The Great Henry (Homer Huffman) (Biography‪)‬

Prior to taking the birch, he briefly considered discussing with Coach the negative aspects of corporal punishment as a disciplinary measure. He also considered bringing up Clarence Darrow's statement to a jury that punishment never made anybody a better person. But he rejected these strategies, recalling that Coach's licks were not intended as social rehabilitation. They were business. Take the whacks and be on your way or stay after school for two hours. Either way, what was known as "Coach Justice" was served. As Henry bent over his desk, he turned his head and looked behind him. Coach balanced himself on the crutch wedged in his left armpit and waggled Long Tom ritualistically, as a golfer preparing to tee off. Henry's brain raced. He recalled hearing a football player say that before his date with Long Tom, he had gone to the doctor and begged him for a Novocaine shot in the rear end, both hemispheres. And the ballplayer had a lot more natural padding back there than Henry had. In fact, Henry had no padding at all. He hardly even had a physique, weighing less than a hundred and forty pounds. He thought of the shame he would feel if he cried or, worse beyond comprehension, fainted. He braced himself.