In the gentle days of my childhood, my Mother and Father delighted in the world of amateur theatre. It was, in fact, how they first met. At home, I was never punished with a smack, and at school, the cane and all forms of physical discipline had long since disappeared. Thus, I grew up in a world where such things were only stories from the past, and I did not worry about them at all.
When I was younger my Father invited me to watch a rehearsal for a play in which he was performing. He was to play the part of an old-fashioned shopkeeper, and I watched with great amusement as he dressed in his costume, complete with a false beard, fingerless gloves, and a cap.
The rehearsal was most interesting at first, but after they practised the same scene several times, I began to feel a little bored. Then, after a short break, a boy a little older than myself appeared on stage with two ladies, all dressed in old-fashioned clothes. The boy wore britches with braces and a flat cap, rather like Oliver Twist. There was even a little cart with bread, as if it were a market day.
In the next scene, the boy was caught taking a loaf of bread by one of the ladies. My interest was immediately rekindled when she sat upon a bench and drew the boy gently across her knees. She scolded him for stealing and gave him a pretend spanking. The boy kicked and protested, and the lady declared, “You must not steal, you naughty child!” It all looked very real, and the boy acted his part splendidly.
The scene did not last long, and it ended with the lady giving a final, firm-sounding smack and exclaiming, “I shall take you to the workhouse this very day, you naughty little thief!” The boy was then allowed to stand, and he left the stage, rubbing his bottom and looking most sorry for himself.
There was a cheerful call of, “Splendid! Well done, everyone – let us take a break.”
After the scene, everyone smiled and congratulated the boy. The lady who had given the spanking said kindly, “Well done, Toby. That was excellent!” Another lady clapped her hands and said, “Bravo, Toby!” Soon, everyone was preparing for the next scene, which took place in a workhouse, where the boy had been sent for his misdeed.
I was quite fascinated by it all, and I could not take my eyes off the lady who had played the part of the strict but fair woman.
During the tea break, I shyly approached the boy and asked if the spanking had hurt. He, the other actors, and the lady all laughed kindly. The lady explained that Toby had a little padding in his trousers, just in case, but she only pretended to smack him, and it did not hurt at all. Toby smiled and said, “It is only acting – it does not hurt in the least.”
Then the lady said, “Come along, dear – let me show you!” Before I quite knew what was happening, she took my hand and led me to the bench. Everyone, including Father, watched with amusement as she sat down and prepared to show me how it was done.
“I promise I shall not hurt you,” she said gently, holding my hand. She smiled and began, “You are a naughty child! I shall send you to the workhouse, but not before you receive a good spanking for your trouble.” With great skill, she placed me across her knees and began to pat my bottom.
It was a most curious feeling. She rolled me gently as she raised her hand and brought it down in the lightest of pats. It must have looked as though I was receiving a proper spanking, but in truth, I hardly felt a thing. The lady seemed to enjoy her role, and the others certainly enjoyed watching.
“You must not steal, you naughty boy!” she continued, giving me a few more gentle pats. I tried to act as Toby had, but I was not nearly as good. I lay quite still, looking around at the smiling faces. I did try to kick and wriggle a little, but my turn was soon over.
Before letting me go, the lady asked, “There, you see? It did not hurt at all, did it?” I shook my head. “No, I could feel your hand, but it did not hurt,” I replied truthfully. She had only patted me very gently, and I felt quite safe.
Still holding me across her knee, the lady looked over at Father and asked, “Is there anything else I should do before I let him go, Mr. Brown?” Father laughed and replied, “Not that I can think of!” The lady smiled and said playfully, “Oh, what a pity to waste the opportunity!”
Everyone laughed, and the lady helped me to my feet. She gave me a friendly pat on the head and asked, “Did you enjoy that, dear?” I nodded, and she said, “Perhaps you should be Toby’s understudy!” I did not know what that meant, but I was pleased all the same.
The rehearsals continued, but I could hardly take my eyes off the kind lady. She played a different part in the next scene, but I kept thinking, “I have been across her knee and received a spanking!” It made my imagination race, and I wondered what it would be like if the smacks were real.
When the rehearsal ended, Father changed back into his ordinary clothes, and everyone made plans for the next meeting. Toby, now in his everyday clothes, looked just like any other boy. I had thought the lady was his mother, but she was not – his parents arrived later to collect him.
The lady, whose name was Debbie, soon appeared in her own clothes and looked very friendly and much younger than I had thought.
She said goodbye to Father and to me. “It was very nice to meet you, Tony, and I promise I shall not really send you to the workhouse! Did you enjoy your spanking?” I nodded and said, “Yes, thank you – it was very good.” Debbie laughed and replied, “Bless you! If you ever wish for another, you need only ask.” I liked her very much.
At home, I thought more and more about my experience. I wondered what it would be like to have a real spanking, just a little harder. My pretend spanking had made me curious. Mother had acted in plays before – perhaps she could play the part with me?
I asked Mother if she had ever played a part where she had to spank a boy. She laughed and shook her head. “No, I have not played that role, though it sounds rather fun! Did you see the thief get spanked at the rehearsal?” I nodded.
“Would you play the part with me, please, Mother? I think I should like it.” “How do you know you would like it?” she asked. I told her all about my ‘debut’ at the rehearsal. Mother was quite understanding, especially as Father had been there. “So Debbie gave you a lesson in acting, did she? And now you wish to try it with me?”
I nodded eagerly. “Yes, please, Mother. I should like to see how you do it.” “Very well,” she said, “do you mean now?” “Yes, please, Mother.” “Give me a moment to get into character!”
Mother stopped what she was doing and turned away. After a few seconds, she turned back and cried, “Stop, thief! I have caught you red-handed, you naughty child! I shall spank you soundly and send you to the workhouse! Come here – do not deny your mischief!”
I took Mother’s outstretched hand and, trying to play along, denied that I was a thief. Mother was wonderful. She shook me gently by the shoulders and said, “You are a naughty boy and a thief! I shall take you to the workhouse myself, but not before you have received a good spanking!”
Mother turned a chair and drew me across her knees. I was most impressed by how easily she did it, just like Debbie. She wrapped her arm around my waist and scolded, “Naughty boy! You shall feel my hand! I shall spank you until I am quite tired!” I played my part, kicking my legs and begging not to be sent to the workhouse.
