New Neighbor (w/ JE PUNK)

[BabyBear85]

Peter saw the moving truck pull away. He knew someone new was renting the house next door, but he had no idea who they were. Still, he had been brought up right, knowing the neighborly thing would be to go say hello. He picked up the plate of cookies he had baked and headed out across his lawn.

After ringing the bell, he was surprised when a little girl opened the door.

”Oh.. hello there. I’m Mr. Stevens. I live next door. Is your mommy or daddy home?”

[JE PUNK]

Ruby Hashira a 19 year old born with a condition that made her look small answered the door and saw the man stare at her and ask where her parents were “No they’re not cause I’m an adult and I live on my own.” She told him as if this wasn’t the first time she was mistaken for a child 

[BabyBear85]

“Oh… um, I’m sorry, you’re an… adult?”

Peter looked up and down at the small girl in front of him. She looked like she could be eight years old. And here she said she was an adult…

”Is this your first time living on your own then…? How.. uh… how old are you, if you don’t mind my asking.”

[JE PUNK]

“You’re not the first one to mistake me for a child im 19 years old and getting ready to attend college.” She told the older man as their were still boxes piled up 

[BabyBear85]

Peter felt a little awkward, still finding it hard to believe this young person was 19. But looking around, he could tell from the way her boxes were strewn about, with posters and text books piled up next to them, that she like was in fact attending the local college.

”I see,” he said. He handed her the cookies. “Well I baked these for you, just as a welcome to the neighborhood. Let me know if you.. need help with anything. I work from home, so I’m usually around.”

He couldn’t help a paternal instinct rising in him, seeing this very young looking girl on her own.

[JE PUNK]

Ruby raised an eyebrow before taking the cookies “Thank you I’ll let you if I need anything.” She said closing the door and went to bring them inside 

[BabyBear85]

Peter walked back to his house scratching his head. Such a small 19 year old… he wondered how she would manage being on her own for the first time. He told himself he would be sure to check in on her regularly, just to look after her a little. 

[JE PUNK]

Ruby set the cookies on a chair for the time being before grabbing a step stool and grabbed them and set them on the table before dragging the step stool and brought it over to the cupboard and went a cup of  ramen to heat up for dinner. It was unknown to Peter if the girl could reach a toilet seat or not 

[BabyBear85]

Over the next few days, Peter mostly kept to himself, but did keep an eye out as he saw Ruby coming and going. He still couldn’t believe that tiny girl was 19. He saw he lugging a huge backpack full of text books that looked comically large on her small frame.

On Friday evening, he saw her coming home from school while he was enjoying a beer on the front porch. He ran over to help her with her bag.

”Hi Ruby!” He called warmly, crossing the yard towards her. “Here sweetie, let me help you with that heavy bag.”

He didn’t mean to sound patronizing, but the tone in his voice sure sounded like he was talking to a toddler. 

[JE PUNK]

Ruby came back home looking quite exhausted before seeing Peter come over to help her “No.. I got… it.” But was too tired to really argue while her bag was taken he would notice her elbows were bandaged up with of bruises.

[BabyBear85]

Peter took her bag and slung it over his shoulder. He walked with her across the lawn to her house, and noticed the bruises on her arms.

”Oh sweetheart, what happened? Are you ok?”

[JE PUNK]

The small woman blushed heavily at the way she was being talked to “It’s… nothing I just fell off my stoop of couple of times while I was in the kitchen.” It looked like it was a regular thing for her as she opened the frame door to her house 

[BabyBear85]

Peter walked into her house and saw the state of things. There were piles of dishes in the sink and countertops. Other items were piled up instead of put away in cabinets or high up shelves.

It was clear that Ruby had a hard time reaching the cabinets and shelves. He noticed the stool turned on its side in the kitchen.

”Oh my…” he said, “this place is a mess. Why don’t you let me help clean up. Do you have a hard time reaching the tall cabinets sweetie?”

He didn’t mean to sound patronizing, but he could help feeling like she was just a little girl who needed to be looked after.

[JE PUNK]

Ruby blushed “I haven’t really had time to clean up that much…” she replied before blushing more “AlittIe I use the stool help reach  for things.” If she had trouble reaching tall places who knows what else she struggled with 

[BabyBear85]

Peter set about tidying up.

”You should have asked for some help, honey. I’ll get this mess taken care of, why don’t you work on some homework.”

Peter cleaned up the kitchen, then noticed the pile of laundry in the hallway. He realized the poor girl probably couldn’t reach the controls on the washer and dryer.

He scooped up the clothes and carried them to the washer. He couldn’t help noticing a faint smell of urine as he did…

[JE PUNK]

Ruby blushed heavily and nodded and went in the living room to do her homework. 
 

While the clothes were picked up a faint smell of pee lingered but it was still unknown if the tiny girl had daytime accidents , bedwetting issues or maybe both 

[BabyBear85]

Peter dumped the clothes into the washer and started the cycle. He was sure he smelled pee on Rubys clothes, but wasn’t exactly sure how to address it.

”I um… started the laundry for you. I’m guessing you have a hard time reaching the washer and dryer? Your clothes were really… uh… dirty”

[JE PUNK]

Ruby was writing in her textbook before Peter got her attention and nodded “As long I have the step stool I can reach into it okay and I just been tired a lot from packing I didn’t get a chance to go through all my clothes.”

[BabyBear85]

“It’s ok honey,” he spoke to her as though she were a child, but he couldn’t help it. She was so small. And she clearly couldn’t really take care of herself. “I don’t mind helping out and looking after you. It can be hard when you’re on your own for the first time.”

Peter hesitated. He didn’t want to embarrass her, but he felt like he needed to ask about the smell.

”Your clothes though… they have kind of… an odor. Is everything ok? Are you having trouble um… making it to the.. bathroom?”

[JE PUNK]

Ruby blushed heavily at that answer was the smell that obvious and gave a small pout “I do occasionally sometimes dribble in my pants if I can’t make it to the bathroom 

[BabyBear85]

Peters heart swelled. He felt sorry for Ruby, and wanted to just scoop her up in a hug. It made him feel good that she trusted him enough to admit she was having some potty troubles.

”Aw, that’s ok,” he said, trying to reassure her. “It’s nothing to be embarrassed about. Lots of people have those kind of… issues.”

He eyed her carefully before speaking again, choosing his words carefully so that he didn’t offend her.

”Have you thought of wearing, you know… some kind of.. protection?

[JE PUNK]

Ruby blushed heavily at the mention of protection “Nooo… I don’t wear that kind of stuff I’m a big girl and don’t need it.” The way she phrased it sounded it childish “My parents used to make me wear pull ups during long car rides.. she admitted. 

[BabyBear85]

Peter suppressed a smile. The thought of the small girl in a pull-up was extremely adorable.

”I see…” he said. “And they didn’t send you to college with any pull-ups? It seems like… you might need them.”

[JE PUNK]

Ruby just blushed heavily “I ummm not sure I haven’t really finished unpacking everything yet I got like maybe 2 boxes left to unpack 

[BabyBear85]

Peter looked around. Amid the mess he saw a few boxes in the corner that were not yet opened.

”Why don’t we have a look.”

He rummaged through one box, and sure enough, there at the bottom was a large package of Huggies Pull-ups. He knew this girl really needed looking after, if her parents sent her away to college with pull-ups, and she wasn’t wearing them.

”Here we go sweetie. Looks like your mommy and daddy were thinking ahead.”

He tore open the pack and handed her a pull-up.

”Why don’t you put one on while you study? You don’t want any wet undies while you’re distracted with your homework, do you?”