Note: This story was dynamically reformatted for online reading convenience. The Adventures of Cassie Daniels ====================================== by Billy Shears Chapter 5, "Some Assembly Required" Cassie's head nodded forwards onto her chest and she jerked upright, eyes snapping open. It wasn't long before she found herself drifting again... she knew she wasn't the only one. Mr McCarthy had one of those voices that just willed you to sleep, and nearly everybody in the assembly appeared to be lulled by his droning into near-sleep. Cassie was about to drift off completely when she was nudged sharply, but not painfully, in the ribs from her left. She nearly jumped, and turned accusingly at the occupier of the seat next to her. It was a girl from Cassie's year, in a different form class, whom Cassie had never spoken to. She recognised in her the same shyness that she knew she exhibited herself, and smiled gratefully. Mr McCarthy was far from finished, however, and Cassie soon noticed that her new friend was now drifting off. She nudged the girl with her elbow, and her eyes widened as she rose to full consciousness again. She looked at Cassie again and smiled. The favour was returned. Cassie mimed a yawn and the other girl giggled silently, poking Cassie in the leg. Cassie, thrilled that she was bonding with a fellow student at last, poked her back, a little harder, and in return her friend poked her in the side, tickling Cassie a little. Cassie shuffled in her seat to face the girl a little more, and launched her hand for a frontal poking attack. Then, at the same time, the girl threw her hands in front of her to block the poke, and Cassie felt a familiar hand touch her shoulder. She saw her friend adopt a sheepish face, looking past Cassie, who turned to see a stern-looking Mr Edwards. With his right hand, he beckoned to Cassie. Cassie gulped and slid off her seat - she was at the inner end of a row, quite near the back, so this was not difficult and didn't cause any fuss - and stood by his side. He nudged her towards the back of the hall and the doors to the foyer. With a worried glance back at her friend, who seemed very apologetic, Cassie slunk quietly in the direction Mr Edwards had indicated, feeling his hand still on her shoulder all the way. He barely needed to steer her to the left once they exited the hall, towards his office. She knew what was coming, and while she hadn't planned for it, she was ready. She could tell, this time, he would take her. She was addicted to his touch now, and she was sure he knew - and sure he wanted her too. His office was open, as if he had planned for this. She walked obediently inside and he removed his hand from her shoulder to close the door. She took two further paces into the room and stopped, feet together and arms by her side, awaiting her joyful punishment. The door clicked shut, and Mr Edwards stalked to the window which faced it. He closed the blinds slowly and deliberately, then turned to a high cupboard in the corner of his office. He opened the door nearest Cassie, such that she couldn't see its contents, and selected something that was apparently hanging on the inside of the door. As he drew it out and placed it carefully on his desk, Cassie's breath stopped. It was a long rattan cane with a curved handle; very thin and, Cassie imagined, very painful. Mr Edwards closed the cupboard and came around the side of the desk. He pulled out one of the straight backed chairs facing the desk so that it was immediately in front of Cassie. "Bend over." He instructed. Cassie obeyed silently, lowering herself slowly over the back of the chair. "Put your hands on the seat of the chair." Cassie did as she was told, gripping the chair tentatively to test the support it might give her in the moments to come. Mr Edwards circled her, and she felt both of his hands against her thighs. They slid up slowly, causing Cassie to quiver, as he pulled her skirt over her bottom and past her hips. Cassie's breathing became heavier as his thumbs hooked into the waistline of her soft cotton knickers and tugged gently, easing them over her cheeks. He drew them down so that her cheeks were fully exposed, but so that her dignity was preserved. Even so, the butterflies were beginning to stir, and she moaned softly as his hand roamed over her bared bottom. But no spanks came. No squeeze. Mr Edwards removed his hand and returned to the desk, where he stood facing the obscured window for a few moments. Then he reached down, and picked the cane from the desk. He held it in his right hand, and stretching his right arm we gave it a brief swish. Cassie watched from her horizontal perspective, peeking through strands of hair that had fallen into her face, as he disappeared out of sight. There was a swish so loud and near that Cassie winced, but no sting. The butterflies whirred indignantly: he was playing with her. A second swish, and again Cassie flinched. The anticipation frustrated her, and she felt herself warming up, eager for him to begin. Finally, Mr Edwards issued his final instruction: "Count." There was a swish so quick, so close and so sudden that Cassie was caught off guard as the thin wood bit into her bottom, scorching her cheeks. She screamed aloud and bucked, almost standing, but catching herself by the grip she had on the chair. "One!" she yelped, still reeling from the sound stroke. There was a second swish and a crack as the cane lashed both cheeks, lower but just as painful. Cassie's left foot slid from under and coiled behind her. "Two!" she gasped. The cane brushed her ankle. "Foot down." Mr Edwards commanded. Cassie lowered her foot. "Next time I will extend your punishment." Cassie entertained the idea of allowing her foot to slip, to prolong the punishment, but then the cold wood struck her again with just as little warning as before, leaving a searing heat focused where it had touched her, and she knew she didn't want this punishment to last any longer than it already would. "Th-three!" she moaned. SWISH-CRACK! The fourth stroke fell at an angle, crossing the lines that Mr Edwards' previous efforts had left. Cassie's head reared in pain. "Ahhh-ah-ah, four!" she cried, breathing heavily. Again the cane fell, SWISH-CRACK! and Cassie cried out loud, "Ow-ow-owww, F-five!" SWISH-CRACK! "Si-i-ix." Cassie sobbed gently as the impersonal beating continued. SWISH-CRACK! she inhaled deeply, "Seven!" She tensed as she heard the next swish, but when the cane connected with the top of her thighs she screamed, "Ahh!" and bolted straight up, flinging her hands behind her. "Please, no more. No more, sir..." she cried in racking sobs. Mr Edwards placed a hand on her back and bent her forcefully over the chair. He put the cane in this hand, still holding her down, and placed his hand on her stinging bottom. "Five for insolence." He said, as his hand retreated and flew through the air, landing hard on Cassie's left cheek. "Ahhhh!" she screamed, as his warm hand stirred each and every line on her bottom. SMACK! Her right cheek glowed with the same intensity. "Aaaa-oow!" Cassie sobbed. SMACK! Her left cheek flared under Mr Edwards' hand. Cassie didn't cry out, but her tears fell more rapidly and she sobbed terribly. SMACK! Her right cheek again, and then SMACK! across both thighs in a sweeping blow that ignited the lone stroke that marked them. "Owww!!" Cassie cried. Then Mr Edwards took his hand from her back, and Cassie lay dejectedly across the back of the chair. SWISH-CRACK! Cassie sniffed. "Eight." SWISH-CRACK! "Niiine." SWISH-CRACK! "TEN!" There was silence for a moment, until Mr Edwards pulled Cassie's knickers gently over her sore bottom. She winced as the now seemingly rough cotton slid over the welts his cane had left. Tears still ran down her cheeks, but she made no sound. "You may stand, Cassie." said Mr Edwards, the care returned to his voice. Cassie stood shakily, defiantly sniffing away the last of her tears. She felt Mr Edwards' hand on her shoulder, turning her to face him. She turned awkwardly, and looked up at him with tear-stained face. He placed a hand on her cheek and wiped away a tear, smiling gently. Cassie smiled weakly back, and Mr Edwards drew her into a hug. She sighed, wrapping her arms around his back as he stroked her hair and squeezed her shoulders. She felt him withdraw, and slowly she released her hold. "Come now. Assembly is nearly over. Go to your lesson." She nodded, and walked stiffly towards the door. "Cassie?" She turned. "Be a good girl." Cassie couldn't help but smile warmly, as she left his office and walked towards the foyer, towards her form room. Assembly had finished, and the students were piling out. Cassie saw her new friend - the girl who had gotten her into this trouble - and smiled. The girl ran over to her. "I'm so sorry!" She said. "I didn't mean to get you in trouble." "Don't worry about it." Cassie smiled, still walking to her form room, with the other girl tagging along. "I'm Gloria, by the way." "Cassie." "Hi!" the girl giggled. "So, what did he make you do?" "Oh," said Cassie, "he just gave me some lines."