The hike was for us eight Tenderfoots lead by Scoutmaster Fairless with the assistance of First Class Scout Ron.  It was just ​three miles​ (​five km​) from the highway bus stop to the camp site where we were to have a cookout lunch.© Y Lee Coyote

We were halfway there when the Scout Master had a misstep spraining his ankle.  We were able to strap it with the elastic bandage and give him some ibuprofen from the first aid kit to ease the pain and inflamation.  It was decided that he would wait and rest there with an ice pack while the rest of us would continue as planned to minimize his walking and give it some recovery time.

By the time we got to the camp site, it was clear that Ron was delighted to be in charge.  We paired off to gather firewood and made lunch.  It was my usual hamburger but it tasted super good cooked by me over an open fire.

Everyone was behaving properly not wanting to jeopardize their advancement to Second Class scouts.  Well, everybody except assistant leader First Class Scout Ron.  He was barking unnecessary orders constantly, running about and even (with his boots off) going wading.  We had all promised to be extra good and forgo wading because Scoutmaster Fairless was not there.

We grumbled among ourselves about the improprieties of Ron but the last straw was his playing fireman for he pulled out his hose and drowned the dying fire.  Of course, it had to be throughly extinguished but properly with water from the stream.

“That the last straw, Ron!  You’ve been a misbehaving for hours.  You need to be punished.  We are going to report you to Scoutmaster Fairless.” said Brian forcefully keeping his voice in its lowest register.

Ron’s flustered response showed again that he wasn’t a good scout as he was unprepared to accept or respond to a rebuke but after a batch of hemming and hawing begged us not to tell.

“You’ve been bad so you need to be punished so go cut a proper switch or we’ll tell.” continued Brian.

When Ron returned Brian took the fresh switch and commanded “Drop ’em and lean over that stump.”  He then proceeded to give Ron three cuts leaving thin red tracks.  “Three from each of us.” and passed to switch to Chaim.

By the time five of us had our turns, the switch snapped.  Brian, who never runs out of ideas, immediately pulled off his belt and said “Use this.  Hard!” to Johnpaul.  It was a good decision as Ron reacted more to each cut.  The last two then had their turns.

“Pull up your pants.” said Johnpaul when they finished.

Ron rubbed his butt and said nicely.  “We need to clean this place up and get back to Fairless.  He’ll need longer to walk out.”

Ron’s attitude seems to have improved and after cleaning up we headed out.