These events took place when I was 12 years old and are how I remember them:
That evening William told me that after our baths we had to dress for dinner. His mother had spoken to mine on the telephone so everything I needed was packed. I remember being especially envious about packing my swiimming trunks as William's home had a pool.
I bathed first so by the time William returned to the room we were sharing I was already dry and in my long dark grey trousers , pale blue short sleeved shirt, school black leather shoes and was sitting on the edge of my bed reading yet more of William's ''Look and Learn's''. My hair was combed smart but still wet. Williiam got dressed and we waitde in the room.
After a while a bell rang and William told me that dinner was ready. We wnt ot the dinign room where Harry and Edward were standing behind a chair at either end of a long table, There must have been at least 12 chairs round the table it was so long. William ushered me to one side and we stood together waiting for his parents to arrive. Eventuall William's parents came into the room and William stood up straight so I copied him. Williams' mum went to one of the chairs which Edward was standing behind and Edward moved the chair in for her as she sat. At the other end of the table Harry was doing the same for his father. When William's dad was seated he spoke up. ''You may sit boys''
William's dad lifted a small brass bell and rang it. I watched in amazement as the maid came in with the soup.
We ate dinner answeringWilliam's father's questions politely. he asked me how I was doing in school and if I liked it. He asked about our housemaster, joking that William had received a few slipperings during last term and asked me if I had also received it. I was a little embarrased at talking about the slipper, especially when asked if it stung, but I answered politley.
When dinner was finished frirst to speak was Harry
''May I leave the table father'' ghe asked.
''Yes you may'' was the reply.
I watched as Harry rose and walked towards his father's place. he stood and said
''Thank you for my dinner father''
William's father smiled and nodded and Harry walked out of the room.
Edward was next and then William, they all did the same thing, each in turn.
I was annoyed with my friend because at this point I did not know if I should do the same. I did, omitting the word 'father'.
William's father smiled at me as I turned and left the room.
As I followed William up to his room I was pleased to have got the dinner formalities out of the way. I had remembered to scoop my soup spoon backwards and felt quite proud of myself.
Half an hour later William was undressing. He pulled his riding jodhpurs on. They looked tight and uncomfortable. They stretched across his bottom and pulled his backside tight so it stuck out. ''You look s funny in those'' I remarked.
''Why are you not wearing your pants again'' I asked him.
''You dont wear pants nder riding jodphurs'' he explained. I followed him to the tack room where he pulled on his black leather riding boots and he, Edward and harry waited for their father to arrive.
Williams father looked resplendant inbhis red hunting outfit. He picked up a crop and slapped it inot his left hand.
''Lets go'' he shouted and the three sons walked in front of him to the stables. I was to wait at the stables whilst they rode out. I foolowed William's dad and noticed how he kept whacking the crop into his left hand. Just as well he was wearing gloves I thought.
I was glad I was not William's fathers horse I remember thinking.
At that time it did not occur to me that he might have had other intentions for his crop that evening but I expect he was studying his three sons bottoms clad in their tight johdpurs. It was William who got a whacking when they returned to the tack room. His brothers had gone to their rooms to change and William never found out that I had beeen listening at the door as he screamed and the crop whacked his bum.
I saw the marks when he undessed for bed that night. They were wider and redder than the marks from the cane.