The 7 year old boy trembled with fear. His new "daddy", mummy's new husband, had caught him taking biscuits from the tin without permission, and just before dinner. His mummy had told the man that she wanted him to be responsible for the boy's discipline now they were living together as a family. "Daddy" had gone to the cupboard under the stairs and had produced a size 10 gym slipper which he now held in his right hand as he glared at the boy. The boy's 2 brothers, aged 9 and 5 had been ordered into the living room to witness the punishment "as an example" the man had said. Mummy was also in the room, she approved of this type of punishment but, feeling it to be a man's job, she had never punished her sons this way herself. The boy fidgeted nervously with his white cotton shorts and the man barked at him to stand still. He then began.
"You have been told never to take things without asking permission and you have disobeyed. What happens to disobedient boys Paul?"
"T-t-they get punished, dad", the boy replied nervously. His mummy had told him to call the man dad when he had moved in with them.
"You have also eaten biscuits before dinner. You have been told not to eat snacks before meals and again you have disobeyed. Tell me again what happens to disobedient boys?."
"They are punished, dad"
Without taking his eyes off the boy, who was now staring at the carpet, unable to meet the man's steely glare, the man ordered "Take off Your shorts".
The boy lowered, and then stepped out of, the thin white cotton shorts revealing a pair of tight light blue briefs.
"Bend over and touch your toes" the man ordered and Paul obeyed. His brother's were watching the drama unfold, open mouthed. Clearly they feared the same treatment if they were ever naughty.
The man moved behind the boy, slipper in hand, and with his spare hand pulled the boys briefs down just enough to expose his round little bottom. "You will call out the number after each stroke" the man ordered. He paused briefly, taking aim. The without warning laid the slipper firmly across the centre of the boy's backside.
"Oww One" wailed the child. This was followed by three more loud whacks each of which was accompanied by a louder cry and tearful counting. Five, six and seven followed and the boy had now started to plead "S-S-seven, ohhh pleeeease dad" The man was unmoved simply saying "You are going to learn your lesson, stay down".
The eighth crack, then nine and ten. The same pitiful sobbing. "Aaaahhhh, t-t-ten, ohhh dad pleeease no m-m-more".
The man was pausing longer now between each stroke, allowing the full sensation of the boy's pain to be absorbed. He administered 11 and 12 and then stepped back, admiring his handiwork, as he observed the boys reddening bottom. "You may stand, but leave your pants as they are and place your hands on your head". Then, without further ado he turned to the boy's brothers and warned them they would receive the same punishment if they stepped out of line. He left the boy standing there for about another 30 minutes before telling him to raise his pants but to leave his shorts off. For the rest of that evening the boy would just be wearing t shirt and underpants.