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
