You knock.
No, you knock, you started it.
Did not!
Sitting in his tiny office Frank Benson overhears these urgent whisperings outside his door, which stands ajar. Customers by the sound of it! A little entertainment will be welcome: the man has been trying to compose his end of year Form 4 Latin exam, but his mind keeps slipping over to his forthcoming summer holiday in Brazil.
Eventually there is a timid tap on the door. Frank shouts Come in!
A cheeky little sunburnt face with big hazel eyes and a long untidy fringe of light brown hair looks round the door nervously.
I said come in, not poke your head in, boys.
They enter: Nico Browne and the twins. Frank feels an amusing few minutes heading his way. Its funny, when Peter Dickens left the school aged 13 in July 1978 the role of the The Boy Whos Always In Trouble seemed to become vacant. At one time Frank thought that Jake might pick up the mantle, after a tempestuous year in Form 3. But in Form 4 he seemed suddenly to calm down. Occasionally a housemaster regrets the success of his own disciplinary regime - spanking that fiery little faun Jake was always a delight!
Then in September 1978 Nico entered the house as a new boy in Form 3. In Franks opinion Nico is the sort of small boy who needs his bottom smacking once a week simply on a point of principle - any infractions obviously meriting more punishment. Hes not a malicious boy at all, but he just cant resist any opportunity to do the foolish thing. He drags himself - and any boys incautious enough to be with him - into trouble with great regularity. Hes nearly always on the Black Marks list for a Sunday evening spanking before Chapel. And here he is again.
Weve been sent, Sir.
By whom and for what?
By Duf, errh Mr Harris for mucking about in prep.
Why Duffer Harris cannot do his own thrashing is beyond Franks understanding. Duffer is one of those rather ineffectual prep-school masters who shout and rant and cuff and slap, but simply cannot impose a sense of discipline. But Frank doesnt really mind too much taking over another teachers corporal punishment duties, it has to be said.
Were you mucking around?
Sort of.
Then Id better give you a spanking. Down to the gym, boys. And Nico, go to the changing room on your way and fetch your gym shoe.
Franks office is a bit to small to chastise three boys comfortably: the gym is a very suitable alternative. Frank gives the boys five minutes unpleasant waiting time then strolls down to the gym and takes the small gym shoe from Nico. He pulls up a low bench, sits down and summonses the three boys in front of him.
Shorts down!
He watches as the unhappy little boys undo buttons and let their shorts slide to their ankles.
Come here, Rupert.
The boy shuffles over and Frank tips him over his knee. He grasps the elastic hem of the small boys tiny white briefs and tugs downwards, sliding the thin cotton over the plump roundness of the childs buttocks. Then he pulls the boys shirt well away from his bottom - he always likes a nice clear area of skin to work on. Still not satisfied, he tugs again at the hem of the underpants, trying to leave Ruperts entire buttocks exposed for the falling gym shoe.
Frank looks up.
Nico, Simon, take your pants down and tuck your shirts up so youre ready for me.
He watches the two 11-year-old schoolboys bare their torsos for punishment - Nicos body has the simple grace of a Thorvaldsen statue.
Theres a kind of uneasy rapt fascination in the faces of the two future victims. On the one hand theres the strange delight all small boys (not to mention many elderly schoolmasters!) take in seeing a small, pale, unblemished bottom neatly laid out for the rod of correction. On the other hand theres the chilling knowledge that with each crack of the gym shoe their own moment of pain advances. Nico is biting his lower lip intently, staring wide-eyed at the unfolding drama.
The boys offence is not very serious - one crack on each bottom-cheek will suffice. Frank lays Nicos gym shoe on the nearer buttock, which twitches sharply at this signal of approaching pain. He cracks it down, eliciting a hiss from the twin boy. Even the two spectators wince at the blow, Frank notes with amusement. The sound of rubber sole impacting soft 10-year-old skin will echo down the corridor to the classrooms of boys doing their homework. Undoubtedly work will stop as 60 young boys enjoy the vicarious pleasure of hearing other boys getting their bare bottoms beaten.
Frank brings the gym shoe down again.
Get up. Simon Ill spank you next. Come here.
The almost identical child shuffles over and climbs across Franks knee. Rupert stands nearby, hands on bottom, far more interested in watching the proceedings than in pulling up his pants and trousers.
Frank slippers Simon exactly as had his twin.
Twins, do your trousers up and get back to prep.
The two boys look slightly indignant at being deprived of their right to see Nico (who in their opinion caused the trouble in the first place) submit to the gym shoe, but they dress and disappear.
Come here, Nico.
The thoughtless little boy seems to have forgotten his shorts are shackling his ankles, and tumbles to the floor. He flashes Frank a sheepish little smile and climbs up. Frank positions him at his side, ready to go over his knee - but not quite yet. He lays his large right hand on Nicos bare backside, and taps it for emphasis.
How many times have I spanked this bottom this term?
About eight, I think, Sir.
Anybody would think you liked getting spanked.
Theyd be wrong, Sir.
Over you go.
Nicos backside is a delightful one to spank. A half-term holiday in Spain have left the boys body deeply tanned except for a small white strip around his middle. Franks observant eye notes that the boys speedos can scarcely have covered his entire bottom: the top inch or so of each small firm buttock is as tanned as the surrounding skin of the boys lower back.
Frank spends a little time massaging the flesh he is about to punish. He puts his left hand firmly on the prone childs back - like many impulsive and mischievous little boys Nico is an incorrigible wriggler when being spanked. The man allows himself one more pat of the milky-white little rear then brings the gym shoe down.
Yow!
Nico is a squealer as well as a wriggler! Frank notes the red spank mark, raises the boys gym shoe again and punishes the other buttock equally. Nico leaps up grimacing and clutches his bottom. On impulse, Frank reaches down and pulls the boys underpants up. For a moment Nicos long silky-skinned penis stays trapped outside the elastic hem, until the little boy hurriedly pushes it into the little light blue garment. He pulls his shorts up and runs off
Bye, Sir, he calls on his way out.
Frank returns to the much drearier task of his Latin exam.