Several weeks had passed since the incident with Mr Brown. The boys were knuckling down to their new, stricter life. Their schoolwork was improving as was their behaviour both at school and elsewhere. I was astonished, therefore, when one Saturday morning a police car pulled up outside my house and a policewoman came down the path and knocked at the door. I answered the door and was told my attendance was required at the police station as 2 of my boys, Craig and John had been taken there for apparently throwing stones at trains from the embankment which was close to the park where they often played. I immediately got into my car and drove the 2 miles to the police station. Upon arrival I was ushered into a small room where I was met by another police officer who told me my 2 sons were in a group of 5 boys who had been reported for throwing stones at trains. The other 3 children's parents had already collected their offspring but my 2 boys had apparently lied about their names which had caused some delay. I had to endure the embarrassment of being the father of 2 boys who were now to receive formal cautions from the police.
After about 5 minutes the boys were brought into the room. They were unable to meet my eyes. Clearly they had been crying and were now doubtless fearful of the fate which awaited them at home. I had to sign a declaration that my sons had been cautioned and both boys were lectured by the police officer that any repetition of this type of incident could result in serious trouble. The boys, now sniffling and shaking, were released back into my care. I strode from the police station, 2 small and frightened boys following behind, half running to keep up not wishing to antagonise their father further. When outside the station I turned to the boys and simply said "You two will regret this day more than any other in your lives". With that I ordered them into my car and began the drive home.
The journey home was made in silence except for the slight sobbing noises which I heard coming from the back seat where Craig and John were sitting. Eventually we arrived home. Bobby, my youngest, opened the door for us. He had been told to wait indoors while I went to collect his elder brothers. I ordered Craig and John to go immediately to their bedroom and strip totally naked and then report to the lounge. The two boys obeyed immediately and after about 10 minutes I heard them coming down the stairs and entering the lounge. I then told Bobby to accompany me to the lounge as I had decided he should witness the punishment as an example to him should he ever decide it was fun to throw stones at trains. Bobby had been punished by me before for rudeness but this punishment would be much more severe. After all this was not simple naughtiness but criminal activity.
Bobby and I entered the lounge and I sat on the sofa over which my two eldest sons would soon be bent receiving a severe thrashing. I decide a lecture was in order. "You two boys have behaved in a thoroughly stupid way. I cannot believe you think it is funny or clever to throw stones at trains. Somebody could have been injured or even worse. Have you anything to say, anything at all, before I punish you ?" The two naked boys studied their feet and both shook their heads. I decided to continue. "When I came home, after your mother left, I told you the standards I expected. You have all been punished by me before so you know you will be punished if you fall short of the standards I expect. There is absolutely no excuse for today's stupidity and the punishment you will receive will be remembered for a long long time. I could not believe what the police told me. Craig, you were seen throwing at least TEN stones at a train. What on earth did you think you were doing. John, the person who reported you said you threw at least SIX. I think I am entitled to an explanation WHY." I leaned back in the sofa and stared straight into the eyes of my sons. Their eyes dropped to the floor so I yelled at them "Look me in the eyes you little brats and tell me why you did what you did". Craig and John did their best to look me in the eye but they were unable to offer any explanation for their behaviour. Both boys mumbled about being sorry and never doing it again but no excuses or explanations were forthcoming. I decided the punishment should be delivered.
"When I came back home when your mother left I told you I had upstairs a cane, a belt, and a horsewhip. I said that the instrument I used would be decided by the seriousness of your misbehaviour. Today you have not simply misbehaved you have broken the LAW and also behaved in a manner which is not only STUPID but extremely DANGEROUS." The words which I emphasised were highlighted by me banging my fist onto my desk top, each blow causing the 2 naked boys and also Bobby, who was watching intently, to jump. " There is only one punishment today which can properly reflect the seriousness of your lawbreaking. Bobby, go to my room and fetch me the horsewhip from the cupboard." My youngest son immediately rushed to my bedroom and found the fearsome instrument. He held it with awe and was delighted he was not about to feel it's sting. Bobby had received the belt from me and that was quite hard enough for him, he thought. Craig and John had exchanged fearful and tearful glances at the mere mention of the horsewhip and both boys looked apprehensively at the lounge door as Bobby entered carrying the whip which he handed to me. The 2 naked boys were now shaking visibly. I decided I did not want my lounge carpet damaged and so one final order was called for. "I suggest you both first visit the lavatory before I thrash you". Both boys were glad to rush out and avail themselves of the toilet. They then returned to face the music.
"You have both behaved in a criminal and stupid manner. John I shall punish you first. You were seen throwing at least six stones onto the railway track. I am going to give you 10 lashes for behaving so stupidly plus a further 2 lashes for each stone, plus another 8 for lying about your name to the police. That makes a total of 30 lashes, bend over the sofa." John tearfully fell over the arm of the sofa and dug his fingernails into the soft fabric. The boys had been made aware during their previous punishments that they were to stay in position until I told them to get up. They knew any attempt at delaying or preventing the punishment would result in the number of strokes being increased. I positioned myself behind the boy and began delivering the promised lashing. Each stroke drew forth a yell of anguish and the boy's bottom jerked upwards but John, knowing what would happen if he disobeyed my order, stayed in position over the sofa. After 10 lashes I stopped and told the weeping boy to stay in his position.. I then turned my attention to Craig, now openly sobbing, as he knew he was older and would surely get more that his brother.
"Craig you are the eldest and therefore I expect you to show a good example to your brothers. Today you have failed miserably to do this. You also lied about your name to the police officer and this no doubt encouraged John to do so as well. Like John you will receive 10 lashes for your stupidity, plus 2 lashes for each of the TEN stones you were seen throwing, plus 8 lashes for lying to the police about your name. You will also receive 12 lashes for failing in your responsibility to set an example to your brother. That makes a total of 50 lashes Craig, bend over the sofa". Craig was sobbing uncontrollably now but bent over the other arm of the sofa, opposite the one over which John was still draped. I moved behind Craig and methodically thrashed his backside 10 times, as it had with his brother each lash drew a yelp of pain and a jerk of the backside. I then returned to John and administered a further 10. I waited after each stroke for the child to compose himself and so the whole process was taking quite a long while. Bobby was watching the whole thing wide eyed and open mouthed, I was sure this was serving as a good lesson to him. After John's second batch of lashes I walked to the other end of the sofa and delivered a further 10 to Craig. By now the crying from both boys and their cries for forgiveness were reaching a crescendo but I had decided a severe lesson had to be taught. I returned to John's quivering bottom and administered his final 10. After the last stroke I ordered him to rise. He did so and spent the next few minutes hopping around the room rubbing his whipped rear end. I strode back to Craig, mindful of the fact he was still due 30 more. I delivered a further 10 and then ordered the screaming child to rise. Craig threw himself at my feet.
"Thank you dad for only giving me 30. I swear I'll never do anything like that again".
"I'm sorry Craig I'm not just giving you 30. I think 30 is more than enough for one day but you will report to the lounge after dinner tomorrow for the 20 you are still to receive. You will, of course, go to your room and strip naked before reporting for your punishment." With that final comment I dismissed all 3 of my sons from the lounge satisfied that all of them, even Bobby who had not been punished, had learned a useful lesson today.