Illustrated Story by Darcy — Sixpence None the Richer

Inside the manager’s office of the BSB High Street Bank, young Mary Piper found herself in a terrible position. Although, of course that’s a matter of perspective. To her it was terrible, truly, truly, awful, not to mention shameful and humiliating. She was kneeling on a hard stool in front of the manager, Mr Brown, and the assistant manager Mr Dock. She was naked from the waist down, if you didn’t count her long white school socks and her shoes. Which she didn’t. But to Mr Dock and Mr Brown it was a quite delightful display, and certainly not the first time they had enjoyed such a show, although not with Mary involved.

The scheme had been Mr Dock’s brilliant idea. He reached out to the local schools and suggested they bring their older pupils to the bank for a morning visit. They could learn about the industry and also be informed as to the value of taking a disciplined approach to managing their own financial affairs later in life. The bank benefited by offering the youngsters their Sixpenny Savers scheme. With just one shiny sixpence they could start their first bank account and become a junior member of the BSB family. Head office was delighted with the scheme, but Mr Brown and Mr Dock had found it offered certain opportunities. One of which was kneeling and naked and snivelling in front of them.

‘So what’s it to be, Mary? The police? Or shall we take care of your punishment here and now?’

They knew full well what her answer would be. They had enjoyed this little ritual nearly a dozen times before. Only with the girls schools of course, and only with the prettier morsels who came through the door, fresh faced and excited at the prospect of having a grown up bank account. But it seemed that the local girls were a light-fingered lot, and at nearly every visit a small but valuable item would be discovered to have gone missing from one of the offices. After a brief search carried out with the embarrassed and flustered teacher, the item — in this case a pen from the manager’s desk — would be discovered in one of the girls’ satchels.

The usual tearful protestations of innocence were brushed aside, and with great largesse Mr Brown would suggest to the teacher that they could avoid the drama and scandal of having the police informed and could take care of the matter in-house. Invariably the teachers would leave the guilty party behind and rush back with the others. Most imagined the girl would get a talking to or have to help out with chores for the afternoon. Many made the promise that the light-fingered wench would get a good smacking the next day as well. And they would be gone, their young charges following like a flock of excitable pea-hens as one sad girl stayed behind.

Which brings us to Mary, half-naked on the stool. She had spent the afternoon in Mr Brown’s office, receiving a lecture on crime and punishment. She had cried and whimpered and finally apologised. Then when the bank closed at 4.30 and the staff filed out, Mr Dock came in and removed her school skirt and her clean white knickers. Both men had stood behind her, patting and stroking her bare bottom while she blushed and stammered. Finally, after explaining the consequences of her actions — a criminal record, a visit to the police station with her parents, possibly even an item about the theft in the local paper — she agreed to take the private punishment.

‘But… but… you know I didn’t take it. I really didn’t,’ she pleaded one last time.

‘Nonsense child. How else would the pen have got into your bag? Do you think Mr Dock or I planted it there. Are you accusing us!!’

‘No sir. Of course not. I’m sorry…’

Although, of course, that was exactly what had happened.

‘Your blatant lying means I shall double your punishment! Please fetch the strap and the cane, Mr Dock.’

‘With pleasure Mr Brown. With the utmost pleasure…’