The Whuppers

Chad seems to have left Holly alone for now. She sits in a booth, head-in-hands, wiping tears. He and her other boy- and girl-friends ignore her. The bartender, looks away from the scene, and at TV in the corner for the sake of plausible deniability.

At midnight, Chad passes Holly’s ID around to the crowd so they can verify her birthday and the number of lashings required. He says to her “Aw, Don’t be scared. It will only hurt for a day or two.” 

A friend adds, “It’s tradition. All us girls do it on our birthday.” 

Holly assumes the position with a crooked smile, bent over, shorts dropped, crop-top lifted up, grasping a ceiling support post. Chad's belt flies. Everyone counts the lashes on her bottom.

With the final 17th blow the room cheers but it’s the bartender who winces, hearing Holly’s age, and scanning the place for NARCs.