Stuart's behaviour had improved since his first session with the slipper. It had obviously had an impact on him because I did hear him talking to his brothers about it. Robert ,the youngest who was only 3, was making a lot of noise one day and I overheard Stuart say "Be quiet Robbie or daddy will whack your bare botty with the slipper". He had also warned Jimmy, 5, about making a mess in the bathroom. He had said "If dad sees that Jimmy you'll get your bum slippered". Stuart seemed puzzled that naughtiness by his brothers was still only punished with a hand swat. He hadn't really grasped that I expected more from him as he was the eldest. Stuart still got the occasional swat for very minor mischief but he knew that more serious misbehaviour meant a visit to the bedroom.
About 3 months after his first proper punishment Stuart was in trouble again. His mother had picked him and Jimmy up from school and been given a note from his teacher. The note said that Stuart had taken a small chocolate bar from another child in the class and eaten part of it. His mother had sent him straight to his room on arrival home and told him to wait for me to return from work. When I got home I was told about the incident and called Stuart into the lounge where all the family were sitting. "What is the meaning of this, Stuart" I demanded, "I will not tolerate theft, what have you to say for yourself".Stuart shuffled uneasily and stared at his feet. "I'm waiting boy" I pressed on.
"I'm sorry dad. I'm very sorry. I promise not to do it again", the boy whispered.
"What have I told you would happen if you misbehaved?, I enquired.
A tear trickled down Stuart's cheek, followed by another. His brothers were watching open mouthed. "You said I'd get the slipper again dad".
"That's not quite right Stuart. I said if you misbehaved again I would punish you. I did not say I would necessarily use the slipper. This is far too serious for the slipper, this deserves the cane. Go to your room and wait for me". Stuart turned and left the room and tearfully trudged upstairs to his bedroom. I decided to make him wait and read the day's paper and watched a little television before making my way to my room. Stuart was sitting on the edge of his bed and heard me enter my bedroom and open the cupboard in which was kept a recently purchased, school issue, bamboo cane. It was long and thin with a curved handle. I entered the child's room holding the cane by it's handle and the small child's face was staring rigidly at the fearsome instrument. "I will not tolerate THEFT Stuart. You will never again take something which does not belong to you. I shall make sure you learn your lesson tonight. Take off your shorts". With trembling hands my eldest son dropped his shorts to his ankles. "I said take OFF your shorts" I commanded and Stuart stepped out of his white shorts, folded them and placed them on his bed. "Now take off your underpants" I continued. Stuart slipped his fingers into the elastic of the tiny light blue briefs he was wearing, slipped them down and stepped out of them before placing them with his shorts. "Now take off your t-shirt". Stuart obeyed and stood facing me, stark naked. "Now turn around, bend over and touch your toes". The little lad bent over in front of me. "You will be given 8 strokes of the cane, you will stay in that position until I tell you to get up. If you get up before I say or if you cover your bottom with your hand I will give you 2 extra for each time you do it. Do you understand?". Stuart sniffled that he understood and braced himself for the first of his 8. I had one more thing to say, however. "After each stroke you will repeat the words The Bible says Thou Shalt Not Steal, prepare yourself".
I flexed the cane and took aim. I landed the first two strokes quickly across the small buttocks presented to me. Each stroke drew forth a plea for mercy "OWWW DADDY PLEEZ NOT SO HARD" followed by the required recitation. Each further stroke took longer to administer as Stuart was struggling through the tears to repeat his line. After number 6 it came out something like "Th-Th-The Bib-Bible says th-th-thou shalt no-o-not st-stee-st-steal". I was confident the child's suffering could be heard downstairs and that his younger brothers were taking it onboard. I landed the final two strokes just at the point where legs become buttocks. This was to ensure that the sitting process would be painful for a few days to act as a reminder. Each stroke was accompanied by a plaintive plea for leniency followed by the required line. After the eighth stroke I paused, left the child bending for some seconds and then told him to get up and place his hands on his head and face me. "What lesson have you learnt today Stuart" I asked.
"I've I've lea-learnt nev-never to steal, dad. I prom-promise not to do it ag-again". He sobbed. I told him to go and stand in the corner of the bedroom for an hour with his hands on his head. I said he could dress and return to join the rest of the family when his hour was up. I felt sure this punishment would be discussed with his brothers very soon.