"There seems to be little choice."
"Well I agree. We're getting too old for the kind of discipline he needs - this man seems ideal."
"Will Tony agree?"
"Well, he knows he can't go back to Sam or Sheila; and he knows we can't go on like this.."
"And he knows that if we as his grandparents can't manage he's going to have to be sent away..."
"...Which he doesn't want.."
"So I think he will agree, yes."
"Are we being a bit extreme?"
"Extreme circumstances..."
"... call for extreme measures. I know. And it's not a lot more than we used to get from our own parents. I can often remember having my pants taken down...
"... and I can remember being made to strip naked in front of the next door neighbour before my spanking..."
"It would do him good."
"I think so."
***
So it was that, after a difficult conversation and much pleading for a "last chance", Tony found himself being driven away from his grandparents' home late one Friday afternoon, by a tall, burly, retired school principal, who now specialised in taking on unruly boys and bringing them to heel.
David Markham looked sideways at his latest charge as they drove out toward the west coast. Tony was still in his school uniform - purple and gold blazer, white shirt, school tie, black long trousers, black shoes. But even in this disguise, David could see that he was an attractive boy. Cropped brown hair, a fair freckly face, slim body, nicely shaped legs, perhaps a little short for his age - and sparkling blue eyes. This would be an interesting, no, entertaining weekend.
After two hours' drive, mainly silent, they drew up at David's coastal home, alone on a rocky promontory overlooking the western ocean. It was a wild, wet, cold place, and they ran into the house as quickly as they could.
David took Tony straight to his study, a long, narrowish room, with booklined walls and a desk and chair at one end. Ensconcing himself in the chair, he had Tony stand before him.
"Now Tony, you are quite clear about this weekend? It is designed to set you on a new pathway, to test your obedience and to punish any disobedience. You understand this?"
"Yes Sir." Tony, although he could be very naughty, knew that this man held him completely in his power. If he failed to co-operate, he would not return to his grandparents.
"And you know that it is part of the deal that I may dress - or undress you - and punish you as I wish?"
"Yes Sir." Tony had never been physically punished and nobody had dressed or undressed him for a very long while. It all felt rather surreal and terrifying. And Markham was so burly and strong.
"Very well. Now, I will show you upstairs to your room, which, you will find, has the luxury of its own bathroom. Take a shower or a bath and put on the clothes you find on the bed. You will see that these are only underclothes, shoes and socks. This is not a mistake. You are going to spend the whole weekend only partially dressed. If I need to spank you, this saves me all the fuss of removing layers of clothing; I think you will also find it embarrassing to be in your underwear - so there is an element of cutting you down to size and making you realize that you are not as grown-up as you pretend. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Sir." Tony understood most of it. What he understood made him feel cold inside.
"Very well. Let's go upto your room. When you are washed and dressed, or should I say undressed, find me in the kitchen next door."
In his room, Tony discovered a pair of white Y-fronts, a white cotton vest, white socks, and white tennis shoes. He had his bath, dressed queasily in his new "outfit" and made his way, flushed, to the kitchen.
"Good," said David, turning from the sink and drying his hands. "Come back with me to the study for a moment."
In the study, David pointed to a small chart on the wall. It read:
TONY'S PUNISHMENTS
-1