Back when I was younger I spent 3 weeks in Jersey at the house of my Aunt Betty, my favourite aunt. Aunt Betty was a happy woman, somewhat a pillar of her community, who lived quite close to her twin sister Peggy. Like most of their generation, she believed in good old-fashioned discipline, which meant corporal punishment and smacking. Smacking was carried out sometimes with the hand, sometimes with a fly swatter, and sometimes with a slipper. Aunt Betty was an everyday ordinary woman for the 1970s with grey hair, which she had curled every week at the hairdressers.

Aunt Betty didn’t have any children of her own as her husband had been killed in the war during the Nazis occupation. This was perhaps why she always made me feel like a little prince when I was under her roof. There were pancakes or omelettes at breakfast, trips to the zoo or the cinema, and I was allowed to stay up one hour later than at home.

As the years went by, I was also given more freedom to explore the city where Aunt Betty lived. It had many more candy and toy shops than my small home town, and I saved up my allowance money to spend there.

One time, I guess I got too greedy. Having already spent all my money, I felt drawn into a candy store. On entering, I told myself that I just wanted to check what was on offer. However, once in front of the marshmallows, I figured that nobody would suffer if I just took three of them and put them into my coat pockets.

Well, it turned out I was wrong. Just before leaving the shop, I was apprehended by the manager and taken into a back office. The marshmallows were quickly retrieved from my coat and put on a table in front of me.

I argued that they weren’t worth much and anyway, I would be willing to pay for them – but that did not make any difference at all to the manager. He told me I had violated a principle, which was much more important, and if I didn’t see that, it was high time someone made me see it.

The manager then called Aunt Betty. When she arrived, her face was flushed red with embarrassment. She declared to the manager that she had never expected her nephew would do something like that, and she would ensure it never happened again.

The manager and Aunt Betty had a lengthy discussion. He emphasized the importance of honesty and the impact of even small thefts on the community. Aunt Betty listened intently, nodding in agreement, and assured him that she would handle the situation appropriately.

After that, I was allowed to leave the store with Aunt Betty, who remained silent during the walk home. I realised that I had disappointed her very much, but since she was my favourite aunt, I still thought she might go easy on me.

However, as soon as we had stepped back into her house, the silence was broken and Aunt Betty showed a mood I had never seen from her before.

After a very serious lecture, I heard her say that she was not going to send me back home – she would take this matter in her own hands.

Then, I got an experience that up until then, I had only heard about. I was taken upstairs to the guest room, Aunt Betty took a seat on the bed and then I was given an unforgettable spanking with her summer rubber-soled slipper.

The spanking was swift and firm, each smack resonating with a sharp sting that made me wince. Aunt Betty’s face was a mix of stern determination and disappointment, her eyes reflecting the gravity of my misdeed. The slipper’s rubber sole left a lasting impression, both physically and emotionally. I felt a deep sense of shame and regret, tears welling up in my eyes as the reality of my actions sank in.

Aunt Betty’s voice, usually so warm and comforting, was now filled with a resolute firmness as she explained why this punishment was necessary. She wanted to ensure I understood the consequences of my actions and the importance of honesty. Each word she spoke was like a hammer driving the lesson deeper into my heart.

By the time the spanking was over, I was left with a sore bottom and a heavy heart. Aunt Betty hugged me tightly afterward, her embrace a mix of love and reassurance. She made it clear that while she was disappointed, she still loved me dearly and wanted me to grow up to be a good and honest person.

I never stole again, well at least not whilst I was in Jersey.