Almanzo slips it on quickly, turning so that Dick shouldn't see the faint red mark on his back.

He knows Father hates to use corporal punishment more than most and usually it's an empty threat, but attempting to explain using the words 'magic' and 'bar' earned him a single sharp smack with the belt for lying.

"It's soft." he says. "The machines at home can't make things this fine."

He looks around to work out what a sneaker is.