elieson
07-02-2015, 05:05 PM
22-year-old Alexandra Ila, a petite Inuit lady, waited in the hallway with her family, which consisted of her parents and older sister, Anna. Alexandra wore a grey skirt five inches below the knees with a white blouse and a grey jacket. She also carried her purse.
She looked around, simultaneously calm and nervous. Every few seconds her father put his hand on her shoulder, trying to reassure her. It gave her a sense of warmth; at least her family supported her.
The door opened and a white police officer in his late thirties stepped out. “Alexandra Ila?” he called out.
Alexandra looked in the officer’s direction with an expression of apprehension. This was the officer who had arrested her nearly two weeks previously. She knew him as Officer Knudsen. The officer looked at her with some sympathy and informed her, “We are ready for you.”
Alexandra, along with her family, got up and entered the small room. As she did so, she wondered how she would endure what was coming. The room was a small office with a desk, shelves, and a few chairs. Across the desk stood a female police officer with short blonde hair, holding a wooden ruler. The officer looked at her sternly, bouncing the ruler across her own palm. Alexandra nearly froze, looking at her tight-lipped.
Officer Knudsen closed the door and walked to the other side of the desk. He smiled and said, “Okay, This is your family, yes?”
Alexandra replied, “Yes, these are my parents and this is my sister.”
The officer smiled and shook the hands of her mother, father, and sister. He then turned to Alexandra and smiled warmly.
“Okay, Alexandra, are you ready to receive your punishment?” he enquired.
She looked at him blankly for a minute, and finally said yes.
“Do you want your family to be with you?” he enquired.
She looked around, unsure of whether or not she wanted them there. Finally, she decided to have them stay with her, for love and support. “Yes, I do,” came her reply.
“Okay, let’s get started.” He said. “Please kneel at the edge of the desk.”
Alexandra took off her high-heel shoes, thinking that it would feel awkward kneeling in them. The floor felt cold to her bare feet, but she worried less about that and more about the blows
of the ruler. She went over to the desk and knelt before it, her hands on the edge of the desk. Due to her small stature, her chin also rested on the desktop.
“Okay, on second thought.” Officer Knudsen said thoughtfully, “Stand up and put your hands as far across the desk as you can.”
She got up, forced to endure the cold floor again, and placed her hands on the desk. She stood up on her toes and grabbed the far side of the desk, gripping the edge.
Officer Knudsen looked with satisfaction and announced, “Alexandra Ila, you are sentenced to three slaps on the wrist with a ruler for the offence of driving with a blood alcohol level above the legal limit.”
After a few minutes pause, Officer Knudsen continued, “Once you have received your strokes, you will receive a document stating that you have indeed received them. After you receive it, you will file it at the courthouse and then,” Officer Knudsen smiled at Alexandra reassuringly, “you will receive an absolute discharge. A clean slate.”
Alexandra felt heartened at hearing the news. Of course, she had to go through the pain of having the ruler crash down on her wrists three times before she could receive a discharge. She waited two weeks for this moment. From the time of her arrest right until now, she had to deal with the guilt weighing down on her. The waiting part was difficult as well. She wanted to get it over with. She had made just one mistake. But now, she was thankful that after this punishment, she would be free to start over.
Officer Knudsen asked her, “Okay, Alexandra. Are you ready to receive punishment?”
Before Alexandra could reply, her father came over to place one hand on her shoulder to reassure her and the other hand on her forearms, to keep her arms down on the desk. “Don’t worry, my sweet daughter,” he whispered lovingly, “we are here for you.”
Her mother and sister went and placed their hands on her back and shoulders, patting her lovingly and reassuringly. Alexandra almost wanted to cry. She felt so elated that she had such support.
The command, “Begin!” rang throughout the room. Alexandra closed her eyes and braced herself for the first blow. The punishment reminded her of the time she was arrested. Officer Knudsen had placed handcuffs on her and they were tight. She’d had to endure it for the whole ride to the station. When he’d finally let her out of the cuffs, her wrists felt sore for about an hour. Now, her wrists would have to go through some punishment again.
A stinging blow across both her wrists announced the arrival of the first stroke, causing Alexandra to yelp in pain. Her father said to her reassuringly, “It’s okay. It’s okay. Just two more to go.”
Alexandra closed her eyes tighter, trying to block out the sting from her mind. She did not succeed as she felt another sting across her wrists. “Ouch!” she cried out.
“One more,” Officer Knudsen announced, “You’re almost done.”
She thought about the time she’d been arrested.
She celebrated a friend’s birthday at her house. There was a lot of drinking, eating, and partying. Alexandra had a drink too, just a glass. It was not even a big glass, either. Reluctantly, she had a drink but did not finish the whole glass. She felt a bit weird, but it was only a brief feeling. She decided to drive home and went in her own car. After driving for a bit, she swerved. She didn’t even realise that she’d swerved. She was pulled over by Officer Knudsen and given a roadside breath test and a field sobriety test.
She passed the field sobriety test, no problem. However, she did not do so good on the roadside breath test. She was three points above the legal limit. That was enough for Officer Knudsen to arrest her. Despite much begging and crying, Officer Knudsen arrested and booked her.
And now, here she was.
The third stinging blow snapped her out of her reverie. She gave out one final yelp and thought, “Oh, good. Now it’s over.”
“You’re done,” announced Officer Knudsen.
Her family backed away from her to allow her to get away from the desk. Alexandra felt only three short stings as she rubbed her wrists vigorously, hoping to lessen the pain. The strokes had left only small red marks. She pushed herself away from the desk and sat down, slowly putting her shoes back on.
As Officer Knudsen approached the desk to scribble on a piece of paper, he told her emphatically, “I hope you have learned your lesson.”
“Yes, I have,” Alexandra stammered. ”I am sorry that I drove over the legal limit.”
Officer Knudsen smiled and slipped the document towards her, motioning for her to sign it, “Make sure you don’t do it again, okay?” he demanded.
Alexandra smiled shyly, said goodbye, and left the office along with her family and her copy of the document. “Let’s file this today; right now.” Suggested her father. But then, he had a thought and asked, “You don’t have work today, do you?”
Alexandra replied in the negative. She was glad to be off that day. She made off for the courthouse with her family. On her way, she felt a sense of elation, although it was not complete elation. She could not wait to get to the courthouse, file the document, clear her name, and start off with a new slate.
She took the document from her father and looked at it. It read as follows; On this day of July 24, 2011, Alexandra Ila has received three strokes of the ruler across the wrists for driving with a blood alcohol level above the legal limit. With the filing of this document in the court office, all records against Alexandra Ila will be expunged.
As they got to the courthouse, Alexandra practically ran inside, heading for the line. The line was not too big. She could not wait to file this document and get on with her life. When it was finally her turn to approach the court clerk’s docket, she felt excited and at the same time nervous. She walked to the docket and requested that the document be filed.
As she waited, she watched hopefully, nervously. Finally, the court clerk returned the document to her with a smile. She looked down at the document. It was stamped as “received and filed on July 24, 2011. She looked up at the ceiling and smiled. She felt thankful to God for this moment. She looked at her wrists. By this time, the stinging had almost completely gone and the red marks were barely visible.
She went outside and showed the document to her family. They all looked at her, smiled, and embraced her. “Let’s go to a restaurant. Have something to eat,” suggested her mother. In agreement, they all laughed and walked away from the courthouse. As they did so, Alexandra felt a sense of relief. The guilt was gone. She felt free, free as a bird. She finally had a new lease on life.
She looked around, simultaneously calm and nervous. Every few seconds her father put his hand on her shoulder, trying to reassure her. It gave her a sense of warmth; at least her family supported her.
The door opened and a white police officer in his late thirties stepped out. “Alexandra Ila?” he called out.
Alexandra looked in the officer’s direction with an expression of apprehension. This was the officer who had arrested her nearly two weeks previously. She knew him as Officer Knudsen. The officer looked at her with some sympathy and informed her, “We are ready for you.”
Alexandra, along with her family, got up and entered the small room. As she did so, she wondered how she would endure what was coming. The room was a small office with a desk, shelves, and a few chairs. Across the desk stood a female police officer with short blonde hair, holding a wooden ruler. The officer looked at her sternly, bouncing the ruler across her own palm. Alexandra nearly froze, looking at her tight-lipped.
Officer Knudsen closed the door and walked to the other side of the desk. He smiled and said, “Okay, This is your family, yes?”
Alexandra replied, “Yes, these are my parents and this is my sister.”
The officer smiled and shook the hands of her mother, father, and sister. He then turned to Alexandra and smiled warmly.
“Okay, Alexandra, are you ready to receive your punishment?” he enquired.
She looked at him blankly for a minute, and finally said yes.
“Do you want your family to be with you?” he enquired.
She looked around, unsure of whether or not she wanted them there. Finally, she decided to have them stay with her, for love and support. “Yes, I do,” came her reply.
“Okay, let’s get started.” He said. “Please kneel at the edge of the desk.”
Alexandra took off her high-heel shoes, thinking that it would feel awkward kneeling in them. The floor felt cold to her bare feet, but she worried less about that and more about the blows
of the ruler. She went over to the desk and knelt before it, her hands on the edge of the desk. Due to her small stature, her chin also rested on the desktop.
“Okay, on second thought.” Officer Knudsen said thoughtfully, “Stand up and put your hands as far across the desk as you can.”
She got up, forced to endure the cold floor again, and placed her hands on the desk. She stood up on her toes and grabbed the far side of the desk, gripping the edge.
Officer Knudsen looked with satisfaction and announced, “Alexandra Ila, you are sentenced to three slaps on the wrist with a ruler for the offence of driving with a blood alcohol level above the legal limit.”
After a few minutes pause, Officer Knudsen continued, “Once you have received your strokes, you will receive a document stating that you have indeed received them. After you receive it, you will file it at the courthouse and then,” Officer Knudsen smiled at Alexandra reassuringly, “you will receive an absolute discharge. A clean slate.”
Alexandra felt heartened at hearing the news. Of course, she had to go through the pain of having the ruler crash down on her wrists three times before she could receive a discharge. She waited two weeks for this moment. From the time of her arrest right until now, she had to deal with the guilt weighing down on her. The waiting part was difficult as well. She wanted to get it over with. She had made just one mistake. But now, she was thankful that after this punishment, she would be free to start over.
Officer Knudsen asked her, “Okay, Alexandra. Are you ready to receive punishment?”
Before Alexandra could reply, her father came over to place one hand on her shoulder to reassure her and the other hand on her forearms, to keep her arms down on the desk. “Don’t worry, my sweet daughter,” he whispered lovingly, “we are here for you.”
Her mother and sister went and placed their hands on her back and shoulders, patting her lovingly and reassuringly. Alexandra almost wanted to cry. She felt so elated that she had such support.
The command, “Begin!” rang throughout the room. Alexandra closed her eyes and braced herself for the first blow. The punishment reminded her of the time she was arrested. Officer Knudsen had placed handcuffs on her and they were tight. She’d had to endure it for the whole ride to the station. When he’d finally let her out of the cuffs, her wrists felt sore for about an hour. Now, her wrists would have to go through some punishment again.
A stinging blow across both her wrists announced the arrival of the first stroke, causing Alexandra to yelp in pain. Her father said to her reassuringly, “It’s okay. It’s okay. Just two more to go.”
Alexandra closed her eyes tighter, trying to block out the sting from her mind. She did not succeed as she felt another sting across her wrists. “Ouch!” she cried out.
“One more,” Officer Knudsen announced, “You’re almost done.”
She thought about the time she’d been arrested.
She celebrated a friend’s birthday at her house. There was a lot of drinking, eating, and partying. Alexandra had a drink too, just a glass. It was not even a big glass, either. Reluctantly, she had a drink but did not finish the whole glass. She felt a bit weird, but it was only a brief feeling. She decided to drive home and went in her own car. After driving for a bit, she swerved. She didn’t even realise that she’d swerved. She was pulled over by Officer Knudsen and given a roadside breath test and a field sobriety test.
She passed the field sobriety test, no problem. However, she did not do so good on the roadside breath test. She was three points above the legal limit. That was enough for Officer Knudsen to arrest her. Despite much begging and crying, Officer Knudsen arrested and booked her.
And now, here she was.
The third stinging blow snapped her out of her reverie. She gave out one final yelp and thought, “Oh, good. Now it’s over.”
“You’re done,” announced Officer Knudsen.
Her family backed away from her to allow her to get away from the desk. Alexandra felt only three short stings as she rubbed her wrists vigorously, hoping to lessen the pain. The strokes had left only small red marks. She pushed herself away from the desk and sat down, slowly putting her shoes back on.
As Officer Knudsen approached the desk to scribble on a piece of paper, he told her emphatically, “I hope you have learned your lesson.”
“Yes, I have,” Alexandra stammered. ”I am sorry that I drove over the legal limit.”
Officer Knudsen smiled and slipped the document towards her, motioning for her to sign it, “Make sure you don’t do it again, okay?” he demanded.
Alexandra smiled shyly, said goodbye, and left the office along with her family and her copy of the document. “Let’s file this today; right now.” Suggested her father. But then, he had a thought and asked, “You don’t have work today, do you?”
Alexandra replied in the negative. She was glad to be off that day. She made off for the courthouse with her family. On her way, she felt a sense of elation, although it was not complete elation. She could not wait to get to the courthouse, file the document, clear her name, and start off with a new slate.
She took the document from her father and looked at it. It read as follows; On this day of July 24, 2011, Alexandra Ila has received three strokes of the ruler across the wrists for driving with a blood alcohol level above the legal limit. With the filing of this document in the court office, all records against Alexandra Ila will be expunged.
As they got to the courthouse, Alexandra practically ran inside, heading for the line. The line was not too big. She could not wait to file this document and get on with her life. When it was finally her turn to approach the court clerk’s docket, she felt excited and at the same time nervous. She walked to the docket and requested that the document be filed.
As she waited, she watched hopefully, nervously. Finally, the court clerk returned the document to her with a smile. She looked down at the document. It was stamped as “received and filed on July 24, 2011. She looked up at the ceiling and smiled. She felt thankful to God for this moment. She looked at her wrists. By this time, the stinging had almost completely gone and the red marks were barely visible.
She went outside and showed the document to her family. They all looked at her, smiled, and embraced her. “Let’s go to a restaurant. Have something to eat,” suggested her mother. In agreement, they all laughed and walked away from the courthouse. As they did so, Alexandra felt a sense of relief. The guilt was gone. She felt free, free as a bird. She finally had a new lease on life.