A sequel to THE TODDLER'S REINS. It contains corporal punishment of minors, infantilism, and science-fiction. Once again, apologies if this is not to your tastes. Free speech does not mean compulsory listening, so if you are likely to be offended, pleae don't proceed.
Please feel welcome to respond with your comments or constructive criticisms.
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England - early 21st Century.
The re-introduction of corporal punishment in schools had proved to be a very popular and successful step. Juvenile crime was dramatically reduced, and educational standards improved. Many parents had found that their offspring were much better behaved, nevertheless parents continued to restrain their children with toddler style harness and walking reins up to the age of eleven. In fact, it was widely accepted that the improvements were mainly due to the widespread use of reins. Most children wore their reins all day, but were not always anchored to a chair or parent's wrist. However, the constant presence of the harness, worn tight and clearly visible, served as a chilling reminder to the child of it's subservient status. The smacked legs which were served up in school also played a big part in modifying the children's behaviour.
In school, children were clipped into their seats for specified lessons, for registration, and story-time. Some naughty ones could also be clipped in at other times, and this they particularly disliked, as it labelled them as unreliable - and also usually indicated that they would be going to the machine for a spanking before the day was over. All boys up to age eleven wore short trousers at all times, and girls wore short pleated skirts. The effects of global warming had ensured that winters were now mild enough to convince even the most caring parent that junior was better off with exposed skin. Besides, society expected it. Legally, school spankings could only be given on the thighs, and a spate of child abuse prosecutions had made bare-bottom smacking at home unpopular. To avoid accusations, bare-bottom punishments were normally given only with several witnesses, and only for very serious offences.
Parents would collect their child directly from the classroom, where the child sat with coat on ready to depart, and escort them home. Even the youngest kid knew that when they were on the rein they had to walk calmly with the parent. Usually this meant walking at the parent's side, but in busy areas they had to walk in front of the parent, being steered by tugs on the left or right rein. No pulling on the reins, no turning around, and no stopping without permission. Touching anything in a shop was forbidden, and kids were not allowed to suck thumbs or pick noses whilst on the rein. All children learned this walking code as soon as they could toddle across the carpet, always learned with sharp slaps to a bare thigh whenever they got it wrong. By the age of five every child was well versed and could be escorted miles without error. At least, they should be capable. Look in any high street, though, and numerous boys and girls would be getting a slap on one thigh or both, for alleged breaches of the walking code.
Once home, very few children were allowed out to play. Most would be unclipped from the reins, but would wear their harness until bed-time. Friends might come over, and kids could play in the garden or lounge, but children simply did not go out alone. This was not just for disciplinary reasons, there had been a sharp rise in the number of child abductions, and several gruesome murders. Parents were rightly concerned about their child's safety. Excursions to the park, playground, or sports hall were highlights of every child's day - and parents would kid-share to ensure that their youngster did get plenty of healthy exercise. Everybody benefited from this more careful environment. The children had friends, trips, exercise, and activities. The parents had peace of mind, happy children, and got to talk more with their neighbours. The community benefited because there were plenty of adults at the amenities, so vandalism was dramatically reduced. Bullying, aggressive behaviour, and unfair play were quickly dealt with - the adult in charge having authority to slap the legs of any naughty child in the group. These punishments would be one of three types. The first was a sudden slap applied without warning to the guilty child. These were the lightest, consisting of just one slap, or maybe two blows applied one to each thigh. This normally occurred when the supervising adult was close to the child, saw the offence, and was able to administer instant retribution. They usually produced a squeal of pained surprise.
The second type was more formal. The offender, having been seen from afar, would be summoned to the irate adult by a loud call. "James, stop that. Come here at once" This type of announcement would get the attention of James, and all his friends. They all knew what was likely to follow. Reluctantly James would go to his executioner, often pleading his innocence or begging for mercy. Several loud smacks would be applied to the sides or rear of his quaking legs as James stood before his master. This type of punishment would normally be one or two smacks on each leg - the bigger the audience, the more he gets. Tears would not always follow, particularly from an older boy, but James would return to his game with red face, red legs, and no sympathy. The other kids loved to see a sinner smacked.
The third, and by far the most serious punishment in the park, was a command to sit down. James would almost certainly start to cry now, even before he had received a single slap. Park benches were equipped with D rings, and children's harnesses had short straps with clips on the end. Once sat down, James would be clipped to the bench. His bracelets, if not already on, would be fitted, then James would have to fold his arms and put his hands under the opposite armpit. In this position his bracelets would be clipped to his harness, securing the boy's hands out of the way. James knows that they will not be released until after he gets home. Playtime is over for him. Instead, James is going to have the front of his thighs slapped. Oh, he will kick, and cry, and scream. But the thigh-slapping will go on, and on, and on. Sometimes a flurry of stinging painful smacks, sometimes a musical beat, maybe a pause. But not for long, and then back to the smacking. If his gyrations get too extreme, the walking rein can be used to tie his knees to the front edge of the bench seat. There are convenient little holes for the long strap to slot through, it can then be clipped to his harness. All of his cries, apologies, protests, all in vain. The treatment goes on until it is time to leave for home. This type of punishment is rare, and once started usually attracts a crowd of gloating children, often accompanied by other mothers threatening to do the same to their kids if they don't improve quickly. It is a long walk home with bracelets on, hands trapped, stinging thighs, salty snotty face, and still no sympathy.
Meal-times were a delight for the modern couple. Their brood would be clipped into the appropriate sized high-chair before the meal was served, and every child had to clear their plate before being released. Occasionally one or more children would need encouragement, and this would be provided in the style of a park-bench smacking. With the child suitably secured, the feeding tray can be raised up to clear the target area and restrain the arms. Modern high-chairs, designed with this service in mind, have feeding trays on spring-loaded telescopic poles. Press a lever at the rear and the tray rises smoothly to the height of the child's shoulders, without spilling a drop of soup or gravy. The child's arms are forced up and out, the leverage ensuring that even an eleven year old cannot resist. If the child is at the table the chair can be swivelled away, to enable the adult to reach both legs. All chairs are designed with foot restraints, the shoe fitting into a recess and a padded bar restraining the ankles. This would always be secured before eating, to stop the child from tapping his feet or kicking the table. Now the smacking can begin. Short, rapid slaps applied to the inner thighs work best, but smacks can be placed on the front thighs or outer leg if desired. With the child in this position it is possible to administer a really thorough hiding, eliciting desperate screams and copious apologies with profuse promises of future obedience. Or you can simply smack each leg once. Seems a shame though, having gone to so much trouble to get an easy target, besides, you don't want dinner interrupted every night. Well, that was what most parents thought, and if forced into a spanking at dinner-time, might as well make it a good one. So the unfortunate youngster who was unwise enough to upset mum at meal-time quickly learned not to make a habit of it. Table manners were often exemplary. Once the distraught miscreant had calmed down, the feeding tray could be lowered by adult pressure, and the meal continued. The cold food, previously rejected, would now be consumed without protest, although the face of the diner does not suggest satisfaction.
After dinner the children might be allowed to relax in the lounge, younger ones being gradually prepared for bed first, older children eventually having their turn. Those who can be trusted might be allowed to watch TV or read quietly without restraint. Bad boys and girls may have to be left clipped into their high-chair or clipped onto the settee - but naughty ones often would find themselves first in the bedtime routine, whatever their age.
Most children up to age eleven will sleep in a cot. In larger families or for space reasons the kids may have a bunk-cot. This double-deck cot has two separate gates, so each child can be put in independently. The upper deck has a lid to ensure total safety, and imprisonment. Single cots usually have a barred lid as well as drop-down bars on the sides. Once put to bed, there is no getting up without permission. For fire safety, all cots are fitted with an automatic smoke detector, the lid will open and a bell ring if it senses the slightest smoke or temperature rise. These clever detectors are powered by everlasting batteries charged by solar cells. They are built in to all new furniture, and bleep if they have not charged sufficiently during the day, or start to malfunction. The government provides a free replacement service, but in practise they are very reliable. The piercing bell also sounds if the lid is forced open by the child, and the ringing can only be stopped when the sensor hears a specific sound, that of hand on thigh followed by squeals of pain. The whole household breathes a sigh of relief when the cries from the spanked child finally drown out the bell. Once put back to bed, the sensor automatically adjusts for the increased temperature from the smacked occupant. A pre-recorded voice whispers "Please don't push on the lid...... Please don't push on the lid." until the child has gone to sleep.
Nocturnal incontinence can be addressed in one of three ways. First, the child can wear a nappy (Diaper) with plastic pants. In this case the cot will alert the parent of any moisture. Secondly, the child can be woken by a buzzer as soon as any moisture is detected. A potty will then be provided, and small light illuminated. After use, the child can change the sheets and relax in a dry comfortable bed. Thirdly, the child can be left in a wet bed until he wakes of his own accord.
The process of graduating from a wet sleeper to a dry one is usually accomplished by about the age of four, but there are a number of perfectly normal healthy children who do not manage this until after age eleven, and some who suffer relapses. Bedwetting is not considered a sin, and those children who experience it are loved, never punished for it. The modern cot helps the child and parent to manage his condition without disturbing the adults.
Obviously babies will wear a nappy all day, older toddlers might be put into a nappy just for bed-time. School-age children will have a nappy put on if it is necessary. In all cases plastic pants, or increasingly rubber ones as fossil fuels run out, are worn to prevent leaks. Similarly, disposable nappies were phased out in favour of recyclable terry cloth. Kids in nappies usually wear a cute white vest, the most popular ones have a tail which buttons up in the groin area - covering some of the waterproof pants but leaving a significant amount visible. Trousers of any description are considered unsuitable for a child in nappies.
As the child grows, or matures, and hands in a dry nappy each morning, then the next stage is attempted. The child is shown how to use the potty whilst in the cot, boys clearly cannot stand - they have to squat like girls, and then they are put to bed with no lower garments. The cot has a waterproof mattress cover, and when a mishap occurs the child is supplied with a cloth to clean up, and a new sheet. Laundry is dealt with by the parents the next day.
Once the child is dry, the cot can be set to the highest level, the child now has to summon the potty. Accidents are not cleared up, and the parent must decide if the child has to regress a stage or if the accident has a logical explanation - illness for example. If the child wets on several occasions, the cot will automatically revert to level two, thus ensuring that no child suffers cruelty.
So, getting ready for bed involves having a bath or shower, getting dressed into the appropriate clothes, and being tucked up into one's cot. Nappies are usually fitted in the lounge, in full view of all the family and any visitors who might happen to be around. It is therefore not uncommon to see a five-year old going to bed in pyjamas - the only clothing available which had long pants - whilst his naked ten year old brother may be lying on the carpet legs in the air having Vaseline applied to his genitals & buttocks, then nappy pinned on and rubber pants pulled up. This older child is finally ready for bed when he has a baby vest in big size properly secured. Their seven year old brother might be wearing a stage two night-gown, one which terminates at about waist length, so that any accidents go straight into the absorbent sheet. Of course, his buttocks and genitals would be clearly visible. This little collection of youngsters will go in procession around the house, kissing goodnight to all adults, and getting a pat on the bottom with perhaps a little cuddle, before trooping up to bed. The sequence of retiring, and time interval between siblings, depends upon family preferences. Some kids have strict bed-times, some have more liberal parents who bend according to what's on TV, or if there's school the next day. In the case of our three siblings, they only qualify for a later bed-time than their younger brother if they have reached a more mature stage. So the eldest boy in nappies has to go to bed at the same time as the five-year-old until he is also dry at night. Unfortunately, this extra time in his cot also serves to ensure that his nappy will be wet. Unauthorised removal of a nappy is an instant spanking offence.
In the morning the children are woken, let out, fed, washed, and dressed in an orderly manner. Some families stagger the rise times to ease congestion in the bathroom, others prefer to bathe all the kids at the same time. Most families prefer to feed the little ones before getting them cleaned up, which means putting on their reins and parking them in their high chairs as soon as they emerge from the cot. This continuation of baby handling techniques has been found to be the most efficient. There is less risk of a spillage of food onto the school uniform, and the kids can clean their teeth after breakfast.
Most children are capable of dressing themselves by the age of four, but still like Mummy to assist. There is a strong suckling urge, associated with a desire to be compliant, and being dressed by an adult gives the child a feeling of security and love. A natural extension of this urge is in fact a love for their harness and reins. Many children up to six feel confused, upset even, if their harness is not clipped on. Some have been known to stop and cry the instant that their harness fell off. This can happen if a clip has not been closed properly, or has snapped due to wear. Older children also have mixed feelings towards their harnesses. On the one hand they are restrictive, prevent free play or impulsive exploring - but on the other hand they are comforting, establishing a boundary, and demonstrating parental love. Harnesses for older children are designed so that the child can clip it on for themselves, but cannot remove it. A useful adaptation for dressing after school sports, swimming lessons, or when changing into play clothes.
For all children the reins do prevent easy movement, and this can often be a problem. Youngsters do not always get much warning of the need to go to the toilet, and having to raise a hand then wait for release can be too late. Little puddles are a constant threat for harnessed children, and so it became customary to keep kids in trainer pants. These garments are ideal for restrained youngsters, terry lined to absorb minor dribbles, but not bulky like a nappy. They have a waterproof rubber coating and elasticated thigh and waist bands. Supplied in sizes suitable for children of all shapes and sizes, they because the default standard underwear. Most boys wore plain white trainer pants, but girls, whose rubber knickers could easily be seen under their short school skirts, had a range of frilly coloured ones. In some schools, girls were expected to wear the appropriate colour, to match their tie. Despite the protection provided by incontinence underwear, no child liked wetting themselves, and kids who did it too often might find they were put back into full nappy and rubber pants.
The lack of school, during holidays, causes a number of problems. Not only do the parents have to find a child-minder, or stay at home to care for their children, but there is the lack of regular exposure to discipline. In particular, many parents noticed that the kids become quiet badly behaved once the threat of a school spanking is removed. The school has a spanking machine, a device which whips the legs of offenders, and is much feared by the children. Although not hard, the whipping does go on for a while, and the intensity of the sting is much worse than any hand-slap. School holidays means no access to the school spanker, and parents do like being able to nominate their brat for a dose.
The school spankers are quite large expensive machines, designed to process a lot of children swiftly. Manufacturers eventually managed to invent a home version, cheap, compact, and very effective. The home spanker, or "Y" as it came to be called, consisted of three vertical stainless steel tubes which rose out of a wooden platform. The largest tube was topped by another tube which was curved, so that it had both ends pointing up into the air. The whole arrangement looked like a letter Y, and the lower tube was telescopic. In the wooden base were two holes, either side of the bottom of the Y, the child stood in these holes and rubber straps would criss-cross to secure each foot. Now the Y would extend, one prong passing in front of the child, one behind it. Eventually the weld of the tubes would reach the child's groin, and force the rider onto tip-toe. Sensors in the feet restraints ensured safety whilst applying enough force to keep the legs stretched. Escape was now impossible, the child could not slip off sideways as his feet were secured, and could not move forward or backward because of the curved tube. Bobbing, rocking, and swaying were possible, and the gyrations of the punished were often quiet amusing. When not in use the home spanker could be folded up to a flat pack about the size of a small suitcase, and could be stored under a bed or in a wardrobe. Many were assembled in the lounge, and proudly displayed to visitors and relatives. Any admiring comments were scary words to the youngsters in the house, who quickly learned that an explanation would become a demonstration. Just a question of who's going aboard. And this is where the nickname of the dreadful tormentor was often heard. "Why mummy?" was the usual reply to an order to mount up. "I'll tell you why, when you're on board, James" Most people installed the spanker in a suitable corner of the lounge, with the passenger facing inwards. This gave a good view of the smacked thighs, and meant that the child could be left on board for corner-time.
The child's hands would normally be secured in their bracelets prior to mounting the Y, and the bracelets clipped under the arm-pits. So with victim suitably restrained the weapons could commence. Punishment was administered by wheels which were fitted onto the tops of the other two vertical poles. Each pole had one wheel, and each wheel had a number of leather strips hanging from it. When the wheel spun, the strips would fly out in horizontal rotation. It resembled an umbrella without the cloth. The two poles were mounted so that they could move in an arc around the child's legs. They could also tilt closer. The tips of the leather strips would make contact with the child's skin, causing an intense stinging pain, but no deep bruising. Because of the number of strips, and high speed of rotation, this had the effect of feeling more like a burn than a smack. Whatever it felt like, the children soon came to respect it, dread it. The rotating wheels would sweep across each thigh, from outside to rear, then descend slightly before travelling out again. A line of pain was thus traced down each leg, a zigzag of agony which started at the edge of the clothing and continued until it was one inch from the knee. These points were detected by a small laser on each wheel, the reflection being analysed by a computer which determined the sweep length and termination points.
The children were generally not impressed by the technology, they were much more focused upon the dose setting. Because the home spanker only had one wheel per leg, compared to the school's four, it look much longer to cover the punishable area. The school version, working on four separate patches at once, also produced a greater amount of pain. To compensate for this difference, the home version would do a second sweep for each cycle. A school spanker could spank a five year old in just fifteen seconds. At home this would take two minutes. It was found that this was acceptable, the naughty child effectively did some corner-time whilst getting spanked, although it was possible to add an extra delay before release to the end of the routine.
Children younger than five could be accommodated on the home spanker, and three or four year olds made the most regular passengers. They would get a half cycle, one minute of pain, then released into mother's waiting arms. Many a temper tantrum was ended on the Y, with screams of anger turning rapidly into sobs of despair. Many a little sulk was converted into a passionate apology, and many a nursery squabble was settled by taking turns to step aboard. The pain was all-consuming, overpowering, cleansing. Tiny tears would wash away the sins of the innocent, then sobs would turn into snoozes, as the spanked toddler would sleep in his mothers forgiving arms.
Older children could get more than one cycle. To ensure that the child got the full benefit, the home spanker would pause for a minute between cycles. Generally the school system was followed, kids of six years got two cycles, or five minutes on board. Seven year olds got three cycles, taking eight minutes to administer. The eight and nine year olds would cringe for eleven minutes, screaming for four doses, and waiting miserably three times for it to start again. Those boys and girls aged ten or eleven had fourteen minutes of agony to endure, five sets of whipped thighs, four awful delays, and no prospect of a reprieve. When interviewed during testing, the young test-pilots admitted that they did feel justly punished, the time spent on board was equivalent to a good hand-spanking and then ten minutes of corner-time, and the pain was no worse.
The time spent on board was not always a lonely agonising ride. Certainly, once started, the machine would continue through it's cycles without further assistance. But many parents took the opportunity to explain why the youngster was receiving this particular pleasure. Why indeed. Some scolding took the form of a detailed explanation of the sin, what had been done to cause offence, and what modifications to future behaviour were expected. The child could listen to this telling off without having to respond. But some scolding was more difficult to handle. It required a reply.
"Why don't you behave properly" "Why did you do that naughty act?" "Why do you let yourself down so often?" Each scolding question requiring an answer from the squirming juvenile, who, to be fair, had plenty to think about already. Apart from the wicked pain that was being inflicted onto his poor legs there was the problem of bladder control, snot production, tear flow, and scream management. The liquids which were pouring down his sweaty face were dripping into his wide-open mouth, tasting disgusting and adding to the slobber which he was gurgling out with every yelp. Trying to extract coherent answers from this drooling wreck was futile, so most parents either sought apologies before mental collapse, or delayed his release until the rider was back in the land of the conscious.
It was not always necessary or desirable, though, to administer the traditional maximum dose. Even ten year olds could be kept in line with a half-cycle. In many households, the custom was to mount the child on the machine before announcing the size of the dose. Hence culprits would eagerly clamber on board in the hope of getting an easy ride. In those homes where the Y sat proudly in the lounge, junior might be told to step aboard with his hands placed firmly upon his head, and only the foot restraints activated. A quick half-cycle would impress upon him the dissatisfaction felt by Mum or Dad about a minor incident.
"James, your shoe-lace is undone again, that's the third time I've told you to see to it."
"Sorry Mum, I'll do it now"
"You can do it in a minute, young man, after a smack. Go inside and get one."
"Oh Mum, there's no need"
"You get aboard right now, or it'll be worse for you"
"Yes, Mum"
Sixty seconds later a rather subdued little boy ties his laces properly, desperately rubbing his sore thighs at the same time. A smack of this type would not always make a ten year old cry, but it would ensure compliance.
Failure to put toys away when told, not shutting the outside door, or forgetting a matter of hygiene might result in this form of instant minor punishment. To ease the burden on the parent, there was a half-cycle button on the machine, which would commence thirty seconds after depression. This enabled the hapless child to press the start button, then mount up, and receive his just deserts. Parents did not have to get up from their seats, just tell the youngster to administer a smack, and the kid would do the rest. Some children, perhaps in an effort to appease their parents, maybe in genuine guilt, would step aboard without being condemned by an adult.
"I'm sorry Mummy. Mr Smith saw me step on his vegetable patch when I went to get my ball back. I know it was wrong and I've been smacked, look." James would say, turning his thigh to display a red patch. Sometimes it might rest there, sometimes not, it depended upon whether Mr Smith called round to complain. If he did, James would probably get the full works whilst the adults sipped sherry.
A timer was also incorporated onto the spanker, to administer corner-time. It could be imposed on it's own, or as a sequel to a spanking. It was not customary to administer a full spanking and corner time, though. A ten year old might get two cycles instead of his deserved five, then cornered with a threat of the full dose next time. In English tradition, corner-time is always performed with hands on head, and an infra-red sensor could scan the height of the wrists. If the passenger took his hands down, or twisted round to avoid facing the plain corner, then the wheels would spin up. Smacking would continue until the child replaced the hands and faced the corner properly. An automatic recording would then announce the amount of extra time to be endured, and a final flurry of smacks would be delivered. Children aged six to ten generally did double their age in minutes, so a nine year old would get 18 minutes in the corner. Children under six would do five minutes only, but it was not normal to impose corner-time on a child under five. The standard extra time would be to double the remaining time, so a boy who had four minutes to go would now have to suffer a total of eight minutes, after the spanking for cheating had finished. Eleven year olds would normally get a 30 minutes of corner time. In practise, a first offence might earn corner-time, second occasion get a half-spanking and cornered, and subsequent breaches the full spanking. If the child was to be part-spanked then cornered, an adult would have to unclip his hands and put them on his head, this made it an unpopular option.
When two or more children were to be punished, the parents had a dilemma. Do we start with the youngest, and make the others wait, or do we dismount each child after a few cycles, and cook them all together? The option depends upon the family, the circumstances, the number of children involved, and the various ages. If it was felt that one could get a half-spanked child back on board with little resistance, then a shared spanking was a useful lesson. But if the kids were known to struggle, better to complete the job, and impose extra traditional corner-time until everybody has been processed. Most homes have a row of D rings attached to a suitable wall for this type of occurrence. Of course, one can always clip up their hands and keep the line singing in tune with a little manual slapping.
So the home spanker went into production, cleverly disguised as a Tracy Island toy. Demand was terrific. Boys and girls alike looked forward to their twelfth birthday, when they assumed that they would never again have to step into those holes of virtual death, and ride the Y.
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