newly
installed as Head Teacher, and a glow of happiness spread through her whole
tiny frame.
That morning before she left for school, Agnes had received a letter and ,
on reading its
contents, had thrown her arms around her two daughters in joy.   Daddy was
coming home
from the War!  For little Prudence Barratt , all the bad times were in the
past and life was
simply wonderful!  She opened her mouth once more and sang, with lusty
enthusiasm, 'All
things bright and beautiful'.

END 