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MIL Chapter 1 ''Because I asked her to and because I'm not happy about leaving you here by yourself,' Judy told her husband. 'Now tidy up your toys unless you want her to think you're untidy as well as irresponsible.' 'I'm not irresponsible,' replied Tim, sitting on the big rug on the floor of the living room and grudgingly putting Lego pieces into the cardboard box next to him. 'Tim, I haven't got time for this,' said Judy. 'Just do as you're told, please.' Judy brushed her slender, manicured hands over the grey satin of her tight skirt. 'And I want you to behave for Mum,' said Judy. 'OK?' 'I still don't know why I can't go,' said Tim unhappily. 'The other husbands are going.' 'Yes, they are,' said Judy, thinking of the handsome bevy of men who would be at her work function. 'But they're not you. I'm not going through this again. Just do as you're told, and try to behave tonight. I don't want any bad reports. Got it?' 'OK, OK,' said Tim. There was no point arguing with Judy. She held all the cards. Tim tried to ignore the rising feeling of helplessness he experienced whenever he thought about what their marriage had become. 'And if you need the bathroom, make sure you get up and go, OK?' said Judy, now ready to leave. 'You insisted on wearing grownup underwear, so show me you are at least mature enough to stay dry till bedtime. Here's Mum now,' she added as the doorbell rang. Judy approached Tim and squatted to kiss him on the cheek. 'Be good,' Judy said, patting the bottom of Tim's track pants as she stood. 'I'll be back to put you to bed,' she added. Tim was glad of that. At least the secret of their marriage would stay their secret. It was bad enough Mrs Evans thinking he was not a good enough husband for her daughter without her knowing that for the last three months he'd needed to wear a diaper at night. Tim got the last of the Legos into the box and put it out of sight next to the sofa as he heard Judy opening the door and talking to her mother. 'Thanks again, Mum,' he heard Judy say as the front door closed. Tim stood up and took a deep breath, preparing for the inevitable. He quickly put his fingers to his crotch, just in case. All dry, he thought, not that he expected to have had an accident. He'd been to the bathroom while Judy was dressing. That was responsible, he thought resentfully. 'Hello, Tim,' said Sarah Evans, looking at Tom without much of a smile. She was tall and well built, like her daughter, and like Judy, a couple of inches taller than Tim. She was wearing tight jeans and a cream knitted top over her generous bust. As usual, Tim felt intimidated by her. Not only was she taller than him, but she was probably stronger and probably a few sizes bigger than Tim in pants and tops. She wasn't chubby, either, despite her wide hips and thick thighs. She still worked out and her body was firm and trim. 'Have you got a kiss for me?' Sarah asked, walking towards Tim and bending slightly to his level. 'Hi Mrs Evans,' said Tim. He'd never called her Sarah. Tim kissed the proffered cheek, tasting the makeup and inhaling Sarah's strong perfume. 'Good boy,' said Sarah. She put down her handbag and sat on the sofa. 'Now, I think we can begin by you telling me about your day,' she said, patting the sofa beside her. Tim sat next to her. She was just as controlling as Judy, he thought angrily. 'Do this, do that.' It wasn't worth resisting. She just got worse. 'Well,' began Tim. 'This morning I did some stuff in the garden with Judy, then I helped her, you know, in the kitchen, then we had lunch, then...' Tim paused. He'd spent most of the afternoon on the floor with the box of Legos. Judy had been sitting at the table in the sun near the window, doing bookwork. Tim had been watching TV, but it was distracting Judy and she'd told him to turn it off. She'd suggested the Legos because she didn't want Tim 'wandering around making a mess'. That was her term for him being out of her sight. They'd always been close, and Tim liked being in her company, but sometimes it felt as though she wanted to keep an eye on him. Fortunately, he'd soon become absorbed in building a house with the Legos, and the afternoon had gone by without him being aware of it. 'Then?' prompted Sarah. Tim resented having to give an account of himself like this, and saying he was playing in the floor with Legos made him sound like a child. 'I was, well, I was doing some construction stuff with, you know, building models,' said Tim, wondering how he could change the topic. When Tim was working, he'd been in the construction industry, and he hoped that his description would satisfy Sarah and they could talk about something else. 'Building models?' asked Sarah. 'What do you mean?' Tim felt embarrassed, but couldn't think of a ready alternative to the truth. 'You know,' he said, 'Legos. They're building models.' Sarah laughed. 'Oh, your Legos,' she said. 'Judy said she'd got you some of those. Did you play with them all afternoon?' Tim felt doubly annoyed, first at Judy for telling Sarah that she'd bought him Legos - why was she even discussing them with her mother, and secondly at Sarah saying he was 'playing'. He was an adult, not a child, and he used the Legos because they were constructive and interesting, not to 'play' with. 'Yes,' said Tim, still trying to think of something else to talk about. 'Well,' said Sarah, 'It will be a while before dinner, and Judy said you'd watched plenty of TV lately. Why don't you get them out and keep playing. I'll let you know when it's time for dinner.' Tim knew that Sarah's suggestion was really a command. Just as with Judy, he felt he didn't have a choice. The only option would lead to an argument, a bad report to Judy, and nothing good coming from it for Tim. 'OK,' said Tim, looking over at the cardboard box he'd carefully put to one side of the sofa. 'Good boy,' said Sarah again. At least he got a bit of praise out of it, thought Tim, even if it weren't the most sincere sort. Unhappily, he dragged the box across the rug and started removing pieces from it. 'What are you going to make, honey?' asked Sarah, who Tim didn't think could really be interested. 'I dunno,' he said, 'A house.' 'OK,' said Sarah. 'You enjoy doing that and I'll get on with my book.' Sarah settled back to read a book she'd brought with her, and Tim, with no choice, began to build a house from the pieces he took from the box. Tim had been working for ten minutes or so when Sarah looked up from her book. 'Judy said you're back in diapers at night, Tim,' she said conversationally. Tim felt the floor fall away, and he blushed furiously. 'I'm not 'back in diapers',' Tim responded angrily. 'Well, since you were younger,' said Sarah, taking off her reading glasses and looking at him. To be continued.