World of Neotony: The Artisan

[NotGrownUp]

(Setting note: while in some ways the humans of this world age normally, in others they progress at a fifth of the speed. Various aspects of their culture are similarly childish.)

Every morning since she was a girl - so about 60 years now -  Emma Grace started off her day bi looking herself in the mirror. Some of what she saw had remained consistent - the same blue eyes, the same dark skin (although now quite a bit more wrinkled). Other parts had changed quite a bit - her curly hair, once arranged in delicate braids, had gone through various styles before she decided she was too old for all that fuss and let it rest in it's natural "afro" style. And her clothes had gone from childish gowns to patterned dresses to her current attire - a black T-shirt bearing the image of her favorite funk rock star, Chris Cole, a turquoise skirt whose (lack of) length would have scandalised her late mother, and purple leggings, because she felt like it.        

She wondered how she might look in the mirror in a few more decades - she'd never smoked and drank milk everyday, which all the magazines seemed to agree was the secret to why the current generation were living into their hundreds and staying fit into their 90s. And indeed, she had a lot fewer grey hairs than her mother had shown at her age, and her joints only ached a little even when she was on her skateboard. No, barring any tragic accidents like the one which had befallen her beloved Frank nearly a decade ago, she might have the chance to see herself change a lot more in the mirror - although Chris Cole wasn't going anywhere. 

And speaking of changing... her own morning ablutions in order, Emma now headed towards the bedroom of her house's only other resident (at least since her cat died last year). Although Gabriel was her grandson, she had raised him since he was barely a year old and almost thought of him as the son she never had.

 

[BabyGabrial]

7 year old Gabriel Grace lay in his crib as he always has. Last night was a Friday night so he got to stay up late. Yep all the way to 8:30 pm. His granny was the best. His diaper was soaked and his baby doll nighy gown road up showing his little belly. His golden brown skin glistening from the sun rays coming through the curtains. His hair permed so it can be long and designed however granny likes it. Sometimes even with a bow or bonnett. He whimpers and squirms starting to wake up to his usual bedroom with his mobile over his head posters of the hot new kids show icon Patty Penguin on his wall. His changing table across from his crib. His rocking chair by the window for when granny needs to feed him a baba before a nap. You know, typical kids stuff. Maturity happens slowly in this world. Usually it takes about five years for someone to move up the maturity ladder. So diapers and baby toys are usually the standard until a kid is about ten. Its been like this since the Elder Revolution back in the 1700's when the olders of families made sure to keep their kids in check by keeping them their babies so world leaders tend to not be in charge until their 70's or 80's.

[NotGrownUp]

Emma pushed the door open and stepped into Gabriel's room. It looked like she was right on time - he was awake, but only just. She pulled open the curtains flooding the room with sunlight, then stood over the crib and greeted her grandson with a cheery "Good morning, Gabe!" 

[BabyGabrial]

Gabriel sat up and rubbed his eyes hugging his puppy stuffy. "Mowning Gwanny" he said yawning. His diaper visibly drooping from his nightgown. He grabbed the bars of his crib and looked over.

[NotGrownUp]

"Need helping out?" Emma asked. Although able to clamber out of the crib (and sometimes even surprise her in bed if he was up early enough), sometimes Gabe couldn't be bothered.

[BabyGabrial]

A lot of times he couldn't be bothered. Granny's little baby through and through. He nodded his head and plopped on his padded wet bottom and reaches up making grabby hands towards her.

[NotGrownUp]

Emma shook her head - she was too indulgent of him sometimes. But she still bent down and lifted him out. After all "soon you'll be too big and heavy for these old bones"!

[BabyGabrial]

"Nuh uhhhhh me stay teeny tiny fow Gwanny!" He giggled and gave his grandmother a good morning kiss on the cheek. He was a very good baby and was quite effectionate.

[NotGrownUp]

Emma laid Gabriel down on his changing table. "If you've found the secret to stauing young forever, I need it more than you, don't you think?" She rolled up his nightgown and rubbed his tummy affectionatlu.

[BabyGabrial]

He giggled and kicked his little footsies a bit. He put his thumb in his mouth and looked up at the mobile above his head and enjoyed the nice loving morning diaper change.

[NotGrownUp]

11 minutes ago, BabyGabrial said:

He giggled and kicked his little footsies a bit. He put his thumb in his mouth and looked up at the mobile above his head and enjoyed the nice loving morning diaper change.

Having raised one child from infancy already, Emma could more or less change a wet diaper in her sleep. She made faces and blew kisses as she went along.   

[BabyGabrial]

He giggles and blushes as this happens. He rolls overbon his tiny tummy to get ready to get his bottom wiped and powdered. On the box of wipes is the usual image of a baby. The baby in question looked about 4 years old.

[NotGrownUp]

Emma then fastened a fresh diaper around his little butt. "So, whav does mi little chipmunk want for breakfasv?"

[BabyGabrial]

"Baba!" Gabe says as he happily kicks his leggies. He clung to his grandmother happily and reinserted his thumb in his mouth and sucked it for comfort. Luckily the improvements of dental technology means kids and suck on nipples for long periods without their teeth suffering permanent damage. 

[NotGrownUp]

4 hours ago, BabyGabrial said:

"Baba!" Gabe says as he happily kicks his leggies. He clung to his grandmother happily and reinserted his thumb in his mouth and sucked it for comfort. Luckily the improvements of dental technology means kids and suck on nipples for long periods without their teeth suffering permanent damage. 

"Well of course uour bottle, but what do you want with that?" Emma asked as she led Gabriel into the kitchen.

[BabyGabrial]

"Uhhhhhh mashed nanas!" He cheers enjoying mashed bananas. He especially loves the Lilics brand baby food. Perfect for babies ages five to nine as the commercials tell you.

[NotGrownUp]

"Mashed bananas it is, then." She deposited her grandchild in his highchair and then went over to the fridge to retrieve their morning milk. For him a bottle filled with "Super Express - for growing children!", for her a mug filled with high-calcium bone-preserving milk for older drinkers (it had a skeleton on the carton).

[BabyGabrial]

He of course was occupying himself by bouncing in his high chair and banging on the tray. He kicks his feet and sucks his thumb looking around at their small older home.

[NotGrownUp]

After giving him his bottle, she mashed up some bananas in a bowl for him.

[BabyGabrial]

He shook his bottle and played with it more than anything.  He preferred being held and fed by his grandmama.  Being in her arms being rocked while eating was the best thing to him. He feels so close to grandmama

[NotGrownUp]

After she sipped some of her milk she noticed he wasn't drinking. "Now Gabe, that's not a toy silly! i know you know it goes in uour mouth."

[BabyGabrial]

"Gwanny feed Gabey!" He cutely demaned demanded holding the bottle out to her. Looking at her with pleading eyes

[NotGrownUp]

She found iv hard to resist, but knew she had to be firm. "I'll feed you your bottle if you eat all uour bananas first, alright?" she compromised.

[BabyGabrial]

"Wes Gwanny!" He says nodding his head rapidly and opened wide for Grandmommy to begin feeding him his mashed banana breakfast. He was shaking in his diaper with anticipation.

[NotGrownUp]

On 6/7/2020 at 1:47 AM, BabyGabrial said:

"Wes Gwanny!" He says nodding his head rapidly and opened wide for Grandmommy to begin feeding him his mashed banana breakfast. He was shaking in his diaper with anticipation.

She laughed. "No, Gabe, I said I'll give you the bottle if you eat the bananas. With the spoon."