diaper dimension Done Adulting, Vol. 2 (Final chapter posted 12/21/20)

[SGTbaby]

Great chapter! Always had a blast playing in the rain and getting dirty! Great memories! I look forward to the camping trip! 

[the diaper mike]

Great as always

[littleTomás]

3 hours ago, Author_Alex said:

Manda had tried to teach him some of the math skills that a lot of big games were based on, but he never could grasp quantum geometry or spheroid counting, let alone do it in his head.

I'd love to play a game based on complex math! It would make half the classes I have to take worthwhile beyond counting towards a degree.

3 hours ago, Author_Alex said:

The pair walked to the field in behind of the lodge, a virtual lake an inch deep. “What do we do,” Amanda asked.

“Slip and slide,” Jamie answered with a delighted smile on his face. He’d seen plenty of drunk frat boys do it in college but had always been too bashful to do it himself.

I too have seen many a drunk frat boy do mudslides. At a football game this past year it was raining and the hill in the stadium was muddy. People started sliding down the hill and then security came over and tried to break up the fun. There was this one guy who was wearing a penguin suite and then slid down the hill past the security that was trying to stop the sliding. When he reached the bottom of the hill a security guard grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and dragged him out of the stadium past a crowd of students who were cheering for him. At that game, I swear, the chants of, "let them slide" were louder than the cheering related to the football game.

Thankfully, Jamie and Manda didn't have to deal with any security guards and were able to have a good time.

[Alex Bridges]

I don’t think I ever got to slide in the mud and have a mud fight. ?

[Sarah Penguin]

46 minutes ago, Author_Alex said:

I don’t think I ever got to slide in the mud and have a mud fight. ?

A couple neighbors had slipnslides and I had an uncanny ability to miss the plastic , or immediately slide off at a right angle until I inevitably sprained something. So....meh.

[Alex Bridges]

21 minutes ago, Sarah Penguin said:

A couple neighbors had slipnslides and I had an uncanny ability to miss the plastic , or immediately slide off at a right angle until I inevitably sprained something. So....meh.

My parents wouldn’t let us have one because it kills the grass. My dad has a love affair with his lawn.

Sometimes a neighbor would have one, and I never did slide very well. I was a fat kid and not so brave with my body.

[Sarah Penguin]

1 hour ago, Author_Alex said:

My parents wouldn’t let us have one because it kills the grass. My dad has a love affair with his lawn.

Sometimes a neighbor would have one, and I never did slide very well. I was a fat kid and not so brave with my body.

Same here with being fat and being not so brave.  Are you channelling my childhood?

[Alex Bridges]

23 minutes ago, Sarah Penguin said:

Same here with being fat and being not so brave.  Are you channelling my childhood?

? Hope things got better for you.

[Samriis]

One of the things we did as kids were when the neighbors house was being built, they had this big dirt mound.  Well we got a bunch of trash bags and made a water slide from that.  In hind sight... probably not a good idea, but at that age it was a great idea

[Alex Bridges]

Chapter 11

 

 

 

“I’ll get it,” Jamie volunteered. They were on their way back from a walk on the beach.

“You sure,” Becky asked.

“Yes, Mom, I can go back to the bungalow on my own. I’ll be right back.” He was just getting more water for the three of them. The beach was private in the sense that the bungalows were spaces far enough apart that they each effectively had their own beachfront. Jamie walked quickly over the dry sand the sun had heated enough to burn the soles of his feet, and he opened the porch door relieved to be off it and wishing he’d worn his sandals on their walk.

The air conditioning felt even better, a blast of cold air on his sweaty skin, better still when he opened the fridge door. The water wasn’t in the lower part of the door, though, where Becky always put things for him so he could reach them. He straightened up, looked at the fridge, and then looked around the bungalow. We don’t have an alligator raft, he thought.

Realizing he had gone into the wrong house - they were all the same, after all - Jamie gently shut the fridge and tiptoed back to the porch.

“Hhhhh,” a voice gasped as he passed the hallway to the bedrooms. Jamie froze, more embarrassed than scared.

“I’m ...”, he began before the girl, in a tone usually reserved for Christmas morning, shouted, “Mom! There’s a little in here,” and stepped forward, bending down on one knee as she did.

Jamie instinctively jumped back out of her reach.

“I’m sorry,” he tried to explain, “I just came into the wrong house!” He bumped against the wall, and the girl came forward again. She reached for his hair, as bigs often do when meeting a little, and Jamie dodged.

“Aww, I won’t hurt you. Mom!”

“What,” an exasperated voice said. Jamie could hear her heavy footfalls. She sounded irritated. He eyed the door and wondered if he could make it.

“There’s a little in here,” the girl said again as the woman came into the room.

“Oh,” the woman said upon seeing her daughter on one knee, blocking her view. “Well, give it some space. You’re scaring it.” The girl stepped back. The woman stepped forward and then sat down on the floor a few feet from Jamie, who was still pressed against the wall out of arm’s reach of the woman but not the girl, who did like her mother did and sat down between Jamie and the door to the back porch.

“I just came into the wrong house. I think mine is next door,” Jamie explained.

“Shhh,” the woman cooed. “Don’t be scared. You’re not in trouble.” She sounded friendly and soothing. She didn’t use the sing-song voice that a lot of new bigs used when meeting him, probably because she was trying to make him calm instead of excited.

“Um, thank you. Can I just go,”

“What’s your name,” the woman asked.

“Jamie.” He regretted telling her as soon as he said it.

“I’m Kim, and that’s my daughter, Chelsea. Don’t be afraid, okay?” Jamie eyed the hall to the front door. He was pretty sure he could make it there.

“I wanna leave,” he said.

“Okay. Do you know where your family is?”

“Right outside on the beach.”

“Aw, Mom,” the girl said, “Can’t we keep him?” Jamie blanched.

“Of course not! He already has a family.”

“Please...”

“No, and that’s final. Besides, your father would throw a fit.” The girl pouted, and the woman turned back to Jamie. “What did you come in here for?”

“Water for my mom and sister and me.”

“Well, why don’t we get you some water and take you back to your mommy. Okay?”

“Thank you. I can go back on my own.”

“Absolutely not,” the woman said in a friendly but serious tone. “Then it would be my fault if you got lost again. I’ll get the water.” The woman stood up, and when her back was turned the girl sprung forward.

Jamie jumped out of the way and scolded the girl with a forceful, “No!” He regretted raising his voice.

The woman turned back around to see her daughter rocking back onto her butt trying to look innocent. “Chelsea, go to your room, please.”

“I didn’t do anything,” the girl whined.

“She tried to grab me,” Jamie countered.

“I just wanted to pet him!” Well, fuck you, too, Jamie said in his own head. To her, he said nothing and just gave her an especially dirty look.

“Go to your room now, please!”

The girl got up and started grumbling, “He walks into our house and I’m the one who gets in trouble and I found him and they lost him and and he should be mine and I know how to take care of littles ...”

The woman got back down on the floor in front of Jamie with an apologetic smile. “I’m so sorry. She’s still learning that littles are people.”

“Thank you for stopping her.”

“I know that was probably very scary for you. Do you need a hug?” It wasn’t scary. It was annoying.

“Um, no, I’m fine. Thank you. But my mom is probably worried by now.”

“Then let’s get you back to her.” The woman took three water bottles from the fridge and beckoned Jamie to follow her.

Amanda was walking up the beach toward their bungalow, the one next door. “Manda,” Jamie shouted when he saw her. She stopped and looked around, then spotted Jamie and trotted over.

Kim was speaking before Manda got there. “Hi! Jamie got a little lost is all. He’s alright.”

“He did,” Amanda asked as she sized up Kim and looked Jamie over. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah. I walked into the wrong house,” he said with blushing cheeks.

“Could happen to anyone,” Kim said. “I heard you guys were thirsty.”

“Oh, you didn’t have to do that.”

“It’s no bother. I’d like to meet your mom if she’s around.

“Yeah, right over here.” Amanda picked up Jamie and starting walking back to their chairs. She whispered to him, “Everything alright?”

“Her kid tried to touch me, but yeah, I’m fine. Just embarrassed.” Manda gave him a kiss.

“We were worried wondering what was taking you so long. Mom, I’d like you to meet ... I’m sorry, I don’t think I asked your name.”

“Kim,” the woman said. “I brought you some water and this lost little boy.” Becky stood up.

“Lost? How’d you get lost?”

“They all look alike,” Jamie shrugged toward the bungalows.

“It’s no worry, really,” Kim said, “Water?”

“Oh, thank you, and thank you for bringing Jamie back to us.”

“We’re right next door to you, my husband and my two kids. Jamie already met Chelsea.”

“Can I invite you to dinner tonight to say thank you,” Becky offered. Jamie didn’t love that idea.

“We’d love to, but only if we can bring something.”

“How about dessert?”

“Terrific. Have fun playing, Jamie. See you for dinner,” Kim said as she walked away.

“That one’s ours,” Becky pointed out to Jamie, nodding to their house..

“Well, I figured it out when I got inside. Wouldn’t have been a big deal if her daughter didn’t find me.”

“You’re okay, though?”

“Yeah, wish you hadn’t invited them over, though.”

“Why?”

“Her daughter tried to grab me. Said she wanted to pet me.” Jamie sounded indignant and a little hurt. “She wanted to keep me.”

“What did Kim do,” Amanda chimed in.

“Sent her to her room.”

“That’s good at least,” Becky said, “And we’ll be there at dinner. We’ll make sure she behaves herself.”

“How old is she,” Amanda asked.

“Nine. Maybe ten.”

“Hmm. They usually understand by then.”

“Well, it’ll be fine. She was very nice to bring you back.”

“I could’ve come back on my own. She insisted.”

“I’m glad she did,” Becky said.

“I didn’t even get lost. I just went in the wrong door. Can we not make a big deal out of it, please," Jamie said impatiently.

“Okay, okay. Sorry. Come sit so I can get some more lotion on you.” Amanda put Jamie down. He opted to lay on his stomach and read a book for the rest of the afternoon, figuring he’d fall asleep eventually. He didn’t like that girl, and he didn’t like that Kim had said her husband would throw a fit. What did that have to do with anything? He didn’t like that Becky seemed to think he’d gotten lost or could again, and he wondered if she was going to insist he go nowhere alone for the rest of their trip. He rarely did, even in their neighborhood, but he could walk back and forth from the house to the beach on his own. Becky could still be overprotective at times, and Jamie found it endearing sometimes and irritating at others.

Jamie woke up inside to the sound of running water. He could tell Amanda had him from the way she felt different than Becky, thinner, firmer arms and more slender body.

“Hey,” he said as she stretched and yawned.

“Hey, Jamie Bear. Figured you’d want a bath to get all that salt and sweat off you.”

“Thanks. Where’s Mom?” Amanda set him in the water.

“She ran to the store to get more stuff for dinner. Four extra people to feed.” She started with his hair first, and he lowered his head for her to pour the water over.

“Ya know,” Jamie said, “I can do this on my own sometimes.”

“How would you get in and out?”

“Well, I could call you when I’m ready to get out.”

“I thought you liked this,” Manda said, wondering where this was coming from.

“I do. I just … want people to remember I’m just as capable as I was when I got here.”

“We remember,” Amanda told him, though she wondered if they hadn’t fallen so deeply into the pattern of their life that they forgot sometimes that Jamie wasn’t an ordinary little. They didn’t meant to forget, if they had; they took care of him tenderly because they all seemed to enjoy it. When she thought on it, there were only a few things Jamie did for himself that regressed littles didn’t, though she knew he could do more.

“Is this because of this afternoon, going into the wrong house?”

“It was just a mistake.”

“I know.”

“Not like I wandered off and fell into a well.”

“I know, Jamie. Really.” She wondered if it wasn’t a bigger deal in his mind than anyone else’s. Maybe he was questioning his own capabilities. “I know you can do everything you did before you came here. Have we done something to make you feel different?”

“No. I guess I just … I don’t know. That woman was a little patronizing, and if her daughter weren’t so young I’d call her a very rude name for talking about “petting” me.” He made an ugly face. “And then Mom kinda acted like Kim rescued me. She could’ve just let me walk back out the door.”

“Well, she doesn’t know you. She doesn’t know you’re not regressed. She was just being cautious.”

“Yeah.” He understood that, but what did Becky mean by “I’m glad she did.” Not like I’m gonna walk up to the wrong person and call her ‘Mom.’

 

“What did Mom mean when she said she was glad Kim brought me back?”

“I’m not sure. That she was glad she got to meet her?” Jamie hadn’t thought of it like that, though he wasn’t sure she was right. “Look, if you want me to tell Mom to disinvite them, I’ll text her right now. She’ll do it. Do you want me to?”

“No, I guess not.” That seemed a bit extreme.

“C’mon, then. Let’s get you dressed, and then I’ll get cleaned up, too. What do you wanna wear tonight?”

“Is Mom gonna insist I dress nice for company?” Nice by little standards. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d worn a shirt that buttoned at the neck.

“Not on vacation. Besides, I don’t think we packed anything like that.”

“Just shorts and a t-shirt then.”

“Do you want to stay up late tonight, maybe go for a walk after dark? I bet we can see a lot of stars if we walk far enough from the lights.”

“Yeah, that’s a good idea.” Amanda laid him on the changing table and made quick work of getting a new diaper on him. She left him there with his feet hanging over the edge and got an outfit for him from his dresser. She opened the shorts for him and stopped herself. “Here,” she said instead and helped him to the floor, “You can put these on yourself, if you want.”

Jamie felt awkward. “Thanks.”

“I’m gonna go shower and change.”

“I’m gonna find something to do in here.”

“Mom should be back soon.”

“Okay.”

Amanda left Jamie to his own devices and thought on how she liked getting him dressed. What he wanted was more important, but she didn’t want him to be more independent. She liked things the way they were, with those intimate moments and her getting to take care of him. It scratched an itch and made her very happy to do it. It was one way she gave love, and for Jamie she had a lot of it to give. She didn’t want to lose the small, seemingly inconsequential chances to do that, not when there’s be a day not too far away when she would, for the first time in four years, go an entire day without seeing him.

Jamie tried to read his book some more, but set it down. Maybe I’m just being defensive for no reason, Jamie asked himself. Becky hadn’t done or said anything to make it seem like she trusted him less or thought him less capable, and it seemed like all that was long in the past. Maybe I’m just being defensive because I felt stupid. But that girl better behave herself.

 

[Little Andrea]

Another great installment, I can’t wait to see how dinner turns out.

[Shawnie]

He needs to pet her with hand full of mud ??????

[Sarah Penguin]

On 8/1/2019 at 10:21 AM, Author_Alex said:

? Hope things got better for you.

Not so much I'm still inescapably me. Meh.

[Alex Bridges]

For the record, the inspiration for this came from when I was 7 and visiting Florida with my family. I walked into the wrong condo, saw an alligator-shaped raft, and realized I was in the wrong one. I left without being seen.

I then walked into our condo, went into my parents' bedroom, and my dad had shaved off his mustache at some point in the day. I didn't recognize him. I saw my mom - that made sense. And there was this smooth-faced man. I was very confused. I forget which one told me it was still my dad.

[Jayme]

It's cool that you can add a touch of realism to your stories, it makes them become more alive (so to speak) knowing what your inspiration for a part is.

[Sarah Penguin]

Gosh I hope this doesn't start another international crisis when her dad shows up for dinner  

[Alex Bridges]

1 hour ago, Sarah Penguin said:

Not so much I'm still inescapably me. Meh.

You're always welcome to come over to throw mud at me, provided I can thrlow some back. I'll even get us a slip 'n slide.

[SGTbaby]

I like the interaction with the other family. I think Becky and Jamie need to have a chat but I imagine if it had been Manda at a young age, Becky would have been happy she was escorted back as well. Plus Becky knows how some Amazons are, which means she is likely glad the woman escorted him back and didn’t keep him. I look forward to the next chapter of your brilliant story!

[Alex Bridges]

Chapter 12

 

Jamie had been hungry when Becky got back from the store and had talked her into letting him nurse just a little, promising it wouldn’t spoil his appetite. He was sitting on the back porch in his beach chair with his feet propped up on a partially deflated beach ball and thinking he’d be pretty good at island living. He could picture himself relaxing in the sand and maintaining a low-grade buzz of breastmilk and frozen cocktails made with fresh fruit and little juice, giving up shoes, and never wearing a closed shirt again. Maybe he could even sport a sarong. And a tattered straw sun hat. It was a nice fantasy.

“Knock knock!” Kim and her family came in through the back porch.

“Be right there,” Becky said from inside. “I was just about to get the grill started.” None of Kim and company caught sight of Jamie in his chair, low as he was to the ground. Another human could have easily missed him.  Jamie sized them up: Kim’s husband was a large big, overweight, and he seemed to have not shaved since their arrival, whenever that was; Chelsea was dressed head to toe in pink and had her hair in pigtails, reminding Jamie of Angelica from Rugrats; and Kim’s son looked to be about fifteen and not all that enthused to be roused from whatever he’d been doing. Jamie made no effort to make himself known, feeling mellow and happy to be overlooked.

Becky and Amanda emerged smiling. Becky was a good host, always was, and Jamie was sure if they’d been at home he’d have been out of the way in the playpen until Amanda rescued him. He looked at the screens surrounding the porch and wondered if he wasn’t in a different kind of playpen, one he’d selected after Becky had let him toddle off with warm milk in his belly.

“Hi,” several said simultaneously. Amanda set a pitcher of lemonade on the table, and Becky offered her hand to Kim’s husband.

“Carl,” the man said, “and this is our son, Davis, and Chelsea.” The kids said hi.

“Ya know, I don’t think we remembered to introduce ourselves this afternoon. I’m Becky, and this is my daughter, Amanda, and of course you know Jamie,” Becky said. Chelsea turned toward Jamie with an overly enthusiastic smile on her face. Jamie indicated no emotion and settled deeper into his chair.

“Hi, Jamie,” Kim said with a baby wave. “Remember me?”

“Oh, I guess I should have told you,” Amanda said. “Jamie isn’t regressed.”

“Really,” Carl replied in surprise. “That’s a rarity.” Carl looked at him with interest. “Is he, uh …”

“He just had a little milk. Always makes him a little …”

“Stoned,” Davis finished the sentence of Becky.

Jamie saw Davis look to Amanda for a reaction and blush when his mother admonished him, “Davis, we’re guests. He doesn’t mean anything by it.”

“Oh, don’t worry about it. I know it kinda looks that way, but it just makes him very mellow for about twenty minutes, like all littles. But it’s good for him. Gives him strong bones for when he plays hard. Please, sit.”

Becky started the grill and Amanda went back inside for more glasses and a platter of fruit, cheese, and crackers. After she came back out and set them on the table, she walked over to Jamie and got down on his level. “You’re not still zonked, are you?”

“No, just happy here.”

“Not in a party mood?”

“Not yet. I just need a minute.”

“Come sit in my lap when you're ready.” She kissed his forehead and went back to the table. Davis managed to sit next to her and was silent, looking at her and then turning his face away when she looked in his direction, the very picture of a smitten teenager. Chelsea sat on the edge of her chair and stared at Jamie. All nine feet of her looked ready to jump down and run over. Jamie was wary of her if only because she could hurt him easily without meaning to.

Ready for some cheese, Jamie finally heaved himself out of his chair, stretched his arms and back, yawned, and walked over to Amanda, who saw him coming and reached down for him without breaking eye contact with Kim.

“Ya know,” Kim said, “I’ll admit I was worried when I found this little guy. I was wondering who lets a little run off by himself, but it makes sense now that I know he’s not regressed.”

“He can do everything an independent little can,” Amanda explained. “He just chose to not be independent.”

“Sorry again for going into your house,” Jamie said. “They all look alike.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Carl said. “I’m curious: why not regressed?”

“I didn’t want to be.”

“How do you guys feel about that?” Kim looked embarrassed at her husband’s personal questioning.

Becky spoke up for them. “We love that about him. It’s a lot more rewarding to know him the way he is.”

“I’m endlessly fascinating,” Jamie quipped with a carefree shrug. I can’t help it, he thought.

“And he’s the most sarcastic little in Itali,” Amanda added.

The conversation shifted to more mundane topics, and Jamie caught Davis sneaking peeks at Amanda. Jamie wasn’t bothered by it – the boy was just a teenager – but he decided to have fun with it. He caught Davis’s eye, made a show of a big yawn, stretched his arms wide, and settled into Amanda’s breast as though he were exhausted, his smiling face toward Davis. The boy frowned and looked away. Jamie felt gratified.

“Do they normally get that sleepy when they’re not regressed,” Kim asked. Jamie bit his lip; Manda could feel him silently laughing.

“I think it’s more they need more sleep as a species,” Becky explained, “and the days in their world are shorter than ours. Plus they play hard.” Becky checked the grill and decided it was hot enough for food. “Be right back.”

“Let me help you,” Carl said. The two of them came back with trays of raw food. Shishkabobs with steak and shrimp, corn, hotdogs.

“I wasn’t sure what your kids might like,” Becky explained. “Do you like shrimp, Chelsea?”

“Sometimes. Can I hold him when she’s done,” the girl asked.

“Honey,” Kim said, “we talked about this. He’s a person just like you.” If the distinction between littles and bigs and rights and consent and free will were not clear to Chelsea, Jamie could sympathize. After four years, it still wasn’t clear to him. After all, he was a person; she was a person; they wall were, but that didn’t mean they were all treated the same.

“But she’s holding him,” the girl said in response.

“She’s his person.” Jamie, Amanda, and Becky politely ignored the exchange.

Jamie wasn’t sure what he wanted more for dinner. He was like Chelsea – sometimes he wanted shrimp, but sometimes he couldn’t stand it. Amanda stood up with Jamie and set him on his feet. “We’ll get the plates and what not.” The two of them went inside, closing the door behind them to keep the air conditioning in.

“That boy has a crush on you,” Jamie said.

“You’re not jealous of a teenager, are you?”

“No. It was just an observation.” Amanda handed him a stack of paper plates and plastic utensils. No need to be fancy for dinner at the beach.

“Are you afraid of that girl?”

“You’d get nervous, too, if someone twice your size declared they wanted to keep you.”

“It’s weird she doesn’t seem to understand littles. Maybe she’s just big for her age.” As babies and toddler, bigs tend to see littles as peers. Then in the early childhood years, they find out they’re not peers and come to the conclusion littles are subordinate to bigs, a dangerous phase as they can easily hurt littles unintentionally when trying to get them to do things they don’t want to. By late childhood, around nine or so, they start to grasp what littles are. Until then, they have a hard time distinguishing between littles and pets.

“Maybe she’s never been around us,” Jamie conjectured as Amanda got the cold dishes from the fridge and put serving utensils onto the pile in Jamie’s arms. “Ya know, where I’m from the only tongs that big are in blacksmiths’ shop.”

They went back outside, and Davis helped put things on the table. Jamie opted for a little bit of everything. He especially liked corn cooked on the grill, and the steak was good. He ate around the shrimp, and Amanda was only too happy to eat them for him.

After dinner and before dessert, they walked back to the surf to watch the sun begin to set. Carl tried to strike up a conversation with Jamie. “So … enjoying your vacation,” he asked.

“Yeah,” Jamie replied, “You?”

“Ah, week in the summer here, week in the winter skiing. Break from work, keeps the family happy.”

“Sure.” Jamie realized he had nothing apparent in common with the man. Five years ago they could’ve talked about work, paying bills, weekend hobbies. Now, their lives and identities had little in common with each other. “Chelsea is, uh, sweet, it seems,” he tried when he saw her staring at him and holding her mother’s hand.

“Oh, yeah, she is. Can definitely have her moments, though.”

“Kids …” Jamie had quite a few inane conversations in his past, often the result of being forced to socialize with someone who had as few social skills as he had.

“Well,” Carl said.

“Yeah,” Jamie replied, and they walked back to the group.

Jamie was admiring the sunset when Chelsea spoke to him. “Hi!”

When he realized that was all she had to say, he said it back. “Hi.”

“Can I pet you?”

“I’m not a pet,” Jamie said patiently. Amanda watched from above.

“I know. You’re a little.”

“You don’t ‘pet’ littles. You wouldn’t like it if a stranger petted you, would you?”

“I think I would. Our cat likes it.”

 “Who’s ready for dessert,” Kim asked, and they went back to the porch. Jamie was glad someone had interrupted the not-quite-conversation. He didn’t want to be rude, and more importantly, he didn’t want to hurt a kid’s feelings. It was not the first time he’d found himself stuck taking to a kid who was fascinated with him, and just like then, before his adoption, he was aware there was no graceful way to tell a kid to shoo.

Jamie was back in Amanda’s lap with a bowl of ice cream in front of him. The conversation turned to plans for the rest of their respective holidays. Jamie was ignoring Chelsea on his left and listening to Becky on his right. He turned his head to get another spoonful of ice cream and got jabbed in the face just below his nose with a spoonful of it. “Ow!”

Kim was on her feet and around the table instantly. “Chelsea!” The girl started crying. Jamie wiped his lip.

“Lemme see,” Becky said and leaned over to make sure Jamie’s face was uninjured.

“I’m fine,” he said, and Becky checked anyway. It hurt, but it was fine.

“I was just trying to feed him,” Chelsea said through her tears. Kim was discreetly lecturing and comforting her daughter, her lips close to the girl’s ears. Jamie appreciated that. He knew she was probably embarrassed and definitely afraid she was in trouble, which she was. No need to add on to that by scolding her so that others could hear.

Kim picked the girl up, and Carl stepped around the table. Davis, who’d not said five words in two hours, looked bored and fed up with humoring people by the mere act of being near them. Teenagers are teenagers everywhere, Jamie mused.

“Alright,” Carl said as he took his daughter from Kim, “I think this is a conversation we can finish at home.” He apologized, thanked all three of them, and left, and Davis followed.

“I’m so sorry,” an embarrassed Kim said. “She didn’t hurt you, did she?”

“No. I’m fine.”

“She just loves littles and doesn’t get to see them much. Thank you for being so patient with her.”

“Well,” Jamie said, “she’s very young.” What else was he going to say? You’re welcome?

“Let me help you clean up. It’s the least I can do.” The three bigs cleaned up dinner while Jamie climbed on to the couch with his ice cream. It felt late. Amanda came to take his bowl when he was finished. When they were done cleaning up, the three woman came back to the living room, and Becky and Amanda sat on either side of him while Kim sat in the chair opposite.

“Kim has something she wants to ask you,” Becky explained, “and you can say yes or no. It’s up to you.”

“Okay,” Jamie replied feeling like he’d been put on the spot.

“You seem like a very good and patient person, Jamie,” Kim began. “I know Chelsea is immature for her age. We’ve explained littles to her many times, and she has a very hard time understanding. Do you think, with all of us there being very careful, she could spend some time with you while we’re here?”

Are you fucking serious, Jamie didn’t say out loud. He appreciated her problem, but it was her problem, and the request seemed like the kind no good person would say no to. Jamie doubted she was clever enough to have thought that far ahead, but she had laid an ethical trap, one that would make Jamie seem like a jerk for avoiding.

“Does she have a learning disability,” Jamie asked before answering.

“How could you tell?”

“I used to work with kids.” He glanced at Becky and Amanda, who were looking back at him with neutral expressions. “Look, Kim, I’m sure she’s a very sweet girl, really, and as a little, I appreciate that you really want to make an effort to help her understand us, I really do. But,” he sighed, “I’m not comfortable with that.”

“I understand,” Kim rushed to say.

“It’s not because she has a disability,” Jamie said. “It’s …” How do I say this politely. “I’m just … I’d rather not.” Leave it at that.

 “Really, it’s okay. I felt awkward even asking.”

“You did it for your daughter. You should never be ashamed to ask for that reason,” Jamie reassured her.

“Thank you. That means a lot.” It seemed to make actually feel better.

“And if we see each other on the beach, don’t be shy about walking over.”

“Thank you.” There was an awkward pause. “Well, I’ll get out of your hair.”

Goodnights we’re said, and Kim departed. Jamie laid back against the couch. “Can we take that walk tomorrow, Manda.”

“Sure. Ya pretty beat?”

“Yeah.”

Can I ask why you said no,” Becky said.

“Are you disappointed,” Jamie asked.

“No, not at all. Your choice. I wanted you to make your own choice, or I wouldn’t have let her ask.”

“I just didn’t want to. I’m not a teaching tool.”

“Good for you.”

“What?”

“It wasn’t that long ago that you would’ve said yes just because you’d feel guilty for not saying yes. You set a boundary. I’m proud of you.”

“Well, when you put it that way…”

“Do you feel guilty about it,” Amanda asked.

Jamie sighed. “Not really. I don’t think it would have helped. And besides, I’m retired. Plus I didn’t want to. That’s a valid reason sometimes, right?”

“Right,” Becky said. “Who’s ready for bed?”

“Me.”

“Almost me.”

“I am,” Becky said. “Share my bed with me tonight, Baby Bear.”

“Mhmm”

“Okay. Let’s go get you into your jammies, and then we’ll go say night-night to Manda.”

[Sarah Penguin]

12 hours ago, Author_Alex said:

You're always welcome to come over to throw mud at me, provided I can thrlow some back. I'll even get us a slip 'n slide.

*throws mud at your slip'n'slide*

[Sarah Penguin]

[Alex Bridges]

Chapter 13

 

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Dimakos,

This is a letter I never thought I’d write. I’ll apologize first as I know this letter will hurt. I hope, though, you’ll find some comfort in it, too.

My name is Stacy Jenkins. I am your daughter’s guardian in Itali. When she was rescued eight years ago, we each had a choice to make, and we chose each other.

I won’t tell you about the person your daughter is because you know who she is. I will only tell you that she is healthy, and she is cared for. She is loved, and she is happy.

I’ve never fully understood her decision to stay, her decision not to contact you. It wouldn’t be right of me to try to explain it to you, but please know it was her decision.

That’s why I’ve not yet told her you know she’s alive and here. She’s the most resilient person I know, but I fear how she will receive the news. Her world has been turned upside down twice already. I don’t want to do anything cause her trauma or to upend her happiness.

I’ve talked to a psychologist many times now, and we’re working out how best to deliver the news. I still don’t know if I should. By sending this letter, for the first time in our eight years together, I’m making a decision affecting her without her consent. I don’t do so lightly. I know how this sounds, but I’m doing it for her.

I’m asking you for time. I know how horrible that is, that you’ve waited sixteen years. I’m sorry. I’m sorry for all of it. But I’m asking you for time.

If you intend to contact her or come here, please write me to say so, and I’ll explain all this to her, and then I hope we can work together to help her through it.

The point is not my happiness – I’d give it up, all of it – for her.

 

 

Sincerely,

Stacy Jenkins

                                                                  

Stacy thought hard on the letter. She had never lied to Ella, never done anything that impacted her life without discussing it with her first. That’s what the letter was, though. A lie of omission with the potential to devastate her. Stacy weighed that carefully.

To tell Ella and then ask her permission to send it would cause trauma when maybe that didn’t need to happen, not if her parents didn’t intend to contact her.

And if they did, the letter might help Stacy get control of the process, buying time to help Ella through it and forging a connection with her parents that could stave off legal action.

In either case, it would be better for Ella compared to her parents dropping out of the sky, which Stacy desperately wanted to prevent.

That’s how Stacy justified sending the letter without telling Ella. The lawyer played no small part in convincing her of the logic. So she wrote the letter, and re-wrote it, showed it to the psychologist and the lawyer, who insisted his address be listed as the return.

She sent the letter, and then she hoped for the outcome she knew was least likely, and then she waited.

[Sarah Penguin]

[SGTbaby]

 Like how this focused on Jamie but goes back to Stacy and Ella as well. Keeps things moving and yet focused. Love the new chapters! 

[Alex Bridges]

11 hours ago, Sarah Penguin said:

*throws mud at your slip'n'slide*

Waahhh?