Ben burst from the room as if shot out of a cannon.
"Thanks for your help, Diane" said Margaret "And I'm sorry he was so difficult"
"It's no trouble" said Diane "He'll get used to it in time. Anyway, we'd better go and deal with Alison."
"We?" said Margaret.
"I got the impression you'd finally come round to our way of thinking" said Diane "Or did I get that wrong?"
"You mean about spanking?" asked Margaret.
"That's what I thought" said Diane straightening the bedspread.
"I'm still not a hundred percent" said Margaret "But I think we'll give it a try, see if it does any good"
"I think you'll be surprised" said Diane.
"I already am" said Margaret "I don't know what's happened to Keith, but he seemed pretty keen"
"In which case" said Diane "I thought it might be instructive for you to see how it's done"
"Isn't it a rather private thing?" said Margaret.
"That depends. Remember, humiliation is an important part of the punishment, and I really was this close" Diane said holding two fingers only millimetres apart "To stripping and spanking her in the garden, so she more than deserves the extra embarrassment."
"I see" said Margaret a little breathlessly
"Lets' get this done then" said Diane, leading Margaret out of the room.
CHAPTER THIRTY ONE
Margaret could see the change in Alison's attitude as soon as they entered her room. The bedroom was very girly and pink, and although it had two beds, was not at all dissimilar to Amy's. Alison was sat on her bed, and when they entered she rose respectfully to her feet, her demeanour was no longer one of defiance and anger but one of respect and contrition. Margaret found the contrast startling.
"That's better, Alison" said Diane.
"I'm sorry mum, I was just in a bad mood and lost my temper" said Alison.
"You're not being punished for being in a bad mood or losing your temper" said Diane "You're being punished for being rude, disrespectful , disobedient and unruly."
Alison dropped her head and her face turned red. She was sorry. But she was sorrier that she was going to get a spanking.
"I think you should get undressed now" said Diane.
Alison looked up at her questioningly "Undressed mum?"
"Yes undressed" said Diane.
Alison hadn't expected to get off lightly, but she was hoping that by now her mum might have calmed down. If she had to get undressed it was going to be a serious spanking. Alison looked up at her mother again in urgent appeal.
"What about Mrs Davison?" she said in a quiet voice, not able to look directly at Margaret.
"She will be staying. Mr and Mrs Davison have decided Ben might benefit from a good hiding too. Ben's going to get his when he gets home, so I'm intending to show her how it's done" said Diane.
Alison began to get undressed knowing that once sentence was pronounced there was no escape. She wasn't sure how she felt about Ben getting spanked. On one hand she was glad, she didn't see why he should get off lightly, but on the other she felt sorry for him.
"I'd like you to help me" said Diane.
Alison nodded; anything to appease her mother.
"I'd like to show Mrs Davison some of the different way of spanking we use. But I won't force that on you. If you object you'll just get what's coming to you, but if you'll help me I'm prepared to go a lot easier on you" said Diane.
"I'll help" said Alison quickly, anything to lessen the beating she was expecting. She paused briefly before sliding her knickers off, her face reddening further. It wasn't courage that inspired her to take them off and stand up straight with her hands by her sides; it was fear of what her mother would do if she didn't.
Margaret looked Alison up and down. She was beautiful girl, long blonde hair, just started puberty, well proportioned. She wasn't surprised that Ben had fallen for her, just that Ben had been capable of falling for any girl. He'd only ever shown polite contempt for girls before.
"Fetch my hairbrush please" said Diane.
Alison's face drew fearfully tight "But mum, we've got guests" she said.
"You embarrass me in front of people, girl, you'd just better be prepared to be embarrassed back" said Diane mercilessly.
Alison didn't argue, and she didn't try to hold back. She dropped her head trudged miserably and fearfully to her bedroom door and left the room.
"Is that wise?" asked Margaret.
"It's an effective punishment" said Diane "She'll be embarrassed as hell, and if anyone sees her it'll be even worse."
"I mean, what if one of the boys sees her. Ben would probably faint, I don't expect he's ever seen a girl naked before, and certainly not one as pretty as Alison" said Margaret.
"If you're going to be living here for any time he's going to see girls like that. I'm not saying that public spankings are common, but if he's visiting other people's houses, chances are he's going to witness a spanking, or see some poor soul stood in the corner with a bare bottom, sooner or later. He might as well get used to it" said Diane.
"What about the older boys though, Giles for example, doesn't it get them a bit... worked up, give them ideas?" asked Margaret.
"Not in Giles' case, I don't think the boy's capable of an idea of that sort, but I know what you mean. I don't think so to be honest. At least there's been no evidence of that sort of thing and I think we'd hear about if there was" said Diane.
"It just seems to me, that at that age, well... things might get out of hand" Margaret said.
"It's probably the other way round, actually" said Diane "In any other community the girls would all be walking around in the fashions that seem popular today, teasing all the boys, and they're probably driving them wild. What are they going to do? They're going to try and get their hands on one of them. Here, well, they're probably going to see a girl or two anyway, so the mystery's dispelled" said Diane.
"You might be right" said Margaret, but she was far from convinced.
Alison returned, carefully closing the door. She handed an old wooden hairbrush to her mother and stood shaking.
"We'll save this until the end" said Diane.
"What's it for?" asked Margaret.
"It's for smacking her bottom with" said Diane "The back of it, not the bristles" she added.
"Isn't that painful?" asked Margaret.
"Oh yes, very. It used to be my grandmother's. I know exactly what it feels like" said Diane.
"Alison, I was going to use the hairbrush for your whole spanking, but because you're going to help me I'll just use my hand for the most part. I will finish with the hairbrush, though. You're not being let off just because you're helping" said Diane.
Alison just nodded.
"I'm not planning on a master class here Margaret" said Diane "But I thought you should see the basics."
Margaret sighed "I do feel rather stupid" she said.
"You'll pick it up" said Diane.
Diane sat on the bed. "This is the simplest position" she said. She pulled Alison over her lap, and settled her comfortably. When she looked down, seeing Alison's bottom for the first time, she saw six stripes.
"Who gave you these?" she asked, wondering what she had done and who she had offended, and more importantly why she hadn't been told.
Alison said nothing, but tried to think up a plausible excuse.
Margaret suddenly recognised the marks and spoke up "Oh I know about that" she said "Ben had a couple too. Apparently they were playing 'war' and got a bit over-enthusiastic hitting each other with sticks"
"Maybe we should get some of these stick" said Diane.
She started smacking Alison's bottom sharply. Alison gritted her teeth determined to remain stoic in Mrs Davison's presence.
"For a quick spanking this is the easiest" said Diane, you can get a good grip of them and hold them down, and so long as they don't kick too much it's just fine."
"I see" said Margaret, not quite sure what to think of this pretty girl, naked, over her mother's lap being spanked.
"Kick for me Alison, as if it's really hurting" said Diane.
Alison starting kicking her legs wildly and thrashing about a bit. She'd had plenty of practice of that.
"What you can do when they're like this is put them over one knee and use the other leg to pin theirs down" said Diane. She demonstrated. Alison continued to try to thrash, but was better contained by her mother.
To Alison's surprise her mother stopped spanking her. She was grateful for that. She was just starting to feel some real pain beginning to kick in and she was having to fight to control herself.
"You have a go at those two" suggested Diane.
"Me? Oh I couldn't" said Margaret.
"You should" said Diane "If you're going to be dealing with Ben you'll look a fool if you get it all wrong, and you can't afford to look a fool, you'll lose his respect, and with it, your authority."
Margaret thought about that, and she knew Diane was right. She wasn't going to have a clue, and it was going to embarrassing enough spanking Ben for the first time. The last thing she wanted was to add incompetence to the mix.
"Alright" said Margaret.
Diane stood Alison up and got Margaret sat down. With help from Diane she pulled Alison over her lap, and Margaret was surprised at how comfortable and natural it seemed. Her first few smacks were feeble, and Diane had to refrain from laughing, but she soon got the hang of it. Alison was beginning to squirm for real now.
"Kick, Alison" said Diane, and Alison was grateful for the excuse.
"Now put her over one knee and lock her legs" said Diane.
Margaret followed the instructions carefully, and continued the spanking. She had been rather surprised that when she started, the feel of her hand against Alison's bottom had been mildly pleasant, but now her hand was beginning to sting.
"That's enough" said Diane, and Alison nearly swooned with gratitude.
"It really hurts your hand" said Margaret.
"That's why your hand is only really suitable for minor punishments" said Diane "And for a boy like Ben it might not be suitable at all"
"What do I do then?" asked Margaret.
"Well, amongst other things I use the hairbrush, but you'll find plenty of useful implements about the place. Wooden spoons are very popular, spatulas, slippers, you'll probably find you'll be wandering around the house and you'll suddenly think 'oh that would be useful'" said Diane.
"Another useful position is this one" said Diane "Lie on the bed Alison, face up"
"Oh no, mum!" she said, but after a quick look of warning she lay on her bed. "Legs up!" said Diane.
Alison slowly raised her legs up and back over her body. Diane took hold of them, pressing them down, and started to smack her daughter's bottom again.
"This is useful for keeping them still, it's useful when you're going to give them a long spanking as well, because it means you can get to different parts of the bottom rather than just concentrating on the same part. It's also more embarrassing" she stopped again after a short while and Margaret again took over. She could not help noticing how exposed Alison was, and she could clearly see her vulva and anus.
"Lastly then we'll do a couple of standing positions, these are useful if you have the misfortune to have to deal with them when you're out and about, which hopefully won't be often" said Diane.
She stood Alison up and wrapped an arm around her from behind using the weight of her own body to force Alison into a bending position. She spanked her again. Alison began crying now as the pain began to build to unmanageable proportions. After a short while she pulled Alison over to her desk and had her lean with her hands on the surface, this allowed Diane to stand back and get a better swing.
"You're not holding her, why doesn't she try to get out of the way?" asked Margaret.
"Why aren't you running away Alison?" asked Diane.
"Because you'll catch me and I'll get much worse afterwards" said Alison.
"That's an important lesson for them to learn. If they give you any trouble while you're punishing them you have to make them pay. Make the punishment worse, either with more pain, or extra humiliation. That way they'll cooperate. You may need to demonstrate a couple of times before Ben gets the idea, but he'll learn in the end. Now you have a go at those" said Diane.
Margaret spanked Alison again, in both positions, but not for very long. She felt very sorry for Alison. Margaret's hand was beginning to get painful now, and she knew Alison's bottom must be worse.
"It's important that you're consistent though, Margaret" said Diane "And if you make a threat, always, always carry it out. Never back out of it. If you don't they'll soon learn that being difficult, whining, arguing, or whatever, will get them off. And you don't want to encourage that. If you say get undressed or I'll beat you in the lounge, then if they don't immediately get undressed, you beat them in the lounge"
"Okay" said Margaret.
"Well that's an introductory lesson. I'll finish off this little madam now and you can see the difference between a hand and a hairbrush" said Diane.
Alison whimpered and took a step backwards away from her mother, but Diane just sat and pointed to her lap. Crying more freely now, Alison approached and bent over. Diane started hitting Alison's bottom with the well worn back of the hairbrush and Alison began to cry out.
"If you need any help. If Ben is obstinate or you can't cope, either give me a call and I'll come over to help, or just send him over to me. I have plenty of experience with naughty boys" said Diane.
"Thanks" said Margaret "I have to admit this is going to be quite nerve-wracking. It's a lot more complicated than I thought."
"You'll get the hang of it. It just takes practise, and I expect Ben's going to give you plenty of that" said Diane with a smile.
Alison was kicking and screaming furiously now, and began begging her mother for mercy.
"You'll get used to Ben's responses too. Every child is different so you have to get to know each one individually. Some will cry and scream long before they're really in any pain, and others won't let out so much as a whimper even if they're half dead. If you just stop when they cry, they'll learn that's the way to get off lightly" said Diane "Now, Alison here is in pain, quite a lot, but not enough for my satisfaction yet."
Margaret watched as Diane continued, and Alison thrashed about screaming and begging. The whole thing was a complete surprise to Margaret. She was surprised at how Alison was now utterly contrite and begging for mercy, she was surprised at how much spanking she had been able to take, when she'd expected her to break down very quickly, and she was surprised how little of Alison's body was left to the imagination when she thrashed about like that. Any boys watching would definitely have had a feast day.
"Pride's an issue too. No child wants other children to hear them get a spanking, much less see it. And to be heard crying, and worse, begging for mercy, is very humbling. It's worse for boys than for girls of course, and the make-up of the audience is a factor too. With family it's bad enough, extended family worse, and friends and other kids outside the family, worse again" said Diane.
Margaret nodded.
"Have you had enough young lady?" asked Diane
"Yes, mummy" bawled Alison.
"Stand in the corner" said Diane, and as quickly as she was able she got up and stood in the corner with her hands on her head.
"Always make them stand in the corner after a spanking. It gives them and you a chance to cool off" said Diane "If they've really misbehaved you can leave their bedroom door open, or stand them in the lounge or kitchen. If they've done something very shameful make them face the room rather than the wall, that way they have to meet people's eyes as they come and go, and they'll be more embarrassed by being more on display. I'm sure you can think of lots of variations."
"Why does she have her hands on her head?" asked Margaret.
"It stops her rubbing her bottom, which isn't allowed until she's let go, it stops her from covering herself up, and it stops her from fidgeting. It also acts to make her feel more exposed than she really is." said Diane.
"This is all so complicated" said Margaret shaking her head.
"This is just the way we do it. You'll develop your own methods, and you'll figure out what works best for you, and for Ben. It's not as hard as it looks, really" said Diane.
"I hope you're right" said Margaret.
"Alright, Alison, half an hour in the corner then you can get dressed and go and apologise to Giles" said Diane.
"No! I'm not apologising to Giles" said Alison. Diane looked shocked.
"You are my girl!" said Diane.
"No, mum please, I don't like him" said Alison.
"I don't care if you like him or not. You'll do as you're told!" said Diane.
"Please... I'm sorry... but not Giles... You don't understand..." said Alison beginning to cry more heavily again.
"This is the part where you have to stand firm and not give in, or you get whining and arguments like this" said Diane, punctuating the last word with a sharp slap to Alison's bottom.
"Ow!" yelled Alison.
"You can do it when you come out of the corner, after you've dressed, or you can do it now dressed as you are" said Diane.
Alison wailed pitifully. "Alright!" she yelled.
"Better get the food out before people start eating the curtains" said Diane, heading out. Margaret followed.
"Why was she making such a fuss about apologising to Giles?" asked Margaret.
"She's probably got a crush on him" said Diane.
"I have to say I don't like his mother very much" said Margaret "I don't think I've ever met such a rude and nasty woman"
"Well you're in good company there" said Diane "We call her the desiccated dodo"
"Why a dodo?" asked Margaret.
"Well because we think she's extinct, and represents the old workhouse governess or some puritan spoilsport and they're extinct too" said Diane.
"Why's she desiccated?"
"Can you imagine her and the Reverend? You know... in bed?" said Diane and started giggling uncontrollably. Margaret joined her, and in-between fits of laughter "No... No, I can't"
In the garden the mood was mixed. Most of the children ran about laughing and playing, with the occasional fearful or sympathetic glance up at Alison's bedroom window. Around the table the mood was saturnine. Ben had rejoined the group after having run off to hide and recover his dignity. Despite the double-glazing Alison's screams and begging could be heard.
Ben stood up "Can't we do something?" he said.
"Like what" asked Victoria.
"Rescue her!" said Ben miserably.
Victoria took his hand and pulled him down beside her. She gave him an earnest, sympathetic look "Sometimes Ben, there's just nothing we can do. Alison got herself into this mess, and when it's adults we're pretty limited. It's too late for us to be clever, we just have to accept it."
"But it's not right!" said Ben.
"Life isn't sometimes, sweety" said Victoria "Later, when she's feeling better, you can be nice to her, try to cheer her up"
"I can't, she hates me" said Ben.
"She doesn't hate you, she was just mad that's all. Later on she'll be glad of the comfort, and she'll be pleased to see you" said Victoria.
"Really?" asked Ben.
"Really" said Victoria.
"We can't go... where we might though" said Emily "Because of your laptop."
"No we've got a solution now. I'll give Paul the receiver, he can plug it into his computer, and it can record onto that" said Victoria.
"If we had more time I could buy some cheap relays on ebay and we could probably increase the range sufficiently with those, but we might lose signal quality" said Victoria.
"You know what would be really clever?" said Paul.
"No, go on" said Victoria.
"And, not only really clever, but also poetic, and I know how much you like poetry. Ironic as well actually..." said Paul.
"Yes, Paul, what is it?" asked Victoria.
"The only thing I'm not sure about, is which is cleverer, me or my idea" said Paul sitting back, his hands clasped behind his head with a very smug expression.
"Do you want me to put you over my lap?" asked Victoria.
"Yes please" said Paul."
"And then have Giles come and fondle your balls" she finished
"Um, no" said Paul, considerably less enthusiastically.
"Then get on with it, and stop being a tease" she said.
"Okay here's the idea. Giles' computer is under his desk and I doubt he ever goes under there except to turn it on and off. What if we plug the receiver into the back of his computer, he'll never notice, and even if he did he wouldn't have a clue what it was" said Paul.
"And what does that gain us?" asked Victoria mulling it over.
"If we could get some time with his computer we could set it up so he broadcasts the signal over the internet for us so we're not reliant on the range of the receiver. If he has broadband, which he probably does" said Paul, looking especially smug.
"And how do we pick up the signal from the internet?" asked Victoria.
"Well, we... Bugger!" said Paul.
"And we could use exactly the same stupid idea only broadcasting onto the internet from your computer, which gets us exactly the same useless result" said Victoria "We're lucky to have electricity, but we'll never get a broadband connection out there, there isn't even a phone."
"Oh well" said Paul.
"Not your speciality, don't feel bad" said Victoria "Just stick to what you're good at" said Victoria.
"What's that?" asked Paul.
"I think you know what that is, lover boy" said Victoria, with a smile and a wink.
Paul took his hands from the back of his head and sat forward again, looking considerably less smug.
"I've thought all this through, from every angle I can think of. There is a way to get an internet connection, but it would have to be broadcast by satellite. There's no way we can afford that. I know, I've looked into it" said Victoria.
Everyone looked thoughtful, even Ben and Amy who didn't have a clue.
"If anyone else can come up with any ideas I'd be glad to hear them. Not just for this, but for the future as well. I'm sure it'll always be useful" said Victoria "Come on people, think outside the box!"
Everyone fell about laughing.
"I'm going to get some food" said Victoria standing up.
Alison crept down the stairs as though attached to the top of the landing by strong elastic. She had dressed, and washed her face, but she knew it was still puffed up and she knew everyone would have heard her screaming as well. She did not want to apologise to Giles; she hated him. But she knew if she refused her mother would probably repeat her spanking in front of everyone and still make her apologise. She was so looking forward to having him captive; she was going to kick him in the nuts so many times he'd vomit.
She spotted Giles across the room, helping himself to a piece of cake, and she stopped. Seeing him, his self-satisfied, smug, sanctimonious face, made her stop. She just couldn't do it. She knew he'd be picturing her naked; he'd be remembering touching her.
Victoria stayed clear of Giles as she surveyed the buffet, not wanting to be forced into small talk with him. She spotted Alison peeking out from the behind the door to the hall, and she put down her plate on the corner of the sideboard and went over to see if she was alright.
She walked purposefully, as if she was going to the bathroom or something, and once in the hall she pulled the door half shut to screen the two them. Bending down to the petrified looking Alison, she put an arm round her and gave her a hug.
"I'm sorry darling" said Victoria "Are you okay?"
Alison shook her head and began to tear up again.
"You know, we had to hold Ben back down here" said Victoria.
Alison shook her head again, more slowly; not understanding what Victoria was on about.
"He was trying to mount a rescue. He wanted to dash up the stairs and put a stop to your beating, like some knight rescuing a damsel in distress" said Victoria.
"Did he?" asked Alison in a small shaky voice.
"Yep. We had to stop him or he'd have got into trouble too, and it wouldn't have helped you at all" said Victoria.
"It might have done, if he'd been able to slay the dragon" said Alison.
"Well, later on, when we go out to play, maybe he can try to make you feel better" said Victoria.
"He's going to get a spanking when he gets home" said Alison "So he might need making better as well."
"You can comfort each other then" said Victoria "Why don't you come out to the garden and join us then darling?"
"I can't" said Alison.
"You're not supposed to be staying in your room are you?" asked Victoria, surprised that Alison would venture out if that was the case.
"No. I've got to apologise to Giles, and I can't!" said Alison her face beginning to draw up.
"Why?" asked Victoria.
"Otherwise I'm going to get it again, and probably in front of everyone" said Alison with tears starting to roll down her cheeks.
Victoria hugged Alison to her warmly. She understood. With what Alison had suffered at Giles' hands how could she face apologising? On the other hand, a very public spanking, and worse: with Giles watching? Between a rock and a hard place!
"Alright darling" said Victoria "How about we have some fun with Giles?"
"What do you mean?" asked Alison.
"How would you like to see him really squirm?" asked Victoria, holding Alison in front of her and looking her in the eye.
Alison nodded, brightening up again "How?"
"You leave that to me. All you have to do is walk up to him, I'll come with you, and take your cue from me. You won't have to apologise, but do say something like 'Hello Giles, there's something I wanted to tell you' just so that if your mum or anyone's watching they'll think your apologising" said Victoria.
"Okay" said Alison sceptically.
"Afterwards, if anyone asks, tell them you apologised" said Victoria.
"What if Giles says I didn't" asked Alison growing scared.
"He's not going to remember darling, and I'm going to be your witness" said Victoria "Now, let's strike while the iron's hot, and see how Giles likes to be scared and uncomfortable shall we?"
"Okay" said Alison, brightening up further.
Continued in Chapter Thirty Two