Hiking to a New Life (Chapter 39 posted 4-27-24)

[Kat5]

17 minutes ago, CDfm said:

John going to help Mr Frank with the vegetable stand. 

He'd be quite the salesman, just by virtue of being a little riding a dog around and inviting people to the stall!

[SGTbaby]

Very cute and wholesome.  I look forward to the chapter with the two dogs. I wonder if Xerxes gets a bit jealous or over protective especially if John gets nervous.

[Kat5]

16 hours ago, SGTbaby said:

Very cute and wholesome.  I look forward to the chapter with the two dogs. I wonder if Xerxes gets a bit jealous or over protective especially if John gets nervous.

I mean, we've already got proof that Xerxes is possessive of his little. But he also knows Victor and is doggy friends with him, so Victor has that going for him.

[Diaper-Mark]

seems like a lot longer than a week.  but then maybe my mind is on little time.

[babygamerboy]

1 hour ago, Kat5 said:

I mean, we've already got proof that Xerxes is possessive of his little. But he also knows Victor and is doggy friends with him, so Victor has that going for him.

I can see Xerxes be protective but at the same time let Victor get close enough for John to pet and all. Like not let Victor be close unless he is right there and all.

[Kat5]

Chapter Thirty Eight

 

 

Rubbing his eyes as he woke up again, this time he was on the folded up comforter on the floor propped up against Xerxes. Still a good way to wake up. Not as great as earlier. But still two of his top three since coming here, and both in one morning.

 

Patting Xerxes for a bit, John stretched again and rolled over to stand up. When he was able to stand up at all, he realized that was in a rough pup and not the overnight diaper he couldn’t stand up in. And somewhere along the way he had been dressed in a onesie and some shorts.

 

Looking groggily around the house, he noticed that the door to the back porch was open, but the child gate was closed.

 

Mom was nowhere to be found inside. So he toddled over to the child gate to peek out onto the porch. He spotted her on the chair nearest the door.

 

“Mom?” he asked as sweetly as he could managed. He probably succeeded better because he was half awake.

 

With the tell tale clink of a cup of coffee being put down he could watch her stand up and turn around with a smile.

 

“There’s my little sleepy head! Would you like to join me for some coffee milk?” There it was, she was fully awake in the morning.

 

He simply nodded, and Mom immediately reached down over the gate and got him around the ribs and hoisted him up onto her hip before opening the gate and walking over to the fridge to pull out a bottle of coffee milk that she’d already had ready.

 

Within moments they were back outside and she was back in the chair and shuffled him around so that he was sideways on her and leaning back semi comfortably on the arm of the chair and her left upper arm.

 

Complaining about not getting to sit in a chair on his own would have to wait, addiction to Mommy’s milk and coffee was more urgent as the bottle was turned up. Five minutes later he was sitting on her lap feeling a bit giggly. The milk was starting to hit him a bit harder lately for some reason.

 

As he finished the milk, he noticed Mommy was looking at him a big different, which made him giggle some more. And when she tilted him over her shoulder and patted him firmly on the back he asked

 

“Hey *pat* what *pat* are *pat* yo…” and then he involuntarily issued out a long burp that left him giggling even harder still.

 

Smiling down at him, Mommy asked “Hey, do you want to help me pick and wipe off a few more tomatoes, or would you like to go play or read?”

 

For the first time he didn’t just answer that he wanted to go help, he had to think about it for a moment in his current mental state.

 

He still said “Yes please.”

 

“John … yes to what?”

 

He answered “Oh! To helping.” and he started worming his way off of her lap. She didn’t immediately let him down, but she after a moment she put the coffee cup and bottle down, got him under the arms and turned him right side up before depositing him on the porch.

 

The instant his feet hit the porch he made to bolt into the yard, but he was foiled as mommy grabbed the back of his shorts and pulled him backwards.

 

“And where do you think you’re going, young man?”

 

He turned to look up somewhat indignantly and explained “Yard.”

 

“Shoes.” was all she said.

 

“Don’t need em.”

 

“Shoes.”

 

“… Yes Ma’am.”

 

With a nod, she stood up and went inside, carrying the bottle and the cup with her.

 

Left alone he scooted closer to the edge of the porch. Every fiber of him screaming to jump off the porch and run into the yard. Oh it was so tempting. It was maybe his entire height from him to the ground. He could roll as he landed. It would be like in a movie.

 

As he started to instinctively lean toward the edge, Mommy came outside with a pair of socks and pointed below him.

 

“Park your booty.”

 

With a sigh at the lost opportunity to dive and roll, he sat down on the edge of the porch. He couldn’t stop from swinging his feet while he waited for her and then she had to grab one of his feet to put a sock and shoe onto it before pinning the other one.

 

She looked at her watch and said “Okay, you’ve got about twenty minutes to pick tomatoes. The little scissors and a towel are in your wagon.”

 

He looked a bit confused as he asked “What happens in twenty minutes”

 

She just stood him up and gave him a couple of pats on the bottom as she dodged the question “You’ll see. Just go be happy in the meantime.”

 

He just shrugged and set off with his wagon. Oddly, instead of joining him, she stayed by the porch. When he turned to look back she was sitting on the porch with a towel wiping off vegetables and seemed to just be preparing for something.

 

And she was conveniently seated where she had a perfect view of where he was going to be the entire time.

 

Whatever, Mommy was being weird. So he started looking through the vines to see if any tomatoes that weren’t ready yesterday were ready today. And much to his surprise there were a couple of dozen that felt about right.

 

One of them was shaped super wide like a UFO. So that set him back to giggling and making sound effects as it went into the wagon.

 

After just enough time for him to make a quick inspection of the entire row his insides went from nothing to panic, like flipping a switch.

 

He was so alarmed as the urge hit him like a freight train that he turned to look at Mommy and she was there looking at her watch and then looked up at him.

 

John wanted to run. To plead to make it to the potty. He wanted … anything other than…

 

There wasn’t even enough time to want anything else, his arms went around his belly and he doubled over. There was no stopping it, and it was completely demoralizing. Within seconds of the urge hitting him he was panting as warm liquid mush filled the back of his diaper, spreading out to fill every nook and cranny available, and then somehow finding or making more space.

 

Holding the side of the wagon, he steadied himself as a little more somehow came out of him. The sound of footsteps in the grass coming toward him was faint in what little attention he had to spare, but he looked up to see Mommy smiling down at him.

 

She held out her hand and asked “Would you like to walk, or do you want me to carry you?”

 

The answer was obvious “Please carry me, Mommy.”

 

She just nodded as she reached down and lifted him up, sliding her arm under him and lowering him onto her left forearm. He grimaced as all of his weight landed on that arm butt first.

 

His shoes were pulled off and deposited on the porch as they got to the steps, and he felt her pause to step out of her shoes at the top of the steps before carrying him in. He barely registered the child gate swinging shut in his peripheral vision as they went through the living room to his bedroom.

 

And so for the first time that he was awake for today, he was on the changing table with his shorts being pulled off and the weird puzzle snaps on his onesie being undone.

 

Before she laid him down she held out her arms in the silent offer of a hug. He reached out in return and was immediately wrapped up in a warm, comforting, hug.

 

She gave him a big kiss on the forehead before laying him down and getting to work.

 

“I don’t understand” was all he could really vocalize.

 

“What don’t you understand, sweety?”

 

“Why did … it was just …” He was breathing fast again, it was freaking him out a little.

 

“Twenty four minutes after you finished the coffee milk, you went off. I timed it last time, and this time you made it the exact same, down to the minute. Although…”

 

She looked at what she was cleaning up “This time you may have gone for a record.”

 

“So this really was the coffee milk?”

 

She just nodded while she scrubbed him diligently. “Yes.”

 

“I don’t want to have to give up coffee.”

 

She stopped wiping and rolled up the used diaper to deposit into the waste bin in the changing table.

 

“Lift.”

 

As he raised booty, she slid a clean diaper underneath him and patted him on the hip and said “Down.”

 

He flopped back down and as she set back about powdering him and taping him back up she explained “You don’t have to give up coffee. And every so often most littles get constipated from time to time and need an enema or a suppository. So at least it doesn’t look like you’ll be having that problem!”

 

He shuddered as she said two of those words and she re-snapped his onesie before standing him back up.

 

Instead of putting him down she picked him up in a big hug and held him to her chest with her cheek pressed against his.

 

She whispered “It’s okay. I love you.”

 

Hearing those words gave him butterflies in his stomach. (Thankfully just butterflies this time!)

 

Carrying him to the living room, still minus the shorts, she stood him up on the couch and ruffled his hair before asking “Okay, what would you like to do for a couple of hours?”

 

Without hesitation this time, he answered “May I play on my tablet?”

 

Not only did Mommy say “Absolutely!” but she handed it to him and went to fix him a sippy cup of water.

 

A few minutes later, John found himself leaning back against Xerxes, a blanket over him and the dog keeping him nice and warm. Staring at the tablet he was having a little bit of trouble focusing, but he found a neat little puzzle game that involved spinning discs to make a ball have a path to get out from the middle of the puzzle to the outside of the puzzle.

 

It was sort of like a round labyrinth puzzle, but every layer had to be turned. It was simple and neat. And for some reason, every time the ball rolled along he had another little giggle fit.

 

Without realizing it, his giggle fits were starting to subside as he wound down from his milk high. And he started to focus more on the puzzles and make more progress as he went.

 

With all of the windows open, it was easy to hear a truck coming down the driveway. As if prepared, Mom came in and turned on the coffee maker. John thought about hopping up immediately but wanted to at least finish this last puzzle first.

 

About the same time that he finished his puzzle, there were footsteps on the porch. So getting up, Xerxes stood up behind him and did a full body shake while he put the tablet back on the coffee table where Mom kept it.

 

John walked over to the door as Mom showed Mr Mike into the house. The man had to duck a little to step through a thirteen foot tall door frame.

 

Mr Mike smiled as he greeted Mom and held out a large (to John) container, cleaned and ready to return. On top of the container was a little cardboard box.

 

“What’s this?” she asked him.

 

With a coy smile he said “Well. I guess you’ll have to open it so that we can find out!”

 

Immediately Mom sat the container on the counter and opened the box to find what looked to John to be a large handmade mug. To everyone else around here it was just a normal sized mug.

 

The cool thing about the mug was that there was a stream painted all the way around it, and the handle was somehow shaped like a tree limb and painted accordingly.

 

Mom immediately stepped up to give him a big hug and a thank you.

 

“Mike! This is gorgeous!”

 

With a great big smile he nodded “Well, I’m glad that you like it! I know someone that teaches pottery and I called in a favor.”

 

Practically bouncing with excitement she held it from a couple of different angles now and complimented “Usually cups half this pretty are uncomfortable to hold. This is very good work!”

 

Mike held up a hand and said “One more thing. John, could you turn around for just a moment?”

 

With a nonchalant shrug, John turned around to look at Xerxes, who was standing behind him with a big happy dog grin on his face as his tail whipped back and forth.

 

John felt a tap on his shoulder and turned around to see a grinning giant man with one arm behind his back.

 

Chuckling, Mike explained "You know John, your Mom's not the only on that gets a present. I searched the entire store and this was the only thing I could find that seemed appropriate for you."

 

And without further ado, his left arm came around and John was presented with ... a stuffie. But this wasn't any stuffie. This stuffie looked like it was meant to be some sort of a lizard, a lizard that was then over filled to make it seem more welcoming.

 

It looked ridiculous.

 

It looked like someone started with a poorly drawn Godzilla that they then colored like an iguana. It was the size of his entire torso, and had legs that bent awkwardly in much the same way that a Vienna Sausage doesn't.

 

Reaching out silently, seemingly mesmerized by the unfathomably awkward appearance of this large stuffie, he grabbed it and squeezed it. It felt like a giant mutated marshmallow.

 

And all of it was somehow eclipsed by the eyes.

 

Those outlandish eyes. The two glassy eyes staring back at him were a small landscape of jade and caramel colored swirls that had a small black disc in them. The most elaborate googly eyes in either dimension were on this ...

 

John was at a loss for words. He found himself so lost in his search for words that he started with a little laugh. Then the laugh started to grow more and more until he could hardly breath for the laughter.

 

John, and his entire history of being able to react on the fly and make up anything on a whim were defeated by this stuffie. The single squishy embodiment of the word "Derp."

 

Standing there laughing so hard he was crying for easily two solid minutes, it took a while to regain any semblance of composure. The giggles he’d had since the milk this morning were more than back.

 

It took longer than he realized that the two bigs were kneeling down next to him and that Mommy had a hand behind him trying to hold him up while he had a full on laugh attack.

 

Eventually catching his breath he wiped at his eyes.

 

“Hahaha… oh my … Mister M… Hahaha Mist… Mister Mike he … hahhh I’m okay … I can breathe …”

 

The two bigs both seemed almost as amused by his reaction as he did by the … derp…. Derpasaur …

 

Interrupting his train of though, Mommy asked “Do you like him?”

 

Exclaiming “Are you kidding!? Look at him! He’s glorious! And Derpy. Derp…. Us … no …”

 

It was impossible to notice that the two bigs over him nodded at each other as he mulled over names.

 

Mumbling to himself, John tried “Derp … derpus? M… no … Godzi… no … Derpzi… no, too eas… Argo!...Hahahaha. Oh, Oh, this is great!”

 

Mr Mike ruffled his hair and asked “Did you name him already?”

 

“Yup!” John exclaimed proudly.

 

“What did you name him?” Mommy asked from behind him.

 

“Argo McDerpus!”

 

“…”

[Kat5]

On 10/25/2023 at 3:13 PM, Emily Ruby Rose said:

I can't wait for another chapter. I'm on edge

By the way, I'm starting to read some of your stories, thanks for writing and sharing them!

[SGTbaby]

Love the Derpy name! Someone certainly has a new favorite stuffy. Great chapter!

[Kat5]

3 minutes ago, SGTbaby said:

Love the Derpy name! Someone certainly has a new favorite stuffy. Great chapter!

The best part is that BabyGamerBoy helped me name Argo! And by helped, I mean did the naming part after I copy/pasted that part from my notes back in ... geeze, it was January. I don't even know if I plan ahead well or not, I just try to keep this moving in the direction from plot point to plot point.

[CDfm]

I absolutely loved this chapter.  It’s just what the doctor ordered. After the horrible day at work yesterday (I was in a knock down drag out fight where I ended up being bit and getting a black eye). This was extra sweet and heartwarming. I loved the name for his new lizard. I was also very happy to see Mike back in the picture and visiting. I am sure Mommy has a special meal planned for them.  They say the road to a man’s heart goes through the stomach.

 Am excited to see the next chapter. 

[Kat5]

3 hours ago, CDfm said:

It’s just what the doctor ordered.

I'm sorry that you've had a bad day!

If it helps at all, knowing that I was able to bring you a smile has also turned my rough day around. As a bonus, I wasn't bitten!

And don't worry, dinner will be mentioned.

 

(If a wolf gets bitten by a human, does it turn into a were human? ... would it just stress about bills and eat cheetoes during the full moon?)

[babygamerboy]

On 4/16/2024 at 7:12 PM, Kat5 said:

The best part is that BabyGamerBoy helped me name Argo! And by helped, I mean did the naming part after I copy/pasted that part from my notes back in ... geeze, it was January. I don't even know if I plan ahead well or not, I just try to keep this moving in the direction from plot point to plot point.

Yep, had to go with a normal first name and a funny last name after reading how he gets the plushie. Also you are doing well with moving from plot point to plot point. As I think I can safely say. We are here to see John's slide into his new life with Amanda. Not some end point, you can wander around with fun ideas before hitting your next major point. Plus I think some of your best parts are more of the fluff piece over a major plot point. Well depending on your definition of plot point. So don't be shy on making a chapter or two of putting John and Amanda in a fun or embarrassing situation that has nothing to do with your major story. I think everyone here would love to see it, especially when they're in the city and deal with all the "mature eyes" looking at them and giving their "two cents."😋

[christi]

Good addition, Kat.  For a split second I always want Xerexes to be plural because of the es ending.  Amanda is so good to John, it's very sweet.  And finally, John sleep like me!  I literally sleep through earthquakes.  Though I'm pretty sure I'd wake up if someone picked me up.  As always, thanks for sharing.

[Kat5]

Chapter Thirty Nine

 

 

“Argo.” Amanda started.

 

“McDerpus” Mr. Mike finished over her shoulder.

 

John nodded at them with a completely serious look on his face.

 

Mommy turned and walked right outside without saying a word.

 

Mike looked between Amanda and John and followed Amanda outside, not noticing that the child gate swung shut behind him.

 

Now feeling confused, he walked over to the gate and looked at their shadows in the grass. Mommy’s shadow was doubled over and he could see the shadow of her arm over her mouth.

 

And then he heard it. He could hear her snort. Then he heard her laugh. Then he saw Mr Mike’s shadow reach over and hold her up as she had a full blown laugh attack.

 

The sound of laughter made him crack up again. And from the looks of it, Mr Mike was having a quiet laugh as well.

 

Argo McDerpus was the perfect name.

 

It was a couple of minutes before they came back in. Standing at the gate, he could swear he heard something with the words ‘adorable’ and ‘dork’ or maybe it was ‘adorkable.’ but it was impossible to tell for certain from around the corner and across the porch.

 

When they finally came back in Mommy picked him up and squeezed him and his new stuffie together in a hug.

 

She seemed to be just managing to keep a straight face as she explained “Mr Mike and I are going to spend a couple of hours working in the kitchen making tomato sauce and salsa. After lunch, and probably a nap, we’ll probably go for a walk. “

 

For his part, John simply nodded along.

 

She continued “Do you want to help us, or draw or read or something else?”

 

Looking back and forth between Mommy and Mr Mike, he really wanted to participate, but had no idea how he could. Plus he was a bit snacky.

 

“I don’t know how I can help, but if there’s something I can do I will? Although I’m a bit hungry.”

 

With a nod she ruffled his hair as carried him over toward the counter. With one arm holding him, and his arms holding Argo, she shuffled the chairs around with two facing the counter, and one of the chairs with the booster seat facing out, while the other was facing in so he could climb in and out on his own.

 

Mommy stood him up on the chairs and pointed “Why don’t you put Argo *heh* McDerpus in the booster seat for safe keeping while we work.

 

Nodding along John lined Argo up in the pink booster seat facing in and immediately realized that the stuffie was bigger than him because he had to shove and shimmy and work to wedge him into the booster.

 

By the time he had Argo in the seat, he stood up to look across the counter to see Mr Mike taking a knife to an apple. Quickly making lots of vertical chops and then flicking the slice off of the apple with each pass.

 

Now, John had never considered himself bad with a knife, but watching someone several times your size run a knife into an apple the size of a grapefruit, flick a slice off onto a plate with one quick motion and immediately doing it again tends to leave you with a bit of a sense of awe.

 

Mr Mike slid the small plate over to him with a nod and he happily picked it up sat on the chair cross legged and started snacking on them. They were cold from the fridge, and crisp and crunchy. And frankly just sweet and oh so slightly tart.

 

As far as Johns earth born taste buds were concerned, it was as good as candy. He barely registered as Mommy sat a sippy cup of juice next to him by leaning over the back of the chair.

 

All told, he wound up spacing out for at least fifteen minutes in his own little world full of healthy snacks and 32oz of Plapple juice. There were some upsides to go with the downsides. He had this nagging sensation that the juice always seemed to make him have more accidents, but it was impossible to stop drinking it regardless.

 

Eventually he stood up on the chair and looked at what was going on. Mr Mike was cutting tomatoes into eight pieces and filling a big glass pan with them. Some sort of leafy green stuff was waiting to be chopped. There were several onions, a measuring cup next to it, and a pile of peppers that would likely have reduced most sane people to a gibbering pile of mush.

 

Mommy read the recipe off to Mr Mike again and he started chopping onions, while she looked directly over at John before taking the peppers over to the other counter to cut them far away from him.

 

That felt like a great kindness, honestly.

 

John propped his elbows up on the counter and watched the goings on, fairly content to just watch and listen for the moment. It was fascinating to watch the two giants passing ingredients back and forth. Mommy was reading a recipe card, and cleaning jars while getting a bunch of lids into a pot on the stove for some reason.

 

While they each did their respective prep work, Mommy brought up the topic of expanding the fenced in yard and adding a green house. John found their conversation mildly interesting at best. Until she mentioned being able to grow strawberries nearly year round in the greenhouse. Then he listened more intently.

 

After about ten minutes, and one finished cup of Plapple juice later, a large food processor was taken out. Probably big enough to hold a bit over a gallon. It didn’t look ‘huge’ but it was definitely ‘really big’ to John.

 

All of the ingredients were mixed up in a giant bowl and some of the mixture was unceremoniously plopped into the food processor before the lid was twisted into place.

 

Mr Mike nodded to John across the counter and said “Don’t worry big guy, your Mom’s making the first batch mild for you before we get to the spicy stuff. That way no residue gets left over to sneak in and make you burst into flame.”

 

John nodded along, genuinely happy for that bit of insight. He hadn’t thought about the possibility until it was said out loud, but then the thought of salsa he couldn’t eat seemed concerning.

 

The thing about food processors and blenders is that they are loud. Very loud, in fact. You never realize how loud they are until you turn one on. In this case, John realized how loud this food processor was the instant that Mr Mike twisted the giant dial to one side to make it pulse briefly.

 

The instant the large food processor five feet from his head turned on, Johns feet left the chair he was standing on. Before he knew it, he was landing in a heap on the chair with his hands over his ears. He wasn’t screaming or making any noise, but for a brief moment he almost blurted out something that got him spanked and put back in time out.

 

One moment later, Mommy was their reaching over the back of the chair and pulling him back upright.

 

“Baby, are you okay!?” she asked in a panic.

 

John looked up at her and answered quickly “I’ve changed my mind, may I sit on the porch and draw?”

 

Shaking her head, she said “Yes sweety, let’s get you a comfy blankie and a pillow.”

 

The next few moments were a bit of a blur for him, since Mr Mike came around the counter and carried him out to the porch where Mommy folded the comforter she’d been letting him nap on into a smallish square that was thick and fluffy. Xerxes wasted no time flopping onto the thick comforter and waiting for his little.

 

Mr Mike held him out parallel to the ground and made a big show of making a mechanical whirring sound as he lowered him like he was a person shaped crane. Despite the flurry of activity, John couldn’t help having a giggle.

 

His drawing pad was held out to him, and the dark gray 3D pencil that he had taken to using was handed to him. The entire box was placed off to his left so that he could use any of the others that he wanted.

 

“Xerxes: Guard” Mommy said as she came back outside to put a sippy cup full of cold water next to him.

 

He went from crouched on the chair covering his ears to outside reclined on his furry buddy in less than two minutes. He spent a moment pulling some of the comforter up over his legs and then flipped through his sketch pad waiting for an idea of what to draw.

 

Looking at his previous drawing of the yard and garden, he thought about the conversation he had listened to about them expanding the yard and adding a green house. It took some squinting to get a mental image of what he wanted, and he knew that he didn’t get to erase any mistakes so he wanted to make it count.

 

Taking a moment to make a tiny doodle of what he imagined in the top right corner so that it wouldn’t be in the way of his left hand as he drew, he drew the porch taking up half the bottom, and the house taking the other half. He then did a quick mock up of the stone path going to the gate, and made a square at the back, then a few lines that he guessed were about the number of rows of plants.

 

With his idea roughly in mind, he grabbed another pencil to use as a straight edge and started drawing from his perspective on the porch, but this time he made the fence go roughly twice as far away, and pressed VERY hard as he drew the back fence. That done, he doodled a rough green house based on the few times he’d ever seen a glass building.

 

It wasn’t great, but it had a roof with one single edge that was taller on one side. Sure, a green house would probably have a two sides ot he roof, but this was his doodle and he could do what he wanted.

 

Kind of grinning to himself snuck in a little rough drawing of Argo sitting up on the top of the greenhouse. It wasn’t a flattering little drawing, but Argo wasn’t a flattering stuffy so it seemed even more fitting.

 

As he started to fill in things like a stone pathway going right down the middle of the yard to the greenhouse he saw that he messed up a spot and flopped dramatically back onto Xerxes.

 

As the dog smelled the top of his head he said “I goofed buddy. I don’t want to start over, this was a half hour of work.”

 

After a moment the dog rested his muzzle on top of John, making him flail a bit as he got gently squished. By the time he wormed his way out from under the dogs head, he had an idea.

 

So with a quick hug around the dogs neck and a kiss on the side of the big furry face he said “Thanks for the idea buddy. Even if you didn’t mean it.”

 

Reaching for a blue pencil he carefully drew a bucket over the stone that he’d messed up and made look oddly like a melting gummi bear sith lord. There, no one will know that he goofed.

 

Having fixed that inspired him, so he drew a tiny little house in the far back of this imaginary yard. Sure, the bigs would just see it as a playhouse, but to him it would look like a little cabin. He even managed to press just about right in the grooves of the boards so that they didn’t look like they were floating comically. Sure, he wasn’t strong enough to make super cool 3D things that popped off the page like a big, but he felt pretty accomplished with what he could do.

 

After he was done with the yard, the walkway, the greenhouse, and the little cabin, he stared up at the plants and decided to put the tomatoes far off to the left along the fence to that they weren’t in the way of the cabin. The short green leafy stuff were next and he was sketching the low wire fence around the pepper plants when he heard tires on gravel coming closer to the house.

 

Moments later there was the sound of the gate latch moving and Xerxes leapt up to stand in front of John. Pretty confused now, he stood up and tried to peak around the dog.

 

First he saw the blue jeans. Then he saw the loaded belt. And by the time he saw the shirt, he knew who it was.

 

But that didn’t stop Xerxes from running to stand at the top of the stairs between the large man and the little he was guarding. Tail straight back, ears locked forward and teeth bare. Xerxes was a silent sentinel.

 

But still, it was time to intervene.

 

“Mom!!! Agent Praefectus is here, and Xerxes is about to eat him!”

 

Within five seconds, Mom was out the door and commanding “Xerxes: DOWN.”

 

And even then, the dog wouldn’t just sit down, he went back over to sit between them and John. And smelled his little just to make sure he was okay. He couldn’t help laughing as the cold nose smelled his face.

 

The view from his side of the porch was of a dog and the topmost parts of two bigs.

 

Mom was polite as always “Agent Praefectus, welcome back! What can we do for you today?”

 

Agent Praefectus came into Johns field of view with a smile “Well Ma’am, the people in the office gave me a more exact list of coordinates to add some more motion trackers, and they said that if we are going to use your driveway every time that they pick up a little, we should ask for a signed statement that you are okay with it.”

 

Amanda nodded “I can sign a piece of paper stating that you can use my driveway to go rescue littles.”

 

With a nod, Agent Praefectus pulled a folder out from under his arm and held it out while continuing “They would also like your permission to install a simple stone pathway along the perimeter of the field. Not concrete or anything damaging, just something in case some paramedics need to be able to get a bit closer.”

 

John watched the bigs head into the house to talk about … Honestly, now that his head seemed clearer and he could think a little better, it seemed apparent that they thought about these conversations as ‘grown up’ or ‘big talk’ and he was just sort of like a kid to them.

 

He just decided to go back to his drawing. Content enough with the rows he had made, he set about using a sky blue to color the sky. When he was done with the sky, me moved onto the fence, and got kind of a laugh out of the little cabin standing out in front of the fence as he colored it in.

 

After coloring the stone walkway, curiosity started to get the better of him, so he stood up and carried his box of pencils and his sketch pad into the house.

 

Finding the three bigs in the kitchen standing around the counter, he put his tablet and pencils up onto the chair he had been standing on, then scrambled up onto the chair himself, then moved his drawing pad up onto the counter and leaned onto it himself.

 

With a quick survey of what was going on, he noticed that they were all three discussing something intently, and didn’t even notice him. Dozens of jars of salsa were on the counter, and even more jars of red sauce were waiting on the counter behind the bigs. Apparently they had finished up.

 

Finally tuning in to what they were saying, Agent Preafectus was saying “But we are working on a way to get to them before they can wander into the woods and get eaten. Or into the river.”

 

Mom spoke up next “Well, if you call me if there’s any motion, I can rush up there.”

 

Agent Praefectus shook his head “We obviously want to get there as fast as possible, but so much can happen in that amount of time.”

 

The conversation went back and forth for a while. For his part, John listened passively while he went back to coloring his sketch.

 

An idea occurred to him and he spoke up “Hey …”

 

They didn’t seem to hear him.

 

“Excuse me.”

 

They still didn’t hear him. So he tried to wave his hand.

 

Nothing. He felt like a child trying to get the attention of adults.

 

Finally raising his voice he said as loudly as he could without shouting outright “EXCUSE ME.”

 

All three of them turned to look at him at the same instant and he couldn’t stop himself from shying back a bit. He felt like he suddenly drew the attention of three giant predatory animals.

 

Mom said gently “John, the grown ups are trying to decide something important. Do you need something?”

 

That made John stand up to his full (very short) height on his chair “But I think I can help.”

 

It seemed like all three of them were listening to a child say that they could do calculus or something. None of them were mean or rude about it, but they clearly didn’t think he had much to contribute.

 

Fine. He’ll act like he’s giving a presentation.

 

“Okay” He started “I think that we can agree that I’m the one here that came through a rift and knows what it was like to come through all disoriented and throwing up?”

 

They all just nodded.

 

Rolling his eyes, he slid the drawing across the counter and said “Wouldn’t it be possible to put a little shack like this one I drew with a light on it and some water and blankets so that any of us that came through had a place to rest and wait for rescue?”

 

Finally all three of them gathered around the picture and looked first at the overall drawing, but then at the little shack.

 

“You could put like a button that says “Press this if you are lost” and then anyone that comes through would know to wait for help.”

 

Mom nodded along and then looked him in the eyes and said “John, that’s very clever.”

 

Agent Praefectus looked at the picture and laughed a little. “From the mouths of littles”

[Moon3ye]

I really like that this is a DD story where the relationship between Amazons and Littles seems so healthy (at least for the main characters) and that the "adults" also listen to John when he tells something and they also realize that this is a really good idea.

[SGTbaby]

Great chapter! I love how John makes his suggestion and the adults actually listen. The respect most of the Amazons show John is refreshing in this story. But I love the dimension either way. The perspective John draws with is awesome but so is your perspective on the dimension in this story. Love it!!!

[christi]

Good chapter, Kat.  And...  Yay for John for speaking up!  Amanda is sweet but the Amazons irritate me to no end by treating earthlings as toddlers so the ending of this was like.  Yes!  You tell 'em!!!

<Laughing>  It would totally kill the world setting but I kind of want John to lead a revolt so littles will have more of a voice and be treated better.    As always, thanks for sharing. 

[babygamerboy]

Love this chapter. Love Amanda and Mike's reaction to the super cool name to Areo McDerpus. Also love how John had to get everyone attention like a little child for his winning idea, and hope he gets tk be hands on a bit on this project, would be cute to see a handful big tough Bigs and a cute John with a "hard hat" and a soggy diaper checking the shack before Amanda or even one of the workers decides to help get him up to "OSHA standards" with a fresh diaper. Even if everyone else can see, but I am glad he gave them the idea of a shack to save future lost littles from the "Not Nice Cougars" and the "Big Bad Wolves." Also speaking of, love that our bestest boy was ready to protect his favorite little soggy rider from a stranger. Can't wait for John to see that bigger dog and see how Xerxes shows off his best buddy to his doggo friend. As someone who during my first time in diapers was surrounded by big dogs. Always love seeing John and Xerxes play and interact with others bigs or big animals. (Also Zoo episodes/chapters when hehe).

1 hour ago, christi said:

Good chapter, Kat.  And...  Yay for John for speaking up!  Amanda is sweet but the Amazons irritate me to no end by treating earthlings as toddlers so the ending of this was like.  Yes!  You tell 'em!!!

<Laughing>  It would totally kill the world setting but I kind of want John to lead a revolt so littles will have more of a voice and be treated better.    As always, thanks for sharing. 

Could see John ride his mighty Xerxes and charge against the tyrants that are "morning people" till he has too much coffee milk and picked up blushing as the big mean tyrant has to wipe his messy butt for a fresh diaper. 

[Kat5]

10 minutes ago, babygamerboy said:

the tyrants that are "morning people"

Let us not forget those that wake up cheerful and choose to use their powers for evil instead of giving us a stuffy, covering us back up and letting us sleep for another hour.

[babygamerboy]

2 hours ago, Kat5 said:

Let us not forget those that wake up cheerful and choose to use their powers for evil instead of giving us a stuffy, covering us back up and letting us sleep for another hour.

Yep, why can't they just do a change and cuddle us on the couch without waking us if they want to be "bright eye and bushy tailed". Especially when we are having such a good dream. They should tell by the twitchy little knob during the change now. It's like when a dog "runs" in their sleep hehe

[CDfm]

I can’t even begin to tell you how much I enjoyed this chapter.  The cuteness of John and Xerxes. Amanda’s love for John.  Zerxes being over protective of John. John and his insight and clever solution to a problem the bigs couldn’t solve.  The awesome things just seem to go on forever. I am absolutely loving this story and reading it makes me shed all the bad things I have been facing at work and in life in general. This story truly has become an escape for me. 

[Kat5]

11 hours ago, CDfm said:

This story truly has become an escape for me. 

I don't really know how to express how much this means to me. I think I've said before that I had no real goal for this story. It was just in my head clawing at me to get out. And after a time I couldn't ignore it and just HAD to start writing it. And then I just stepped out of my comfort zone, and here we are.

 

The fact that it brings a smile to someone's day means more to me than I ever really expected.

I'm sorry that you have rough days, and I pray that you have calmer days with more smiles ahead. And thank you for sharing with me that this brought you some cheer.

 

(Also the invasion happens in a few more chapters. Don't worry about it, its probably fine.)

11 hours ago, CDfm said:

John and his insight and clever solution to a problem the bigs couldn’t solve.

Also, as Littles we literally have a different point of view.

On 4/27/2024 at 8:51 AM, christi said:

but the Amazons irritate me to no end by treating earthlings as toddlers so the ending of this was like.  Yes!  You tell 'em!!!

Their entire society has assumed for countless generations that we are basically just... toddlers (at best) you can't just turn that off like a switch. 

The statement "From the mouths of Littles" being a direct parallel of the RL "From the mouths of children" is entirely purposeful.

On 4/27/2024 at 4:38 AM, SGTbaby said:

The perspective John draws with is awesome but so is your perspective on the dimension in this story. Love it!!!

Thank you very kindly! I would like tonl say that it's just because I've been reading in the setting for some years and understand the setting, and not that I can relate to being vertically impaired and working with tall people on the regular. Or being in Second Life and the 'correct height while everyone else around me is sized like an actual Amazon.

On 4/27/2024 at 1:29 AM, Moon3ye said:

I really like that this is a DD story where the relationship between Amazons and Littles seems so healthy

Thank you very kindly! Part of the idea behind the story is that not -all- Amazon's are horrible evil creatures. (Though there is no shortage of them!) But that in any society there will be statistical outliers. Misfits that don't fit into the mold that is expected by their society, and they have to put on a mask to go through their daily lives. (Wow, I just realized how much I can relate to that. Ouch.)

The characters HAVE to blend in with the society around them. But like ones social battery, how long someone can keep up the act, and how hard of a toll it extracts varies from person to person.

If there is any one moral that I could choose to share through this story, it would be to encourage the oddballs that don't fit in. Many of us know the struggle. And not being alone lightens the burden.