The woman insisted on absolute discipline at all times, would poke the boys with a stick if they didn’t jump to it when she issued an order, or stop their noisy banter when she told them to shut up. Batty Brenda liked peace and quiet in her ward, and would make them stand with their hands on their heads for hours on end, until they were whimpering with distress, or until the air was rank with the smell of urine leaked during the overlong restraint. All that pain just to teach them the value of obedience. Mercy saw one young boy locked in solitary confinement for two whole days for taking a handkerchief that didn’t belong to him. ‘I think he took it by mistake,’ she protested, as always coming quickly to her charge’s defence. ‘He couldn’t read the initials in the corner. Maybe I could teach him his letters, would that help?’ ‘There’s no point in wasting time and money on teaching this lot anything,’ came the predictable response.
