Philip found it hard to concentrate completely on his school work that day. Sir had said about discussing his behaviour tonight, when he had looked at his feet when he was talking to the Head. Philip hoped it didnt mean another 6 of the best.
Arthur meanwhile was back at work on the estate. He was wondering whether he should punish the boy again this evening. He had told him yesterday about looking at the floor when he was talking to someone and Philip had today looked down at his feet when he should have been looking at the Headmistress. Arthur was determined to bring the boy up to high standards of behaviour and if that meant frequent visits to the study for the child then so be it. But equally he didnt want to be too harsh, after all he had just turned 7. Arthur decided he would assess the childs overall behaviour when he came home. In reality Arthur secretly hoped the child would be late in from school so that he would have an excuse for a discipline session.
Philip wasnt late home however. So concerned was he to be home on time that he ran nearly all the way, only stopping for the crossing patrol lady. School to home was a little under half a mile so it took him less than 10 minutes. He took off his shoes and left them in the shoe rack by the door. Then he went into the sitting room to see what was on television. He had no homework and had been told he could watch t. v. if he had no work to do. What he had forgotten, however, was one of the house rules. He was supposed to remove his schoolwear as soon as he got home. Miss Brown came into the sitting room, having heard the child come in and not go to his room to change. She was carrying the sheet of A4 paper he had been given by Sir the previous day. She thrust it in front of his eyes and pointed to rule number 5. "What does that say Philip" she demanded to know.
Philips hear sank. "Sorry Miss, it says I must change out of school clothes when I get home". He rose from where he was sitting and made started to leave the room to go and change.
"When you have changed come straight back down here" Miss Brown had said, "We need to have a little chat, dont we?"
Philip went to his room and took off his school clothes. To his surprise, after he had hung them in the cupboard, Miss Brown appeared in his room. She checked where he had put his school clothes and whether he had put them away neatly. She also glanced around the room to check its general tidiness. He had left his school socks on the floor. He knew he would be wearing them again tomorrow so had not thought of putting them in a drawer. Miss Brown had shouted at him to put them in the drawer. She also, to Philips concern, kept muttering about how interested Sir would be to hear that Philip had left socks scattered on the floor and how he had forgotten to change when he came in.
Eventually she said Philip could return to his television. Miss Brown busied herself preparing dinner for Philip and Arthur. She had decided to tell Arthur about the little misdemeanours and let him decide how to deal with the boy. Philip was worried she would tell him about the forgotten laundry basket and the running this morning, not to mention forgetting to change and the socks tonight.
When Arthur came home Miss Brown did indeed mention all these things to him. Philip was blissfully unaware of their conversation still watching the television. Arthur decided how he would handle the situation. He didnt want to cane the boy for such minor first offences but if the boy failed to mention he had been naughty----.
At 5.30 Philip and Arthur sat down for their dinner. They ate and occasionally exchanged words. Philip had expected Sir to mention the things he had done wrong if Miss Brown had mentioned them. As Sir had said nothing Philip assumed, happily, she had decided not to say anything. When they had finished eating Arthur looked across at Philip and asked "Did you have a good first day at your new school, Philip?".
"Yes thank you Sir" he replied.
"And have you been a good boy today, Philip?"
"Yes sir" Philip answered.
"Are you sure Philip? I understand you misbehaved this morning when you were running in the house. I also believe you forgot to bring down your dirty washing, forgot to change out of your school clothes and did not tidy your school clothes away properly. Go and help Miss Brown do the washing and drying then report to my study". With that he rose from the table and strode to his study, entered and closed the door behind him to await Philips arrival.
Philip tearfully dried for Miss Brown in the kitchen. He made sure that everything was bone dry this time. When she had expressed herself satisfied he walked towards the study. He paused outside the door and then gently tapped on it. Arthurs stern sounding voice told him to come in. He opened the door, entered the study and closed the door behind him. He walked to the desk behind which Arthur was sitting, glaring at him.
"If I ask you a question Philip I expect an honest answer. If you have misbehaved I expect you to tell me, not to lie. I was not going to punish you for the silly little things you did wrong today. After all you havent got used to the rules yet. But I am going to punish you for telling me a lie. Now tell me what you did wrong today."
"I ran in the house, I forgot my washing, I, umm, umm, forgot to tidy my room properly and err, err, oh yes, I didnt take off my school clothes when I got home"
"If you had told me that when I asked if you had been good Philip you would be watching television now. But because you tried to hide it from me you are here. Take off your shorts, bend over and touch your toes." Arthur rose and strode to the cupboard. As he had done the previous evening he selected the rattan cane. He returned and stood behind the bending boy. He again drew Philips briefs down across his buttocks as far as the knees. He flexed the cane. The he whipped it hard across Philips bottom. "AAAHHH, One Sir" cried the lad. Another swish followed instantly by the crack of rattan on bare flesh "OWWW, Two Sir"
Arthur paused "Those were for not telling me about forgetting your washing" he said. He then whipped the cane across Philips backside twice more. Each stroke drew a squeal of pain from the lad, followed by the count. "Those two were for not telling me you ran in the house". Two more strokes were administered. After the 6th one Philip instinctively clasped his hands around his bottom. He quickly realised his mistake and withdrew them but Arthur was unmoved. "Those two were for not changing out of your school clothes when you came home. The next one will be an extra one for putting your hands across your bottom before I have finished punishing you". He then swished the seventh stroke across Philips behind. The child was weeping loudly now but Arthur had decided there were two more to go. He delivered them swiftly, one after the other telling Philip "Those two were for not telling me you hadnt tidied your room properly. You may stand up now". Philip gingerly rose and Arthur walked over to the cupboard and replaced the cane. "Let that be a lesson Philip. Now pull up your pants and think about why you have just been punished.
Philip, sobbing, returned to his t. v. programmes and Arthur decided to read the library book he was currently working his way through. He had started to enjoy his new role as a "father".
To Be Continued