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Comfort's weight hangs thick; Wet and heavy, padding full; Flooded from my heart. Feel the weight increase! Padded comfort, hanging wet; Flows which lift my heart. A pair of haiku, articulating two different versions of the same feelings

Welcome to "Winter Break on Wet Alert" – A Ski Trip with No Emergency Brake A ski holiday in St. Anton with the family's best friends should be a dream come true. Especially when you are 17, finally allowed to drink wine with the adults, and the girl you've been in love with since kindergarten is sleeping in the loft right next to you. It is the recipe for the perfect "coming-of-age" romance. But for Liam, it is the recipe for a social nightmare. He is fighting a secret that doesn't fit into the cool after-ski lifestyle: A body that fails him, and a bladder that lives a life of its own at night. What starts as a practical challenge involving discreet night diapers hidden in a gym bag, quickly spirals into an avalanche of control, lies, and humiliating revelations as the facade begins to crack. This is more than a story about an accident, I try to make it a "slow-burn" psychological thriller about power, helplessness, and the desperate struggle to maintain one's dignity while slowly being wrapped in cotton wool – and plastic. Meet the Families: Liam (17): The protagonist of the story. He is a typical teenager attempting to navigate the awkwardness of a family vacation while trying to appear independent and cool. He often hides inside his hoodie or behind a beanie and is currently balancing the tension of sharing a cabin with Mathilde, whom he has known since childhood and has secretly had a crush on since he was twelve. Sophie (17): The childhood friend Liam has secretly been in love with since he was twelve. She has grown from a playmate into a stunning young woman with messy blonde hair, often seen wearing oversized wool sweaters that make her look effortlessly cool. She shares the open loft space with Liam, sleeping on the mattress just a few feet away. Grace: Liam’s mother. She runs the family—and the vacation packing—with efficiency and a calm, controlled voice that leaves very little room for discussion. She is organized, persistent, and keeps a sharp eye on the logistics of the trip to ensure everything goes according to plan. James: Liam’s father. He is a somewhat conflict-avoidant man who prefers focusing on the skiing conditions or staring into his coffee cup rather than dealing with tension. He generally steps back and leaves the hard decisions and organization to Hanne. Claire: Sophie’s mother. She is practical, cheerful, and deeply involved in the domestic side of the cabin life, often found stirring a pot of stew or knitting in the sofa corner with Hanne. She has a direct, practical manner and treats all the "kids" with equal familiarity. Rob: Sophie’s father and the loud, wine-loving patriarch of the host family. He dominates the room with boisterous laughter and "alpha" energy, often walking around in boxers and a t-shirt in the mornings. He treats Liam with a mix of loud camaraderie and fatherly teasing. The Format: The story is planned as a long serial of approximately 50-60 chapters. Although the plot only spans a single, intense week in Austria, we get up close and personal. Every chapter dives deep into the details, the dialogue, and the small, claustrophobic moments where the balance of power tips. Expect a pace that allows room for both the romantic tension and the creeping horror of losing control over your own life. Sit back, put on a dry diaper (just for safety's sake), and enjoy the ride down the black slope. Prologue is coming up... __________________________________ Prologue: War Council at the Dining Table The sound of a zip being pulled up cut through the silence in the living room like a tear in the fabric. It was a sharp, metallic sound signalling an end, but for Liam, it sounded like the beginning of the end. The large black Nike holdall stood open on the dining table. Surrounding it were piles of wool jumpers, ski socks, and thermal long johns in neat stacks. But it wasn’t the clothes that caught the eye. It was the package lying isolated next to the bag. A square, soft package in dark blue plastic with the words DryNites printed across the front and a picture of a cartoon skater boy who looked far too cool to represent the contents. "We have to be realistic, Liam," said Grace. Her voice was calm, controlled—the voice she used when presenting unpleasant facts that were not up for discussion. She stood at the end of the table with her arms crossed, her gaze resting heavily on the package. "We can’t take the waterproof sheet. It’s out of the question." Liam sat on the chair opposite. He rocked on the back legs, a nervous tic he couldn’t stop. He had his hoodie pulled up around his ears, as if he could hide inside the fabric. "Why not?" he asked, hating how whiny his voice sounded. "That’s what we use at home. It works fine. I put it under the sheet, no one sees it." "At home, you sleep in your owace, taking a step forward. She placed her hand on the blue package. "We’ve been through this for four months now. Four months where the bed has been wet four out of seven days on average. You know the doctor said your body must be 'overloaded' and that you sleep so deeply the signal doesn’t get through. That’s fine. It’s a physiological condition. But we can’t ignore the statistics." She paused, and her gaze softened but became more insistent. "What is the scenario if we don’t take anything? What happens if you fall asleep after a long day of skiing, exhausted, maybe after a glass of wine, and then you wake up at three in the morning and the mattress is soaked? Right next to Sophie? What do you do then? Do you wake her? Do you carry the mattress down through the living room? How do you explain the smell in that small space?" Liam closed his eyes. The image was so clear and terrifying it made him nauseous. He saw Sophie waking up from the heat or the smell. He saw her face. "I’ll wake up," he said stubbornly, but without conviction. "I’ll set an alarm on my phone. Every three hours." "And wake up the whole chalet?" James shook his head. "That won’t work, Liam. Rob wakes up if a mouse farts in the basement. If your alarm goes off three times a night, it’ll be a holiday in hell for everyone." "Therefore," said Grace, sliding the package of DryNites across the tabletop towards him. "This is the only solution. It’s discreet. They’re silent under pyjamas. And they guarantee that the mattress—and your dignity—survives if an accident happens." Liam looked at the package as if it were radioactive. "I can’t wear them, Mum," he whispered. "Not up there. She’s lying right next to me. Imagine if she sees them? They’re... they’re night pants for kids, it’s a fucking diaper!" "It’s protection for young men who have a temporary problem," Grace corrected. "And we’ve practised this. We pack them. Right at the bottom of the bag. You put it on under the duvet when the lights are out. Or in the bathroom, if you can sneak out there. I really want to help you, you know? It requires planning, I know that. But the alternative is Russian roulette with a full bladder." Liam felt a familiar anger bubbling in his stomach. Anger at his own body. It had started in the autumn. First just once after a party. Then again. And suddenly it had become a thing. A secret that required washing machines running at night and strange, clinical conversations with a doctor who just talked about "immature nervous systems" and "deep REM sleep". They had tried fluid restrictions after 6 PM. They had tried voiding schedules. Nothing helped once he was asleep. And now this defective body had to go on holiday with the girl he had been in love with since they were in kindergarten. "I’ll take them," he said quietly, grabbing the package. He squeezed it hard, making the plastic yield. "But I’ll only put them on if I feel it’s absolutely necessary. If I’ve had a lot to drink. Or if I’m really tired." Grace and James exchanged a look. One of those parental looks that communicate volumes of worry in a split second. "Liam," said Grace gently. "The deal is that you wear them every night. We can’t take the chance with someone else’s mattress." "I said I’ll take them!" Liam snapped, standing up so quickly the chair scraped against the floor. "I’m packing them. Right at the bottom. I’ll hide them in a towel so no one can see what they are. Is that not enough?" Grace hesitated. She assessed him. She could see the desperation in his eyes. She knew that if she pushed him any further now, he might refuse to go. "Fine," she said slowly. "You pack them. Well hidden. But then you promise me one thing: If you feel the slightest uncertainty... if you are in the slightest doubt... then you use them. for my sake. For your dad’s sake. We don’t want to be explaining to Rob and Claire why their chalet smells of pee." "I’ve got it under control," Liam lied. He took the package. He walked over to the bag. He lifted the stack of hoodies. He placed the blue package right at the bottom, into the corner. He found a dark towel and wrapped it tightly around it so it looked like a washbag or a pair of shoes. Then he put the wool jumpers on top. The salopettes. The thermal underwear. Layer upon layer of normality burying the shame. He zipped up the bag. The sound was final this time. "There," he said, lifting the bag. It was heavy. Heavier than it should be. "Now we’re ready." James cleared his throat and patted him awkwardly on the shoulder. "It’ll be a good trip, lad. You’ll see, the fresh air will do you good. Maybe the problem will disappear on its own up there." Liam nodded stiffly. He knew better. The problem wouldn’t disappear. It was packed at the bottom of his bag, and it would travel with him all the way to Austria, like a ticking time bomb under the seat. "I’m going to bed," he said. He walked out of the living room without looking back. Grace remained standing by the table, staring at the spot where the bag had stood. "Do you think he’ll wear them when we get there?" asked James quietly. "No," said Grace, turning off the light over the dining table. "Or well, I don’t know... He’s so proud. So I think I’ll have to check every morning while we’re there, and then we just have to hope he soon puts a cork in that night bladder." Chapter 1: The Winter Palace The car's tyres crunched heavily against the packed snow as they rolled the final stretch up the steep driveway. The engine was cut, and a sudden, deafening silence settled over the cabin. It was that particular, muffled tranquillity found only in the Austrian Alps, where the snow swallows every sound. Liam sat in the back seat, leaning his forehead against the cold glass. Outside, the world was bathed in the blue-violet light of twilight. The chalet ahead of them wasn’t just a cabin; it was a massive two-storey log structure with large panoramic windows, where yellow light was already spilling out, landing in soft squares on the snow. The Thompson family had already arrived. Their black Audi was parked next to them, and smoke rose lazily from the chimney. "Here we are, chaps," said his dad, James, tapping the steering wheel with a gloved hand. "St. Anton. The adventure begins." Liam felt a lurch in his stomach. It was a mixture of expectant joy and that underlying, cold knot he had carried around the entire journey. He adjusted his beanie in the rear-view mirror, checked that the stubble on his chin looked right, and took a deep breath. You are here to ski. You are here to have a good time. You are 17 years old. Relax. He opened the car door, and the freezing mountain air hit him in the face like a wet towel. It smelled of pine needles and frost. He stepped out and stretched his legs while the cold nipped at his cheeks. "Liam, are you grabbing your own bag?" shouted his mum, Grace, from the boot. She was already organising the unpacking with the military efficiency she was known for. "And mind your back, it looks heavy." Liam walked round to the boot. His large, black Nike holdall was wedged in behind crates of food supplies. He gripped the handle and hoisted it out. It was heavy. Not just because of the ski boots and thick jumpers, but because of what lay right at the bottom, wrapped in an opaque bag and rolled tightly inside a towel. His secret cargo. His safety net. He swung the bag over his shoulder and straightened his back. As long as the bag was zipped shut, he was just Liam. The door to the chalet opened, and the sound of voices and laughter streamed out into the cold. "Is that the lost travellers?" Sophie stood in the doorway. Liam's heart skipped a beat, as it always did when he saw her. She had grown even more beautiful since the summer holidays. She was wearing a large, white wool jumper that made her look small and cosy, paired with tight black leggings. Her blonde hair was gathered in a messy bun, and she held a wine glass in her hand—probably just elderflower cordial, but the way she held it made it look elegant. "Hey Sophie," Liam said, flashing his best, crooked smile as he walked up the steps to the veranda. He tried to walk casually, even though the strap dug into his shoulder. "We just took the scenic route. You have to enjoy the view, right?" Sophie rolled her eyes but smiled broadly. "Classic James tactics. Come inside, it’s freezing." She stepped aside, and Liam walked into the warmth. The chalet smelled of woodsmoke and red wine sauce. The adults were already in full swing, hugging and exchanging stories about the drive in the hallway. It was chaos in a good way. Boots were kicked off, coats hung up. Liam and Sophie stood a little on the outskirts of the commotion. "So," Sophie said, sizing him up. Her gaze was direct, curious. "Are you ready to be left in the dust tomorrow? I’ve heard the pistes are absolutely perfect this year." "Left in the dust?" Liam laughed huskily. "You’ll be lucky if you see anything other than the spray from my skis when I fly past you." "We’ll see," she said, nudging his shoulder lightly. The touch burned through his jacket. "But seriously, it’s going to be brilliant. The oldies have taken the rooms on the ground floor, so we have the entire top floor to ourselves. Or, well, the loft." "The loft?" Liam repeated. "Yeah, come on. I’ll show you." She turned and started walking up the steep wooden staircase leading to the upper floor. Liam followed, bag still over his shoulder. He didn't dare put it down yet. Not until he knew where he was sleeping. Not until he had secured the territory. The loft had a low ceiling and was incredibly cosy. Sloping walls of light timber, a small round window in the gable looking out over the valley, and thick rugs on the floor. But what caught Liam's attention were the sleeping arrangements. There were two wide mattresses on the floor. They lay at opposite ends of the room, separated by a small communal area with a low sofa and a table, but there were no doors. No walls. It was one large room. "I’ve taken the one by the window," Sophie said, hopping onto one of the mattresses, which was already made up with a duvet and pillows. Her bag stood open next to it, with clothes strewn about a bit. "So you can have the den over there." She pointed towards the mattress at the opposite end, nestled under the lowest part of the sloping roof. It was a cosy nook, but it also felt... exposed. "Fine," said Liam. He walked over to his mattress and set the bag down. He did it carefully, terrified that something might clink or rattle, even though there were only soft parcels inside. "It looks... cosy." "Doesn't it?" Sophie leaned back on her elbows and looked at him. "No parents. No big sisters. Just us." Liam nodded and started taking off his jacket. He could feel sweat trickling down his back. The heat from the wood-burning stove downstairs was rising to the ceiling. "Are you planning on standing there sweating in full gear, or are you going to unpack?" she asked teasingly. Liam hesitated. He looked at his bag. The zip was closed. He knew exactly where the package was. At the bottom. Under three hoodies and his thermal long johns. If he opened the bag now, while she lay there watching, would she be able to see it? No, it was wrapped up. But just the thought of moving things around while she observed him made his stomach turn. On the other hand, it would seem odd if he didn't unpack. They were staying here for a week. "I’ll unpack later," he said, sitting on the edge of the mattress. "Right now, I just need to sit down. The drive was long." "Fair enough." Sophie stood up and walked over to the small window. "Come and have a look. You can see the lights from the après-ski bars over there." Liam stood up and walked over to her. They stood side by side, looking out into the darkness where the floodlit pistes glowed like golden scars on the mountainside. He could smell her perfume—vanilla and something fresh. She stood close to him. So close that their arms almost touched. "It’s going to be a good week, Liam," she said softly, without looking at him. "Yeah," he replied, daring to relax his shoulders a tiny bit for the first time. "It really is." From downstairs came the sound of laughter and clinking glasses. His mother’s voice cut through. "Liam! Sophie! There’s hot chocolate and scones if you’re hungry!" Sophie sighed theatrically but smiled. "Duty calls. Shall we go down and be social before they think we’re up to no good?" Liam smiled back. For a moment, everything felt normal. He was just a guy on a ski holiday with a cute girl. The bag lay on the bed behind him, zipped and safe. "After you," he said. Chapter 2: Adults in the Snow The smell of slow-cooked stew had spread throughout the chalet, mingling with the dry heat from the wood-burning stove. It was a heavy, spiced scent of beef, red wine, and juniper berries that Sophie’s mum, Claire, had left simmering in a pot for most of the afternoon before they arrived. Liam sat at the end of the long plank table. He had been given the seat next to Sophie. On the other side sat his dad, James, who was already flushed in the cheeks after two glasses of Amarone and the heat from the fire. "Cheers to the chalet!" James exclaimed, raising his glass. "And cheers to getting the roof box on without scratching the paintwork this year!" A cheerful laugh went around the table. Liam grabbed his own glass. There was red wine in it. It was one of those unspoken transitions; on previous holidays, he and Sophie had been given Coke while the adults drank wine. This year, they had just been poured a glass without question. A silent rite of passage. He was one of them now. He clinked glasses with Sophie. The glass made a clear, singing sound. "Cheers," she said, smiling over the rim of her glass. Her eyes caught the light from the candles on the table. "Do you think you can handle it? Amarone is heavy fuel for tomorrow." "I run better on premium unleaded," Liam replied cheekily and took a sip. The wine was heavy, warm, and slightly astringent in his mouth. He didn't actually like red wine all that much, but he loved the feeling of sitting here, glass in hand, being part of this. He took another sip, a slightly larger one this time. In the back of his mind, right at the back of his lizard brain, a small red warning light blinked. Fluid. Alcohol. Bedtime. He knew the rules. He knew he should be drinking water, and preferably stop drinking altogether now; it was past eight o'clock. But he couldn't sit here sipping tap water while Sophie teased him and the adults told tall tales. It would be checking out. It would be being a child. "Liam, pass the potatoes, would you?" asked Grace. Liam shook the thoughts away and passed the dish. His mum sat opposite him. She ate calmly, listening to Claire’s story about a colleague who had had a breakdown from stress, nodding sympathetically. She seemed completely normal. Not like a guard, not like an "inspector". Just a mum on holiday. But then he caught her eye as she took the dish. It was fleeting. She looked at his wine glass, then at him, and then back at her plate. She said nothing. She didn't raise an eyebrow. But Liam heard it anyway. Is that wise, Liam? He felt an urge to put the glass down, but defiance flared up in him. He wouldn't be controlled by her gaze. He wouldn't be the patient at this table. He demonstratively took a large bite of the meat and smiled at Sophie. "So, Sophie," said Rob, Sophie’s dad, leaning back. "Have you told Liam about your big plan?" Sophie blushed slightly—a becoming colour on her pale cheeks. "Dad, stop it." "What plan?" asked Liam curiously. "She wants to do a season next year," Rob rumbled proudly. "Austria. The whole winter. She’s been saving up for two years." Liam looked at her with new respect. "Seriously? That’s... actually pretty cool." "It’s just an idea," she said quickly, but he could see the glint in her eyes. "I thought... well, if I don’t know what I want to do after sixth form anyway, I might as well ski and make some money doing it." "Sounds like the dream," said Liam. And he meant it. But at the same time, a cold, heavy realisation hit him right in the solar plexus. A whole season in Austria? Sleeping in dorms, sharing rooms with strangers, drinking beer every night, no privacy? For Sophie, it was a dream. For him, it would be a logistical hell. An impossibility. He suddenly felt like a fraud. He sat here looking like someone who could go with her. Someone who fit into that dream. But beneath the surface, and at the bottom of that Nike bag up in the loft, reality lay waiting. "You could come too," Sophie said suddenly, nudging him under the table with her knee. "You’re good enough on skis. We could be instructor buddies." Liam laughed, but the laughter didn't quite reach his eyes. "Yeah. Yeah, definitely. That would be sick." "It just requires being able to get up early," Grace interjected. Her voice was mild, conversational. "And being able to fend for yourself. It’s hard work, you know. No 'room service' from Mum." It was an innocent comment to everyone else. A joke about teenagers who can't do laundry. But to Liam, it was a precise, surgical reminder. You can't fend for yourself. You need me. The mood shifted as the plates were cleared, and the board game Ludo was brought out. It was a tradition. Liam and Sophie against the dads. The mums preferred to sit on the sofa with a cup of tea (and more wine) and talk. The game was intense. Liam was good at the tactical side. He and Sophie had a natural rhythm; they understood each other without words, trading glances and blocking their fathers with delightful malice. "You’re evil, Liam!" shouted James as Liam knocked his piece home just before the finish line. "It’s called strategy, old man," Liam replied, giving Sophie a high-five. Her hand was warm and soft against his. It was nearing half-past eleven when the game finished (with a crushing victory for the youth). Fatigue began to set in within the chalet. The fire in the stove had burned down to embers. "Right, I give up," said Rob, stretching until his joints cracked. "I need to be fresh for the slopes. Night, kids. Night, darling." "Night," the group mumbled in chorus. There was that break-up atmosphere where people look for their phones and glasses need to go in the dishwasher. Liam stood up. The heat and the wine made him a little dizzy. Reality returned like a cold breath. Up in the loft, the bag still stood unopened. He hadn't set out his "safety net". He hadn't found a place to change. And Sophie was going up there. Right now. "I think I’ll head up too," said Sophie, rubbing her eyes. She looked sleepy and soft. "Are you brushing your teeth first, Liam, or shall I grab the bathroom?" Liam looked at his watch, then at the bathroom door, and then at his mum, who was busy blowing out the candles. If he let Sophie go to the bathroom first, he would be alone in the loft for maybe ten minutes. Ten minutes to open the bag, find the package, and... do what? Hide it under the pillow? Put it on? No, not up there. But if he took the bathroom first, he would have to take his things out there. What if she saw? "You just take it," he said quickly. "I just need to... I just need to find my charger in my bag first." "Cool. See you up there." She smiled, grabbed her washbag, and disappeared into the bathroom, humming. Liam was left standing in the living room. His mum blew out the last candle and turned to him. In the semi-darkness, her face was hard to read. "Liam," she said quietly. The others had gone into their rooms. They were alone. "You drank quite a lot at dinner." "It was two glasses, Mum. Relax." "And Coke," she added. "I’m just saying. You know what that means for the night. Have you got it under control? Do you want me to come up and help you get the 'bed ready' once Sophie is asleep?" The offer hung in the air. It was a lifebuoy, but it was made of lead. If he said yes, he accepted that she would creep around up there in the dark while he lay there like a child. If he said no, he was on his own with a bladder full of liquid and a bag full of secrets. "I’ll do it myself," he replied. "Okay, fair enough," said his mum, stroking his arm. "Sleep tight." Chapter 3: Under the Duvet Liam lay completely still. His eyes had adjusted to the darkness, but it didn't help much. The loft was a black box, broken only by the faint blue glow of the moon filtering through the small round window, tracing a square on the floor between the two mattresses. Three metres away lay Sophie. Her breathing had become heavy and regular. A faint, rhythmic sound that should have been soothing, but to Liam, it sounded like the countdown on a bomb. Every time she inhaled, he froze. Every time she exhaled, he relaxed a millimetre. He took a deep breath through his nose and gently lifted the duvet a fraction with his left hand to create a small tent. The air inside was warm and heavy with his own body heat. He grabbed the DryNites diaper that lay next to his pillow. The material felt foreign against his fingers. It was dry, papery, and thick. A sharp contrast to the soft cotton sheet. He squeezed it. It made a sound. Crr-rritch. The sound wave cut through the silence like a whip crack. Liam stiffened, his heart hammering against his ribs. He stared over at Sophie’s mattress. She stirred. An arm slid out from under her duvet, and she mumbled something unintelligible before turning onto her side. Facing him. Liam held his breath until his lungs burned. She slept on. Okay. Slowly. Ultra-slowly. He pushed the diaper down along his body, under the duvet, until it reached his hips. Now came the hardest part. The logistics. He was wearing jeans. Tight, black jeans. And because the diaper was a pull-up—a pair of "pyjama pants"—he had to have everything off from the waist down to put them on. He couldn't just pull his trousers down to his ankles; he needed his feet free. He bent his legs up under him so his knees pointed towards the ceiling and lifted the duvet. He grabbed the waistband of his jeans. The button was easy enough. The zip was the problem. He gripped the small metal tab of the zip with two fingers and began to pull it down, millimetre by millimetre. Zzz... Pause. Zzz... Pause. It felt like it took an hour. When the zip was finally down, he started wiggling his hips from side to side to shimmy the trousers down over his backside. The friction between the denim and the mattress made a dragging, whispering sound. He got the trousers down to his knees. Then to his ankles. Now he lay tangled in a knot of duvet, jeans, and his own legs. He needed to get his feet out of the trouser legs. He kicked gently with his right foot. His heel caught on the hem. He kicked again, a little harder. His foot broke free and hit the guard rail with a dull thud. "Mmm...?" The sound came from Sophie. Liam froze in an absurd position: One foot in the air, the other still trapped in his trousers, half-naked under the duvet, bathed in sweat. "Liam?" Her voice was thick with sleep, husky. "Yeah?" he whispered back. His voice cracked. "Are you okay? You’re making noise..." "Sorry," he whispered quickly. "I... I just turned over. Hit my foot. Go back to sleep." There was silence for five seconds. Five eternities. "Okay... night..." she mumbled, pulling the duvet up around her ears again. Liam lay completely still for two minutes while sweat beaded on his forehead and ran down into his eyes. He was so close to being exposed. If she turned on the light now... if she sat up to see what he was doing... He waited until her breathing became deep again. Then he finished the manoeuvre. He freed his left foot. He pushed the jeans all the way down to the foot of the bed with his toes. Then he pulled off his boxers. Now he lay naked under the duvet. Vulnerable. The warm air suddenly felt cold. He fumbled in the dark for the diaper. He found it. He opened it up, stuck his feet through the leg holes. And then he pulled up. The sensation was the worst part. The moment the soft, padded material slid up over his thighs and enclosed his groin. It was the feeling of defeat. It was the feeling of stepping out of the role of a 17-year-old guy and into the role of... something else. He pulled it all the way up over his hips. The elastic sides tightened around his waist. It sat high, much higher than his boxers. The thick, absorbent core pressed against his crotch and filled the space between his legs. It felt enormous. As if he had a cushion between his legs. He lay down again and stretched out his legs. Crinkle. Crunch. The sound came from him. From the diaper. Every time he moved his thighs against each other, the plastic outer layer made a faint, rustling sound. He lay stiff as a board. He was wearing the "armour" now. He was safe. If he wet himself in his sleep, the bed would remain dry. But the price was that he now lay next to the girl he was in love with, wearing a diaper. He rummaged around at the foot of the bed with his toes until he got hold of his boxers. He pulled them up over the diaper along with his pyjama bottoms and checked his phone before sliding it back under his pillow. He left the jeans in a pile at the bottom of the bed. He closed his eyes. Exhaustion was threatening to overpower him, but the awareness of the thick padding between his legs kept him awake. He was safe. But he wasn't free. He turned carefully onto his side, facing away from Sophie, and pulled the duvet all the way up over his ears to muffle the sound of crinkling plastic. Outside, the snow was still falling. Inside, Liam fell asleep to the sound of his own breathing and the feeling of being wrapped in secrets.

Chapter 1: Coming home After graduating and starting my career, I found myself living in a tiny room in downtown Manhattan. At first, I had a steady job, working as a data analyst at a financial services company. Unfortunately, my company was bought out, and since they already had people doing the same thing, I was laid off. I suddenly was twenty-four, with no job, and no prospects for a new one. As it was, my job barely covered expenses, and it was impossible to live in New York without one. I either had to return home or hope for a break. Returning home was clearly the safest option, but it meant going back to my mom, and living under her rules. It had been six years since I left Sacramento, right after graduating from high school. I deliberately chose Dartmouth because it was as far away from Sacramento as possible. Because it was so remote, my mom couldn’t just drop by unexpectedly, which gave me the independence I’d always wanted. If I returned, she would be in control. I’d have to live by her rules, with her dictating what I could and couldn’t do. Despite what movies might suggest, my life in New York was far from glamorous. I rented a cramped room that had only the bare essentials: a bed, a small counter, and a television mounted high in the corner. The sole window was positioned so high on the wall that it barely let in any natural light or fresh air. That was the only place I could afford in Manhattan, and my mother insisted that I live there. As a result, I ended up in what was essentially a boarding house. Although it wasn’t much, there were a few comforts: meals were provided, and the landlord was always close by in case I needed help. While New York can be a wonderful city, my daily life was monotonous. I spent 10 to 12 hours working in a windowless cubicle, only to return to another windowless room for the rest of the day. Weekends were worse; I couldn’t afford to go out, so I stayed in my room. The routine was unbearable, and I needed a change. I decided to leave New York, hoping that returning home might be an improvement. Maybe my mom wouldn’t be so bad, now that she had a granddaughter. Hopefully, she’d let me live my own life and grant me some independence. I called home to let them know. My mom picked up the phone, which she always did. I only talked with my dad for greetings and simple updates; any serious discussion was always with my mom. With a little bit of trepidation, I explained, “Mom, my company was bought out, and they laid me off.” Her response was sympathetic, but I could tell she was relieved. “Oh, Reggie. That’s too bad. What are you going to do?” She sounded eager, and I confirmed her hopes: “I'm heading back home. There is nothing for me here. I'll look for a new job and leave you in peace. Ideally, it won't take more than one or two months.” “Oh honey, don’t worry about that. I’m glad that my baby is coming home, and you need some of your mommy’s love right now. You can stay here as long as you need.” Her words made me wince, but I knew better than to complain about it. Instead, I kept my response simple and direct. "I'll fly home Wednesday," “Honey, I can’t get to New York that quickly. You’ll have to wait until next week.” I protested, “Why do you need to fly to New York? I’m an adult. I don’t need my mom to fly with me.” She wouldn’t budge. “Honey, I can’t let you do that. It’s dangerous, and I don’t want you to get lost.” My mom still thought I was five years old, but that’s because my body thinks it’s eight. I was born with a growth-defect, so I only grew half as fast as everybody else, and then it stopped when I was sixteen. I’m only 4’5”; I weigh just 70 pounds, and I skipped through puberty. Biologically, I’m a Ken Doll, with no body hair, and skin as smooth as a baby. People see me as a child, even when they know my age. My mom was adamant, and I was determined to reclaim a sense of dignity. I wanted her to see that, despite my appearance, I wasn’t a helpless child. I was an adult, and fully capable of handling myself. I let out a frustrated sigh, and huffed. “Mom! I’ll be fine. I’m not going to get lost. It’s only one connection, and that’s in Denver. It’s in the same concourse, so I just have to walk down a few gates.” Using that tone with my mom was never a good idea. If I did that at home, I’d end up in the corner for twenty minutes, only to be forced to apologize when she let me out of timeout. However, I was 3,000 miles away, so she couldn’t put me in time out. She still didn’t let it slide. She scolded me, “Don’t use that tone with me! I’m sorry, but Denver is a big airport. It’s too big for somebody like you. And just how do you plan to get to the airport in the first place?” I responded, trying to keep my frustration in check, “I’m taking the PATH to Newark. It’s easy. Don’t worry about it.” But she was still uneasy. “I don’t like that, honey. It’s just too dangerous for somebody like you.” “I’ll be fine, mom!” I insisted, but my frustration was starting to show. That was never good, especially when dealing with my mom. She wasn’t having it. “Don’t you raise your voice to me, young man!” I knew better than to keep pushing. “I’m sorry.” It was always best to apologize to my mom. If I tried to argue, she would only dig her heels in more. My mom’s tone softened just a little after my apology. “That’s better. But what if you have an accident?” Somehow, my mom always managed to bring up the one thing that made me feel even worse. For reasons no one, not even the doctors, can fully explain, my bladder sometimes releases automatically when I’m under emotional stress or feel threatened. It is as if my body goes into fight-or-flight mode, and my bladder responds on its own. This meant that, in addition to looking like a child, I still peed my pants. Most days, I managed to keep it under control as long as I stayed calm. But when I got nervous, I took precautions and wore Pull-ups; not even the ones made for older kids, but the actual toddler Pull-ups. They were cheaper, and fit me better. I hated it when my mom brought it up, turning my not-so-secret shame into the center of our conversations. “Mom, I won’t have an accident!” I tried to mask my embarrassment with a touch of defiance, and it was hard not to let my frustration show. Mom snapped, “Do not use that tone with me! Don’t you remember what happened last time?” I sighed, and tried to calm myself. “Mom, that wasn’t my fault. There was a lot of turbulence, and I couldn’t leave my seat.” “Yes, but you stayed in the same clothes until you got home.” I let out an exasperated cry. “Mom! I’m not a baby. I’m twenty-four years old! Can you please stop treating me like I’m a kid?” Mom quickly retorted, “Listen here, Reginald.” She only used my proper name when she was really mad. Her voice was sharp and unwavering, leaving no room for argument. “For the last time, do not use that tone with me! I’ll stop treating you like a child when you stop acting like one.” She paused for emphasis, making sure her words landed. “You know full well that you are too small to travel alone. You may be an adult, but the world will never see you that way. Maybe, if you were more like Alex, and not so tiny, I could trust you to travel by yourself. But you’re not! I’m afraid that you’ll just have to wait until I can come to get you. I can help you pack up; make sure you don’t forget anything, and we can fly home together.” I protested, “Mom, I don’t have that much stuff. I’ll ship a box home, and the rest can go in my carry-on.” Despite my reassurance, Mom was unconvinced. She replied, “I’m afraid that I just don’t trust you with that. You always leave something behind. I’ll fly out next week, so just hang tight. I’ll have Daddy send you some money.” Her insistence made it clear she wasn’t going to budge, no matter how much I argued. I couldn’t help but respond with sarcasm. “Yes Mommy.” However, it was wasted. My mom thought I was being polite.

All characters in the following story are 18+ Once there was a small village that sat on the edge of a forest. In the summer, when summers lasted many years at a time, the forest bloomed bright with green leaves and deep, warm earth. It was alive with the singing of birds, the sets of badgers, and all sorts of other creatures who called it home. At the very centre of the forest was a massive tree, far taller than all the others, which watched over its kin as their guardian. Through the years, the village and the forest lived in harmony with one another. Yet summer cannot not last forever. One morning, when autumn had fallen over the forest and the trees were bare of leaves, a brother and sister came from a nearby town to visit their aunt, who lived in the forest. They hadn’t seen her in many years, and wanted to bring her gifts to greet her with. First they went to the bakers, and each ordered a loaf of bread to take. “Well, if you’re going through the forest, you best be careful!” the baker’s son said as he kneaded dough. “They say there’s a curse on the forest.” “A curse?” the brother said, shaking a little. “Oh yes. A tree stands there, they say it takes travellers who stray from the path, into it’s domain.” The sister chuckled. “A tree! Who’s afraid of a tree?” She looked over to her brother, but found him shivering with fear. “Stop scaring them!” the baker said, coming out with two fresh loaves of bread. “You go and say hello to your auntie now.” With their fresh bread, the brother and sister made their way to the market. “You don’t really believe in all that nonsense, do you?” the sister said. “N-no! Of course not!” said the brother, his legs shivering. “But could we maybe stop to use the bathroom before we head to auntie’s house?” “Ugh, fine.” Soon they arrived at the market, and got talking to farmer Potts as he filled a jar with fresh honey. “Oh yes, it’s true.” he said, “They built a road through the forest many years ago, and travellers used to throw litter, relieve themselves, do all sorts of things on the road. They say you have to be careful to go potty before you travel there, because if the trees catch you doing it there, you’ll never come back out!” The brother was shaking now, terrified of what may lay ahead. The sister cackled. “We’ll be careful.” she said, and took the honey with a smile. Once they had gathered everything they needed it was late afternoon. The sun was already low in the sky, never having fully risen. “Can we please find a potty now?” the brother said as they came up the road. The sister frowned, and looked up into the quickly darkening sky. “If we don’t hurry, we’ll be walking through the forest in the dark. You can hold it, right?” “I-I’m not sure I can!” “Well then just go in the forest.” the sister said. “But the tree--” “Oh don’t be such a child! There’s no tree that can punish you for peeing!” Soon they were outside the forest itself. What few leaves the trees had were brown. The path seemed to disappear into darkness, the trees like a skeletal ribcage that arched over top. “You’re not scared, are you?” Asked the sister, though even she had to admit, she was a little unnerved. “N-no!” insisted the brother. He stood a little straighter, the jar of honey tight in his hands. If there was another way, both would surely have taken it. But this was the only road to Auntie’s house, and she was expecting them. So, they both took deep breaths, and wondered into the forest. The trees seemed to have eyes. The brother glanced from branch to branch, hoping desperately that the path would reach Auntie’s house soon and they could lay down in nice warm beds. But the path went on and on, and soon the trees grew twisty and windy. Crows laughed from far above, and the darkness became greater, until they could barely see the mushroom-strewn path ahead. “How far away are we?” the brother asked soon after. He was fidgeting now, growing desperate to relieve himself with nowhere in sight. “I … I don’t know.” the sister asked, looking around nervously. There was no-one else here, and it all looked the same. “None of this is familiar.” She looked over to her brother, waddling uncomfortably lest he pee his pants. “Just go in the forest! I won’t look.” “I … I can’t. The trees will be angry!” The sister scoffed. “Don’t be such an idiot!” she said. But soon she too felt nature’s calling. The feeling seemed to sneak up on her, she hadn’t been expecting it, and the longer the sensation of a full bladder lingered, the harder it became to concentrate. When at last they came to a large clearing, they hoped to see Auntie’s house. The trees weren’t so thick here, and the moon crept through some of the branches, casting broad, bright beams onto the forest floor. “It has to be here!” the sister quickly did a lap around the clearing, but all that was here was a large tree, far bigger than all the others. Nothing else. Not a bee, nor a butterfly. No life except the ancient tree. “Stop walking like that, you’re making me want to go too!” The sister scowled at the brother, who had his hands pressed between his legs, his knees crossed. “Sorry! I—I really need to pee!” They were clearly lost. They had been walking for an hour or more, and still the cottage was nowhere in sight. The sister turned her back on her brother, and the clearing fell into a deep silence as she tried to concentrate on what to do next. The trees whispered far above them, and the branches groaned. Beneath the sister’s feet, the gentle squelch of leaves and mud, and the occasional mushroom, was all the noise in the entire forest. “I-I can’t hold it much more!” the brother eventually whispered, and the sister turned to berate him, but before she could there was a shrill, shrieking call. The brother stiffened, standing straight and alert. The sister jumped too, almost dropping her loaves of bread. They glanced at one another. The brother squeaked as a terrible warmth flooded him. Slowly, a shadow, blacker even than the darkness of the evening, appeared ahead of them. An elongated body. Terrible, bony horns. A snout that huffed and sniffed in the air. But the sister squinted. She took a tentative step forward. No, that was no phantom or ghost. The figure emerged into the clearing, and the moonlight showed it’s true form—a deer, it’s antlers tall and proud, it’s nose twitching. From behind her, the sister heard a quiet sigh. The deer startled, stood frozen for a moment, and ran. When the sister turned, her brother stood there suddenly relaxed. “See, there are no ghosts!” she said, “Finally over your fear of the forest?” “No,” the brother said, “I just don’t have to go pee any more.” The sister glanced down. A dark patch was slowly spreading through his pants, steaming where his accident met the cold air. As shocked as the sister was, her brother’s accident only reminded her of her own desperation. She rushed past him towards the big tree. A ring of mushrooms encircled it, disappearing around the other side. “What are you doing?” the brother asked nervously as he saw her moving around the side of the great tree. “Don’t leave me!” “I’m not going away! I just need to pee as well. Now turn around and let me go.” The brother awkwardly did just that. He was still going as he turned, emptying the last of his bladder down his pants and onto the leaves below. As embarrassing as it was, it felt good to finally just let go. The warmth was nice too. Auntie will surely understand, he thought, not paying attention to his sister. The sister had moved to a discreet spot beside the massive tree. She had beden growing desperate too. If they continued down the path as they had been, who knows when she was going to get another chance to go? Better here, before she joined her brother and wet her panties. She unzipped her skirt and dropped her leggings. She squatted awkwardly by the ring of mushrooms, obscured from the clearing by a massive tree-root. She ignored the small wet-patch on her panties where she had almost lost control. She wasn’t some silly man, unable to hold herself until she reached civilisation. She was a grown woman dammit, and she would certainly not be showing up to her Aunt’s house having wet herself like a child. Finally able to let go, she sighed. Relief washed through her, fear of the forest vanishing along with her full bladder. She closed her eyes, listening to the patter against the ancient tree. In fact, she was so consumed with the relief she felt, so absorbed by her potty-break, that she failed to notice the ground bubbling beneath her feet. She did not notice when the roots of the tree moved through the earth, carrying with them the same mushrooms she was now relieving herself on. She did not notice the branch reach out around the brother, and did not notice when the brother whispered a dissonant, “Yes.” The brother felt so good, so empty, so … dumb. And what was this all around him? This sweet scented cloud that twinkled in the moonlight? “Why, you’re a very wet little boy, aren’t you?” A voice from nowhere said. “Let’s get these dirty things off and put some more appropriate clothing on, mmmm?” “Yes mama.” the brother found himself saying as his legs went cold. Then, as if he had been wrapped in a warm blanket, a pleasant warmth suddenly enveloped his whole body. His legs felt weak, his waist felt heavy. So heavy that he planted himself onto his freshly padded bottom with a splat, giggling a little to himself at the funny feeling. Soon the sister had finished her business. She pulled up her leggings and her skirt, and stepped back over the massive root. She heard a sigh, and looked down to see the mushrooms twinkling a little. They looked very pretty in the moonlight. “Finished! Now, let’s get going, Auntie’s has to be around here somewh—” “There there.” the tree said in a thousand voices as it rubbed a branch gently against the brother’s back. “It wasn’t your fault you went in your pants. Little boys like you can’t help it. You did warn her after all…” “W-what is this?” the sister whispered. She backed up slowly. Ahead of her was her brother, right where she had left him. He sat there, on the forest floor, playing with the jar of honey, scooping it out of the jar by the handful and stuffing it into his mouth. “Stop this!” the sister shouted, and the brother turned, his eyes red with tears. He sat there, on the forest floor, in nothing but his underwear. No, not his underwear. Around his waist was a thick, poofy diaper. “Get up!” the sister shouted, “Stop it now!” she was shaking, unable to move. “Now, don’t be so mean to your brother.” “Who—” the sister stuttered, unable to get her question out. She hit the tree, unable to back up any further. Suddenly the entire massive trunk shifted behind her, the branches creaking and groaning, the knotted bark slowly peeling open. A thousand green eyes appeared all the way up until they disappeared into the canopy above. A mouth, jagged and uneven, opened up. “I am the guardian of this forest!” the tree said, “Who are you to intrude on my land?” “Tree--? We were just following the path, just wanted to get to our Auntie’s house.” The sister said, though it was becoming difficult to think, difficult to speak. “And yet you defile my woods with your human mess!” “We-we had to pee! It was an accident, I swear!” “No! It may have been an accident for your poor sweet brother here, but not you.” The brother turned, and the girl looked on in horror as his mouth tried to form words, but all that came out was “Bwaaa baa! Bwaa ba bee!” “Awww, he’s trying to say your name! How sweet.” “Stop this!” the sister cried, “Stop it now! We have to get to Auntie’s house! You’re not a baby, you’re my brother!” The tree just laughed. “He cannot understand you now, dear!” But the brother’s expression suddenly dropped. His honeyed hand froze mid-air. He squinted, as if he was concentrating, trying to break free. The sister saw him trying to stand, lifting himself off the ground slightly. “Come on! Please!” the sister plead. The brother’s face suddenly scrunched up. There was a moment of silence in the forest again. The sister’s heart was racing. Then there was a brrraaap. The sister crumpled her nose. A foul smell filled the air. As the brother leant forward, a small round bulge peeked out the back of his diaper. It grew and grew, and the brother grunted a little, until his face relaxed and he sighed. Then, without a care in the world, he sat back down and resumed his playtime. The tree just laughed. “Hahaha, how cute! We’ll have to call your auntie for a change, won’t we? But first…” The branch that was caring for the brother suddenly twitched. It began to move, slowly at first, but quicker and quicker. The sister realised with a start that it was coming for her. “No!” she cried, “Please!” “Ah, ah. No complaining now, you brought this on yourself.” The sister pushed herself off the tree, slowly backing up into the forest. She stepped on a mushroom, and a cloud of dust puffed around her. Coughing, she said, “No! Not me! I don’t need diapers like him! I’m a big girl!” “Now now, don’t lie to mama. Clearly you need some more potty training, otherwise you would have been able to control yourself until you reached your auntie’s house.” The sister looked down at her brother. He was gone, his mind turned to mush. All she could do now was get to her aunts. So, with the branch approaching her, she did the only thing she could. She ran. “Oh, feeling naughty? Well, if you insist on not doing as you’re told, we’ll have to find an extra special punishment for you, won’t we?” The tree’s voice was surprisingly calm, like a mother who had done this a thousand times before. As the sister raced through branches and brambles, she could hear the tree’s branch reach out for her, chasing her though the woods. Soon all light had gone, and she desperately stumbled around in the dark, the path long behind her. She had no idea where she was going, only that she had to run. Behind her, the branch kept coming. Closer. Closer. Then, suddenly, she saw a light ahead. It wasn’t the pale glow of moonlight, but the warm inviting ebb of a hearth. She could smell fresh broth, too. Auntie’s house was right there. Other sensations, smells sweet like honey, a sudden warmth through her body, relief at having found home, all of it washed over her. She burst through the treeline, onto the path she thought she had lost. Auntie’s house was right there, and the sister could see her in the window, cooking their dinner, waiting for her and her brother. The sister smiled, inhaling deeply. She wasn’t sure how long she stood at the edge of the forest for. She wanted to call out, to run to her aunt. Something stopped her. When she finally heard auntie’s door creak open, when the warmth smell of broth wafted over, the sister had already followed the mushroom-laden branch deep into the forest. *** Auntie opened her front door to the sounds of the trees. “Come, I have a present for you.” the tree said. “Oh? I hope this won’t take long. I’m expecting my niece and nephew.” “I’m sure they won’t mind. In fact, I’ll think they’ll like what I’ll show you.” Auntie followed the tree into the heart of the forest, to where it’s clearing was. It was here that the village said lonely travellers disappeared, but that was because they showed no respect. It was a lesson she had learned long ago. And it seemed her niece and nephew had yet to learn that lesson. They sat giggling on the forest floor. Her nephew was playing with a jar of honey, her niece dribbling all over herself, squelching mud happily between her fingers. Two fully grown adults, playing in the mud like a pair of babies. “I found them wondering all alone.” the tree said. “So you thought you’d ‘take care’ of them?” “That’s right! The sister is a very naughty little girl, urinating in my forest,” the tree said sternly. “But her brother is sweet enough.” There was a foul smell in the clearing as well. Auntie sniffed around a little, and soon came to the source of the odour. “Ooof! He certainly doesn’t smell sweet.” The sister wasn’t quite as messy as her brother, but stank all the same. Both of their diapers were full of as much mush as their brains were, now. Auntie sighed. “Come on.” she said to the tree. “Help me get these too home.” “Wonderful! What then?” the tree said. “We’ll get them acquainted with their new lives.” THE END The Potty Tree-by RawrJam.pdf

I feel like this has been done in a story before but if so, I can’t find it. It’s set in the 80s, which isn’t important, except my inspiration was a vintage huggies ads. Full disclosure - as with my other story, this was written with the assistance of a LLM. Chapter 1 In the heart of a bustling suburb in the early 1980s, a spirited six-year-old girl named Lucy lived in a modest, warmly-lit split-level house adorned with the typical decor of the era. With bright eyes and an ever-present smile, Lucy’s imagination turned the family’s backyard into grand stages and faraway lands. She was an only child, the apple of her parents' eyes, and the center of their world. Peter, Lucy’s father, was the quintessential working man of the '80s, spending long hours in an office filled with the hum of typewriters and the scent of fresh ink. Despite his busy schedule, he never missed one of Lucy's impromptu living room performances, cheering the loudest from the comfort of their floral-patterned couch. Anne, Lucy’s mother, had the air of grace and patience about her. As a stay-at-home mom, she dedicated her days to raising Lucy, who she saw as a bright star just waiting for her chance to shine. Anne’s friends were part of a social circle that buzzed with tales and tips about the entertainment industry, and it was through them she learned the power of child modeling as a stepping stone to acting. The path seemed clear, and Anne, with her resourceful nature, started to gather information on local modeling agencies that worked with children. She transformed their dining table into a strategic planning area, with phone numbers, agency pamphlets, and lists of upcoming auditions. Anne and Peter believed in nurturing Lucy's dream. They saw her not just play pretend, but transform with a conviction that seemed well beyond her years. Lucy’s delight in performing was evident; whether she was reciting lines from popular commercials or mimicking her favorite TV characters, her enthusiasm was infectious. As the neighborhood buzzed with the sound of kids playing and the chirp of crickets, the little family of three began to envision a world beyond their white picket fence—a world where Lucy’s name lit up marquees and her laughter echoed in the applause of adoring audiences. Little did they know, a simple trip to the grocery store would soon open the door to Lucy's first big break, an opportunity hidden within the pages of a magazine lying casually on the checkout counter. — As Anne stood in line, her eyes fell upon the glossy pages of a parenting magazine. Between the tips for toddler meals and the best pre-schools, a small advertisement caught her attention: a casting call from the renowned Kleenex brand, seeking children aged 2 to 4 to model for a new line of diapers. The ad noted that older children were welcome to apply, though it stressed the desire for a child who embodied the brand’s target demographic. Anne’s mind raced. Lucy, with her petite frame and youthful features, often received coos and adoration meant for a toddler. Though she was six, her small stature could be the key to fitting the casting call's unique requirements. Anne purchased the magazine, the pages soon to be adorned with sticky notes and highlighter marks. That evening, she discussed it with Peter over dinner, Lucy animatedly sharing stories from her day in the background. Peter nodded thoughtfully, his features lit by the warm kitchen light as he turned to glance at Lucy, who was blissfully unaware of the budding plan. It was a long shot, but one worth taking. The weekend was spent in a flurry of activity. Anne sorted through the countless snapshots of Lucy, finding those candid moments where her vivacity shone: Lucy grinning with chocolate ice cream smeared across her cheeks, her concentration while drawing, her infectious laughter as she played in the fall leaves. Each photograph was a vignette of Lucy's essence, and together they built a portfolio that captured not just her likeness, but her spirit. Peter wrote a cover letter, concise yet brimming with a father's pride. He described Lucy’s vivacious personality, her love for performance, and her unique situation of being a six-year-old who could pass for three. With hopeful hearts, they mailed the portfolio to the address listed in the magazine. Days passed, the regular rhythm of life resumed, but a current of anticipation hummed in the background. Every ring of the phone caused a jump, every trip to the mailbox was filled with a mix of dread and excitement. Anne and Peter tried not to speak too much of it, not wanting to build false hopes. Yet, in the quiet moments after Lucy had been tucked into bed, they allowed themselves to dream, to wonder. The waiting was a gentle ache, the kind that comes from wanting something so fervently for someone you love. And so, they waited for a reply that might change everything. — The letter was thorough, providing dates, times, a location in the city, and contact numbers for any inquiries. It emphasized that wardrobe would be provided, ensuring that Lucy would be outfitted in a way that best represented their brand during the audition. The words seemed to leap from the page, igniting a flicker of excitement and a rush of nerves. That night, after Lucy had been read her favorite bedtime story and had drifted off to sleep, her parents sat at the kitchen table, the letter between them. Anne bit her lip thoughtfully. "I wonder what they’ll have her wear," she mused. "Something comfortable, I hope. She’s at her best when she’s comfortable and can just be herself." Peter nodded, sipping his coffee. "Probably something colorful, to catch the eye. You know how she loves that red dress of hers? Something like that would suit her," he suggested, trying to picture his little girl in the bright lights of a professional photoshoot. Anne smiled softly, her mind painting pictures of Lucy, perhaps in a pastel dress, her hair in soft curls, a playful twinkle in her eyes. "They’ll want her to look angelic, like every parent’s dream of the perfect child," she said. The two of them talked late into the night, discussing logistics and the subtle flurry of what-ifs. But underlying all their practical plans was the shared wonder at the notion of Lucy, their Lucy, possibly becoming the new face for a national brand. — The morning of the audition, the city was abuzz with the kind of energy only a big event could generate. Lucy, clad in her favorite red dress, clutched her mother's hand tightly as they approached the venue, her eyes wide at the sea of families. The queue snaked around the building, a colorful parade of potential stars, each child bubbling with anticipation or fidgeting with impatience. Peter and Anne exchanged supportive smiles, bolstering their spirits against the tide of nerves. When their turn came, the check-in attendant handed them a package of Huggies diapers and a Huggies-branded towel, explaining the somewhat surprising instructions. Around them, the open space had transformed into a makeshift changing area, with parents adeptly preparing their toddlers for the spotlight. Anne's maternal instincts bristled at the idea of changing Lucy in such a public setting. Peter’s brow furrowed in concern, but they understood the reality of the situation — they were one of many, and the audition was a machine with little room for privacy. Finding a relatively quiet corner, Anne laid down the towel with a gentle assurance to Lucy, whose initial bravery wavered. "It's just like getting ready for a swimming lesson," Anne coaxed softly. Lucy, sensing her parents' unease, nodded, a mature understanding flashing in her young eyes. With a privacy shield formed by her parents, Anne quickly changed Lucy into the diaper, her movements as discreet and swift as possible. Once ready, Lucy stood up, the Huggies diaper fitting perfectly on her small frame, her red dress now folded neatly on the towel. Peter draped a light jacket around her shoulders, offering a semblance of privacy, and Lucy managed a small, brave smile. As they waited for Lucy's turn, her parents couldn't help but marvel at her composure, the way she handled the situation with a grace that belied her six years. The air was electric with the murmurs of onlooking parents and the soft cooing directed at the younger children, but Lucy stood out — not just for her age, but for the poise with which she carried herself, her eyes shining with the promise of what was to come. In the bustling atmosphere of the audition, with the murmur of voices and the occasional click of a camera shutter forming a backdrop of anticipation, Lucy felt a growing discomfort that had nothing to do with the nerves of performing. Shifting from one foot to the other, she finally leaned closer to Anne and whispered, "Mom, I need to pee."

I’ve chosen to revisit the story Sally’s Growth because of its controversial ending. This time, I’m offering a new one. I’ve spent a long time thinking about the story I wrote—and why I wrote it. While the original ending was described by some as “Greek drama,” one of my deeper influences is actually Russian drama. It’s rooted in realism, psychology, social critique, and spiritual struggle. It asks hard questions: How should we live? What does suffering mean? Its characters don’t battle the gods; they wrestle with themselves, with their nation, and with their conscience. There’s a persistent search for beauty, love, and meaning—even in chaos. Redemption is never guaranteed, but it’s always pursued. That said, the ending was disappointing. I get it. It disappointed me too—mainly because it left too much unresolved. For instance, how would Sally now relate to Katrina, Clara, and Erika in her changed situation? Over time, I kept circling these questions, running “what if” scenarios in my mind. Eventually, they grew into something more solid—and that’s what I’m sharing now. Someone once commented that the ending of Sally’s Growth felt like a dream sequence. They wished Sally would wake up. I’m not going down that road. Instead, I’m picking up the story where it ended: Sally dies—but then she doesn’t. And from there, the story continues. (Spoiler: Nobody dies in this story) I’m posting Chapter 97 as a continuation under this new direction. New readers may want to check out Sally’s Growth in the Completed Stories archive before diving in. I suggest you read until Chapter 96, then begin here. Your comments mean a lot. I depend on them.

Hi, this is a one-shot story, (potential to be extended), unrelated to my previous works. If you enjoy, please consider supporting me which will aid in future endeavours. I am a young carer for a family member and am struggling financially. Support at https://buymeacoffee.com/lmlmlm1111 to help me upload more regularly. Any requests for commission (or simply story ideas), shoot me a DM, I'd love to hear from you! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sam headed over to Liam's house, excited for his sleepover. His friend had just turned thirteen, the same as him, and it was the first time Sam's mum had allowed him to stay with a friend. His feet trudged over the frosted grass, crunching with every step. Thankfully, the boy was wrapped up warm and snug, as ensured by his mother. Enough so, that the cold did not intrude upon his comfort. Liam had warned him about the fact his Mum could be slightly... overbearing... However, Sam decided to give her the benefit of the doubt. After all, she was a single Mother, so who could blame her for caring so much about her kid? Sam arrived at the white plastic door, and gave a light knock, so as not to disturb the neighbours. He waited, and waited, and waited some more. Standing out there in the cold with his grey camo fleece, and dark waterproof jacket providing ample protection from the downpour. After a while, he heard a creaking, as the door swung open. "SAMMMM!!!!" screeched Liam, standing in the doorway, with a foreboding figure looming above. The little lad's face encapsulated excitement, which vastly juxtaposed the image behind him. Liam appeared ecstatic, whilst the facial features of the giant above told a story of anticipation, slight worry, accompanied by a somewhat (as he perceived it) menacing undertone. "Hello Sammy! It's so great to finally meet Liam's new friend!" said the creature, with what appeared to Sam as feigned excitement. He didn't like the childish tone she spoke in, making him feel patronised, as most adults do to children. Sam did not respond, yet the creature drove onwards. "I'm Liam's Mum... I'm so happy you're staying with us, I'll treat you like my own!" she said, smile adorning her caring face. "Th-thanks." responded Sam, unsure how to expand. He felt a pat on his back as Liam's mother ushered both the boys inside. He noticed the reassuring pat to Liam's backside, but tried to think nothing of it. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- It wasn't yet dinner time, so the two boy's decided to play some fortnite beforehand, in effort to pass the time. It was Sam's first sleepover, therefore he didn't yet know what to expect. His own Mother had forbade him from staying over at friend's houses on multiple occasions before, but figured since both boy's were recently thirteen that an exception could be made. Sam thought she was being harsh and unfair, upon multiple denied requests, however his Mother's stance was made out of care, and care alone. She'd heard stories of sleepovers, and felt a lack of control as to her sons life. A life she had crafted and nurtured, one she wished would not go awry. As the kid's gamed, Sam noticed his friends movements. Increased shifting from side to side, he simply could not sit still. It was as if a wiggle bug had infected his very being (a phrase Sam learnt from his beloved uncle). Liam wiggled and wriggled, as if something was wrong with him. His mate failed to sit still throughout their gaming session, seemingly possessed. That was until he did. Liam suddenly ceased all movement, still as a statue. Sam was sure he heard a whirring noise, however he chose to dismiss it as the old playstation causing a racket. It was a PS4, handed down by Liam's big brother, so almost an ancient relic. Following that moment, Liam stopped his jerky movements, and continued as normal. Sam forgot the incident quicky, more engrossed by the task at hand, winning their first fortnite duos! The boy's played and played for what felt like hours. In reality, it was only about an hour. Before long, Liam's Mum called them down for dinner. Fish fingers and chips, a working class british staple, Accompanying the dinner was a bowl of peas. Yucky! As the kids sprinted towards the dinner table, Liam's mum halted her son in his tracks for some unknown reason. Liam immediately stood frozen in place, like a soldier in formation. Sam noticed a swift hand movement towards Liam's crotch, his mother giving a slight squeeze... Her gaze shot towards Sam, before swiftly returning to her own son. Concern, yet secrecy, shone through those welcoming eyes. Another pat to the bum came, directing Liam towards the bathroom, and leaving Sam confused. Liam's eyes welled up slightly, and he avoided eye contact with Sam, as if he had something to hide. What exactly was Liam's mum up to...? Within a matter of minutes, Liam returned to the dinner table. Closely in trail, his mother lagged behind. Clearly the two had been up to something, however Sam daren't question exactly what the situation was. He considered questioning just what the two had been up to, yet Liam's shameful eyes prevented his lips from uttering the words to inquire. Regardless, due to the secrecy, he figured whatever the situation, it had to be peculiar. As Liam sat, he heard a slight rustling sound, something somewhat familiar. But he chose to overlook it, sensing tension building within the walls. The three of them sat together, enjoying the dinner dutifully prepared by Liam's Mum. It was not extravagant, nor exciting, yet it served to satisfy the hunger of the two growing teens. Liam ate up his portion of peas, seemingly compelled to, whilst Sam left his lingering on the side of his plate. "Are you boy's finished yet?" asked Liam's Mum, whilst washing up her own plate. Liam glanced over at Sam's plate, empty save for the vegetables, then back at his Mother. "We're all done mummy!". Sam's peas had remained untouched throughout the entire meal. Had it been her own son, she would have forced him to eat some, but being someone else's child, she decided to leave the issue alone. Swiftly, Liam grabbed Sam by the hand and dragged him back upstairs, towards his own room. Sam might haves protested at the sudden use of force, however Liam was bigger and stronger than him, so he was left with little choice but to follow. "Perhaps I should have eaten my veggies.", thought Sam, whilst being forcefully directed towards Liam's solemn room. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The two friends sat upon Liam's single bed, eyes glazed, staring at the TV. Each movement, whether due to elation or embitterness (Fortnite is serious business), elicited a sharp crinkle of plastic. Sam questioned his mate as to the cause, but was assured it was just a protective sheet for dust and dirt which lived upon his bed. Sam was slightly bemused, never having experienced the same with his own bed, but put it down to his parents being dozy and careless compared to Liam's single Mother. "Just be ready for my mum sam." said Liam. "She can get a bit weird when guests are over". Sam nodded, paying no real notice and continuing to game. "HELLLL YEAAAAA!!" Sam screamed, unable to contain his sheer glee. "Shhhhh..." chastised Liam in immediate response. "My mum hates swears, don't be so loud Sam.". "hellll yeaaaaa..." Whispered Sam, in sarcastic response. He felt pity for Liam, realising how strict his Mum must be if "hell" was considered a swear. His own parents weren't really bothered by how he spoke, not that they paid all that much attention to him in the first place. Before long, they both heard the foreboding footsteps of Liam's Mum heading up the stairs. It was clear she was coming for them, as she had remained downstairs for most of the night, except for the few occasions she came to check on the boys. Now that it had gotten rather late, it seemed inevitable the call for bed was coming. The door was forced open. "Liam, Sam, it's time for bed!" "Yes Mum." Liam replied, obeying his Mother's orders. Sam however, had qualms. Yes, it was late. But this was a sleepover, his first in fact, surely the entire point was to stay up late! "It's too early to go to bed!" he complained, clearly already comfortable with Liam's Mum, comfortable enough to protest bedtime. Liam's Mum pondered for a moment. "Okay Sam, you don't have to go to bed." she responded with a blank look. Sam fist pumped the air, glad he had won. Audibly came naught, not seeking to disrupt the success. "BUT..." came Liam's Mum. Sam dreaded to think what would come next. "I'd at least like you to get ready for bed, just in case Sam.". Sam nodded. It was a reasonable request, and he began to get his pajamas ready. Due to the wintry weather, he'd brought an old onesie. It still fit, but barely. And it certainly was not something he wanted to pull on in front of Liam's Mum. Adorning the onesie were adorable motifs of Simba's face, along with text stating "I just can't wait to be king". The onesie was adorable. For a seven year old. Yet Sam was about to be thirteen. He was in the same boat as Liam, both yet to have their growth spurt. Sadly, these were the only weather suitable pajamas that still fit him. His Mum insisted he bring them, due to the conditions, but Sam was not expecting to show them off! "Awww, that onesie is so cute Sam!" cawed Liam's Mum, spotting it in his bag. "But can you help me out and wear a little something extra for me... please...". ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sam sat on the edge of the porcelain bath, an ancient remnant of the Victorian era, cringing at the white, crinkly undergarment which sat before him. It resurfaced feelings of inadequacy, shame, inferiority, and more, which plagued his young childhood. Now, the presentation of this pull-up diaper dredged up those uncomfortable emotions once more. Liam's Mum explained that Liam was still suffering with nocturnal enuresis, coupled with the occasional daytime accident. He supposed he should've realised earlier, there had been moments in school where Liam rapidly shifted from extreme discomfort to normal behaviour. Times when everyone when to the toilet, and Liam seemingly chose to hold it... Heck, take tonight's drama. Liam's Mum must have taken him away to change discreetly after their initial gaming session. "Please wear one, just for tonight!" begged Liam's Mum. "It would make Liam feel so much better if he knew his friend had the same night-time issues as him." she said. "Bu- but I don't!" Sam shouted, frustrated at the suggestion. "I know you don't Sam, I've had a long talk with your mum." She said softly, gently placing a hand on his shoulder. "We both think it would be best if you wore a pull-up to bed whilst here, for Liam's sake.". Sam shook his head, bemused at his situation. He did like Liam, and wanted to help, yet felt somewhat compelled to do so. It was almost as if this choice was illusory, and in fact not a choice at all. The way Liam's Mother had portrayed the situation, was like pulling on the babyish pull-up was mandatory for his stay. A duty, which must be fulfilled. So, with reluctance, Sam pulled the crinkly white garment up his smooth slender legs, cringing at every rustle the disposable underwear made. It felt thick, unnatural, it was a foreign body invading his nervous system. Yet the diaper also felt comfortable around his waist. A soft cushion, which provided the reassurance of protection, just in case he had any accidents. Not that he would... Following that, the Simba onesie was pulled up, rising around his body. It successfully covered any trace of the babyish underwear he now adorned for his friends wellbeing. Sam exited the bathroom, cheeks slightly flushed at the though of what he was wearing. Before him was Liam, sporting a similar onesie, only donning stitch motifs as opposed to his little Simba's. Both boy's looked very cute in their bedtime wear, and both had visible diaper bulges poking through the fabric. Sam did not realise his own, but was immediately aware of Liam's nappy bulge. It was extremely obvious, especially as the topic of diapers was understandably on his mind. He thought that Liam's diaper clad figure looked extremely cute, paired with the precious onesie, although he'd never say that out loud. The thought was somewhat laced with irony, considering his own predicament. Liam glanced over at Sam, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. For once, he knew he was not alone in this. With both boys prepared and ready for bed, Liam's Mum gave them both a slight pat on the bum. Liam was used to it, however Sam blushed a bright shade of crimson red, his new nappy being acknowledged only served to further feelings of embarrassment. At the same time, the bum tap felt almost comforting, he knew he was padded in a soft and secure frame, with nothing to truly worry about. Then came the pride in knowing this was all for Liam's sake, to make him feel better. Although, perhaps that was but a misleading comfort suggested by Liam's Mum... The reality was, she had a career in child care. She simply did not feel like taking the risk of wet sheets as was so common with young boys like Sam, even if he was night time trained, it was not worth the hassle of risking it. After all, new environments can trigger accidents. The boy's sat upon Liam's bed once more, watching YouTube to close out the night. They sat close to one another, offering comfort during the scarier videos. Their eyes grew wearier as minutes passed, as did their sense of shame. Both lads cuddled closer, ready to go to bed, seeking comfort in each others arms. They were both too sleepy and unaware to notice Liam's Mother re-enter the room and turn off the TV. She also switched off the lights, before turning on a subtle night light, so as to not completely drown the diaper-clad thirteen year olds in darkness. Sleep swept over their onesie covered bodies in fierce waves, it was growing more and more difficult to keep their eyes open. Already, their bodies failed to move as they both lay there in Liam's single bed. Liam's Mum tucked them in, and gave each boy a light peck on the forehead, as if both were her babies. Sam didn't mind, his sleepy head already in a state of bliss. He looked over at Liam, his eyes were already shut. His little snores were adorable, every breath emitting a unique sound. Liam's Mum looked down at Sam, in a tranquil yet lucid state. Noticing the kid was still awake, unlike her own son, she pushed something towards his mouth. Sam kept his lips sealed, resisting at first. Wearing a pull-up to help his mate feel better abut himself, to provide a confidence boost, was one thing. However sucking on a paci like a baby was a complete other thing. Not what had been agreed upon. Liam didn't even have one for Christ's sake! But, after time, he gladly accepted. In this state of calm, resistance was no use. Drowsiness numbed his body so much so, that logical decision was almost absent. Sam was susceptible to most any suggestion, and sucking on a pacifier was included in that. Sam drifted off, alongside his best friend. Pull-up around his waist, onesie covering his body, and pacifier in his mouth... This was all for Liam. To make him feel better about his problem, right? It felt like extreme overkill, but at least his friend would be satisfied. Two boys in bed by 8pm? It was a successful night by all accounts.

Finally getting a chance to tryout the banana trick soon. I’ve read about people using up to 6 whole bananas, and while I’m sure they mean smaller ones, just imagining taking in 6 massive bananas.. only to struggle in attempts not to mess them out. And how long it’d take to push them all out… Will update EDIT: I’m currently sitting diapered up trying to hold everything in. I started with some mini marshmallows to loose up before the first half. A lot of the banana squished but after the first they started to pop in. I did 2 medium bananas and mini marshmallows until I felt super full. Now I’m holding it desperately writing this update. EDIT II: I didn’t end up lasting long, and soon most of the bananas blasted into my diaper. I could still feel more though, and as I got exhausted of pushing, one more half banana log shot out involuntarily. Squishing it around and sitting in it felt amazing and just like the real thing. I then did my business (heh) and cleaned everything up. I have suspicions about more banana being left so I threw on another diaper for a short nap. EDIT III: I think it all came out. It’s partly hard to believe that what came out was nearly 2 whole bananas, but it did basically fill my whole diaper. And inserting them was a bit more trouble than I expected so I thought the thicker ones hadn’t come yet. But in all it was a very nice experiment

Elizabeth is 30 years and in the grocery store and goes down the baby aisle and decides to try diapers for the first time. She decides to bye a pack of diapers. The only problem is she does not know how to put them on. She is looking for a person or couple to help her. While she is in the aisle she has to poop so she squats down and pushes it into her panties. I will play Elizabeth

Warning As with my previous stories, this one contains several elements inherent to the pre-established 'Diaper Dimension.' These include, but are not limited to: Diapers and their usage for their intended purpose Breastfeeding Non-consensual mental regression through various means (Including possible drugs, hypnosis, and/or surgery) References to surgery to achieve various nefarious goals Humiliation Giants, aka, Amazons or Bigs Predominantly female domination (some male) Babying of adults (perceived or otherwise) Experimentation on humans Kidnapping Coerced or manipulated actions through possible means of white lies, gas lighting, or incentives Mild language or use of explitives Depictions of death, illness, or handicaps Graphic imagery associated with any of these warnings Corruption, abuse of power, and shady dealings This story has not been labeled as mature, however, due to a lack of specific references to anything overtly sexual, but this warning serves as a 'turn back' point for any readers who do not wish to read about the previous warnings. Lastly, this list is subject to change during the course of writing this story. While most of the plot is ironed out, more warnings may be added if needed. Previously... Before we begin, I just wanted to add this little blurb. For those interested, the first installment of this trilogy can be located in the link after, but for those who just want a quick refresher, I have the following: https://www.dailydiapers.com/board/index.php?/topic/88699-a-walk-into-the-unknown-a-diaper-dimension-story-chapter-25-complete/ In a bargain with Psyche New Beginnings, a subsidiary of Oasis Opportunities and Juventas, Patrick Henderson traveled to the so-called Diaper Dimension. In exchange for five years living under an Amazon, or more commonly known as a ‘Big,’ through the advanced medical research and knowledge of the other dimension, they would reverse his paralyzed legs condition, a result of a guilt-laden drive that forced him into a wheelchair five years prior and claimed the life of his mother as well. Under the loving guidance of Nurse Addy Pepperidge, Patrick interviewed several Big candidates to be his caregiver while he attended therapy to ease his guilt and help him walk again. Over the course of three months, he began to walk again and though dodging many unsavory potential caregivers and an evil scientist, he soon found himself embroiled in a plot to force him into an unwilling permanent babyhood. Through the shady and underground dealings of the facility, Patrick was able to be rescued, though in the end with the loss of some of his maturity and nearly all the maturity of his similarly captured friend. Electing another two caregivers with his friend, however, Patrick learned self-acceptance of his current life and even served as ring bearer on the day his two new caregivers were eventually married. Now, faced with a new candidate, Nurse Addy Pepperidge strives to find her own Little as she balances her needs after losing a previous Little, Mindy, the needs of Psyche New Beginnings, and the sinister underhanded plot growing ever so steadily from behind closed doors. Hey everyone! Happy New Year and welcome back! At the beginning of this story, I just want to note that as likely you see below, I’m dividing this story up into sections, three to be exact. Part of this is simply due to the story structure and a little bit as an homage to the first story in this trilogy, but I also want to do something different this time. Instead of barreling through this story all at once, at the end of each section (so two times), I will be taking at least a week-long break. I hope this will prevent the burnout, frustration, and the overwhelming pressure I put on myself normally, as well as a chance to catch up on future chapters, plot points, and ensure that the story is going where I want it to. Considering there are three sections and right now at least ten chapters per section, I think this will be a good thing. So… at the end of each section, I will give you all a more definitive date when the next section will be posted. Next, despite my hesitation from my last story, I’m still willing to put up a poll for my next story at least. I might rethink that after this one depending on how this story is received/how I feel about it, but for now, be on the lookout for a poll come the next chapter or so. I’m still debating which stories I should place in the poll this time, so if anyone has a specific request, please let me know. EDIT: Future me here... I did end up putting a poll in for my next story for you all to choose once again. The link after will be the one directly after here, but for full story descriptions of the three potentials, go to page 3 within this thread and under the beginning of chapter 14. https://strawpoll.com/wAg3Qk2xOy8 Also, for anyone continuing off my last story might recall, or for anyone new to this one, I am debating whether or not I should create a wiki of sorts for the Diaper Dimension. There’s frankly a lot of information out there, which makes sense considering it’s a whole other world, but things are getting hard to keep up with, and while I love my reference guide, I know it can be a bit tricky looking things up from my own personal experience these days. So… I basically want to use a pretty basic wiki-like site where you can navigate through these various aspects. I think it could also help with some of the maps I’ve created, and as a bonus, most anyone signed in can edit the pages, so for new writings, they can be added quickly. But… it is a bit of a lift, so, if no one actually wants this, I want to know first before I dive into yet another project. As such, linked below, I have a poll with different options you can select with the add-on this time of comments being possible as well. https://strawpoll.com/poy9kDaNpgJ Now… last but not least and as usual, I hope everyone enjoys this first chapter of my new story! Part 1: New Beginnings, Same Story Chapter 1: A Familiar Path… Sometimes Addy sat at her desk by her window and looked out over the horizon, hoping for a new chance… a new possibility to find happiness here. She always felt that way on move-in day and thought that feeling would never go away working here at Psyche New Beginnings. A nurse that had graduated at the top of her class and already had a number of years under her belt here and with connections on the board, she was dedicated to Psyche New Beginnings, Juventas, and their purposeful mission here. She wasn’t one of the more fair-weather nurses coming in here to solely find their Little and blow out of here just as quickly as they had arrived. But she was a Big, and simply put, Bigs wanted a Little in their life. It was biological… something deep in all Bigs when it came to Littles… doubly so when it came to portal Littles. Maybe it was the fact that they all seemed so helpless on their less advanced and comparatively dirty Earth, but each portal Little was essentially catnip to any Big they came across over here. Most Bigs could control it, but for others… Addy shook her head and looked back out her window. Those types of Bigs… the ones that go overboard and hurt their Little to ensure their compliance… she just never could stand them. She was a nurse after all and felt strongly there was just something wrong about hurting Littles to make them the ‘perfect Little.’ Working here was a fine line for sure, but her charges never left broken or upset if she could help it. And that was the other part of all this. She was a nurse and she wanted to help them. There was a noble service to all this, and while there will always be that one tough case, seeing all the Littles choose their caregivers on selection day is a scene that one would have to see to believe. No disease or dismemberment… just smiles and hugs… and all that starts from day one, aka, move-in day. So, when she looked out and saw the bus pull up once more to the gate in the distance, she practically jumped out of her seat to see her new arrivals as they came. Checking her files once more, she couldn’t wait to meet either of the two assigned to her. Excited and taking the time to have vetted them personally, she knew just about everything there was to know about her two new patients. Even after weeks of combing over their files, seeing their names still caused a little flutter to arise in her heart. ‘Franklin and Mindy…’ Dashing downstairs, she stopped right at the entrance and adjusted her scrubs and made sure she didn’t have a single hair out of place. The first day was always plain scrubs and her pink set had become a sort of tradition after wearing the same after her last four patients. “Good arrivals this time, Addy?” Penny questioned Addy while adjusting her bracelet once more. “I think so. Always hard to tell the ins and out, you know?” Addy sighed, remembering back to a few of her more unsavory patients since she had come here. They were rare and they still left happy… but the journey to get them there hadn’t exactly been easy. “I always just hope for two happy Littles by the end. You?” “Oh, I go in for something a little different…” Penny mused, now applying some last-minute touch-ups to her makeup. “I kind of like seeing the little one’s regress and all. Bigger they are… the harder they fall. Always love seeing those first moments when they lose control…” Addy didn’t want to raise a stink… especially with the Littles arriving any second now, but it didn’t prevent a slight scowl from forming over her face either. She managed to hide it before Penny could see, but a distaste still lingered in her mind about her coworker. Littles were lost and scared and weak and confused… but for her, that just meant they needed more care… more love… more patience. Not everyone believed the same she knew… but a fellow nurse loving when a Little regressed just felt wrong to her. Still, sighing a little, the final nurse soon joined just as the shuttle from the portal hub screeched to a halt outside. “Okay ladies…” Dr. Halgen noted, her eyes scanning each of her nurses carefully. “I want this batch tended to and toured before dinner. Keep it simple and show them the ropes and nothing more. They’re here for three months and details can be touched later. Understood?” “Yes, ma’am!” they all chanted in unison. Satisfied, Dr. Halgen let out a little smirk and nodded curtly before disappearing back into her office… now awaiting each new Little to be briefed about all the finer details of the contract they all signed willingly. Through the glass, Addy could see the Littles already disembarking. As Dr. Halgen readied her performance of intimidation for the new Littles behind her closing door to her office, Addy elected to prep her cheeriness and smile for her new arrivals. Justifying it to herself over and over, she felt that she and whatever cure they were offering the littles here were the metaphorical carrots to this place while all the other regressions, punishments, intimidations, and tiny points of fear were most definitely the sticks. So, if she was going to be the carrot to these poor fragile Littles, she felt it was best to be the best carrot she could. Just as the lift could be heard outside, the nurses began filing out one at a time to greet their Littles. Taking a breath, Addy followed right behind and soon began to search for the memorized faces of her two new charges. The first she found was Franklin. Late-stage AIDS, he was a holdout from another time on Earth. With most diseases now cured and that disease nearly eradicated, Franklin got the short end of the stick when it turned out he was highly allergic to the cure that Earth currently possessed. His gaunt form and lesions were a testament to another time and Addy made sure to shake his hand carefully as he shuffled over to her and the other nurses. “Franklin…” she said, coming up to him. “I’m Addy. I’m going to be your nurse while you’re here. It’s good to finally meet you.” He coughed for a second and then shakily held his hand out to greet her back. “Good… to meet you… Addy…” She smiled and gladly shook his outstretched hand. “Perfect. In a second, I’ll get you inside, give you a tour… show you around and then you can meet with our director here for a little orientation. Sound good?” Struggling to say anything without coughing, Franklin eventually just nodded. Addy’s heart went out to him, and she quickly made a mental note to adjust his environmental controls and priorities of treatment here to fix his breathing. Problems there could mean problems down the line and prevention of him from having fun while the others zoomed around him on the playground in the second and third month here. After a moment, as the others began to filter into the facility, Addy began to look around for her second Little… Mindy. “Hmmm… wonder where she is…” “Oh… the other girl? Wheelchair?” Franklin quickly managed to ask before coughing once more. “I think so.” Addy got a lot about them, but seating arrangements on the shuttle were usually random, as well as the order in which they got off… unless they were wheelchair-bound. “Oh… there she is.” The last one off, the dark-haired Little slowly was pushed over to Franklin and her by the bus driver. Only nodding before getting back on his bus, Addy could only gawk at the Little now before her and the two sides she was now seeing. One was why she was here… wheelchair, IV bag, gaunt, pale… a stiff breeze looked like it could knock her down. The other though, shone out against all that. Colorful clothing, little stickers, wide eyes, and a big bright green beanie in the shape of a frog complete with two eyes sticking out at the top. In one word… adorable. “H… hi…” the Little managed to squeak out. Addy almost had to slap herself to not just go over and hug the Little right away. Instead, she remembered her training and smiled wide. “Hello there. And you must be Mindy…” * * * “Mindy!” Addy awoke back in her room in her rocking chair, apparently having fallen asleep around midday in a nap of some kind. Wanting to distance herself from this place after her last patients a little, she had taken a long vacation and saw several countries and relaxed on multiple beaches… and endured one long flight back just a few days ago. She never could shake off jet lag… And frankly, between that and knowing what was ahead of her today, she almost didn’t want to be here now. It’s probably why she was thinking of Mindy… once again. Back then, she was full of hope and optimism. She had her heart broken a few times before then for sure, but after Mindy and Patrick and Cara and at least a half dozen others she had truly bonded with… it was hard to feel that way anymore. Looking outside, the weather almost seemed to mimic her own dour attitude today. With the way these things moved, she had skipped a month and was now back… but in January and at the start of a new year. A little over a week ago, she was just leaving one of the beaches in Itali to meet with her dad for Christmas. It was worth it to see him again… but now in the state of Crescentia in the winter. Well, the weather left a lot to be desired… Getting out of her chair, she stretched wide and looked around, choosing to focus on her wall of success. Each Little there was another life she had helped guide from whatever state they were in and into the arms of a loving Big. By now, a few of their contracts had finished and they were back on Earth. A few, like Patrick, were still here, and after seeing him, Cara, Lloyd, and Sam all together as one family… she honestly had doubts he would be leaving after five years. For her, it didn’t matter whether they returned to Earth though… just that they were happy. “I guess just not me though…” She sighed and seeing the time, she knew she needed to review her files and checklist once more. Going back over to her desk, she tenderly stroked the tiny picture of Mindy that she kept as a reminder of her. Not a failure in the sense of a dropout of the program, but definitely not a success to the ache of her heart, she held a special place still. In essence, she was a constant reminder of the stakes of this place and why every Little needed her full attention and care. Sometimes, that didn’t always work out… but Addy knew she always had to try… always had to be vigilant. Looking back down, first up… Katrina McLane. Addy sighed and still had several questions about her and some of what she had seen in her file. “Stage 2 bone cancer… eager… potentially ideal candidate for program.” She had seen it before. After all, anyone being told they were sick or hurt and finding out they could be fixed… cured… whatever they wanted to call it, there was no surprise they would be so happy. But for Katrina… the oddity came with her item to be helped here. Yes, it was cancer, and yes, it still wasn’t even something they could joke about or brush off in this dimension… but on Earth, there was a definite and affordable cure. It wasn’t a red flag for Addy necessarily… just a question she would keep tucked in the back of her mind when meeting her and assessing the candidates that Kelsey… Dr. Halgen set up for her. ‘Need to get back in the habit of calling her that in front of the other Littles right now. I know she definitely still wants to be viewed as the stern one around here…’ She knew better of her friend and her big heart though… she was still the boss however and that came with certain expectations. Here, with the board, or even the antique government regulations… Shaking her head of that nonsense, she moved to her next charge… one who’s file raised even more eyebrows as he was officially announced as the next candidate for the program. “Oliver Maxson… stage 4 skin cancer… sufferer of anxiety and PTSD likely linked to former career at DEA.” Those were the basics for him… but a lot of the other stuff was now blacked out. She had seen his file before, the night of her last choosing ceremony back in November where Patrick had elected Sam and Lloyd and had gone off with Cara as well… but now it looked like a toddler had decided to have fun with a black marker all over his file. Several sections had been redacted and now contained only a handful of words, no doubt a cover-up of some kind from his government back on Earth. ‘Curious… concerning, but curious… Just what did you do, Oliver?’ Addy made a mental note of asking Dr. Halgen about him more in-depth later when they both had a free moment. “Wonder when…” Suddenly, a flock of birds sprang from the distant trees and headed back toward the local town just beyond the borders of their facility here. From seeing it several other times before, Addy stood up... knowing full well that they would only fly away like that for one reason… the front gate had just opened. The new patients were arriving… Sighing, she moved from her two files to the checklist she always made sure to go through before anyone arrived. “Let’s see… already got on the phone with the ordering company to ensure I had the training pants, pull-ups, and diapers already on standby. Last time, I had to fight with Penny for who got the only box of diapers left in the house…” She momentarily shuddered at the thought. “It’s one thing to put a Little in diapers… would be quite something else if we suddenly ran out.” Her eyes then continued to scan the list, going through all the variables she could at least control for now. There were a lot of things to be determined once she met with the Littles and they were able to perform their own scans once in house. Earth machines were notoriously unreliable with the types of data they needed for their own treatments, and they could always uncover something more or something complicated that they weren’t initially anticipating. Like with what happened with Mindy… Finally, though, pointing down her list, everything seemed to be done… except one. “Drats! Room check. Always forget to do that.” She stood up and made sure her wristband was firmly attached to her wrist. “Just never know with our contractors. Reliable nearly always… but I don’t want some Little to smell baby powder on their first day here in their room. My job is usually hard enough without them freaking out over a smell…” Addy quickly looked in the mirror, adjusted a few strands of her hair back into place and quickly took off downstairs, being sure to swiftly check that the two rooms were all ready for her new charges to check off the last item on her to do list. Having only emptied yesterday, the workers made quick work of transforming the rooms back into the previously drab spaces… instead of the basically nurseries they had been at the end of a patient’s three months here. Stepping inside, she made sure to knock on the hidden compartment to ensure it remained closed… now all stocked up and ready for the next patient’s use of what was inside. She then sniffed… only new paint and some lemon. ‘Good. No need to scare the Littles off by smelling dirty diapers, baby powder, or anything else from whoever was in here last.’ Ensuring everything was clean and all prepared, and doing the same for the other, Addy stepped back out and closed the door of each room her Little patients would soon occupy. Nodding, she headed back downstairs. This time, only Erin was there. “Oh? Look who decided to rejoin us,” she said jokingly. “Decided that Itali was just so horrible at last that coming back to tantrums, dirty diapers, and vomit was the life for you?” Addy smirked and gave her a quick hug. “It’s good to see you too, Erin. Heard you took a month off as well.” Erin nodded and grinned widely. “Yep! Was a little more local than you, but I finally got to see the forests up in Oreneron and Columbia. You know that there’s some local trying to use the DNA resurfacing project to introduce an actual Big Foot up there?” Addy shook her head. “No… I didn’t actually.” She then could plainly see the bus stop in front of the entrance and took a deep breath. “So, you ready?” As the last nurse filed down the stairs, Erin looked a little apprehensive but still nodded. “Yeah… never know with these Littles though, right?” Addy thought back to her own… to Mindy and quickly nodded… right as the third nurse joined her to the left. “Hey, you two!” she quickly greeted. “Sorry for rushing. I’ve got two hot ones coming in. Halgen says they’re a handful… even now. Can you imagine that? How about your alls?” Erin leaned over and gave a little wave. “Hey Cassandra…” “Cassie,” she quickly interrupted. “Please… the Littles can’t say my name worth a darn in it’s fullest by the end half the time. Just got used to the short and simple version. Faster for everyone, you know?” Erin and Addy both nodded. “Right… interesting cases for me as well,” Addy confirmed, reflecting on her own name of Addison never being used around here for the same reason. “Same…” Erin joined as well. “Wonder if this round is going for a record or something…” The shuttle from the portal depot at last began to unload as Cassie shook her head. “No… I think it’s the new year or something. Psyche and Juventas and Oasis and all want to start off the new year with strong numbers, I think. It’s this way for most years when I’ve been on this shift. But hey… I heard your Little is a jumper. Is that right?” Addy nodded, the term was a little distasteful but not altogether inaccurate either. “Yeah… I was supposed to get him right after my last candidates went out… but I guess the Little got scared or unnerved or something right before he left for the portal facility. Not sure really, but the company went with another at the last minute to meet their quota and I decided it was a sign to get out and take my vacation at last. Yolanda ended up covering for me and sent me a few updates while I was away.” “Just between us nurses… that was probably for the best,” Cassie chuckled. “I heard with the last batch that two have washed out already. Got booted from the program and everything! I thought that only happened with the ones assigned to me!” “Tough cases all around,” Dr. Halgen interjected, briefly coming out from her office and stopping their conversation cold. “Addy… Cassie… Erin…” She nodded to each of her nurses for this next batch and took a deep breath. “You three know the drill. Tours and orientation with me. Try to make these Littles feel at home though… as you all have seen from the files I gave you; this class might be… interesting. Still… stay vigilant, tough, and…” She looked out the window as a few of the Littles began making their way to the entrance. “And good luck!” She then closed her double doors, and Addy and the others were left nearly speechless. Dr. Halgen was normally somber about this whole thing, but now… she almost seemed cheery. Not a bad thing… just different to see so publicly. Before any of them could ask each other about her though, the screech and momentary grinding of the wheelchair platform lowering quickly alerted them back to their main priority. So, nodding to each other, one by one, each exited the home to greet their newly arrived Littles. The chilly January air greeted each of them along with the sickly, unamused, or nearly catatonic Littles in front of them. Having done this several times by now, there was still a part of Addy’s heart that broke just a little bit on the first day. While each represented an opportunity for fun and learning and healing… each also came to them on the brink of death or disable or with some sort of disablement or disease. Tiny, fragile, and looking steps from death or even with a few shivering from the cold or just their nerves… Addy wanted nothing more than to go to each and hug them until they were okay. But her training was thorough and the more rational part of her mind knew that doing something like that on today of all days was just a plain bad idea. Unlike the other two batches of Littles from the previous two groups already inside, these Littles weren’t ready for that sort of interaction… yet. They needed to be coddled and cared for absolutely, but that would take time. Even without the small quantities of drugs slipped into their meals or the little notes of subliminal hypnosis at night however, Addy knew completely that they would all get their eventually. Pushing through the wandering Littles, as Erin and Cassie quickly found their Littles, Addy had to search for hers. The other four newly arrived Littles were morose, upset, brooding, or just nearly slumped over or dragging themselves to move an inch. As Addy made her way over to the bus, however, a quick wave alerted her to the bus. “Over here! Over here!” one of the Littles shouted, Addy quickly recognizing her as the curious Katrina. “We need help! Lift got stuck!” Looking further, Addy quickly made out the bus driver fiddling with a nearby lever to the platform, where a frail but clearly unamused Little sat in their wheelchair. Bundled up like he was, it was harder to tell who was being lowered down, unlike the boisterous Katrina… but squinting just a bit, even with the gauntness of his disease changing his looks a little, Addy knew who it was. ‘Oliver…’ Hurrying over, the bus driver quickly spotted Addy. “Hey you! I need a hand here!” Nodding, Addy came over and after giving a tiny wave to both Oliver and Katrina looked back at the bus driver. ‘Definitely not how I would want to meet my next to charges here…’ She sighed and waited for the bus driver to tell her what needed to be done. “Lousy old mechanics…” He groaned and shook his head. “Okay… I got the mechanics working again, but I need just an extra pair of hands to wrench this lever down for the hydraulics to kick in. Think you can help?” he questioned, wiping his forehead for a minute. ‘So that’s why the bus took so long out here… I thought I was going to be late seeing everyone…’ Addy looked at the offered lever and nodded. “Yep. No problem. Just tell me when to yank.” The bus driver stepped aside a little and gripped the lever low and let Addy take the high spot. Taking a deep breath in, he looked back at Addy. “Now!” Addy pulled down with all her might and the lever finally dropped down fully. Finally, the platform screeched and it lowered down fully. A few of the others looking on started to clap. “Need any help over there?” Erin asked, her timing impeccable as always. “Or do you all have it?” Addy wiped her hands off and shook her head. “No. It’s all good now. You all go inside and start your tours and orientation. I’ll go last this time.” Seeing a nod from both Erin and Cassie, they and their Littles soon disappeared inside. She normally liked going first but seeing the oddly chipper Katrina and the dour Oliver… taking a second might be better. With the platform lowered, Addy raced to get behind Oliver… but he rushed away before she could grip the handlebars behind him to be pushed by. “I’ve got it…” he said coldly before wheeling up to the front entrance. Addy froze for just a moment. ‘Okay… stubborn Little. Something about him though… Why do I feel I’m going to find a crack in that built-up armor of his before too long?’ Sighing, she looked over at Katrina. “Hey there. Sorry about all that…” The driver didn’t even bother saying anything else and quickly retracted the platform, causing the Little and Big to jump out of the way. Katrina blinked at the scene and jumped further away when the shuttle skidded off back down the hill, but recovering, she then warmly smiled back at Addy. “Well, that was interesting… but I’m Katrina.” Her hand nearly shot from her side like a cannon had suddenly launched it away. Addy looked down at the offered gesture and shook it back quickly. “Very good to meet you, Katrina. I’m Nurse Addy… but plain old Addy works just fine.” Seeing the Little shiver in the cold, Addy gestured back to the house. “How about we get inside out of this weather and then we can talk more?” Her eyes drifted over to a slightly struggling Oliver as he attempted to make his way up the ramp provided and into the house. “Him as well…” “Oh… don’t mind him,” Katrina said with a sigh. “Nothing against you, I think. Seems a bit of a loner. I don’t think he said one word on the bus the whole way over.” “Hmmm… guess we’ll just have to fix that, won’t we?” Addy noted, much to sheepish grin of Katrina. Smiling as well, the two joined Oliver and quickly sat in the main room. What followed was likely some of the most disjointed and lopsided introductory events that Addy had ever experienced as a nurse on move-in day here. Katrina was bubbly, outgoing, and seemed eager to learn about everything. The trio’s conversation in the front living room went nicely with her and Addy learned all sort of random things about her ranging that she grew up all over, moving from state to state… all the way to the fact that she could tie a cherry with her tongue. She was an oddity compared to the rest… but also likely an easy candidate here. Oliver though… was difficult. Questioning him was like pulling teeth in the extreme. Each answer he gave was either one or two words at best… a grunt at worse, and all followed or proceeded by an angry or dismissive glare. His tour was quiet and resigned… and Dr. Halgen even looked worried when he rolled out of her office himself afterward. “Everything okay with him?” Addy questioned as she watched him head off into the elevator alone after he had dismissed her completely from helping him out. Dr. Halgen sighed but nodded. “Yes. Our office back on Earth vetted him fully. See his file?” “Yes, but…” She recalled all the pages in it, but all the redactions as well. “Kind of empty now. Doesn’t look like the same Little you showed me last time.” Dr. Halgen stretched back and drummed her fingers for a moment. “Well… that file got pulled the morning after. Apparently, his government didn’t like everything contained in it. I’m pushing to get more released to us, but… for the moment, you’re going to have to go in a little blind while digging deep with him as well.” “I figured…” she admitted. “Guys like him in this program always take a second.” “True… but I also think that this could be from what I briefly read in his file.” She looked around for a moment and lowered her voice a little bit before leaning forward, something Addy reciprocated. “The anxiety and PTSD… not sure what it’s about, but something’s also telling me that after being alone with all what happened, he’s built layers of protection around himself against others.” In one of the few spots not redacted, Addy remembered that at least. “His file did mention that…” “Yes, and as I said, I’m looking to pull more, but from what I remember when his file first came across my desk…” She then stretched and looked behind Addy as if to check if anyone was listening before looking back at her seriously. “I don’t remember everything all this time later… but make sure you have a monitor in his room at night…” Addy’s brows furrowed and she tried to figure out what Dr. Halgen seemed to be implying. “A mon…?” “Dr. Halgen!” Federica, the facility cook called out, running in her office like her hair was on fire. “Xander is in my kitchen! He has a knife and I can’t get it back from him, and Cassie is with Robin in the bathroom!” She then stops and sees Addy. “Oh… hey Addy…” Dr. Halgen bolted out of her seat right away but kept her outer calm demeanor except now broiling over with authority. “Keep him calm and away from the others, Federica. Go now.” Federica nodded to both and ran back out of the office and to the kitchen… where Addy could now hear the faintest of someone shouting. Sighing, Dr. Halgen returned her gaze back to Addy. “For now… I suggest patience.” She began to walk over and out of the room, gesturing for Addy to follow her as well. Just as the two made it to close her doors, however, Dr. Halgen stopped and looked Added dead in the eye. “Tonight. Come to my office. Alone. We need to talk…” Before Addy could even slip another question or comment, Dr. Halgen had already hurried away. For the next few hours, uncertainty and chaos reigned supreme in the facility. Xander, suffering heavily from Alzheimer’s, was finally taken down and calmed to the point where he didn’t say a word for the rest of the night. Addy suspected drugs were involved somehow… but regardless of his demeanor, his actions set the whole house on edge. The other nurses, like Yolanda and Penny, managed to keep the spirits of their Littles up and keep them away from most of chaos… but a show like Adventure Sam could only keep them occupied for so long. Seeing all the Littles, most of which have already started to descend into childish notions and some form of protective undergarment and sport some kind of childish clothing… were a sight to behold. Addy couldn’t help but feel her heart soaring just a little as she looked at them while Oliver and Katrina picked over their food silently. Each of the more progressed Littles were like a balm for her worries over the current batch that had just arrived today. She felt more than up to the task, but there was still something bothering her about even her relatively calm Littles. They weren’t wielding a knife, yes… but there was still something about them she couldn’t quite shake. Which is probably why when she made sure to tuck each of her charges in, she made sure that she had a monitor in both of their rooms. Katrina was first and went along willingly with most everything. Curiously, if there was ever a decision to be made by her, she always seemed to lean toward the option that she would suspect more from a second or even third month Little here… not someone on their first day. That being said, as she entered Oliver’s room, she almost wished that he would already be a little more like her. “I see you’re almost all ready to hit the hay. Need anything from me before I head up as well?” she questioned, hoping for more than a one-word answer from her new patient. “No.” He then took a breath… but this time it wasn’t to sigh or to get ready to groan or outright dismiss her like he had done for the rest of the day so far. Instead, this was more like he had something else he wanted to say… something pressing and clearly worrying him. Nerves or pride though… he ultimately stayed quiet. So, standing there in his minimalistic furnished room, Addy couldn’t decide what to do. On one hand, he had been crabby all day and pushing him now could only potentially make that worse, end his day poorly, and put them both off to a rocky start on this journey of theirs. On the other hand, though, his little hesitation wasn’t much, but it was something, and Addy couldn’t help but view it as a little spark. Barely anything, but maybe just the thing she needed to fan a bit to get a fire going between them. Instead of either option though, she went in the safer direction and held her position rather than overcrowding the Little. “You know… I know this place can be a lot, and I know I might represent everything you fear from this dimension, but… I would like to be your friend… or at least your nurse here. I’ve seen your medical file, so I know you need at least a little bit of help here. I’ll make sure you get your treatments to get better, but… if you ever need or even just want something more from me… just ask. No annoyance or judgement… just me helping where I can…” Not expecting any acknowledgement, with a little sag in her soul, she turned around. “Thank you…” It was small, fuzzy, barely above a whisper… but definitely present. Turning back around, Addy smiled at her new charge, still sitting up in his bed and ready to go to sleep. It was just for a moment, but she could see a fleck of vulnerability… of need. Thinking back to what Dr. Halgen remembered, maybe it was the night… or maybe it was just him being courteous. But either way, she made sure to keep up her end of manners if nothing else. “You’re very welcome…” With one breath, she then flicked off his lights and walked out without saying another word. As she closed his door though, she blinked and whispered. “Goodnight, Oliver… sweet dreams…” No one heard her today or any of the other first days she had here, but it was just the tiniest little thing she did with all her Littles. Of the dozens of Littles that she had helped in one way or another by now, she surmised only a handful could hear that sentiment on their first day in person. She almost told it to Katrina if she hadn’t almost immediately laid down in bed and shut her eyes earlier. Most, however, simply weren’t ready for that level of affection. ‘Soon… always soon…’ Resolved that both were tucked in at least for the standards that Psyche New Beginnings wanted them to follow, Addy soon ventured back over to the stairs, passing both Erin and Cassie as they tucked in their own Littles. With the severity and variety of their own Littles this round, their nightly ministrations took a little longer. So, taking advantage of their distraction, she made her way downstairs and made sure to softly knock on Dr. Halgen’s door. “Enter…” her soft voice came from inside. Opening up her doors, Addy entered quietly and made sure to shut them right away. Based on her tone earlier, Addy knew that something was up. “You still wanted to see me tonight?” Dr. Halgen sighed and swiveled over in her chair and nodded silently before gesturing to the two chair she had by her now roaring fireplace. The room was dark, somber, but exuded a specific warmth in certain places. Sighing though, Dr. Halgen sat in her chair first and Addy quickly followed in the opposite one. There was a moment of silence, and even after, Dr. Halgen only took a deep sip of her drink. Based on her little quiver after, Addy suspected there was some kind of liquor in it. “So… how are your new charges shaping up? Not too difficult I take it?” Addy shook her head. “No… at least not like Cassie’s or Erin’s this round. Tough diagnoses and based on earlier… I think it might be an interesting three months for them.” “Yes…” Dr. Halgen agreed before pressing more. “But your candidates… honest assessment after your first day with them. Last time, you nailed Cara and Patrick to a tee. How about this batch?” “Well…” Addy formulated a quick but political yet truthful notation about both in her head. “I need to keep an eye on Katrina. Something feels… off about her. Not bad… just different. And Oliver…” If Oliver hadn’t said thank you just before she left, her evaluation of him might have been very different. “A tough case but I think I can help him. Another ‘wait and see’ I think, but not unreachable.” “Good, good. Very good,” Dr. Halgen commended. “Never doubted you for a moment, but…” She shifted her mouth slightly and Addy knew right away she had something else up her sleeve for her. “I gave you those two candidates for a reason. Katrina should be a snap for someone like you and Oliver… more patience, but I think he could be useful…” Addy waited for Dr. Halgen continue, but when she didn’t, she took the initiative instead. “And…?” Dr. Halgen grinned but remained just as serious otherwise. “And I have another assignment I would like you to consider. You remember Cara, right?” A tiny needle entered Addy’s heart. She knew… everyone in town knew by now. Happy to be with Patrick, Sam, and Lloyd in their new living situation from what she saw when she visited them last week… but not even close to the woman or even Little she used to be. “Yes…” “Well, she’s still struggling… a lot actually,” Dr. Halgen revealed. “Sam is trying her best to be her new mommy, but… there’s only so much she can do while still working and caring for Patrick as well. So… now that you’re back…” Dr. Halgen left her insinuation up in the air, but it didn’t take Addy a second to know what she was digging at. “You want me to look in on her… help her. Is that it?” “Would you?” Dr. Halgen questioned, quickly looking relieved. “I will. Tough with two charges here, but… I think I can make it work.” There was hesitation in her voice, but that had only come from years of experience here and even with her undergrad work with broken Littles. Bigs were still cruel, but when the willing Littles ran out… they got downright nasty. Some Littles were still butchered from that time and Addy had made her bones by getting them to rehab. It was a tough lesson learned, but even then… some Littles just couldn’t be helped… Addy sighed and focused on the upside of this potential arrangement. “Maybe even a future playdate with Katrina and Oliver… when they’re all ready for that though. I need to assess Cara’s progress before I can make any promises. Deal?” Dr. Halgen reached over and shook Addy’s hand right away. “Deal.” She then leaned back and tapped her glass a few times before drinking a large swig of it. “Speaking of the chaos from November…” But Dr. Halgen just stopped cold and didn’t say a word, now seemingly lost in her thoughts. “Dr. Halgen… Kelsey…” Addy began after a moment of silence. “Is there someth…?” Dr. Halgen quickly stopped her with a single finger over her lips before producing a small device that she quickly opened and put on the side table right behind her drink, a little red dot blinking and then holding after a moment. Once it stopped, Dr. Halgen looked back at Addy. “Okay… we can talk freely now about… other things.” Addy blinked a few times and the tiny device. She had seen it only on TV or in the news… usually followed by a story of death or treason. “Is that… is that a…?” Dr. Halgen nodded. “Anti-listening device… just in case. Emily… Sergent Emily gave this to me last week before telling me what I’m about to tell you… It’s normally illegal to possess, blocking all signals in a 15-foot radius and all… but things might just about to be get serious.” She then took another long sip from her drink. “I take it you remember Britney and Redge from when you were last here?” Addy had to fight every urge she had not to grimace outwardly over their names. “Yes… former potential caregiver of Patrick and former employee of Juventas, respectively. After they kidnapped Patrick and Cara, they were caught after hurting Cara with the machine she stole from Juventas, I think, and both were sentenced to Dark Cliff for life.” Addy paused and stared back at Dr. Halgen. “What of them?” Dr. Halgen sighed. “Well… as you know, their punishment was more than a little unusual there.” Addy opened her mouth to ask but was quickly cut off… and Dr. Halgen saw. “No. Just… no. And before you ask, yes, I know, but trust me… you don’t want to. You might find out one day, but right now… their punishment is classified. To know it could put your life in danger, so for now… just know it’s not good.” Addy’s mind had been scrambling to find an answer ever since she heard about it, and especially once she saw Patrick’s face after he heard about their mysterious punishment. Considering the deal she had just made and what she saw last week, Cara was still struggling daily and there seemed to be little justice for her, or even Esther or Nancy, two of their other victims. “However…” Dr. Halgen bit her lip, almost as if she didn’t even want to say the next part. “Needless to say, both were devastated with their punishment and have been looking for ways to make deals ever since they stepped foot in Dark Cliff. As such… we’ve found some information out… information that could help our little plan out back here…” Addy leaned forward. Ever since she had been brought in, it had become only the third of her three priorities beyond helping Littles as a nurse here and finding a Little of her own. So far, things had only been simmering with their plot. “You found something?” Dr. Halgen leaned forward as well. “Yes… Penny… our nurse, Penny… she was the rat that allowed Redge and Britney the access and knowledge of our facility and Patrick and Cara on the day they were kidnapped.” Addy’s eyes widened and her knuckles cracked. She shot out of her seat and nearly got to the double doors… hell-bent on throttling Penny upstairs. “Hold it right there!” Dr. Halgen commanded, standing from her seat as well, just in time before Addy touched the doorknob. Seeing her stop, Dr. Halgen breathed a sigh of relief. “Now… come back over here and sit down.” When Addy remained frozen in place, her brow wrinkled slightly. “Now.” Her mouth twitching from the sheer amount of willpower it took within her to turn away and stop enacting her vengeance out, Addy wheeled around and sat once more along with Dr. Halgen. Breathing out, Dr. Halgen quickly patted her knee. “Thank you, Addy. I know that had to be tough to do. Trust me… that little b… witch would be six feet under already if I had any say in the matter… or didn’t see the larger picture.” Addy looked up at her friend and boss with a speck of hope somewhere deep down… hope of a plan. “So, there is a reason she’s still working here… that… traitor.” Addy ground her teeth and couldn’t believe that she was still allowed to interact with Littles. Dr. Halgen nodded. “That’s right. We know her secret… so that means we have leverage over her. Sergeant Emily agrees with me… Penny could just be a minion in all this, but… she might also know more key players in this. As a former employee, we can’t just ignore the connection between Britney and Juventas. Problem is… we just don’t know enough… except the aftermath of their corruption.” “You don’t need to tell me twice…” Addy nearly shuddered at all the evidence of the brutal outcomes from their own parent company here at Psyche New Beginnings. Juventas funded all this… but their methods were turning cold and hard for any Little. In truth, it was starting to feel like the old days of barbarism against Littles once more. “Maybe I do…” Dr. Halgen looked distant for a moment. “You’ve seen this batch. And the one before it was just as bad. Two already gone… It’s like Juventas wants us to activate our security protocols and forcibly break the Littles because of the danger they may pose to society. I mean… we have a known criminal this time. Ten years ago… they would have never even been let in the front door!” “I noticed…” But with her connections with the company and her years of service, a part of Addy still wanted to remain loyal. “But maybe they just want to help everyone.” “Maybe… but how about this then?” She then reached down and pulled out a letter from the board. “Came in this morning. Could barely believe it’s the same company I first came to work for…” Addy took the note and looked at it carefully before her heart fell from its contents. “The board voted down the resolution to remove the drugs in the Little’s food…” Dr. Halgen nodded and stood up before going over to her window, though not too far over to still stay withing the sphere of the anti-listening device. “There’s something rotten here, Addy… You know it and I know it.” Sighing, she turned around and headed right to Addy. “I know Penny should be punished… and she will be, but for now… if you are still willing to help us, I want you to tail her… talk to her. Learn what you can and report back to me and Sergeant Emily. Is that something you can do?” Addy just opened her mouth when Dr. Halgen stopped her. “Before you say yes or no though… just know that this assignment is going to take patience, time, and some major efforts on everyone’s part… starting with you. Sometimes, it’s going to mean getting dirty with others… sometimes doing things you would have never considered before.” She paused. “But also… if we’re successful, think about how many Littles we could be helping… saving, Addy. Think of that and just how much better this place could be…” Addy swished the two conflicting notions around in her head a few times. It was a lot to ask anyone, especially the part about getting to be all buddy-buddy with Penny once more. A friend, but now someone she knew was dirty and at the very least who caused the kidnapping of two Littles and the butchering of one of their brains… the other only being saved from that at the last minute by some quick decisions and great detective work. But all that would have to be put aside. She loved this place and loved Juventas. They did so much good, but now… all that seemed to be slipping away. Thinking back to Mindy, part of the reason for her happiness was being a part of this place. A company born to cure the incurable diseases after the last great war… they now seemed lower than the low and bent on regressing every Little they came across, no matter the cost. It was likely going to be dangerous and messy, but Patrick and Cara and now even Katrina and Oliver… they all deserved better. Juventas had a sickness and as a nurse, Addy felt she needed to cure them of that disease. Now, no matter how, she knew they had to be stopped… Taking a deep breath, Addy looked back at the eager Dr Halgen and nodded. “I’m in.” Dr. Halgen smiled back at her and despite her own convictions, Addy couldn’t help but hear her heart thud aimlessly and deep in anticipation and nervous over what was to come.

I tried to write a new story, and I hope you like it. I would appreciate it if you came with comments and aides. I hope you enjoy it. The story has non-sexual thins involved. the short story is about an 8-year-old boy who has started to struggle with bedwetting. It doesn't get any better when his sister finds out and wants revenge for something he did to her. ————— Tobias summer vacation The sunlight streamed through Tobias' windows, directly on his face. With summer vacation in full swing, he enjoyed lounging and stretching without school restrictions. His eyes widened, and he became more awake as he noticed something was wrong. His eyes suddenly stopped moving and widened as a terrifying thought gripped him. His hand slowly began to reach out, feeling under the cover of darkness. Tobias froze when his terrifying thoughts became a reality: he had wet the bed again. He got scared and called his mother without thinking. “Mom!” The sound of steps came through him, and the door to his room opened. “Good morning, sleepy head; everything alright? “ said his mom. His eyes started to get wet; tears began to roll down his skin. “What’s wrong, honey?” said his mom. Tobias lay in bed, sobbing, trying to explain what had happened. Unable to speak, he removed the blanket to reveal his wet bed to his mother. As she looked at it, her eyes filled with compassion and understanding. “Oh, have you had an accident again? Poor thing. That can happen to the best; shower, and I'll take care of your bed.” said his mom. Tobias felt embarrassed, but his mother gave him a warm smile. “Go take a warm shower, and then meet me for breakfast,” his mom said. Tobias walked in his wet pajamas to the bathroom for a refreshing shower, enjoying warm water running down his body. He exited the shower to find that his mother had left a towel with Lego Ninjago characters. Tobias dried himself and returned to his room. His mother had already laid out underpants, shorts, and a T-shirt on his freshly made bed. He descended the stairs and found his two older sisters already sitting, eating breakfast. His sisters Maria and Andrea played with their phones while eating and didn't notice Tobias coming. Maria was an 18-year-old girl who spent much time at work and with her friends and wasn't home much. Andrea was a 15-year-old girl who always got what she wanted, regardless of the consequences for others. She was tired of all the attention the little brat always got and was looking forward to spending the summer with her friends. The girls loved their parents, and although they didn't despise their little brother, they loved him but found his constant attention and spoiled nature particularly annoying. The girls always enjoyed teasing Tobias because he was much shorter than the other children his age. Sometimes, the girls would take Tobias out to play and often met strangers who mistook him for a younger child. Once, Tobias was mistakenly taken to the kindergarten when a teacher mistook him for a little child. Tobias prepared a breakfast mix and placed the bowl on the table before setting up his highchair. Tobias always found it so embarrassing that he had to use a high chair instead of sitting on an adult chair. However, he knew using a highchair was better than sitting on his knees. Their mother sat down with her children and relaxed with a cup of coffee before she broke the silence. “So kids, what's your plans today?” said his mom. Maria put the phone down and looked over to her mother. “I have work and then some plans with my friends. We will drive to the beach; a friend will pick me up soon.” Andrea glanced at Maria and rolled her eyes before speaking, "I'm going to hang out with some friends." His mother smiled at her daughters, took another sip of her coffee, and leaned closer to chat more quietly with Tobias. “Did you go to the washroom with the wet pajamas?” his mom asked. The girl's eyes filled with curiosity as they listened to their mother's whispering voice. Andrea burst into laughter before responding. “Has the baby wet the bed again? Maybe you should consider using diapers on him again, like babies need, Mom!” Andrea said. Tobias turned red with embarrassment as he heard the mocking laughter and hurtful words. He wasn't a baby, an 8-year-old kid who wanted to yell back at them, but he knew his mother would get angry from arguing. Tobias took control of his frustration and quietly ate his food while looking down. Maria giggled and laughed with her sister until their mother looked at them sternly. "Now that's enough, girls. You can leave the table," their mom said. His mother looked at him with an expression of love but also concern. “Don't listen to those girls. Now I'll clean up; the kitchen looked like a mess.” said his mom. Thinking raced through her head while she got up and walked to the kitchen to clean up. She wondered why he had started wetting the bed at night. She planned to talk to her husband and schedule a doctor's appointment when he came home. Tobias finished his food and gave his mother his plate before returning to his room. He sat down on his rug and opened his drawers full of Legos. Time flew by as he built with all the Lego bricks he had. Without him noticing, someone began brushing his hair. Tobias turned and was happy to see his father bending down behind him. "Daddy, you're home!" “Hi, champ! Had a good day?” his dad said. Tobias smiled as he saw his father sit down on the bottom to play with the Legos with him. "Do you want to join me for a little play, Daddy?" As they chatted about the day, his father built a little with his son. “When do you have a vacation, Dad?” “I don't have any holiday yet, but we'll manage. So, Mom told me about what happened last night. Is there anything that has happened that you want to talk about? It's been a while since you used to wet the bed at night.” said his dad. Tobias sat quietly and said nothing as he poked at the Lego. "I don't know, Dad. It just happened. I'm sorry." "It'll be fine, champ. It'll probably just be a bad night." his dad said. His father got up and left the room to talk to his wife. A little worried, he looked back at his son before he disappeared and went downstairs. He sat beside his wife, tired from a long day at work. She had put some dinner in the oven, which would soon be ready. "I asked Junior why he had wet the bed several times. He didn't know." his father said. She looked over at him with a worried look. "It has happened too often to be just an accident, and I soon won't have any bedwear left. No, we need to take him to a doctor. I will call them tomorrow." the mother said. She got up and started setting the table. Tobias came down the stairs simultaneously with his mother, who had just put lasagna on the table. “Tobias, can you tell your sisters it is time for dinner?” his mom said. Tobias nodded and ran up the stairs to his sisters. He knocked on the door and waited until Maria said he could come in. "It's dinner," he said, running to Andreas' room. He knocked on the door but got no answer. He tried again, but there was still no response from her. Tobias opened the door and entered the room. He studied all the drawings and figures she had created. Suddenly, he heard her voice behind him. "What are you doing in my room? Who said you could walk into my room, your little bed wetter? If it was up to me, would I put you back in diapers? It was so funny at school when you were mistaken for a kindergarten kid, and the funniest thing is that you don't look any older than one,” Andrea said mockingly. Tobias looked at her with an angry look. He wasn't a kindergarten kid; he was a big kid. “I'm not a baby! I'm a big kid!” Andrea burst out laughing as she could see his face became red. “Are you a big kid? You could be mistaken for a toddler in the right clothes, considering you are still wet in the bed. Real big kids don't wet their beds. You would have looked adorable in diapers and some childish clothes,” said Andrea as she laughed. Tobias became angry and red as he ran out of her room and into his room. He buried his face down into his bed pillow with anger. He wanted to tell his mother how much Andrea had teased him; this wasn't fear. But the more he thought about it, the more afraid he became that his mother would think it would be a good idea to put him back in diapers. Tobias cooled down and walked to join the others for dinner. “Hay, champ, you disappeared a little. Is everything okay?” his father asked with a slightly concerned tone. Tobias tried to keep his smile up but said nothing as he sat in his chair. He and his sisters giggled as they whispered to each other before Andrea spoke. "He must have been late to the table for another accident," said Andrea as the girls giggled. Their parents were visibly displeased by Andrea's choice of words and directed stern looks at her. Both girls immediately fell silent, focusing solely on their meals. Tobias felt embarrassed and ashamed at how the girls treated him. As they ate, the conversation turned to discussing their respective days, but Tobias remained silent, his mind unable to shake off the hurtful words his sister had used. Despite not being as tall or physically developed as others his age, Tobias resented being treated like a little child. He ate his food and looked over at his mom. “May I be excused from the table?” “Of course you can.” said his mother. He cleaned his table and returned to his room, still irritated by what the girls had said of him. Time passed as he looked at the TV in his room, and his mother came in. “It's time for bed, young man. Brush your teeth and come back; we need to talk,” his mother said in a warm tone. He walked to the bathroom, brushed his teeth, and went to the toilet before he came back. His mother was still sitting on his bed, waiting for him, holding his pajamas in her hand as he walked inside his room. He came to his mother, removed his clothes, and took on the pajamas before lying on the bed. “So, young man, I have spoken to your father. You have an appointment at the doctor's tomorrow. There have been too many bedwetting accidents,” his mom said calmly but in a loving tone. Tobias' face became scared, and he didn't want to go to any doctors. “Why, I promise to stop with the wetting.” “I'll make you a deal: If you behave well tomorrow, I will take you to your favorite ice cream shop. Is that okay?” his mom said. He smiled as his mother ruffled his hair and left the room. His dad walked by, gave him a wink. "Good night, champ; see you tomorrow." his dad said. The door closed as Tobias lay down and thought of the morning. His eyes became heavy, and he fell asleep. As the sun came through his window, Tobias's eyes opened; he soon felt something was wrong; he had done it again—his bed was wet. He walked out of his bed and took a shower before he took some clothes. His sister wasn't up yet, but his mother sat with a coffee. “Good morning, young man. Are you first up today? How did the night go?” said his mom. He looked at the ground, and his mother understood the answer. She came and hugged him. “It's okay. I'll fix your wet bed, and you can wake your sisters.” said his mom. He smiled and strolled over to Andrea's room. As he approached, he noticed that her door was slightly ajar. Peeking inside, he saw Andrea putting some beer into her backpack. Tobias made a misstep; his sister shouted his name as he sprinted to his mother. Upon her mother's coming, she promptly unzipped the bag, and Andrea looked at Tobias with intense hatred. “What is this? Beer! Maria, where have you got a beer from?” their mother shouted sternly. Andrea cast a sympathetic glance her mother's way while their mother fell silent as her eyes fixed on her watch. “I forgot we have a doctor's appointment, Tobias. Come. And you, young lady, I'll deal with you later,” said their mother sharply. As their mother walked away, Tobias began to turn when Andrea grasped his arm firmly. “Now listen, little pee boy. You will regret this," while Andrea's expression could terrify anyone. Andrea releases him, and he runs to his mother, who is waiting in the car with her phone. Tobias tries to tell his mother what Andrea did, but she talks with Dad about the beer. Tobias sits back and looks out the windows as they drive away. After a drive, they park the car in a parking garage and walk into a building. It feels like an eternity for Tobias to walk fast, but they make it just in time. His mother placed him on a chair as she stood in line to announce their arrival. Tobias walked over to some cool toys and started to play. A young nurse came by Tobias. “Hello there, little man. I think these toys are for big boys, but you can play with this once over here.” the nurse said with a smile. He looked over at the young nurse who had found some toys for daycare children. “There you go, have fun.” the lady said as she walked away. He became red in his face and irritated. He was not a daycare baby; he was a big kid. He returned to his mother, who had sat in the waiting room. His mother took his hand and sat beside him as they waited for their turn. The nurse came and said Tobias' name; his mother looked at him and took his hands. They walked into the man who sat in the doctor's office. He smiled and raised his hand to greet them. “Good day. I am Doctor Brown. What can I do for you?” As his mother started talking to the doctor, Tobias sat a little scared. As he looked at a picture of a girl the same age as Andrea, Tobias began to think nervously about what Andrea said before he ran to the car. Was it wrong to tell Mom about the beer? Is it okay to drink? He hired the doctor, said his name, and Tobias looked at him. “Don't be worried, Tobias. We will check everything to see if something is wrong with you, young man.” the doctor said. He rose and showed how they would take some tests. It felt like an eternity with all the testing and things the doctors wanted to do, but Tobias always returned to the incident with his sister. The look on her face was so angry and mean, and it did not look good; he felt afraid. Tobias had come back from his thoughts. He realized he now sat and waited outside in the waiting room to return to the doctor's office. At the same time, his name was up. They sat down with the doctor. He started with the easy words that they could not find anything wrong with him; he had to be immature in his body. He was small for his age, and Tobias looked wans again at the picture of the girl, which reminded him of what Andrea had said. It wasn't funny that the nurse had mistaken him for a little child. His mother raised her hand and thanked the doctor as they walked out. She looked a little worried when they walked away from the doctor. She looked at him and said she needed to stop by the store for supplies. Tobias followed along as his mother picked out the food and supplies required. His mother took a long time to look at something. He looked up and got red in the face. She was looking at diapers! “Mom! What are you doing? I don't need diapers; that is for small babies.” She lifted something into the trolley as she looked over at him. “Don't worry; it's just a safety measure. It will be our little secret. Didn't you hear the doctor say we should use protection at night? Also, it's difficult for me to change your bed every day. I had enough this morning with Andrea and the doctor. Please stop acting like a baby. It's not diapers; it's pull-ups, but if you act more like a baby, maybe I should take diapers instead!” his mother said, irritated. They had walked back to the car and were on their way home. Tobias mined raced, being mistaken for a little child; now he had to use pull-ups! They parked the car, and his mother opened the car door for him. They walked inside with all the groceries and the pull-ups. He walked in silently and into his room. He started to play some TV games as time began to fly. He heard his mother and her talking down stars, not in a great tone, and suddenly, she called out everyone's names and told them to come down. When Tobias came downstairs, Andrea sat on the sofa with an angry look and her arms crossed. His mother smiled at him with a loving tone. “Now, Andrea, Dad is going on a business trip. I don't want to sit at home, so Tobias and you will drive with me to my sister.” said their mom. Andrea became red in anger. “What about my friends? I need to be home!” said Andrea, irritated as her mother looked sternly back at her. “Now you listen, young lady. I told you that Maria needed to work so she would be home, but you would be with me and your brother. We are leaving tomorrow for my sister, and you will not be angry about it. This is entirely your fault. Now behave,” said their mom in a stern tone at her. Andrea was so upset about going on this stupid trip with her mother and little pee brother and not seeing her friends. She blamed Tobias for the whole situation! "Is my cousin Sofia there, at least?" Andrea asked. Here, Mother smiled back at her. “Yes, and so is Sam.” said his mom. Andrea just rolled her eyes and spoke silently. “Sam? He’s four, isn't he? He's just another baby but a good play buddy for Tobias.” Her eyes lit up like fire as she repeated it. “Yes, a good play buddy for Tobias,” she said as her smile grew. Tobias got worried about what Andreas's eyes shoved. Whatever she was thinking, this can't be good. “So, we are leaving tomorrow morning. Your father has to leave on a business trip tonight. Andrea and Tobias, go and pack your bags; we are leaving early tomorrow." said their mom. Tobias runs upstairs to pack his bag of toys. His mother comes upstairs with a bag and starts to pack his clothes. She has almost finished packing when she turns to him and looks him in the eyes. “I need to go downstairs, Tobias. Can you pack some underwire in your bag?” He proudly smiled at his mother as she walked out of his room and downstairs. He had put all his underwear in the bag and walked out of his room to get some things from the living room. As he came back upstairs into his bedroom, Andrea walked out with a backpack over her shoulder. “What are you doing in my room?” said Tobias. Andrea smiled at him. "Sorry, I'm just looking for you. Are you looking forward to traveling and visiting our aunt? It will surely be fun for you to play with Sam. He is probably four now, I think," Andrea said. Tobias became irritated by her foolish comments. "Why would I play with a baby? That is four. I'm a big kid,” said Tobias. “Yeah, he's four, but you are no taller than he is and don't look much older. With the right clothes, you can easily be mistaken for a 4-year-old little bedwetter you are. Mom should have bought diapers for you.” said Andrea. Tobias felt his face turn red as she threw humiliating words at him. Despite his attempts to protest and set her straight, she continued with her hurtful remarks as he walked by and slammed his door. Dinner was a bit sad. Andrea had been a lousy sister that day, and Dad was leaving for a work trip. The dinner felt slow, and time seemed to drag on. After going to the bathroom to brush his teeth and quickly visit the toilet, he returned to his room feeling a little unsettled. His mother was sitting on the bed, waiting for him. “Remember our discussion about protection?” said his mom. His eyes bulged, and his face turned red as he confidently approached his mother. “Mom, please, I don't want to wear it. Babies like Sam use diapers, not big kids,” he told his mom. His mother becomes irritated and drags him to the bed, but she offers him a warm smile before speaking. “Listen, first of all, it's not a diaper; it's a pull-up. Second, I don't have any more bed covers as they're not dry after all the wetting. Third, waking up in a wet pull-up is better than waking up in a wet bed. So, please take off your clothes and let me help you. If you're good, I'll let you watch some more TV in your bed.” said his mom. Tobias started to take off his shirt and pants, but he got a little slower when it came to his underwear; his lust was not in him. His mother gently helped him take it off. She found a white pull-up with some Paw Patrol drawings at the front. She opened it so Tobias could put his feet into it. She dragged the pull-up until it was in its place and checked that everything was in its place. He looked down and saw the soft but thick pull-up between his legs, which made keeping his feet together more challenging due to his spread-apart legs. Looking at the pull-up, he saw the paw patrol in the front. He thought it was better than diapers. His mother walked to his drawer to get a pajama top and pants. Suddenly, Tobias heard a familiar laugh behind him. He closed his eyes in shame and turned to see Andrea entering. “Now, have you seen? Mom followed my advice and put the little toddler back in a diaper.” As Andrea patted his back, Tobias blushed with embarrassment. His mom handed Tobias his pajamas and gave Andrea a stern look. “Now listen, Andrea. Tobias' doctor suggested using some protection. It's not a diaper; it's a pull-up. So let your brother be," said their mom. Andrea smiled with pride as she walked out. She started to talk silently: “The little brat is already back in his diaper. This will make my plan a lot easier. He ruined my summer, but my revenge will be satisfying. I need to talk to my cousin Sofia. I'm not finished with Tobias yet. she said as she walked to her room. Tobias' mother kissed him and walked out of his room. Tobias took his clothes on. Feeling something between his legs was strange, and he made a little bowel in the front. He watched some TV and, after a while, fell asleep. Tobias wakes to his mother's hands touching him. His eyes open to see his mother's warm smile. "Good, you're up, and you're not wet. I'm so proud of you." his mom said. He was about to leave bed, but his mother stopped him. Before she spoke, her face looked a little concerned. "Hey there, since it's still early, you'll probably doze off in the car because we have a long drive ahead. Please keep your pull-up diaper on while we're driving, just in case you have an accident. It would be very tiring for me if there were any accidents in the car while we're on the road." said his mom. Tobias's face became red with sadness. "Keep my pull-ups on? But I don't wet myself at day?" he said in frustration. His mom looked a little concerned before she looked down. He started to feel guilty. "Okay, Mom. I will wear the pull-up diaper for you." Her face smiled back at him with pride. "You are amazing for being so considerate of others. Your selflessness is admirable, and I hope your sister can learn from your example. From you. Now take your bag to the garage." said his mother. Tobias's mother excused herself from the room as he put on his pants over the pull-up diaper. Putting on his pants proved challenging, resulting in a slight bulge in the front and a curve in the back. To conceal the diaper, he put on a hoodie and picked up his bag before heading towards the car in the garage. As he stooped to set down his bag, a familiar and unexpected voice broke the silence—Andrea's voice. "Stop right there," she said as her steps came closer. As she crept up behind him, he could feel the warmth of her breath on the back of his neck, sending shivers down his spine. Every step she took seemed to echo in the silence as he anxiously wondered what she was after. Her hand moved slowly, almost hesitantly, as it reached out to touch him. She paused before him, gently raising his chin with her index finger while fixing him with a stern gaze. "I think it's wise for the baby to have his diaper on." His heart races as she stares into his eyes sternly. He becomes so afraid that he tenses up and wets his pull-up. His eyes widen with fear as the pull-up starts to swell. It was the most terrifying feeling he had ever felt. Andrea laughs at him and looks down at him with contempt. "Looks like someone needs a diaper change. It seems like you've wet your diaper. Let's go find Mom and get you changed." As they left the garage, her infectious laughter filled the air, intertwining with their footsteps. Tobias felt his heart racing with fear as they approached their mother. Andrea hid her smile and looked concerned as she glanced at her mother. "Excuse me, Mom, but Tobias had an accident, and I believe he needs a diaper change," Andrea said with a concerned expression as she looked at her mother. Their mother's face looked concerned at Tobias before she bent down to her knees, her hand stroking over his hair. "Common little one, let's change that diaper." Tobias's expression soured as a wave of embarrassment washed over him. His mother mentioned the word "diapers" instead of "pull-ups" as she gently took his hand and guided him back to his room. Once there, she swiftly removed his pants and pull-up diaper, leaving Tobias feeling utterly mortified and unable to speak a single word. She quickly swapped out the used pull-up for a fresh one and efficiently helped him back into his clothes. Before leaving, she kissed his cheek tenderly, gazing at him with love. "It's alright, little one; there's no need to feel embarrassed. Now, let's get on our way." his mother said. As she gracefully exited the room, he was left standing there, feeling the weight of humiliation from the recent events. He reached out to switch off the light before going downstairs for a quick breakfast. The morning meal was hurried, and they soon stood inside the garage. As Tobias was about to settle into the car, his sister Andrea looked at their mother. "Mom, maybe we should consider using Tobias's old car seat for the upcoming long drive. You know there have been a lot of police checks lately, especially after that terrible accident involving the child who wasn't properly secured in their seat. Even though Tobias is eight years old, he's still on the shorter side. I want to make sure he's safe, and of course, I'm also concerned about your license, Mom," Andrea said with a worried expression as she looked at her mother. Tobias' eyes got more extensive, and his face became red. "No, Mom, you can't be serious!" His mother gazed at him with quiet intensity. Afterward, she shifted her gaze back to Andrea, and her hand gently caressed Andrea's skin. "You're completely right, Andrea. I hadn't considered that. You take such good care of your brother. I'm worried about your father traveling. I'm grateful to have you, Andrea, to care for things." Their mother left the car and found Tobias's old car seat. She opened his door and looked at Tobias. As his mother hooked up the seat, he shamed out of the car. His sister smiled evilly at Tobias as their mother walked out. Without asking, she lifted Tobias, put him in his child's seat, fastened him with a belt, and fiddled with the car door before she closed it. She sighed a little and leaned into the driver's door. "I'm sorry. I need to visit the bathroom. Just stay; I won't be long." As she quickly vanished from sight, Andrea looked at Tobias with pride. She left the car and opened the trunk to find something, Tobias thought. She came back and sat down as he looked sternly at her. "Now, don't give me that look, Tobias. You know it's important to ensure that babies are securely strapped into their car seats," his sister teased him. As Tobias was on the verge of responding, his mother arrived. Opting for silence, he gazed out the window as they departed from the garage. The morning sun shone warmly on the windowpanes as the car pulled away. As they continued their journey, a significant distance had been covered when Tobias's eyes slowly opened. He had nodded off and fallen asleep during the drive. Beside him lay a bottle of water and something to eat. His mom smiled back at him from the mirror. "Good morning! Did you have a restful sleep? I quickly stopped to pick up some refreshing drinks and something to eat for you. We'll be reaching our destination in no time now." said his mother. As he started to wake up, he noted something wasn't right; he had wet himself again. The pull-up had swelled up in the front, and it didn't get any better. He needed to pee. He tried to be calm, but it got more difficult. The feeling of having to go to the bathroom began to push more and more. "Mom, I need to go to the bathroom." His mom glanced at him in the mirror and replied. "I apologize, but I can't pull over right now. We're expected to reach our destination in fifteen minutes. You're more than capable of managing that," his mother reassured him. Tobias sat uneasily in his seat, attempting to calm his nerves. Despite his efforts, he couldn't shake off the feeling of unease. Through his struggle, he noticed Andrea casting glances in his direction, adding to his discomfort. Her smile appeared mocking before she spoke. "You say you're a big boy, Tobias, so it shouldn't be a problem to hold on?" said Andrea with a big smile. As he sat there restlessly, time felt like an eternity. When his mother finally drove up a familiar driveway and stopped the car, the pressure was so great that he began to get desperate. His mother opened the car door and saw her sister waiting for them at the entrance. They met and hugged each other while Tobias sat desperately waiting for the car door to open. He repeatedly tried to open it, but the child lock was on. Frustration built up within him as he observed his mother chatting and laughing with her sister while he sat suffering. His face turned red, and his body froze when he realized the battle was lost. He desperately tried to hold it in, but it was useless. The sluices opened, and the pee filled his diaper, which swelled as much as possible, but it just continued to flow. When his nightmare was finally over, another one began. It started leaking down his side and into his pants as his aunt opened the door to greet him. When his aunt saw Tobias, her eyes widened, and his face turned red with embarrassment. There he sat, strapped in a child seat, and had just wet himself so much that his pants were now soaked. His aunt changed her gaze to slightly mocking before her voice came. "Hi, Tobias. You haven't changed a bit. I thought you had become a big boy now," she said and looked at her sister curiously. "Tobias seems to have not grown at all. I believe putting him back in a child's seat was wise. He looks like he could be as old as my Sam. I was surprised to learn that he had started wearing diapers again, which I already see has leaked through his diaper. You know, sis, when you have to put them back in diapers, you must choose a thick and long-lasting option." said his aunt to her sister. Tobias's aunt's words stung his pride, and he felt embarrassed. His aunt helped him leave the car seat while his mother approached and leaned down. She saw tears starting to come down from his eyes. Her finger wiped them away before she hugged Tobias and looked him warmly in the eyes. "Now, let's go inside, remove this wet diaper, and find clean clothes." his mother said.

Hello all, So it seems in the last few years a lot of the places I used to post stories sort of fell through. I used to mainly concentrate on Devinatart, Daily Diapers, ADISC and ABDL Story Forum. I knew there were other pages out there that took stories but those were enough for me. Anyway, of those, ADISC and ABDL Story Forum both went under. I've since posted on Spandi, but its newer and the writing community is slow to increase. I realized at one point about half the most recently updated stories were my own, as there simply wasn't many people posting. I would recommend this site btw, as I'd like to see it grow, but for now there isn't a large community. So my question is- where else are people posting? I know there are other pages, and I occasionally see my stories pop up elsewhere. (I'm thinking someone was copy pasting them) Are there other good places to post abdl writing? Which are your favourites? Also, how do you advertise/get followers on them? Thanks, Alex

If you're a fan of giant sentient diapers and possibly being vored by said sentient diapers, this might be for you~ 👀 I have a diapercritter like species I came up with >~< they are a bit different from normal diapercritters so it's not for everyone but if anyone is interested in it, I'd love it if you read the details below. I'd love to possibly do a real RP with one of use playing as them! >~< #vore #macro #diaper #fart Diapertaurs are aliens that look like massive and long diapers in the shape of a centipede. Their face resembles a shiny panel on the front of a diaper with an animated 2d face. Diapertaurs are a bit bigger than a car. All of a Diapertaurs limbs resemble big tape tabs with sticky tapes at the ends. A Diapertaurs leak guards follow along both left and right sides of their body where their limbs start. Their leak guards are usually for letting out farts but are otherwise closed off from the inside of their body. Diapertaurs have many limbs like a centipede. Diapertaurs have the ability to change their personality, voice, print design, and animated face. Diapertaurs can make any sound and smell imaginable. Diapertaurs can eat anything but their main food source is diapers filled with water. Diapertaurs usually animate their face when talking but occupationally open up their real mouth when burping and swallowing balled up diapers. Diapertaurs love absorbing water to make themselves look bigger, heavier, sexy. Diapertaur faces are usually simple animal faces, peekabu style faces, or anthro animals wearing shortalls that are reflected in the rest of the diapertaur's print.

Unlike my other works where I'd say all the important choices were done by me while still using AI to a large degree, this one is not. It's like 80% generated, done via the far more common "prompt then edit" style. I did do a reasonable amount of editing both after the fact and with intrusive mid-generation editing, but much less of the latter than my previous workflow (which also means that I had much less creative control, acting more as an editor and director instead of as a close collaborator). It ended up better than I had been expecting, though, and I thought it was worth sharing. Most of the writing credit goes to the Gemma 3 Instruct 27B model. The Long Ride Sitting in the car, her floral print dress was resting on legs forced to spread ever so slightly further apart than usual. Ten-year-old Lily was reading a book, ignoring the blurry green landscape rushing by. Beside her, eight-year-old Leo was engrossed in his tablet, a small, contented smile on his lips as he played his game. She was jealous, because he was free. Free from the bulky, humiliating weight she felt beneath her dress. It wasn't new. The family didn't go on long car rides frequently, but when they did it always happened. Her parents, despite her years of being potty-trained, insisted on a diaper. A “just in case” precaution. Leo had previously joined in her suffering, but this trip was different. This morning at breakfast, the announcement had been made. “Leo,” her mom had said, beaming, “you've been doing so well these past several trips. We trust you to hold it until we stop. No diaper needed!” Lily's cereal tasted like ash. She'd braced for the inevitable teasing, differing only in that for the first time it would be coming before the trip had even started. But it hadn't come at all. Leo had just… accepted it. A flicker of emotion crossed his face, maybe disappointment, maybe nothing but a fleeting thought. Then he'd nodded and gone back to his toast with no more said than a simple “Okay”. Twenty minutes into the drive, she had released a small trickle of pee. Not because she needed to, no. But the diaper was there: a soft, absorbent prison. Holding her bladder was never comfortable, a constant nagging that didn't let up until she dealt with its source. And when she tried, her parents would get annoyed because she had asked for yet another potty break. And often, once it became impossible for her to wait any longer, all that would prove to have been for naught. So this time, why not just… preemptively relieve the pressure? Having concluded that her logic was sound and she was making the right choice, she went. It was warm and shameful in the moment, but seconds later and it was like nothing had happened. She felt dry. No rude jokes from her brother, no complaints from her parents. Nobody else had noticed at all. Another hour, and the urge had both returned and was immediately answered. This time there was more. While she sat there, letting it happen, she found the sensation strangely… comforting, in a horrible way. The diaper swelled, absorbing the warmth, the plastic crinkling softly as it expanded. It was a weird thing, realizing that she really could pee anytime without any consequences. She still hated her diaper, the loss of her dignity, the childishness of it all, but it was also… easy. Convenient. Now, two hours in, and a different kind of pressure was building. Lower, heavier. This time, she needed to poop. She put her book down. “Mom?” she asked, her voice small. “Can we stop? I need to go to the bathroom.” Her mom glanced at her in the rearview mirror. “We're stopping in about an hour, honey. Try to hold it if you can, but it's okay if you need to use your diaper, that's what it's there for.” The casual dismissal stung. “You know, it's good that we prepared, so you don't have to worry if you can't make it.” Lily sank back into her seat, clenching her jaw. Fine. She would hold it. She had to. The thought of the mess, the smell, the inevitable lecture… it was unbearable. She could do this, she just had to focus. Five minutes stretched into ten. The pressure intensified, a growing ache in her abdomen. The urge was overwhelming now, a desperate, insistent plea from her body. “Mom?” she tried again, her voice trembling. “I really need to go. Can we please stop?” Her dad sighed. “Lily, we already told you, we're not stopping for a long while. You have a diaper on for a reason, use it.” The words were like a punch to the gut. “But…” she started, then trailed off, defeated. She didn't want to use her diaper for that. They hadn't ever made her do it before. She wanted to be normal, to poop into a real toilet instead of the one she was wearing. But her wish had been denied, and she had to accept that. She could've held it for another few minutes, maybe, but what was the point? There was no way she could hold it for the better part of an hour. Even though she knew that she had no real choice, though, it was surprisingly hard to start. She tried to relax, to let go. She found herself once again peeing into her diaper, but this time it didn't stop there. A wave of pressure built up, and she started pushing. It came slowly at first, a warm, soft mass, then a rush of it. It filled the seat of the diaper, heavy and bulky. She pushed again, and again, until she was completely empty, her body limp with exhaustion. She felt... numb. Disgust washed over her, but underneath that, a strange relief. The pressure was gone. But the relief was short-lived. The smell started subtly, a faint, unpleasant odor that continually grew stronger. She buried her face in her hands, tears welling up. Then, a hand touched her arm. Leo. He didn't say anything, just squeezed her hand gently. He looked at her with a quiet understanding, his tablet forgotten in his lap. He didn't smirk or tease. He just… acknowledged her distress. “It's okay,” he murmured, barely audible. Then, he turned back to his game, as if nothing had happened. A few minutes later, her mom wrinkled her nose. “What is that smell?” Her dad sniffed, then frowned. “Lily…” he began, his voice hesitant yet ominously serious. “Did you… did you poop yourself?” Lily flinched, her tears beginning to stream down her face. She didn't answer. She couldn't. But her lack of response was enough for them. “I can't believe this!” her mom said, her voice rising to a shrill pitch. “This is disgusting! You're ten years old, Lily! You should be able to control yourself!” Dad joined in, his tone accusatory. “For goodness sake, Lily! We put you in a diaper in case you had to pee. We didn't expect you to do this!” Lily burst into sobs, unable to meet their gaze. She felt humiliated, small, like a baby. She hadn't meant to, she really hadn't. But her parents didn't see it that way. “Why didn't you just tell us?!” her mom demanded. “But she did tell you!” Leo suddenly spoke up, surprisingly firm. “She asked to stop. Twice! You told her to use her diaper!” Her parents stared at him, stunned. “You told her she had to use it!” Leo repeated, his indignation clear. “And now you're mad at her for listening to you?” “You stay out of this, Leo,” her dad said sternly. “This is between your sister and us, it doesn't concern you.” “Yes, it does!” Leo retorted. “I was wearing diapers on all our previous trips too. Would you have been mad at me if I had done the same? Would you have refused to stop so and made it so that I couldn't get to a toilet?” “We thought she was just going to pee,” her mom said, her voice softer now, but still laced with frustration. “We didn't realize she meant…” “Well, maybe you should have asked,” Leo snapped. “You just assumed! It's not her fault you made a bad assumption. She asked you twice and you just brushed it off. And now you're yelling at her for doing what you told her to do? That's just not fair!” Lily stared at her brother, her sobs subsiding slightly as a moment of silence filled the car. She hadn't expected him to defend her. Even after his little gesture of support, even if he wasn't going to be teasing her as he had in the past when she hadn't been able to make it, she thought he would simply ignore her and let their parents do his job better than he ever could. But instead he'd stood up for her, bravely confronting their parents. “Both of you need to apologize. Now,” Leo concluded, his small hands clenched into fists. Her dad opened his mouth to protest, but her mom stopped him, placing a hand on his arm. “He's right,” she said quietly. “We did jump to conclusions. We're sorry for yelling, Leo.” “Don't apologize to me. Apologize to Lily,” Leo said. Her mom started. “Lily, we—.” “No. We're not apologizing to Lily,” her dad interrupted. “This is unacceptable, Lily, and you know it!” Lily's tears came back in full force as she began crying uncontrollably. “It's unacceptable to do what you told her to do?” Leo questioned, remaining firmly defiant. “No, it's unacceptable to make a mess like that! God, do you have any idea how long it's going to take to clean that up?” her dad fumed. Her mom sighed and shook her head, visibly exasperated. “Dear, this isn't getting us anywhere. Leo, you're right. We were wrong to yell and we should have listened to Lily when she told us she needed to stop. I'm sorry, Lily, we didn't mean to upset you.” Leo gave a small snort at that apology, but didn't push any further and returned to his game. Silence once again filled the car, broken only by the rumbling of the vehicle and Lily's sobs. It seemed like an eternity before Lily's dad finally spoke, grumbling under his breath. “Fine. We'll deal with it at the next service station. At least we only have one kid in diapers now.” He wasn't grumbling quietly enough. Leo's head snapped up from his tablet. “And once Lily's cleaned up, I want a diaper for myself,” Leo announced, startling his parents, and even Lily. “What?!” his mom exclaimed, her voice shrill and incredulous. “If Lily has to wear one, then I will too,” he said firmly. “It's not fair if only she gets humiliated.” “Leo, you don't need a diaper!” his dad yelled back. “Yes, I do,” Leo replied, unwavering. “Not for accidents, but to support Lily.” Lily stared at her brother, tears still streaming down her face, but now they were tears of gratitude. He hadn't just defended her; he'd given up the very thing that she so wished she could have for herself. “Thank you,” she eventually whispered. He nodded absentmindedly, clearly focusing on his game, but he had clearly heard her. And that was enough. Earlier, she had been jealous, thinking about how unfair it was that Leo got to be “grown up” when she didn't. But now, the only thought she had for him was love. He'd defended her and made her feel better by sacrificing the proof of his maturity that her parents had offered to him. She smiled slightly, picking her book back up and focusing on it. She read, and tried to forget the warm, squishy feeling in her diaper.

I have been here a while now and have had some hit and miss roleplays. One of my favorites has been the My Baby Husband Thread with @Nappy_Queen. She has since not been on the site and I have been roleplay less for a long while. In the past I have been looking for story based roleplays with shrinking and growing. I am still looking for that but I am also interested in regular diaper and abdl roleplays. I would hope that I will hear from some people regarding possible roleplays. I am more of sub than a dom but I might consider being in charge, but I will not guarantee it. Hope to hear from you, Gman

Hi! I’m looking for a dom who is knowledgeable about FNAF and is okay with writing more than one line of text. I have multiple FNAF movie plots and multiple FNAF game plots that I’m fine with roleplaying on Reddit or Discord. Please put effort into your introduction message. Make sure to send your limits in your first message and what I should call you. I’ve called multiple different people "mommy" and "daddy" before, so I’m okay with calling you anything. My kinks: kinks: regresssion, forced regresssion, physical regresssion, using undies, Pull-Ups, and diapers for pee and poo, spanking, breastfeeding, age play, bottle feeding, hypnosis, pacifier gag, babied, bear bottom spanked over knees and in different spanking positions, humiliation, forced into a diaper, forced to act like a baby for mommy/daddy, forcefully stripped naked and pampered, Limits: vore, piss play, mouthtoilet, inflation, racism, slavery, Oh, and I love detailed spankings and diaper changes/getting diapered. Send a 🐻 emoji to prove you read through this :)

Hey is there any fellow little's or caregivers that would like to maybe catch up in and around the Bendigo area? If so let me know would be great :)

This is a rather unique reimagining of the classic Baby Bottleneck cartoon featuring our favorite trio of troublemakers from Ed, Edd and Eddy. I hope you enjoy the journey and the comic page that accompanies each installment of the story. --- The Kanker's Baby Bottleneck The dazed and confused blonde stared up at the metallic orange beak that was only a few feet away from her face. She was just barely beginning to regain her ability to focus her thoughts when the sudden and very strange sensation of weightlessness consumed her body! The sight of the robotic beak growing further and further away as the feeling of air flowing over her bare arms and legs caught her attention; she was falling! Nazz hit the ground with a rather loud “bam” that announced her landing to whoever was home. She looked around and spotted the backdoor of a house, but that was normal compared to what she was wearing which left her feeling all the more baffled and confused. It was hard to believe but the cheerleader from Peach Creek was dressed in a pink baby's bib and a rather thick cloth diaper that was held together by what could only be described looked as a comically large safety pin. Her new outfit wasn’t the only thing that caused her to question what was happening to her; she quickly became aware of the fact that she was lying in a wicker basket which thankfully had broken her fall. If all this wasn't weird enough for the blonde bombshell, the sight of the homeowner, appearing in the frame of the door, caused her to blink her eyes in confusion. “I didn't order a baby.” The woman said to herself, taken aback by the unexpected diapered blonde lying on her doorstep in a basket. “Uhhh, what just happened?” Nazz couldn't help but ask only to realize that there was a pacifier in her mouth once she started talking. "Mistakes have been made," Eddy, dressed in only the finest alabaster suit that money could buy, started his speech as he looked over at the three familiar faces who stood bored and disinterested in front of him. From what he could see the red headed Kanker seemed far too busy swirling her finger around in her ear, trying to pull wax from it, to pay the pint sized scammer any attention. Her younger sisters were just as equally as unenthusiased as herself; The blonde was whistling while her blue haired sister stood with her right arm hanging towards the floor while her left arm was planted firmly on her hip, looking bored out of her mind as Eddy prattled on. “Every delivery goes to the wrong mom so I'm paying you guys to fix my factory and make my money back.” The mere mention of money immediately pulled the trio of trouble makers from their distracted daydreaming and caused them to stand at attention. Each Kanker instantly brought their left hand up to their forehead, giving their new boss a salute as they acknowledged him in their own unique way. “Whatever you say, Casanova.” Lee grinned as she responded to the man of her dreams. Needless to say, she wasn't exactly sure what he wanted, but that wouldn't stop her from doing a good job so she could get his attention. “Sure thing, chief!” May quickly followed her big sister, eager to get paid even if she had no clue what she was supposed to do to earn her keep. ‘I'll just stand around and look busy until lunchtime.’ “No problem, boss!” Marie chimed in, happy to see that the penny pinching pipsqueak had finally shut his big mouth. 2 Hours Later May stood hunched over a lever, pulling it back every minute to send another brat down the conveyor belt only to release it and sigh. She had been working nonstop, manning the lever since that was the only job her older sisters had deemed fit for her to do by herself since it didn't require much brainpower. “I'm tired of taking care of all these brats. When's our lunch break?” Marie had been watching her baby sister from afar during much of the shift only to walk up on the blonde brat complaining to herself. It wasn't exactly unexpected since May had been whining since the start of their shift, but it was beginning to annoy Marie. Needless to say, the blue haired bully was starting to feel bored after inspecting the various stations along the industrialized conveyor belt. She had finished her job and decided to have some fun with her annoying little sister before lunch by making the youngest Kanker test out the machine. “I'm tired of hearing you yapping.” Marie declared with a devious grin as she hoisted her younger sister up by her armpits. “Maybe you should join the other babies!” To Be Continued... (at the links below) --- The Kanker sisters are hired by Eddy to fix his baby preparation and delivery system, but do they know anything about machinery? Find out in this fun and faithful reimagining of Looney Tunes' iconic "Baby Bottleneck" cartoon! (Links below) Follow me on Twitter or consider supporting the comic and my writing by joining my platforms. All for less than the price of a cup of coffee! Twitter: Free! https://x.com/DaymareAB Fanbox: $5 https://www.fanbox.cc/@daymare/posts/10540195 Substar: $5 https://subscribestar.adult/evisceratednite

Introduction What would happen if, no matter how old you are, your parents found your stash? Well, on an already miserable day, that’s exactly what happened to Tom. How will both he and his dad handle it? Chapter 1 - Rejection ‘Well, thank you for coming in today, myself and the panel will discuss the interview and the recruiter will get back to you in due course’. Tom could see in the eyes of the interviewer it was going to be another rejection. He couldn’t understand it, just over a year ago he’d graduated with a 2:1 in Architecture. He thought he’d walk into a job, but he’d applied to every company he could find, and had 15 interviews never getting further than the second round. He couldn’t understand it, what was he doing wrong? Whatever it was it wasn’t how he presented himself. He looked gorgeous in his grey slim fit suit and smart tan shoes. He is 5’9, short jet black hair, with beautiful bright blue eyes, but I guess it’s what you say in interview which is important, not how you look. He stood up, grabbed his posh leather bag his dad had gotten him for his graduation, shook the panel’s hands and made his way out into the busy London street. No sooner had he stepped out the building a rough looking man bumped into him with a cigarette burning a hole right into the shoulder. ‘Hey!’ said Tom. ‘Fuck off, prick’ cursed the man as he hurried on. It was the final straw, a tear rolled down Tom’s face. He couldn’t take much more of life at this point. Everything was falling apart, or that’s how it felt. 23, no job, no friends who are local, his mum has passed away and he’s still living with his grieving dad Steve. After travelling back by train Tom let himself into the house and rushed straight upstairs to his room. ‘How’d the interview go?’ called his Dad from his study. ‘Crap’ shouted back Tom. Once in the room he started to undress. He hung up his suit jacket and inspected the burn. Maybe it could be repaired? Probably not, now he doesn’t even have a suit if he gets another interview. Nevertheless he took off the trousers and placed the suit in its special bag like always, before putting it in the wardrobe. He grabbed his joggers and a t-shirt and turned to lay on his bed, but as he did, he saw something which made his blood run cold. Could this day get any worse? His worst nightmare was lying in front of him. His heart thumped in his chest as if it was about to exit it. His face flushed red, sweat started to bead on his forehead, panic started to set in. Lying there in front of him was one of his adult nappies, and on it a note. “Hey son, let’s talk, love Dad”. Tom had bought these nappies a few months back from a medical supply company whilst his Dad had been away for work. He’d been interested in them for a while. He’d enjoyed the few he’d tried but he’d not had the courage to wear them once his dad got back. He’d hidden them under his bed in a carrier bag, but clearly his dad had found them. He couldn’t believe it, how could this happen? For an hour he sat there thinking of excuses he could make, plausible stories he could tell. “They’re not mine”. “I’ve been having bedwetting problems”, “I…” none of them seemed convincing. He didn’t feel like he could leave the room. After at least an hour and a half his dad called ‘dinner!’ Heart thumping and head racing he made his way down the stairs. He was physically shaking. When he saw his Dad at the table, he froze. ‘So you don’t think they’ll ask you back?’ asked his Dad. ‘No’ Tom tried to say, but nothing came out. ‘No’ he said eventually in his third attempt. ‘Sit down it’s getting cold’ said his Dad gesturing to Toms dinner. Tom made his way over and sat down in silence. For a short while they both ate, but Tom really wasn’t hungry, if anything he felt sick. He just shuffled his food around. When his dad had finished he reached out and put his had on Tom’s. ‘Talk to me Tom’ he said gently, trying to make eye contact. Tom was physically shaking, he couldn’t speak, he was living his worst nightmare. His Dad lent across to him. ‘I found your nappies mate’ he said. Just hearing that out loud drove through Tom like a train. ‘They’re not mine’ he blurted out. It was like a reflex, he heard himself say it, but he didn’t think he’d actually processed what he was going to say yet. His dad gave him a soft smile. ‘I know they’re yours son’. He said softly. ‘Tell me why’ he asked. Tom put his shaking hands over his eyes, tears now starting to well up. ‘Please talk to me son’. ‘I’m sorry Dad, I’m such a failure. I’ve got no friends, I don’t have any hobbies, I can’t get a job, I’m going nowhere. I’m a disappointment. If mum were alive she’d be heartbroken at what a useless adult I’ve become’. ‘Oh don’t be silly’ said his Dad. ‘You’re going through a tough time, I know, we both are, but you have your whole life ahead of you. You’re only 23’ Tom couldn’t look at his Dad, he still had his hands over his eyes. ‘I just wish things were like years ago, when mum was alive, when I was carefree and….happy’ sobbed Tom. ‘Is that why you bought the nappies?’ His dad asked gently. ‘I dunno, I dunno why I bought them’ said Tom regretfully. ‘Do they take you back, to a happy place? Are they a stress reliever for you or something?’ His dad enquired. ‘I guess so, I’m sorry, I’ll throw them away, please don’t think I’m a weirdo or a sicko dad, please’ said Tom. ‘I don’t, I understand, if they relax you and you want to wear them that’s fine. I wore them myself for a bit when I was your age’. Tom immediately pulled his face out of his hands. That was an unexpected sentence. ‘What?’ Said Tom in shock. ‘I wore nappies as a stress reliever, to regress for a few years, never did me any harm, better than drugs or booze’. Said his dad dismissively. Tom didn’t know what to say, he just stared at his dad in shock, and in a strange sense, relief. His dad got up and gestured to Tom to get up and give him a hug. Tom obliged, got up and put his arms around his Dad. ‘You’re still shaking’ he said. ‘This might be the perfect time for one of those nappies’. Chapter 2 - Relief When Tom went back into his room the nappy was still there laying on the bed. Half of him desperately wanted to put it on the other half wanted to throw it out the window. Eventually the half that wanted to wear it won out and he started to unfurl it. After he’d just had permission to hadn’t he? He slowly pulled down his joggers, pulled down his boxers and sat himself on the nappy. He laid back for a moment and stared at the ceiling. “What am I doing?” He repeated to himself, but his desire to carry on pushed through and he slowly and carefully applied the 4 tapes of his Tena Maxi adult nappy. He slowly closed his legs. The nappy popped and crinkled as it resisted. The feeling was amazing, he could feel the stress of this bizarre day drain away. After a while his dad called up. ‘You can come down you know, I want to watch Traitors’. Tom and his Dad had been watching it on catchup together each evening. Tom stood up, his nappy crinkling, not overly loudly, but noticeably in a quiet room. He pulled the joggers over it and looked in the mirror. It wasn’t noticeable from the front. He made his way down and quickly sat in the chair, so his dad couldn’t notice or tell. Tom was hugely into the Traitors on TV, but his mind was elsewhere tonight. As his dad commented on it, he just managed the occasional “yeah” instead of the usual debate. Eventually it finished and his dad switched off the TV. He looked across at Tom expectantly. ‘So did you put one on?’ He asked. Tom paused for a moment. ‘Yeah’ he said shyly. ‘Feel better now?’ asked his Dad. Tom breathed out slowly. ‘Yeah, I guess I do’. He said eventually. ‘Good’ said his dad. If that’s all it takes to relax you, just wear them son, I won’t judge. ‘Can I ask a practical question though?’ ‘What?’ asked Tom uncertain. ‘Do you, wet yourself?’ His dad asked plainly. ‘No!’ exclaimed Tom, as if it was a ridiculous question. He’d worn three on his own, and it had not remotely occurred to him to wet them. It was just the feeling of the bulk he liked. He wasn’t about to start wetting himself! ‘I mean, it’s not a crazy thing to ask Tom’ his Dad said. ‘You’re wearing a nappy and I ask if you wet yourself’. There was an awkward pause. ‘Well, if you do have an accident, I’ll put some bin bags in your room. Take it off, ball it up, put it in the bag, tie it up and put it outside your door, I’ll get rid of it. Don’t put it in the bins in the house, they can smell after a bit’. ‘Oh for god sake dad, I don’t wet myself!’ Repeated Tom as he got up to leave the room. ‘Hey’ called his dad grabbing his arm. ‘Don’t walk off on me, I’m being understanding and supportive. ‘It was a perfectly reasonable question and I wanted to make sure we have a plan for it’. ‘I know, sorry Dad, it’s just weird that’s all’ said Tom genuinely. ‘I guess I’m just embarrassed, y’know’. ‘Yeah I get that son, wearing a nappy is embarrassing, but it’s nothing to be ashamed of, people wear them for all sorts of reasons. As long as they’re helping you, it’s all good, I’m proud of you for talking to me about it at all and doing what makes you happy. I don’t think I could have handled it so well with my dad if he ever found mine’. Tom thought to ask his Dad if he ever wet his nappies, but it just felt too weird. Chapter 3 - The bathroom problem Tom stood in the bathroom cleaning his teeth, then habitually turned to the toilet to do a wee before getting into bed. As he went to grab it his hand slammed into his pad, not his boxers, opps. He reached inside and tried to pull it out the top, but he’s not that well endowed and it wouldn’t reach well enough even with the nappy pulled right down, he’d just pee all over himself. He tucked himself back down, squatted and reached into a leg guard. The guard was tight, but he managed to get the head out and point it to the toilet. He tried to go, but the pressure of the leg guard was stopping the flow. He squatted even more, and eventually wee squirted out, some in the loo, some up the wall and some in the bath. It was very awkward, and it had made a huge mess, but eventually he was done. He hurriedly started to clean up bathroom. Once in his room, he dropped his joggers, took off his t-shirt and looked at himself in the mirror. Like before, half of him thought he looked good with the nappy on, the other half thought he looked like a freak. For a moment he planned to take it off, but ultimately decided against it, he didn’t have many, he didn’t have any money and he didn’t want to waste it. He pulled on his pjs over the top of it. It took a while before he fell asleep, the feel of the nappy seemed somewhat overwhelming. It was keeping him awake, but eventually he did drop of. … He looked over at the clock with one eye, 3:10am. He woke up for a wee at this time every night. For a split second he thought about going in his nappy, but it was just a second. He made his way to the bathroom, where exactly the same thing happened as earlier, except worse, because this time he was half asleep. Like before he hurriedly cleaned up, to what he thought was a good standard, and made his way back to bed. … The following morning, he woke as usual and made his way downstairs. ‘Jam on toast?’ asked his Dad? ‘Yes please’ said Tom still a little sleepy. As his Dad made breakfast, he turned to Tom. ‘Ok, here’s something I gotta say’. He said. ‘If you’re going to wear those nappies in my house, I’d much rather you wee in it and cleanly dispose of it, than wee all over the bathroom’ he said waving the butter knife. ‘Sorry, I thought I cleared up’ said Tom in a bit of a panic. ‘I just need some practice, sorry’. ‘Tom’s’ dad turned around. ‘If you want to wear, but still use the loo. I’ll get you some pull-ups, but if you’re in those it’s just not really practical, unless you remove it, which of course pretty much ruins it. Tom thought again about asking his dad if he’d wet his, but like before it just felt odd and creepy to ask his dad that. ‘I’ll try sitting next time’ said Tom. Chapter 4 - A Subscription! It may surprise you to know that after his shower that day Tom put on regular underpants. He’d had his fill, in fact for the next 2 days, no more nappy and it was only mentioned a couple of times by his dad, gently enquiring whether he was wearing one or not. That doesn’t mean Tom hadn’t thought about what had happened virtually every waking minute. It was just that after the initial rush it just felt too awkward to go about his normal daily routine at home, in front of his dad, with a nappy on. That initial confidence had been lost. Tom was at his computer at about 11am, his Dad was in his study downstairs working. He’s a self employed accountant, he works from home most days, only occasionally going into the city to meet a client. There was a knock at the door. “Sign here please mate” Tom heard the delivery driver say, before several thud sounds. Tom made his way down curiously. In the hall his Dad was positioning 3 large boxes. ‘What you ordered?’ asked Tom. His dad stepped back with a big proud grin. ‘Open one’ he said. Tom stepped forward and pulled the tape off of the box on top and flapped it open. ‘Nappies!?!’ He said in shock. ‘Why have you ordered nappies?’ Tom said with a look of confusion on his face. ‘Because you told me you like to wear them, so I’ve ordered you them for you.’ Tom looked at the huge pile. 21 per pack, 3 in a box, 3 boxes. 189 nappies! ‘Well how many are you expecting me to get through?’ He asked incredulously. ‘I don’t know, but you save on delivery if you spend over £80 and get 10% off if you sign up for a subscription, so I got 3 cases’. ‘A subscription!’ Tom said almost shouting. ‘It’s ok, I can cancel it, there’s no commitment’ said his dad waving it off. ‘Look they’re there if you want one. You feel stressed, or just want one they are there. Take a pack up to your room, I’ll store the rest in the spare room’. Tom walked up to his room carrying his bag of nappies. He couldn’t decide what he thought about it. It had been great that his dad hadn’t freaked out, it had been a huge relief his dad was so supportive, but buying him 3 cases without asking? As Tom looked at the nappies in the pack on his bed next to him, he had an odd feeling. He wanted to put one on of course, but he also now felt this uncomfortable expectation from his that he would, and that if he didn’t his dad be oddly disappointed that he’d wasted his money. He put the pack to one side and made his way downstairs. He tapped on his dad’s study door. ‘I’ve got to ask dad, why have you ordered me three cases of nappies without asking me if I want them?’ His dad turned around on his office chair and took off his reading glasses. ‘Because son, if I’d have asked if you wanted me to order them you’d have said no, and I know you want them deep down. You can’t afford them, and you’d not order when I’m here even if you could, so I just ordered them for you. Save you the anxiety. You’re under no obligation, they’re there if you want them’. Chapter 5 - No obligation Tom’s days were not as full as they could be. He’d get up, have breakfast and then go on the job hunting sites. If there was anything to apply for, he’d apply for it. Generally though he was done by lunchtime and scratching around for something to do. Today was one of those days, he’d applied for one job, he didn’t really like the sound of it, but it was that or apply for nothing. He went over to the pack of nappies that had just arrived and pealed them open. They were the same make as the ones he’d bought, but these were the highest absorbency ‘Ultima’ version. He pulled one out, and held it. Just holding it in his hand gave him a buzz. He un furled it and felt the contrast been the smooth plastic outer shell and soft padded inside. It gave him a magical, warm and excited feeling inside. He slowly pulled down his jeans, then his boxers and laid himself on the bed. Slowly and carefully he pulled the nappy up snuggly between his legs and securely taped it on. Instantly the day went from empty and dull to a whirlwind of emotion. He no longer felt bored, he felt excited. The nappy, that his own dad had bought him no less, sat comfortably and reassuringly between his legs. He reached down and felt it. The bulk was considerable, his man parts locked away beneath the thick padding. He laid on his bed in just his t-shirt and nappy, just enjoying the moment for a while, before lifting himself up from his dreamlike state to stand. The nappy pushed between his legs. As his walked over to his mirror he could feel its presence with every step. He looked at himself in the mirror. He liked what he saw, he thought it looked both cute and smart all at the same time. … “Knock-knock” ‘Hi son I’m done, fancy a walk?’ Called his dad through the door. Tom dived to the floor to grab his jeans and then tried to pull them on in a panic. As he did, his door started to open. Before long he was standing there in front of his dad, trousers half up in a t-shirt and nappy. ‘Ah, you tried one’ said his dad. ‘Like em?’ ‘Err yeah’ said Tom. ‘A bit thicker’ ‘Yeah, I thought well, if you do wet yourself, these will last you a bit longer’. Replied his dad. Tom didn’t know how to reply to that. His instinct was to say ‘I don’t wet myself’ like before, but in truth he was thinking about giving it a go, given how difficult it was to use the loo. ‘I can’t go for a walk in this’ said Tom, pointing to his nappy. ‘Why?’ asked his dad. ‘Err, why do you think?’ Replied Tom. ‘No, genuinely Tom I don’t know why’ his dad replied. ‘Tell me’ ‘People will notice!!’ said Tom. ‘Who’s going to notice?’ said his dad incredulously. ‘You can’t tell it’s there under clothes’ he said confused. ‘It’s a private thing, no one knows what underwear you’ve got on, get over yourself’. Tom finished buttoning up his jeans. They were actually a little tight with his Tena Ultima nappy underneath. ‘I’m going to take it off’ he said as he started unbuttoning again. ‘Right’ said his dad authoritatively. ‘I’m supportive, but to a point. I won’t have piss all over the bathroom and I’m not having you waste nappies by putting them on, then just taking them off again moments later. They’re expensive. Do up your bloody trousers and stop being silly’ Tom didn’t really know what to say. He stopped unbuttoning. ‘Does it really not show?’ ‘No son, it doesn’t’. Now come on it’s a nice day, let’s get some fresh air. … As Tom walked along the bulk of the nappy was present with every step. Both he and his dad were fast walkers, but in his nappy and tight jeans he was struggling to keep up a little. It was a beautiful day. They went to the park, had an ice cream and on the way back walked past the local pub. ‘Fancy a cheeky pint?’ Asked his dad. They often went into the pup together. ‘Yeah, why not’ said Tom. They both had a couple of pints before it was time to leave. They didn’t talk about Toms nappy at all, mostly about the Traitors on TV. ‘Ok, I’m going to pop to the loo and then we’ll head off’ said his Dad. ‘Ah yeah, me too’ said Tom. His dad stopped and looked at him. ‘You do make me laugh, why are you doing it to yourself? You can’t wee all over the floor in a public bathroom, it’s rude and disrespectful’. Tom looked at him, kinda accepting that he had a point. Whilst it felt so crazy to wet himself, as his dad became more accepting and as Tom was waddling around in the nappy anyway, it felt increasingly silly to not use it for what it was designed for. ‘The thing is son’ said his dad. ‘They deteriorate after 4-6 hours anyway, so you gotta change it whether you use it or not, you may as well use it. Tom stood and waited whilst his dad went to the loo. He was breaking his neck, but he couldn’t go. Something in his brain was telling him no. He couldn’t just wet himself right there in the middle of the pub! As they walked back, Tom was getting increasingly desperate and his dad noticed. Tom was walking quicker and quicker and couldn’t stop grabbing his crotch. His bladder felt like it was going to burst. ‘Stop walking a minute’ said his dad, stopping himself. Tom stopped, the urge unbearable. ‘If you don’t let it go you’ll hurt your kidneys. That’s what I did, it was agony for days. That’s why I’m trying to help you. Just go, you don’t have to be embarrassed in front of me’ With that Tom’s bladder burst, right there in the street. Wee poured uncontrollably into his nappy. He stared desperately at his jeans in the full expectation that wee would be pouring down them, but it was not. What he could feel though was his nappy expanding and getting larger and tighter in his jeans. After what felt like forever, he stopped. ‘Come on then’ said his said. As Tom walked on the nappy felt completely different to before. It was much much bulkier, oddly to him though it didn’t feel at all wet. It had clearly absorbed all the wee and left him dry, which was pretty amazing actually, who’d have thought they’d work so well? It felt so strange yet at the same time so comforting to have had an accident and been protected by his nappy. It also made him feel small, having just stood there in front of his dad and wet himself. As they walked along his dad turned to him and chuckled. ‘So I guess that answers my question. You do wet yourself.’ Chapter 6 - Something awkward Over the next few days Tom had worn a nappy on and off, even when wearing all but a couple of very carefully managed wees has been in the toilet, with great difficulty. He was really conflicted about whether to wear one or not. Even though his dad was fine with it, almost encouraging it, he was still embarrassed to talk about it, and felt a little silly with it on. Things had been reasonably normal. His dad had enquired occasionally as to the state of his nappy, but it wasn’t often. Just things like. “If you’re wet son, don’t forget to change regularly”. His dad had also bought him some powders and creams and impressed upon him the importance of good skin care and hygiene. “Wearing nappies isn’t dirty or gross son, but you do need to up your game on hygiene and skin care” he’d said. … As they sat and watched tv that evening, Tom decided he’d do a wee in his nappy. He stood and after a few odd movements he started to wet himself. ‘Good lad, I notice you’re getting better at that’ said his dad. Tom stood a while longer until he’d finished, then sat back down in his now wet nappy and finally said something that was increasingly bothering him. ‘Dad’ he said. ‘Can I ask you something really awkward?’ His dad switched off the tv and looked at him with suspicion. ‘Okaaay’ he said slowly, Tom took a deep breath. ‘Do you like me in nappies?’ He eventually asked. ‘What do you mean?’ asked his dad. ‘Well, like just then, and other times, you seem to be encouraging it. Like you want me to be in nappies and wet myself and stuff’ asked Tom. His dad moved his gaze away for a moment thinking about what he was going to say. Eventually he returned to Tom. ‘It’s not about me, it’s about you son. I just want you to have what I never had, an understanding parent during this part of your life. It’s obviously in our genes to like this. I’ve passed it on to you. I want it to be as easy and enjoyable as possible for you to go through. Not like my experience. I’d have loved my dad to have accepted my nappy wearing, but I never got it, and I never got to find out what he would have done or said.’ ‘I see’ said Tom. ‘Granddad never knew?’ What would you have wanted granddad to do or say?’ Asked Tom. ‘I’d have liked him to say it’s fine, I’d have liked acceptance, I’d have liked….to have…well it doesn’t matter’. ‘No do say’ said Tom. ‘Heck, we’re beyond holding back aren’t we?’ Tom’s Dad paused for a considerable time. ‘I’d have liked him to change me. BUT that doesn’t mean I’m asking to change you!’ He blurted out Tom sat there, looking at his Dad. ‘Do you want to change me then?’ He asked gingerly. ‘No, No!’ said his dad definitely. ‘That’s not what I meant, I wish I’d not said that’ ‘You don’t want to, or you feel like you don’t want to ask?’ ask Tom. His dad looked increasingly uncomfortable. ‘I can’t do this’ he said starting to stand. Tom grabbed his arm like he had his a couple of days before’. His dad sat back down. ‘What do you want from this?’ Asked Tom. ‘Why are you so supportive? Why are you buying them for me?’ Asked Tom ‘Son please’ said his dad desperately trying to end the conversation. ‘No, come on dad, we gotta have this discussion’ insisted Tom. His dad started to claw at the said of the chair. ‘Because I remember how much I wanted to go back into nappies, and if I’m honest a part of me still does want to occasionally. I remember bottling it up for years, the anxiety of trying it, hiding it, feeling wrong and weird. When I discovered you’d inherited this from me I decided I didn’t want you to go through what I did. I wanted you to be yourself, be happy, fulfil your desires, be content in yourself’. Tom didn’t know what to say. His dad went on. ‘And if I’m completely honest, I want to share in your joy of it, in a way I never got to. Sorry I know that’s selfish, I don’t want to put you under any pressure, this mustn’t be about me’. ‘I really do appreciate that dad, thanks so much’ said Tom as he came over for a hug. ‘Have I got it right?’ His dad asked ‘What do you mean?’ Asked Tom ‘Do they make you feel how I think they do?’ ‘They do make me feel happy and relaxed’ said Tom. ‘A kind of contentment I’ve not felt in a long time’. ‘Then tell me son, tell me why you shouldn’t wear them as much as you want?’ After a long pause ‘When I say I’m not asking to change you, please don’t think it’s because I wouldn’t. If you asked I’d be right there for you, but I’d never put you under any pressure to, you know that don’t you?’ ‘Yeah I know that dad’ said Tom. ‘I’m not sure that’s something I could handle, at least not now’.