(gap: 2s) Once upon a Saturday, in a little red-brick cottage in Surrey, there lived a boy named Peter and his three sisters. Their home was cheerful, with bright wallpaper and the gentle hum of the wireless, and their mother, Mrs. Buck, was a kindly but firm lady who believed that children should be brought up properly.
(short pause) The air in the flat was always filled with the comforting aroma of stewing vegetables and the faint scent of damp coats drying by the radiator. Mrs. Buck, in her paisley blouse and sturdy shoes, kept her brood in good order, loving them dearly but never afraid to teach a lesson when one was needed.
(pause) On this particular Saturday, the sky was a dull, drizzly grey, and Peter awoke feeling rather cross. He grumbled through breakfast, scowled at his sisters, and dawdled as he dressed in his best jumper and trousers. Outside, the estate echoed with the laughter of children skipping and playing, but Peter’s mood was as gloomy as the weather.
(short pause) After breakfast, Mrs. Buck announced, “Children, we are off to the shops!” Now, the local Tesco was a bustling place, full of bright lights, the clatter of trolleys, and the delicious smell of fresh bread. But Peter did not care for shopping, and he made his feelings known with a sulky face and dragging feet.
(pause) The aisles were crowded with mothers in headscarves and children darting about. Peter, still in a temper, knocked tins from the shelves, snapped at his sisters, and even frowned at a kindly old lady who smiled at him. Mrs. Buck gave him several warnings, her voice growing sharper each time, but Peter paid no heed.
(short pause) At last, when Peter sent a box of cereal tumbling to the floor, Mrs. Buck’s patience was quite spent. Without a word, she took Peter firmly by the hand and led him away from the busy aisles, down to a quiet corner near the cleaning supplies. The linoleum floor squeaked beneath their feet, and the shelves seemed to tower above them.
(pause) There, in the hush of the aisle, Mrs. Buck looked at Peter with a serious face. “Peter,” she said, “you know very well how you ought to behave. I am afraid you must be punished.” With that, she bent him gently over and gave him six smart smacks on his bottom—firm, but never cruel. Even through his thick trousers, Peter felt the sting, and his eyes filled with tears of shame and regret.
(short pause) Some shoppers glanced over, but in those days, everyone understood that a good child sometimes needed a good lesson. Peter sniffled and wiped his eyes, and Mrs. Buck whispered, “You shall have a proper talk when we get home, my boy.”
(pause) For the rest of the shopping trip, Peter was on his very best behaviour. His sister Lucy, ever the tease, made faces at him when Mother wasn’t looking, but Peter ignored her, determined not to make matters worse. Soon, the shopping was done, and the family made their way home through the drizzle.
(short pause) Back at the flat, the children helped put away the groceries. Peter’s heart thudded with worry, for he remembered Mother’s promise. The flat seemed quieter than usual, and even the bright wallpaper could not cheer him.
(pause) At last, Mrs. Buck called, “Peter, come to your room, please.” Peter obeyed, trudging to his small bedroom with its neat bedspread and toys. He lay face down on the bed, bracing himself for what was to come, his tears soaking into the pillow.
(short pause) Presently, Mrs. Buck entered, holding her house slipper—a sensible, well-worn thing with a soft sole and a sturdy heel. She sat on the edge of the bed, her face kind but resolute. “Peter,” she said, “I love you very much, but you must learn to behave. This is for your own good.”
(pause) She took Peter gently over her knee and gave him a sound spanking with the slipper. The slipper made a soft, thwacking sound, and Peter cried out, not just from the sting, but from the shame of disappointing his dear mother. When it was over, Mrs. Buck hugged him close, smoothing his hair and whispering, “There, there, my boy. All is forgiven, but you must remember to be good.”
(short pause) Peter sniffled and nodded, feeling the warmth of his mother’s embrace. Though his bottom smarted, his heart felt lighter, for he knew he was loved, and that Mother only wished for him to grow up honest and kind.
(pause) And so, Peter learned a valuable lesson that Saturday: that mischief brings consequences, but love and forgiveness are never far behind. From that day on, he tried his very best to behave, and whenever he was tempted to be naughty, he remembered the gentle wisdom of his mother—and the sting of her slipper.
(long pause) The moral is this: Obedience and kindness bring happiness to all, and a lesson learned with love is a lesson remembered forever.
