Farsight

By: Slang of Euphoric Rush

 

Note: If there's one thing I've learned over the past few months, its that nothing ever turns out just the way you expect it to. For example, there wasn't going to be any more Farsight, but now, here you, Michael Berg, sit reading the introduction to the latest chapter in the epic. A large reason for the proposed discontinuation of the story is that I could not write this chapter, and I didn't. The third chapter, which you are currently reading, was generously penned by Austin (The Dance, The Hooligan), who took time out of his tremendously busy schedule to bring this tale back to the computer screen of you, Michael Berg. Everyone be sure to send their gratitude to Austin as he deserves no less for helping out someone in need despite the obstacles in his path. Otherwise, Farsight will continue on what should be a bi-weekly basis. So until then, live well Michael Berg.

 

Chapter 3: Speedway

 

Jake couldn’t sleep. It was turning out to be one of those nights where the more Jake wanted to sleep, the less tired he was getting and his mind would not stop. The conversation between Josh and AJ was running a continuous loop in Jake’s head, holding him on the edge of sleep, still too conscious to not think. Groaning, Jake finally pulled back the covers and sat on the edge of his bed. It was not a dark night. The moon was shining in through his half-closed blinds and a soft breeze was blowing in through the window. Fall in California is by no means cold, and the weather was still quite nice. Jake decided to go for a walk.

 

He gingerly put on a hoody and shorts over his boxers and t-shirt. Jake grimaced as his bruised and battered body made its way into the clothing. Throwing on sandals, Jake made his way out into the warm, moonlit fall night.

 

All was quiet in suburbia, it was peaceful. Jake walked down the middle of the street, looking at each house as he walked passed. He found himself listing off his neighbor’s names absentmindedly. Jake had lived here so long, every wrinkle of Hammer Bay was forever imprinted on his brain. It had treated him well, Jake decided. Despite not having real parents, Jake lived a good life. Nicole took great care of him, allowed him freedom to grow up, but still protected him. He also had some great friends, though a bit weird, he’d just found out. Jake kicked at some pebbles and watched them bounce their way down the asphalt. Weird. Diapers. Weird. Where’d that come from anyways? Why would anyone like them? Jake shook his head in disbelief.

 

He looked up and found that he’d made his way to the ridge on the edge of the subdivision. It was known by the local kids as the cliff. From that vantage point, you could see for miles. The city lights and beyond that, the ocean. The moon was so bright, the light reflecting off the water could be seen. Jake took a deep breath of the California air. It smelled nice. The summer’s fires had left the air with a thick, pungent burning smell. Lots of people didn’t like it, but Jake did for some reason, especially at night.

 

Jake began thinking about his friends again. Even though he didn’t want it to be, Jake knew he wasn’t going to be as close to Josh as he was before. Josh and AJ had always been closer, being the same age and all, but Jake had always felt part of them. But now, Jake wasn’t so sure. They had a connection he could not replicate. Well, he always had Robbie. Robbie was a good kid. A bit timid, but fun loving and willing to do crazy stuff, which was important.

 

Jake and Robbie had always gone to school together, but hadn’t always been great friends. That started a couple of years ago in fourth grade. Robbie had asked Jake, out of the blue one day, if he’d like to go fishing with his family. Jake hadn’t really known Robbie before that, but liked the idea. Not having a father around and Nicole not having the time, Jake had never really had the chance to go camping. So one summer, when the boys were just about to start fourth grade and nine years old, they went out into the woods. Just the boys, Robbie’s older brother Tyson, and their dad.

 

It had been a great trip and Jake had become really close with Robbie’s family. At one point, Jake had fallen down while he and Robbie were playing on some rocks. Robbie’s dad had fixed him all up, being the doctor that he was. Jake remembered thinking how nice it must be to have a father around. Robbie had been gone for a couple of weeks after that, Jake remembered. But once school started, they had become fast friends.

 

Jake stared out across the city lights from the cliff and suddenly felt like crying again. What was it with crying tonight? Must be the moon. He felt like he wanted to think about his parents, but put up the mental block. A sort of impenetrable prison he put around the memories he would not touch, at least not right now. Jake threw a rock and watched it crash and bounce its way to the bottom of the hill where the road he and his friends had almost ran into Tyson the other day. The road wound its way into the city. He grimaced as his tattered body protested the sudden movement.

 

Despite the pain, Jake threw rocks until the sky turned gray and watched as the sun raised itself above the eastern rises and bathed the coastal valley in the soft warm glow of morning. Still wide awake, Jake made his way back home, wondering how long he was going to stay awake in class with no sleep.

 

Safe under his bed, Robbie held his hands tightly to his ears to block out the sound. He closed his eyes tight and hummed his favorite song. It was a hymn. Robbie wasn’t sure where he had learned the tune, but it was beautiful, so beautiful. And when he was scared, as he was now, he sang it softly with his eyes closed and everything seemed ok.

 

Robbie hummed it now, louder and louder his humming grew, and tighter and tighter he clinched his eyes. But still the noise, the yelling, the crashing, the hostility seemed to permeate his surroundings and find its way inside his defenses.

 

Nine years old, Robbie still easily fit under his bed. The floor was dirty. Old hardwood, the joints separating as the glue disintegrated over time, leaving spaces in between each piece of sanded, shiny cedar. Crayons fit easily in each space. So did coins and the wheels from his toy cars. Plenty of toy detritus littered the spaces and suddenly Robbie gave up humming, gave up closing his eyes, and instead picked out a blue crayon. He was bored. He was tired of the fighting, of the humming, and the crying. What happened to his happy family? It seemed something had gone terribly wrong.

 

Now his parents were never around, and when they were, they were fighting. Robbie’s older brother was never around either. He had his own friends and Tyson did not like his younger brother, Robbie was sure it, at least when his friends were around. He was pretty nice when he was alone. But that wasn’t often, so Robbie was learning to live by himself. At nine years old, he could make a sandwich, fry an egg, and record his favorite TV shows on his dad’s treasured VHS tapes. But his dad didn’t seem to notice.

 

Robbie took the crayon and found a scrap of paper which was also under the bed. He drew a lake. Finding a green crayon, he drew a tree and a mountain. Robbie smiled. He was going camping the next day with his dad, Tyson, and his new friend Jake. He spotted a yellow crayon and after carefully extracting it from the floor, he drew a fish with a smiley face. “Catch me,” he made the fish say.

 

Hearing a creaking that sounded very near, Robbie peaked out from his bed and saw his door slowly opening. A pair of Converse basketball shoes walked slowly into the room. They were red and white, dirty and untied. Tyson’s shoes.

 

“Robbie, you in here, bud?”

 

Robbie tried to quickly crawl out from under the bed. “Yeah,” he said as he struggled to get out. He felt a strong pair of hands grab his shoulders and pull him easily out. Tyson stood up Robbie and started brushing the dust from his clothes.

 

“You piss your pants again, Robbie?”

 

Robbie looked down and sure enough, a large wet spot had appeared on his pants. Robbie shrugged.

 

“How come you always do that when mom and dad fight?” Tyson asked softly. Robbie avoided his eyes. “Shoot, buddy, who’s going to take care of you when I leave.”

 

“You’re leaving?”

 

“Soon.”

 

“I can take care of myself,” Robbie said softly.

 

“Sure you can,” Tyson said with a smile as he ruffled Robbie’s stringy brown hair. “But for now, I’m around. Let’s get you into some dry clothes.”

 

“How come you’re nice when your friends are gone, but when they’re here, you’re such an ass hole?” Robbie asked quietly, standing in the middle of the room while Tyson gathered pajamas and fresh underwear from the chest-of-drawers.

 

“Am I?”

 

“Yeah.”

 

“Well, it’s cause you need to toughen up. The world is harsh and mean and if I don’t make you a man, no one will.”

 

A loud crash came from downstairs and the yelling rose to a shivering crescendo. Robbie jumped slightly. Tyson put a reassuring hand on his younger brother’s shoulders, then bent down and unbuttoned the red plaid shirt Robbie had tucked deep into his dark blue jeans.

 

“Look’s like you’re all dressed for the woods. Getting ready for camping?” Tyson asked gently as he changed Robbie into dry clothes.

 

“Yeah,” Robbie said with a smile. “It’s gonna be fun, huh?”

 

“Yeah, buddy, gonna be great.”

 

It came as no surprise that Jake had a terrible time trying to pay attention at school. Exhaustion, confusion, and learning do not mix. Jake made a point of avoiding any direct contact with Josh and succeeded for the most part. During lunch he’d avoided the cafeteria all together, opting instead for the grassy hill that led down to the track where all the drama and goth kids congregated. It felt nice to be unknown and ignored for a while.

 

On the way to sixth period, though, Jake ran into Josh. It was one of those unavoidable hall exchanges. You look up and see the person who you want to talk to least walking directly toward you. They see you and it’s too late to duck off into the bathroom. The conversation was strained. Jake, after way too many hours without sleep, was irritable and for some reason even just seeing Josh made him angry. After a couple of one word answers, Josh got the hint that Jake had no intention of being amiable.

 

After Josh left confused and slightly put off, Jake kind of felt bad, but pushed the feelings aside and fell asleep in biology instead. As soon as Jake made it home after classes concluded, he went right to bed and didn’t wake up until the sun rose the next day.

 

And what a camping trip it was. Glorious in every way every boy dreams. The woods, rocks, trees, water; add nature to a boy’s imagination and fun is inescapable. It was an exhilarating few days, and Robbie was sad when his dad dropped off Jake at his house. Robbie dreaded going home, knowing all that was waiting was more fighting and fear. Why couldn’t life always just be like camping?

 

But things were weirder than usual at home when the men of the house returned. There was a note on the kitchen table. Robbie had seen his dad read it, Robbie had seen his dad turn an ashen white, then a deep crimson. Robbie didn’t wait around to watch as his dad start screaming and smashing his mom’s fine china. No, Robbie just went up and crawled under his bed. It was much safer there, and there were still some crayons that needed to be saved.

 

Robbie must have fallen asleep under the bed because the next thing he remembered, his dad was pulling him out from under the bed and telling him he was staying at his aunt’s for a while. His dad grabbed the bag that had Robbie’s camping clothes in it, put both the boy and the bag in the car and drove straight for two hours. Leaving Robbie standing bewildered on the porch of his Aunt Margie without even saying a word, he disappeared. Luckily his aunt found him a short while later, crying, scared, and lost.

 

“Oh dear. Robbie, is that you?”

 

Robbie sat up on the porch and looked toward the voice. He saw his aunt peaking out of the doorway, staring surprised down at him. Robbie nodded.

 

“Why didn’t you knock?”

 

Robbie processed the question and realized he didn’t know why. He was old enough to knock. He’d seen his parents do it many times. Realizing he had no idea, he shrugged and continued crying.

 

“Well, come on in, honey.” Aunt Margie took the boy by the hand and led him into the house, pulling in his bag after him. She quizzed him about why he was on her porch, crying and scared. Robbie explained the best he could why one moment he was happily camping, and the next he was here. After five minutes of stuttering and tears, Aunt Margie finally stopped him and told Robbie she’d just call his dad.

 

“Either you’ve cried so hard you’ve gotten your pants wet, or you’ve had an accident, Robbie,” Aunt Margie said after she’d gotten the boy calmed down. Robbie looked at his pants and sure enough, a wet spot graced his pants which were still dirty from camping. “And you, being nine years old?” Aunt Margie said in a voice that was meant for a baby. “I don’t think nine-year-old boys are supposed to wet their pants.” Robbie had no idea when he’d wet his pants. Probably while he was under his bed as usual. The spot was almost dry, so it wasn’t fresh.

 

“Tell you what, what you need is a warm bath to get all this grime off of you,” Aunt Margie said softly, using her thumb to wipe away the tears from Robbie’s face. She took his hand and led him into the bathroom. After turning on the water, she turned her attention to the boy. “And while you’re soaking, I’ll unpack your things and call your dad, ok? I’ll find out what is going on, don’t worry.”

 

Robbie didn’t know his Aunt very well. She was his dad’s older sister. Divorced years before, she now lived with her only son, Cody, who was six. Robbie only saw Cody and Aunt Margie a couple times a year, like at Christmas, then once during the summer. She was nice enough and Cody, despite being younger than Robbie, was a pretty cool cousin.

 

“Why don’t you get undressed and get in when the water’s ready, ok?” Aunt Margie said. “You going to be all right if I leave you alone?”

 

Robbie rolled his eyes. “I am nine,” he said sternly.

 

“Well, ok,” Aunt Margie. “Call if you need anything. I’ll be back to check on you in a bit.”

 

Robbie gingerly crawled into tub which was now filled with steaming bath water. He realized that he hadn’t had a bath in quite some time. Years, actually. With both his parents being doctors and working all the time, Robbie had moved on to showers far too soon, he now realized. This was nice! He laid back in the soothing water and closed his eyes. He felt younger than his nine years, and it felt nice. When his head was under the water, he couldn’t hear anything. No yelling, no crashing. Just nice peaceful…water noises. It sounded cool.

 

After fifteen or so minutes, Aunt Margie reappeared, a large green towel in her hand. Robbie took a second to look at her from the vantage point of the bathtub. She was a good looking woman, he realized. He could see traces of his dad in her face, the sharp nose and well defined jaw bones. Definitely his dad’s sister. Her hair was down, it looked soft and brown. Probably smelled nice too.

 

“All done?”

 

Robbie nodded.

 

“Was it nice?”

 

“Yeah. Haven’t had a bath in a while.”

 

“Oh, well, you didn’t smell that bad.”

 

Robbie laughed, “No, not like that. I mean that I always take showers now. This makes me feel like I did when I was younger.”

 

Aunt Margie eyed him carefully. “Do you like it?”

 

Robbie shrugged, suddenly a little self-conscious that his aunt was seeing him naked.

 

“Well, all your clothes were dirty and they smell like campfire. Does your mom wash your clothes?”

 

Robbie nodded, “Yeah, but we just got back from camping, and dad didn’t pack me any new clothes.”

 

“Oh dear, well, I’ll wash them. For now, looks like you’ll have to wear some of Cody’s clothes. You look small for your age, so you should fit them. They might be a bit small. Here, get out.”

 

Robbie didn’t want to argue, so he stood up and stepped out of the tub, now standing completely naked in front of his aunt. She wrapped the towel around him and led him out of the bathroom.

 

Cody’s room looked fun. Robbie had to admit, even though he was older, all the toys crowding the walls of his cousin’s room looked inviting. It looked like he had everything. Aunt Margie must have noticed his interest.

 

“Don’t worry, you can play with all of them. Cody will let you.”

 

Robbie nodded. “Cool, thanks. Where is he?”

 

“Oh, at camp. He’ll be home later,” Aunt Margie said as she rummaged around in the closet. First she handed Robbie a pair of briefs, which he slipped on. Then Aunt Margie came out of the closet holding what looked like full-bodied pajamas. “Here, you can wear some of Cody’s pajamas while I wash your clothes.”

 

Robbie felt his eyebrows rise. “Aren’t those baby pajamas?” He heard himself ask, and immediately felt bad. He knew that was disrespectful. If his mom were here, she would’ve slapped him. He looked at the ground. “Sorry,” he mumbled.

 

“Oh, don’t worry, honey. And no, they aren’t for babies. Boys of all ages wear footed sleepers.” She held out a foot for Robbie to step into. Robbie was about to say something about being able to dress himself when he realized the pajamas were backwards. The zipper was on the back. He allowed Aunt Margie to get him into the sleeper and as she was zipping him up, he asked, “How come the zipper is in back?”

 

“Oh, I had them special made so that Cody wouldn’t get into his diapers at night.”

 

Robbie almost choked, not sure if he’d heard his Aunt properly. Diapers? He looked up at her and she rolled her eyes. “Oops, probably shouldn’t have said that. But, you were bound to find out eventually if you were going to stay the night.”

 

Robbie was too shocked to say anything, so he just nodded. He stood there and looked down at his now sleeper clad body. They were red with white on the feet. A patch of a teddy bear was sewn on the right chest. They were very childish, Robbie decided. He ran his hand along the front. The lack of any seam on the front made it seem like some sort of Halloween costume.

 

“How am I supposed to get out of ‘em?” Robbie asked.

 

“Oh, just come and get me if you have to. Now, I’ll bet you’re hungry.”

 

After eating lunch, Robbie found himself getting quite tired. Aunt Margie seemed to have an uncanny ability to sense what Robbie was feeling.

 

“Are you sleepy, honey?” She asked. “Yeah,” Robbie replied. Aunt Margie took Robbie into the living room. “Why don’t you just sleep on the couch, ok?” She set Robbie up with a pillow and covered him with a pillow. In no time at all, he was fast asleep.

 

Robbie wasn’t sure how long he had been asleep. Maybe an hour or two. He awoke with a start, confused about where he was. It took a moment, but he soon remembered the day’s events. Aunt Margie’s, right. He looked around the room. The TV was on, some ridiculous cartoon character dancing in spasmodic circles singing a crazed song. Robbie looked down at himself and remembered his outfit. They sure were comfortable, these footed sleepers. Robbie stretched and was feeling pretty comfortable when he realized he had to pee, really bad.

 

He stood up quickly made his way to the bathroom. Robbie reached the toilet and was thinking how he was glad he found it so soon because he really had to pee now when he saw there was a very big problem. Staring down at his pajamas, he realized there was no way to pee with them on. Frantically, he reached his arm as far as it would go behind him trying to reach the zipper. Robbie could just touch it, but couldn’t get a grip to pull it down. He tried bending every which way and stretching his arm until it hurt, but it was of no use. Robbie could not unzip his pajamas. He was hopping about when he finally gave up and went to search for Aunt Margie.

 

This was very bad. Robbie felt like each step, he was going to pee. He felt tears well up in his eyes. His first day at his Aunt’s house, and here he was, about to pee in his little cousin’s pajamas.

 

“Aunt Margie!” He yelled. Robbie couldn’t hear very well as he was running about. So he stopped and listened as hard as he could. “Aunt Margie!” He tried again. He heard a reply, his Aunt yelling that she was downstairs.

 

Desperately, Robbie scampered his way down the stairs, finding his Aunt in the laundry room. She was bent over, pulling clothes out of the laundry. Robbie sprinted in. “Aunt Margie!” He stood there hopping from foot to foot.

 

“Yes, what is it?” Aunt Margie asked, not looking up.

 

“Can you unzip me?” Robbie nearly shouted. “I’ve gotta go!”

 

His aunt stood up with a huge load of dry clothes in her hands. She looked down at Robbie over the clothes. “Oh dear, yes, here, let me put these down on the couch. Show me that you’re a big boy who can hold it when he needs to.” She pushed her way past Robbie, who hands had clasped his crotch through the sleeper in a last ditch effort to keep his pajamas dry. “Please hurry,” Robbie pleaded. Aunt Margie set the clothes down on the couch and turned her attention to Robbie, but Robbie suddenly was still.

 

To his horror, Robbie felt his bladder release just as his Aunt turned his direction. He felt the warm urine drip down his leg and soak the front of the sleeper. Aunt Margie just stood in front of him and shook her head. “Oh dear, looks like you and Cody are a lot alike. You should get along while you stay with us.”

 

Robbie just stared at the ground, crying and scared. His aunt took his hand and led him up the stairs and into Cody’s room. Robbie had no idea what she was going to do to him.

 

“You see,” Aunt Margie said when she had Robbie up in Cody’s room once again, “Cody can’t keep his pants dry either and I’ve gotten fed up with doing all his wash.”Robbie nodded, not able to think of anything else appropriate to do or say. “And it seems like you’re the same, so I’ll treat you like your little cousin.”

 

“How’s that?” Robbie asked softly.

 

“Well, let’s start with getting you out of these wet pajamas. I promise you, this is the last time you’ll get your clothes wet at this house.”

 

Aunt Margie undressed Robbie out of the pajamas she had just put, then had him lay down on the bed. Robbie heard it before he saw it, and when he looked up, his suspicions were confirmed. Aunt Margie was now leaning over him holding a disposable diaper in her hand.

 

Jake woke up feeling refreshed. The sun aroused him from his slumber and the clock read just after six. With all the time in the world, Jake took a long, steaming hot shower. After fixing himself some breakfast, he sat at the table and did the homework he should’ve done last night while he was sleeping. Nicole woke up soon after, and soon after that, left for work. Jake finished his homework just as it was time to head to school. As he was about to head out the door, he heard a knock. Peaking through the curtains, he saw Josh standing on the front porch.

 

Jake temporarily considered not opening and pretending like he’d already left for school, but knew that was far too cold a move. He opened the door and tried his best to smile at his cousin and best friend, for all intents and purposes.

 

“What’s up dude?” Josh said cheerily.

 

Jake nodded. “I was just about to leave, hold on a second.” Jake finished closing up the house, and soon he was skating down the road along with Josh, who was on his bike.

 

“Ok, so let’s skip,” Josh said as they rounded the corner at the end of the block.

 

“Huh? Why?”

 

“Since when have you needed a reason to miss school?” Josh asked harshly.

 

Jake didn’t answer. Josh was right, it was unlike him to question anything rebellious. What was holding him back?

 

“I dunno, with just breaking my wrist and all,” Jake started. “Nicole really wants me to do good in school this year, you know?”

 

“You going square on me, Jake?” Josh asked, glaring down at his younger cousin.

 

“Don’t say that, dude,” Jake replied. Really, Jake just didn’t want to be around Josh. It was too uncomfortable. All Jake really wanted to do was ask Josh about his curious desires, but he didn’t feel like he could. “Well, what are you going to do instead of go to class?”

 

“AJ and I were going to go to the beach. Get some last rays of summer, you know?”

 

“Cops are patrolling that this year, I heard.”

 

“Oh, they do every year. We won’t get caught, c’mon.”

 

“What am I going to tell Nicole?”

 

“We’ll worry about that later.”

 

Jake didn’t like the idea one bit, but he felt his resistance sliding away. Finally, he told Josh he’d go. Josh excitedly whooped and took off pedaling towards AJ’s. Jake apprehensively followed.

 

Once they had picked up AJ, the boys made the trek to the beach. It was a bit of trot, and it took a little longer since Jake was on a skateboard. By the time they arrived, the sun was high in the deep blue sky, and they all stripped down to their shorts to cool off in the ocean. The beach was pretty crowded for a weekday. A bunch of twenty-somethings lying in the sand not sure what to do with their life. The boys looked out of place, much younger than their beach-bum compatriots, and they were sticking out, especially Jake. Luckily, no one really cared. Once of the benefits of California, most people could care less.

 

After they were satisfying cooled off, the boys set out across the beach in search of entertainment. However, the weather-perfect day began to change as a strong wind unexpectedly hit the beach.

 

“It’s not supposed to rain today, is it?” AJ asked.

 

“Nah,” Josh replied. “The only way we’re getting wet today is in the ocean.”

 

A gust of wind blew off the waves and hit the beach. With terrible timing, Jake also lost his footing temporarily in the sand. Clumsily, he fell over, eliciting a volley of laughter from AJ and Josh.

 

“Don’t blow away, Jake!” AJ crooned. Jake glared up at him as he brushed off the sand and slowly stood up.

 

“Yeah, you’ve got to grow, Jake, put on some meat. You’re scaring all the girls away,” Josh said, laughing.

 

This was nothing new; Jake was used to getting picked on because of his size. But today, it was rubbing him wrong. He wasn’t finding anything even remotely funny about his two older friends’ antics.

 

“Although, you do look cute all babyish like ya are,” Josh said, roughly pinching Jake’s cheek. There were so many things Jake wanted to say back. Mostly about who was the real baby. Who wore diapers and liked them? But Jake held his tongue, and instead stomped away, leaving Josh and AJ’s yelling behind.

 

“Aw, come back man.” Josh tried, yelling after Jake. “I’m sorry, you know I don’t mean it.” But Jake ignored him and continued walking away. Suddenly feeling self-conscious, Jake went back to where their clothes were piled up and threw back on his shirt and shoes. Comfortably covered, Jake made his way to the asphalt and jumped on his skateboard.

 

Soon Jake was cruising comfortably along the beachside road. He slowly relaxed and was even considering rejoining Josh and AJ when he heard a sound that made his heart jump. The quick flash of a siren nearly made him crash to the ground. He quickly dismounted from his skateboard and turned around. Pulling up next to him were two cops, smugly staring at Jake from a patrol car.

 

“How old are ya, boy?”

 

Before Robbie could fully comprehend what was going on, his aunt had him diapered and standing befuddled in the middle of his cousin’s toy filled room. He didn’t know what to do. He stared down at his diapered body and felt like it wasn’t his own.

 

“Now, you’re clothes aren’t quite done yet.”

 

Robbie felt a sinking feeling in his stomach. A sneaking suspicion that his situation was about to get a whole lot worse. “So, you’ll have to wear Cody’s clothes again.” Robbie didn’t even want to know what it was going to be this time, but he knew he didn’t have a choice. Aunt Margie reached into the closet and came out holding a pair of overalls. Not bad, Robbie thought. Aunt Margie helped the now diaper clad boy into the overalls. She didn’t give him a shirt, so all he had on was the diaper and the denim. He felt childish, but knew it could’ve been a whole lot worse.

 

“Now,” Aunt Margie said, “I think it’ll be easiest if I just treat you and Cody the same while you are staying with us.”

 

“How’s that?” Robbie asked.

 

“You’ll stay in diapers. That way we have no danger of an accident.”

 

“And what if I have to use the bathroom?”

 

“It all depends. If it’s convenient, you can use the toilet, if not, you can use the diapers like they’re meant to be used.”

 

Robbie felt weird. That was the best word to describe it. Just weird. The diaper was encasing his middle and exerting a pressure that wasn’t bad, just noticeable. He followed Aunt Margie back into the living room, where he plopped back down on the couch to watch some more cartoons. His aunt brought him out a snack and some juice, which he promptly ate. As soon as he had finished the food, Aunt Margie announced that it was time to go pick up Cody from camp.

 

In the car, Robbie saw a huge baby car seat and a booster. Temporarily he was scared that his Aunt was going to have him sit in the baby seat, and was slightly relieved when she told him to hop into the booster seat.

 

“I’m big enough to just use a seat belt,” Robbie protested, knowing that it was of no use.

 

Aunt Margie just shook her head and patted the seat, like she was beckoning a dog to come. Robbie obeyed and was soon strapped in with a seatbelt to the booster seat. Everything he did felt weird with the diaper on. Sitting, standing, walking. And now in a booster seat (which his parents never made him use, even though they were doctors), in addition to the overalls, he felt extra childish.

 

It didn’t take long to get to the soccer complex, but it felt like forever for Robbie because half-way there, he felt a cramp in his stomach. It went a way for a second, then came back, and next thing he knew, he really had to poop. It made for an uncomfortable ride. This seemed unusually. Robbie never had trouble holding his bodily functions, except for the occasional wet pants when he was scared under his bed, but he felt like he was having serious trouble holding his bowels shut. He shifted around uncomfortably and hoped they would quickly make it home.

 

They arrived and Aunt Margie parked and got out of the car, telling Robbie she would be back quickly. Robbie watched her walk over to a group of moms and children. He could see his little cousin, dressed in a blue soccer jersey, black soccer pants, blue socks covering his shin guards, and black soccer cleats. Very color coordinated. Robbie was jealous. He wished his mom signed him up for soccer camps instead of leaving him home alone all the time. Aunt Margie seemed to be in no hurry, just chatting away, and Robbie started to silently curse her, using words he’d heard his brother and parents use. But it didn’t make the growing nagging in his bowels go away. He shifted around again in the booster seat, hearing the diaper crinkle beneath his childish overalls.

 

Finally, to Robbie’s relief, Aunt Margie finally took Cody by the hand and started walking towards the car. Then, much to Robbie’s chagrin, he noticed that another mom and another boy were following. The pressure in his stomach grew and Robbie did not like the way this situation was shaping up. He watched the group approach. He observed Cody carefully, wondering if he was diapered. Cody wasn’t walking funny, like Robbie had with the extra padding between his legs, but then again, he was probably used to it.

 

The sliding door of the van opened and Robbie looked shyly at the four faces staring in at him. “Hey Robbie,” Cody said, waving, “This is my friend Joey, he’s going to come play with us.”

 

“Hi,” Robbie said, then groaned and leaned forward, straining against the seatbelt as he squeezed his bottom muscles as hard as he could. What must have been Joey’s mom asked if he was ok. Robbie looked up and wanted to let her know everything that was wrong, a whole litany of complaints against the way his life was going right now, but instead just forced a smile and said he had a stomach ache.

 

“Oh, I’m sorry honey,” the mom said. She seemed nice.

 

“Cody,” Aunt Margie said, “Since you are the biggest, I’m going to have you move to the very back so Joey can have the booster seat.”

 

“Oh, here, let me go get Joey’s from the car,” Joey’s mom said, trying to be helpful. Robbie groaned. Terrible idea, he thought, just hurry!

 

Robbie realized he was fighting a losing battle. There was something serious wrong with his intestines, his stomach, or something, because he had to go. Joey’s mom returned a minute later carrying another booster seat which the two women secured in the back. Joey and Cody were soon fastened. Cody was indeed using the baby car seat, which he apparently fit in, but Robbie wasn’t really interested at the moment. The pressure was growing to a painful crescendo and just as Joey’s mom patted him on the arm and said she hoped he’d feel better, he squeezed his eyes shut tight and let loose.

 

A warm, solid mass immediately filled his diaper and spread to his front, enveloping his boyhood. The sound was undeniable, and what had happened obvious. Joey’s mom pulled back, unable to hide the look of surprise and disgust that flashed on her face. Robbie didn’t notice, his eyes were still shut tight and he had no intention of opening them any time soon.

 

Jake considered running. He looked around, thinking if he just sprinted to the beach, he could lose himself amongst the crowd. Bad idea. “Twelve,” he replied softly.

 

“What? Can’t hear you,” the officer who was driving said roughly. The cops had on aviator glasses, and the one in the passenger seat was chewing obnoxiously on a tooth pick.

 

“Twelve,” Jake said louder.

 

“You got a home school permit?”

 

“Nah,” Jake replied.

 

“Well, get in,” the officer said, motioning to the back of the car.

 

Jake raised his eyebrows. Weren’t they supposed to arrest him or something? Oh well. Jake hopped in the back seat, trying to sit comfortably on the unpleasant plastic seats. “What school?”

 

Jake told them and off they drove. Along the way, the officer with the toothpick gave him a lecture about not missing class. He took down Jake’s name and home number and after dropping him off at the front of the school, gave him a warning. Get caught again and he’d be in big trouble. Jake thanked them for the ride, deciding that, on the whole, they were pretty cool cops. He considered telling them to go look for Josh and AJ, it’d be a nice way to get back at his cousin, but decided against it. Instead, he made it inside just in time for third period.

 

Chapter 4: Stricken