We’ve sort of agreed that it should be eight good hefty whacks rather than, say, a dozen lesser ones.
That’s just what they’ve chosen.”
“Right. I see.”
Joanne accepts my answer,
although still seems a bit tentative.
I go over to an old filing cabinet,
open the bottom drawer and delve inside.
“Ah, here it is!”
I stand up straight again.
“You’ll be needing this.”
I hand Joanne a size twelve plimsoll,
once white,
now looking a little grubby,
but then it has seen a fair bit of use over the years.
Joanne takes the plimsoll and tries a couple of practice swings.
“It’s big, isn’t it?”
“All the better for smacking naughty girls’ bottoms, Joanne.”
“Yes, of course.”