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- @BEGIN_FILE_ID.DIZ
- BLAZING BAPTISTS
- A novel by Alan de Veaux@END_FILE_ID.DIZ
-
-
- Chapter 1: Monday Morning
-
- Framed in the multipane window of Dr. Fenwick's study,
- the scene was prettier than a painting. The Indiana farms
- defined by split rail fences put there by God-fearing people
- many years ago spoke of the order of Jefferson County.
- Middleburg's pastor was taking a quiet moment.
-
- Monday mornings were quiet with time for reflection and
- planning. A day alone, no secretary, he can think about the
- week that was and the one to be, but why did young Mrs.
- Brown wants to see him privately? The strain in her voice
- was clear when she asked for the appointment. She is one of
- his favorite parishioners so he was concerned. He had
- married this youthful beauty to young Gordon Brown III,
- second son of a much landed squire. She teaches Sunday
- School brilliantly to the teenagers, who love her dearly.
- Close to their age, beautiful and poised; she is perfect.
-
- Surrounded by farms and guarded by tall Sycamore sen-
- tries, Middleburg is graced by covered bridges. But, on
- this day in 1950 things are looking very modern through the
- panes of Dr. Fenwick's office window. He is alone, think-
- ing, "Golly if these old stone walls could talk..." Young
- Mrs. Brown's new Chevrolet Bel Air pulls up in the parking
- lot.
-
- She alights from the car a vision of loveliness in a
- full skirt and white blouse. The cute rounded collar of her
- white blouse makes her look more like an English school girl
- than a young middlewestern matron. She wears a broad white
- hat that would all but cover her face at a low angle.
- Elizabeth is never without a pair of pumps and her heels
- "clop" smartly on the curved walkway to the church as she
- struts toward his office. Dr. Fenwick opens the great
- wooden door.
-
- "Good morning my dear." he says with more than perfunc-
- tory politeness. She flashes a smile, but on her face are
- the lines of concern an experienced pastor recognizes.
- "Please, come in and sit down, my dear." Saying nothing,
- she enters the inner office alighting on the Chippendale
- chair before his desk. Crossing her lovely legs and twirl-
- ing one pump restlessly, she sits pensively. He closes the
- door behind him and walks to his desk.
-
- "How is married life?" he asks brightly. Elizabeth's
- cheeks flush, but she quickly responds, "It's not quite what
- I imagined, but..." She draws a deep breath and stares at
- the pastors old fraternity paddle hanging on the wall.
-
- More a trophy of his college days than a tool of his
- "trade," as it were, he has put it to use only a few times.
- Most recently, when one of Mrs. Elizabeth's young charges
- used the "F" word in her Sunday School class. Had something
- of this kind happened?
-
- Dr. Fenwick let the moment fix. The wooden paneled
- office, graced with cases of religious and philosophical
- tomes, is rectangular and features an alter with Jesus
- Christ on the cross starring down in his death agony. With
- bronze blood oozing from carved wounds, he documents the
- appreciation of pain in Christianity. As music is the
- arrangement of sound to produce an emotional response, then
- religion is the ordering of symbols for power.
-
- She looks down for a moment, then up at Dr. Fenwick,
- "I hope you won't think me inappropriately curious, but I
- have questions about the way you paddled Donney Miller,
- the day he, well..."
-
- "Oh yes." interrupts Dr. Fenwick, anxious to avoid any
- direct reference to Donney's sinful utterance. Mrs. Brown
- brought him directly to the sanctuary office and on her
- complaint alone Dr. Fenwick inflicted severe corporal pun-
- ishment on Donney.
-
- "Why did you ask me to leave the room?" she asks. He
- blushes slightly. Surprised to feel warming cheeks at 40,
- but experience carries him through. Struck with the bloom
- of Elizabeth's youthful womanhood, he can only roam over the
- curves of her cheekbones and the dimple in her chin. Her's
- is the loveliest face in the county and here she is in the
- morning light of a new day asking a question he strains to
- answer.
-
- "Elizabeth," he begins with difficulty, "we do that
- sort of thing... uh, bareback..." Dr. Fenwick is clearly
- embarrassed to say the paddle is applied to bare buttocks.
- "This is really not a discussion in which we have to delve,
- Mrs. Brown. Is it?" She drops her gaze to her foot and
- draws a breath as she twirls her pointy pump. Dr. Fenwick
- savors the time during which he can stare at her fine, long
- leg, perfect ankle and compound curves of her pump.
-
- The moment is frozen until leaves flutter on Sycamore
- trees as a quick rush of spring air shakes them. Hanging
- from a single peg, the old fraternity paddle emblazoned with
- the symbols "TKE" hangs in repose showing its fine wood
- grain memorialized in stain and shellac. How could anything
- so beautiful have only the purpose to inflict pain?
-
- "Tau Kappa Epsilon" she proclaims, breaking the silence
- of the moment. Her mind has been as busy as his has been
- blank. While he ponders the space where his feelings found-
- er, she gathers strength in the darkness she seeks to illu-
- minate.
-
- "Yes," he responds with a smile, "my old fraternity.
- Probably the greatest days of my life." He grins only for a
- moment, but quickly adds, "Save those of my marriage. Poor
- Mildred..."
-
- "We all miss her so..." consoles Elizabeth. "She was
- such a fine woman. And, to go that way..." "She is with
- God..." intones Dr. Fenwick.
-
- "Could I see the paddle?" she asks. Dr. Fenwick is
- surprised, but without question rises to take the board from
- the wall and hands it to the fair Elizabeth.
-
- "This will be the first time I've taken it from the
- wall without using it." he smiles. "Perhaps I shouldn't
- break tradition." Her eyebrows rise. Then she smiles
- slightly and blinks, but says nothing, clearing her throat
- and tipping her head.
-
- "What is your interest, Elizabeth?" he asks.
-
- "Dr. Fenwick," she begins. "When that young boy ut-
- tered the "F" word in my Sunday school class, I thought I
- would die!" She strokes the paddle as if it were Excalibur
- and continues, "But then, with one paddling you made him a
- new person. He's been a model student since. Was it a
- miracle or magic?"
-
- "That is a good question, Elizabeth. A fair question
- indeed." Dr. Fenwick sits back in his armchair to ponder,
- putting his fingers together not in prayer but in thought,
- defining a sphere in space as if he were holding a crystal
- ball.
-
- "I can only say that if spanking is sufficiently severe
- they seem... Yes, they seem to see the light of God." He
- looks upward in revelation as the young woman continues to
- stroke the old paddle.
-
- "Of what is it made?" she asked pleasantly.
-
- "Oh this is ash. A very tough wood."
-
- "Its so smooth..." she coos.
-
- "Not on the receiving end." he announces.
-
- "What does it feel like?"
-
- Well, it's difficult to explain, easy to demonstrate,
- but hard to appreciate." he smiles, but now his curiosity
- is rising, along with a new warmth in his genitals.
-
- "What do you really seek?" he asks.
-
- She runs her long fingers over the paddle and says, "I
- think it is here, Dr. Fenwick." she draws a deep breath. "I
- believe it is right here... The miracle you achieved in
- paddling Donney Miller is one I need now."
-
- "You have another candidate for spanking?"
-
- "Yes, one." she looks down for a moment.
-
- "And who would that be? Someone who has been bad in Sunday
- School?"
-
- "Not someone who has been bad, but someone who has been
- taken over by the Devil."
-
- "The Devil?"
-
- "Dr. Fenwick," she blurts, "it's me! I need this!
- Please rid me of Satan!" She looks down and covers her face
- with both hands while the paddle rests on her lap, but then
- as she starts to cry, it falls to the floor. Dr. Fenwick
- rises from his chair to pick it up and as he holds it in one
- hand, touches her on the shoulder.
-
- "Tell me what you mean, my dear." he orders.
-
- She lifts her blushing face and begins to explain as he
- stand over her with the paddle in his right hand.
-
- "When Gordon fell in love with me I knew that I didn't
- really love him. I liked him a lot, but he is such a boy
- and..."
-
- "Are you going to tell that you favor his older brother
- Tod?"
-
- "Oh Dr. Fenwick!" she exclaimed, "Does it show?"
-
- "Not really my dear, but old preachers are intuitive
- and..."
-
- "You're not an old preacher, Dr. Fenwick."
-
- "Well, I'm 40 and I'm a widower. I feel old, but we're
- not discussing me now."
-
- "I do love Tod, but he has never married, and I don't
- think he ever will. He's, well, different."
-
- "Tod is very sophisticated."
-
- "Yes, he wants to go to New York to study acting, but
- his father won't hear of it. He wants Tod to learn the
- family business."
-
- "So you thought you would eventually fall in love with
- Gordon?"
-
- "Oh yes, I did and I will, but I have to get Tod out of
- my system. The Devil is in me. Please Dr. Fenwick, help
- me! Beat the devil out of me!"
-
- "Elizabeth, my dear, you've done nothing wrong and I
- don't think spanking will solve your problem." he says as he
- places the paddle on the desk and returns to his seat.
-
- "Let some time pass. Have a baby with Gordon, then
- you'll turn to him with all the love God can give."
-
- "Pastor," she starts to cry, "Gordon is sterile. He
- had mumps as a child and perhaps that is why I want Tod so
- much. He could give me a baby!"
-
- Dr. Fenwick can see the poor woman's dilemma. She has
- become obsessed with Tod.
-
- "My dear," he begins, "I think we should go to God for
- guidance. Let us retire the sanctuary and kneel before the
- alter." He stands, puts out his hand and she takes it.
-
- The rectory office had been an architectural after-
- thought and the hall to the main sanctuary was narrow and
- long, ending at a door just behind the pulpit. He opens the
- door and leads the way to the altar where they kneel before
- white shrine featuring Jesus on the Cross.
-
- "Dear God give us direction. Elizabeth is deeply trou-
- bled and has asked for a way to deal with her problems.
- Please God, give us a sign." He becomes silent and Eliza-
- beth closes her eyes. Then he looks on her loveliness.
- There on her knees, her head is bowed and eyes closed, her
- long hair flowing over her shoulders, he can only wonder
- what could be troubling this incredible creature of God.
- The little collar gracing her long neck and cravat give her
- a formal aura. Her skirt is full and from it jut her long
- legs and pure white pumps. Now Dr. Fenwick is fully erect.
-
- In the distance a spring thunderstorm blasts a light-
- ning bolt to earth.
-
- "Oh God!" she exclaims, "I that's it!" Her voice is
- like a bell ringing in his soul.
-
- "Yes!" he agrees. Now he will oblige her wish. Eliza-
- beth is going to be paddled!
-
- Elizabeth opens her eyes and turns to Pastor Fenwick.
- "Please Dr. Fenwick, help me."
-
- "God has spoken, Elizabeth, and I will..."
-
- "Oh thank you." she exclaims with great warmth.
-
- Dr. Fenwick finds it necessary to remain on his knees
- for a while so he outlines a plan while he tries to gain
- control over his urges.
-
- "Elizabeth," he begins, "we have to proceed carefully
- as we want to be discreet and serve God."
-
- Now the storm is approaching and more thunder can be
- heard.
-
- "Oh yes, Dr. Fenwick." she says with great reverence in
- her voice. Her relief and anticipation are evident. "I
- feel better already..."
-
- He has administered a few paddlings to miscreant boys
- in the congregation, but this would be his first female and
- he was having to think it through.
-
- "When do you want to do this?" he asks gingerly.
-
- "Now." she replies without hesitation. "Gordon is gone
- for a few days and I'll be alone at home."
-
- "All right." he gulps, rising and giving her his hand.
-
- In silence they return down the dark hall to his of-
- fice, closing the doors behind them. He locks the reception
- room door and says, "Wait out here, Elizabeth. I want you
- to pray and I need to prepare." She smiles and sits.
-
- Back in his office Dr. Fenwick improvises preparations
- for an exorcistic paddling as the thunderstorm builds. He
- places a heavy straight-backed chair in front of the wall
- facing Jesus on the Cross. Christ would look down on the
- proceedings. Then he ties two purple sash cords to the side
- arms just below the seat. He retires to his desk where he
- makes notes and rehearses what he will say during the ritu-
- al. It is all very important if it is going to be effective
- and have the proper religious tone.
-
- Meanwhile back in the reception room Elizabeth watches
- the old church clock click off the seconds and minutes while
- lightning cracks outside. The anticipation was almost more
- than she can bear. She thinks of poor Donney Miller scream-
- ing and wondering if it will really hurt that much. Still,
- she wants the devil out of her and it worked so well with
- Donney, but now she is scared and feels like running!
-
- If she left he would not think ill of her. "He would
- never mention it." she whispers. But her purse is in the
- office! Was this God's way of seeing to it that she would
- be paddled? Surely, it is a sign. She wants to rid herself
- of the Devil's urge to have sex with her brother-in-law Tod.
- But then she remembers the way Donney Miller sounded when he
- got ten swats. "Oh my!" she says aloud. The pleading and
- moaning, but Donney changed from the town bad boy to one of
- the best boys and he had found real freedom in discipline.
- "Praise the Lord." she whispers.
-
- Her eyes rise to the cross on the wall where Christ
- hangs on nails. "He died on the cross for me." she intones.
- Pain is part of Christianity and hers will be tiny compared
- to His. She will be better for it. She will be released.
-
- "How long will he be?" she wonders as the thunder and
- lightning continue.
-
- "Thinking about it is worse than getting it." a boy
- friend once told her about being paddled and now she is
- having an anxiety attack. She can't run. Her legs are like
- rubber and she wonders if she can even walk in heels. Her
- heart is pounding.
-
- The wall clock in Pastor Fenwick's office was exactly
- on 9:30 AM. The chime made one "bong" and the doorknob
- begins to turn and Elizabeth feels the terror of every
- junior high school bad boy about to "to get it." She cannot
- stand, but he offers his hand and as she rises says, "Pastor
- Fenwick, I want to apologize for having made this
- necessary."
-
- "Thank you my dear." He responds. "Come inside." She
- enters the office and looks at the paddle, now waiting on
- the desk. Her eyes are like saucers. He feels that she is
- virtually limp and leads her to the chair, putting her hands
- on the top. She is trembling.
-
- "Let us pray." he intones. "Jesus, guide us and help
- us rid our beloved Elizabeth of the devil within. Let her
- see the light. The light of your love and your purpose."
- With that he turns to her and says, "Elizabeth, bend over
- the chair and grab the sides just above the seat." Without
- a word she bends over it, grabbing the sidearms and in a
- moment he ties her wrists with the improvized sash cords.
-
- "Pastor," she asks, "may I kiss the paddle." He gets
- the board from the desk and raises it to her lips, leaving a
- greasy imprint on the shellacked surface. "Oh Jesus," she
- said, "drive this devil from me."
-
- Without a word Reverend Fenwick raises Elizabeth's
- skirt and throws it up and over her buttocks. She draws a
- deep breath and uttered and "Oh!"
-
- "You did expect this? Didn't you?" and another light-
- ning bolt rattles the windows.
-
- "Oh yes. It's just..." but then he yanks down her
- panties and she inhales a slight shriek, but he ignores it.
-
- "Take ten deep breaths, my dear." he orders in a firm
- voice. She gulps and takes two, saying, "Oh Pastor, I..."
-
- "Continue, and don't look back." he orders as he
- touches the blade to her buttocks to ready her for what is
- to come. There would be no backing out now and the sky
- rumbles as rain begins to fall.
-
- As she draws her breaths he admires her long legs
- graced by garter straps and seamed nylons. The tall pumps
- give her legs perfect curves. She is magnificent and he
- feels great forces rising within. She takes the last breath
- and he raises the board from her buttocks.
-
- "Don't look at it." he instructs, "Straight down and
- think about why you are here. Now you want Tod and that is
- sin." He swings the paddle back and quickly it flashes
- through the air on its way to:
-
- "SPLAT!"
-
- It strikes and Elizabeth is surprised to feel only a
- great pressure, but initially no pain! Then her stunned
- buttocks rebound and overwhelmed nerves come to life. The
- stinging starts. "Oh!" she draws a breath. "Jesus is the
- Lord!" he yells and draws back.
-
- "SPLAT!"
-
- This time there is no wait for stinging. Her heels
- leave the floor as she rises on her toes and cries, "Ahoo-
- ooo....." "Out Satan, out from this good Christian!" as
- lightning crashes near the church.
-
- "SPLAT!"
-
- "Ahhhhhh!...." she wails as the third blow lands.
- "Praise the Lord!" he sings and pulls back again.
-
- "SPLAT!"
-
- "Ahhooo..." she screams and chokes, but no one would
- hear her in the noise of the storm. She gasps and sobs as
- he pauses for a moment, yelling, "Go down the path to judge-
- ment. Go to the Lord, he sees you and all your sins. Pray
- to him!" and he takes a mighty backswing.
-
- "Oh God, please stop!" she yells, but...
-
- "SPLAT!"
-
- The fifth blow lands squarely on her flaming fanny and
- she can only moan, "Ohhh..." as tears gush from her face.
- "Come to Jesus!" he intones.
-
- "SPLAT!"
-
- The sixth swat strikes her brilliant red buttocks and
- she once again rises on her toes, lifting her heels up and
- out. "Ahooo..." she moans like a copulating cat. Reverend
- Fenwick is silent. Now he only wants to finish the job as
- the rain continues to fall the lightning crashes in the
- distance.
-
- "SPLAT!"
-
- The seventh blow brings only a moan and a great quiver-
- ing. Elizabeth is incoherent, crying and drooling. "God
- will forgive you, Elizabeth." he says solemnly.
-
- "SPLAT!"
-
- The eighth swat lands squarely on her buttocks, but now
- they are beginning to undulate strangely and she yells
- another "Ahooo..." He pauses and she manages to yell, "I
- see it... I see it..."
-
- "SPLAT!"
-
- The paddle strikes for the ninth time and she can only
- utter "Ahhhh...." "Praise the Lord!" he yells as he draws
- back for what would be the last time and...
-
- "SPLAT!"
-
- "Come to Jesus!" he yells, but Elizabeth jerks upward
- and shits. Excrement lands with a great "plop" on the
- hardwood floor and she cries, "Oh God. I see the light! I
- see Him..." Pastor Fenwick is astounded and kneels down to
- untie her, taking her in his arms. She is quivering.
-
- "Use my private bathroom." he orders and she wobbles to
- the door sobbing. She goes behind it and her crying contin-
- ues as Dr. Fenwick scrapes the turd from the floor with a
- dustpan.
-
- In ten minutes she emerges fairly well composed, but
- when she returns to the office wearing sunglasses and her
- hat.
-
- "Pastor, I don't know how to thank you, but it stings
- so much I think I'll feel it forever."
-
- "I'll walk you to the car." he offers, grabbing an
- umbrella from the rack.
-
- They leave the office and she "clops" down the stairs
- and the arched walkway to the parking lot, he opens her car
- door and sits very gingerly, then drives away slowly.
-
- Mortimer Fenwick returns to the office and drops into
- his chair, sitting for a long time, not thinking, but won-
- dering what is all means. He knows his world has changed,
- and changed profoundly.
-
- -------------------------------------------
-
- If you wish to receive this novel as a series of emailed
- chapters, email your request to: avsystem@rain.org
-
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