Mum isn’t up yet, so you and Bow Kid settle in to watch some TV. You turn the volume down to not wake mum and take a spot on the carpet in front on the TV, lying on your stomachs, your feet swinging in the air. You watch half of the cartoon that was going when you turned the TV on, then watched the whole next one.
Mum still wasn’t up, but it was her day off, so she was probably sleeping in.
“Hungry?” you ask Bow Kid.
“A bit.”
Before the next show can come on, you wonder if there’s any breakfast stuff that you can make. There’s probably cereal and bread in the cupboard or some yogurt in the fridge.
“Lets get some food,” you say, climbing to your feet.
Standing up, you can see Bow Kid’s dress has ridden up while her legs swung in the air, exposing her nappy. Giggling, you take her hand as she wonders what’s funny.
“I can see your nappy!” you sing song.
Bow Kid gives you an embarrassed smile, then something bolder crosses her face.
“Boop, boop!” she goes, suddenly swatting you lightly on your nappied bum, each hand in time to the sound.
The surprise makes you jump slightly before you both break out into giggles.
In the kitchen, you ask Bow Kid what she wants to eat.
“Ooh! Mango jam!” she says, spotting it among the jars you pulled out of the cupboard. “Lets try that.”
You have to stand on your tippy toes to reach the toaster, but soon you’ve got toast going and plates out. While you’re waiting, you poke around in the fridge to find some apple juice there and pour you and Bow Kid a glass each. Once it’s done, you spread butter and jam on your toast before taking both back to the lounge room for more cartoons. You’ve only missed the first few minutes of the next cartoon as you reclaim your position on the carpet.
“Mmm — I’ve never had mango jam before,” says Bow Kid as she bites into her next slice.
“Yeah, it’s good.”
Once you’ve finished you push your plate away. It knocks over your glass.
Your freeze for just a moment, realising how close you just got to making a huge mess on the carpet. Thankfully, you already finished the apple juice and nothing spills.
Looking at Bow Kid, she’s looking between your toppled glass and her half-full one with worry.
“Are we… allowed to eat here?” she carefully asks.
You have an uncomfortable look on your face. The dry food was probably okay if you didn’t make a mess, but mum would normally insist that glasses go on the coffee table and not the carpet where they can get knocked over. She would make an exception for just water, but not sticky things and definitely not milk.
“Sort of,” you tell her. “Toast is okay… but I’m not supposed to have sticky drinks on the carpet.”
Bow Kid gives you a guilty look, but that’s not fair to her because you didn’t tell her, which makes you feel guilty.
“Should we take this back to the kitchen?” she asks.
You probably should. You nod.
You both get up and Bow Kid takes the opportunity to drain her apple juice. As you walk to the kitchen however, you realise you really need to go potty, and not the wet kind of potty. You’re not sure what to do though; you need someone to unzipper you and then you need to get the nappy off. But laying down seemed to have hidden the need, and even this very short walk back to the kitchen is enough movement to get your bowels moving. B the time you’re putting your plates in the sink, you really need to go.
You can barely think as you quickly say, “I’ve got to go to the loo,” before power walking to the bathroom.
Closing the door behind you, you remember you need help to get your onesie off and turn to open the door, but suddenly you feel it. You can feel that you are really close to pooping yourself. You panic, clenching your muscles to stop what your body is trying to do as you fumble with the door handle. When you get it open, you’re about to cry out for help when you remember mum is still asleep.
There are several agonising seconds as you consider walking back to the kitchen to ask for help, but another contraction and another attempt to clench tells you that’s a really bad idea. You’re certain that walking will make this worse.
“Can — can I get some help?” you desperately cry out, your hands grasping the edge of the door in a white-knuckled grip.
There’s a second or two before you hear a response of, “Yeah?”
“I need some help — help with the zipper.”
You want Bow Kid to come running, but when she doesn’t appear a few seconds later you realise she hasn’t noticed your urgency.
“Please, come quickly!” you cry.
You can feel your eyes tearing up in humiliation, in knowledge that you’re on the verge of messing yourself. Hoping that Bow Kid is coming quickly, you try to walk back towards the toilet. It’s difficult; you can feel the mess trying to escape as you do.
You vaguely register the sound of the door opening and glance over your shoulder. Feeling utterly terrified that you were about to humiliate yourself in front of your friend, you can see her own face is laced with worry. A few agonising seconds and Bow Kid unzips the PJs. With the zipper undone, your tug at the sleeves to get the garment off and shuffle some more, closer to the toilet.
Your arms now free, you push the onesie down over your nappy, squatting slightly as you do so. This was a mistake, you suddenly realise, feeling the mess begin to peek out of your behind. You pull in a shocked, ragged breath, your eyes swimming with tears as you stand straight up.
Bow Kid is looking at you in worry, clearly unsure what to do.
Your insides clench again, more painfully this time as you halt the progression of the mass. You take one, then two, deep breaths, before carefully pushing your PJs down, trying to not bend over as you do so. Now you need to get your nappy off.
It’s obviously wet, the decorative designs on it faded, but you can barely think about that as you are reminded that you need to go, so you tug at the tapes and the nappy drops fee, lading on your PJs around your ankles.
As your bum finds the toilet seat, you can feel the mess already escaping you. You give a pained sigh of relief as you lookup to see Bow Kid leaving you alone to your business. In a mixture of relief and shame, you start to cry.
T_T_T
You sit on the loo far long that you really need to, unable to face Bow Kid after your almost accident.
Crazy replays of the situation run through your mind. Some see you be a big girl that doesn’t need help, the visit to the toilet being like any other. Others see you mess your nappy as Bow Kid struggles to get your zipper down, before she turns her nose up at you in disgust. For a fleeting moment, another sees you go in your nappy in the lounge, neither of you having any care in the world.
As you wonder what Bow Kid would think of you for having a messy accident, there’s a knock at the door and it opens slightly. Nobody peeks in.
“Um — do you need some help?” Bow Kid asks unsurely.
You realise she’s talking about the zipper.
“J-just a second,” you reply.
You’ve got to wipe your bottom, you realise, standing up. As you do so, you realise you also need to put the wet nappy somewhere other than on top of your PJs. Gingerly, your grab the font and back of the nappy by the plastic and place it next to the loo, unsure what to do with it, and then wipe your bottom.
After pulling the PJs up and threading your arms through the holes, you realise that maybe you should have wiped your other bits down before putting the PJs back on, but it’s too late now. With fear of a thousand different ways Bow Kid could hate you for being like this going through your mind, you walk to the bathroom door with trepidation.
What greets you is a worried face; Bow Kid’s eyes clearly wet. She nervously takes your upper arms and direct you to turn for her, before she pulls the zipper up for you. Then there’s a nervous moment before she turns you back around and pulls you into a hug. A hiccupy-sob escapes you as you hug her back.
“Are you — are you okay?” she asks worriedly, her face streaked with tears.
You nod your own tear-streaked face, the hug having evaporated your worries about Bow Kid hating you for this, but still feeling embarrassed by it.
“You shouldn’t be embarrassed,” she tells you quietly. “After everything you’ve done for me, I couldn’t…” she trails off.
But you get her meaning, giving her a wet, thankful smile, sniffling slightly as you do so. Bow Kid hugs you again.
T_T_T
Sensing your need, you’d returned to the lounge and cuddled on the couch together, using the cartoons to distract yourself from what had happened.
“Have you ever… done that in your nappy?” you ask, your voice strained.
Bow Kid nods, nervously swallowing as she did, clearly embarrassed by the admission.
“Before I outgrew my old jammies,” she said. “It was like my cat-ear jammies —” the ones you wore now “— and after I got some normal jammies.” You were curious how she ended up with this type again, though. Sensing your question, Bow Kid continued. “I got the cat-ears for the sleepover.” Bow Kid seems to fidget against you. “I was more worried about it being seen than having a messy accident.”
That made sense.
“Was it bad?” you cautiously ask. “The accident, I mean.”
Bow Kid chews her lip as she thinks.
“It was embarrassing.”
That you understood. You wished it weren’t embarrassing, that your friend never worried, but you knew that she had probably been as terrified as you had been. You cuddled into your friend some more, hoping to convey the reassurance you wanted to give her.
You found yourself wondering if the rest was bad though. It was no-doubt embarrassing, but was being messy otherwise bad? Smelly, probably, but… You’re not sure where you are going with that. Maybe if it weren’t embarrassing, you’d try it and see what it was like. But it seems a bit silly, something no one should want to try, right?
But still, you’re curious. Slowly, you muster up the courage to ask.
“Was the rest of it bad?” you ask, unable to look her in the eyes as you did.
When you finally look up, Bow Kid seems nervous. She fidgets slightly.
“N-not really. It was smelly and I didn’t want to wake mummy, so I went back to bed.” Bow Kid seemed to be in deep thought. She looked sad, renewed worry on her face. You gave her a worried smile back.
“Promise me, if I-I have a messy accident… that it will be okay?” she asks, her voice tinged with quiet desperation.
Of course. How could that ever be in doubt?
But you worried the same thing, didn’t you? That Bow Kid would think of you as a little baby who pooped a nappy like a baby, that she wouldn’t want to be friends with a baby. You can feel your eyes wet again as you give her a small smile.
“I promise,” you tell her.
A silly thought occurs to you, causing you to give something that sounds like a sob and a giggle mixed together.
“I promise, you could mess your nappy on purpose and I’d still be your friend.”
Bow Kid blinks at your response for a moment before blushing. Suddenly, she yawns. The giggles return.
“I promise as well.”
T_T_T
“Were we too loud?” Bow Kid asks with a hint of worry.
“Hmm?” asks mum. “No, I had earplugs in. I figured you two might be a bit noisy this morning,” she continues with a knowing look.
That explains why you didn’t wake mum this morning.
She stares at you for a moment.
“Is that your nappy in that bathroom?” mum asks, directing the question at you.
You blush and nod.
“I think I’ll have to get a nappy bin, then.” Now she directs herself at Bow Kid. “Are you still in your nappy, sweetie?”
Bow Kid nods as well.
“I wasn’t sure where to put it.”
Mum hums in agreement.
“I’ll get a bin to put in the bathroom this afternoon. I think the bin by the loo is a bit small for it.”
T_T_T
After a shower each and some food for mum, she decides that today you’d be going to the beach. It was supposed to be hot today, so the idea was to play at the beach until lunch, and then spend the hottest part of the day at the shops before going home.
Bow Kid only brought normal clothes and PJs, so she borrows some bathers from you. Like the bathers you are wearing, Bow Kid’s are in purple (the coolest colour), but hers are a bit ruffly around the waist. You didn’t like wearing them so much, but —
“It’s cute,” you tell Bow Kid.
She brightens at your compliment. It always feels good putting a smile on your friend’s face.
You’re wearing you bathers in the car because you’re going straight to the beach, but mum has packed a dress and some undies for both of you to wear afterwards (neither of you thought of that). You had thought Bow Kid should always wear a bow, but mum pointed out that it might fade in the salt-water, so that’s with the dresses.
Remembering yesterday, you don’t do up your buckle, happily talking with Bow Kid about how you were going to build the biggest sandcastle ever, before mum does it for you. She gives you a smile and pats you on the cheek before doing Bow Kid’s up as well. It felt nice for mum to look after you.
T_T_T
“Look at this!” exclaimed Bow Kid.
It was a huge shell, the biggest you’d ever just seen on a beach before. There were bigger in shops and stuff, but despite hoping too, you’d never found one, and now Bow Kid has found one.
“Cool!” you exclaim back, looking at the big spiral shell in her hands.
It’s got dark stripes on the outside, but on the inside it’s purple, which is really cool. Bow Kid lets you hold it and you try to see if there’s anything inside it. You can’t see anything though.
“Do you want it?” she asks.
Well, it would be cool to have, but…
“It should be yours, you found it.”
Bow Kid takes the shell up to where you had started building a sandcastle. It’s near water, so you’d put rocks at the front so the waves don’t get it. There’s a pool with some seaweed in it, along with a moat and some towers. Bow Kid puts the seashell in the middle of the castle you are building up and starts helping.
Shortly after, mum appears with a bottle of sunscreen in hand.
“Better safe than sorry,” she says lightly, squirting some onto her hands.
She starts with Bow Kid who patiently sits there as mum applies sunscreen onto her neck and shoulders.
Spotting a bit where mum hasn’t rubbed it in properly, you reach out and wipe it up with a finger. Bow Kid stares at you finger with confusion for just a moment, before you place the dollop of her nose.
“Bloop.”
She giggles as mum moves onto her arms. You’re sure she’s looking for an opportunity to enact her revenge, which she does when mum moves to the next arm, scooping some up just as she squirts it out of the bottle. She smears it on your forehead.
“Simba.”
As Bow Kid beams widely at you, it takes a second to realise what she meant, her façade cracking as realisation crosses your face.
“Rub it in properly, sweetie,” says mum as she squirts some more in Bow Kid’s hands so she can do her face.
T_T_T
Bow Kid jumped.
“Ahhhh!” she screamed.
You jump to your feet to find her standing away from the sandcastle. As you wisely move away as well, Bow Kid steps cautiously forward, eyes wide, peering down at something. That something being a pair of claws extending from the opening of the shell.
“Wow, a hermit crab!” Bow Kid exclaims.
You lean in closer. It certainly looks like it with the claws and all.
“Should we put it back in the water?” you wonder.
“I think so. I think they need water.”
Bow Kid reaches down, picking the hermit crab up from the clawless end of the shell.
“What about the pool?” you suggest.
Stepping over the castle wall, she carefully lowers the hermit crab into the water, resting it on the sandy bottom. But she watches a moment, frowning.
“No, I think it’s too warm for it.”
“Oh,” you say, stepping your feet into the pool.
It does feel warmer than the ocean, but you have no idea if that’s too warm. Still, you don’t want to hurt it, so as Bow Kid picks it up, you follow her back into the ocean.
“There you go!” she says, putting the hermit crab near a large underwater rock.
It’s hard to make out, but you think you see the hermit crab scurry under the rock.
Bow Kid’s smile is wonderfully radiant.
T_T_T
You and Bow Kid are ready for lunch by the time mum tells you to finish up. It’s getting really hot and you can see people either leaving or going into the water to cool off. Packing up your things, you follow mum up to the carpark where there’s a public shower.
The water is cold as you rinse the salt out, but the cold water is okay on a day like today and mum will probably tell you to have a proper bath tonight because there’s probably still sand in your hair. When everyone is rinsed off, you trek back to the car, letting you dry off. Getting changed is easy as all you have to do is push your bathers off your shoulders, throw on your dress, get your bathers off your lower half and slip on some undies. Mum then puts the wet bathers in a bag. Lastly, you help Bow Kid adjust her ever important bow.
“How does fish and chips sound for lunch?” mum asks as she checks your seatbelt.
“That sounds nice,” says Bow Kid.
“Yeah,” you agree.
Mum skips the first two fish and chip places because there are like a thousand people at each one, all trying to get lunch after the beach. Instead, mum drives in the direction of the shops, stopping at a busy but not packed place.
“I wonder if they have a hermit crab?” Bow Kid asks as you both gaze into the fish tank in the fish and chip shop.
There are several colourful fish swimming about and even some snails. One of the snails is cutting a path through the light film of algae on the glass.
“Hmm,” you hum in concern. “I hope they don’t eat these fish,” you say.
Bow Kid joins you in a disapproving hum.
“That would be weird,” she comments.
“What have they got in there?” Mum asks, leaning down to your level.
“Just some fish,” Bow Kid replies.
“And some snails,” you add, pointing at the one on the glass.
“No hermit crabs.”
“Hermit crabs?” mum asks questioningly.
“Yeah, we found one at the beach!” says Bow Kid enthusiastically.
There’s a small flash of surprise on mum’s face.
“Really? I’ve never seen one at the beach — well, not around here anyway. I have seen one in the tropics.”
“Yeah, it had claws and everything,” you explain.
“We put it back,” says Bow Kid happily.
As your order is called, mum goes to pick it up. You catch Bow Kid yawning.
“Tired?”
She shakes her head.
“Nope, all good.”
Mum leads you to a nearby park where the three of you can eat at a picnic table.
T_T_T
Mum lets you buys some buttons that you think will look really cool on Bow Kid’s cardigan as she shops for a nappy bin.
Once you move onto the supermarket, she lets the pair of you stand on the front of the trolley, mum wheeling you about as she grabs things off the shelves. Mum doesn’t stop as she goes past the nappies on the shelf and you figure mum knows there’s enough to last for now. You do wonder what other types are like though.
As mum browses the fresh fruit, picking which ones she thinks is best, you and Bow Kid get off and go looking around. There are some vegetables you don’t think you’ve ever tried before and you wonder if Bow Kid has tried them.
“Weird,” you say, looking at the bell-shaped vegetable. It even had a flat bottom.
“They’re squash,” Bow Kid explained.
“Weird,” you say again. “You had them?”
Bow Kid nods.
“Yeah, mum sometimes cooks them.” When you ask what they are like, Bow Kid replies, “sort of like pumpkin —” she shrugs “— but not really.”
Bow Kid yawns again, more loudly than last time. You give her a quizzical look, but she shakes her head, smiling all the way.
“There you are,” says mum, spotting the two of you. “Try not to wander off so far, okay?”
The rest of the shopping is uneventful and soon you and Bow Kid are being buckled up into your seats again. You’re only a few minutes out of the car park when you look over at Bow Kid to find she’s fast asleep in her seat. She’d yawned all day and clearly tired after last night, so you leave her be.
That may have been a mistake, when only a few minutes from home, you hear a sharp intake of breath.
“Oh no,” she says in a fearful whisper.
Bow Kid looks horrified as her hands go to her crotch to try stymie the flow. Mum doesn’t miss the spectacle and quickly pulls over. You can see tears in Bow Kid’s eyes so you undo your restraints and get out of your seat, slipping into the centre seat to be nearer to her. Bow Kid has closed her eyes, her face blotchy in embarrassment. You probably can’t take her hand right now, so you instead loop your arm through hers. Sniffling, she blinks back at you.
“Do you still need to go, sweetheart?” mum asks.
Bow Kid sobs, shaking her head as mum nods sadly in understanding.
“Lets get you home, then.”
Mum stares at you for a moment.
“Come on, you have to get back in your seat. We’ll be home in a minute or two.”
With visible reluctance you slip your arm out and take your seat. When mum pulls the car into the driveway, she helps Bow Kid out of the car. She’s shaking as you try to hug her.
“N-no, I’m — I’m all wet,” she protests, stepping away.
You shrug before hugging her anyway. Bow Kid initially freezes, but after a few moments’ melts into your hug, sniffling over your shoulder. You can feel her wet clothes wetting your dress, but it doesn’t matter right now. It hurts to see Bow Kid hurt, you realise, your own eyes watering. She has fast become one of your best friends.
Over her shoulder, you can see mum removing her car seat. Mum sets it next to the car before giving you a small sad smile.
“I guess you two can have a bath now.”
Mum gets the hot water going before leaving you to help Bow Kid out of her wet clothes. You put her still dry bow safely on the edge of the bathroom sink, before helping her keep her wet dress off her face as she pulls it off over her head.
“Remember,” you whisper, “I promised I’d never care about this. You’re still my friend.”
Sniffling, Bow Kid nods her tear-streaked face as she gives you a sad, thankful smile.
T_T_T
Bow Kid’s eyes were still red, but you finally got her giggling as your tried to replicate her head of curls with some bubbles. She follows it by trying to make a bubble moustache.
“Aww,” she says as the bubbles seem to run down to her chin. “Plegh!” she then cries, sticking out her tongue. “They don’t taste very good.”
You giggle back before an idea comes to mind. You scoop up some bubbles and then try to attach then to Bow Kid’s chin.
“A beard?” she asks.
“Yep,” you reply. But it seems the movement is a problem, because about half the beard falls off.
“Kids?” comes mum’s voice as she knocks on the door.
She looks in, a soft smile on her face.
“Are you alright, sweetheart?” mum ask.
She gives mum a small smile as a nod.
“All because Hat Kid was there to save me!” she insists.
You beam and Mum laughs, catching your eyes. Stepping closer, she crouches down to your level next to the bath.
“Now, I hope you don’t think badly about this, but I was thinking — just for today — that we get you in a nappy,” mum suggests.
Something crosses Bow Kid’s face at the suggestion, before she sideways looks at you. You try to look back reassuringly. She looks slightly nervous.
“Just for today?” she asks uncertainly.
Mum nods.
“Yep. Just in case you fall asleep again. I know you were terribly embarrassed about your accident in the car and I know that you’re probably still very tired, so I thought it would be a good idea just in case you fall asleep again before bed.”
Bow Kid glances at you again. You try to smile, giving her the smallest nod.
“O-okay,” she mumbles, blushing slightly.
You slip up next to her, your shoulder touching hers.
“You don’t need to worry,” you tell her, nodding with certainty.
It sounds nice to not have to worry about that sort of stuff. Bow Kid gives you a thankful smile.
“Yep,” mum adds. “No one is going to think badly about it.”
“Thank you,” she says quietly.
“Now, before that, do you have to go to the toilet?”
Bow Kid fidgets slightly in embarrassment.
“Maybe.”
“Alright, so once you’re out of the bath and gone to the loo, we’ll get you in a nappy.” Mum looks at you. “What about you?”
You shake your head.
“I’m okay.”
T_T_T
Once you dry off and have a huge towel around each of you, Bow Kid goes off to the loo. Wondering if mum will put you in a nappy while she waits for Bow Kid, you go in search of her. You bump into mum just outside the bathroom door. She’s got the plastic bag of nappies in one hand and leads you to your room with the other, the hand on your back.
“Are you okay with this, sweetie?” she kindly asks.
You’re first instinct is to say yes . It’s been nice so far being looked after, other than the near miss this morning. But Bow Kid had been there for you, just like you had been there for her. But you weren’t sure mum would like it if you wanted that; you were supposed to be a big girl, and want to be a big girl.
“It’s… important,” you say, thinking it over. “I want Bow Kid to be happy.”
Mum gives you a small smile.
“You’re my very brave little girl, aren’t you?” she says with a touch of pride. “I know this can be a bit embarrassing — for both of you — but I’m very proud of you for caring about your friend so much.”
You blush, fidgeting in embarrassment at mum’s praise.
“Thanks,” you say quietly.
“I really mean it. Not many girls your age would do this, or not mind that their friend has a little problem.”
You nod slightly, wondering why that was the case. It seemed so cruel, so horrible, that someone might like them anymore because they wore a nappy to bed. Friends were important. Just the thought of someone doing that to a friend was painful.
“Anyway, hop up on your bed and I’ll get you ready.”
Your towel still around you, you shuffle up your bed and lay down. You watch as mum pulls a nappy out of the packet and unfolds it before setting the packet on the bed. Your curiosity overcoming your embarrassment and partly to hide your face, you reach out for the bag and take a look at it.
There’s a cute girl a bit younger than you on the front. In the corner, it says Size 6 (16+ kg) 24 Nappies . They smell kind of nice, but you’re not really sure what they smell of, besides that these might just be what nappies smell like.
“I would get you two pullups for during the day so you can go to the loo in them, but a packet would be a bit of a waste just for one day.”
Blushing, you keep the packet between your face and mum.
“So… what should I do then?” you carefully ask.
Mum chuckles.
“I’m not sure how well these will retape,” she replies. “If you want, I can try get them back on or get you a new nappy, but you might as well just go in them.” She laughs. “I’m going to be changing nappies anyway; being wet doesn’t change that.”
That makes sense… and lets you use the nappy, like you wanted. You can feel mum is now taping you up, her nappying slowing as she talked.
“So, what will it be, kiddo?”
You’re nervous to say the words, and instead try not to sound too keen.
“I’ll use it? — if that’s okay?”
Mum quietly laughs
“It’s okay, sweetheart,” she reassures you. “I did say it’s okay.”
Suddenly, mum tugs the packet of nappies out of your hand, smiling down at you reassuringly. You’re pretty sure mum knows why you were hiding your face behind it.
“I think you’ll use less nappies that way, too,” she continued, raising an eyebrow at you.
Mum did teach you not to waste things, and using your nappy a few times instead of getting a new one each time you went to the loo was less wasteful. You didn’t doubt that mum meant it that she hoped you wouldn’t be wasteful.
“O-okay,” you timidly agree.
There was a knock at the door before Bow Kid peeked in. You give her a wave as you sit up. The towel is still over your shoulders, but it’s plainly visible you’re nappied.
“Ready?” mum asks her as you get to your feet.
Bow Kid nods and steps into the room as you wonder what to wear.
You didn’t have loads of dresses and normally saved them for hot days like today. Looking through your drawers, you find a pair of shorts. Your nappy is a bit poofy so you’re not completely sure it will fit you right now, but you try anyway.
Surprisingly, it’s not that difficult to get your shorts up over your nappy. These shorts have a cord waist instead of a button, so you do that up in a bow. Fidgeting slightly, you realise it feels a bit different from just wearing a nappy and nothing like normally wearing shorts. It feels secure though and you don’t think it’s too obvious… except for the top of the nappy peeking out the top of your shorts. But that’s okay as you quickly find a t-shirt that covers it up.
Looking over, mum is getting the clothes Bow Kid has packed in her bag out. One is a skirt and a t-shirt and the other is another dress. Bow Kid would look cute in both, you think.
“The dress might be easier — for changes, I mean,” she offers, her voice strangely timid.
As you encouragingly sit on your bed next to her, you wonder why that’s the case. Bow Kid probably knows better than you, though.
“I don’t mind changing you in either, sweetie,” mum says kindly.
Bow Kid chews her lip before picking the skirt and mum leaves you two alone.
T_T_T
It’s sad.
Bow Kid is still strangely timid as you both sit in the airconditioned lounge, sewing together her cardigan. The weather makes you realise that the cardigan is probably not summer clothing, but maybe she can wear it at night soon. You thought she was feeling happier during the bath, but her sullenness returns shortly afterwards. Still, you want to Bow Kid out of her funk, so you try asking her things.
“Why the skirt?” you ask.
She looks back uncertainly.
“What about it?”
You shrug.
“Like… for nappies.”
“Well — um,” she says, clearly trying to think.
After a moment she tugs her t-shirt up, exposing her nappy peeking over the waist of her skirt.
“So, I have to loosen it and pull it up because its tall .”
“Oh — okay,” you say, her words making a lot of sense.
You’d obviously have to take your shorts off for a change. Still, it didn’t spark any conversation. Instead, your worry grew. Eventually you, just had to ask.
“Are you okay?” you ask quietly, an obvious edge of worry in your voice.
Bow Kid frowns at the question, her eyes down at the sleeve she was sewing together.
“Yeah,” she replies.
The words hurt, because you know she isn’t. You can feel your eyes wetting, unable to respond when Bow Kid looks up at you. You can see her lips quiver as you try to swallow the lump forming in your throat. She sags, looking dejectedly at you.
“I’m sorry you got — got caught up in… all this,” she whispers, her voice sad.
You blink numbly back. That… wasn’t at all what was bothering you. You were sad because Bow Kid was sad. You liked the nappies and were happy to be caught up in it. You just didn’t want Bow Kid hurting; it was too painful to watch. You wanted her happy, with that infectious bright smile on her face, that smile that made you want to engulf her in a huge hug. You loved her, and watching someone you loved hurt so much, hurt you too.
“T-that’s fine,” you stammer out, suddenly feeling the tears coming. “I just want you to be happy. I’m sad because I —”
You come to a halt having decided what you’ll tell Bow Kid. Chewing your lip nervously, you look around, spotting mum on her computer. But not here — you won’t say it here where mum might hear it.
Getting to your feet, you hold your hand out for Bow Kid, a sad, slightly teary smile on your face. Taking your hand, you pull her to her feet and lead her to your room. Your arms are wrapped around her in your best impression of a bone-crushing hug the moment the door snaps shut. You try to strangle the sob forming.
“I don’t mind any of this — I like this,” you tell her adamantly. “You’re so important to me, and I want to see your happy — happy and smiling,” you add, a wet smile on your face.
Bow Kid sniffles, brushing away a tear with the back of her hand.
“Really?” she asks, her voice strangled.
“Really.” You nod.
“Even having to wear nappies?”
“I didn’t have to, but I wanted to.”
Bow Kid slowly nods, clearly thinking about your words.
You want to confess all, and tell yourself you will, but in the meantime, you procrastinate, leading Bow Kid to your bed where you both sit. Backs against the headboard, you cuddle up to her, suddenly feeling clarity. Clarity in that Bow Kid won’t think badly of you, and that she might even understand.
“I like this,” you tell her. “I — I like being in a nappy,” you quietly confess. “It’s nice. It’s really nice, and I get to be in one with you.” You place your head on her shoulder, your cheeks heating in embarrassment.
Bow Kid is silent for several seconds.
“You… want to be in a nappy?” she quietly asks, surprise tinging her voice.
“Yeah,” you breath. “It’s nice being looked after.”
“You’re not supposed to.” There’s no heat in Bow Kid’s words.
You shrug, lifting up your heat and giving her a small smile.
“So?”
She gives you a small, almost shameful smile.
“It has always sounded nice,” she confesses, her face flushing.
The words make your heart race, knowing Bow Kid thinks so too.
“I was glad when mum suggested it,” you add before frowning. “I wish you didn’t get hurt before it, but I do like it.” Your smile returning, you try to give her a reassuring look. “Besides, then you don’t have to worry about accidents anymore. I wish we’d been in nappies earlier, so that didn’t happen to you.”
Her smile got wider, more thankful.
“Yeah.” You pull Bow Kid back into a hug. “I just wish it could be forever.”
Her words ring true to your ears.
T_T_T
You and Bow Kid have her cardigan all sewed up by dinner time. You still need to add buttons and the kitty cats, but otherwise it’s ready for wearing.
Bow Kid’s eyes go wide as she puts on her home-made cardigan for the first time.
“Wow,” she whispers in awe. “This is so cool!”
You’re bouncing enthusiastically on your feet, enjoying the sight of Bow Kid trying it on for the first time. You make an affirmative hum as Bow Kid spins slightly, letting the cardigan and her skirt fly. The sight makes you giggle.
“Wow, that’s very good,” mum compliments as she comes into the lounge.
“You really think so?” Bow Kid asks, suddenly self-conscious about her work.
Mum glances at you, giving you a knowing look.
“Have you seen my daughter’s first attempts?” she asks humorously.
Bow Kid giggles.
“Yep!” she replies. “It’s bad.”
You try not to laugh as mum smiles knowingly.
“Now, do you two need a change?” she asks.
You squirm slightly, feeling the wet mass between your legs. You could feel how your wet nappy had swelled against your shorts, but it wasn’t tight or uncomfortable.
“Maybe?” you reply, not sure about it. Maybe your nappy was close to leaking, or maybe not. You didn’t really know yet.
“I’m okay for a bit,” says Bow Kid.
“Good until after dinner?” mum asks. “I think you two could do with an early bed tonight, so I can change you then.”
Bow Kid nods. “I’m okay,” she says more surely.
“What about you?” mum asks of you.
“I… don’t know.”
Having not gone to the loo beforehand, you’d only kept for nappy dry for a bit. So, maybe you’d gone more than Bow Kid.
“I’ll check then,” says mum.
You’re not sure what to do, so you just stand there blushing as mum pats your bum.
“It’s been a while, but I think you’ll be okay until after dinner.”
T_T_T
Even with the air conditioning going, it feels warm in your room. Bow Kid is readjusting her skirt over her fresh nappy, and you’re debating putting your shorts back on. Mum says that you’re off to bed as soon as you have both brushed your teeth.
“I’ll be back in five minutes, okay?” she tells you as she puts the wet nappies in some plastic bags.
Deciding it’s too warm, you forego the shorts and go brush your teeth dressed in just a nappy and t-shirt.
“I can see your nappy!” Bow Kid singsongs as she follows you into the bathroom.
You wiggle your bum, trying not to giggle behind a mouth of toothpaste.
You go back to brushing and after spitting it out, you look back to find Bow Kid undoing her skirt. She lets it drop to the floor before stepping up onto the bathroom step stool next to you.
“Now we’re the same,” she declares.
“Yep,” you reply, before wiping away the toothpaste.
You’re both just in a nappy and t-shirt as you cuddle up to each other in your bed. It feels right and comforting, and you’re certain you drift into a comfortable sleep before mum can come by and turn off the lights.