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Happy to oblige! Did they put it in the attic to get rid of it? Or did it appear in the attic, waiting for its next victim? Thank you - I've had a lot of fun playing with tropes I consider to be 'classic' in the ABDL sphere, and then trying to execute them as well as possible within my own style! ... Day 5 The mornings brought Nicole no anticipation of a new day, no restfulness, only anxiety about what would be taken next. She shouldn’t have been surprised. She barely had knowledge of when she peed anymore–there was little of her bladder control left to take. No amount of wet beds or new diapers in her dresser could shock her at this point. So, she’d known it was coming, but even still she dreaded the change. Half the night she tossed and turned. Even still, when her alarm blared at her to wake up so she wouldn’t be late to work, she thought maybe–just maybe–her fears wouldn’t come true. She sat up in bed. Her diaper squelched, no news there, but she also felt a a distinctly new, different sensation–a muddy squish, and when she sniffed at the air… There was no denying it. She’d pooped her diaper in her sleep, robbing another bit of dignity away from her. Setting her jaw, Nicole got to her feet. Her room had a diaper pail in it now–of course it did. Picking the bin up, she carried it with her to the bathroom, so she could strip out of her diaper and step right into the shower. On her way into the hall, though, she bumped into Vanessa. “V,” she said, face turning pink in spite of herself. She knew that the curse wasn’t her fault, she couldn’t be blamed for the magic, and yet… Vanessa sniffed the air, nose wrinkling automatically. “Oh…jeez, Nicky, I’m so sorry.” Nicole wanted to ignore it, but she couldn’t help but steal a glance at her chart. Thunderclouds everywhere for the day, and the bottom square, the one she hated most, had a doodle of her with green stink lines wafting off her. The indication was clear. “I know like, a…I guess like a feng shui person who might be able to help?” Vanessa offered weakly. “I’ll call. Just hang on till the weekend.” “Just one more day,” Nicole agreed. “Right, we can solve this.” She almost–almost–believed it when she said it. Her shower took longer than usual–more muck to clean up–and her mood that morning was almost as foul as her nighttime diaper. She begrudgingly wore a long purple skirt, an attempt to hide the diaper she couldn’t choose not to wear, and hated the fact that she couldn’t just put on pants without leaving an obvious, humiliating bulge. (Just one more day,) she repeated to herself. … Vanessa hated feeling helpless. Her friend was in need, and Vanessa had arguably contributed to that need, but her usual brand of help just didn’t do much good here. V was the encourager, the lifter of spirits, the nice words and positive vibes friend–Nicole had always been the fixer, the problem solver in their relationship. There wasn’t much she could do beyond offer words of support and do a bit of research online. The camera idea hadn’t done much–pointing a cheap camcorder at Nicole’s door had only proven that nobody went in or out her door in the night. It confirmed that something paranormal was going on, but little else. She’d see if Nicole would be okay recording her sleeping that night, but doubted they’d learn much more from that. Aside from that, the feng shui person she’d found didn’t seem like that good of a lead, but it was better than nothing. They’d promised to disperse ‘bad energies’, and this was as bad an energy as Vanessa could imagine. At their request, Vanessa walked out into the hall to photograph the chart. Maybe there was some detail she hadn’t noticed that they would, a clue, or… “Hmm,” she said, frowning as she noticed something. The doodle of Nicole for the day–the one with stink lines radiating off her–pictured a white top and a purple skirt. Specifically, a very clear depiction of the purple skirt Nicole had left for work in. She looked back at the clouds–today had two thunderclouds, one for nighttime, one for day. The little lightning bolt coming off each marked the doodles as distinct from the previous days, which had only rain clouds. (A thunder boom-boom,) she realized. But a mark in the day meant it wasn’t just Nicole’s bedtime diaper that would end up smelly, and… “Oh no,” she said, raising her phone to text Nicole a warning. … Nicole’s phone buzzed in her pocket, but she couldn’t answer it. Not while she sat under her boss’s cool stare. Jean didn’t look upset, per say, but her expressions were typically unreadable. “We need to talk about your performance these past few days,” Jean said, simply. “I wouldn’t bring this up if it’d only been a single day, but you’ve been distracted and your reports have been sub-par.” “I’m sorry,” Nicole said, feeling intensely small under her boss’s unflappable stare. “I don’t–I can get back to normal, I promise.” Her phone buzzed again, the vibration just loud enough that Jean could hear. “If you’ve got problems at home, something that requires your attention, you’re welcome to take a few personal days,” Jean continued. “But slipping off to the bathroom every twenty minutes to check your phone isn’t an acceptable compromise.” Nicole felt a cold shock of embarrassment as she realized her ‘discreet’ trips to the potty had been noticed, though at least the purpose had been misunderstood. Jean thought she was being lazy, not realizing that Nicole had been taking proactive steps to avoid pissing her pants. Blushing, she said, “I promise I’m not just checking my cell–” Her phone started to ring, cutting through her words like a razor. She felt a weight settle in the pit of her stomach, a realization that this meeting wasn’t going well. Jean raised an eyebrow. “Do you need to get that?” Shaking her head, Nicole reached down, tapping the off button on her phone to silence the ringer. “I’m sorry I’ve been unfocused these past couple days,” she said, simply. “But I promise, my full attention is going to be back on my work starting today. Everything is settled, and… eh…” The sinking feeling in her belly grew lower, and she realized with a horrified start that it wasn’t an emotion, but rather, her body taking over control of yet another function. Her blush spreading up her face, she couldn’t even form words as she felt the inevitable push, and the spread of muck forming in the seat of her diaper. Jean noticed her expression. “I don’t want to be a hardass here, but we need all hands on deck for the deadlines coming up. You’re sure you’re back with us?” “Yes ma’am,” Nicole said, nodding quickly. A little sniff told her that the accident would be extremely noticeable any second now, and that she had to get out of the office as soon as possible. “May–may I be excused? I need to go use the bathroom.” Jean raised an eyebrow, as if to ask, ‘Really?’, but she nodded her head. “Go ahead, Nicole.” “Thanks,” she blurted, getting to her feet and waddling hurriedly to the door. She could feel her diaper sag beneath her skirt and tried to keep her legs wide so she wouldn’t squelch the mushy mass weighing it down, though a bit of squeezing was impossible if she didn’t want her awkward walk to be noticed. Toddling into the bathroom, she locked the door behind her, eyes watering from humiliation. She couldn’t–accidents like this at work were too far, and– Mind racing for a source of stability, she finally checked her messages. All were from Vanessa. ‘Nicole, you need to go to the bathroom.’ ‘The chart says you’re going to poop your pants again today.’ ‘Call in sick or something. Get out of there!’ Too late to do anything about it now, she sheepishly responded, ‘Thanks for the warning.’ Ensuring the door was locked, and the fan was on, she dug the baby wipes from her purse. Or, really, her diaper bag. She had to get changed so she could get back to work. ... Support the author, and get discounts on commissions just like this one! https://www.patreon.com/PeculiarChangeling https://subscribestar.adult/peculiarchangeling

This is a special bonus chapter as a thank you to all of you who supported purchasing my release of In-Between last week! Thank you to each of you!!!! Chapter 47: Finally BETH HAD WORKED on the floor of Connor’s room on homework for a couple hours when Amanda came for them. “Hey, you two, dinner time,” she said. “Okay,” Connor said, stretching. Beth watched him massage his fingers right then. “Wash up and come downstairs,” she told them. “Yes, ma’am,” Beth found herself saying. Amanda wasn’t quite as tall as her mother, but she was tall enough at nearly eleven feet tall to inspire respectful responses. Fred was even taller but clearly had some issues with his back because she’d noticed his slump was present like he was much older. ‘I wonder why he hasn’t done one of the rejuvenation treatments?’ Beth had run down to her room, washed her hands, went to the bathroom, and was down the stairs before she saw a red-faced Connor doing a weird hop down each stair. She couldn’t help but giggle as each stair seemed like he was doing some crazy parkour-level jump! He stuck his tongue out at her but kept on hopping down. “What took you so long?” she asked. “The stupid Pull-Up side ripped when I went to pull it down…” “You didn’t really have an accident?” she half-teased. He shook his head, “Not yet; I’m sure they’ll be coming. Everyone seems out to get you on campus when you’re a Little.” She nodded at that, “I completely understand.” “I guess you would right now, huh?” He came forward and gave her a light hug. With his head awkwardly landing at her crotch, she decided to just pick him up so she could properly hug him. “Quite a pair we are,” she said with a smile. “You know you don’t always have to pick me up?” “My dad says that to my mom a lot…” “Does she pick you up too?” “All the time at home,” she found herself grumbling. “I swear she enjoys embarrassing me as much as my dad, but at least she restrains herself to doing it only when we’re at home. Dad manages to find ways to embarrass me everywhere! She noticed that Bella and her kids were absent from dinner. “Where are the others?” She asked. “They decided to stay home tonight and use the AmeniTea for dinner instead. I know she had mentioned a sleepover, but it seemed like you two needed to get some homework done.” “Probably right,” Beth admitted before what she heard registered, “Wait, that little house has one of those?” She found herself amazed. “We should go over and see it tomorrow,” Connor told her. “It’s pretty cool how Grandma and Grandpa built them a ‘playhouse’ that’s as real as this one.” As he spoke, she realized he still had the makeup on. With that and his hair still holding onto wavy curls, he looked more like he belonged in one of the girl’s nests right then than in the boy’s one he was in. It was actually a bit of a conundrum to her that he had gone along with everything so easily. ‘It was like he fought just hard enough to make it seem like he didn’t want to go along with it?’ She shook her head, then answered the following question and continued the conversation with his grandparents. WHEN WE WERE getting close to finishing dinner, I decided to ask a question I couldn’t help but be curious about. “Grandma?” “Yes, sweetie?” “Aunt Cassie was here… along with her daughters and granddaughters… Where was Neville? I haven’t met him yet?” I instantly felt bad as her face fell. “Neville passed away a few years ago,” she told me. “Oh,” I said. “How?” Fred answered this time; he sighed first, “Cassie had decided it was time to get him rejuvenated so she could again have a cute little boy without wrinkles and a balding gray head. Meggy had asked for it for a present, but Neville didn’t really want it…” I then watched Grandma wipe a tear and felt terrible for bringing it up. “There’s almost no chance of a fatal nanite treatment at this point, but somehow, he ended up having a one-in-a-billion reaction to the treatment. He shrank and basically…” he grimaced, “From what I understand, basically reached the point of being too young to be viable.” “Is that why you haven’t had treatment for your back?” I found myself asking, curious. “Noticed that, huh?” He shook his head. “Partially, but once you’ve been a doctor as long as I have, you sometimes decide you don’t want the treatments. There’s something to be said for letting nature take its course.” That was kind of sad, but I nodded as I could sort of understand his thoughts there. “Anyway, that’s enough dark thoughts for today!” Grandma said. “You two seemed like you had fun today?” I nodded, “Surprisingly, yes.” “It wasn’t as horrific as I was afraid it would be,” Beth agreed. “We just need to get that face clear of that makeup before you go back to school Monday!” Grandma laughed. I had almost forgotten about it and found myself blushing bright red. “It does come off, right?” “Yes, we just need to use the app to disengage it. We’ll get Shelby to show you how tomorrow. You might also want to wash your hair in the morning so we can get those curls out.” I nodded, “Yeah, I probably should avoid looking like I spent the day as a girl when I go back to school!” Everyone laughed at that, even as I wish it didn’t have to be a conversation for joking. After some leftover cake for dessert, Beth and I returned to my room and resumed studying. I moved my computer to the floor beside her. I was typing away while occasionally answering a calculus question she had. I was making quick progress on my script, making it to nearly page sixty-three, when she said, “Ugh, that’s enough; I can’t take it anymore!” “I have to agree; my fingers are pretty sore from typing,” I told her. “How much did you get done?” “I’m on page sixty-two and a half,” I told her. “You’re aiming for what, eighty?” “Maybe one hundred to be safe… We can always cut pages if mine is selected?” “It sounds like fun to me.” “Did you check out the other script options by chance?” I asked her. She shook her head, “No, anything else good?” I found us talking for a while but never brought up the topic of the script I wanted nothing to do with! It was about nine in the evening when she said, “Want to go sit and watch a movie again?” I shrugged, “Sure. Pajamas again?” “Definitely!” The two of us changed, and she carried me downstairs to the couch, where we were soon cuddled up and watching a movie when Grandma came to check on us. “I see you two look comfy. Make sure you go to bed when that movie is done? It’s been a long day, and your grandfather and I are going to call it a night.” “Good night, Grandma,” I said and accepted a hug and a kiss from her before she returned upstairs. I was leaning against Beth’s warm, soft, pajama-clad body and feeling myself zone out with the movie. The graphics and storyline were intense enough that I was fully invested in the film. We were about midway through the action movie when I felt Beth start to play with my hair again. I looked at her, and she said, “Can I please play?” “Haven’t you played with my hair most of the day?” She smiled, “Yes, and I think I would love to most days, actually.” “I guess,” I told her. “Thanks, Carly!” She said as she unexpectedly squeezed me into a hug and moved me onto her lap. ‘Carly?’ I thought. ‘She doesn’t know… does she?’ I wondered. I felt her pull at my hair with a brush I recognized as my own and knew then she had most definitely planned this! “You planned to do this the whole time?” I asked. “Umm… maybe?” “Am I just a doll to you?” I smirked at her as I turned my head. “Absolutely not!” “I’m not?” “Nope!” she took a big breath in, and I wondered what she was about to do. Our eyes met, and her face started to get closer to mine. ‘Are we going to kiss?’ I wondered, hoping so! The distance between our faces was only a few inches apart. Then her phone rang! BETH LOOKED DOWN and wanted to swear! ‘Mom has horrible timing!!!!!!!!’ She sighed and said, “Pause movie,” to get the movie to stop, and then answered the phone in audio mode. “Hi, Mom,” she said. “Hi, sweetheart, how are you doing?” she asked. Beth shrugged, “Well enough, I guess?” “Amanda and Fred treating you right?” “Yes, it’s been a good place to come and get away,” she said, pulling Connor back into her body and squeezing him. For his part, he willingly moved with her and started playing with her hand by tracing out her fingers. “Your mom and I have been on the phone with our lawyers and Emerson most of today, cupcake.” Her dad’s voice came on the line. Connor stopped moving his finger on her hand and quietly giggled. ‘Thanks, Dad!’ she groaned. “Did they find anything out? Was Tracy behind it?” “Why haven’t you turned on your camera?” Her mom asked. Sighing, she said, “I didn’t know it was required…” She didn’t want her mom to be suspicious, so she quietly scooted Connor from her lap with a grimace and changed the setting. Her Mom and Dad appeared in front of them. “Oh, hi, Connor,” her mom said. Beth noticed her mom and dad took a double take momentarily but was grateful she hadn’t put his hair up in the pigtails she was planning yet! “Hi,” he said. Beth thought she heard some guilt in his voice but turned to her parents, “So what did they find out?” Her dad brought up a screen that projected in front of them. “According to their investigation and interviews with Tracy, she was just reacting to the notice sent to her as your RA. Apparently, that went out that afternoon to all of the RAs in the building? They searched her room and computer and couldn’t find anything. I guess there were changes in your file in the system, but whoever did it was a good enough hacker that nothing could be traced.” “So, long story short, whoever it is can keep doing things, and next thing I know, they’ll change my file to say I need to be in a nest in Sanders Hall?” Her dad visibly blanched at that, while her mom shook her head, “Not if they know what’s good for them!” She was in mama bear mode now, Beth could tell. “I’ve made it clear to President Barnes that if anything like this happens again, we’ll sue them for damages. As it is, we probably already have a strong case, according to your dad.” “You know I have to be careful being involved if it comes that, though,” her dad reminded her mom. “It’s your daughter; you’re allowed to be involved. I highly doubt any case would reach your level of appeals!” Her mom told him. “So, what now?” Beth asked. “President Barnes gave a directive that your file would be adjusted only by his office with his approval from now on. Any accusations of potty issues will be dealt with by him. A directive has gone out to the residence staff that if they make an accusation without merit, they’ll have their own choice of Sanders or being gone.” Beth found herself both happy and nervous about that. “If this doesn’t work, what will they try next?” She asked aloud. “I don’t know,” her dad said. “I really wish you would just come back here? I called the president of Hamilton; he’s willing to transfer your credits and classes over here?” He grimaced, “I know you have scholarships there, but we all know your mom, and I can easily afford to pay your tuition ourselves?” ‘He’s right, it’s stupid to stay here,’ she thought momentarily. Then she turned and looked at Connor beside her. She hoped her mom didn’t notice the motion she made through his hair with her hand right then. Beth found herself shaking her head, “No… I know you don’t understand this, but… I have to finish this time here at Emerson. I can’t let the university beat me again!” “Beth, they didn’t…” her dad tried to say. “Yes, they did. You saved me twice, Daddy, but this time, I want to make it all the way!” He sighed, “Okay, Cupcake, if that’s how you want to do it. I’ll do everything I can to help.” “So will I,” her mom said. “And I know you’re going to hate us for this, but we’ve ordered an assistant for your room.” “Mom!!!” Beth hissed. “They can’t do things in your room if you always have someone watching over it. This way, you don’t even have to worry about laundry and things either?” her mom said. “I’m going to be the laughingstock of the dorm!” “Or the envy?” her dad suggested. “Fine… Look, Connor and I are in the middle of a movie. I’ll call you Monday when I finish classes and return to the dorm?” “Fair enough,” her dad said. “We love you,” he said. “Yes, love you, Beth,” her mom said. “Love you too,” she breathed, “Goodnight.” As their forms faded, she smacked her forehead. “I can’t believe they’re making me have one of those!!!” I LOOKED UP at her, “What is that?” “It’s basically like being told you need a nanny?” “Oh,” I thought, “What can it do?” She shrugged, “They’re capable of just about anything? It’s what Meggy has when her mommy and siblings are out. It can change diapers, cook, clean, feed, play with you, or just about anything else.” “And that’s why they’re getting it for you?” I asked, confused. “No, I guess it’s more discreet than a bodyguard?” “It’ll just be in your room?” I asked. “Yeah?” “Then just don’t let anyone you don’t want into your room?” She sighed, “It’s the principle of the thing… I feel like my mom is just waiting for me to be a failure again and need to move back home and be babied?” I laughed, “I doubt that, Beth!” She glared at me! “She knows as well as I do that you’re incredibly strong and capable!” Beth softened her expression, “Plus, you have awesome friends and family that have your back!” That made her smile, “Thanks, I needed to hear that.” “You’re welcome,” I told her. She pulled me back into her lap, “Movie resume,” she said. I sat in her lap as the movie continued with more explosions and things that felt like they blew right past our faces! Somehow, the holographic display generated heated wind gusts so that when a piece of molten metal exploded, I had to check that I hadn’t received a burn on my face! It was incredible! All the while, I felt Beth relax again as she played with my hair, and I was pretty sure I tied my hair up into very girly loose pigtails that flopped my head when I moved. The movie eventually ended, and she said, “Connor… thank you for being here for me.” I looked up at her face and decided to risk it, sitting up taller, moving my face to hers, and matching my smaller lips to her larger ones. It felt like fireworks exploded as our tongues met for the first time inside her mouth! “WOW!” BETH FOUND herself saying then as they parted. “Wow,” Connor agreed. “I hope you don’t mind…?” She giggled, “I would have done it earlier if my stupid parents hadn’t called!” Connor’s face lit up in a smile that made her kiss him again and begin to rub his back. When they parted, she felt the need for more but thought they probably should show some discretion in his grandparents’ living room. “Maybe we should take our time with this?” She suggested. He nodded, “Yeah, I don’t want to cause you more problems…” Beth hugged him tightly, “Well, while you have caused plenty, the real problem is I can’t find it in me to transfer because of you!” “Umm… you don’t have to stay because of me?” He said. “Oh, yes, I do! Your mom saved my dad, and that alone would have been enough to make me owe you.” She paused and gave him a peck on the forehead. “But then you managed to weasel your way into my heart, unlike anyone I’ve ever met! You and I are going to date, Buster. Don’t think you’re getting out of it with me moving!” She watched Connor smile at that, “Deal,” he said. “We are going to have to be careful on campus, though,” she said. “No reason we can’t come here together?” He suggested. “Other than making out on your grandparent’s couch seems a little wrong?” “You’re right; one of the bedrooms would be better!” Beth laughed and decided it was time to get that tickle victory back from him for the night before! “Shhh!!!” she told him eventually, and he gave up. “We should probably go to bed,” he said, then blushed, “In separate rooms… I don’t want to explain this one to Grandma yet!” “Somehow, I think it won’t surprise her?” “Probably not, but like you said, let’s take it slow,” he said. She stood up and lifted him on her hip. It was odd to be so in love with this tiny boy as a boyfriend… or whatever he might be, while also feeling a significant motherly compulsion she usually put down to being a Bigs madness. They shared one more kiss at his doorway, and then she walked down to her guest room. Checking her panties, she decided she needed to do some laundry before returning the next day! ‘It’s not that kind of accident, but the last thing I want them to do is accuse me of the other kind!’ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Thank you for reading!!! Please press the like button and leave a comment!!! Also, a SUPER HUGE thank you to everyone who pre-ordered/ordered In-Between on Amazon last week! If you haven't already, you may find it for sale here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CG4W62M6 . If you did purchase it, please press the '5-Star' rating when you can! You don't have to leave a review to do so. (Though that would be so amazingly appreciated!) I'm giving a bonus chapter today of LCW and another next week in the week as a thank you to all of you!!!

Thanks for the advice everyone. It took a month, but the water works board gave me a credit for the water leak, so my bill went from $700 to -$70. Im grateful for their understanding and y’all’s suggestion to seek a credit.

The Ballet Slippers - Chapter 60 Isabelle opened her eyes. She felt a cushion under her head, but it was unfamiliar. As she glanced around, Isabelle was initially thrown off by where she was. 'It looked so strange at first,' Isabelle recalled thinking. 'But then I saw Lola.' "Good morning sleepy girl," Lola had greeted her, setting down her decorations and joining Isabelle on the couch. Isabelle had shifted her head onto Lola's lap, her thumb finding its way into her mouth. Lola quickly removed Isabelle's thumb, replacing it with Isabelle's pacifier nearby that had fallen out of her mouth. "Welcome back," Lola whispered, bending over to kiss Isabelle's cheek, before sitting back up and stroking her hair. Isabelle blinked her eyes a few more times, before taking the room in around her. She was in Lola's main floor living room, where she had danced with Lola and Dani the week prior. Only it seemed so much different. Isabelle's eyes were drawn to the molding around the top of the walls. Strings of orange and purple fairy lights adorned them, casting an eerie yet captivating glow. Intertwined around the light were orange and black decorative cutouts, such that the lights would reflect images of bats, ghosts, and all manner of creatures in the dark. Isabelle's eyes lowered toward the fireplace, where Lola had carefully placed glittering spiderwebs on the mantelpiece, making sure they looked both spooky and elegant. In front of the fireplace, a series of plastic pumpkins with carved faces on them were lined up; four in total. Each boasted a plastic handle The centerpiece of the living room, however, was directly in front of Isabelle. It was a real pumpkin this time. Huge, in fact. 'It's the biggest pumpkin I've ever seen!' The gourd was no joke, elaborately carved, and perfectly round. Sam and Lola had spent hours that morning meticulously crafting the perfect Jack-o'-lantern face. Isabelle couldn't tell from her angle, but the pumpkin boasted a warm, flickering light inside. Later that evening, it would illuminate the whole room with its friendly, mischievous grin. Isabelle picked her head up, rubbing the sleepies out of her eyes as she found her way in the world once more. Isabelle's eyes moved to the nearby coffee table, where Lola arranged a group of charming and slightly spooky figurines: witches on broomsticks, friendly ghosts, and a grinning skeleton. A playful cauldron full of "witches' brew" (green punch) sat nearby, ready to quench the thirst of their Halloween party guests. Isabelle turned to Lola. "Wer mommy?" It was a fair enough question, though barely discernable through her pacifier. Isabelle's mom had, presumably, taken her over here. But she was nowhere to be seen. "Come sweetie," Lola said, taking Isabelle's hand. "Mommy is in the kitchen. Let's go get her." Isabelle took Lola's hand, walking side by side with her. The made their way into the main hall and toward the kitchen. As they walked together, Isabelle spied into the the dining room, which had likewise been transformed into a haunted banquet hall. The long table was adorned with a black lace tablecloth and elegant silver candlesticks, each holding a blood-red candle. There were all manners of treats on plates; brownies and cookies, candies and more. Isabelle couldn't resist, as she tried to pull Lola toward the table. "No no no sweetie. That's for later. You haven't even had your dinner yet. Or gone trick or treating! Do you wanna hear something fun?" Isabelle stopped tugging at Lola for a moment. 'It might be worth hearing something fun. I like fun things.' But there were treats just out of reach. It was a tough call in the end, but Isabelle decided for the former, turning her head to face Lola as she continued to suckle the rubber teat in her mouth, and nodded. "Uh-huh! Was fun?" Lola smiled, as she saw the pure wonder in Isabelle's face. "I'm going to get to take you trick or treating later with your mommy. And someone else very special asked to come to! But only if you're a good girl. So let's go find mommy, okay?" Isabelle considered the proposal. "I be goot!" She announced. Isabelle was determined to show Lola, and especially her mommy, that she was not a bad girl after her hectic afternoon. As Lola and Isabelle continued to move toward the kitchen, Isabelle spotted a number of other decorations. Lola had hung a myriad of paper bats from the ceiling, giving the room a thrilling and slightly eerie ambiance. The windows were covered in decorative decals featuring silhouettes of witches on broomsticks and black cats with arched backs. At the entranceway to the kitchen, Sam had placed a life-sized cardboard cutout of a mummy. "We call him Mr. Mummy," Lola explained, "not to be confused with your real mommy!" Lola giggled, and Isabelle couldn't help but join in. Mr. Mummy was holding a silver tray in his extended arms, perfect for setting drinks on. He greeted Lola and Isabelle as they entered, his bandaged arms seemingly reaching out to give them a spooky welcome. "How's mommy's cranky girl feeling now?" The question was innocent enough. And Isabelle was feeling better. But she didn't need the reminder that she had gotten so upset, nor about the mess she had made in her room with the glue . Isabelle decided not to answer her mom, instead crossing her arms, and stomping her feet down, each once. "Oh are we still cranky?" Sam's voice echoed from the side. Isabelle hadn't seen him as she entered, but her attention was quickly capture by him as Sam scooped her into his arms, and started kissing her neck rapidly. Isabelle couldn't help but laugh and cry out as the onslaught of tickly kisses assaulted her, her pacifier falling to the floor. "Nope! I guess not!" 'Come Jane," Isabelle heard Lola say, as she watched Lola extend her hands out to Isabelle's mom. "I need to start on your makeup now, or we'll never get it done in time." Isabelle watched as her mom gave Lola her hand, Lola pulling her upstairs. "Don't worry about us," Sam called after them, as he settled Isabelle against his chest. supporting her under her soggy butt. "We'll just be in the basement doing all the HARD work. Come cutie. Let's go have some fun. Are you going to be my big girl helper?" Sam asked, bending down to pick the pacifier up. "We really ought to get you something to keep this clipped to you. I'll add it to the list," Sam said, before plopping the pacifier back in Isabelle's mouth. Isabelle was happy to have it back. Sam carried Isabelle down to the basement. Much like the rest of the house, the basement had been transformed into a haunted house. Sam navigated through what felt like a pop up maze, complete with cobwebs, eerie sound effects, and hidden surprises that would thrill Lola's Halloween party guests later that night. "Let's work on adding some of this fluff to the theater room Belly, to make it spooky. Here, take some," Sam said, setting Isabelle down and handing her the package. Isabelle was happy to be helping, picking up clumps of the stingy white fluff, and putting it anywhere she felt could use improvement; the seats, the cupholders, even the floor. Isabelle was having so much fun decorating with Sam, she forgot all about her little tantrum earlier that day. Isabelle lost track of time as she set her final plastic spider down on the console in front of the movie theater. "Okay guys, come back up. Dad! You should get into your costume too!" Isabelle heard Lola call from upstairs. "I've been summoned squirt, let's go. You need to get dressed as well." Sam picked Isabelle up, feeling a very soggy diaper under his hand, and carried Isabelle up the stairs with him. Isabelle was lifted into the air, happily settling herself into Sam's arm as he carried her up to the main floor. Once they made it up, Isabelle saw her mom standing there, only she looked very different. There was her mommy, standing in front of her, only she was dressed just like one of Isabelle's favorite characters; Elle. Jane had carefully chose her costume—a stunning replica of Elle's iconic ensemble from "Stunner and the Savage." Jane's white shirt featured a lapel collar, long puffy sleeves with elastic bands at the wrists. Isabelle watched with a smile as Jane worked to re-fasten the blue maid dress sporting a delicate lace hem. Jane cinched her waist with a pristine white apron with some help from Lola, just like the one Elle wore in the Savage's enchanted castle. "Mommy! You wook just wike Ewwe!" Isabelle called out from behind her pacifier, smiling at her mom's choice of dress. Isabelle couldn't help but bring her small hands together and clap, though she missed her own hands on her first attempt. Jane curtsied gracefully, her dress billowing with a touch of regal flair. "Thank you sweetie," she replied, her voice soft and Elle-like. "Didn't Lola do such a good job with mommy's hair and makeup?" w Isabelle wasn't sure if the question was directed at her, but nodded anyway. Lola stood beside her, seemingly proud of her work as well. Isabelle offered Lola a few claps as well. "Now come with mommy," Jane said, scooping Isabelle into her arms. "We need to get you changed, and then dressed." Isabelle felt as she was exchanged from Sam and into her mom's arms, who proceeded to carry her up the stairs, and into the room with the changing table. Isabelle lay down with her eyes shut. By the point, her diaper changes were fairly routine. Rather than focus much on what was happening, Isabelle closed her eyes and suckled away at the pacifier still in her mouth. She listened as her mom hummed, working to tear the sides of Isabelle's diaper, clean her up, and slide a new one underneath her. Isabelle could immediately feel that her mom had put her into one of the thick, nighttime diapers that she only ever got to wear at Lola's melting into it as her mom secured it tightly around her waist. "Okay buttercup, let's get you changed," Isabelle heard her mom say, as she was lifted on to her butt. Isabelle then felt as her mom lifted her shirt over and off her head, leaving her in nothing but her diaper. While Isabelle felt a little chilly in the air-conditioned house, she was nothing if not comfortable sitting around in nothing over than her diaper. Isabelle's mom proceeded to reach into a bag at her feet, before pulling a soft, white, collared shirt Isabelle hadn't seen before. Isabelle lifted her arms up so her mom could pull it over her, feeling as the soft fabric fell over her tummy and on to her diaper. "You're just going to love your costume sweetie, Jane explained, as she worked to get Isabelle's last arm into the arm hole. 'This is much too big!" Isabelle thought to herself, as her mom eased Isabelle back down on to her back so that she was laying on the changing table again. As Isabelle was about to question what was going on, the questions was answered for her. Isabelle felt as her mom pulled the fabric from the shirt from under her diaper and around to her front. Curious, Isabelle lifted her head just in time to watch as her mom snapped the shirt securely over her diaper, one snapping after the other, until the oversized shirt was tightly secured around her. 'That's new," Isabelle thought, as her mom reached into the bag once more. Isabelle could feel the elastic fabric morph to her body. 'It is really comfortable," Isabelle admitted to herself, feeling the soft padding of her diaper pressed against her skin. Jane proceeded to pull a pair of black leggings over Isabelle's legs, working to pull it over Isabelle's massive diaper before sitting her up. Isabelle looked down as her mom eased a pair of white socks with scalloped elastic bands on them around her feet, before feeling herself picked up and placed on the ground. "Looking so cute already!" Jane said, before taking a brush and bending down to work on Isabelle's hair. Jane quickly brushed Isabelle's blonde hair into two, long pigtails, each tumbling down off the back of her head, and falling down over her shoulders. "Let's get your detective coat on, sweetie!" Jane said, before reaching into the bag and pulling out a long coat, pulling it onto Isabelle before tying it off with the sash in front. "Perfect!" When her mom had taken her upstairs to get into her costume, Isabelle hadn't been quite sure what she was going to be dressed as. But as her mom finished pulling her coat in, Isabelle was starting to realize what it was she was going as. And, as her mom pulled out the finishing touch to her outfit;, Isabelle's face was beaming with a smile. "Imma Invepigator mommy! Invespigator! Invespigator!" Isabelle called out again and again with glee, as Jane set the plaid deerstalker hat onto Isabelle's head. Jane was smiling too, happy with how the costume turned out, and even happier that Isabelle was so thrilled. "That's right baby! An invesTIgator," Jane emphasized, correcting Isabelle though knowing full well it was too hard of a word for her baby girl. "And the most beautiful one at that," Jane added, before picking Isabelle up and bombarding her with kisses. Isabelle couldn't stop giggling as she kicked her feet from under her, before wrapping them around her mom's side. "Now let's go get some food in your tummy so we can go trick or treating baby." It wasn't long until Jane had Isabelle in her high chair, with a quick dinner whipped together. Dinner progressed quickly, though was hardly uneventful. Isabelle had thrown a little fit when her mom insisted on cutting her food and feeding her, but eventually allowed it to happen. "You'll get your outfit messy otherwise," her mom had explained. It was a reasonable explanation. About halfway through her dinner, Sam and Lola had come back down to join Isabelle and Jane as Jane was pushing another nugget into Isabelle's mouth. Isabelle chewed her food as Sam entered in his prince's outfit. He was wearing a soft white shirt that firmly pressed against his muscles. He had tall boots over his blue slacks, and was even wearing a red cape with gold trim. he looked every bit the part of Elle's perfect prince. Lola, for her part, had opted to be a cat this Halloween, something Isabelle couldn't help but laugh about. But Lola had nailed the look, wearing tight black leggings over a black body suit. Her long, thick black hair had been curled ever so slightly, and fell down over her shoulders, and held in place by a headband with two small kitty ears. She had done her makeup simply; three thick black whiskers on either side of her face, and a small black nose to boot. 'Simple, but effective," Isabelle thought to herself, as her mom stuffed nugget after nugget into her mouth. "We're going to be late if we wait much longer," Sam said to Lola, though Isabelle was not sure what about. "It's just her way. She'll be here in a second. I promised we'd -" But Lola didn't get to finish the sentence. She was cutoff by the family's loud doorbell, which echoed through the house as Jane wiped Isabelle's mouth, before lifting her out of her high chair. "I'll go get the baskets," Jane said to Sam, as she went around the kitchen table and lifted a large shoulder bag strap over her shoulder, and headed toward the living room. "I wonder who that could be?" Lola teased, tapping one finger to her chin. "Do you wanna come investigate with me, Investigator Isabelle?" Isabelle nodded, pulling the toy magnifying glass her mom had put into her coat pocket for her out. "Uh-huh! I wanna see! I wanna invespigate!" Lola smiled before taking Isabelle's hand and walking her toward the front door. Whoever it was going to be, Isabelle was going to find out. But when Lola opened the door, Isabelle could hardly believe who was standing there. It was like a dream come true. In fact, it was. The person standing before her was so familiar, and so spectacular, Isabelle could hardly believe her own eyes. Standing in front of her was none other than Seraphina. Isabelle couldn't believe the story her mother had told her was true. But here she was, standing at the front door to Lola's house. Seraphina's red curly hair tumbled down from her head, down her bare shoulders to her chest. She was wearing an emerald green tube top, that was shaped like butterfly wings. below her exposed bellybutton, Seraphina was wearing a green and blush tulle skirt that fell well above her knees. But it wasn't just her green clothes that gave her away. It was her wings. They were exactly as her mom had described them, extending far over her shoulders, the color of the sky at sunrise - soft pink and gentle lavender. She was just as beautiful as her mom had told in her story. Yet, the most amazing part about Seraphina was not what she was wearing, and it was not her wings. No, it was what she held in her hand; the Star Rod. Isabelle's mouth was agape at the beautiful and powerful fairy in front of her. 'Dani had told the truth!' Isabelle was so blown away by Seraphina's presence, she forgot entirely about why she even needed such a fairy to begin with. Lola laughed as she watched little Isabelle stand in awe in front of Dani, utterly silent, eyes popping out of her head. Lola lifted Isabelle up so she could be closer, just as Dani curtsied politely. "Well hello Isabelle! I heard you were looking for a magical fairy tonight, is that right?" Isabelle knew the answer was yes. She wanted to respond yes. She knew she was supposed to respond yes. But she couldn't respond. She was still too shocked. It was all so much that Isabelle released her bladder unwittingly into her once dry diaper. Lola, sensing Isabelle's reluctance, as well as her pee, answered for her. "Look sweetie! It's Dani! She dressed as a special magical and...." Lola looked at her friend up and down before smirking and continuing "...…scantly dressed fairy for us." Lola said, teasing her friend. 'Dani?' Isabelle felt herself question what Lola had just told her. But as she looked closer at the fairy, Isabelle realized Lola was right; it WAS Dani. 'Oh. My. God." Isabelle couldn't believe it. How could she have not realized it? She had known Dani......like forever! "But it all makes sense now," Isabelle told herself. "Dani doesn't KNOW a magical fairy.... .... ...Dani IS a magical fairy!" It was so obvious, Isabelle could hardly believe she hadn't realized sooner! 'No wonder she knew how to build a magical star rod! And knew that a magical fairy would be here tonight!' Isabelle could no longer control her excitement. "Dani!!!!" Isabelle called out loudly, as her mom and Sam approached from behind. Dani laughed, taking Isabelle from Lola. "Yes sweetie! It's me!!!" Dani responded, hugging Isabelle. "I don't think she realized who I was Lolz. That's why I am the queen of Halloween," Dani said, now speaking to her friend, the two of them chuckling. "I think you might be right," Lola responded, as Dani set Isabelle down. "Sweetie," Lola continued, speaking to Isabelle again, "Dani came over extra early so that she could go trick or treating with us! Isn't that exciting!??!" Isabelle nodded, and hugged Dani's bare legs again, squeezing her tightly, before another voice interrupted their hug "We aren't going to get any trick or treating done if we don't leave now though," Sam said, before greeting Dani. Isabelle turned back to look at Sam to see that he was seemingly diverting his gaze away from the fairy at the door the best he could. 'Hmmmm. He must be worried about her awesome powers,' Isabelle concluded. That wasn't her problem though. There were more important issues to deal with anyway - it was time to leave. Isabelle wanted some candy. ******************** Isabelle felt her plastic pumpkin trick or treat bag on her lap. It was already half way full, but Isabelle had plans to fill it to the limit before she was done. She held on tightly as she felt someone push her along in her stroller toward the next house down the block, which took longer than she had expected. Isabelle looked down at her ballet slippers feeling that they really added something special to her outfit. 'The homes in this neighborhood are so far apart,' Isabelle had remarked after a house or two. It was certainly a drawback to being in the area, but there were benefits too. 'The candy here is HUGE!' Isabelle had been the star of the show all night, and she was loving it. For the first few houses, Isabelle had been accompanied by her mom to the front door. "Twick O Tweat!" Isabelle would call out at every house from behind her pacifier, the owner's faces looking down at her beaming with smiles every time. "She is just precious!" "Aren't you just the most adorable!" "OH MY GOD SOOO CUTE!" Each time she went to a house, the owner took the time to compliment Isabelle's outfit. She felt like the very best detective there could be! More often than not, her cuteness was also handsomely rewarded with additional candy. As they moved between houses, Isabelle would watch as all the other kids ran past them or around in their costumes. There were ghosts, firefighters, and doctors. There were all sorts of animals, princesses, and even a few ladybugs. Isabelle kept looking down at her own outfit, proud of how unique it was, and how perfectly it suited her. 'Mommy got me the best costume.. After a few houses, her mom had substituted out, and instead Lola and Dani accompanied her to the front door. Even though Isabelle liked going with her mom, there was something extra special about going with Dani, and even more special about going with Lola. Lola held her hand up every walkway, and even helped her carry her plastic pumpkin when it got too heavy. There had been another advantage to walking with Lola and Dani; Isabelle could ask Dani all about her life as a fairy. "Awe you a weal faiwy Dani?" Isabelle asked in her sweet, innocent voice, her eyes wide with wonder as Dani knocked on the next door for them. Dani, with a playful wink to Lola, had long ago decided to embrace the magical moment with Isabelle. She crouched down to Isabelle's level, her wings glinting as she did. "Why, of course Belly!" Dani replied, her voice filled with enchantment. "I am indeed a REAL fairy. I've flown all the way here from the Enchanted Forest to celebrate Halloween with you." Isabelle's heart soared with excitement. She had so many questions about fairies, and she was thrilled to have the chance to speak to a real one. "Was it wike being a fairy?" Isabelle asked, her eyes shining with anticipation. Dani stood up as the door opened, trying to get Isabelle to say the magic words she was supposed to. But Isabelle was too distracted, and Lola could tell. "Belly. What do we say at the door sweetie? Look - someone wants to give you candy!" Isabelle's snapped out of her focus on Dani, turning her attention back to the home owner who was smiling down at her kindly. "Uhhh......uh.........uhhhhh........" But Isabelle had forgotten what she was supposed to say, and was starting to panic. Fortunately, Lola was there to help. "We say....Trick or........" 'Oh yah, that's right!' Isabelle thought to herself. She knew what to say; what she wanted. "TWEAT!" Isabelle called out loudly, to the satisfaction of the home owner, who smiled and placed a candy bar in her bucket. "Thank you!" Lola replied, as she took Isabelle's hand and began to walk her down the walkway, Dani flanking Isabelle's other side. Isabelle turned her attention back to Dani as they walked. Dani began to spin a whimsical tale, weaving a narrative of fairyland. She spoke of magical meadows where fairies danced among the flowers, and enchanted forests where they played hide-and-seek with forest creatures. She described the sparkling fairy dust they used to cast spells, and the powerful Star Rod she used to make wishes come true. Isabelle listened with rapt attention, her imagination soaring with each word. "Do faiwies have special powers?" she inquired, her curiosity endless, as Lola lifted her back into her stroller seat, and her mom pushed her onward. "Just a few more houses Belly, okay?" Isabelle heard her mom say. "It's getting late for you already, and Lola and Dani have friends coming over soon." Isabelle was hardly listening, however. She was too focused on Dani. Dani waited for Jane to finish before answering Isabelle, walking alongside the stroller. "Of course we do," Dani explained "Fairies have the power to make dreams come true with our Star Rods. And this Star Rod that you helped make," Dani went on, 'is the most powerful of them all. We can grant wishes and bring joy to those who believe in magic. And, those that are really good girls. Do you happen to know anyone like that?" Isabelle's heart swelled with excitement. "ME! ME! Imma goo girl! I bewieve in magic!! Can you show me some fairy magic?" Isabelle asked, her eyes gleaming.. "Hmmm..." Dani said, before the stroller stopped. Dani pretended to reach into an imaginary pouch, before sprinkling a bit of invisible fairy dust over Isabelle's head, making a wish. "There, little inves-PIgator," Dani said with a grin. "I've just granted you ONE special wish. But remember, I only have the power to grant one wish. So I want you to think long and hard about what you REALLY want, and you'll tell me later at home, okay?" Isabelle had been nothing but smiles and laughs until that moment. But when Dani mentioned that she would only be able to make one wish, Isabelle's mind went somewhere else. Somewhere more serious. Somewhere a little darker. Somewhere her mind hadn't been all day. 'I only get one crack at this. This is what I've been working toward since all of this started happening. I can undo this. I can fix it. I can......I can....... I can get what I really want........ ....But what do I want....?' The answer to the question had once been so simple. But it didn't feel that way anymore. And she was running out of time. Isabelle felt Lola lift her out of her stroller and took her hand. Isabelle reluctantly lifted her own hand, unsure if she still wanted to trick or treat. But she wasn't exactly consulted, and before she knew it, felt her little legs marching up toward the house with Lola and Dani by her side. 'Plus I can get more candy here,' Isabelle decided, snapping her mind off of more serious thoughts, and moving her little legs a little more willingly toward the front door. Just as Lola started to knock on the door, Isabelle felt something else knocking. Without thinking twice about it, Isabelle felt her little legs begin to bend, as she let go of Lola's hand and squatted down into a crouch. Isabelle could hear Dani try to cover up a laugh and a snort - though for the life of Isabelle, she had no idea why - as Isabelle pushed a load of mushy poop into her diaper, just as the door to the house opened. "Twick O....Errrrrrrrrghhhhhhhh," Isabelle grunted, pushing more mushy poop into her diaper, before standing up once more and finishing her other job. "....Tweat!" Isabelle called, offering her pumpkin basket out once more to a homeowner that Lola suspected knew exactly what had just occurred on their stoop. Lola couldn't help but laugh as the door closed after them, Isabelle without a care or concern in the world, walking back down toward her mom. "Your little girl made QUITE the impression up there Jane," Dani said, laughing as they approached. Lola watched as Jane's expression turned to one of concern, and offered some clarification. "She was perfectly behaved, to be clear. She just...uh...made a little present of her own while on their doorstep." Lola said, smiling herself. Sam quickly joined in, laughing and smiling himself. "Come here my little angel," Jane said, offering her arms out to Isabelle, before lifting her up, and taking a sniff herself to confirm. "Oh yes you did make a little present sweetie," Jane remarked, backing her own face off of the very large and smelly mess Isabelle had made. Isabelle remained unphased. "It was getting late anyway. Let's get her home and ready for bed," Jane said to Sam, before placing Isabelle down into the stroller, her mess happily squishing under her. "Come sweetie. Mommy is going to take you home and change you. And then you can stay up for a little bit with Lola and Dani before bedtime." Isabelle nodded, though in truth she didn't feel much like being changed.

Chapter 3 – Learning Curve “I’m not taking my clothes off.” “No, no, you’ve misunderstood – you can leave your pull-up and your shirt on if you want to. I just want to watch the online video and practice a couple of times, and I think it would be good if your dad and Grace knew how to diaper you, as well.” Oliver looked at his mom with pleading eyes. “Can Christine and her guy-friend leave, at least?” Christine chuckled and pushed her long blond hair back over her shoulders. She and her fiancé, Allen, had left their condo downtown to come out to the suburbs and help Representative Holbrook move some furniture around for an hour. Although it was Christmas Day, Christine did not mind making herself available to Robert. It came with the territory. Allen shrugged, smiled, and said, “Well, if we’re done here, I wouldn’t mind getting back to the apartment and tidying up a bit before your parents come.” Christine turned to Robert. “Are we done?” Robert gave her a grateful smile. “Thanks, Chris, thanks, Allen, I never would have gotten this up the stairs without banging up the walls, even with Cheryl & Grace’s help.” He turned and placed a hand on the heavy dresser, devoid of drawers, that Allen had helped him carry upstairs. It was long, wide and of medium height, and it had wooden steps built into it on the righthand side, in the same dark wood, that could be cleverly folded into the unit when not in use. “It’s a classy piece, I have to say. I’ve never seen a dresser with a changing table built into it before. Where’d you hear about this company, Cheryl?” “I was at a baseball game with a girlfriend in the fall – her son Mitchell, a friend of Oli’s, plays on a local team. It was just an excuse to meet up with some ladies I haven’t see for a while, and drink some wine in a public park, you know how it goes…” Christine and Allen both chuckled. “And Oli had a chance to watch his buddy play baseball. I was talking with them about, you know, Robert’s campaign, and some of the lifestyle changes we were thinking of making around here, to be consistent with the public messaging and all that. I mentioned Oli’s pull-ups, and one of the moms, a lady named Kelly – you wouldn’t know her, Rob – mentioned that she was going through a similar situation with her son, who plays shortstop on the team with Oli’s friend. She had transitioned him out of pull-ups, into something better – I guess he’d been having accidents and leaking through them.” Oliver interrupted her. “That’s Zack, the shortstop? The kid who hurt his leg and couldn’t play?” “Yes, honey, yes, Zack’s mom is Kelly, but don’t say anything to him or Mitchell about it, at least until I talk to Kelly, okay? I don’t know if anyone on the team knows about his, uh, issues. That might be private.” “But they know about mine now…,” Oli said in almost a whisper. “Oh, get over yourself, Oli,” Cheryl responded. “Those ladies don’t care what you wear – they have their own kids to worry about. They’re not going to go tell their kids that some friend of a teammate wears diapers after school. Anyway, Christine and Allen want to get going, so let me finish – I would have thought you’d be interested in this as well, Oli. SO, Kelly – the mom from the team – gave me the name of a therapist who’s been treating her son, who also runs an online store for all kinds of products related to, you know, wetting issues with kids. I spoke to her assistant on the phone, and she set me up with an account, so I was able to order everything from their website. I got the changing table, the diapering system, the special detergent, the pail, diaper cream, the works. And, she sent me links to videos that they’ve produced, explaining how the system works. Anyway, I know you want to get going, so don’t let us keep you.” Christine gave Cheryl a quick hug, and tussled Zack’s hair as she walked by. She looked at Robert and said, “Get me some good footage, okay?” Robert gave her a reassuring nod. Allen shook Robert’s hand, and then reached for Oliver’s. After a moment, he unclenched his fist and took the proffered hand, shaking it briefly, without making eye contact. “Nice to meet you, Robert, Cheryl, Grace, Oliver. Enjoy your changing table.” They turned and walked out the bedroom door. Christine was in and out of the house so frequently that they had long since abandoned the convention of showing her to the door. She knew her way out. Grace smiled mischievously at Oliver. “Okay, daddy’s helpers have left, off with the PJ’s and let’s get this over with – I want to go set up my watch.” She took two steps forward, squatted, and in one motion, pulled Oliver’s pajama bottoms down to his ankles, revealing a soggy purple and blue pull-up, printed to look like y-front briefs at the front, but with a wide smiling cartoon puppy on the back. “WHAT THE FUCK!?!” Oliver exclaimed, while reaching to simultaneously push his sister away, and, drag his pajama pants back up. He missed on both counts, because his sister jumped back as soon as she let go of his pants, and, his mom hooked him under the arm and hauled him back to his feet. “Kick them to the side, Oli,” she said sternly. “I asked you to take them off already.” Cheryl reached down and somewhat roughly tugged Oliver’s shirt up to his shoulders. “MOM! You said I could leave my shirt on!” “That was before you swore and tried to hit your sister. Hand me your shirt.” Oliver looked at his dad with reddening cheeks. “You should have listened to your mom, big guy. Even I can’t help you now.” Fresh tears spilled over his eyelids as he pulled his pajama shirt over his head, and handed it to his mom, who folded it and placed it on his bed. He could feel his pull-up succumbing to gravity; he’d been in it since the previous evening, and the elasticity in the side panels had notably declined. “Can I please go change this before we do anything?” he begged. Grace guffawed again. “Baby wants to change his diaper before he changes his diaper!” Cheryl shot her a lidded gaze, then opened her eyes and put on a kind face, before addressing her son, who looked demoralized, standing in the middle of the room in his soggy pull-up. “We’re going to change you into one of your fresh new diapers, Oli – there’s no point putting on another pull-up. But you can leave that one on while we all practice, if you like – or, you can take it off. It’s up to you.” Oliver’s head dropped like it was on a hinge. “See if you can figure out how to deploy the staircase on your fancy changing table,” his dad suggested with a note of encouragement. Oliver took a slow gallows-walk over to the changing table that doubled as a dresser, or, dresser that doubled as a changing table, or whatever it was. He felt his heavy pull-up swaying slightly behind him. The drawers that fit into the dresser-table were still sitting in a stack on the floor; his mom wanted to go through what was in his old dresser and get rid of anything that didn’t fit. His old dresser had been spirited away, and his clothes were piled neatly on his bed. He grasped what looked like a wooden handle that partially protruded from the bottom, on the side of the dresser that everyone was looking at. When he pulled it, the side panel of the dresser accordioned out, displaying a clockwork of brass bars and hinges, which rotated planks until, somewhat amazingly, there was now a staircase affixed to the side of the piece. “There you go! Wasn’t that cool?” his dad proclaimed. Oliver shrugged and began to ascend the staircase, placing a hand on wall beside it to steady himself. “Oh, oh, hang on!” his mom erupted, then ran out of the room. Oliver stood on the top step like a diver on a board, waiting for the signal to jump. He reached behind himself and gave an upward tug on the waistband of his pull-up. Outside in the hall, there was a rustling of plastic, and then his mom came striding into the room while working at removing what looked like a large cushion from a thin plastic bag. “This is the topper – it’s dished, and it has a safety strap, so that you can’t roll off. It’ll be more comfortable than lying on the wood, I’d imagine.” She pulled it free from the bag and then placed it on the top of the dresser, concave side up. There was a black braided strap at about chest level on the cushion, that was secured with a black plastic buckle in the middle. The material on the topper depicted light blue cartoon trains going back and forth under puffs of grey smoke, along wavy tracks that went off into the horizon. Oliver realized that they matched the trains on the plastic pants that Grace had pulled from the kit. “Ahhh, mom, you couldn’t have gotten anything plainer than that?” Oliver exclaimed. “It’s a diaper changing table, Oliver – most of this stuff is aimed at a younger audience than you. I did the best I could. Hang on, let me lay out a diaper for you – sorry, we’re doing this in the wrong order. Grace – pull all the baggies out of Oli’s diaper kit and open them up.” Grace placed the diaper bit on a bare area of his bed. His mom placed the topper on the dresser, and undid the buckle, pushing the straps off to the side. Grace pulled several bags out of the box, rapid fire, and tore into them. “We’d better keep these bags away from Oli, mom – they say not to give them to babies,” she exclaimed with a mock tone of warning in her voice. “Shut up, Grace,” Oli pouted. “Look right here, dumb dumb – it says right on the bag.” “Shut up.” Grace paused and looked over at her dejected brother with a look of pure joy on her face. “Oh… My… Gosh…,” she said breathily. She fiddled with a small, opaque bag, tearing the side open, and she spilled the contents onto his comforter, beside the box. “Pacifiers! One even has trains on it, like your changing mat… wait…,” she ripped into another bag. “Plastic panties! Also with trains! You are going to look so adorable. And there’s light blue ones and dark clear ones and white ones – you have like seven pairs!” Grace held up the pair emblazoned with the same print as the changing pad, and ran her finger along the lace ruffle across the back of it. “So, so cute. My my, lucky boy.” “Get me a diaper, Grace – you can go through the rest of the box afterwards. And pins.” Grace, ignoring her mother for a moment, dug out a folded brochure, opened it, and gave it a quick scan. “I see what you need, mom,” she said. Tearing a coupe of baggies open, she walked back over from the bed, and proudly displayed what she’d pulled out. “We have a diaper, one of the doublers, plastic panties – I chose the train ones, Oli – pins, and a disposable liner.” She held out her hand and Cheryl took two steel pins with light blue plastic heads. “Why does he need the liners, mom?” Grace asked. “They’re to make clean up easier, if, uh, someone poops in their diaper. They’re completely biodegradable – we can flush them down the toilet.” Cheryl piled the items at the opposite end of the changing table. “Hear that, Oli? You can poop in them, too!” Cheryl turned and put a hand on Oliver’s shoulder. “They’re for just in case, sweetheart. I know you don’t poop in your pull-up diapers. But your new diapers will be pinned on - they aren’t as easy to take off.” Grace pushed on. “What about pacifiers? Why’d they include those?” Cheryl smiled and turned her head to the side while bending over, so that she could somewhat catch Oliver’s downcast eyes. “Some kids get a little sad when they’re put in diapers. Dr. Paige said that pacifiers can provide emotional support through those difficult early days. She also showed me some panties and pajamas they have that are lockable, but I said we probably wouldn’t need those. Right, Oli?” Lockable?!? Oliver slowly nodded his head. A tear dripped off his chin and landed on his chest. “Pass me one of the pacifiers, Grace,” Cheryl said, without taking her eyes off Oliver. Grace turned and skipped back to the bed, returning with the train pacifier, which was cream coloured, with a blue and red steam engine printed on the center of the button that held the handle on it. Cheryl took the pacifier from Grace, unfolded the handle, and cleaned the nipple in her own mouth, then wiped it with her hands. She turned it upright, and delicately touched the clear silicone nipple to Oliver’s quivering lips. Almost without realizing he’d done it, Oliver accepted the device, feeling the shield come into gentle contact with his lips. Cheryl gave him a pat on the back, and then began examining the items that Grace had brought over to her. Oliver followed her with his eyes. Grace came back from the bed again, this time holding the brochure. She flipped it over and showed her mom a diagram. “Look, mom. You fold the diaper in on itself, in three equal parts, and then you fan out the top and the bottom. You put the doubler and the liner in the middle, and then you add the baby.” “THUT UP!” Oliver enunciated with difficulty around his pacifier. Grace turned the brochure and showed it to Oliver. “See? It is a baby, baby.” Oliver saw that the diagram did indeed show a baby being sat in the middle of the folded length of cloth. His mom dutifully folded one of the diapers as shown, laid it out on the changing pad, and then put a doubler and a liner in the center of it. “Carefully turn around on the stairs, Oliver, and then sit your bum down on your diaper,” his mom said. She held a hand out for him to use to steady himself. Oliver grasped her extended arm, and carefully pivoted on the top stair, before squatting and sitting back onto the changing pad. Robert came around in front of him, with the phone stabilizing contraption. Oliver closed his eyes. “Lay back, honey,” his mom said in a reassuring voice. Oliver laid back, and then she fastened the safety strap around his chest below his arms, and took the slack out of the straps. Fat tears formed in the corners of his eyes and spilled down his temples. His pacifier sat limply in his mouth. “You need to suck on that for it to help, Oli,” his mom said in a slightly exasperated tone. Oliver pressed the nipple into the roof of his mouth and began sucking, although he did not see how it could possibly help him feel any better. But he was used to listening to his parents. NOT listening probably wouldn’t improve his circumstances, either. Cheryl pulled her phone out of the side pocket of her pajama pants, turned it to Grace, and opened her email inbox. She selected an email, opened it, and then clicked a link. “Who’s Ellen Chan,” Grace inquired. “That’s Dr. Paige’s assistant.” A video opened on the phone, as Robert came around and filmed Grace and Cheryl focusing on it, with Oliver laid out on his change table in the background, eyes squeezed shut. Although his eyes were closed, he could hear the voiceover that accompanied the video. “Hello, I’m Ellen Chan. I’m a pediatric nurse working with Dr. Amanda Paige, and this will be a brief overview on how to fold, fasten and cover a cloth diaper. Cloth diapers have been employed for centuries, but are less common these days, as disposables have become ubiquitous. Disposables are very convenient, and we do have a full range of disposable diapering products, but, for environmental and other reasons, some prefer reusable products when diapering their children. For that reason, we have teamed up with EcoDry, to offer their Happy Baby Diapering System, in larger sizes, for older children. “Remember, regardless of the age of the child, or the type of diaper being employed, diaper changes are a special time, and they should be handled with care and sensitivity. They can be a source of stress for your young one, or, they can be a bonding moment that will serve to strengthen your relationship. The choice is up to you. We suggest that both parents participate in diapering, so that they are presenting a united circle of care. This can assist with the acceptance process, as young ones adapt to their new wardrobe requirements…” Ellen Chan droned on, and began talking about the intricacies of diaper folding and pinning, but Oliver did his best to tune it out. He felt, rather than watched, as first his mother, and then his sister, took turns pinning a cloth diaper onto him. Grace pinned it a great deal more tightly than his mom did, to the point that his mom whispered, “Maybe loosen it up a bit, honey, it’s digging into his hips…” when Grace was leaning in to apply the second pin. He felt it loosen marginally. Next, he heard his dad give a tutorial to Grace on where to stand, presumably with the camera, and then he felt the diaper being unpinned with some effort, repositioned, and pinned again, this time, limply. Finally, it was unpinned again, and he was preparing to sit up, when two hands came together at his right hip, and in one motion, tore the side of his pull-up open. Oliver’s eyes sprung open and he tried to sit up, but the safety strap held him prone against the changing mat. His mom reached over and quickly tore the other side of his pullup downward across his hip. “Lift your bum bum, sweetheart,” she said with a tilted head and a smile. Oliver stayed still, so she gave him a gentle tap on his thigh with an open hand. “Come on, let’s get that wet thing off of you.” Leaning his head back, Oliver shifted his hips upward, and he felt his soggy bedtime underpants slide out from underneath him, and get rolled up like a burrito. “Here, Grace,” his mom said. “EWWW!!!” was Grace’s response. “Take it,” she hissed. “This is disgusting…” his sister spat, as she ran off, presumably towards the bathroom garbage, which was where Oliver had been putting his pull-ups since as far back as he could remember. He felt his mom smooth out the front of the cloth diaper, pull the sides up, and once again pin them into place, with a firm snugness that was maybe a third less constricting than Grace’s straining had produced. She gave him a gentle pat on the stomach. “Good boy, let’s just get your panties on, and you’ll be set for the rest of the day.” Oliver’s eyes opened again, and he spat the pacifier out. It plopped onto his chest and scuttered down under his arm. “Wha…. Wha… Why?” he stuttered. “Sweeting, this will be a good opportunity for you to get used to your new underpants, and, it will help us all to figure out how well they hold up. Now lift your feet up.” Oliver was too overwhelmed to say anything further, but numbly lifted his feet. Grace came back into the room in time to see his mom thread the leg openings of the choo-choo-train plastic pants over his ankles, and then she opened the safety strap, and took his right hand, helping him to sit up and then to stand on the top step, before she tugged the diaper cover up into place, and then adjusted the fit to make sure no white cloth was exposed. Oliver stood on the top step of the folding stairs, with his waist just above eye-level on his mom, as she tugged and shifted his plastic pants like a designer dressing a fashion model. His dad had stopped filming – he guessed that the amount of video that could possibly be posted had already been exceeded. What they had on the phone was a short documentary, not a thirty-second tidbit. He felt the soft bulk of the cloth diaper beneath and around him. It was snug around his waist and between his thighs, but was billowy and loose in other places. The plastic pants were similarly snug around his legs and waist, but roomy inside. When he put his hands at his sides, fold of vinyl brushed against the insides of his wrists. These things are huge… Oli took a tentative step down, as though unsure if his new garment would affect his balance. He felt the diaper shift, slide and pull around him. It was not uncomfortable, exactly… just, different. It felt like it was warming up inside, already. He looked at his mother’s face, which was studying him with what looked like concern, and, curiosity. “What about when I have to pee…?” he asked, as though he’d found a conclusive argument that would extract him from his current predicament. “Silly boy, pee in your diaper. How else are we going to figure out how these work?” Oliver descended with thudding, dejected steps, his eyes now focused on the floor. “Can I put clothes on?” “No, sweetie,” his mother answered gently. “But I want to cover my diaper…” “Your plastic panties cover your diaper, sweetie.” “Then I want to cover my plastic… uh, pants.” “We need to be able to see how you’re making out for today, sweetie.” “Yeah, Oli, why would you want to cover those panties up? You look like a doll!” Grace offered. “Now, why don’t you go unpack your Play Station machine?” his mom asked brightly. Grace walked up to Oliver and took one of his hands. Leading him out of the room, she paused to push his pacifier firmly against his lips. Tears once again blurred Oliver’s vision. “Careful on the stairs,” she cooed. Oliver descended the stairs one step behind his sister, as his mother watched, and his father reviewed the footage on his phone. “I don’t know how much of this I can use,” he said out loud. “Oli looks pretty dejected. That’s not exactly the tone I want to set. Embracing the environment sucks, but we have to do it. This message brough to you by the campaign of Robert Holbrook… ” “Give him a few days to get used to it, and maybe we can get some better images.”

The Ballet Slippers - Chapter 61 "Fanks Towi!" Isabelle said, her mouth dropping cookie crumbs as she uttered each syllable of gratitude to her former classmate, now cookie retriever. If not for the dining room table being so tall, Isabelle wouldn't have needed to ask for help. Alas, the sweets were out of reach, and her mom had stashed her Halloween candy somewhere she couldn't locate. After returning from their trick-or-treating adventure, Isabelle was promptly changed out of her poopy diaper, and into a clean one. Upon Isabelle's insistence - and near tantrum - she had been dressed back into her Halloween costumer once more for the start of Lola's party. 'Heck if I am going to be the only party-goer who isn't in costume,' Isabelle though to herself, as her mom had retrieved Isabelle's footie pajamas while she was still on the changing table. "It's okay Jane," Lola had said, entering Isabelle's quasi-bedroom. "I'll change her before bed. You get out of here." Lola scooped Isabelle up into her arms, and ushered Jane out of the room and down the stairs. Lola was as eager for her dad and Jane to leave as she was sure they were to go. Her dad wasn't going to be home until very late, and Lola had friends coming over. "Thanks Lola. You're an angel," Jane replied as she walked down the stairs where Sam was waiting for her. "You have everything you need. If she's fussy, there are three bottles of my milk in the fridge for her. That usually relaxes her right away. And if there are any problems - " "I know Jane. I'll call you. But there won't be. Elly Belly is going to be the perfect little angel she always is, aren't you sweetie?" Lola asked rhetorically, before planting a big wet kiss on Isabelle's cheek. Isabelle simply let her head rest into Lola's shoulder, and nodded. "See? She agrees!" Lola loved her Dad. She'd even go so far as to admit that she loved Jane. But she was eighteen, and she wanted to have her party, even if she'd have to watch a toddler for part of it. "Thank again Lola -" But if Jane had said something else, none of Isabelle, Lola, or Dani heard it. Lola had shut the door. "Alright," Dani the fairy said, clapping her hands. "Booze is on its way, and YES, before you complain, its a moderate amount. And Tori will be here with the girls in a like twenty minutes. But first, you and I need to talk." Lola turned to Dani with a smile. The two of them had been planning this party for a while. They weren't big drinkers, but they did experiment from time to time with their friends, and they wanted to have some at the party. Dani had made a plan to have some delivered, which Lola was grateful though. But now Lola was feeling concerned about whatever it was that Dani needed to talk about. Lola hiked Isabelle up on to her hip, the toddler's head never having left her shoulder. "What's up?" "Need earmuffs for this one," Lola explained. "Also where the F is my wand?" Isabelle's head perked up at the emphasis on the letter F, before Lola patted her on the head until she settled it back down. Lola's eyes got big as she starred at Dani with a look in her eye that screamed 'Watch it!'" Dani reached her hands out flat as though to apologize. "My bad. But earmuffs." Isabelle felt Lola begin to stroke her head, lulling her into a sense of relaxation. In truth, she had been feeling tired, and probably could have gone to sleep already. But she didn't want to miss the party. Lola's head stroking wasn't helping her cause however. It was when Lola's hand settled over her ear that Isabelle felt a little disoriented. At first, she was still feeling so relaxed. But as she head Lola and Dani continue to speak, she couldn't help but want to listen as best as she could. "...............Seriously Dani?..............has to be in my.......................I mean........kinda weird......." ".....not weird!...............in the other.................last weekend..............................really wannna!" ".....................to go....................................................." "............wanted to stay with you two though! And beside..................................." "Still though, in my......................of all..............................................................." "..................................owe me........................poopy swim..........................got all over my hands, so I think..........." "Ughhhhhhhhhhhh..............................................................worst friend sometimes, you know?" "...................................means that's a............................................................" "...............Gross........................Laundry..............................................with Isabelle tonight I guess." Isabelle's head perked up at the end as she heard her name, naturally uncovering her ear. But the conversation appeared to be over, for the most part. "You're the best Lola. And now I owe YOU one," Dani said, squealing as she couldn't contain her excitement, before leaving in to hug Lola. "You owe me like a thousand for this," Lola clarified, just as her doorbell rang, echoing through the house. DINGGGGGG DONGGGGGGGG "That'll be Tori with the girls. I need to find my wand - don't answer yet. Isabelle remembered Lola smiling at that last remark. Isabelle smiled too. It was just like Lola; god forbid she be spotted without her outfit being complete. "Hurry up then, cause I am answering it. You set it down in the kitchen when you scarfed down the rest of Belly's leftovers," Lola said, chiding her friend. "I WILL NOT BE SHAMED FOR EATING COLD VEGGIE NUGGETS!" Dani screamed back, as she ran to collect the Star Rod to complete her outfit. Tori had come over with four other girls, a number of whom Isabelle had recognized from school, and one who appeared to be a complete stranger. Tori had come dressed as a witch of some sort, and Isabelle couldn't help but appreciate her really cool outfit. Some of the other girls' costumers were also pretty elaborate; Angela Patel had come dressed as an olympic gymnast, with several medals hanging on her neck. Amelia Henry was dressed as a flamingo, who actually put together a really fun and accurate looking beak for her outfit. Had Isabelle been able to recall that Amelia notoriously had the longest legs in her former class, she would have appreciated the costume more. And then there was the stranger who had come dressed as some character from a book or a show called Princess Henrietta or something or that nature. The character felt familiar to Isabelle, but she couldn't figure out why. In any event, she received a lot of reluctant compliments from some of the other girls, including Lola, on her outfit, as they all laughed and admitted to reading or watching the associated book or show or whatever. The best part of their arrival, however, was that all the girls were simply over the moon about Isabelle. At first, it was a little overwhelming seeing them all at once. Isabelle decided it was best to hide where they couldn't see her - in Lola's chest with her eyes pressed against her new kinda sister. But it turned out that the strategy didn't work, as she was handed off to another girl, panic beginning to set in. Fortunately for Isabelle, it had just been Tori. "There's my star swimming pupil! Why are you hiding from me sweetie? Didn't we have so much fun in the pool last week?" Though Isabelle was still feeling a little uncomfortable with all the attention, she managed to nod a few times, before electing to try hiding in Tori's chest instead. "Oh she is just precious!" Isabelle heard another voice remark. Curiosity got the best of Isabelle as she felt Tori carry her toward the living room with the rest of the girls, and Isabelle turned her head to peer at who it was who spoke. It was Amelia. "What's the deal with her anyway?" Another voice said. Isabelle felt brave enough to pick her head up to see it was Angela who spoke that time. "I mean, like, its serious huh?" Isabelle's eyes darted toward Lola. Isabelle wasn't sure if she was supposed to be the one to answer, or if Lola was. In the end, neither got it. "Oh its totally serious," Dani answered, skipping across the room and pretending to cast her wand, before booping Isabelle gently on the nose with the Star Rod. The act caused a chorus of giggles to burst forth from the once shy girl, who was very much starting to warm up to the room. "Lola is going to have a new MOMMMMMMY soon," Dani said teasingly, as she made playful faces at Isabelle before taking her from Tori. Isabelle continued to laugh at silly Dani. The rest of the girls joined in on the fun, adding lots of "Oooooooooooooooohs" in the background. Lola simply shrugged it off with a smile. Dani had been there with Lola throughout her life; when her mom passed away, Dani had been there for her everyday, and even to this day, knew how much Lola missed her. Dani was the only one who really knew how much it had meant to Lola to grow so close to Jane over the last few months, and was certainly the only one who would make that joke. The truth? It made Lola happy. "Forget that," Tori added, wanting desperately to change the topic from something she felt was uncomfortable, "Lola scores the friggin cutest baby sister from all this!" "Is that right?" Dani asked rhetorically, holding Isabelle and leaning playfully away from her. "Belly - do you want Lola to be your new big sister? Do you? You wanna have a new big sister? I am not sure she's the best sister material. It's okay if you say no - you can have me instead!" Dani said jokingly, before flipping Isabelle upside down, her deerstalker hat falling to the floor as Dani held her upside down by her feet. Isabelle didn't stop laughing, her two pigtails hanging down over her face as her pants started pulling up, revealing her more and more of her onesie. "Noooooo!" Isabelle whined with a big smile. "Want Lola! Want Lola sister. Lola sister! Lolaaaaaaaaaa!!" Isabelle cried and laughed, as she pointed toward Lola, swinging upside down in the air. Isabelle couldn't believe the words as they escaped her mouth, but they were true. "Lola had made her way over to Dani, taking Isabelle and setting her on her two feet. "Thanks Dani," Lola said, though she couldn't help but smile, every cell of heart as warm and filled as it could be. "Just what I need her announcing to her mom," Lola continued, as she bent over and picked Isabelle's hat up of the floor, putting back on her head. "And to be clear, Lola said, standing up, "they aren't even engaged yet." Lola's eyes turned back to the ground as she heard a small thud, Isabelle having fallen on her padded butt from dizziness. Lola lifted her gaze back to her friends, before adding with a smirk "but I sure hope I get to be a bridesmaid." All of her friends smiled and laughed, none more than Dani, who looked at her friend with genuine happiness and joy. Soon after, the party began to slowly take off. Someone started playing music, and a few of the girls were dancing in the living room with each other. Tori, at Isabelle's insistence, had helped the little girl to a second cookie from the dining room table, which she was now eating with her mouth agape. Tori simply couldn't have known that it was in fact Isabelle's sixth cookie, having already successfully coaxed Dani twice, Angela, the stranger, and Lola to giver her "just one cookie" already. As Isabelle waddled around with a full belly, Lola was the perfect host, getting snack and drinks for her friends, fixing the aux cable so the music could be played outside in the back by the pool, and receiving lots of praise for her decorations around the house. Three other girls' Isabelle recognized as Higgins seniors had shown up a while later, each stopping to say hi to Isabelle. Everyone was having fun. "Lo.......la" Isabelle called out, broken up by a yawn, as she tugged at Lola's leggings. Lola was talking to Dani and Amelia when she felt Isabelle's little hands pull at her pants. Lola used her free right arm to stroke Isabelle's head before turning her gze down. "What is it sweetie? Are you tired?" 'Tired? Heck no!' Isabelle wasn't about to leave the party, though admittedly, she was probably exhausted. "Nuh-uh.....Can I have another cookie?" Isabelle asked sweetly, hoping it might score her once last cookie. In truth, Isabelle wasn't even sure where the cookie would go, her stomach was so stuffed. "No sweetie. I already gave you a cookie," Lola said, as she picked Isabelle up into her arms. "And I am pretty sure I saw Tori give you one too. Which is one more cookie than your mommy said you were allowed." Lola turned her gaze back toward her friends, though Dani was playing innocent with her eyes for some odd reason. "Why don't - " DINNNNNNG DONNGGGGG "I'll be back," Isabelle heard Dani say, as she ran upstairs and disappeared faster than Isabelle had ever seen her move. 'That's odd,' Isabelle thought to herself, as she could see the excitement begin to build among the other party guests too. Isabelle turned her attention back to Lola, and felt her take a deep breath. "Why don't you come open the door with me and be my big helper. And then we're going to bed you! It's already 9:15. Your mommy would not be happy with me if she knew I let you stay up so late. So don't tattle on me," Lola joked as she carried Isabelle to the front door. "Let's see who it could be," though Lola, unknown to Isabelle, knew exactly who it was. When the door opened, Isabelle immediately released her full bladder into her diaper. No, it wasn't because the person at the door had a scary costume. In fact, it was a rather nice costume, Isabelle thought - the man was dressed as Rover-Roo! Instead, it was the person who was wearing the costume. Because no matter how much Isabelle forget, she hadn't forgotten who Avery was. It was fitting, Isabelle soaking her diaper in front of her former crush. In fact, it was a marked improvement from the last time Isabelle had been in front of the boy; at least this time she wasn't in wet pajamas holding wet sheets from an accident. 'At least this time I'm wearing my diapees!' Isabelle thought to herself, causing a smile to spread across her face, as the padding underneath her swelled. "Hey Lola - Nice cat costume. Cats and dogs tonight, I guess huh?" Avery said, as he stepped in and gave Lola a welcoming half hug. "The guys want to know where to pout down the booze. Can I -" Isabelle's eyes moved past Avery to where six or seven men were standing, in costumes that......'well lack effort for the most part,' Isabelle thought. 'Not like Avery's,' which in truth, was quite well done. "Hahha yah," Lola responded, laughing at Avery's joke. "Send them into the kitchen. The fridge is mostly empty if anything needs to go in. I'll follow you in. I need to get this one to bed anyway." Lola added, indicating toward Isabelle. "Oh nice. Yah sweet detective costume....Isabelle, right? Dani told me all about you. That costume is cool!" Avery said in a way that made Isabelle feel like he really meant it. "In the kitchen guys, back and to the left." Avery said to his friends, as the moved in to the house with bags that all clinked as they moved past Isabelle. Isabelle recognized most of them from Higgins as well, though their names escaped her. "I'm a inves-" Isabelle let a big yawn out from her little mouth, before finishing her though - "pigator." Isabelle regretted speaking immediately. Avery had just about started to walk after his friends when her stopped, and looked at Isabelle with a smile that sent a shiver down her spine. "You're a what? Sorry cutie, I didn't hear you. Isabelle blushed at Avery compliment, as she watched him lift his arm over his head to fix his Rover outfit. "Invespigator. Im not a tective. Imma Invespigator!" Isabelle said, louder this time so Avery could hear more clearly. Avery just smiled at Isabelle, Lola smiling at Avery as well at Isabelle's silliness. "An invesPIgator you say. My apologies to you Isabelle. A wonderful Invespigator indeed!" Isabelle was quite glad that issue was cleared up. "Thank you for that Isabelle," Lola said, ending that line of conversation. "I'll follow you in. I need to get something out of the fridge." Isabelle's eyes never left Avery, at least to the extent that they could stay open, as Lola and he walked side by side into the kitchen, where the party had largely shifted. The scene in the kitchen was a little hectic, with the teens pulling various bottles of unidentifiable liquids out of bags. Isabelle wasn't sure what was in them, but was fairly confident it wasn't primo apple juice. "So where's Dani?" Avery asked, not bothering to try and be subtle about it. "She's here," Lola said with a coy smile, noticing that Isabelle's eyes had firmly shut . "She'll find you when she wants to." Lola enjoyed being cheeky, and very much liked that her best friends boyfriend enjoyed the cheekiness as well. "I'll be back in a few minutes" Lola said. "See you in a bit. Belly, are you going to say goodnight to Avery?" Isabelle hadn't been ready, and panicked on the spot. "Goonight Avwey!" "Good girl!" Lola said, before Avery returned a goodnight, before turning his attention to the party Isabelle waved her hand far too rapidly as Lola carried her away. Lola turned to her left as she existed the kitchen, and moved up the stairs with Isabelle in her arms. As they reached the last few stairs, Dani met them on the staircase. "Sorry. Needed to fix my hair. Is her here?" Lola smiled at her friend. "Yes. He's the one in the giant zip up Rover-Roo costume. Zipper is in the front, so even YOU shouldn't struggle with that,: Lola said teasingly. "Let me put her to sleep, and I'll meet you back downstairs." "Okay. Okay." It was odd to see Dani a little nervous, though Isabelle wasn't sure what she had to be nervous about. 'Or why she's looking for Avery,' Isabelle thought. "Okay. I'm going. Goodnight cutie pie," Dani added, before blowing her a kiss and running off down the stairs. Isabelle settled her head back into the crook of Lola's neck as Lola ascended the last few stairs. Isabelle yawned once more, as Lola pushed open the door to the room with her bed, before setting Isabelle down on the changing table. "Let's get you into your pajamas sweetie," Lola explained, as she started undressing her little charge. Isabelle allowed Lola to remove her clothes, starting with her coat, pants, and socks, leaving Isabelle on her changing table in her white collared onesie. Isabelle had something on her mind from earlier in the night though. Something she wanted to ask Lola. "Lola..........Do......Do you not wanna be my big sister too?" Isabelle had announced to the whole room that she wanted Lola to be her sister, but hadn't heard Lola say the same. It was nagging at her. Lola stopped what she was doing as she looked down as Isabelle on the table. "Why would you think that sweetie? Of course I want to be your sister." Lola stopped to gather her thoughts. "We already kind of are! Is it because I didn't say anything before when you said you waned me to be your big sister?" Isabelle simply nodded, now feeling silly for saying something. 'Oh sweetie I'm sorry. I don't want you to ever think that. I already consider you my baby sister sweetie. And no matter what, I'll always be your big sister too!" Isabelle's heart felt warm hearing the words from Lola's mouth. In truth, Lola's heart felt warm saying them. 'Now let's get you into bed sweetie. That diaper will last" Lola finished undressed Isabelle, before zipping Isabelle into her footie pajamas full of stars and moons. "There you go. Nice and cozy," Lola said, before picking Isabelle up and carrying her over to the bed, where Rabbity was already waiting for them. Lola carried Isabelle into bed, and gently cradled Isabelle in her arms. Isabelle's head nestled against her new big sister's shoulder as she settled down next to her in the dark room, the noise from downstairs disappearing as the seconds ticked away. L:ola hummed a soothing melody, her voice as gentle as a lullaby. Isabelle's eyelids continued to grow heavy as the melodic sound filled the room. With great care, Lola reached with her free arm for one of the bottles of breastmilk Jane had prepared for her that night. Lola carefully placed the bottle's soft nipple to Isabelle's lips, guiding it along her mouth until Isabelle's lips began to part. Isabelle, her eyes drooping with drowsiness, felt the nipple of the bottle teasing her lips. It wasn't long before her eager lips took the nipple into her mouth, and she began to suckle gently. Isabelle's eyes nearly opened as she realized that this wasn't regular milk; it was her mom's. But Isabelle was too relaxed- and too thrilled to be drinking it - that she simply relaxed and suckled. Lola watched over Isabelle, her heart filled with love and protectiveness. She knew how important this nighttime routine was for Isabelle's health and well-being, and more importantly, how important it was that Isabelle felt loved. As Isabelle nursed, Lola continued to hum the lullaby, her voice a soothing backdrop to the intimate moment. The room grew darker as the night deepened, and the soft glow of a nightlight cast a warm, comforting aura. Isabelle, with her tummy now full or milk and cookies, and quite content, released the bottle with a tiny sigh of satisfaction. Her eyelids fluttered, and her breathing grew steady and calm. Lola placed the bottle aside and tucked Isabelle into the bed, covering her with a cozy blanket. Lola then stood up, taking the other end of the baby monitor for the room, and clipping it to her pants. "Goodnight, little Isabelle," Lola whispered, leaning over to place a gentle kiss on Isabelle's forehead, before slipping Isabelle's pacifier into her mouth. "Sweet dreams." ******************************* Isabelle stirred. There was noise, though where from, it was unclear. But it wasn't the noise that had woken her. "Ughhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh......owwwwwweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee." Isabelle felt her stomach churn. It was hurting. Bad. Isabelle hadn't had the time, nor the headspace to consider what might have been the root cause of it. But it most definitely had nothing to do with the six very large cookies she had eaten at the party. "Urghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh" Isabelle moaned again, twisting to her side and pulling Rabbity in against her chest. Her bunny offered her some comfort, at least, though not enough to quell the pain. 'Lola. I'll find Lola,' Isabelle thought. "She'll know what do.' Isabelle couldn't be sure what hour it was, but it was late, and dark out. Surely everyone would have been gone already? 'Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarghh...." Isabelle crouched over just as her footed pajama feet hit the floor, feeling her warm, wet diaper pressed against as she did. Isabelle's stomach ached again, before managing to stand upright and move her soggy bottom back from the bed. Isabelle waddled toward the door, pulling Rabbity along the way, her bunny's body dragging along the floor beside her. As soon as she approached it, she could hear a chorus of soft noise come through the thick oak doors. Curious, Isabelle reached for the doorknob. Isabelle had mastered the door at this point, managing to pry it open once more, just enough, to slip through with Rabbity in tow. As the door closed behind her, Isabelle keeled over once more from the stomach pain. It was cool in the house, and Isabelle was glad that Lola had dressed her in her warm, soft sleeper. It was also noisy in the hall. Isabelle could hear that music was still being played downstairs. There were voices, 'lots of them,' Isabelle noted, and clinking of glasses as well. 'Clearly the party is still going strong.....maybe I only took a short nap?' Isabelle was beginning to wonder how long she had slept when another sharp pain hit her, causing her to squat down. "Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuugh" Isabelle was snapped out of the shock of her pain by another set of noises though. The noises had been in the background when Isabelle had approached her door, and then louder when she had entered the hall. But it had been largely drowned out by the noise from downstairs. Except now Isabelle was hearing the noise more clearly. It was growing in volume. And it was coming from Lola's bedroom, right across the hall. 'But what is it?' Isabelle wondered. Isabelle hesitated as the noises continued to grow in volume. Isabelle was only a few feet away from the door, and the noise coming from Lola's room was starting to become more prominent, first competing with the voices and music from downstairs, before building up and overtaking them. 'It sounds like.............maybe Lola also has a stomach ache?' It was perhaps the wrong thought, because as soon as she had it, Isabelle felt another burst of pain in her tummy. 'No.....,' Isabelle realized, as she stood upright again, leaning against her own bedroom door for support. ' They don't sound like they have a sad tummy. They sound........really happy,' Isabelle admitted. It was the best adjective she had in her depleted arsenal of the English language, but it wasn't inaccurate. Whatever was causing the noise, it wasn't sounds of displeasure. 'It's probably just Lola. Maybe Dani too,' Isabelle decided. Who else would be in her big sister's bedroom anyway? 'Maybe Lola wanted a nap too, and she's just having the bestest dream ever!' Isabelle considered. It was a real, distinct possibility to Isabelle. So Isabelle braved one foot forward, lifting her body weight off of the door behind her, and moving toward Lola's bedroom. As Isabelle waddled her second foot, her legs spread firmly and far apart by her diaper, the noise continued to build. Louder with her four step. Even louder with her fifth. Isabelle was half way there and the noise continued to grow. 'Definitely a girl...but not words........crying?' Isabelle wondered, as she shifted her next small step, and then the next. Isabelle was mere steps from the door when she heard it; a final shriek come from the room, causing her to pause for a moment, the room in front of her falling silent. Isabelle wasn't sure if someone in there needed help, but she was beginning to revisit her theory that they might have a tummy ache too. Isabelle was about to reconsider her decision when her stomach churned once more, nearly causing her to fall over. She had waited in the hallway too long, even if it had only been a few minutes. Her stomach needed some attention. It needed Lola. Isabelle cleared the last two steps, before settling her little fingers on Lola's bedroom doorknob. With the last bit of energy she had, Isabelle twisted, and pushed the knob in with her body, slipping forward on her footie jamies on the wood floor, and causing Isabelle to bend over in the process. It all happened at once, and Isabelle shut her eyes as it did. Her tummy pushed, and Isabelle felt her sphincter open up, as wave after wave of mushy poop made its way into her diaper. Isabelle squeezed Rabbity's hand as the first, painful load came out of her. But once it did, Isabelle felt such relief from her stomach ache, she didn't hesitate when she felt the need again. No, that time Isabelle pushed. And she pushed a much larger second load into her diaper, the poop expanding her diaper downward, until it was nearly hanging down to the floor, before it stopped. When Isabelle pushed again, another tremendous load of poop filled the area under her butt, until there was no more room. But there was more. And when Isabelle pushed the final wave, it had nowhere else to go, pressing first against her butt, before moving to the only open space that was left in the front of her diaper. Isabelle felt instant relief, but it was short lived. It wasn't because she had made a stinky; Isabelle was used to pooping in her diapers at this point, and in fact, was rather starting to enjoy them. No, her relief was short lived because she opened her eyes. It wasn't Lola in her bedroom. It was Dani. And she wasn't alone. Isabelle wasn't quite sure what she was seeing in the bed to her right. It was confusing, and didn't really make much sense. But there were two sets of eyes starring at her as she stood up in the doorway, one set light, innocent, and playful, the other in sheer panic. The first set - further away from Isabelle - belonged to Dani, who was under Lola's covers, laying on her front, half her body on the mattress, and half pressed firmly against, '...well him.' The second set - the set much, much closer to Isabelle - belonged to none other than Avery, who was only partially covered by Lola's comforter. Avery's strong, bare chest was exposed on his left side, the side closest to Isabelle, whereas the rest was covered by Dani's upper body, which Isabelle was only realizing then was likewise bare. Isabelle's eyes met Avery's, who looked in utter panic and disbelief. Isabelle wasn't sure what to do. 'Why are they in Lola's bed together? And why don't they have their shirt's on? Were they invespigating each other's stomach aches?' Isabelle wondered. She wasn't sure she wanted Avery to investigate her own, not while she was in a very poopy diaper. 'Maybe he'll leave so Dani can invespigate my tummy next?' The three stood there for longer than any would have expected, each startled by the scene they were in, each for very different reasons. It was Dani, however, sweet, cool, calm, collected Dani, that broke the ice. She just started laughing. Laughing as she rolled off Avery on to her own back, exposing her bare chest to the room. Laughing as she gleefully kicked her legs under the covers at the simple ridiculousness of the situation they were in. Laughing because this now very core, very significant moment and memory for Dani now included her best friend's little sister walking in on her and Avery, and proceeding to poop her diaper right in front of them. "D! This isn't funny" Isabelle heard Avery, the same panic that was in his eyes emerge from his mouth. "What do we do? What do we say?" Isabelle wasn't sure what he meant by that, and so continued to look between him and Dani curiously, trying to figure out what was going on. "Da.......Da..........Dani?" Isabelle felt herself whimpering, still stunned at the sight before her. She was feeling something inside of her, and it was no longer her aching tummy. Isabelle wasn't sure what it was, but the sight before her was making her feel very emotional, and she felt tears beginning to build in her eyes. "Oh RE-LAX Ave. She's just a little girl," Dani said, before leaning over and '....kissing Avery's chest? Hmmmm no. Maybe just a tummy ache check like mommy does for me?' Isabelle's eyes were now laser focused on Dani. "She doesn't know what's going on. You can be such a boy sometimes." Dani teased, before sitting up in the bed, the comforter now only covering her lower body. Dani wriggled her nose as the scent from Isabelle's diaper began to make its way into the room. "Though for a little girl, I'll admit, she makes some pretty big poopies. You stay right there Belly. I'm coming," Dani called to her, before rummaging below the covers, seemingly trying to retrieve something, pulling whatever she found up her legs. Isabelle watched Avery, his expression unchanged and still panicked. Isabelle shifted her faze back to Dani stood up from under the covers, wearing nothing other than a simple green thong. "She even had matching panties!' Isabelle thought to herself, the thought making her smile for an unknown reason. It wasn't rare that Isabelle saw Dani mostly, if not entirely naked. Still, it was always amazing to her just how beautiful her friend was, inside and out, and Isabelle couldn't help but stare at her friend as she stood. Isabelle watched as Dani bent over and picked up her green butterfly top, 'which she must have taken off so Avery could check her tummy ache,' Isabelle concluded. Dani pulled her top back on, before bending over once more to pick up her skirt, pulling it up her legs. Dani bent down one last time, picking up her wings and putting them back on as well. "I'm going to go change her sweetie," Dani said, as she made her way around the bed and toward Isabelle "You get your costume back on and go back down before our disappearance draws too much attention.." Dani was about to pick up Isabelle when the little girl slipped on her footie pajamas and fell to her bum. The resulting fall caused the poop underneath her to splat out underneath her, and caking against her butt, and spreading out in every which direction. Isabelle was so shocked by the fall that she couldn't help herself, and she started to cry. "WAHHHHHHHHHHHH. WAHHHHHHHHH AH AH AHA AH AH AH. DANNNIIIIIIII. I WAN WOOOOOWAAAAAA" Dani quickly scooped Isabelle up, moving faster than before. "Oh sweet girl! Shhhhh shhhhhhh. Come here," Dani repeated, Pulling Isabelle in close to her chest, and pressing Isabelle's head against her body. Dani turned her attention to Avery before, calmly telling him "once you're done, if you see Lola, send her up." Dani was about to carry Isabelle out before turning back, and adding one more thing. "And Ave," she said, pausing as the memory of their adventure returned to her mind. "Amazing." *********************************************************** "So just so we're all on the same page here,' Tori whispered, as the group of girls gathered together closely had given up on trying not to laugh. They were circled together in the kitchen. Isabelle was happy to be in Lola's arms and in the group again, a fresh, poofy diaper under her footie jamies. "Tor. Company," Lola muttered, her eyes glancing at the toddler in her arms. "Oh. Yah. Okay," Tori said, regrouping herself, before finding the right words. "You rolled off....of him, he just having, quote, 'rocked your world,' your words, Tori emphasized, as the girls all giggled sheepishly at Dani's news of her milestone. "And not moments later, Company here opens the door, shocking you both, and thennnn......what was it that happened?" Tori joked playfully. Isabelle wasn't sure who this 'Company' was, but the way Tori was telling the story, it sounded pretty funny. So Isabelle giggled along while Tori tapped on her chin, pretending to think, while Dani's face began to turn the same color as her messy hair. "Oh that's right. The mere sight of you two in the bed caused Company to go ahead and poop herself, to quote you again, 'the largest you had ever seen in your life.' Did I get that right? Is that what happened?" The girls, including Isabelle from behind the pacifier, continued to laugh hysterically, each overtly turning their gazes to poor Avery standing by the fridge across the kitchen, who could only be wondering self-consciously what. precisely, the girls were laughing about. "Hardy-har-har," Dani responded, herself laughing about the situation. "But yes. That about sums it up," Dani said with a smile, before turning her focus to Isabelle. "You just had to come and see what was going on with your little tummy didn't you sweetie?" Dani teased. "Well you did say you were quite....noisy." Amelia chimed in, causing more laughter. "You probably woke her up to begin with!" Isabelle was beginning to question whether the story was about her or not. It didn't really matter; Isabelle was just happy to be back at the party, though she was feelingexhausted. While Dani had been changing her, Lola had come up to the room having heard the cries on the baby monitor. Isabelle was relieved to see Lola, so much so that she didn't catch much of the conversation between the two friends as Lola took over wiping Isabelle's butt. But a lot of hugs and emotions were exchanged. As well as laughs. Lots and lots of laughs. "Why does he look so uncomfortable over there? You think he'd be relaxed and happy after the first time,' Amelia noted. Dani provided the answer. "Oh I told him he couldn't tell anyone tonight. But that I was going to tell you girls. So I'm not sure he knows what to do with himself right now," Dani added, now looking along with all the other girls at Avery as they all resumed laughing. Had Avery not looked uncomfortable before, now he looked utterly distressed. "He actually can help me," Lola said to the group. "She needs to go back to sleep. And we need to clean up before my parents get home." The words slipped out of her mouth so naturally, Lola didn't even catch what she had said. 'Avery," Lola called out, as Avery pointed to himself and shrugged, as though to question whether Lola was calling him. 'Yes, you. Can you open the fridge behind you and grab one of the bottles in the door........no......yes that one. Ya." The girls all watched as Avery pulled it out, and inexplicably brought it to his face as if to smell it, or even taste it, before walking it toward the gaggle of girls. Dani couldn't help herself but tease him. "Ave, sweetie. It's breastmilk. I don't think you need to try it." Dani's remark sent the girls over the edge, as they laughed loudly at the poor boy's expense before he handed the bottle to Lola, who put it in the microwave be Dani went on to her tippy toes and planted a kiss on Avery's cheek, "I'm going to help Lola put her to bed. But I'll be back down in a bit to help you clean," Dani added, letting her head rest against Avery for just a moment longer before releasing. "Let's go up." With a wave of the Star Rod, and a skip, Dani led the charge up the stairs, as Lola carried Isabelle in her arms, up to bed once more. "Someone had too many cookies tonight, didn't she sweetie? Lola teased, as she bounced Isabelle up and down on her hip. "I learned that quite a few people gave you cookies, including one VERY mischievous fairy." Though Isabelle's eyes were settling shut once more, she couldn't help but laugh. 'It was true, after all.' Dani had reached the top of the stairs at that point, performing a little bow with the a twirl of her wand. "You're most very welcome." The three girls made their way into Isabelle's room, where Lola climbed back into bed with Isabelle. "Someone gets to share their bed with me later tonight, since unspeakable things were done in mine," Lola said, glaring playfully at Lola, who laid down on the other side of Isabelle smiling. Once more, Lola gently cradled Isabelle in her arms, bringing the bottle of milk back to Isabelle's lips. As Lola held the bottle in place, Dani playfully swished her wand around over Isabelle, her eyes following the bright star atop the magical wand as it danced over her. Isabelle rhythmically sucked at the bottle as Dani hummed until there was no more milk left, and Lola pulled the bottle gently back. "I almost forgot," Dani whispered. "You never made your fairy wish sweetie. You can ask for anything you want. Anything in the world. You just need to close your eyes real tight, and think about what it is you want. Fairy magic can take some time to take effect. But if your patient, your wish will come true." "Make a wish, sweet sweet Belly," Lola whispered, as a heaviness from the second bottle of milk took effect. "Make your wish my sweet baby sister." Isabelle let the exhaustion wash over her. She fell asleep making her wish. The one thing she wanted more than anything else. The one thing she deserved. A choice.

I’ve been having much the same thoughts as BabySofia wondering which of the many paths she will ultimately travel down. My take at this point is that she finishes the regression. Her root anxiety at the beginning is repeatedly focused on the loss of her friends. Lola and Dani’s transition from best friends to older mentors seems to be where the scramble begins - clawing at the ground with her nails to keep from slipping any further away. At each age transition she has to rediscover herself and how she fits into the world. Sofias catch of ‘letting go’ appears where she finds herself struggling against the seemingly inevitable process. Once she can find equilibrium then it’s time for the next step back. It feels like the point where the remaining adult intelligence processing looks at where she has landed. She didn’t lose Lola - rather her role shifts from friends to sisters. The triangle of friendship between Isabelle, Lola, and Dani has reformed into a bond that is profoundly deeper. Jane has transformed from the single parent who is doing and sacrificing everything to support Isabelle’s dreams to a doting mom who is focused on Isabelle’s current happiness. Jane’s relationship with Sam represents a shift from scraping-by single mom to an affluent family that truly loves each other. Jane gains a loving and supportive husband. Isabelle gains a father. I have found it interesting how frequently Isabelle talks about her outfits. She notes the changes with each evolution but never seems to realize that the shoes don’t ever change. They are simply a constant. Given how much energy she poured in to determining the cause of her regression, the blind spot around the shoes is completely out of character. But that is the seeming power of the shoes. My prediction for the end is that Isabelle lets go and chooses happiness. The marriage of Jane and Sam along with his adoption of Isabelle seals the promise of the new family and their future. Lola becoming the official sister and the continuation of the triad friendship convinces Isabelle that she won’t lose her friends. Jane gets what Isabelle believes she deserves. Everyone is ’better’ than they were. And the shoes. Well, I think this is where the decision is finally made. The blinders fall away. Isabelle gets one final future vision of performing and realizes that she will keep her passion and talents. The shoes make the promise- that Isabelle has ultimately lost nothing - only gained. She will become the dancer of her dreams. Her mom, dad and sister will help her in a giant circle of love.

No nudity is the rule

Chapter 11 "Tish! What's wrong? Are you ok?", Jenn asked as she rushed to her side. "John just broke up with me!", She sobbed and leaned into her friend. "Why, what happened?" "He said he knew coming over here he wasn't sure about all this any more. This whole situation is too weird. He said he didn't know how to handle it but would try. I told him to give me a minute to get cleaned up but he kept asking to see it. I told him over and over again I didn't want him to see me in my wet f'ing diaper but finally I gave in. I mean, he'd see it eventually right? "And?" "He just stood there. Looking at me in shock or something. Like I was some freak. I felt so horrible. He couldn't believe his girlfriend was standing in front of him with a wet diaper. Just like that he sat down and said he doesn't think he can do this. He said it was only going to get worse and this wasn't his idea of a relationship and blah blah blah. I quit listening and basically told him to leave then if that is how he felt." "Oh my god Tish, what an prick, Tish I'm so sorry." "I don't know Jenn, I just.. I just didn't think today would be this hard. In hindsight, probably good he wasn't my sponsor after all huh?" "That's true. I'm just sorry he did this to you. What can I do for you?" "Nothing. I'm just so lucky to have you right now. Thank you for everything you are doing for me." "Do you need to be alone right now? Do you want to tell me about your day?" Tish did want Jenn to stay and she proceeded to explain the day, the struggles, what went right, what went wrong. The incident at work. Jenn didn't expect it to be so hard for her and though she would try to be more compassionate and understanding. "I'm sorry your day was so bad. But I promise it will get better. And trust me, I know it sucks now but if John is so quick to leave you over something like this, he doesn't deserve you. You are way to good for him", Jenn said as she looked directly into her friend's eyes, assuring her she was right. "I know, I know." "Well, you said you peed several times. Why don't we take your diaper off, you can get a shower and cleaned up while I make us some dinner." "Ummm, I'm not wearing my diaper. I was so mad after he left I took it off." Jenn pulled the blanket away and Tish tried to cover her naked self. "You took your diaper off? Tish! You know I'm supposed to do that! It is day 1 and you already screwed this up. Where is it? Tish pointed to the bathroom and Jenn went to retrieve it. She returned with it, examining the tapes. The smell of Tish's stale urine hit the air and Tish covered her nose in disgust. She didn't want to see what she had done. Jenn was furious. "Tish, you've ripped it. These tapes are supposed to be gently undone and I have to fold the diaper up and re-tape it very specifically. Now you've completely botched this and I have to try and fix it. "What's the big deal?" "Tish, we agreed to do this. I am responsible for you and making sure we do this properly. They already were hesitant about letting me sponsor you and now I'm going to turn in your first diaper all mangled up. Great impression Tish, just great impression." "I'm sorry." "Always sorry, yeah I know. Just go get your shower, I'll deal with this." Tish sulked away and left Jenn to try and patch up the diaper. She did the best she could, rearranged the tapes, and put the soiled garment in one of the supplied barcoded bags and sealed it tight. She walked it outside and down to the end of the block and found the nearest collection unit. She had planned on making Tish do this every day but she needed to cool off. These disposal units were installed all over the their city. Luckily for them they didn't have to drive to one. Other cities and countries had different collection methods but these seems to work the best for their city's population and infrastructure. When she approached, she scanned the barcode, the top of the unit opened up and she dropped the diaper in. She wondered how many other wet and messy diapers had been put through that hole today, not to mention all over the city. She walked back to their house and tried to calm down. On one hand she knew her friend was going through a lot, and on top of that just got dumped by her boyfriend, but on the other, this had to be taken seriously. She thought about what she would say to Tish in the few minutes it took her to walk home. When she opened the door, Tish was sitting on the couch, as if waiting for a parent to come home knowing you are in big trouble. "Jenn, I'm really sorry. I'll take this more seriously ok? But you just don't understand how hard it was today, and now John, and Allison, and that rude customer, and now you are mad at me. And... ", and she started crying. 'Well there goes my plan for what I was going to say', Jenn thought to herself. "Ok Tish, it's ok. Calm down", Jenn sat next to her again and hugged her tightly. This is what Tish wanted from John but it was Jenn who had to end up holding her. They sat like that for a few minutes while Tish's sniffles and tears subsided. "Are you still going to make us dinner?" "You know you are really something else!", Jenn quipped. "Yes you brat, I am going to make you dinner. I guess you have had a pretty hard day.", she smiled at her. "But first, don't think you can fool me. I know what you are doing, no stalling. Back into my room and get those clothes off. You should be in a diaper right now. "Jenn! Seriously. This is stupid. I don't have to wear it every second of the day!", Tish shouted in disbelief that Jenn would press the issue so early on. "Not arguing with you about this Tish. In my room. Now. Let's go.", Jenn put her hand around Tish's back, guiding the reluctant girl into the bedroom. Tish plopped on the bed and relaxed. The second time was easier. She knew what to expect. For some reason, this time she surrender to it all and let Jenn do everything. She laid there on the bed, with her hands behind her head, relaxed while Jenn unbuttoned her shorts and pulled them down her legs. She still got very embarrassed when her panties were pulled down but at this point, this was the least of her concerns and she knew she was just going to have to get used to it. She jumped when her friend touched her private area and sort of instinctively closed her legs but Jenn made a 'tisk tisk' sound at her and completed her tasks without failure. Tish allowed the process to continue and for a brief second, between the anxiety and hesitation of all of this weirdness, she caught herself thinking it was nice to be taken care. She still couldn't believe any of this was real and that Jenn was ok with all of it. Before she knew it her first diaper change was over. Jenn poked her fingers in Tish's sides, causing her to jolt and flop around. It was no secret how ticklish she was. "Hey!" "Tomorrow is going to be different right? You are going to follow the rules for!", She dug her fingers into her friends small tummy, pinning her there. "Ahhhhh stop, stop, ahhh hahah.", Tish laughed and screamed at the same time. "Right?" "Yes YES, ahhhhhh hahh aha I'm going to follow the rules. I pro... I promise!", Tish sputtered out once she could finally muster a word or two. "Good girl.", Jenn relinquished her evil fingers. "Now put some pants on. You pour us some wine and I'll make dinner." Tish didn't say anything but she thought she was about to pee that diaper right then and there from the tickling. Her older brothers used to hold her down and tickle her until she screamed and cried. She remembered hating that so much from her childhood. Jenn wasn't that bad but it bothered her a bit and it brought back those feelings of being trapped. She had been feeling something similar all day but couldn't put her finger on it until now. It was that same feeling from all those years ago, but now trapped in this situation, trapped in this diaper with no escape. Helplessness was what she felt and she didn't like that feeling. She sighed and tried not to give that much thought and did what Jenn requested. They finished dinner and were both doing dishes when the doorbell rang. Tish looked at Jenn, "I bet it's John! He wised up." Jenn was skeptical and didn't want Tish to be disappointed. Tish raced to the door and opened it, not seeing who she expected. She looked up and sort of froze. She didn't know this person but sort of recognized him. The man, who was probably a 10 years older then her, looked down at her from above with a funny smile on this face. He wore a solid black jumpsuit style uniform, like something you'd see a maintenance worker wear, except his was clean cut, well fitted, and professional looking. He carried a clipboard and and had a bag slung over his shoulder. On his chest was a nametag which prominently displayed the name "Smith". Under it was small label identifying his position: 'CTF - Agent 3' His devious smile was finally replaced with words, "Oh well look who we have here... if it isn't my rude little barista."

I can see why being an adult baby 24/7 is so awesome. Being able to go diapered 24/7 and diapered permanently is so awesome and the best way to go in life. Being an adult baby, means freedom from adulthood and being able to go potty anywhere I want & never have to suffer potty training. It's why I like the Adult baby life and it's why I am an adult baby myself. I never have to use the potty cause only adult's, grown ups and big kids do and I am only allowed to go in my diapers. Being treated like an adult baby for me, means being young, babied and diapered. I'm able to be me which is an adult baby and not like a normal adult or big kid.

Heck, that would have been a good idea Nicole: Takes her door down The next day: The chart is stuck to the wall 🤭 Happy to oblige! Day 4 Nicole knew better than to hope that the chart would stay gone. When she woke up, her diaper–(No, it’s not my diaper, it’s just a diaper)–was well used and swollen. She waddled to her door, anxious about what she might find, and her heart sank. The chart had returned, and the rainclouds now marked out both night and daytime. The doodle in the final column this time showed a stack of diapers lined up neatly inside a dresser–in her dresser. She had to get to work, though, so she gathered up work clothes, ripped the tapes off her sodden diaper, and went to take a shower. She washed, dressed for the workday, and put one of Vanessa’s pads for protection. When she got done, she found V in the hall, inspecting the chart. “This doesn’t look good,” Vanessa said, glancing up at her. “Are you sure you want to go to work like that?” “What do you mean?” Nicole asked, frowning. “I’m using a pad.” “Sure, but…that’s not meant to hold back the flood gates, if you get my meaning,” Vanessa replied. “I hate to suggest this, but…do you think you should wear one of your diapers?” Nicole glowered and shook her head. “No, no way. It hasn’t gotten that bad.” V blushed, glancing away. “Um.” “What?” Nicole demanded. “You’re–” Vanessa said. “You’re leaking.” Looking down, Nicole’s eyes widened as she saw the truth–urine was running down her jeans, away from the overwhelmed pad. Quickly, she stepped back into the bathroom, rushing to get at least some of it into the toilet, but all she could really manage was sitting down on the toilet seat and flooding her jeans the rest of the way from there. Humiliated, but unwilling to admit defeat, she stripped out of the wet jeans and went to get a fresh pair. “I’m not wearing a diaper to work,” she told V, bending to go through her dresser to find new panties. “I’m just not.” … Nicole didn’t have any more major leak-throughs, but only due to sheer discipline and persistence. Every thirty minutes or so, she took a break to hit the bathroom, emptying what little was in her bladder–though, even with such consistent stops, she still had to replace a pad almost every time. Deep in her heart, she knew this wasn’t sustainable, but the alternative seemed worse. The diapers that’d appeared in her dresser were absurd; bulky pillowy things that’d render all her jeans unwearable for all the poof. She’d make the pads work, no matter how inconvenient the constant restroom trips were. That is, until The Meeting. She had to hustle into the conference room late, blushing as she gave a mumbled, “Bathroom,” as her excuse for missing the opening minute or so of her boss’s presentation. She didn’t feel any pressure in her bladder building, which was the worst part. There was no warning, no indicator of when she might have another accident, just an apprehension of trickling liquid overwhelming the pad in her panties. She watched the clock on the wall–twenty minutes passed, then twenty five, then thirty. (They know I just went,) she thought, anxiously weighing her options. (If I get up to use the bathroom now, they’ll wonder what I ‘really’ needed to go for.) More minutes slipped past, and her fear built, knowing she’d leak through any minute. She couldn’t feel a thing, and stealing glances down only told her she hadn’t begun to dribble through her jeans yet. How soon the dam would begin to crack, though, she couldn’t say. The meeting lasted fifty minutes. It would have been barely an inconvenience to her last week, but with her new potty control it felt like a miracle. Relieved, she waited until the conference room was almost empty–just in case–then stood. Sag. The sensation of her underwear weighing down inside her jeans didn’t feel right, and she looked down, puzzled. She could see her jeans straining, slightly, puffed up. (Did the pad really absorb that much?) she thought, scurrying off to the bathroom. Entering one of the two stalls in the women’s room, she locked it, set her purse on the toilet tank, double checked the lock, and finally slipped down her jeans. The answer she got wasn’t the one she wanted; her pad hadn’t absorbed anything at all. Rather, it’d vanished along with her panties, replaced with a puffy, pink, baby-print diaper. It was worse than if she’d worn one from home–at least the diapers at home had been plain white, medical looking. These were downright cute, or at least they would be if the teddy bears and building blocks hadn’t made her blush from head to toe and send a shock of mortification through her. She couldn’t be seen in this, but she had no real way to cover it up. She had, at least, thought to bring spare panties, along with her extra stack of pads. Opening up her purse… “No,” she whispered. “No, no, no–” Her panties were gone, and her pads. She found only a diaper and a tube of baby powder. All she found aside from those two objects was an implied message. (I don’t get to wear panties anymore.) There was no getting around it, no fighting the magic or curse or whatever that had done this to her. She could go out and buy panties, maybe, but in her gut she doubted that would work. Her choices were diapers, or ruined jeans, and she’d already flooded her current diaper to capacity. Triple checking the lock, she undid the tapes on her diaper and got to work changing herself. She’d just have to hope that the one fresh diaper she’d been given would last the rest of the day…and that nobody in the office would guess that the diaper buried deep in the restroom trash can came from her. ... Things aren't looking good for our poor baby-to-be, but maybe she can get out of this with a little dignity intact! Want to help support the creation of more stories like this one? https://www.patreon.com/PeculiarChangeling https://subscribestar.adult/peculiarchangeling

Daniel has just broken a winery window and he had dropped a rope to into the house, the window was rather narrow but it was easy for him to go through it thanks his small size; being a little had some advantage after all. He didn’t know if someone was into home but in that case he had taken some countermeasures: He had a gun; It was a toy gun and pressing the trigger a flag with the word “bang” would have come out from the barrel; He had some firecrackers: he pretended some gun shots if it were necessary, Some stadium smoke: that would be useful to cover an escape. They were cheap tricks but in the past they worked then he was very confident about them and his ability. He dropped with rope until the floor, and climbed the stairs of the winery getting to the door that opened easily accessing to the living room. He searched small objects that can be carried easily: he finded a silver frame with the photo a smiling old man on the small table. He removed and rested it on the table putting the frame in his backpack. Then he decided to take a ride around the house to see if there are something interesting: he opened a door seeing a giant nursery in the room. “I hope it’s not for a little” he said going to the next room, where he found a laptop on a big double bed. He had to climb hardly to reached it and put in the bag. Then he approached the bedside table and found a next generation smartphone, “today is my lucky day!” he said smiling and putting it in his bag, then opening every drawer where he found some cash. He went to the biggest drawers and with more difficulty opened the first drawer finding some jewelry “it’s fantastic!” he said putting everything in his bag. He decided to do another tour of the house to see if there was something else interesting but he heared the noise of the principal door that closed. But he didn't know that the house he had decided to rob belonged to a policewoman who was returning home at the time. (You can contact me privately if you want. I prefere a narrative style)

Hi all, I've been doing some AI generated art since my work is using this technology in one of our projects. I've been getting better at it but thought I might challenge myself by taking some requests of anything anyone would like to see? Feel free to request anything, adults only of course. I don't know the rules about nudity on this site, I've looked but didn't find anything clear so unless someone can point me to a clear rule about that let's keep it to no nudity - Tish

This proves your ignorance.... and only a fool laughs at its own stupidity.

REPLACED/UPDATED

http://www.dailydiapers.com 22 new Photos added 25 photos added to MegaPics 3 new Amazon ABDL ebooks featured 37 new Forum members - Now 55,172 friends! Two new photo sets added to 4ab

At this point I am not sure if Isabelle is even able to make that decision anymore. She is very deep in it now and seems very happy just riding the wave so far. I have to agree with BabyMorgan predictions, it would be real fitting the story. But I am still curious if there will be an answer regarding those slippers or if you will leave that for every one deciding themselves.

Thank you.

So lovely. Can't wait to read the epilogue. It makes me nostalgic for a time that never existed.

The first thing Is to find out why all of a sudden you are incontinent and enuretic. Although I wet the bed in to my 20s it is not considered normal and could e symptom of an underlying problem.

Do you miss that relationship with your previous Daddy? I myself personally wouldn't want to leave a relationship like that because to me it would be absolutely perfect. But then again, I can understand your reasoning, life taking priority and all and wanting to move up on the corporate ladder. Where as a person like me doesn't have any ambition for the corporate world. Don't get me wrong, I would still have a job and stuff like that but I wouldn't prioritize that over leading my baby lifestyle and dream. But to each their own. That must have felt so good, to get diaper changes on the regular and be babyed 24/7. Sounds like heaven to me!😁♥️🙃😃😇

Chapter 33: Winners and Losers Grace, as in Loved Unconditionally, surveyed the scene. Three of her best friends were already in the back yard, sitting around their fire pit. Skip had a lighter in hand, trying to get the kindling to catch for their traditional Wasters weekend. Brains was on his phone, texting–no doubt his new beau. He’d been all aflutter the past couple days, ever since they became official. Melody was looking back at Grace, making a long moment of eye contact before returning her attention to whatever conversation was happening around the fire. She knew something was up, even if they’d said nothing overt as of yet. Stepping up behind her, Pearce wrapped his arms around her waist. “Are you sure?” “They deserve to get the full rundown,” Grace had her own arms wrapped around plush hedgehog, and she gave him a little squeeze to soothe her anxiety. “And it’ll be better if we explain before someone figures it out and starts complaining that we cheated.” It’d been three days since her case of supreme impulsivity, since their confession of love. The first day had been spent in a haze of fatigue, with Pearce nursing her slowly back to health as the drugs purged themselves from her system. Between the love and the pain, neither of them had found time to sleep that night. Pearce had only half explained to the others: “Grace is sick.” She was grateful for that. Some things could be left unsaid. All night, he’d stayed with her. Her body couldn’t keep down fluids–anything she drank came out the other end almost as quickly–but he kept her supplied, kept her hydrated as best he could. Painkillers and electrolytes helped ease the agony, and by morning, her body had finally, mercifully, given up its fight with itself. Then, finally, she slept. Pearce put her to bed, and she didn’t set an alarm. Pearce had her phone, and promised he’d let her know if any clients started texting, but it was the weekend. She’d probably be fine. Even that rest wasn’t perfect–she woke several times, to find that she’d ruined her diaper in her sleep. That was new–no matter how long she’d worn, even when she suspected she may have gotten wetter overnight, she’d never pooped the bed. Still, her diapers did their job admirably, and so did Pearce, cleaning her up, bringing her food and drinks and ibuprofen, easing her discomfort until she dozed again. Any time he wasn’t there, she had John to snuggle instead, not only her plush,but her closest confidant. She still hadn’t told Pearce the stuffy’s name, and still hadn’t decided if she would: Some things were too embarrassing to admit. By the time night came, Grace was still exhausted, and Pearce was barely upright–he hadn’t even napped through the second day. He’d been there for her, every moment she needed him. And when he had no energy left, he got into her crib with her, and–together–they both finally got their restful sleep. On the third day, then, they’d finally had to talk. So, after more than their share of heavy petting and making out, they did, ultimately, get to the important business: Fucking like rabbits. Once that was done, they talked. This was what they’d decided on–it was bonfire night already, they’d have everyone there to listen. It would be the best opportunity they’d get to set the record straight. Then again, that would mean admitting to more than a few embarrassing secrets. Looking out at the bonfire, Grace anxiously added, “Maybe we should just keep the bet going and pretend.” “Come on, you might be a baby, but don’t be a baby,” Pearce said, kissing the back of her head. “We know you’re not going to talk yourself out of this.” She nodded, reassured by his presence, and set aside John–she didn’t want her favorite plush smelling like a campfire. In the plushy’s place, she took Pearce’s hand and pushed open the door. With him there, with his calming presence sitting next to her around the fire, it took Grace only one beer to work up the courage to speak. “We have something we need to tell all of you,” Grace said, with a slight blush. “Pearce and I do, that is. It’s…about the bet.” “What, you’re fucking?” Melody asked, smirking from across the campfire. “No, that’s not it,” Brains corrected. “I think one of them’s quitting.” Skip shook their head, cutting to the center of it. “You’re both wrong. They’re in love.” Grace spluttered, the wind taken out of her sails. “I–well–I mean…” Rather than confirm it with words, Pearce leaned over and demonstrated the truth nonverbally, kissing Grace without a scrap of hesitation. Grace flushed, and that blush only deepened when her friends opened up with a chorus of cheers and hooting applause. “We’re calling it a draw,” Pearce said, pulling away. “Nobody wins, nobody loses.” That got the opposite response–boos and jeers. “What, after all that?” Melody asked. “Seriously? Anticlimax.” “Also that makes the bet kind of moot,” Brains added. “I had my money on you, too, Pearce.” “Hold on,” Skip added. “Let’s be specific here. I might have some cash to collect yet.” Everyone looked at them. “What do you mean?” Brains asked. “We placed a few bets,” Skip said, eyes locked on Grace. “Who won and who lost, that one’s moot. But after a couple weeks, we opened up that second bet–duration.” Brains shrugged. “Well, sure, but it’s only been two months, and you said it’d keep going for three. Melody bet less than a month, so–oh, I guess that means I win. More than a month, less than three.” “Hold it,” Skip said. “Let’s be specific here. I believe what I said was, ‘I bet Pearce will still be changing Grace’s diapers in three months.’” Brains tilted his head, looking at Skip. He didn’t notice the way Grace’s face turned bright red, shrinking back into her camp chair, but Skip saw it plain as day. “Erm–” Grace started. “Well–” Pearce added, rubbing the back of his neck. “I don’t get it,” Brains said, looking between them. “Brains,” Melody said, “I don’t know how you’re not internet poisoned enough to figure this one out, you spend more time online than any of us.” Brains blinked a couple times, then got it. “Oh! Grace has a diaper fetish.” Grace could swear she felt steam coming out of her ears, embarrassment burning its way to the forefront of her expression. “Brains.” “What?” he asked. “Is that not it?” “You don’t just say that,” Melody shot. “Even if it’s…I mean, yeah, you’re probably right, but–” “Skip said it first,” Brains pointed out. “How come it’s okay to imply she likes diapers but not to just say, ‘Grace likes diap–’” “It’s not about the diapers,” Grace snapped. “It’s–agh. I need a drink. Pearce, may I?” Raising her baby bottle of beer, she made a screwing motion with her hand. Reaching over, Pearce popped it off, so she could drink normally–and quickly. Something Grace hadn’t considered–it’d been months since she’d drank out of a cup, and she wasn’t quite used to the motion. Rather than chug the beer, as intended, she poured a good splash of it down her chin, staining her plain onesie top. Pearce smirked, and wordlessly took her bottle away. Filling it up with his own, he popped on the rubber nipple again and passed it back to her. “Okay, lid stays on.” Feeling ridiculous, Grace shook her head. “It’s like…I like having him to take care of me. The diapers are just incidental.” “So you’re going to stop wearing them?” Brains asked. Grace looked away, refusing to answer. “Give it another month,” Skip said, sitting back. “I’ll be collecting my winnings then.” “We’re changing a lot,” Pearce interjected. “No more punishments, for one, and…we’re still deciding whether she’ll be ‘allowed’ to use the toilet.” He passed it off as a joke, but there was a secret hidden excuse behind the comment: Grace was still having trouble holding it, and he wanted to give her an excuse to still be messing her diapers that didn’t involve any additional embarrassing admissions. It was one thing to admit she kinda liked the diaper thing, and another thing entirely to explain that she’d failed to read any warning labels and overdosed on laxatives. She’d made a call to her physician, and it sounded like she’d recover, but in the meantime, her diapers had become more necessary than she would ever admit. “This doesn’t…bother you all, right?” Grace asked, glancing between her friends. “I mean, it’s not even a bet any more. I know it can be awkward when you have friends over and I’m dressed up, or…like…” “Grace,” Melody said, “Please. Let your freak flag fly, not one of us cares.” “But…” Grace bounced her leg, arbitrarily worried that there was a ‘but’ coming. “You got so annoyed, and–” “Yeah,” Melody said, “Because you were being a faker. Starting arguments. I never cared what you were wearing. You like bottles and stuffies? Neat. When I start acting like I can judge you, just remind me what happened prom night and I’ll get my senses back.” Smiling slightly, Grace reached out and touched Pearce’s arm, squeezing him for reassurance. “Are you two going to share a bed now?” Brains asked, interjecting. “Oh heck no,” Pearce said. “I like sleeping in, and this one snores like a chainsaw. We’re keeping our rooms–just expect lots of sleepovers.” “Brains,” Skip said, “Were you asking because you wanted to call dibs on the spare room opening up?” Brains glanced away. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he lied. “But, I’m just saying–Grace’s room is bigger than mine, and, y’know–” Grace snorted. “Well, if we change our minds, and that becomes a possibility…hey, I’ll let you know. We’re still figuring a lot of this out. Figuring each other out, too. But…” Turning, she looked at the man who’d driven her crazy in more ways than one, the man she loved, the man she knew would always do his best to be there for her. “He makes me happy.” He looked back at her, smiling with a warmth far deeper than the campfire. “You’re sappy when you drink,” he replied, smirking at her. “You want sappy?” Grace asked, smiling back at him. “I named my hedgehog.” “Oh? When did that happen?” Pearce asked, expecting a joke, or at least something cutesy. “Like…a month ago,” Grace conceded, taking a moment to build to her reveal. She could be as dramatic as him, when she wanted to. “Hah! I knew it,” Pearce said. “So, what’d you decide?” “I named him John. Y’know…like you.” Grace finally admitted. Nobody in the Wasters used Pearce’s given name, it was impossible to miss what that name choice meant. “How’s that for sappy?” Pearce’s eyes widened, and for a moment, he was left without words. He leaned in, communicating more clearly with his lips than he could have with words. For the second time that night, they kissed, and this one lasted til they were both breathless and worked up. Pulling away, Pearce looked her in the eyes. “You make me happy, too.” ... Just one chapter left to round this out - the epilogue, which I'll be posting here in about a week. Thank you, so much, so so so much, for reading this far, for coming along this story with me. I can't express my gratitude enough for your time and for all the comments that've been left along the way, as well as the support of everyone who helped me financially so I could write this. I'm so grateful to be able to tell stories for such a great community. (Psst but I'm writing some really porny stuff over on Patreon if you want early access! https://www.patreon.com/PeculiarChangeling )

@Babypants I would agree with you and everyone else that says that wearing a skirt or a dress does not make you a sissy, nor does it make a man a sissy. Sissy means that you are acting as a submissive as has already been stated. It is my opinion that if one wants to be treated as a sissy, there are ways to do it, and your actions and your feelings and everything else around the situation will tell you whether you're a sissy or not. Just because you wear a particular piece of clothing does not make you a sissy, does not make you a woman, does not make you a girl or anything like that, it's the way you act and the way you are presenting yourself during the situation that all tells you whether you are a sissy or not comment that's my opinion. There are people that I know that are treated as a sissy or identify as a sissy, because they are male, and they wear dresses and other pieces of clothing, and that makes them feel complete as a sissy. I have a friend that said that one time her ex told her that he was jealous because she looked better in a skirt or a dress, and that's kind of interesting! If you are identifying as a sissy, and that's what you normally do because that's what you do every day, you wear clothes and you act as a sissy, those are the actions that you take. Clothing is clothing, but it's all the actions of the person wearing the clothing that determines whether someone is a sissy, And just like being a diaper lover or a adult baby, it's your actions and what you do that makes the difference! If you're wearing onesies or you're wearing diapers or whatever, it doesn't really make you a baby, it doesn't really make you a sissy or anything like that, unless you act as a sissy or you are identifying as one, and that's what you do every day. Jealousy is one of the things that really can get hard because if you're that jealous because someone looks better than you or acts better than you or whatever, it just shows that the person itself is unsure of himself or not sure what to think, and they wish really hard that they were in the position that the person they are jealous of is. I have had a friend for about 45 years. I remember he said that his ex was jealous of me because of what I had or because of what I was doing, and that shocked me! I was surprised that he said that he was somehow jealous of me, but it's just me being the guy I am, doing what I do, and jealousy really can hurt people, and can make people really really jealous, and really push them to do strange things, because they want something really bad, and they're not willing to say no and they're not willing to stop themselves. Almost like when you have a kid and they see a baby that's wearing a diaper or something like that, and they wish slate crazy that they wear that person wearing a diaper. The kid understands that being a baby, they don't have to do anything at all, but the fact is, If they're treated that way, that means that they gained things that a baby would have as far as no responsibilities, but they may lose the ability or the responsibilities of being a young kid trying to learn. There should be no reason why a kid should be forbidden from wearing diapers, there should be no reason why a kid should be so jealous that they can't do it, and that is why it is important that a kid be a kid, and be allowed to be a kid as long as they can, because most parents want their kids out of diapers so fast that the time that goes by is so fast it's not even funny. If a kid is not allowed to be a kid, is not allowed to be a kid with no responsibility as at all and they do what they're supposed to do, a kid will be a kid and be allowed to grow up and they won't be traumatized by silly stuff. potty training is something a kid might be afraid of, and they might not want to jump into it real fast, and that's where you have to determine is a kid ready for it, is he really understanding what he's being asked to do? If the answer is yes then that's one thing, if a kid really wants to get out of diapers and they really detest them, I can see them going through the steps to be able to do that. Reason they're unwilling or unable to be trained, then you just keep them in diapers until they're ready. Most times kids would be ready when they tell you they are, or they show interest. A kid be the one telling you when they're ready is one way of taking care of that problem. They're not afraid of party training, they're not afraid of the toilet, they understand that that's something they have to do eventually, but some kids are forced into it because the parents just don't want to change diapers. I can understand a parent's desire, but I can also understand the kid being on the other end and being asked to do something that scares the heck out of them. Also understand that parents want their kids to be potty trained as quickly as possible, but sometimes that is not a good idea, people are disabled or unable to train, so they wear diapers. This is just a fact of life my mom was changing diapers all the way up until my brother died at the age of 10, because he couldn't do it for himself he couldn't tell my mom anything other than to smile at her or to make funny noises, but my mom knew when something was wrong, and when something was not, and when he was happy or when he was sad. The thing is you use a diaper as a tool, and you don't put a kid down because he's wearing them. Kid will come around eventually if there is someone who is trying to help them, in their patient and understanding, and that is part of the problem, if you push too hard the kid will rebel, and you will be in the same position because you won't have the kid training, because the kid will rebel and try to force the issue, that's when you back off and put him back in diapers and leave him there until he shows interest or she shows interest, and she's ready or he is ready to do what is necessary. Can't have the kid do that then the kid should not be forced, it should be something that is done when the kid is ready, or when you see a kid showing interest. if the kid shows interest that's one thing, you end up going through the steps. It for some reason goes through these steps and then finds the toilet to be something that is traumatizing, then you stop and you decide whether to continue the training or to stop it for some time. Kids do not have to be jumping out of diapers at two and a half or three all the time, is just the way it goes. Kids don't train until they're 5 and 1/2 or 6 depending on the situation, depending on whether the person is disabled or unable to do what is record of them to do potty training, it's just a matter of is the kid ready? If so the kid proceeds, and you end up helping that kid, and if you notice a good thing happening you praise the heck out of it, if the kid ends up having a bad accident, you tell him it's OK and that's what happened sometimes, and when the kid shows that they're a little afraid or for some reason they don't think they can do it, then you give them the appropriate praise for what they do and then you understand what's going on, it might be something that causes them problems and if that is the case that's the case, but you always look at the situation and decide if this is an appropriate time to do the training or if you wait. Being an adult we know that potty Training is a part of life and sometimes it's easy for some kids and sometimes it's hard. Being an adult we also know that diapers can be helpful to many people, and sometimes potty Training is not appropriate, or is unable to be completed, and if that is the case that is the case. You let the kid be a kid you let the kid grow up, and when they show interest then you do something, otherwise you don't try to force the issue or you would have more problems forcing it than if you waited. I was lucky that I was able to show my mom that I was ready, and she trained me appropriately, but when I backstepped she was also very accommodating and loving and everything else, so she ended up understanding what it was like to be in my position, and that's part of the problem: parents are so quick to want to train that they sometimes forget that the kid may have to be ready before they can do it, even if the parent is ready, the kid may not be: and that is where you have to draw the line. And now, the most important thing is exactly what was said: being a man, you are a man, you are not a woman or anything else, if you want to wear panties or skirts or dresses or anything that a woman would wear, that does not make you a sissy any more than wearing a diaper makes you a baby Babies wear diapers, everyone else can wear diapers too, and The thing is people have a reason for wearing diapers we might not understand what it is or why they do it, but there's always a reason, it's just something that we might not get or understand at the moment. Wearing a dress or a skirt does not make you a woman, any more than wearing pants makes you a man or anything else. What makes you a man is the way you act, the fact that you are male for example, the way you act and the way you present yourself. Men usually do certain things that women may not do because of the fact of their gender. That's what separates a man from a woman physical characteristics the way they act hormones and everything else, and if I were to continue on this subject this post would be about 20 pages long, but let's just say for the sake of this is that everyone who wears women's clothing if they're a man does not automatically turn into a sissy! If you are assist you there are certain things you do certain things you say certain actions you perform, and this relationship with your partner or significant other also determines how you proceed. You can act like a man, you can be a sissy, but you're not specifically a sissy simply because you wear a dress or a skirt, it's the actions that you take and how you respond to people that make you who you are, and not specifically wearing a dress or a skirt. Brian

Skirts are far superior to trousers. Super comfy. I wear them all the time at home.

When Ian takes charge, he really takes charge! A masterful chapter. You do comedy as well as you do intense scenes like the one on the battlefield that played out in his mind.

As Susan was in the kitchen making the milk, she made sure to add some of her own breastmilk with the regular milk that she had pumped a while back and had frozen. She added just enough so that he would get a small taste for it, along with some slight muscle relaxer and diuretic. Susan knew that if she added more, it would have stronger effects like being a laxative and forming a hard craving for her milk. However, she could see Daniel was smart, and if he thought she was poisoning him, he would never learn to trust her. She also added a little honey for some sweetness, closed the lid, and walked back to the nursery. She was happy to see Daniel still awake, even holding onto the plushie, but she wasn't about to comment. She handed him the bottle. 'Here you go, little Daniel. This should fill the hole in your stomach.' After giving him the bottle, she wished him goodnight and kissed his forehead. She turned on the baby monitor and took the other one with her before leaving, and she closed the nursery door behind her, locking it from her side to make sure he couldn't try to escape again.

In the beginning, the boy ignored the warning that the Amazon woman had given him, and he didn’t stop neither when he was put on her knees, but when the first spank hit his buttocks he remained astonished, when the second spank hit him he did a little verse that as the spanking proceeded became a yell accompanied by a kicking caused by pain. After the fourth spank the tears fell from his eyes and he started to cry and scream.

Chapter 2 – A Systemic Problem “Oliver…,” his mother cooed, “it’s time for you to unwrap your big presents!” Oliver eyed the boxes next to the fireplace. Both of those are for me? Wow. He knew the Apple watch was an expensive piece. He couldn’t think of anything on his wish list that was of comparable value. Not that his gifts had to precisely match the value of what was spent on his sister, but his parents tended to try to land their Christmas and birthday windfalls in the same ballpark. So maybe two gifts would make sense, although it seems awfully generous. He tried to discern what was in the boxes as he stood up to examine them. There was a smaller one and a much larger one. The larger one held his attention, in particular. A drone? A compound bow? A gaming PC? As though reading his thoughts, his mom said, “Open the smaller box first, sweetie.” And so it begins. Oliver lifted the smaller of the two boxes, which was still of a decent size, and noted that it had some heft to it. He placed it on the floor, deciding to position himself seated behind it, with his back to the fireplace, so that the footage of him unwrapping it would be less likely to include the top of his pull-up. I gotta get changed soon – this dampness is getting annoying. He read the tag on the package out loud – “To Oliver, with love from Mom & Dad & Grace.” He imagined that his name had been on the tag for Grace’s fancy watch, but she’d been too rushed about see what was inside the package, to bother reading the tag aloud, or perhaps at all. The wrapping paper had the same candy cane motif that their pajamas did. It tore away quickly, revealing, to his astonishment, the packaging for a PlayStation 5. He currently had a PS4, and was more than happy with it, but some of his buddies had been promoted to the new platform, and he was eager to join their ranks, but he did not think that it was in the cards quite yet. “Whoaaaaa…… Jeez, guys, this is frickin’ awesome! Holy crap, er, I mean, crow!” “And there’s still one more to go!” Grace commented. With perhaps a tad more enthusiasm than the moment called for, Oli thought. “Now, before you get too excited, I do want to say, there are going to be a couple of rules about that gaming system that we need to discuss,” his mother pronounced. Oliver nodded along. Yeah, yeah, homework comes first, don’t meet strangers online, down buy things in games without permission. He was so busy studying the specifications on the box that he practically forgot about the other package. “Oli,” his dad chimed in, “open the other present as well. They’re tied together.” Oliver raised an eyebrow. Is it a TV? But it seems too small. A gaming chair, one that requires assembly? THAT might be it. Oliver dragged the other box across the wood floor and sat behind it, as he had with the first, before once again reading the tag. “To Oliver, with lots and lots of love from Mom, Dad, and Grace.” Lots and lots of love this time? He tore into the paper, tossing it aside as it came off in strips. The box underneath the wrapping paper did not reveal much about its contents; it was glossy and white and had a few words printed across the top of it, in a pastel green: Eco-Dry Happy Baby Systems. Below that was a sticker that looked like it had been hand-applied, and was slightly off of level to the printed banner: Size XL. Oliver was confused, and he felt around the edges of the box for a way to open it, eventually finding clear round decals that held the edges shut, one on each side of the top panel. He peeled them away, reached down at the front, pulled the front flap forward, and then opened the top of the box like it was briefcase. Inside, Oliver saw a number of clear plastic bags, neatly nested in slots in a molded foam insert. Top and center was a sheet of glossy paper with a picture on it, and a paragraph of text. He picked it up. The picture, which took up the top third of the sheet, showed a smiling baby, in white plastic pants, sitting on what looked like planet Earth, but depicted at the size of a basketball. Oliver furrowed his eyebrows and read the page to himself at double speed. Thank you for purchasing the Eco-Dry Happy Baby Ecological Diapering System. The typical North American baby will use 6000 to 8000 diapers in their first three years of life. The Eco-Dry Diapering System consists of organic cotton pre-fold diapers, absorbent doublers, and chemically inert vinyl panties with hygienic wholly-enclosed elastics, that, when used as directed, can last for years, diverting thousands of pounds of waste from landfills, while providing an organic, comfortable, reliable and leak-free diapering experience for your baby! Please follow washing instructions closely, and, watch the savings roll in. Our planet thanks you, and so does your baby’s bottom! Oliver sat back, dropped the paper back on top of the box’s contents, and looked over at his mom, confusion written large across his face. “What the hell is a ‘diapering system’, and what am I going to do with it? Is this for Grace’s dolls or something?” Grace guffawed and then covered her mouth. Her mom shot her a hard glance. Oliver noted that his dad had lowered the camera after shooting footage of him unwrapping the box. Oliver’s mom got up off the sofa and walked over to where Oliver was seated on the floor, looking bewildered. Her slippers whispered as she seated herself next to him with her legs out in front of her, and put an arm over his shoulder, pulling some of his weight in towards her. He turned and looked at her face, which was almost too close to focus on. She kissed him on the forehead. “Oli, sweetie, don’t concentrate too much on the semantics. This company makes products in all sizes, but their literature is kind of aimed at younger children.” Oliver furrowed his eyebrows even further. “What am I going to do with a diapering system…?”, he whispered. “Oh, Oli, sweetie pie, that’s just what they’re calling it for marketing purposes. But if you think about it, what you have on right now is basically a diapering system. They just call them pull-ups, because that’s what people your age prefer to call them.” “Yeah, Oli,” Grace chimed in. “They’re pull-up DIAPERS, you know. Just because you don’t tape them on, that doesn’t mean they’re not diapers. If you wear them to pee in them, they’re diapers, no matter what you call them or what they’re made of.” Oliver’s cheeks burned bright red, and he became acutely aware of the sogginess underneath him. He’d been absentmindedly dribbling throughout the morning, and now he deeply wished he’d thought to hold it, and also, that he’d gotten changed before coming down to open his presents. This whole situation would have been easier to navigate if he wasn’t so intensely self-conscious. His mom rubbed his back and continued. “As you know, Oli, your dad is running for an important position in the state government. He is hoping to become the single person most responsible for environmental issues in the entire state of Washington! Part of that process is going to involve us, as a family, becoming more environmentally conscious. I don’t know if you know this, but your dad and I have been looking at electric cars. And your sister is going to start using refillable cups for her iced coffees, things like that.” Oliver’s dad was filming again, and he spoke from behind his phone, as though doing a voice-over. “As Washington State’s Environmental Commissioner, one of my main focuses is going to be reducing our state’s consumption of single-use plastics. Disposable plastic cups, straws, packaging, shopping bags, cutlery, and even disposable baby diapers, are all going to be part of my campaign to reduce what we send to landfill. Everyone in this family is going to pitch in and do their part, just as I hope everyone in this great state of ours will. One of your contributions, Oli, is going to be cooperating with our switch from disposable bedtime diapers, to reusable bedtime diapers.” He lowered the camera again, and then continued in a more personal, less narrative voice. “We knew going back into diapers might not be your favourite idea, and that maybe environmental stewardship wasn’t going to be a major incentive for you, so, we decided to sweeten the pot a bit. That PS5 there is your reward for being cooperative. As long as you’re happily wearing your new diapers, you can play with it to your heart’s content.” Oliver’s mom felt him physically startle at his dad’s last sentence. “Then I don’t give a crap about the PS5 – take it back! I’m fine with my PS4.” Oliver realized a second too late that he had perhaps prematurely revealed his hand. His parents made eye contact, and then his mom resumed the conversation, using a slightly sterner tone. “It’s not just the PS5, young man. Your PS4, your phone, your computer, your tablet… your access to all of the things you like is dependent upon your behaviour in this house, just as it has always been. You know that, Oli. Your dad and I are always willing to discuss things openly with you and with Grace, but, ultimately, we are in charge, and whereas the state of Washington is a democracy, the inside of this house is not. You’re still too young to vote, anyway.” She tussled his hair playfully. A lone tear rolled around his nose and down his red cheek, from the corner of his right eye, stopping when it hit the edge of his lip. “SO, Grace has to give up disposable cups…. You’re buying an electric car… And I have to wear diapers? That’s fair!?! That’s everyone doing their part?” “You already wear diapers, Oli. You just have to get used to wearing better ones,” his dad said, once again in the tone of a narrator. While his parents were talking to him, Grace had gotten up off the couch and walked around behind him. She leaned down, pinched the upper edge of his pull-up, pulled it back, and let it snap lightly against his lower back. Oliver reacted as thought he’d been stung by a wasp, arching his back and turning his head, but his mom pulled him in tighter, keeping him from wheeling around on his sister. Grace reached over him, pulled out one of the clear baggies from inside the box, and held it up in front of him. “Look, Oli, these plastic pants have trains on them. Isn’t that cool?” Tears streaked down both sides of Oliver’s cheeks as he closed his eyes and leaned into his mom’s embrace.

Nope! Never Ever 😀

I saw a posting somewhere a long time ago. The person was over a month on the sheets that they had been wetting every night

4 nights here but i enjoy the smell and have all my life

i started as a bed wetter till age 12. by age 6 i loved the feeling of a warm wet diaper. from age 12 i wore diapers on trips and at places where finding a restroom would be hard. around age 23 i found adult disposable diapers and started wearing at concerts, movies, traveling and other places where it was fun to wear. i have been a DL since then and over time i wore more and more. around.age 55 i started having health and moblity probems and went back into diapers 24/7 and now at age 72 due to my health problems i am incontanent and enjoying it every day.

I was 21 yrs old when I got thrown back into diapers and since then, I am kept as an adult baby

I was just about to post something about chastity and diapers and I found this post. Abdl lifestyle and chastity devices go perfectly together. For me the appeal is mostly feeling little / immature for not being able to orgasm. It also discourages me from indulging in erotica. Also I agree that it’s nice how the cage keeps everything pointed down. What cage are you rocking?

Another short update, but i think this chapter might be pretty long when it's done. ________________________________________________ Chapter 25 Part 1 It was lunchtime. Jamie knew Mom and Amanda would be picking him up soon for his first therapist appointment. He was having mixed feelings about it. To start with, they hadn’t asked him if he wanted to see a therapist. It was just announced. Jamie knew why they would have him see a therapist, but he wasn’t sure he wanted to. He’d seen on a couple of times before. One in college for a while, another during his career. He couldn’t remember the first one’s name – that’s how much she helped. The second one was the classic shrink. He’d say something, and she’d node and say “yeah” and “uh huh” and otherwise stay silent until he felt awkward enough to say something else. Jamie understood the technique, but it wasn’t the kind of therapy he thought he’d signed up for. If all Jamie needed was a friendly ear, he could have talked to the neighbor’s dog or a sympathetic wall. She wouldn’t say anything until the session was five minutes from over, and then he’d leave feeling nothing had been resolved, let alone discussed. Moreover, Jamie didn’t know if he wanted to talk about things. Talking about them helps, sure, but sometimes not talking about things helps, too. Between daycare and everything else he was still adjusting to, why bring up the past, which is what he assumed they thought he needed therapy for. He saw no reason not to talk to Ella about his feelings. “So I’m leaving early today to go see a therapist.” “I’m leaving early to see my physical therapist.” “I’ve been meaning to ask if you’re okay.” “Fine. Just healing from something. Did you notice something that looked not okay?” “No … well, I noticed you get tired easily, physically … like when we walked around the field and you needed to stop … just wanted to know if you’re okay … sorry, I’ll stop talking about it.” Jamie cursed his social skills. There were times when a part of his brain would tell, “Don’t say that,” and the other part would respond, “Saying it anyway, Asshole” and ride away on a motorcycle purposefully throwing mud all over the first part. Ella responded by taking another bite of her lunch. Jamie was sure he’d screwed up the only promising regular friendship he had. He was good at a lot of things, but making friends and knowing when to shut up weren’t them. In a professional setting, he was Mr. Discretion. In social settings, he was Mr. Awkward. He sometimes wondered if he did have some degree of Autism Spectrum Disorder. That was the trendy thing to say or joke about, but he didn’t find it funny. He worked with too many kids who did have ASD. It was just that sometimes he would be so inept in unstructured social interactions that he felt it had to be more than being an introvert or just awkward. He sat there glumly wishing he could turn the clock back 5 minutes. Ella stirred her lunch with her spork. “I’ll show you mine if you show me yours.” Jamie head her fine and wasn’t sure if she was being coy or what her intent was. “What do you mean?” “Tell me why you’re going to see a therapist, and I’ll tell you why I go to PT.” Those two things are completely different, Jamie thought. Revealing your emotional or mental health problems wasn’t the same as physical condition. “That’s hardly the same,” he replied. “Why aren’t they?” Ella knew what he was going to say. “Because my … mental health issues are … they’re more sensitive than a … physical problem.” “Is a mental health problem a real health problem?” “Yeah.” “So either you’re attaching a stigma to mental health, or think I am, or you just don’t wanna say. And if you don’t wanna say, that’s fine. We don’t have to talk about.” Jamie didn’t want to talk about it. What he wanted to talk about was Ella and why it was important that no one knew there was an unregressed little at Little Hearth, specifically her. Jamie knew Mom had asked Diane if she had experience with unregressed little, and Diane had responded with just a yes when she must have known telling Rebecca there was another unregressed little in her care would likely have secured Rebecca’s business on the spot. Maybe being a little more open would make Ella a little more open. “I used to be a social worker. I got to the point where I couldn’t stand to deal with everything I had to deal with and be unable to fix it all, and I didn’t think I could stay back there and just walk away from it. So I came here. I think Mom wants me to talk about all that with a therapist.” Ella turned away from Jamie and pulled her back, revealing a scar running down her neck and into her dress. She let her hair fall and turned back. “I had surgery.” “That scar looks old.” “It is.” “But you still go to therapy for it?” “Yep.” Becky and Amanda came through the classroom door. Jamie found himself torn. He wanted to leave daycare; he didn’t want to go to see a therapist; he wanted to keep talking to Ella. All incompatible with one another. “Hey, buddy,” Amanda said when she got near. “You ready to go?” “Yes,” Jamie replied, pushing his lunch away. It wasn’t very good anyway. “This is Ella, by the way. Ella, this is my sister Amanda and my mom, Becky.” Polite handshakes were exchanged. ______________________________________________________________________________ “Nice to meet you, Jamie. You can call me Mary.” “Nice to meet you as well, Mary.” “If it’s alright with you, Amanda and your mom are going to wait in the outer room while we talk alone.” “That’s fine.” “See you soon, Jamie,” Becky said with a small wave as Mary closed the door behind them. Mary turned on a floor fan and pointed it at the door. “Sorry. Just helps makes sure everything we say in here stays in here. Please, have a seat.” Jamie sat down on a regular sofa, one meant to fit littles. It wasn’t a psychiatrist’s couch either, just a regular sofa with a regular coffee table in from of it. Mary sat down in a chair next to the sofa. It was awkward her being so close and looming over him so much, but Jamie liked being on furniture his eye, not up on something he’d have to scramble up or get her help with. Still, he was craning his neck to look at her. It would be easier not to. “Do you mind if I lay down. It’s just hard to talk to you from down here.” “No, go right ahead. Most of my patients do.” Jamie got situated. “Comfortable?” “Yes.” “So, introductions then. My name is Dr. Mary Easterbrook. I specialize in littles only. I don’t see bigs or big children. You should know up front two things. One, I will never tell anyone exactly what you say in here. Two, I will tell your mom and Amanda what we talk about in here, and only them.” “Why them? Isn’t there some sort of privilege?” “No, just like if you were a big kid, I can tell your mom anything I think she needs to know in order to help the two of us in the therapeutic process, and your mom wants Amanda to know, too. If there’s something specifically you don’t want me to tell them, I’ll do my best to abide by that, but I can’t promise. And I won’t tell them anything I don’t think they need to know.” Jamie was trying to keep an open mind. So far this just reminded him of his place in the power structure, specifically at the bottom of it. He understood why she would tell parents and guardians what their little said, but it required him to accept that he was a little and he had no privacy this doctor needed to respect. Therapy works when the patient is open and honest, and already Jamie felt he had to hold back. “How do I know what you think they need to know? I don’t mean to get us off on the wrong foot here, but I mean, why should I be open if I get nor privacy? What if I want to talk about them, for instance?” Mary had worked with a few unregressed littles, and this was always the conversation at first. “I won’t tell them any details unless they absolutely need to know. Otherwise, I’ll keep it vague. As for why you should be open, because it will help you. Do you believe that?” Jamie did, though he also realized the potential for some conflict between his therapeutic interests and his I-have-to-live-with-these-people interests. “I believe that.” To an extent, he wanted to add. “Good. So you know, I do have experience with unregressed littles. There aren’t many of you, and I’m one of the only therapists in Itali who works with them. And I say that just to let I understand your cognitive level. So, I have your file from the agency and notes from what your mom and Amanda told me. Why don’t we start by you telling me about what your time here has been like so far?” Geez, Jamie thought, that’s so much to review. “That’s …” Jamie wasn’t even sure where to start. “How about starting with easy stuff? What makes you happy here?” “Amanda, Mom … Amanda’s friend Mel … Mom’s friend Jane … April, my daycare teacher, she’s nice to me … most little food … not having to go to work, but that’s a mixed blessing … I like feeling younger physically … I exercise a lot here.” When he didn’t add anything after ten seconds, Mary asked, “What don’t you like here?” “When people treat me like a regressed little, you know, like when they think I’m dumb – sorry, not dumb – cognitively underdeveloped, I guess, or incompetent. Not having many people to talk to, getting bored at daycare, getting bored in general sometimes … feeling like I don’t contribute … having to ask for things, you know, bothering people for little stuff … not fitting, but I knew that was going to be a problem … missing my friend, Cheryl.” After another pause, “And what are maybe not sure if you like or dislike?” “Ella, this girl at daycare. I like that she’s there and is also unregressed, but she’s really hard to figure out, too. That sometimes I like being treated like a typical little … I mean, I like when Mom or Amanda feed me a bottle, and sometimes when I use my pacifier; I just don’t like that I like those things, sometimes, I think. And I guess, just being here. I’m not sure if I like it here or not, to be honest. I like my people, and I like not having to deal with a lot of stuff I had to deal with back there, but at the same time I miss certain things … and feel that I walked away from things I shouldn’t have. Mary gave it a few beats. “That gives us an awful lot to talk about.” Jamie laughed for the first time all day. “Ya think?”

Chapter 22 Dearest Jamie, I’ve tried to think of all the reasons you haven’t written me in so long, and the reason I want to accept as the truth is every moment brings you so much happiness your hand cannot hold a pen. I want to believe that. We’re so far apart. I want to believe so many things, at least as many as I fear. I did receive the report from Marsha’s home visit, and what relief it was to see she found you safe and loved and loving in turn. I needed to know that. Becky and Amanda seem to understand you, or at least be coming to it, no easy feat as I know; every day I still think on you. I don’t think you realize the light of soft joy you bring to those you let in. It’s not the ecstatic kind, which never lasts, but deeper hue of fulfillment in having gained the trust of someone worth counting as a friend, and more. I’ve kept my promise. I take the names from where I keep them and read them. It’s like a prayer, I suppose. I’m not sure who I’m praying for when I read those names. Them; you; me; this whole world and its broken heart. I say your name, too. Are you using my gifts? Have you given your bear a name yet? A token of my love for you; it doesn’t seem much now, but I hope it gives you some comfort. I know it is not over, the time of change in your life when you are trying so hard to come to terms with a new world and yourself in it, nor is it likely to end for some time more. I’m loathe to interrupt what progress you’ve made and how I may set it back seeing you or even writing this letter. But much longer without you, and name me for a liar, Jamie, and know me for one, too. So I am keeping my other promise and planning to visit as soon as I can. I know not when yet. Do you have a soft word for me? Give me leave to hope for that at least. Your forever friend, Cheryl Cheryl hesitated before dropping the letter in the outbox. Was it right of her to tell him anything but good things? What right did she have to spoil whatever happiness he managed to carve out right now by making him worry about her? Guilt trip into writing more often? She decided to sleep on it. ______________________________________________________________________________ Jamie still had an afternoon to get through after his nap. It felt good to wake up in a room with a closed door. Waking up on the floor surrounded reminded him too much of college nights we couldn’t remember. If could do them over, at least now he’d take a nap mat. Yesterday’s attempt at waiting hadn’t gone so well, and today would be an even longer one, so Jamie did his business and waited for someone to come get him. April, he hoped. Not to misunderstand their relation, though. It was transactional, at least so far. A teacher and favorite student or nurse and favorite patient; that both parties take some satisfaction from the relationship doesn’t change what it is. In time maybe, but for now, she had something she was obligated to give him, and he was happy to take his due. April came by not long after, but longer than if he had slept in the classroom. A tradeoff, that. “Let’s get you squared away. It’s pretty outside. Do you want to go back out?” She lifted him out and set him on the floor on a change mat she’d brought with her. “Yeah, I guess.” “You don’t sound so enthusiastic.” “I never was good at taking naps. I’ve always woken up from them feeling groggy and headachy. Never stopped me from taking them anyway; kind of a one-sided relationship.” “What’s the cure?” April made quick work of it, much quicker than Amanda. Speed wasn’t everything. “Getting up anyway.” Jamie stood up with April’s help and checked his pocket for is headphones and his player. He didn’t want to put them back in yet; he needed to wake up first, and sunshine does that best. “I promised Jordan I’d stay in some this afternoon so she could go out. Just holler if you need me.” Jamie walked through the gym area and into the classroom area, getting a few sideways glances. He walked through the door not much caring to even wonder why this time. He seemed to collect sideways glances everywhere. The day had cooled a bit, and Jamie smelled rain. He missed thunderstorms, real ones, where entire hemispheres for night sky light up like a camera flash and showed the world frozen for a moment before the darkness closed back in, and the thunder could rise like old man sky was clearing his throat, slow and building, or else crack hardwood bent until it exploded in splinters. He used to sit on the porch and watch those storms, even when wind drove the rain into him; even when the sky turned green; even after the sirens sounded. Let the rain pelt him and the lighting blind him and thunder snap the sky right above him. It took enough of his senses he felt quiet, as if the earth itself was telling him it wasn’t his turn to speak. And when it finally did stop, after minutes or hours, the air was clean and dry; the world dripped in stunned silence; and the birds came back out with the sun, singing to let each other know they were okay. But it wouldn’t that kind of storm, and it wouldn’t rain for hours yet. Littles were more sedate after their nap, that backwards chemical reaction in which the more tired they got the more wild they get having exhausted itself. They played and ran after one another up the swing set and sat in the sand box or on the dirt drawing pictures in the dust. Bobby and now Billy glared at him when they saw him. “You know eventually he’s just gonna get tired and take a swing at you, right?” Jamie glared back at them and replied, “Jordan, right?” “No, Ella.” Expecting to find a new big, Jamie turned and found that little who had been sitting against the wall reading when he went in. She was leaning against the building again with her legs crossed, letting the sun hit her. “I saw you earlier but not yesterday.” “I had a doctor appointment. Wanna sit with me?” He sat down and put out his hand. “I’m …” “Jamie. I know.” “What? Do I have a reputation already?” “You don’t exactly blend.” She rethought that. “Well, actually you did a little bit this morning.” Jamie wasn’t sure what she meant. “When you were playing with your blocks and had your pacifier in.” He laughed. “I don’t see any other little building cathedrals.” “Is that you were going for? It looked like a castle to me, but now that you say it … still looked too protestant to be a cathedral, thought.” It was a good joke, but Jamie watched her eyes instead of laughing. “You’re not …” “I’m not. Neither are you. I couldn’t tell this morning until you went outside on your own and did your mini-marathon. Carrie confirmed it.” Jamie shook his head in irritated disbelief. “Why wouldn’t Diane say anything? Is this supposed to be some fun surprise?” “She has reasons.” Jamie didn’t have much to say now that he had someone to say it to. It felt so good just to have the option. “What was your deal earlier? You looked ready to pop.” Jamie sighed, embarrassed. The question seemed too personal for someone he’d just met, but keeping to conversation going was more important. “I don’t even know. I just … yesterday was a lot of newness that I didn’t like and this place gets on my nerves. Jean’s demeanor just took it to the next level. Stupid of me.” “You’re not the first person to have a temper tantrum here.” “Calling it that doesn’t make me feel better about it.” “Person having a lot of emotions they don’t understand and don’t know how to deal with and lashing out. I think that’s its name. Happens to bigs, too, even if they don’t call it that.” “Still. How long have you been coming here?” “I guess about three years. Since maybe a year after I got to Itali.” “Do you like it?” “I don’t hate it. You get used to parts of it.” “You don’t get bored? Not having anyone to talk to?” “You can talk to them.” “You know what I mean.” “Yeah, but you can talk to them. And the bigs. Jean is still figuring it out, but she’ll get there.” “She give you a hard time, too?” “No. She’s not allowed.” “To give you a hard time?” “To … be in charge of me, I guess. Only Carrie is. The other bigs don’t talk to me without her permission.” “How’s that work? And why?” “I needed that, at first. I couldn’t handle more than one big.” Jamie looked over at her again, wondering what that meant, and why she wouldn’t be able to. “Jean hasn’t been here that long.” “Now it’s just habit. It works, so I don’t mess with it. Plus being answerable to only one person is better than being answerable to four.” “So they’re not allowed to even talk to you?” “They are. They just don’t unless I talk to them first. Like I said, that was how I needed it to be at first. Now it’s just the way things are, and I’m okay with it.” Fair enough, Jamie thought. “What are you reading?” She held up the book; The Mouse and the Motorcycle. “I remember that,” Jamie smiled. “They carry stuff from home here. Some of it’s imported and some they now make here. I think I read this in fifth grade; I wanted a mouse so bad.” “Should’ve come to my house. We had plenty … I wanted a cat.” Ella laughed at that. “Was your name always Ella?” “No; my full name is Ellafaire. I guess yours is James.” “I think so; I’ve only been called it once after I told a woman I hoped she dried up and shriveled.” Ella laughed much harder. “Why would you say that?” Jamie grinned, wanting to at least look chagrinned but actually still quite proud. “It was my first time out of the house, and this complete stranger got right in my face and started babbly baby talk at me and then pinched my cheek. Not sure what else I called her, but Mom wasn’t happy with me.” “You call your big ‘Mom’?” “Not then, actually, but for about a week now. I’ve been here, I’m not sure. I guess I’ve been awake for almost four months. Why, you don’t call yours that?” With her lips pressed together and her eyes narrow, she shook her head in a tight rectangle. “Uh-uh.” The way she said it made Jamie uncomfortable; it sent up a flair he recognized. “So who is it you live with?” “Stacy. Just the two of us.” “I haven’t met a little with a dad, that I know of.” “Think about it for a sec.” Jamie did. “Women who don’t have partners …” “Yep. Agencies are reluctant to place littles with families where they’ll be competing for attention or where an actual toddler could drag them around like a doll. Lots of families have littles, too, but not until their own kids are older. Single men, well, that’s like home. Don’t find many single dads with their own kids or littles. Who do you live with?” “Mom, uh, Becky, and my sister Amanda.” “You call her your ‘sister,’ too, not your Big sister?” “Uh, that’s kinda recent, too.” Jamie felt self-conscious, like he was being judged by another unregressed little like he was afraid he would be. “Is that … wrong?” Her face brightened in a friendly smile. She hadn’t smiled much; it was a pretty smile. “No, not at all. It’s very sweet. You must really like them.” “Hmmm,” Jamie said, “I really do. Took a while with Becky … I mean, with Mom. Can I ask, um, why you don’t call your big that?” “Term has a history with me.” “But you do get along with Stacy?” “Oh yeah, very much.” They sat in silence for a minute. “Do you want to go take a walk?” “Sure.” They walked to the back of the field side by side. “What now? Is he jealous that I’m with you or something?” Jamie was referring to Bobby, who looked like he was getting worked up over something. “Take it as a compliment. He doesn’t do that when a very regressed little shows up. Only ones around his level or higher.” “Did he pick on you?” “No. I’m not sure, but I think it was made clear to him and Billy and their big they wouldn’t be welcome back if they did. I don’t know why that would get through to them, even their mom. She’s one of those who can’t believe her littles aren’t angels, and then she figures it out and flips her shit, and then she goes back to thinking they’re perfect.” “Known my share of those back in the world.” “What will you do?” “When?” “When he tries to fight you?” “Walk away, or else just try to let him wear himself out, or restrain him until a big comes over?” “Why not fight back?” “To prove what? That I can outfight someone with the motor skills of a pre-schooler?” “To make him not do it again. He’ll probably wait until he can convince Billy to help him. Billy is more of a whiner than a troublemaker. Bobby drags him into things.” “Are they real brothers?” “No, they both just had parents who were the same kind of ugly.” Jamie belly laughed at that, which got Ella laughing too. “But seriously, no idea. Guess they are now.” “You want me to fight back?” “Of course not. I was just wondering. Can we sit for a while?” “Sure.” They sat down on the crest of the rise. She looked winded. “Thanks. I gotta go soon.” “What does Stacy do?” “Business something. I never much cared to know the details. I have PT a couple times a week; she leaves work early.” “PT?” “Yeah,” she said quickly. “So what about Amanda?” Jamie smiled and said, “Best sister ever. Like I told my social worker, I’d be lost without her. She’s in college. She picks me up every other day. Guess the one good thing about this place is it’ll make time with her and Mom more special.” “ELLAFAIRE?!? Stacy is here!” They turned and saw Carried waving from the door. “That’s my ride.” They got up and walked back. “I’m so glad you’re hear,” Jamie said, shaking his head at his good fortune. “You’re going t have to explain to me how you managed to be the only unregressed little here without losing your mind. I’ve just been, I don’t know, bored and overwhelmed at the same time, and resentful, I guess that I’m even in daycare when I don’t really need to be.” They reached the door. “I understand all that, really.” She glanced toward the door. “Can I give you one piece of advice?” “Sure.” “Be grateful, too. See you tomorrow.”