Restless in bed this morning – after a long sleep punctuated by bizarre, stressful dreams (how to put eggshells in the dishwasher so they didn’t get broken, for example) – I found myself thinking about the Manx birch. (Hey, my mind turns in strange – albeit  predictable – directions, you know!).
Specifically, I pondered the duration of a punishment meted out to a girl sentenced to a severe birching. “Sixty strokes, at full strength and without mercy” came to mind. And then I became more creative.
The girl was held before the prison governor, her handcuffed wrists behind her back. He tried calmly to discuss the reasons why she had been brought before him – fighting the guards, perhaps, or repeated insolence and failure to follow orders. Defiant, eyes blazing, she argued back.
“If we can’t have a reasoned conversation, then you leave me with only one recourse to deal with this.” The governor flicked through her papers, on the desk in front of him. “You’ve not been birched before, I see. I think it’s about time you were taught a sharp lesson.”
He turned to the officers present. “Gentlemen: please take her to the punishment cell, and birch her until she apologises for her behaviour. Once you’re sure the apology is genuine, give her another twelve strokes, and then bring her back to me so that I can see if she’s suitably repentant…”
While I always enjoy the way your mind works in predictably creative ways with this birching scene being no exception….I am very curious as to know what you decided was the best route with the egg shells in the dishwasher too!!
I personally hate a scene when I will be beaten until I appologise.
Considrng however how dark my fantasies are going recently, I have to say that seeing a crying and begging for mercy girl in my head (and imagining to be her) is quite…ehem…stimulating 😉
Thank you Abel for brightening my day
Contemporary disrespectful prisoners in court are sent to the cells to purge their contempt, remaining so until their make a contrite and meaningful apology to the judge.
I can also see this working as a scene rather well.
All that we require is disrespectful ladies, a court, prison cell, judge, an administrator or two, birching block and yes, some birches 😉