When Father Mortimer checked into the hotel it was eight in the evening.
The room was a basic no frills double with a small bathroom. He would never stay in such a hotel if he was attending one of his ecclesiastical conferences but for what he had planned it was just perfect.
He got down on his knees and bent his balding aged head over a black gilt leaf Bible he had respectfully placed on the edge of the bed.
“Blessed Lord Jesus forgive me for my sins,” he muttered and crossed himself three times.
He took the Bible and placed it in his briefcase.
From a black holdall bag he took out some objects and put them on the bed. One stick, a cane, one wooden paddle and a studded brown leather strap.
Father Mortimer looked at them and gasped, fell to his knees and cried out “Oh Heavenly father I behold the trinity!”
Quite by accident the objects had been placed in such a formation.
The old man recovered himself and gathered the implements and placed them on one of the two pillows.
He looked at his watch. It was eight thirty already. Then Father Mortimer went to the window and drew a curtain back slightly. A car was just pulling into a space. It stopped. Then Father Mortimer’s mobile made a sound. He looked at it and tapped away at the virtual keyboard. A car door could be heard opening and clunking shut.
Father Mortimer went to his briefcase and pulled out his Bible once more, kissed it, returned it to the briefcase and then crossed himself three times. There was a knock at the door.
When he opened the door, stood before him was a woman in nun’s attire, black habit and white wimple adorned her head. A wooden crucifix was hanging from her neck.
“I’m the Mother Superior”, she said and walked in. “I understand that you wish to confess and atone.” She stood with her back to the mirror facing the bed.
“Yes Mother Superior it is true,” said Father Mortimer with his eyes down. “I have sins to confess.”
“On your knees when you address me unrepentant sinner!” Snapped the Mother Superior, her old grey eyes glared and the wrinkles on her face tightened.
Father Mortimer fell to his knees.
“That’s better. Now make your confession.” Her hands were together in front of her.
“Forgive me Mother for I have sinned,” he began. “I have had thoughts. I have coveted many women, married women, over the years.”
“And did you make your desires known to any of these women?” Asked the Mother Superior.
“No, Mother Superior I did not.”
“Liar! Satan has possessed your soul worthless sinner!” She said with fury.
“Once Mother Superior, once I did transgress, only once!”
“Wicked! Wicked man! Oh you will repent and you will atone for this depravity. You bury daggers in Christ's heart with your illicit desires!” She hissed at him with acid venom.
“Mother Superior I wish to repent and atone. I will submit to your judgement.” Father Mortimer fell to the carpet in total submission.
“Rise sinner,” said the Mother Superior. “God alone can forgive you but I will be the means to your salvation. With every stroke you will come back to God. Avail yourself! Take the position.”
Father Mortimer unfastened his belt and allowed his trousers to fall. Then he bent over the bed and used his hands to support his upper body. The Mother Superior had taken the three implements from the pillow and was standing behind him. She put them on a chair and pulled down his white underwear to his knees.
“Legs open!” She snapped, and Father Mortimer adjusted his position, opening his legs so that the Mother Superior could see his testicles hanging down. His legs were hairy but his bottom was not. It was quite white, for the moment anyway.