Chapter Sixteen

Mr. Finnecan looked angry the following morning as Willie strode casually into the class. He was caning his left hand gently as he spied Willie talking to Ackie.

“I thought I asked you to come and see me after school, yesterday, Blair?” he asked and his voice was calm, if his eyes were wild.

“I forgot Sir.”

The Master pulled his lips across his teeth and sucked in his breath.

“Is that so, Blair? Well, we have ways of making people remember, boy. Come with me.”

He marched off to the Staff Room telling Willie to follow him, but when they got there, the room was full of smoking teachers and Finnecan pulled the door closed with a bang, no sooner had he opened it.

“Let them choke themselves if they wish,” he muttered under his breath, “ Follow me Blair.”

They arrived at Miss Carson’s office and Finnecan knocked, but there was no answer. His face was becoming whiter with fury by the moment as he turned the handle and went in. Willie stood facing him by the side of the Headmistress’s desk.

“Now Blair. We need to have your memory refreshed, don’t we?”

He began to swish his cane in the air as he licked his lips.

“Put out your hands,” he demanded and Willie obeyed, reluctantly. “Not that way, stupid. One under the other.”

Willie moved his hands as directed, but he shook nervously. His hands would not stay still and as the cane swished down heavily, he uncrossed them before the blow struck. Finnecan was furious. His face was scarlet and beads of perspiration began to form on his forehead.

“Again boy and this time, KEEP YOUR HANDS TOGETHER. “ he shouted.

Swish! Swish!, The cane came down but each time Willie opened his hands to avoid the beating. “I’ll show you, boy ... I’ll show you,” Mr. Finnecan screeched as he took Willie by the shoulders and shook him violently. By this time, Willie was afraid.

“Now bend over that chair.” Finnecan screamed and Willie knew it was useless trying to appeal. This man loved his work, if he hated the boys and he took great pride and delight in the tools of his trade. Willie bent over and within a few seconds, he felt the cane smart his seat, but Finnecan wouldn’t stop there. He kept on striking, time after time as his eyes bulged in his head with rage and Willie could feel the tears come to his eyes, but he would not make a sound as they began to trickle down his cheeks. Eventually, Finnecan stood up, exhausted and his lips shook in his frenzy.

“That will teach you, Blair. I don’t want any forgetting in future not in my class anyway. Do you hear me boy?” He said and his breath came in short bursts.

Willie nodded and tried not to raise his face.

“Go back to your class now and wait for me there.”

As Willie left the Headmistress’s room he could see her bunion-distorted shoes peeping out at him from under her desk. He wanted to smile, but the pain was intense as he rubbed his rear with both hands and limped slowly back to ‘1d’.