125.
Earlier that afternoon, at St. Maryâs School, Luke and Maxâs embarrassment was crowned by Debbie allowing the girls to change them into their new pants. First she handed out rubber gloves. She had brought two new pairs of elasticated baby pants with her, in fine, soft latex, Lukeâs pastel blue, Maxâs baby pink, both translucent, scattered with little bears (for Luke) and little dolls (for Max). Worst of all, she had brought new plugs for them. This style, in smooth pink rubber, was shaped like a small egg on a narrow stalk. Not so intrusive, but impossible to forget.
âRight, babies. On your tummies please. Max first, I think. Open your legs, Max. Right, girls, first of all make sure the lower end of the strap it firmly buckled to the plate, then slide on the plug â thatâs right, Janice. Maisy, take the lubricant, put a little dollop on the plug, then use your fingers to make sure the whole thing is covered. GoodâŚexcellent. Max, please stop clenching your buttocks.â
âSorry, missâŚI canât help itâŚâ
âMarlene, Patricia. Can you help him, please? Kneel either side. Thatâs better. Now Iâll show you how itâs done. Very gentlyâŚturn it back and forth like soâŚand plop - in it goes.â
Once the process had been repeated with Luke, Debbie showed the girls how to fold and pin a nappy.
âWe often use big pull-ups, but I thought you should know how to do this in case you have babies â or a wimpy boyfriend.â
Janiceâs boyfriend is a wimp, miss. MaybeâŚâ
âNo he isnât, Maisy. Shut up. Youâre just jealous cos heâs cute.â
âWell, Janice, if youâre ever in any doubt, you can always send him to P & S for a few days and weâll assess him.â
âYou should, Janice,â persisted Maisy. âYou could boss him about even more than you do already!â
Janice didnât reply, but she looked thoughtful.
The nappies being secured, Debbie rummaged in the changing bag again.
âNow for their little pants.â She held them up.
âOh, theyâre so cute!â squealed Patricia. âCan I put Maxâs on?â
âGo ahead.â
She pushed them over his feet. âMaxie, lift up your bum, darling. Good boy.â
She worked them up over the bulky nappy and pulled and picked at the pink latex till she was satisfied they were neat and tidy. Meanwhile the others were doing the same for Luke. Then it only remained to put on their bootees, vests and cardigans, and they were ready to go.
The girls were whispering amongst themselves.
âMiss?â piped up Patricia. âInstead of you driving them, could we possibly be allowed to walk them back? Itâs only a mile. Weâd look after them really nicely.â
âOh. WellâŚI suppose. Promise to keep them safe, wonât you. Iâll drive back now, and Iâll see you there in whatâŚhalf an hour?â
âNo! Donât let them, miss. You canât trust them!â
âOh, be quiet, Luke. Theyâll take good care of you.â
âThatâs what Iâm afraid ofâŚâ
âAll right, girls. Iâll leave them in your capable hands. I just want a quick word with Mrs Canter, and then Iâll head back. See you later!â
The little party set off. Max was flanked by Marlene and Maisy, Luke by Janice and Patricia, their hands held tightly against any attempt at escape. The girls ran into a lot of friends on the way, and what with introductions, examinations, and photo-calls, the journey took well over an hour, during which time the boys were prodded, fingered, had their cheeks patted, and worst of all, the elasticated legs of their rubber pants stretched and allowed to snap back onto their bare thighs multiple times. Tales were told in whispers, generating many surprised gasps and much sniggering, and by the time the front gates of P & S appeared, Luke was red-faced with anger, Max on the verge of tears. They were actually eager to return to the place that was the source of their discomfort.
Debbie had got back some time earlier, and reported to Shirley. Mrs Canter, it seemed, had found the sort of therapy offered by P & S to naughty boys innovative and attractive. By the time Debbie went to see Shirley, Shirley had already had a phone call from her.
âWell, Miss Dearman, the head and I have been discussing the work your school does, and we had a look at your website, and weâre both very impressed. We were wonderingâŚâ
âYes, Mrs Canter?â
âSuppose we were to sponsor some of your pupils. We could maybe stage events to raise money towards the cost of your equipment and facilities, or make contributions from school funds.â
âWell, thatâs a very generous thought, of course. But whatâŚ?â
âIn return, we were thinking we could arrange for selected boys to visit â perhaps for a day, to be the subjects of presentations by our sixth-form sociology students. It would very educational for them, and would make, I think, a significant contribution to the range of their studies. But the primary intention would be to benefit the boys themselves, to provide sympathetic or even empathetic female company andâ â she was about to say âintercourseâ, but after a momentâs hesitation substituted âcooperationâ. We emphasize the virtues of kindness and helpfulness, and try to set a good example to others.â
âWell, Mrs Canter, Obviously such an arrangement would need to be very carefully managed â by both schools. But it seems an excellent and thoughtful idea. It is true that the therapy we offer our boys often has to be enforced by strict discipline. It would be a short relief and an insight for them which may produce beneficial results.â
âSo, if you agree, maybe we could set up a meeting to discuss the idea, and, if we agree to go ahead, some of the detail.â
In short, the meeting was arranged, so that when the boys returned, Shirley was able to hint to their minders that it may not be the last time their services would be requested.
âBut do come and visit us next week, wonât you? Miss Buff-Hopkins tells me Mrs Canter has kindly given you permission to spend the open day here.
âYay! Cried Marlene.
âGreat!â said Janice.
âAnd weâll get to see some of the other boys?â asked Patricia.
âOf course.â
âFantastic!â added Maisy.
Luke looked at Max. Max looked at Luke.
âfuc-k,â said Max.
âShit,â said Luke.