Next morning Peter had been set his homework, he had completed it and was now outside in the front of his uncle's house washing his uncles car. Not many people in the viklage where his uncle lived owned a car. The war had meant that money, petrol and cars were in short supply.
Peter had been given a small stool, so that he could reach the top of the car's roof and was dressed in his cream play shorts, teeshirt and wellington boots. Peter did not mind cleaning the car and saw it as rather a distraction when he would otherwise have been spending his time now thinking of his uncle marking his work inside the cottage.
Peter knew that he had not completed all the quaetions, he was bright but the questions had been too difficult. Some of them were avout things he had not yet been taught. Still, he decided against offering any protest or excuse...it might have angered his uncle.
Peter became aware of a man standing watching him. He did not know how long the man had been standing there but he was watching Peter as the boy worked.
''You are doing a good job son,'' the man spoke.
''Thanks you' Peter replied, ''This is my uncles car and I am washing it for him''
''So I see'' the man replied.
Peter returned to his chores adn only glanced occasionally at the man who remained watching him from behind the garden wall.
''Did you want something'' Peter enquired innocently.
''Is your uncle at home boy'' the stranger asked
''Yes he is'' Peter replied politely.
With that the starnger proceeded to walk up the garden path that led to the front door of the cottage.
Peter stared while the man knocked. His uncle appeared at the door. '' hello there...do come along in'' Peters uncle spoke, clearly knowing the man.
Turning to look at Peter his uncle remined him not to get his clothes too wet. Pter turned red. His shorts were already wet, and sticking too him, and the front of his teeshirt was also wet so that his ribs could be seen through the material. Peter could not recall his uncle saying anything about getting wet. it was a warm sunny day and Peter could see no harm in being wet.
Peter contiued his work and , at last, the job was done. he knocked onthe door to be let in.
On seeing the nine year old boy at his door with wet shorts and shirt as well as muddy bottos, Peter's uncle told him to leave the boots outside the door and take his short and teeshirt off inside the hallway.
Wearing only his white briefs and grey knee length socks Peter followed his uncle into the kitchen where the other man sat at the table.
Peter was introduced to his uncle's friend.
''I hear you were a naughty boy last night Peter'', the stranger asked. Then turning to Peter's uncle, he continued ''Can I see?''
''Peter come here and stand next to my friend'' Peters unclde said.
Not wanting to give his uncle any excuse to punish him Peter walked slowly to the side of the table where the man sat.
''Put your hands on the table and make sure you keep them there please'' the starnger instructed Peter.
Peter looked at his uncle
''Do as you are told boy''his uncle confirmed.
Peter felt the strnger reach to either side of his waist. he knew what was going to happen but resisited the urge to take his hands from the table. The mna eased his underpants, now damp from the water seeping through his shorts, down so that his back and front were naked down to his knees.
Pater felt a hand touch hs bottom. With that his hands flew off the table and, knocking the strager's hand out of the way, he quickly pulled up his briefs.
Suddenly aware of his own actions and act of disobedience Peter's eyes shot toward his uncle who stood looking incredulous at what had just occured.
''I'm sorry uncle, Peter began to sob, knowing what this would mean. he could see the look of fury in his uncle's eyes.
''Go to your room this instant boy'' Peters uncle shouted at hism and he left the room running and rying at the same time.
Upstairs in his room Peter sat on his bed crying to himself. He knew he would be in trouble. HOW UNFAIR THIS WAS. WHO WAS THIS MAN AND WHAT RIGHT HAD HIS UNCLE TO LET HIM TOUCH PETER'S BOTTOM.
Five minutes later Peter's uncle and the other man arrived in the room. Peter's uncle held the slipper, the one with the flexible plastic back. Peter cried anew but was soon pulled over his uncle's knee, young bottom bared ready for the slippering he wsa about to receive.
Neither Peter's uncle or the man, who sat on the bed opposite watching and smiling said a word.
Peter's uncle tapped peter's bottom with the slipper gently for some minutes. He thought about hw good looking his adoted nephew was. George, his brother, had told him about how popular Peter was at school now. How successful he was at soccer and cross country...the perfect little spotsman.
Well Peter's uncle hated sport at school. He had never been picked for theschool team and, being overweigth as a boy, had never done well at any games.
Now he savoured the moment. The popular sporting young boy over his knee would remain there and take all that the man decided to give. His friend had wanted to see this and so Peter's uncle raised the slipper high.
Peter's bottom contracted, making a smaller more compact target for the slipper and .....whack......the first high pitched yelp, the relaxing of the buttocks and the fist sign of pink botoom skin turned a pale red.
Peter's unclde deiced that a few blue bruises on the boys bottom would make the schoolwork punishment later that day a more effective one and so, at about three o'clock that afternoon in July, with his neighbour there to enjoy thew show, Peter's uncle took out his days as an unpopular and failed sportsman on the young boy.
Peter voice was almost lost from the yelping and crying out for his uncle to stop the slippering. By three twenty Peter's bottom was red from peak to the top of his legs. He was tired from bucking on his uncle's lap but had been unable to move due to the man's strong grip.
When it was over Peter was left on the top of his bed crying and nude apart from his long grey socks.
His uncle and his uncles friend left the room laughing and remnding Peter that he would be seeing them later to discuss his schoolwork.
Peter fell asleep with his bottom smarting and flinching in pain.