A Hard Day's Work Summary: A 12 year old boy named Robby and his 13 year old cousin Jack help the men of the family clean out their grandpop's basement on a Saturday. It's a world where all boys at the age of 10 loose bladder control and have to go back to diapers for 2 or 3 years, until puberty sets in and they gradually regain control, enabling them to be toilet trained and weaned off of diapers. This is a story of how a family of close knit men deal with the ups and downs of toilet training their pubescent sons and grandsons in the context of a family event. CLEANING OUT GRANDPOP’S BASEMENT Robbie Smith is 12 years old and seven months, and his cousin Jack Smith is 13 years old and 10 months. They’re world is the same as the world we all live in, except for one important thing. All boys around their 10th birthday lose bladder control. It’s a natural part of pre- puberty, whereby the prostate gland grows out of proportion to the bladder during pre-puberty, causing the bladder to be pressed against and making boys lose control of urine. This is not painful, just embarrassing. By 12 to 13, boys start to grow out of this because puberty is setting in and the prostate slows down its growth rate. Once the bladder grows to even capacity with the prostate, boys regain the sense of when it’s time to pee and they can be re-toilet trained. To deal with this world-wide phenomena, boys go back into diapers at age 10, and stay in them until they have been successfully toilet trained, usually 2 to 3 years later. All of the brands for babies, such as Pampers, Huggies and Luvs make diapers for boys too. They’re sold in the same aisles of the stores as the baby sizes, but the packaging is age-appropriate to the boys who wear them. Commercials on TV for boys size diapers are common, especially on stations that show cartoons and programs aimed at boys of this age. Dads and other adult male family members take charge of changing their pre-pubescent boys. Male teachers and principals do the honors while the boys are at school, and every school for boys between the grades of 4th-8th has an ample stock of diapers for all of those changes. Lavatory breaks for these boys means going to the change room for a fresh diaper. It was April of 1984, and Robbie had turned 12 the previous September. He was in the 7th grade. During Christmas break from school that year, Robbie’s dad Bob successfully toilet trained Robbie for during the day. He still needed a Pamper at night, but he had been accident free during the day since January, and both Robbie and Bob were proud of this achievement. Jack had turned 13 the previous June, was in the 8th grade, and was now only 2 months shy of his 14th birthday. His dad John tried toilet training Jack during the Christmas break that he was in the 7th grade, but he just wasn’t ready. After a couple of weeks of struggles, frustrations, and many accidents, John decided to keep Jack in diapers and try toilet training again during summer vacation. During the summer of 1983, Jack mastered toilet training during the day, and recently, he’s been able to stay dry during the night. Jack’s years in diapers were now drawing to a close. On that April Saturday in 1984, Robbie and Rob, Jack and John, as well as Uncle Frank, great-uncle Tom, and 3 neighbor men arrived at Grandpop John’s house to spend the day cleaning out the basement. The grandparents were planning a huge yard sale to get rid of many years of clutter that had piled up in their basement. Everyone arrived before 8:00 am, and all of the women of the family went to the mall for the entire day. The guys were going to spend the entire day cleaning out and organizing the basement. Some of the work was heavy, other work required sitting and sorting things out. There was pressure to get the things to the dump that needed to go there by noon, since that’s when the dump closes on Saturdays. Obviously, the things that needed to go to the dump were priority, and several loads were taken that morning in Uncle Frank’s pickup truck. The two boys, Robbie and Jack, were put in charge of taking the lighter things to the truck, and then riding with Frank to the dump, to help unload the truck. As it got near 11:00 a.m., pressure was on to get the last load to the dump on time. Robbie and Jack were seated at a table in the corner of the basement, separating items from piles beside the table, making a “dump pile” and a “yard-sale pile.” Robbie was so intent on getting the stuff separated for the dump on time, that he ignored the sense he had that it was time to go to the bathroom and pee. He said to himself, I’ll hold it till this stuff is separated, than I’ll make a run for “the John” while Frank and Jack load up the truck. Robbie overestimated how strong his bladder was. A 12 year old who has only been day trained for 3 months and still wears a diaper at night should never postpone using the bathroom, and his dad had drummed it into him, “go to the bathroom as soon as you feel like you have to pee!” A few minutes after resolving to postpone going to the bathroom, Robbie didn’t feel as much pressure in his bladder, and thought: “oh good, I’ll be fine until we’re done.” Very shortly after this thought passed, Robbie could feel the warm wetness starting to cover his bottom. He looked down at his crotch and said “Oh no!” Jack was sitting across from him and said “what’s the matter?” and Robbie replied, “I just peed my pants.” Jack said: “We’ve got to get this stuff separated and to the dump before it closes, and everyone else is hauling the big stuff, or making room out in the garage for the stuff for the yard sale. You don’t have time to get changed now.” “I know,” said Robbie. I’ll just run up and get some paper towels from the kitchen to dry up the seat, put a garbage bag on it to sit on, and then I’ll help you finish separating this stuff.” “Good deal”, said Jack. Robbie ran across the basement and up the stairs to get paper towels and a trash bag. Jack could see the big wet spot on the back of Robbie’s jeans. While he was upstairs, great-uncle Tom came down and sat by the long table along the side wall of the basement. He told Jack that he was going to begin sorting things here for the yard sale. “Where’s your helper at,.” said Tom. “He went upstairs to get a couple of things, he’ll be right back,” said Jack. Tom said, “Do you want me to help you over there.” That’s ok, Robbie’s coming right back.” Within a minute, Robbie comes down the stairs with towels and a trash bag. Tom says, “there’s your helper,” “Hey Uncle Tom”, says Robbie. As Robbie walks past, Tom looks at Robbie. He looks again to make sure he was seeing right and says, “Robbie, your pants are wet.” “I know,” says Robbie, as he proceeds to sop up the pee soaked wooden chair and sit on the trash bag. “Jack, why don’t you go to your house and get Robbie a pair of pants, you two are probably about the same size.” (Jack and John live next door to their grandparents). Bring him some undies or a diaper and I’ll get him cleaned up and changed.” “We gotta get this pile separated before the dump closes, or else there won’t be room enough to use this table for the yard sale stuff,” says Jack. “O.K., but as soon as the truck is loaded, someone else can ride with Frank and we’re going to get Robbie cleaned up.” “O.K” said Jack and Robbie. Robbie and Jack start walking bags of trash to Frank’s pick-up truck, and the other guys start to notice Robbie’s wet pants, and ask him what happened, and offer to help him get cleaned up. When Bob, Robbie’s dad sees his pants, he says: “Robbie, did you wet your pants.” He turns and looks at his dad and says, “yeah,” and proceeds to get more trash. “Robbie, you’re soaked,” and Bob sees the plastic bag on the chair. “Is this where you peed”, and he lifts up the bag to see the pee soaked paper towels. “You need a diaper. You can’t leave a mess like this in someone else’s house, what’s wrong with you.” “We were hurrying up to get the trash to the dump on time. I was going to clean it up completely when the truck was loaded,” says Robbie. His dad responds: “You can’t leave a mess like this, even at your grandparent’s house. What if you were upstairs and peed on grandmom’s new sofa? Huh Rob? You need a diaper. Finish taking that stuff to the truck, then we’re going home and I’m puttin’ a dydee on you.” By this time, all of the men were back in the basement hauling the last of the load to Frank’s truck. Everyone heard Bob yell at Robbie for peeing his pants, and felt a little sorry for Robbie. Jack’s dad John went to Bob and said, “you don’t need to run all the way home.” Robbie can take a shower at my place and borrow of pair of Jack’s pants. He’s still got some Pampers in his closet that Robbie can have if you want him diapered, he’ll be good to go. Let me clean him up and you and Jack can ride with Frank to the dump.” “You don’t have to clean up his mess John,” said Rob. “It’s no problem, we’re all family here, we help each other out,” said John. John put his hands on Robbie’s shoulders and said: “Let’s take a walk over to my place and you can have the hard working man’s shower break. Only the hardest workers get to take a shower before lunch.” “You mean only those who pee their pants,” said Robbie. John rubbed Robbie’s back and said, “the hardest worker gets the most pampering, he even gets his butt pampered.” Robbie chuckled a little bit. Uncle John’s kidding around eased some of the blow from his dad’s scolding. John continued: “You’re dad peed his pants plenty of times when he was 12, accidents happen. Because you’re working so hard here, you’ve won yourself a bathroom free afternoon. While the rest of us have to trudge up and down these stairs every time we’ve got to pee, you have the distinguished privilege of peeing in your Pamper without moving a muscle. Just don’t get too used to the privilege, because it’s revoked when you’re dad lets you go back to undies.” “O.K. Uncle John,” Robbie said with a smile. Robbie undressed, got in the shower, and Uncle John took his wet pants and undies, and put them in his basement next to the washing machine. John went to his son’s room, picked out a pair of jeans that he thought would fit Robbie, and then got the half-empty box of Pampers from the closet shelf, along with some wipes, diaper cream and a changing pad. When he heard the shower water stop, he told Robbie from the other side of the door to just come into Jack’s room and that he would put his Pamper on him. Robbie wrapped himself in a towel and walked to his cousin’s room, took off the towel and laid down on Jack’s bed on the changing pad. Uncle John put the diaper cream on Robbie’s entire diaper area, wiped his hands clean with some Wet-One’s, then took a Pamper from the box, opened it up and slid it under Robbie’s butt. Robbie lifted his butt off the pad, John fitted the Pamper under his butt, lowered him down and pulled the front of the Pamper between his legs. He then taped the Pamper up on both sides, adjusted the edges to fit snuggly between his legs, then patted Robbie’s diapered right hip and said “you’re good to go.” Robbie got up and put on the pants that John had laid out for him, then reached for the shirt he was wearing before. John said, “let’s get you a clean shirt too. That one’s sweaty from before, you need a clean shirt after a shower.” He got Robbie one of Jack’s tee shirts that he doesn’t wear that often, a light blue one with a logo from a local business, and handed it to Robbie to put on. John grabbed the Wet Ones, the diaper cream and the changing pad, put them in the Pampers box and said, “I’ll run this shirt downstairs with your other laundry. You grab the Pampers, then we’ll hop in the car and get the pizzas for lunch.” “O.K.”, Robbie said with a smile. Robbie then walked to the kitchen with the box of Pampers. When John came up from the basement, he phoned his dad next door to verify how many and what kind of pizzas they were going to order. He told grandpop that Robbie would ride with him, and that they would be back soon. John phoned the pizza shop, then they were on their way. “Just put those on the back seat. (meaning the Pampers). We’ll bring them over to grandpops when we get the pizza”, said John. Robbie and Jack only wore belts when they were dressed up, so John never thought to offer Robbie a belt for his pants. His cousin Jack was a little bigger than him, after all, he was more than a year older. The pants basically fit him, but they were a little loose. After he put the Pampers in the back seat, he pulled up his pants from the belt loops before he sat down in the car. Getting out of the car at the pizza shop, Robbie could feel his pants slide down just a little as he stood up. He grabbed his belt loops, pulled them up and started to walk with his uncle. When they got to the door, Robbie needed to pull them up again. Almost as soon as he would pull his pants up, they would droop a little bit as soon as he moved. When they carried out the pizzas to the car, Robbie had to go all the way to the car without pulling up his pants, since he had pizzas in his hand. Robbie then leaned over to pull up the seat in order to lay down the pizzas and put the box of Pampers on top of the pizzas. Robbie’s pants were now drooping considerably, with about 3 inches of his diaper peeking out from the top. As soon as his hands were free, he gave his pants a big yank from the belt loops, then sat down in the front seat. When they arrived back at grandpop’s, John and Robbie brought the pizzas down to the basement. Walking down a flight of stairs really made Robbie’s pants droop, and even some of his Pamper was showing from the front. As soon as he laid his pizzas down on the table, he gave his pants a big yank from the belt loops. John went back to the car to get the box of Pampers. He put them on a kitchen chair upstairs, figuring that when Robbie needed changing, someone would bring him upstairs. The guys all sat around the long table and ate pizza. Robbie’s dad Bob was over being upset about Robbie’s accident, and had cleaned up the mess on the chair. As soon as he saw his son, he put his hands on his shoulders and said, “how ya doin?” “O.K. dad,” said Robbie shyly. Bob then apologized for getting so upset about Robbie’s accident, which made Robbie feel a whole lot better. Then Bob said, “I still think it’s a good idea for you to wear a diaper today since we’ve got so much to do and pressure to get it done on time. This way you can just concentrate on your work and not worry about the bathroom.” “I hear ya, dad, that makes sense,” said Robbie approvingly. When lunch was done, they cleared the pizza boxes, and proceeded to put yard sale items on the long table and the round table in the corner, in order to sort them into boxes according to category and size. Robbie was the last one to put things on the tables, and when it was time to sit and sort, the only seat left was the one on the wall side of the long table, and it was blocked on the left by stuff on the floor, and the two seats to the right were occupied by Robbie’s grandpop and elderly great-uncle. They both said it was too difficult for them to slide over to the third seat, and told Robbie he could just crawl on the table to get to his seat. Robbie hopped up on to the table, swung his legs over, and proceeded to crawl to his seat. All this movement of course made his pants droop, and between 2 to 3 inches of white plastic was sticking out from the top of his pants as he crawled down the table. A neighbor man sitting across from Uncle Tom named Rick, who had known Robbie since he was a little boy, saw the white plastic, gently pulled at it as he crawled past, and said “you’re grandpop’s going to have to pay you extra since you’re not even stopping for bathroom breaks.” Everyone at the table looked at Rick holding the top of Robbie‘s diaper and chuckled. Robbie, chuckled too, turned to Rick and said: “you make sure he pays me that money.” Grandpop patted Robbie on the behind as he crawled past him and said, “the check will be in the mail.” Uncle Tom made the comment to Grandpop: “These Pampers the kids wear are the greatest thing. You don’t have to wash them, you don’t have to change them as much as the cloth dydees, you don‘t need rubber pants. You can take kids Robbie and Jack’s age and let them help us on a day like today. Our kids couldn’t help us with stuff like this because we were always worried about what we were going to do with the wet dydees and rubber pants. We’d be so busy changing them we wouldn’t get anything done.” Grandpop replied: “that’s certainly the truth. The boys can do so much more today because of the Pampers. It’s not such an ordeal to change them or to leave home for the entire day.” After the junk to Robbie’s left was moved and sorted, grandpop asked Robbie and Jack to go to the other table to sort that stuff. They moved over. Robbie sat in the chair that he had peed in that morning, and Jack sat across from him. All the bending to get things off the floor, plus the crawling on the table, then the standing and walking over to the other table, than sitting again, really made Robbie’s pants droop. He had stuff in his hands as he was walking and sitting down, so he couldn’t hike up his pants. When he sat down, nearly his entire diapered bottom was exposed for all to see as he sat in the chair. Robbie didn’t notice, and was engrossed in the sorting and talking with his cousin. When he got up from the chair maybe 20 or 30 minutes later, Uncle John put his hand against Robbie’s exposed diaper bottom to see if he needed changing. Robbie had peed in it once since lunchtime, but not enough to require a change. John said, “I think you’re good to go for awhile,” then pulled up his nephew’s pants to where they belonged, flattened his tee shirt over the waist, patted him on the behind and said, “you let me know if you need a change.” “I will, Uncle John,” said Robbie. Then, Robbie and Jack went upstairs to get some sodas. Both of them saw the box of Pampers sitting on the kitchen chair, but neither mentioned it. On the way back to the cellar stairs, Robbie said, “my pants keep falling down. I mean your pants,” as he hiked them up from the belt loops. Jack smiled and chuckled a little. “This isn’t you’re day for pants is it?” “Nope,” said Robbie. Throughout the afternoon, Robbie could usually be seen with at least an inch of the plastic from his diaper sticking up over his pants, either from the back or the front, sometimes more. He was sick of constantly pulling up his pants, so he didn’t do it as often. He just wanted to relax and enjoy the work and being with his favorite cousin. Less than half an hour after Robbie drank the soda, he peed again in his diaper. He felt that once familiar feeling of warm pee touching his skin, then being soaked up by the padding in his diaper, and the stay dry lining next to his skin return to feeling dry. He continued to sit in the chair at the back table after he rewet his Pamper, because it felt dry again. Maybe 15 minutes later he got up to get something, and when he stood and moved, he felt the weight of his diaper cause it to sag in the back a little. He figured that it was time for a change, so he went to his dad and Uncle John, who were sitting next to each other at the long table and said: “I think I need my Pamper changed.” His dad put his hand against Robbie’s bottom and said: “It feels kinda heavy, I think you’re right. Good telling us that you need a clean Pamper,” as he patted Robbie on his back. “Can I do the honors this time?”, said Bob. “Sure dad, the Pampers are up on the kitchen chair.” “Let! ’s go,” said his dad. Rob grabbed the box of Pampers and told his son to go upstairs to what was his childhood room. Some of his trophies and mementos were still there from decades before. Robbie always thought it was cool to see his dad’s trophies, and gazed behind him at the shelf behind the bed almost the whole time that his dad was changing him. As they were proceeding to leave the room, Rob told Robbie that he might have an old belt in here to help him hold up his pants. Rob went to his old closet, and sure enough found the old brown belt that he wore when he was about Robbie’s age. He fed the belt through his son’s belt loops, then fastened the buckle. It was a little small for Robbie, and couldn’t go past the first hole. It wasn’t enough to be of great assistance in holding up Robbie’s pants, but it helped a little. He could walk a little farther than before without pulling up his pants. By the time he got to the bottom of the cellar stairs, his belted pants were sagging to the point that one inch of his fresh Pamper was sticking up above his pants in the front. Robbie kept the belt on for about an hour, until he felt it coming undone when he ran slightly across the basement floor. The rusted buckle had given way, and was detaching from the belt. He showed it to his dad, and Bob said: “Oh well, we tried. You’ll just have to make do with those pants until we get home.” “That’s ok dad,” said Robbie, as his dad pulled the belt off of his son. Soon afterwards, Grandpop asked Robbie and Jack to go get some things from his bedroom closet, and carry them down to the basement to sort out. Carrying the boxes such a distance without a free hand to yank up his pants left Robbie with major diaper exposure again. The last box was his to sort, and he placed it on the small table as his grandpop moved the chair for him so he would have more room. As a gesture of kindness, grandpop slid the chair back under Robbie just as he was placing the box on the table. Robbie motioned to retrieve the chair when his grandpop said, “just have a seat, I’m at your service now.” All Robbie could do was sit down and say “thanks grandpop.” There was no time to hike up his pants. Once again, most of Robbie’s entire diapered bottom was exposed for all to see as he sat in the chair sorting clothes. But it was all right. Everyone there loved Robbie and no one was worried about his white Pamper butt. THE END.