by Susan Thomas
Mr Whittle, however, was a quite another matter. His regime was really quite repressive and he should treat her with some consideration as a guest, but he didn't. If he wanted to spank her she had two options. The first was to say no and leave, meaning a ban on her going to the farm and a ban on Josh seeing her. True Josh could defy his father but that was not easy to achieve. Or he could even leave home but that had its own problems, and would he want to for her, because it was a big step?
The other option of course was to take the spanking but, apart from the pain of being spanked, it was extremely humiliating and unfair, and she wasn't keen. When it came to the moment what would she do?
Chapter 8
It was a momentous few days starting on the Thursday when Erin, Kerry and several other of their friends saw Sallie-Jo in a car with her boyfriend. Nothing wrong with being in a car of course except her top was pushed up, her bra undone, her skirt rucked up and her boyfriend's hand was up her skirt with his tongue seemingly down her throat. There was no way they could knock and warn them that interest was being taken by several adults, quite a few of whom were members of the congregation. The gossip flew even faster in their circle when suddenly Sallie-Jo stopped answering all communication.
Then on the Friday Erin got the results of a fairly important test she had taken at college. She had achieved the highest possible score and was back where really she should always have been. Everyone, including her, was very pleased and in their own way everyone else took credit for getting her back on the straight and narrow.
On the Saturday Erin had to work but in the evening came the news that Sallie-Jo had been found out and was now grounded and barred from all communication with everyone, especially said boyfriend, for a month. In addition she had been severely strapped including three extras for trying to get off the bed. According to her younger brother, the source of all this news, she had to be held down in the end by her mom and Mrs Jones while her dad did the deed.
Erin's reputation rose hugely at this news because of course Erin had two such strappings but had not been held down or needed any extras. The girls made her go through every single step of how it was done (Erin said being on the bed was easier to take than over the back of the sofa) and how much it hurt. They were all horrified but fascinated, all too well aware that it could be them if any of their peccadilloes were discovered. Kerry revealed how Erin bringing her home drunk and getting her into bed before her parents found out, had saved her a strapping, and Erin was definitely girl of the moment. Erin told them how being strapped while knowing her mom and dad, Pastor and Mrs Jones and her aunt were all listening made it somehow worse.
Then on Sunday came the really momentous events. It was her turn again to go to the Whittles. This time she did do her fractions game again when singing the long dreary hymns but brought a small notebook and took quick notes in the sermon. Neither of Josh's parents could see this as Josh, Ruth, Abigail and Sarah sat in-between. It actually helped with the boredom and when she didn't understand what on earth the mad preacher was on about she put a question mark in the margin in case she was asked.
Just as well she did for at the meal Mr Whittle suddenly picked on her. "Erin, what did you make of our preacher's comments about Zechariah 8 verse 12?"
"I am so pleased you asked me Mr Whittle. Of course I understood the part where fertility and bounty are part of the covenant blessing promised in Leviticus 26 verses 3 to 10, but the link to Haggai 1 verse 10 escaped me. Perhaps you can help me on that point?"
Josh almost choked and gave Erin a strange look but she seemed completely sincere. Mr Whittle looked both astonished and also disappointed but he did answer seriously. "The Haggai scripture is a contrast Erin, whereas Zechariah shows the blessings due to the righteous, Haggai warns of those who turn from God's path."
Erin feigned enlightenment and Mr Whittle turned to his own three daughters. "I hope girls you have made a note of Erin's zealous attention to the detail of the sermon."
They all mouthed platitudes but Sarah glared at Erin until, when all eyes were off them, Erin winked and the girl's eyes went round with shock and then pleasure. However, it was a short lived victory for at the end of the meal just before clearing up Mr Whittle spoke of a chastisement dealt out by one of their neighbours last Sunday. Their eldest son had rebelled against the strictness of church and refused to go. His reward was a severe beating which had put him in bed for a whole day in spite of his age and strength.
Erin could not help herself, she simply blurted out, "That's awful; it's totally abusive, utterly unnecessary and will probably turn him off going to church forever."
"Erin that will do. Do not set yourself against the righteous chastisement of a child. As it says in the good book, "Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying." Proverbs 19 verse 18. I can see that you have much to learn and I think a good spanking will help you to know your place. After we have cleared up you will come with me to the parlour and I shall chastise you."
Erin helped with the clearing up on autopilot. She still had to make up her mind whether to accept or reject this spanking. The thought of baring her bottom and going over his knee was utterly repellent but then there was Josh to think about.
The clearing up ended and Mr Whittle turned to his wife. "Take all four girls into the parlour. Josh take Caleb outside if you please."
Erin knew this was the moment she must decide but even as she opened her mouth she didn't know what she was going to say. To this day she doesn't know because before she could say a word Josh chimed in a loud, clear and determined voice.
"No sir, I will not take Caleb outside."
There was a moment of stunned silence before his father asked incredulously, "What did you say Joshua?"
"I will not allow you to touch Erin. She is an adult for one thing, and although she has signed the church agreement with her uncle and aunt, that does not extend to you. She is also my guest and through me your guest. I remind you of scripture where Lot offered up his daughters to the mob rather than betray his sacred duty to a guest."
His father went into a towering rage. "I remind you Joshua that I am master in this house and your father and you have a scriptural duty to honour me. It is my judgement as both master of the house and an elder of the church that this young woman needs to be chastised for the good of her own soul. Now take Caleb outside."
"No father, I shall take Erin home since I brought her and she is under my protection."
Having said this without heat he took Erin's hand and led her to the door. Erin looked up in a daze to see a knight in shining armour leading her out. Unfortunately no white charger awaited but Josh's somewhat battered old pick-up, but Erin seemed not to notice as she had only eyes for her knight.
Jack and Nicola were outraged that Mr Whittle had wanted to spank Erin and delighted with Josh but the situation was serious. It was hard to see how Josh could go back, but equally he could not support himself through college, he had no job and no home.
Jack thought for a while. "OK I guess we could offer you a job with us part time and that would get you by enough to finish college. I guess you could live here but I won't have any carrying on with Erin not under my roof.”
Josh was trying to refuse with Erin begging him to accept when there came a ring of the doorbell. Nicola went to answer and backed into the room trying hard to stop a tall elderly lady advancing in.
"Ah there you are boy," she called to Josh. "Well done m'boy - so you stood up to the old buzzard at last."
Josh recognized her in a vague way and so did Jack. "You're my Aunt Unity," said Josh.
"You are in our congregation, your name is... Whittle," said Jack.
Unity Whittle, you probably recognize her name. In her younger days she wrote the most amazing travel books about her journeys that had taken her to some of the oddest places on this globe. She had also fronted a whole series of immensely popular travel documentaries on TV. She was in fact Mr Whittle's e
ldest sister who had fled the family home from Josh's tyrannical grandfather when she was a mere eighteen, but after retirement had returned to her home town without fuss, principally to monitor her nieces and nephews.
"But how do you know about..." Erin was utterly bewildered.
"Oh easy girl. Sarah and I have been in contact for some time and she let me know. My brother is on his knees as we speak praying that the Lord will spare you from eternal damnation. He is as mad as a bag of snakes that one, just like our miserable father."
"Now then boy," this to nineteen year old Joshua. "I have been expecting rebellion from one of you and now this young thing has brought it about. You realize I hope there is no going back so you'd better live with me and I'll sponsor you through college. However, I am not going to be your servant. I am not picking up dirty smelly male socks. You will do your fair share of chores and you can help me with my yard in return for my financial support. I have arthritis now and it is slowing me down somewhat. You girl, I don't care what you and Romeo here get up to elsewhere but in my house and yard there will be no carrying on. Is that clear?"
Erin was so amazed at the events she simply croaked out a yes.
"Now Joshua you'd better go a fetch your things. Sarah will probably want to come too but she is young enough for your father to take legal steps to prevent that. Ruth is of course past hope. Tell Sarah to be patient her time will come. The three of us can watch out for Abigail and Caleb. Well get on boy. I hope you are not usually so vacant, there is a lot to do. You girl, you'd best not go near the place - we can never be sure what he will do."
Eventually Josh and his aunt departed leaving Jack, Nicola and Erin feeling somewhat weak. They made drinks and Erin had to recount every detail of the church service, the meal and the events afterwards.
Her aunt was furious. "The nasty old goat. He knew fine well that the beating was abusive and utterly inappropriate. He wouldn't even have done that to Joshua and they must be the same age; it was entirely to provoke you so he'd have an excuse to spank you. When he asked you that scripture question he probably thought you'd flounder and he'd have his excuse then but he didn't know our Erin so he had another go. He wanted to spank you as a first step to getting you under his power. Good for Josh. I'd like to give that man a piece of my mind."
They talked at some length as the events had been so momentous and then Erin said, "There is one good thing about his disciplinary style."
"There is?" Jack was amazed.
"Yes, he doesn't go straight to the paddle when he spanks but often just uses his hand. That paddle really hurts, and a hand spanking would be better for some things."
Even as Erin said this she wondered at herself. How her attitudes had changed to the extent she could just casually say something like that. If her English friends could hear her now!
Jack and Nicola were not experienced either as parents or spankers and frequently found themselves rattled by the situations they found themselves dealing with. However, the words struck a chord with them.
"That's what your grandfather used to do to me and your mom," Nicola told Erin. "He rarely used his belt and then only for really bad stuff we'd done."
After some discussion they amended the agreement to one which gave Jack the authority to choose to give a hand spanking instead of using the paddle, but they all agreed spanking for six minutes, as Mr Whittle had Sarah, was probably too long.
The trouble with being rescued by a knight in shining armour is that the knight tends to drive all else from the mind. Josh did nothing to encourage this. In fact he was blissfully unaware of the tremendous impact he had on Erin by standing up to his father, taking her by the hand and saying, "I shall take Erin home since I brought her and she is under my protection."
In fact Joshua was busy. First of all he had to get his things which had been no easy task, then get settled into his Aunt Unity's. She was a strange lady right enough - forceful, impatient, highly intelligent, clear sighted and desperate to conceal a generous heart. However, she drove a hard bargain and Josh in many ways had no less to do in terms of work than he did for his father though the atmosphere in the house was far less tense than it had been at home.
Erin though went around in a star struck daze which was probably acceptable at first but after about ten days became rather a nuisance. Her aunt and uncle did mention the problems it created but Erin nodded politely and still seemed star struck. The second Sunday after the momentous even Uncle Jack waited until after lunch and quietly asked Erin to come to his den.
"Erin, there are a few things I need to talk over with you."
"Oh yes of course Uncle Jack."
"I wonder if you have any idea of how many chores of late you have left unfinished or finished but not too well."
"Oh dear, I didn't know there were any. Is it one or two?"
"No its fifteen in fact."
"Oh dear, I am so sorry. I will apologize to auntie."
"Thank you Erin. Then there is your room. Have you actually looked around it at all?"
"I guess it's a bit of a mess isn't it."
"You guess right I'm afraid but I'd say a big mess not a bit of one. I hate to raise this but have you any idea how often people like Arni have covered for you at work?"
"No I... have I needed covering then?"
"Yes, and they love you so they do it and think I don't know, but it cannot go on. Then there is your college work. I wouldn't know but you've been leaving it all over the place including the business. You have deadlines that you are not going to meet at the present rate isn't that so Erin?"
"I guess I have been slipping behind a bit, I must catch up."
"I could go on. There are other things but you know what the cause is don't you?"
"No I don't think so."
"It's Joshua again. He rescued you and stood up to his father and you have been in a dream ever since. He's fine getting on with Unity and working for her and studying hard but you are wandering around just not getting on at all. It's none of it serious by itself Erin but lumped together as a whole package..."
"It's bad. I am so sorry Uncle Jack its true I can see it I just can't... oh I don't know."
"Erin you know we love you and love having you with us but as I've said before the Good Lord is teaching me raising a daughter is not all hearts and flowers. Now I must ask you a question. Would you think me unfair if I were to spank you and tell you I expect you to improve real quickly?"
Erin had changed a great deal since coming to live with her uncle and aunt. Tiny step by tiny step her views on discipline, punishment and her own status as an older teenager had taken on the colouring of her aunt and uncle's church. Back in England she would have thought such a question either hilarious or abusive but now she took it seriously and sat quietly for a moment or two thinking before answering.
"No Uncle Jack I don't think it would be unfair, in fact I guess I deserve it. But the paddle does hurt so. Can you go a bit easy. I didn't mean to be bad."
"I was thinking of using my hand."
Erin had forgotten that new arrangement. "Oh thank you but this dress... please, may I put something else on? I'd really have to take the silly thing off and... well..."
"Of course but come back here. New punishment, new place to do it I think."
Erin went back to her room her aunt giving her an affectionate squeeze on the way and Erin telling her how sorry she was to have been a nuisance. When she got to her room she slipped off the rather old fashioned dress she had worn to church and stood in her bra and panties thinking what to do. She had planned to go around to Unity's and help Josh in the garden. The weather was extremely mild (especially by wet Lancashire standards) so she slipped on a plain T shirt and a pair of shorts. She didn't want to be walking through the house with nothing on below the waist in case a neighbour popped in as they were apt to do. No point in putting anything on her feet though since she'd have to take them off again, so she picked up a pair of sandals and walked down to her uncle's d
en.
As she went to peel off her shorts and panties in the usual church recommended way he surprised her. "Just pull them down Erin; no need to take them off . We don't need to follow protocols for this, it is our own development."
So Erin just lowered her shorts and panties and arranged herself over his lap. It was still an embarrassing place to be. She knew that it was going to hurt. That after all is the point of being spanked, but her curiosity was rekindled because she had never been spanked with a hand. When the first smack landed it surprised her with how much it stung. "Ow," she yelped out.
The hand smacked down again but on a different part and she called out, and the next came more quickly as her uncle got into his rhythm. The sting on her bottom mounted fast as the smacks piled up. Erin found herself wriggling across her uncle's lap, not as energetically as when he used the little paddle, but certainly not keeping still. Her bottom smarted and grew hot while her legs curled and stretched without any direction from her. Smack, smack, smack went her uncle's busy hand. First on one cheek, then the other, then right across - sometimes again and again in one place. The sting and heat mounted dramatically and a strange thought went through her head. She wished her dad had spanked her when she was younger and had been naughty and then it wouldn't all be such a shock. Sarah had been much more stoical than her when Mr Whittle spanked her.
Her uncle paused. "Do you think this spanking is doing some good Erin? Will you be able to sort yourself out now?"
"Yes Uncle Jack, I really do I am so sorry."
She expected that would be the end but instead Jack told her to reach down and hold onto his leg tightly. He then rained down a fast hard flurry of smacks that would have done credit to Mr Whittle. Erin's gasps and cries came thick and fast and her legs jerked and kicked under the volley. Her cries began to merge into one long sound until she sounded a little like a siren going off. Abruptly the spanking stopped.