(I hope this part of the story will have proper punctuation which was omitted when part 2 was posted.)
Now put the blanket on the floor as you were told and go to sleep. If I hear another sound out of you tonight, youll get 20 with the tawse, so watch out.
To Ruth he added, Please make sure David behaves himself. When you have finished with the story, please turn off the lights and close the door before you turn in for the night.
Very well, Mr. Dawson, Ruth said. Im almost finished.
David lay sobbing on the floor, listening to the end of the story. At least those people in fairy tale land would live happily ever after. Trying not to think about tomorrow and the following days, the boy had finally cried himself to sleep.
It had not been a restful sleep. He woke several times thinking of what the next day would bring. He wished he could stay in bed forever; he didnt want to face what lay ahead. In this, as in so many other things, he was unsuccessful. The morning dawned and he heard his parents moving about downstairs. Bobby was still fast asleep.
Reluctantly David got up and went to the bathroom. Then he returned to his room and quickly dressed in his shorts and T-shirt. He went downstairs to help his mother with preparing breakfast for all 8 persons.
About an hour later, they were sitting in the dining room having a leisurely breakfast. David had brought his hard chair from the living room and was now shifting about on his still quite tender backside. He ate little, his mind on the second installment of his punishment.
As they were ending their meal, Hal Gibson said with a little chuckle, Well, I guess young David here is now going to receive his second whipping today. When do you plan to proceed, Greg?
Davids face turned very red and hot as they all looked at him with open amusement. He quickly turned his own eyes on his unfinished scrambled eggs.
I dont see any reason to delay it any further. I would suggest we all meet in my study in about 30 minutes, if that is agreeable to all.
It was and the Gibsons withdrew to take a walk in the garden.
David, you will come to the study now, take your shorts down and stand in the corner until the guests arrive.
Please, sir, why must they watch? Cant you just do it without anyone watching? the boy begged. His cheeks flamed a deep red.
But Gregory Dawson was not impressed. It will do you good, he said instead. A little humiliation will bring you back down to earth. Youve been getting above yourself recently. You will treat your sister with respect from now on or you will receive similar treatment again. Now run along.
Already close to tears, David trudged to the dreaded study where he dutifully went to the corner and lowered his tight little shorts. Out of habit, he brought his hands on top of his head and waited, bare from the waist down.
In the meantime, the Dawsons showed their guest through the gardens. It was Julies pride and joy and she described every plant and flower. Ruth and Bobby walked along, greatly bored and anxious to watch Davids upcoming thrashing. Not that they had anything against David; as a matter of fact, they liked him. But they had never seen a boy whipped as severely as David had been and were wondering how he would take todays beating. Then what about tomorrow? It was quite an entertainment for them.
It was almost 45 minutes later when the group at last assembled in the study. They saw Davids small figure standing bare-bottomed in the corner with his shorts around his ankles. Ruth and Bobby grinned, while Elizabeth just stared at the welts that covered her brothers buttocks.
I was out cutting rods this morning, Gregory explained, went to the corner cupboard and brought out a long, green birch rod dripping water. I soaked them to keep them supple, he explained, shaking off the extra droplets that had accumulated at the twigs tips. Four dozen, he said calmly. David, come out and bring the bench, then take your shorts off.
David flushed, looked at his father and the guests, squirming with shame. But he knew what to do and was quickly kneeling on the bench with his hands on the floor supporting his upper body. He spread his knees wide and arched his back so that his buttocks rose and split wide apart. By now he was in tears of embarrassment. The children watched, enthralled with the spectacle.
The flogging that ensued was a repetition of yesterdays, except for Davids even more exotic contortions and vociferous expressions of pain. The old stripes were inflamed all over again and the scratched skin once more began to bleed slightly. It took almost 15 minutes before the full dose had been applied. During the infliction, there were exclamations and comments that caused the more even more humiliation.
Look at his bottom, Ruth exclaimed, its actually swelling up.
Well, if a boy is well flogged, that is usually the case, Hal Gibson saw fit to explain. You will note how much more effective the strokes vertically down the center are. They reach the more sensitive parts and add to the punitive effect.
Its a pity boys aren't disciplined like this more frequently, his wife stated. Some boys these days behave atrociously because of being brought up too lax.
The rod never hesitated during these comments but continued to lash across the naked cheeks. The pain and the humiliation were too much and David just howled. But at last it was over.
Into the corner, boy, his father ordered. You will stay there for an hour and I will return for the rest of todays penalty. Move!
The boy rolled off the bench and now the guests saw a most contrite little boy standing sobbing in the middle of the room, doing his best not to rub his bottom, an act which was strictly forbidden after any sound whipping. His face was crumpled, wet with tears, eyes swollen, his nose running. With awkward steps he shuffled towards his corner, his face burning almost as much as his backside. They left him alone, weeping in the corner, hands on his head, exhibiting a very red, wealed behind.
Itll do him good to think about his coming caning, Mary said to Julie. Waiting for his punishment is almost as good as the whipping itself. He knows the cane will hurt when it lands on his freshly birched bottom and he feels afraid and anxious. That is all part of effective discipline.
And it was true that David was in great fear of his coming caning. His bottom was burning and throbbing and he knew from yesterdays installment how effective the cane is when applied to an already very tender bottom. And in addition, he had to bear the shame of all those people watching him display his bare bottom once more. He cried silently as he waited.
They all returned an hour later. Gregory had asked whether they were interested in watching the second part of Davids punishment and they had all agreed. The parents were interested in observing the boys behaviour during and after the caning, while the children saw it as an adventure.
David, come here, was the first thing Gregory said when they entered.
The boy, still sniffling slightly, approached red-faced, feeling dreadfully ashamed of having these people seeing his ordeal. He wanted to cover his front with his hands but knew better. He had tried this once, several years ago, and the consequences had been draconian. His bottom had retained the marks for almost a month.
Bend over, his father snapped and the boy obeyed. He was beyond arguing. He wanted to get this dreadful business over with as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, his father had other ideas. He let the boy wait as he bent across the chair back. His father selected a cane, then stepped behind his son and tapped the boys bruised bottom with with the tip of the cane.
You see the bruises on the lower cheeks, he said as if he were a tour guide, where the boy perches. This is an ideal spot to apply the cane. I will work there as well as lower, a few inches down the thighs so the weals will be visible below the hems of his shorts. I want people on the street to see that the boy has been punished. I will now apply the first dozen. Observe the boys reaction.
It was drastic and very loud. The cane had slashed down with force exactly on the designated area and the boys howl of anguish made the windows rattle. The second impact brought an even louder scream from the naughty boy who was learning some better manners. The adults watched impassively as the cane rose and fell, rose and fell, with long pauses in between each stroke so the boy could absorb the full effect of each. And absorb them he did, fully, roaring out his contrition.
When it was finally over, and the boys backside displayed a spectacular array of weals and bruises under a dark red background, the cane was returned to its place in the stand, and the boy was returned to his corner where he remained for another full hour. There he stood, sobbing and writhing, thinking about tomorrow. As he stood, he heard laughter coming from the gardens and he felt himself sweat as he imagined them making fun of his indecent exposure and his reaction to a good thrashing. He was sure that they would all be there when he received his next installment tomorrow. Tears ran down his cheeks and his bottom glowed white-hot. In other words, a well-punished little boy on his way to better behaviour in the future.