Our Stepbrother and Us -- Prologue

 

It was a normal weekday in late September when me (Alwyn) and my 6-year-old brother (Arval) came home from school. When we got home, our mom was home, and judging by the wonderful smell, mom was baking chocolate chip cookies and a few others treats. When mom is home, she is a realtor, mom greets us at the door and ask us about our day and told us that our snacks are ready at the kitchen table. As we sat down, I - being 10, almost 11, said it was ok, but BORING, a typical 4th grader attitude. Arval, however, told mom and me about a new student in his 1st grade class. Grabbing a chocolate chip cookie, Arval said, "Ryan is nice, but he is shy. Hope, he and I can be friends."

 

I guess I should introduce myself. I'm Alwyn Proberts, and as I said, I am 10 years old. I am short for my age, light red hair - Strawberry blond, I think it is called, blue eyes and thin. I live with my brother, who looks like me - only smaller and with orangy-red hair and my mom in the small city of Green Bay, the home of the NFL's Packers - and yes, we are CHEESEHEADS, fans of the Packers. My mom and dad are divorced, since he didn't love mom anymore.

 

As Arval talked about his new classmate, mom said, "Arval, you are nice, so I bet you and Ryan will be friends. How are the cookies?" Mom gave us a plateful of chocolate chip, coconut macaroons and peanut butter cookies. As we did our homework, I said, as I was munching on a peanut butter cookie, "As usual mom, delicious." I then looked at Arval and said, "Ryan could be shy because he is new to the school. Moving into a new town is hard, Arv." I grabbed a coconut maroon. Arval said, "I guess. I think I should try to be his friend tomorrow. I hope he'll be friends with me."

 

Beknownst to us, Arval met our half-brother -before mom and Ryan's dad, Glenn Ashurst, a widower for 3 years met and fell in love. Glenn and mom met at a school function a few days before Thanksgiving. They met when Arval's class put on a play about Thanksgiving to the parents. When I met Ryan, a few weeks later, he seems to be a great boy, but he did seem shy. We never knew about Ryan's 'problem' until 7 months after.

 

Glenn took us places - the Packers Hall of Fame, the National Railroad Museum, basketball games at Wisconsin - Green Bay, snow skiing and snowmobiling. We never had an overnighter at Glenn's house, a 3 bedroom colonial with a pool, but we been at his house. We had seen the downstairs but never Ryan or Glenn's bedroom.

 

One day in early May, Glenn invited me and Arval camping, so mom said we can go that weekend. Glenn told us to bring our sleeping bag - thank goodness, since that is the only camping equipment we have - as he said he had the rest. Wisconsin is a beautiful state, especially the northern section of the state. Glenn told us that we were going camping at Bagley Rapids in Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. Glenn said that Ryan loves it there, so they camp there all of the time.

 

When school let out that Friday, and when we got home, we changed into shorts and a t-shirt, then went to the kitchen where mom had our snacks - Oreos and milk - while waiting for Glenn and Ryan.

 

When Glenn and Ryan came by to pick us up, we went to Glenn's blue Explorer. We saw Ryan a bit upset, so Arval said, "Ryan, you didn't want us to go with you and your dad? I thought we were friends!" Ryan sniffed and looked at us. He then said, "Arval, we are friends and you are my best friend. I think you won't be after this weekend, thou." He looked at Glenn, who was finishing up talking with our mom, and said, "Dad?" Glenn kissed our mom, then said, "Ready to go? Ryan, don't worry about Arv and Wynn, they'll still be your friends. Trust me." Glenn smiled into his Explorer and said, "Buckle up. We are hitting the road."

 

It took us about 2 hours to get to the campsite, a spot along side of the Oconto River. Glenn drove his dark blue Explorer into the spot he reserved, looked around and then we pitched the tent - a big 8-person Camel Oasis cabin tent - with the door facing the river. After we pitched the tent and placed our sleeping bags in it - with Ryan's next to Glenn's and Arval next to Glenn on the other side and me next to Ryan. We started dinner, so Glenn said, "I hope you guys are hungry. We are having hot dogs and baked beans."

 

After we had dinner, we had S'mores and toasted some marshmallows. After dinner, Glenn made us some hot chocolate, then Glenn said, "Time for bed, guys. Ryan, lets go into the tent. Boys, don't leave the site, ok?" Ryan looked at us and then followed his dad into the tent. I could see that Ryan wasn't as upset has he was before, but something was wrong. I looked at Arval, and he was wondering the same thing, too.

 

In the tent, Glenn was comforting Ryan as Glenn was getting Ryan ready for the night. Glenn said, "You know they'll still be your friend, Ryan. You aren't the first boy who needs them, nor will you be the last. Why not show them the diapers?" Glenn pulled off Ryan's shorts and saw Ryan's wet diapers.  Ryan said, "I don't think they'll like me. Arval wanted me to sleepover, but I told him that you wouldn’t let me. I wish I didn't have a bad bladder." Ryan looked at his dad, then said, "I'm going to show them, dad." Glenn put on Ryan's diapers and said, "You'll be ok, Ryan. Are you ready?" Ryan nodded and unzipped the tent's door and walked out.

 

We were sitting at the picnic table, when Ryan came over to us. Ryan said, "Arv, sorry that I lied about not being able to sleepover. I have a bad bladder, so I have to wear diapers. A drunk hit me and my mom, she died and I damaged my bladder." We looked at Ryan and I said, "Sorry, Ryan, about your mom. I don't mind you in them." Arval looked at Ryan and said, "Me, either, Ryan. Do you think I would hate you?" Arval hugged Ryan and said, "Are we still friends? I love you."

 

We hugged Ryan and we didn't realize that Glenn came out of the tent, until he said, "Ryan, didn't I tell you that they would be fine?" Ryan looked at Arval and then looked at Glenn. He said, "Arv, sorry, I thought if you knew that I need diapers you'd hate me." Arv looked at Ryan and then at me. He then said, "Glenn, would you diaper me? I want to support Ryan." I said, "Me too." Ryan looked at his dad and smiled. "Do you mind, daddy? Thanks, for supporting me you guys. I think you are great! I love you! Thanks for not making fun of me!" I said, "Why, you aren't the only bedwetter, Ryan. Do you mind if we were diapered fulltime this weekend, Ryan?" I looked at Glenn and said, "Can we, Glenn?"

 

Glenn took us into the tent and diapered us for the weekend. Glenn hugged us and said, "Thanks! You know Ryan loves you guys." Glenn told us about what happened to Ryan. We left the tent and went up to Ryan. Ryan smiled and said, "Thanks, I'm glad you did it for me. I'm happy and you guys are cute in them." I said, "Ryan, we will support you. Who cares what people thinks. You are nice, Ry." Glenn said, "Ry, do you now believe they are your friend?" Glenn looked at Arv and said, "Ryan after that first day told me that he met a great boy in his class. He wanted to be friends - good friends - but he thought you would make fun of him like at his old school." Arval looked at Ryan, "Ry, do you now trust me? I knew you were shy - I wanted to be your bestest friend. These are nice, I like them." Ryan said, "Try Cloth. Cloth is nice! I said, "Why do you think we would hate you? Arv and I think you are a great boy. We will have a fun weekend." Arv said, "Best friends, Ryan?"  Ryan smiled at his dad and said, "You are right, dad. Wish we were brothers, Arv and Wyn." He smiled at his dad and said, "Dad, could you hand it to me?" Ryan put out his right hand.

 

Glenn placed the object into Ryan's hand, then said, "Ryan, remember I told you that they wouldn't mind. They judge you by your character first. They don't mind, Ry. Now time for bed, boys." Glenn hugged us as we went into the tent and into our sleeping bag. Ryan put the pacifier into his mouth ad said though his pacifier, "Thanks dad." I looked at Glenn and Ryan's pacifier and I wanted one. I'm not sure why I wanted one, but I asked Glenn, "Glenn, got a pacifier for me?" Glenn handed me one and I fell asleep sucking it.