Ruth Lenz sat up in bed. Her face was drawn and pale. On the night table by her bed, was an accumulation of water glasses, bottles and vials of medicine.
Hello, Irene, she said with quick smile. Forgive me if I dont get out of bed. Im really feeling quite ill this week. The doctor tells me it will take a while before I recover fully. Frankly, I doubt if I will ever recover fully.
Dont be silly, Ruths sister-in-law said. Of course youll get better. Just relax and take it easy for the next few weeks. Werner and I will take care of your boy.
Im very grateful to you and Werner. I wish George hadnt died so soon after Oskars birth. Ive had a difficult time raising the boy by myself.
Dont worry, Ruth, Irene said with a smile. Well handle him. Routine thrashings will keep him properly in line.
Yes, I remember George telling me about your Victorian methods of child education. Lets hope you have more success than I.
Its too bad that those Victorian times are now deemed old-fashioned. Instead we insist on pampering our youth and raise them to be selfish and undisciplined. Well, Oskar is not going to be one of them. How old is he now?
About 2 years older than your Bruno, Ruth Lenz said. Just a few months past 11. Lets have him in, shall we? With this she picked up the telephone receiver. Helen, bring the boy to my room, will you? Then she replaced the receiver.
Werner has been headmaster of the Grundig Institution for 20 years before his retirement last May, Irene said. He knows how to handle recalcitrant young boys. And he has all the necessary equipment to enforce his beliefs.
There was a knock on the door and, upon Ruths Come in the door opened. A tall, blond boy made a reluctant appearance closely followed by a small, middle-aged woman in nurses uniform.
Young Master Oskar, madam, she said a bit ironically. Will you need anything else?
No, thank you, Helen. You may go.
When the door had closed after the nurse, Ruth and Irene directed their gaze to the boy who stood awkwardly in the middle of the room. Oskar was tall for his age, his blond hair cropped short. The large, dark eyes glared defiantly at his aunt.
Irene inspected the boy closely. He was wearing a light blue sport shirt and white shorts, both of which contrasted nicely with the deeply tanned arms and legs. The collar of the short-sleeved shirt was open, the close-fitting shorts cut so short that they allowed a sliver of bare buttocks to show beneath the hem. The middle seam in the back divided the small bottom into two round hemispheres.
A sturdy little boy, Irene said with approval. His thighs and calves are showing promising musculature. I suppose he enjoys athletics.
Answer your aunts question, Oskar, Ruth said as she lay back into her pillows. She seemed exhausted.
Yes, Aunt Irene, the boy muttered. I like football and swimming. I also ride the bike every day.
Excellent, Irene nodded, her eyes on the boys legs, bare from the hems of the shorts down to the white ankle socks. Youll be set a regimen of calisthenics every morning when you are with us, Oskar. Youll enjoy that as well.
The boy turned a questioning glance at his mother. What does that mean, Mom? he asked. His tone of voice was one of complaint. He didnt like his aunt and uncle very much.
Irene and Werner have generously offered to keep you at their house while I recuperate. Im just too weak these days to take care of you. It will be just for a few weeks, Ruth said mildly.
I dont want to go! the boy snapped, stamping his foot. I can stay here and take care of myself.
We dont care what you want, Oskar, Irene said in a steely voice. Boys your age do what they are told and dont argue. Werner will show you when we get home what we do with boys who argue.
Oskar grumbled something under his breath and looked at his mother.
Just be a good boy and in a short time youll be back home, Ruth said. Now please behave and go with Irene. Helen has packed a few belongings and the bag is ready for you. You can come and visit once a week.
After a short goodbye, young Oskar was taken by the arm and quickly marched out of the room by his new guardian. The boy almost tripped in the rush and had barely a last glimpse of his mother in bed among her pillows before he was propelled out the door. Ten minutes later Ruth heard the car roar off into the distance. She smiled and gave a sigh of relief. Now she could rest for next few weeks. Let Irene and Werner worry about the boy.
A week later, a Saturday, Werner Wolf came to visit Ruth Lenz bringing Oskar with him. Helen let them in and escorted them to Ruths bedroom. Ruth noticed that Oskar was walking stiffly, slightly bent forward, as if each step were painful. Then he stood, as one small hand crept towards the seat of his shorts.
Well, Ruth, Werner said with a booming voice, youre looking very well.
It wasnt true. In fact, the woman lying in bed seemed even frailer than she had a week ago. But she smiled and held out her hand.
How are you, Werner? The boy giving you any trouble?
No, no trouble at all, Werner smiled broadly. Nothing we cant handle, anyway. Isnt that right, Oskar?
The boy flinched visibly. Yes, sir, he said.
Youve been a good boy? his mother asked, looking from boy to man and back. Oskar was wearing a yellow sport shirt with his white shorts. The boy seemed slightly changed, his demeanour more docile than what she was used to.
Answer your mother properly, boy, Werner said sternly, placing his hand on the back of the boys neck. The boy shrank back.
Er, no, Mother. I have been disobedient and lazy in my school work, the boy said, blushing slightly. He fingered the back of his thigh.
Yes, thats true, Werner agreed. And tell your mother what happened because of this behaviour.
I was punished, the boy said quietly.
Ruth again realised how changed the boy appeared. His slight arrogance and defiance had disappeared and he kept shooting quick, anxious glances at the man by his side.
Tell your mother how you were punished, Oskar, Werner prodded the boy. And keep your hands by your sides.
I was caned across my bottom, the boy mumbled, his palms now flat against his bare thighs, his face growing redder.
Yes, and on his bare bottom, I may add, Werner said with a smile. Actually, I had to cane the boy twice on the very first day of his stay with us. The first time I gave him six of the best but he was stubborn. So later in the day a full dozen was required. That helped a bit.
Im sorry I have given you all this trouble, Ruth said. To the boy she continued, Oskar, please behave yourself while you are with your aunt and uncle. They are being very generous taking you on, so you should be grateful.
Yes, Mother, Oskar replied dutifully.
Werner, please ring Helen. I need my medicine. Im sorry but I dont feel well. Will I see you again next week?
Of course. And you will see further progress in your boy, I promise. In 3 or 4 weeks you wont recognize that well-mannered, polite young man we will return to you. Come along, Oskar, its time we get back home. You still have a lot of work to do on your essay. And you dont want to fail again, do you?
No, sir, the boy said as he stumbled out of the room with a wave to his mother. As he walked stiffly out, Ruth noticed the purple welts across his upper thighs. She reached for the pills Helen handed her.
Outside the house, Werners car was waiting and the boy was propelled into the back seat and tightly belted in. A resounding slap on his bare thigh made the boy move more quickly. Then Werner got into the drivers seat and they were off. Oskar rubbed his stinging thigh while Werner wondered how best to punish the boy when he failed his essay. Werner always found enough mistakes to warrant a sound caning and today would be no different. Should he give the boy more than the usual dozen? Perhaps a good whipping with the tawse as an introduction to 8 good cane strokes would be preferable. He accelerated the car so they would get home sooner.