The "swish" and then the crack of the cane on boyflesh, followed by crying and whimpering, could be heard clearly through the thin walls. I had been working in my garden and my next door neighbours 3 children, 11 year old Stuart, 9 year old James and Peter the 7 year old had been playing in their garden. I hadn't seen what happened but there had been a crashing noise and one of my neighbour's greenhouse windows had, I could see, been smashed.
The family had moved into the house almost 6 years ago and I knew what the incident meant. There would be a caning. Some years ago I had been in my office, a converted bedroom, when I clearly heard a conversation from the adjacent room in the house next door. The houses were quite old and had, at one time, had fireplaces in the bedrooms. Now they had been filled in but there was a large void in the wall which enabled sound to travel quite freely.
The conversation was between my neighbour and his eldest boy who, at the time would have been about 7. I did not know why the child was to be punished but he had clearly upset his father as what first drew my attention to the conversation was the boy's tearful voice pleading with his father not to cane him. Father was unmoved as I devoted my full attention to the activity next door. I discovered if I placed my ear against the false wall where the fireplace had been I could hear every word and every sniffle from the child. I listened as father told the boy to stop snivelling. The next command was a brusque "shorts off", swiftly followed by the single word "OVER". Clearly father and child had a routine for punishment because the boy had clearly forgotten something. "PANTS" screamed the man. I assumed this to mean the boy was expected to drop his underpants before bending to receive his discipline.
I continued listening as this drama was concluded by the sound of 6 hard strokes of the cane swishing through the air and landing on little Stuart's backside. Obviously the crack of bamboo was followed by a cry of pain from the lad.
Punishments were frequent next door and, as they were nearly always preceded by father's loud voice berating one or more of the children, I was able to assume my "listening position" to await the inevitable. Believe me in the four years or so since I accidentally heard the first one I had heard well over 100 more. On this occasion I immediately went indoors, without seeming to rush, and removed my muddy gardening boots before rushing upstairs to my office and assuming my position. Very soon I heard voices and became aware that father and sons were entering the room.
I listened as the boys all tried, tearfully, to blame each other for the accident. Father was clearly unmoved as he barked at his eldest boy "Stuart, fetch the cane". I vaguely heard a cupboard door open and close. The next words I heard were "Shorts Off" and I Imagined 3 frightened boys preparing for their beating. The next I heard was "Peter, bend over". The youngest had been selected for the first caning. This was followed by 8 swishes, 8 cracks and 8 increasingly tearful whimperings. A brief period of silence then "Bend over James" The 9 year old was given 10 and although two years older than Peter was still unable to avoid crying and pleading whilst the punishment was in progress. Another pause, punctuated only by quiet sobs. Then it was Stuart's turn. "Bend over Stuart" Being the eldest he got the most strokes,12. The customary crying and pleas for mercy again accompanied this caning.
Quite probably my little corner of my office is the best place in my house.