Calculated risk

“Do you acknowledge that you should be punished?”

“Yes Sir.”

“You understand that you have been a bad girl?”

“Yes Sir.”

“It must be a severe punishment this time. It is what was agreed this time, was it not?”

“Yes Sir.”

“I would like some suggestions from you, please, as to what would constitute a severe punishment, such that you think twice before you ever think to do this again.”

“Yes Sir.”

“Give me five suggestions. Write them down.”

She takes a piece of pristine white paper, and picks up her fountain pen. She thinks. She calculates. She notes down the page the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.

For number one, she writes, 25 strokes of the cane.

For number five, she writes, a hand spanking, over his knee.

For number two, she writes, 12 strokes of the tawse.

For number three, she writes, 18 strokes of his belt.

For number four, she writes, 10 strokes of the riding crop.

She is confident that he will choose from the three middle choices. She relaxes. She is in control.

She takes the piece of paper to him, sitting at his desk and hands it over. He looks up at her, searching for any manipulation.

She looks down; appears pensive, repentant.

He takes from his top drawer a pair of scissors and cuts the paper into ribbons. He makes five little balls of paper. He puts them in his hat. She looks on; concerned.She had not expected this.She must take a chance.

He invites her to choose a paper ball from the hat. She does so and hands the crumpled paper to him.

“Number one. Fetch the cane, my dear.”

Not all risk is worth taking. This lesson she learned this day.