[REM] Created with AOLpress/2.0 - HSB Page 1 -1- I cried the whole trip. All by myself for two days on a bus full of strangers, heading home to what would surely be my death! A few times, a kindly old woman would sit next to me on the bus and try and get me to talk, or just hold me for a while. That felt good, but I kept crying. I stepped off the bus, back in my home town for the first time in four months. Tired from the long trip, I slowly shuffled home and walked in the front door. My mom was waiting for me in the front hall. "Mike, you look terrible, Let's get you right up to bed" she said seeing how sleepy I was, and the tear streaks marking my red, puffy face. Mom led me up to my bedroom, which now seemed so much nicer than it had before. Mom quietly put my things away as I stripped down to just my underwear and got into bed. I was already half asleep when I felt Mom kiss me goodnight, and I was soon out for the night! As tired as I was, sleeping wasn't easy! Terrible nightmares awakened me at least a half dozen times. By morning I was feeling even worse that the night before, but I wasn't quite as tired. As I got out of bed and stretched and yawned I noticed it was after 10am, much later than I usually sleep. It felt great to find a closet full of clean clothes just waiting for me, and I picked out my favorite jeans and a sweatshirt, since it was a little chilly. Still a little stiff, I stumbled into the bathroom to pee, and brush my teeth. When mom heard the water running, she called up from downstairs. "When you are through in there, come on down here for breakfast!" I was hungry and quickly finished my brushing and thumped down the stairs loudly. I got a running start in the hall, and managed to sock skate across the kitchen floor to the table. "Have a seat shuffles" she kidded. Shuffles was her nick name for me because I always likes to sock skate in the kitchen while she cooked. I took my seat and immediately started on the eggs and bacon she had made for me. Mom sat across from the table, drinking her coffee and just looking at me. After a few minutes I finally looked up and questioned her "what?" was all I said, knowing that she obviously was waiting to start a conversation. "Well, I figured I would wait for you to explain to me why you got kicked out of school for bedwetting!" She said in a serious tone. I didn't know what to say, I looked away from her in shame. "I hated that school anyway!" I mumbled as I wiped a fresh tear from my eye. "Why did you hate it? The Richmond School for boys, is one of the finest private schools in the country!" She explained. "All the kids hated me and they picked on me" I stuttered as I started to cry openly. Mom said nothing so I continued "They called me mean names and beat me up a lot!" Mom dragged her chair over next to mine and gave me a big hug as I continued to cry. "I'm sorry baby, no wonder you started wetting, you must have been miserable" I just shook my head yes as I was clenched between her breasts in a tight hug. I sobbed and bit my lip to try and stop crying. "So what are we going to do now?" Mom asked as she released me. "You father won't pay for another school, he's already made that clear!" Mom explained, letting me know dad was mad. "Is he going to punish me?" I asked as I cleared my thought, nervously thinking of that cold, leather belt he had used on me so many times before. "He was going to, but I'll talk to him, I think he will understand" Mom answered honestly. "I don't want to go to school anymore mom" I said in a pleading tone. "I figured that much" Mom said as she patted my leg. "Why don't you stay upstairs today and get some more rest, We'll talk about this later. "Okay mom" I said as I hugged her and got up from my chair. "Am I grounded?" I asked not sure if I was or not. "No, I just want you to get some sleep, You can play in the den a little later" Mom replied knowing exactly what I was asking for. I climbed the stairs back to the upper floor, and got back in bed. -2- I slept until almost two in the afternoon, I got some rest, but I had several nightmares again. But I had a bigger problem, a problem that became evident, the second I stood up. A cold breeze hit my soaked jeans and ran a chill right down my spine. I plopped back on my wet bed and started to cry. Mom must of heard me because she came right up. "It's okay honey" She reassured me as she stripped the wet sheets off my bed. "What's that?" I asked pointing at the bottom sheet she left on the bed. "It's a rubber sheet, it keeps the mattress from getting wet, I figured you might need it" She explained calmly as she started pulling my sweatshirt over my head. For some reason I didn't argue or fight her as she unbuttoned my jeans and slid them down to my ankles. I just quietly stepped out of them. She threw them in a pile with the wet sheets and started to tug at my underwear. "Mommmmm" I protested as my face started to turn red. "Oh hush up" She she said with a grin as she pulled the cold wet briefs down my legs. "Wait here for a minute" She told me as she left the room, I started to shake, half from the chill of my wet flesh on a cold day, and half from the fear, as I expected a spanking was surely coming! I heard water running and realized she was filling the bathtub for me, so I nervously tip-toed into the bathroom. "Oh good, Hop in" she said pointing the steamy tub of bubble-topped water. I hadn't been able to have a bubble bath at school, so I gladly jumped in the tun and plopped down hard on my bum making a large splash. "Try not to make a big mess" Mom warned me as she threw a giant "bubble ball" at me. "Okay mom" I said as I played with the bubbles. "And make sure you get yourself good and clean, I don't want you smelling like pee when your father gets home." Mom added as she laid out some fresh towels for me. Mom left me alone in the bathroom to play and wash, although there was a lot more playing going on! I stayed in the tub until my hands started to wrinkle, then I pulled the drain plug and stepped onto the bath-mat, covered with bubbles. I grabbed one of the towels and dried myself off, from head to toe. I wrapped the other towel around me for warmth before I combed my hair and went back to my room. I froze in place as I walked into the room. "Dad, yo.. you..you're early!" I said nervously. Mom and Dad were sitting on my bed, they had been waiting for me. "May I get dressed?" I asked, not sure if dad had plans for my bare bottom or not. "Yes dear, we don't want you to catch a cold" Mom said. I turned to my dresser and saw mom had laid some clothes out for me. Underpants and pajamas, so I put them on, as dad started talking to me. "Son, I was very disappointed to hear you got kicked out of school, and to be honest, I don't understand this wetting thing, but your mother has convinced me it's not your fault." I sat at my desk chair as he continued. "The money I paid the school was non-refundable, which means we lost TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS, now I was going to turn you right around and put you in another school, just to teach you a good lesson, but your mother had another idea, so I want you to list to her." He said turning to mom to let her know he was done. "Michael, I know you don't want to go back to school, so were are going to try home schooling, That means I will be your teacher, and you will learn here at home. How does that sound?" She asked with an unsure look. "Great!" I said with a big smile. "Good, but I wan't you to know, if you don't pay attention and don't keep up with your studies, you will be punished!" "Now, about your wetting problem.." Dad started before Mom interrupted him. "Dear, Your father and I have decided you should wear...well 'protection' at night." She said. "What do you mean?" I asked, confused. "You will be wearing diapers to bed" Dad said matter of factly. "DIAPERS???" I asked loudly. Mom could tell I was seconds away from a tantrum, and she came over and hugged me to prevent it. "It's just to cut down on laundry and to keep you dry." She reassured me gently as she rubbed my back. "But I'm not a baby" I cried into her shoulder. "No, of course not, a lot of big boys wear diapers, that's why they make them in your size." Mom said trying to convince me this was a normal thing. "I only have to wear them to bed?" I asked hoping that was it. "Yes, Only to bed, and nap time" mom assured me. I know you probably think I'm too old for "nap time" but for some reason I have always needed extra sleep, and I get real cranky if I get tired, so I soon learned an afternoon nap, was better than a spanking, or standing in the corner for being a brat! When I realized the conversation was over, I turned to dad. "I'm sorry about the money dad" I told him honestly. "I know you are, let's just not bring that up again though, Okay" It was clear he wanted to forget it to keep from getting mad, so I promised never to talk about it ever again!