My parents were often obliged to travel on business, and on such occasions, Aunt Ruth would take up residence in our home to supervise my brothers and me.
Aunt Ruth was a most conscientious guardian, though she possessed a formidable sense of discipline and brooked no nonsense. While my parents occasionally resorted to corporal punishment, Aunt Ruth’s methods were, shall we say, rather more thorough, and we generally conducted ourselves with the utmost decorum in her presence.
One particularly sultry summer evening, we found ourselves in the back garden, attired in our bathing costumes, accompanied by the neighbour’s daughter, Cassandra. A spirited water fight ensued, to the delight of all, until dusk fell and we were summoned indoors.
Nevertheless, our spirits remained undampened, and, unable to resist the lure of further adventure, we crept outside once more. There, we encountered Cassandra again, and together we embarked upon a game of ‘ditch’ beneath the cover of darkness. Alas, our merriment proved our undoing, for the neighbours, disturbed by our exuberance, soon appeared and escorted us back to our house. A firm knock at the door brought Aunt Ruth to the threshold.
Cassandra’s mother conferred with Aunt Ruth, and both summoned us into the drawing room. We were acutely aware that we were in disgrace, though we did not yet comprehend the full extent of our predicament. The two ladies announced, in tones of grave authority, that we were to be punished most severely, and we shifted uneasily, dreading what was to come. The ladies withdrew, only to return with implements of discipline: Aunt Ruth bore her trusty bath brush, while Cassandra’s mother wielded a rather menacing hairbrush.
I felt a lump rise in my throat, but before I could protest, Aunt Ruth seized Allen and positioned him over the hassock. She delivered a stern lecture on the virtues of obedience and decorum.
Without further ado, she drew him across her lap and administered a most vigorous chastisement with the bath brush, whose patterned back was, I can attest, exceedingly effective.
In short order, my younger brother was writhing and imploring Aunt Ruth for mercy. Cassandra’s mother held his arms to prevent any attempt at self-defence, and the punishment continued. After what seemed an age, Aunt Ruth permitted Allen to rise, and he hopped from foot to foot, clutching his posterior. Cassandra’s mother promptly guided him to the wall.
Roy was next to face Aunt Ruth’s justice. She delivered another lengthy admonition before placing him over her lap. Roy was rather more animated in his protestations, but Cassandra’s mother kept him firmly in place as the bath brush descended upon his person. His ordeal was even longer, and when at last he was released, his legs trembled as he joined Allen at the wall.
Aunt Ruth then turned her attention to Cassandra, who was nearly beside herself with distress. When she resisted, her mother administered a sharp slap to encourage compliance. Aunt Ruth then proceeded to chastise Cassandra most thoroughly, and her cries and entreaties bore witness to the severity of the punishment. My brothers, I suspect, could not help but steal the occasional glance at the spectacle.
Cassandra’s pleas soon became incoherent, and when at last she was released, her mother led her to the opposite wall. Now, it was my turn to face the music.
In a trice, I found myself gazing at the carpet from Aunt Ruth’s lap, and the first strokes of the bath brush elicited a most undignified outburst from me. Aunt Ruth was methodical, ensuring each spot received its due. The blows to my thighs were particularly memorable, though those to the centre of my person were scarcely less so. I, too, soon descended into incoherent babbling as the ordeal continued.
At length, Aunt Ruth released me, and I spent a moment or two hopping about, attempting to soothe the fiery discomfort. Cassandra’s mother directed me to the wall, and instructed the boys to turn away.
Cassandra and I exchanged glances. When Cassandra’s mother picked up the hairbrush and summoned Allen, his protests redoubled. Aunt Ruth assisted by guiding him over the other lady’s lap.
Cassandra’s mother proved a most enthusiastic disciplinarian, and Allen’s already crimson posterior was subjected to a renewed assault. Aunt Ruth struggled to keep him in place as he wept, squirmed, and kicked in agony.
When the ordeal was finally concluded, Allen’s countenance was a picture of misery, and his legs shook as Aunt Ruth placed him at the wall, this time facing outward. Roy was next.
Roy pleaded for clemency, but to no avail. Once over Cassandra’s mother’s lap, he let out a piercing cry as the hairbrush was applied with vigour. Aunt Ruth held him fast as each resounding smack drew forth fresh howls. When at last he was released, his tears flowed freely as he joined Allen.
Cassandra implored her mother not to punish her before the boys, but her entreaties were ignored. She was soon over her mother’s lap, and her cries and kicks were most impressive.
When Cassandra’s punishment was concluded, she required assistance to stand and was led to the wall.
At last, my turn arrived once more. My legs trembled as I was positioned, and the first tentative taps of the hairbrush were soon replaced by a most vigorous application. The pain, already considerable, increased exponentially, and any thoughts of dignity were swiftly forgotten. I soon became hoarse from my lamentations and was quite certain I would not survive.
The punishment seemed interminable, but eventually I was helped to my feet. My brothers and I were then dispatched to bed without further ado.
Suffice it to say, we never again ventured from the house after dark in pursuit of mischief.
