Young Indiana Jones: Adventures Out West
Chapter Six
And so it was that Indy found himself in the unfortunate position of
attending school with Tommy everyday in this town that was proving to be
way below his adventure standards. He was indeed placed in Tommy's class
despite the year or so age difference between them. He and one other
boy, Freddie, were the oldest ones in the class. Most of the rest were
Tommy's age or younger. Indy sat near the back of the room next to Tommy
and his friends Ben, J.D., Sarah and Mary. Sarah and Mary took a liking
to Indy right off the bat which really didn't bother the other boys too
much since they had yet to arrive at the girl-liking stage of their
young lives.
Their teacher, Mr. Becker, was turning out to deserve the nick-name
'Pecker-head' very quickly. Indy witnessed him picking on and eventually
punishing one younger boy who made the mistake of not knowing the
current assignment. He was also proving to be very closed-minded and the
urge to say something grew stronger within Indy everyday.
At the end of the first week Indy was already settled into a routine.
His leg was almost completely healed and the accident actually helped
him make friends. All the kids wanted to hear about what happened, his
father and the dig site. All the talking just reminded Indy that he
wasn't with his dad to help and that didn't help his growing frustration
one bit.
Everyday he thought of the map he saw in the trunk in the basement, but
every time he tried to sneek down there Mrs. Johnson magically appeared
in the kitchen or was already down in the cellar. Finally, early the
next week, she was going to a church meeting and would be gone for most
of the afternoon. Indy and Tommy were out weeding the garden, one of
their many chores, when she left. Once she was out of sight Indy ran to
Tommy.
"Tommy, your Mom's going to be gone for awhile. Let's go down and get
that map."
"Sure!"
It didn't take much to get Tommy's mind off his chores. Both boys ran
down to the cellar and gently lowered the trunk to the floor. Once they
opened it, Indy pulled out the map and studied it. Tommy took out the
naughty pictures he'd shown Indy the week before, put them in his
pocket, and began rummaging through the rest of the contents.
"I knew this looked familiar. Tommy, do you know where the San Pedro
Mines are?"
"Yea, they're about, oh...I'd say five miles west of town. Why?"
"Don't you think this map looks like it could be a treasure map or
something? And look, there are clues here about a mine and directions
and distances!" Indy said excitedly, his eyes scanning rapidly over the
old parchment.
"Welll...I don't know. All us kids have been warned to stay away from
there. It's not safe. Most of the mine shafts have flooded and it's
supposed to be haunted." Tommy's eyes grew large as he thought of the
ghost stories that have gone around ever since he could remember.
"Well....you don't mind if I take this upstairs, do you?"
"N-no, I guess not. Just, whatever you do, DON'T let Ma see it. She'd
have a fit if she suspected we were even *thinking* of that place. Let
me tell you, that is something you do NOT want to see."
Indy carefully folded the map and put it in his back pocket. "I want to
study this a little closer and see if it makes any sense."
"Well," Tommy said as he put his hands on his hips. "If she finds that,"
he pointed at Indy's back pocket, "I know nuthin'! I'm not getting my
butt tanned again so soon."
Indy laughed, "Well, same goes for those girlie pictures you put in your
pocket. I saw you."
Tommy laughed too and stuck out his hand. "Okay, it's a pact. We both
know nuthin'. Shake."
The two boys shook hands and returned the trunk to it's spot on the
shelf. They both took their contraband to their rooms and hid it, then
returned to weeding the garden just like nothing had happened.
The next week passed quickly and Indy hadn't made much progress with the
map. Between school and chores and Abbey's watchful eye information
gathering was much harder than the young treasure hunter imagined.
It was Wednesday morning and the school day had started like all the
others, not very exciting. Indy watched as Mr. Becker drew a map on the
blackboard.
"We're going to focus on Africa today."
{Ah, maybe this will be more interesting.} Indy thought. He'd been to
Africa when he was younger and knew quite a bit about the geography,
customs and people there. He listened as Mr. Becker gave his rather
stale opinion about the beautiful land. The longer he listened the more
aggitated he became. Mr. Becker not only voiced his unpleasant opinions
about the land, but also about the people and their way of life.
"That's not true!" Indy shouted, slamming is fist down on the desk. "I
met lots of very nice people when I was there. I met an African boy
named Meto, we were very good friends. He took me to see the village
elders and...."
"SILENCE!! Are you calling me a liar young man?!" Becker yelled, his
face becoming red with anger.
"You don't know everything.....siiirrr!" Indy couldn't help the
sarcastic tone that crept into his voice. "In fact while I was there,
Teddy Roosevelt taught me how to fire a rifle and..."
"ENOUGH!! I will NOT tolerate lying!!"
"I'm NOT!" Indy yelled back.
"GET UP HERE!!"
A hush fell over the class and all eyes were on Indy. Tommy couldn't
believe the hole Indy was digging. No one *ever* talked back to Becker.
"NO!" Indy yelled, standing his ground.
That was all Becker needed. He practically flew down the row of desks.
His jaw was clenched and even his eyeballs had gone red. Indy backed up
instinctively only to be stopped by the wall behind him. Becker grabbed
is arm and dragged him to the front of the class.
"Let go of me!" Indy demanded, but Becker was much stronger than him.
Becker's right hand clamped onto the back of Indy's neck and soon Indy
found himself nose to the wall. Directly in front of him hung the paddle
that Becker so freely used.
"Your already getting a paddling after school young man and you have
until lunch to apologize to me or you'll be getting one while the rest
of the class is outside for recess as well." Becker used his grip on
Indy's neck to push the boy's face closer to the paddle. "You keep your
eyes on that paddle and just imagine what it is going to feel like, boy.
I knew you were a trouble-maker the first time I saw you."
Indy's fists were clenched at his sides and his breath was quick and
heavy as he tried to control his anger. The paddle was inches from his
face and he knew by looking at it that it would undoubtedly work very
well, but there was no way he was going to aplogize to that stupid man.
He stood perfectly still as the clock ticked away the remaining minutes
until the lunch break. His stubborness wavered slightly as he heard
Becker dismiss the class, but he wouldn't apologize.
"Well young man?" Becker said in a superior tone. "What do you have to
say?"
Indy remained silent and didn't move.
"I won't ask you again."
Indy was still silent.
"Have it your way you little..." Becker roughly dragged Indy over to his
large wooden desk and pushed him forward until his hips met the edge.
"Bend over and grab the sides!"
Slowly Indy bent at the waist until his chest rested on the surface of
the desk. He reached out with his hands until he could grasp the edges
of the desk. He could hear Becker getting the paddle from the wall and
his grip on the desk tightened.
"Okay boy, let's see if six swats from the *Board of Education* will
loosen your tongue." Becker rested the blade of the paddle acoss the
seat of Indy's trousers. It easily covered both cheeks.
Indy squeezed his eyes tightly closed and clenched his jaw. He felt the
paddle move away and then....*WHAAACKKKKK!* it slammed across the center
of his backside. The power of the swat nearly knocked the wind out of
his lungs and a split second later the pain registered in his brain. The
almost unreal stinging, buzzing sensation of a hundred bee stings
exploded across his bottom and it took all his strength not to yell out.
He was NOT going to give the teacher the benefit of hearing him yell.
*WHAAAACCKKKKK!*
The second swat exploded across his dazed cheeks in exactly the same
spot followed swiftly by the third. Indy banged his forehead against the
desk and his grip on the edge of the desk tightened until his knuckles
turned white.
"Still nothing to say boy? Well, lets see if these last three help,
shall we?"
*WHHAAAACCCKKKKKK!*
The fourth swat landed lower and the newly assulted area blazed. This
swat brought tears to Indy's eyes, but he still was silent.
WHAAACCCKKKK!
WHHAAAAACCCCKKK!
The fifth and finally sixth swat nearly lifted him off his feet, but not
even a yelp escaped his lips. His bottom throbbed and he knew sitting at
his desk for the rest of the day was going to be bad to say the least.
His silence angered Becker and the teacher nearly swung the paddle
again.
"GO!" Becker yelled. He watched as Indy slowly raised himself from the
desk. "We'll see if you're still as silent after school, Mr. Jones."
Indy winced as he stood. He kept his head lowered so Becker wouldn't see
the tears that were running down his cheeks and slowly and stiffly he
walked to the back of the room and out into the short hall. Indy leaned
against the wall and rubbed his stinging cheeks trying to regain his
composure before he headed outside. Quickly he ran his hand across his
face and wiped away any traces of tears. As he stepped outside he was
faced with a silent group of kids, almost everyone from the class room.
He walked down the steps and they parted, letting him pass. Tommy caught
up with Indy and patted him on the shoulder.
"Wow! Everyone is impressed. You didn't yell once. I don't think anyone
has ever taken six swats from Becker and not yelled out." Tommy patted
his shoulder again proud that he was Indy's friend.
"We'll see how quiet you are after school!" Freddie Miller challenged.
"Nobody can take twelve swats! You'll be yelling like a girl for sure!"
"Shut-up Freddie!" Tommy yelled coming to Indy's defense.
"Oh yea!"
"Yea!"
The bell sounded for the end of recess and the kids began filing back
into the school dissipating any confrontation between Freddie and Tommy.
Indy walked in slowly, behind everyone else, and kneaded his aching
bottom. He was not looking forward to sitting on that hard desk chair
and even less to the end of the school day.
For some reason, Indy noticed, every other day dragged on eternally
until 3:00, but not today. In what seemed an unbelievably short time the
bell rang and the class bolted from the room. All except Indy and Tommy.
"Tommy," Mr. Becker said. "You can wait for Mr. Jones outside."
Tommy shrugged, there was nothing he could think of to do to help Indy.
With a reassuring smile he left to wait outside. Indy watched as Becker
took the paddle from the wall again and stood next to his desk. Mr.
Becker crooked a finger at him and Indy slowly walked to the front of
the room and bent over the desk never once looking at the teacher.
"One last chance Mr. Jones. If you apologize to me now I'll only give
you one swat instead of six."
Indy thought about it, but it was the principle of the thing. No, he
wouldn't give Becker the satisfaction. He remained silent and held on
tightly to the desk.
Mr. Becker shook his head, a little of his earlier anger returning.
"Well boy, if that's what you want..." He drew the paddle back and
smacked it hard across the small bottom. "THAT'S what you'll get!"
The first whack immediately brought back the sting of the earlier
paddling and Indy was doubtful that he could stay silent for five more.
The next two whacks landed low, across the base of his bottom cheeks,
lifting him up on his toes. The fourth swat forced a small yelp from
Indy and Becker smiled. Now he had him.
The fifth hard swat was aimed at the tops of Indy's thighs.
"Owwww!" Indy cried out and quietly began to sob not only from the
blazing sting of the paddle, but also out of anger with himself for
yelling.
The sixth and final swat landed hard and across the base of his inflamed
cheeks.
"OWWWWWW! Ohhhhhhh!" Indy sobbed.
Mr. Becker returned the paddle to the wall as Indy levered himself up
off the desk.
Becker grabbed Indy's chin and lifted the tear stained face up until he
could look into the young man's eyes.
"Did you feel that young man?"
Indy nodded slightly not trusting his voice.
"Are you going to contradict me again?"
A slight shake of the head was Indy's response.
"Get out of here."
Indy quickly picked up his books and headed to the door.
"Next time I won't be so easy on you!" Mr. Becker yelled to Indy's back.
{EASY!?} Indy couldn't get out of there fast enough. Luckily his
throbbing backside kept his mouth from getting him into more trouble.
Outside, Tommy took Indy's books. "Wow! Are you okay?"
Indy nodded as he walked next to the younger boy. "Where's Freddie? I
thought he'd be out here for sure."
Tommy laughed. "He was until he realized he cried more at only four
swats a couple weeks ago! He's basically a chicken anyway, especially
with no audience." Tommy stopped and faced Indy. "How did you take all
those without yelling?"
"I did yell."
"Yea, but that was nothin'."
"I was so mad at him....I don't think I could do it again though." Indy
gently rubbed his right butt cheek. "Do you think he'll tell my dad or
your ma?" A slightly worried expression crossed Indy's face.
"Naw! At least I don't think so. Usually he only reports stuff like bad
grades or tardiness. Sometimes I think he actually *enjoys* wacking us
and if he reported every incident then everyone would know just how
often he does it. The one you have to watch out for is Principal Davies.
He'll talk to your dad, or my ma, every time. And I don't know about
your dad, but if I get paddled at school I'll get it again at home from
ma. Did you really hunt in Africa with Teddy Roosevelt?" Tommy asked his
eyes filling with excitement as he tried to change the subject.
Indy chuckled at the look on Tommy's face. "Sure did! And he shot a huge
lion too!"
"Wow!"
Indy filled Tommy's head with all kinds of stories as they walked home
and it helped to take his mind off his aching behind. The walking itself
helped a little too, but Indy wouldn't be surprised to find his bottom
bruised when he checked it out later. Now all he had to do was sit
through dinner and probably breakfast without Mrs. Johnson noticing his
discomfort.
Now that Indy was personally acquainted with Mr. Becker's paddle he kept
an even lower profile at school. Becker watched him very closely. In the
back of his mind he still wasn't satisfied and really wanted another
round with young Mr. Jones. The kid had a willful streak that irked him.
Indy was definitely on his *list*