I am opposed to the physical punishment of minors and this story is just fantasy with, I hope, just a touch of tongue-in-cheek humour to it. It does, however, reflect an attitude which existed probably from Victorian times up to about the second world war amongst a minority of the "prim and proper" Victorian values brigade who could not abide young people simply because the youngsters did not behave like adults. The lady in this story is typical of this type; a toffee-nosed, wealthy spinster. Oh! And in case you are wondering, this is an M M story!
Edwin and Leslie were walking down a country lane near to the village where they lived. It was a hot afternoon and the two eleven year olds, both dressed in summer shorts and open neck shirts, were heading for the wood where they hoped it might be a little cooler. They passed the big iron gates of Horby Hall, glancing at the imposing building which stood about three hundred yards behind the gates.
"That's a big house," remarked Leslie, "They must have pots of money!"
"Yes!" answered Edwin, "Some woman lives there. Lady something-or-other."
"She lives on her own in a big house like that?" asked Leslie.
"No, she's got servants living there as well."
A few moments later they reached the wood. They had no particular plans, they just wandered among the trees, changing directions several times and eventually came to a wire fence. There were notices placed at intervals worded "PRIVATE PROPERTY. KEEP OUT"
"It's part of that Horby Hall estate." explained Edwin, "A little bit of the wood belongs to her as well."
"We could easily get through this fence!" said Leslie.
"You see what the notices say; - keep out!"
"There's nobody about!" observed Leslie, "Come on! Let's go through and see what's in there!"
Edwin did not take any persuading. Like most boys of his age he was tempted to taste the forbidden fruits and do that which should not be done! The wood continued for about twenty yards into the estate and when they reached the end of it they found themselves looking at the back of Horby Hall a hundred yards away on the other side of a lawn.
"We must have come right round to the other side of the house." noted Leslie, "There's nothing very interesting here to see. We might as well go back."
"Wait a minute!" exclaimed Edwin, "Look in that garage over there! Isn't that a Rolls Royce in there?"
"Oh! Yes! It is! And it looks brand new! Let's go and have a look at it!"
"Someone might see us!" warned Edwin.
"There's no sign of life!" said Leslie, "These rich people sleep all day, don't they?!"
They trotted round the edge of the lawn and into the garage. Once there they began an inspection of the vehicle, looking all round it and peering into the windows.
"Ain't it smashing!" was Leslie's verdict, "I'll bet it's fast!"
They pressed their noses against the window of the driver's door trying to see the instrument panel. It was while they were thus engrossed that they both suddenly felt themselves being grabbed by their shirt collars! Somebody had got them by the scruffs of their necks!
"And just what do you think you two little urchins are doing here?" asked a voice.
They both twisted their heads round to find themselves looking into the face of a man in a chauffeur's uniform.
"Umm! Err! We just wanted to look at the car!" stammered Leslie, "We're not doing any harm!"
"We're not urchins!" added Edwin, "We're respectable boys!"
"Are you really?" said the man, "You are trespassing! There are notices all round this property telling you to keep out! Come along! We'll see what m'lady has to say about this!"
Still gripping them tightly by their collars, he marched them over to the house and into an open back door. Inside they came face to face with a butler.
"Ah! Charles!" said the chauffeur, still holding the boy's with a grip of iron, "I've just caught these two boys in the garage! Will you go and knock on m'lady's door while I keep hold of them?"
Charles led them across the reception hall to large double doors. He knocked and on the command to enter he swung open the two doors.
"It's Armstrong, m'lady. He has caught two boys trespassing in the garage!"
A tall, stern, most unfriendly looking woman glared at the two boys.
"Indeed!" she exclaimed indignantly, "Bring them in here Armstrong! Thank you Charles, that will be all!"
The butler was addressed by his first name and the chauffeur by his surname. All part of the pecking order amongst the servants in such households! Armstrong pushed them into the room and Charles closed the doors and departed,
"I found them in the garage looking through the car windows, m'lady." explained Armstrong.
M'lady glared at the two trembling boys.
"Come to see what you could find to steal I expect, you horrible little boys!"
"No miss! Please miss!" pleaded Edwin, "We didn't want to steal anything! We only wanted to look at the car! We're not thieves!"
"You lying little hound!" shouted the woman.
"Shall I send for the police, m'lady?" asked the chauffeur.
"No Armstrong. The police never do anything with them! They ought to have their bottoms smacked! Horrible little boys! All little boys are horrible! They all ought to have their bottoms smacked! If I had my way all little boys would have their bottoms smacked every day!"
Both Edwin and Leslie were by this time feeling most uncomfortable to put it mildly! The woman went to the door, locked it, and then removed the key. They were trapped by a large hideous woman and a muscular hideous chauffeur!
"Armstrong! Take them one at a time over to that chair, put them across your knee and spank them!" Then pointing to Leslie she added "You can start with this one!"
"As you please, m'lady!" said the chauffeur.
Armstrong let go of Edwin and half dragged Leslie towards the chair.
"No-no-no! please-please! No don't!" yelled Leslie, "I'll tell my dad! No-no-no-no!"
"I would be only too pleased to speak to your father!" said m'lady, "And I would have plenty to say to him!"
Armstrong sat on the chair and hauled Leslie across his left knee trapping the lad between his legs.
"No! Not like that, Armstrong!" the woman called out, "I want to see him spanked on his bare bottom! It's the only way to spank naughty little boys!"
"Yes, m'lady." said Armstrong as he lifted Leslie up and with one quick yank pulled the shorts down to to his knees. With Leslie still screaming out "no-no-no!" he replaced the boy over his knee. Edwin just stood still, rooted to the spot, the butterflies working overtime in his tummy!
WHACK! WHACK! WHACK! WHACK! WHACK! WHACK!
"Aoooooowl-aooooowl-aooooowl-aoooooowl!
The chauffeur was Armstrong by name and arm strong by nature! His hugh hand almost covered Leslie's bottom every time it made contact!
WHACK! WHACK! WHACK! WHACK! WHACK! WHACK!
"Aooooowl-aoooooowl-aoooowl-arrgh-arrrrrrrrgh-aoooowl!"
M'lady's previously grim expression had been replaced by a satisfied smile!
WHACK! WHACK! WHACK! WHACK WHACK! WHACK!
"Arrrrrrrrgh-arrrrrrrrrrgh-aooooooooowl! P-p-p-p-please aooooooooowl!"
"Is that sufficient, m'lady?" asked Armstrong.
"Let me have a close look at his posterior!" said the woman as she almost put her nose on Leslie's backside! "No! Give him another six, just for good measure!"
WHACK! WHACK! WHACK! WHACK! WHACK! WHACK!
"Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgh-arrrrrrrrrrrrrrgh-arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgh-arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr rrrgh"
Leslie was released! He just stood where he was, his hands clamped to his bright red buns! Armstrong moved the chair a few feet away from him so that he had room to deal with Edwin!
"Now it's your turn!" the lady of the house said to Edwin with a broad smile on her face!
Had Edwin been first he might have gone to his fate with a morsel of dignity, but having witnessed what Leslie had gone through he had become a little more reluctant! As Armstrong approached him he took a couple of steps back then turned and ran! The trouble was there was nowhere to run to! He scampered round the table, one way and then the other as Armstrong tried to catch him. Then the woman intervened and placed herself one side of the table. Edwin ran straight into her arms! Armstrong took hold of him and dragged him, kicking, struggling and screaming, over to the chair. In a flash his shorts were down and he was across the chauffeur's knee!
WHACK! WHACK! WHACK! WHACK! WHACK! WHACK!
"Yeeeeooooowl-ooooowl-ooooowl! Aoooooooowl-arrrrrrrgh!"
WHACK! WHACK! WHACK! WHACK! WHACK! WHACK!
"Arrrrgh-arrrrrrgh-aoooowl! St-st-st-stop-stop! Aooooooool!"
WHACK! WHACK! WHACK! WHACK! WHACK! WHACK!
"Yarrrrrrrrrrrrrrgh-arrrrrrrrgh-arrrrrrrrrrgh!"
"I think this one's had enough, m'lady!" suggested Armstrong.
"He'll get the same as the other one! Another six, if you please Armstrong!"
WHACK! WHACK! WHACK! WHACK! WHACK! WHACK!
Arrrrrrgh-arrrrrrrrgh-aooooowl-aooooooooowl
Before Edwin was allowed to get up he too got the close-up inspection! When he was at last freed his hands, like Leslie's, went straight to the affected region! Leslie still had his shorts down! He was too busy consoling his stinging rump to pull them up!
"Get your shorts back up and Armstrong will escort you off my property! If you are ever caught on my land again I shall have a whip waiting for you next time!" promised the great lady.
They had no intention of ever returning! Armstrong marched them out as he had brought them in; by the scruff of the neck.
"Boys! Repulsive creatures!" the woman shouted after them.
They were marched down to the gates which they had passed earlier that day, Armstrong taking such long strides that they had to break out into a trot.
"Don't let me catch you here again!" was his parting remark as he let go of them.
With the tears still running down their cheeks, they immediately ran back to the wood where nobody would see them. They just stood among the trees and waited for their tears to dry up.
"Corr! My bum still hurts!" said Edwin, "Does yours?"
"Not half!" replied Leslie, "It's all hot and prickly! It feels as if I'm sitting in stinging nettles!"
"Me too!" said Edwin.
Leslie pulled his shorts down and tried to twist round to see the damage!
"Your bum ain't half red!" declared Edwin, "Is mine?" he asked as he lowered his shorts.
"You bet it is!" Leslie assured him, "It's against the law what they did to us. Let's report them, shall we?"
"What!" exclaimed Edwin, "For one thing we would still be in trouble for trespassing! And what's more it would all come out in court or somewhere and get in the papers! Do you want everybody to know you were smacked on your bare bum with a woman watching!"
"I 'spose not!" agreed Leslie, "We had better keep quiet about it! Your eyes are red! Are mine?"
"Yes! How are we going to explain that away when we get home?"
"Just tell our mums that we got some dust in our eyes and kept rubbing them! It's nearly time we went home. It'll soon be my tea time."
They walked back to the village, feeling very self-conscience every time they met anybody, and eventually arrived at Edwin's house.
"Cheerio!" said Edwin, "See you tomorrow."
"That you Edwin?" his mother called as he shut the front door, "Come and wash your hands my duck. Tea's about ready."
Edwin entered the kitchen and tried to keep his face turned away from his mother, but it was not long before she spotted his eyes!
"Have you been crying Edwin?" she asked.
"No mum! The wind blew some dust in my eyes and I kept rubbing them, but they're alright now!"
"You silly boy Edwin! You should never rub your eyes when you get something in them! Let's have a look!"
She carefully examined his eyes. "Well, there's nothing in there now! But they do look red though!"
Edwin was just thankful that his mother could not see his bottom! That was red too! And it wasn't caused by dust either!