When my father remarried, I was 11 years old. My new mother had a son, Mark, who was then seven. My stepmother was a loving and caring person and believed that what she did was for our own good.
Very soon I was aware that she often threatened Mark and myself with expressions like ‘I’ll smack your bottom sore’. The question which really made my tummy turn was: “Do you want your bottom strapped?” Even at that age, the thought of corporal punishment excited me.