While working on taking over the world, I also work once a week as a housemaster in a boys boarding house. Last night, I caught one of my senior boys smoking. I’m not usually the one to catch these sort of misdemenours, and as such, I’m normally “good cop”. I was “bad cop” last night, however, as I questioned the accused, demanding information and “smoking paraphenelia”
In this school, smoking is a school offense (as opposed to minor offenses, which are dealt with by the boarding house staff), it goes on his record, and his parents will be notified.
As I explained all of this to him, he became very distressed. His hands started shaking, eventually, he had to sit down because he was shaking so much. I think the thought that his parents and peers will find out scared him more than anything I could have said. I’m angry and sad that he did it - angry, because he had a good shot at prefectship next year, and this has probably ruined that. Sad, because now that I’ve caught him, I have to proceed with delivering to him the consequences of his actions. I almost wish I hadn’t caught him 
In reflection, this is one of the ways in which we try to turn boys into men - by teaching them to take responsibility for their choices. It’s just sometimes unpleasant to be the instrument of that growth - especially when it involves another’s suffering for their own good.
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