In 17th Century Europe, the tutor to a boyhood prince was faced with a dilemma. The tutor was required to discipline the prince for misbehavior, but was unable to physically punish the prince. The solution to this dilemma was for a friend of the boy prince to receive punishment for the prince’s failings. The recipient of this punishment was called *the whipping boy*.
**The Spanking Girl**
I had spent the whole blue-sky weekend in the garden, digging and chopping and sawing. Hard physical work in the gentle spring sun. As the Sunday turned to sunset, I was sawing through the trunk of a teenage oak – a rebellious tree that has gatecrashed the garden of the elderly lady that previously owned my dilapidated property. Thirsty work.
The sweet homely fragrance of a baking cake caught my attention and I looked to the kitchen. Princess grinned at me and waved, smiling infectiously, her blue summer dress speckled with flour. I made the drink sign and she nodded enthusiastically. I returned to my work.
Shortly Princess came into the garden, nervously carrying a full glass of cold beer, trying not to spill.
“Princess!” I said suddenly.