Author Topic: The Runaway by Mary Beth Sanford (Read 26371 times)

BetBots · « **on:** February 11, 2006, 09:38:45 PM »

The RunawayThe Runaway

Username: marybethsanford, Sep/15/2005 23:12:38 [-04]

When Joey woke he was already in a ward bed trying to remember what had

happened after he fell. It was a sharp twinge of pain that reminded him of

that fall, discovering a second later, his leg suspended a foot higher

than the bed. Joey also discovered he was wearing a disposable diaper

which left him only slightly irritated. Only slightly because the pain in

his leg, and a nasty headache made it clear he wasn't about to jump out of

bed to go to the bathroom.

"Well good morning. Nice to see you awake finally. Do you remember being

brought here," the nurse asked looking down at Joey and smiling as she

added, "Honey, I'm going to change you and I may move your leg a little.

I'll try not to, but I'm afraid I will have to move you slightly."

"OK. How long have I been here," Joey asked ignoring what the nurse had

just said about changing him.

"Just a bit under two days. You came in after they found you in the alley.

Nasty fall, but I've been told it could have been worse if you hadn't

landed on some cardboard boxes," The nurse said and added, "I'm Julie.

Julie Anderson, your day nurse. I've been the one changing you if you

remember. Some do remember is the reason I mention it. Listen, if you're

up to it they, as in the paper people, are going to need some information

so we can let your parents or relatives know you're OK."

"Head hurts," Joey said clamping his eyes shut to the headache first, but

also because of Nurse Julie as he heard the first tape of his disposable

tear open. She was talking, but also going about the task of changing him.

Joey noticed then that he was wet, and that bit of information brought

with it a slight bit of guilt. A moment later that guilt from wetting a

diaper brought a slight glow of embarrassment to his cheeks.

What made it only a little better was that small bit of news Nurse Julie

had let him in on. A sudden realization that came with the fact that these

people didn't know who he was. Those paper people, Julie mentioned, wanted

information to contact his parents. OK, so they didn't know who he was

and, he thought, how could they.

No identification, no questions asked nor answered, till now. They had

nothing on him since he obviously arrived in a coma and just as obviously

had nothing but whatever those boys left him in. Those boys had taken the

last things he'd had, thank you very much. Joey lay there pondering

happily this new bit of luck. That luck more so, because it also meant his

uncle also didn't know he was here.

Joey had run away twice before this, although the last two times he'd had

just as bad a time of it as this one. It was his face and size that left

him vulnerable all three times now, with this last adventure even worse

than those two previous times. The boy that took his jacket, pants and

shirt, causing him to fall was typical of those on the streets only this

time, Joey mused, it could very well have worked to his advantage.

"Did I come in wearing anything? Maybe I had a name tag on a shirt or

something," Joey asked testing this woman.

"Afraid not. Just your under shorts and a tee shirt, or so I've been

told," Julie noted.

"So why does my head hurt," Joey said squinting slightly from the

throbbing pain.

"Honey, you've got a fracture of the tibia and a mild concussion. They've

suspended your leg so there is less risk of a clot from the bruising. Your

headache should be going away soon as well. After I change you, I'll give

you some aspirin," Nurse Julie said as she continued pulling the tapes

holding his diaper on.

"I'm guessing you're hungry, but the doctor will have to see you first

because of the head injury. Right now you're taking in most of what you

need through the IV. You're lucky in a way, another day in that coma, and

you would have gotten a feeding tube. What's your name honey," Nurse Julie

asked casually as she undid the last of the four tapes of his disposable.

No identification and they didn't know his name, Joey mused happily, but

to himself. It was right then that Joey decided to remain comfortably

ignorant of who he was. He wasn't medically competent to know if his head

injury could cause amnesia or not, but it was worth a shot.

It was worth it to see if the system might be a little kinder to him if

they didn't actually know him, or that he was sixteen and a runaway. Joey

also knew his uncle wouldn't report him missing since his uncle would be

glad he'd run off. 'Good riddance to bad rubbish' Joey mused, to himself,

over what his uncle might say.

Concussion? That's what the nurse had said. A concussion meant some sort

of trauma to the head or, more importantly, the brain. Again, it was worth

a shot.

"I... I can't remember," Joey said letting a touch of panic cause his

voice to falter.

"Hey, it's OK. Leave it alone for now. It's not that important. Most

likely that's from the concussion. Short term memory loss is typical.

Listen, don't worry about it for now," Nurse Julie said as she tugged the

sodden diaper out from beneath him. Joey noticed he was laying on a

disposable changing pad then wondered why they hadn't used a catheter

instead of diapers.

"Can I go without another one of those," Joey asked not wanting to

actually use the word diaper.

"I'm afraid not honey. That is, unless you're older than twelve, and we're

not sure about that are we? I'm sorry honey, it's policy and automatic for

a juvenile. We had to do that when you come in unconsciousness. The tube

often scares some children," Nurse Julie noted.

"Tube," Joey asked pretending he didn't understand.

"Catheter honey. Sometimes a catheter scares the younger ones so it's

standard policy to go with the disposable diapers instead. Do you know how

old you actually are," Nurse Julie asked.

"Not sure? I can't remember," Joey said allowing that tremor and touch of

fear back in his voice and realizing as he said it, given what the nurse

had just said, that he'd get diapered again. 'Unless you're older than

twelve', the nurse had noted and that meant something else newly added as

well.

Joey took a second or two to play it over in his head. OK, so anyone

twelve and younger got diapers instead of a catheter. So that explained

the diaper. That also meant someone, most likely the doctor, guessed his

age at twelve or younger.

Joey almost smiled at this break he'd been given. Like it or not, allowing

for that diaper left them thinking he was younger than a teenager. This

was too good to be true, Joey mused, as he laid there now exposed to the

nurse and suddenly glad she was a nurse.

"Just you never mind that. It's really OK, and the last time I push you.

Honestly, we don't need to know any of that yet. Tell you what, when I get

the disposable on you I'll cover you with the sheet this time. I'll also

talk with the doctor and if he says it's OK, we'll try using the bed pan

now that you are awake," Nurse Julie noted just as she tugged his diaper

free and added, "the doctor, when the police asked, is positive your not a

teen yet so we are sort of stuck with at least one more of these. I'm

sorry."

"I understand," Joey said trying to decide what to do with all of this new

information.

Joey watched for a moment as Julie expertly rolled the sodden diaper

closed using the tapes themselves to hold the wet diaper into a ball. He

was still a bit irritated over a diaper until he thought about it again in

those seconds he lay exposed. A diaper made him appear younger. Younger

and more vulnerable. Vulnerability would bring with it a bit more

sympathy.

'That diaper was a good thing' Joey mused.

(http://buffalobetties.com/beggingCat22.jpg)

BetBots · « **Reply #1 on:** February 11, 2006, 09:39:33 PM »

runaway 2runaway 2

Username: marybethsanford, Sep/15/2005 11:21:52 [-04]

Joey decided that the diaper was a very good thing. As bad as it might

seem, there were advantages here, Joey mused, and just as he thought that

Nurse Julie tugged a wipe loose from a container on his bedside stand.

Another thought struck him, making him almost smile, as Julie used the

wipe. He could definitely tolerate a diaper for the sake of those wipes.

Joey closed his eyes to the pleasure of it as Julie pulled still another

wipe from the container. The two wipes, and Julie's attention to making

sure he was clean, left him deciding this really could be OK. Those

disposables would definitely be an advantage all around, he decided, not

missing the fact he also didn't mind how it felt right then. 'Kind of nice

not having any choice,' Joey mused.

"Do you remember anything about the accident honey," Julie asked, one last

time, as she slipped a fresh disposable between his legs before rolling

his hip a little and with that roll a slight twinge of pain from his leg.

Julie did the same thing from the other side till the diaper was fully

under him. With the diaper in place it only took her a few seconds to

sprinkle a little baby powder over him before bringing the crinkling

material between his thighs to tape it closed.

"No," Joey said in mock frustration allowing his eyes to well up some.

Acting was a skill Joey learned on the streets. The best actors got set

free when the cops busted you.

"OK, never mind. Just thought I'd try one more time. We are not going to

worry about it for now. I'm sure you will begin remembering as you heal.

Now let me get you that aspirin and then your doctor," Julie said as she

fused with Joey's new disposable for a bit longer.

With the diaper tapped closed, Julie turned her attention to the IV unit,

flicked it with a finger, then checked on the monitor that was pumping

what went in Joey. Julie, checked the bag, the meter, then made a notation

on a clip board before picking up the sodden diaper Joey had used. She

slipped the bed sheet over Joey's diaper as promised.

Joey was a little street wise anyway, having been on those streets, more

or less, since his uncle took him in. Right now that hospital was far

better than going home. Even when he was with his uncle he only went

inside to eat and ultimately to sleep. Joey hadn't really had a home since

his parents disappeared.

Joey's uncle had been nice in the beginning. He was great right after his

parents were reported missing. Great for a time, till taking care of a kid

became more and more bothersome. Joey's uncle had grown less and less

patient as each day passed. By the time Joey was eight he hated his uncle,

and he was sure his uncle felt the same way about him.

Joey ran away the first time at twelve discovering, when he returned home

on his own, that his uncle hadn't even bothered to report him missing.

Most likely would never have and he got that bit of information, as a

hint, from the disappointing look on his uncle's face when he showed up

again.

When his uncle warned him after that second time about not letting him

back home Joey didn't much care. Unfortunately he had to because that was

the law, but Joey's uncle made it clear he was pissed. Joey planned his

next liberation slightly better.

This third time Joey had taken a hundred bucks from his uncle's jar,

packed his school back pack and headed once again for the big city. A

different big city this time using the money to bus himself there, and a

bit wiser. Joey had a drunk purchase his bus ticket and he was two cities

away by the time his uncle woke. Although again, Joey knew he wouldn't be

missed.

Joey had never been fingerprinted and wasn't in any school year book and

that was because he'd missed the picture days. Those two missing items

kept him out of most systems. If his uncle had filed him missing, which

was doubtful, they would be looking for an older boy without even a

picture. Even Joey's school didn't really know him because he was hardly

there.

On occation, Joey did home schooling so his uncle could still travel for

the construction company he worked for. Those two additional bits of

information Joey had, left Joey feeling secure that no one would know who

he was no matter how hard they looked. No one knew him, and it wasn't

likely they were going to unless he said something, and Joey had just

decided not to. The nurse had bought his amnesia story easily.

Nurse Julie, now finished with her immediate duties, brought Joey his

aspirin in the same style paper cup as his water and a promise that the

doctor would be in soon to check him over. Joey fell asleep feeling pretty

good over this new set of circ-umstances and the feel of his fresh diaper

between his legs. That last thought came in his sleep with the image of

Nurse Julie topless in his dream. Topless and about to breast feed him.

Detective Beckman, Juvenile Division, sat with Rose Partridge of Social

Services with both sitting across from Dr. Sanders. The boy's fingerprints

were not in any system that Beckman tried and his description didn't fit

any of the boys reported missing in the city or, for that matter the state

so far. Going past the state lines in a wider search would take a while

longer the detective noted.

Rose Partridge was there because Dr. Sanders estimated Joey's age to be

ten to twelve give or take a year. No more than twelve he'd guessed

incorrectly which meant that Joey was immediately and officially now a

ward of the state and currently under Rose's authority.

Joey, thankfully, was small for his age, always had been and that was some

of the reason he'd lost his backpack with his money that first day off the

bus. Unfortunately his attempt to hide from those boys put him directly

into the clutches of a much older boy on that second story roof. That was

the boy who took his jacket, pants and shirt and with their struggle the

cause of his fall. Joey, in those seconds thought he was going to die. He

didn't.

So far so good Joey mused almost a full day later in his hospital bed. His

leg was laying flat and while it still hurt some he was moving it a little

with the soft brace. Joey decided at some point between yesterday and

today that he was also incontinent. Officially Joey didn't know why or

couldn't remember why he wet, but he was taking advantage of what the

doctor had said.

Joey was comforted by the doctor explaining that the trauma itself could

have been the cause of his involuntary wetting, which also induced his

amnesia. A number of things might cause incontinence the doctor said

trying to comfort Joey.

Joey was also taking advantage of that small embarrassing luxury of

wearing diapers so he could be changed by Nurse Julie during the day. She

was slightly more motherly than Nurse Tracy Tucker, his night nurse,

although both used those wonderful baby wipes.

Ironically that last part, that part about his being incontinent was what

helped mold Rose Partridge's decision when she began formulating a short

term strategy for Joey's care. The boy suffered from amnesia and might,

for some short amount of time, if it was just physical, that is. Although,

if it was mental, perhaps much longer. She had to take that into

consideration.

Joey's incontinence as well might be connected to his injuries, but most

likely had to do with something else before that fall, the doctor noted

and with caution. In any event they believed they had a preteen boy

suffering from amnesia and still in need of diapers. In this case that was

all a good thing according to Rose Partridge.

It was a good thing to Joey as well. Fortunately this left Joey now in the

foster care system. He'd been told that carefully so as to not upset him,

and he'd played that one out with a few tears just for effect. It was

blowing Joey away this newest bit of news and good fortune.

If Joey played his cards right, given his estimated age, he could

literally milk this system till his eighteenth birthday which, instead of

being two years away was now at least six to eight years out. Joey had a

temporary home, he noted happily, as his case worker marked his new

birthday and his age.

Joey was officially now eleven, with his birthday on the day Joey's doctor

pronounced him fit to leave. Sort of like being reborn again, Nurse Julie

said, as she tapped him into a fresh diaper. Rose Partridge wished him

happy birthday as well as she waited for Nurse Julie to finish dressing

him.

Joey, only slightly embarrassed to be wearing a diaper under his new

jeans, happily hobbled to his wheel chair for the ride downstairs to meet

Helen Baker and her partner. He was given a mighty hug by Nurse Julie and

his night nurse Tracy just before their shift change. Those hugs were

followed by a hand shake from Dr. Sanders his primary care physician. They

were all waving still as the elevator doors closed on him, the orderly

pushing his chair and Rose Partridge.

BetBots · « **Reply #2 on:** February 11, 2006, 09:40:25 PM »

runaway 3runaway 3
Username: marybethsanford, Sep/16/2005 09:46:10 [-04]

Helen Baker was the perfect choice for Joey, Rose noted to her supervisor,
a few days before calling Helen. Rose had to review her decision to put
Joey with someone and Helen was perfect. Helen had spent years taking care
of an invalid sister before taking on special needs kids through the
foster care system. Several so far and, as luck would have it, she had no
one at the moment.

Even the room Helen used for her sister and those kids was perfect.
Perfect for a boy still having difficulty getting around that is. Not so
perfect that he was a boy though given it was a bit too juvenile and a bit
too feminine. Moreover, Helen was more than capable of taking care of
someone incontinent besides. All in all, it was going to be a good
placement, Rose mused to herself, as the elevator descended.

Joey's police file, the new one, was changed from active to pending since
all that could be done in finding Joey's parents or guardians had been
done. Detective Beckman filed Joey's information in the top drawer of his
office filing cabinet with a note attached inside that read "pending new
leads".

That more or less closed the case on Joey for the time being and perhaps
forever. Detective Beckman, given his case load, was more than happy to
put another file aside. Besides, the boy was in good hands and that
ultimately was all that mattered.

The fact that Helen Baker had only taken care of girls to this point was
only slightly coincidental to Joey's short term care. Based on what Dr.
Sanders had said about Joey's leg and head injuries, a month under
supervised nursing was most likely going to be all Joey would really need.
That was Helen's specialty for the time being. From there, once Joey's
short term needs were satisfied and pending any further complications,
Joey would or could go into the long term foster care system.

Of course there was also that small chance Joey's parents or guardians
would discover where he was and take him back or Joey would recover his
memory fully and allow contact from that direction. In either case things
were settling in nicely for Joey as the elevator doors opened. All in all
that was how things were right up to that moment when Carol, Helen's life
long partner, turned with Helen to greet their new charge.

Carol's gasp caught Helen off guard causing Helen to turn in her direction
and away from her intended greeting with Joey. The look on Carol's face
surprised Helen who wanted to ask Carol what was wrong. The tears welling
up in Carol's eyes gave Helen a start and furthered her concern in those
seconds. Helen in that instant ignored Joey in his wheel chair completely,
as well as Rose Partridge, now walking towards them.

"I'm OK! Really, go on and take care of the boy, and I'll explain when I
get the chance. Really, I'm OK! Honestly, I was just caught off guard. Go
on and we'll talk later," Carol said turning away quickly to wipe her
eyes.

"You sure," Helen asked still very concerned over her partner's reaction.

"Yes, now go before this gets embarrassing," Carol said with a laugh and
sniffle as she pushed on Helen's arm. Helen turned back at just the
instant Rose Partridge walked up to them.

"Helen, this is John! At least John for now. John, this is Helen Baker and
that is Carol Evans your temporary foster parents for the time being,"
Rose said happily standing between, but to the side of Joey and his two
new foster moms.

The name John was picked for John Doe, only Joey had taking on the name
Dough in a joking way and Rose noted that in her file. Joey, as John now,
had been told that the couple he'd be staying with were same sex, but
perfectly capable of supporting his immediate needs and very wonderful
people besides.

Joey, as John, had no problem with that part of this and still didn't as
he happily greeted the woman that would be taking care of him. Joey took
Helen's hand easily when Helen extended it as she said, "so nice to meet
you John."

"Me too John, in spite of how it looks," Carol said turning while wiping
her nose with a tissue, before extending her hand adding, by way of an
explanation, "Allergies and hospitals."

The orderly wheeled Joey to Helen and Carol's van and between them they
got Joey settled into the middle back seat and buckled in. Joey's leg only
hurt now if he tried moving it too aggressively or put too much weight on
it. That, Dr. Baker promised, would go away in two to three weeks.

Joey's headaches had gone away yesterday morning. When his memory would
return wasn't as clear, but Joey already knew that better than the doctor
did.

Joey, as John, confirmed Helen's question over if he was wet, or not,
fifteen minutes into the ride, promising she'd change him the moment they
arrived home. Joey flushed a bit over his self induced incontinence. It
became somewhat pleasant after three full days and nights of Nurse Helen's
and Nurse Tracy's concerns that he be changed immediately when wet leaving
him more or less happily hooked on his new condition. Mostly it was those
hands of his nurses. Those hands, those baby wipes, and talc-um powder
after that small bit of salve they applied each time against a reddening
they thought might be the beginning of a diaper rash.

Joey's only concern when Helen carried him into the room and she did so
easily, he noted, was that room itself. It was meant for someone incapable
of taking care of themselves and instead of a bed he'd be sleeping in a
metal adult size crib painted white. Of course Helen promised to leave the
side down so it looked less like a crib but it was still a crib. It made
Joey's diaper seem more babyish suddenly.

That room, as well, was also meant for a girl and had been till now. Helen
noted that by way of a another apology for the pinks, pastels and those
slightly too frilly curtains. If it bothered Joey too much she could at
least change the curtains she said and of course the dolls would stay in
the corner for now as Carol removed the ones from the crib. Helen couldn't
do much about the white French and very feminine furniture other than to
shrug.

Joey's other concern, as Helen worked his new jeans off, after his shoes
and socks, was her insistence she put him into cloth diapers and plastic
pants. Up to now Joey had worn disposables and those were a bit more
clinical at that given the medical green color. The difference between
those clinical disposables and a fresh white cotton diaper were huge. And
it was kind of huge given it was contoured to fit like a gloved hand and
very thick. Way too thick, Joey decided.

Joey mentioned it only slightly but was struck down almost immediately
when Helen told him that disposable diapers, while very convenient, would
last for decades in the ground, if not forever. Diapers, Helen noted,
along with those baby pants that would cover Joey's diaper, were washable
and lasted a long time and thus, far less harmful on the world.

Helen said this rolling Joey easily for his first ever cloth baby diaper.
He was in the crib with the side down and the whole thing made Joey
slightly nervous over being treated like a baby. The only good thing about
this was that Helen used Johnson's baby wipes instead of those hospital
grade wipes and the Johnson's Pamper brand had a very distinct baby powder
smell to them. They also felt just as nice as those others did when Helen
began to clean Joey. Joey wasn't happy about wearing a real baby's diaper,
or his crib, but those wipes took some of the sting out of it.

The feel of a form fitting diaper took a bit more of the sting out of
being babied, Joey mused, as Helen expertly tugged the soft puffy
gathering of cotton between his legs. Those soft gathers at the leg and
across the back made it very snug even before Helen began to pin it
closed. Joey was warming up to this new type diaper as Helen pinned it
closed.

Joey, while not keen on looking like a baby, was getting past it a little.
Helen promised she'd buy diaper pins more suitable for a boy on her next
trip to the store. The baby pants, fortunately, would hide the pink she
noted as she closed the last one before turning to the dresser for those
plastic pants.

Meanwhile, Carol was searching through an album she kept on a shelf in the
office she and Helen shared. It had been ten years since Carol had been
with Cindy. In fact, Carol was sure that once she saw Cindy's picture
again the similarities she imagined... those between that boy John and her
old flame, was just her mind playing tricks on her. Wishful thinking
perhaps...

Everyone has a double Carol mused wiping her eyes in a slight state of
shock. It hadn't been just wishful thinking. If Carol allowed herself to
think on it she would be swearing this very instant that Cindy had been
reincarnated and that boy, Helen was diapering at this very moment was, in
fact, Cindy. The fact that John was in there getting pinned into a diaper
left Carol shaken even more over that not so small set of coincidences.

BetBots · « **Reply #3 on:** February 11, 2006, 09:41:38 PM »

runaway 4runaway 4

Username: marybethsanford, Sep/17/2005 12:03:49 [-04]

"John's hungry," Helen said coming into the office from the nursery. Joey

was laying in the crib slightly conflicted over his state as his hands

played over those milky white soft plastic pants that now covered his

thick, soft, cotton diaper. He looked, at least from his angle, like a

baby in a crib and felt like one as he moved his fingers deftly over his

diaper and baby pants. Why that made him smile was also slightly

confusing.

Joey had actually considered recovering from his incontinence, sooner

rather than later, but he was now fighting that argument over the

ramifications of such a decision. On the one hand he'd go back into

regular underwear and not face the humiliation of being diapered, while on

the other he'd give up this odd pleasure of it. His Id somewhere in his

brain was fighting against his Ego somewhere else in his brain while he

laid there quietly, happily deciding on which was going to win.

"Now then, my sweet, what was that scene back at the hospital about,"

Helen asked of her partner as she moved closer to slip an arm around

Carol.

Carol lifted the photo so Helen could see the image closer.

"Good heavens! What's that boy John doing in a dress," Helen said

instantly recognizing the young man they were now caring for. The rational

side of Helen caught up with the emotional side that had just been shaken

as she added, "and that's not John is it... Wait a second, is that Cindy!"

Carol nodded and sniffed at her running nose.

"My stars Carol, no wonder you were hit so hard when those doors opened.

I'm seeing it and I don't believe it," Helen said and added, "come on and

I'll fix us some tea before I get John's lunch started. That is almost

impossible to believe!"

"It's not impossible," Carol said walking out ahead of Helen from the

office and towards the kitchen. Carol's initial shock at the hospital and

another just now was actually settling into her beliefs. Carol's own

rational side was taking over. It was Cindy, and it was John she mused

silently.

"It's not impossible? How is it not impossible," Helen asked walking past

Carol for the cupboard and tea bags.

"How about fate," Carol said with a tone suggesting she believed it.

"Wait a second, you're going to say reincarnation or something to that

effect aren't you," Helen said trying to keep the sarcasm from her voice.

Helen was far more practical than Carol, but she gave Carol her beliefs

given she had her own. Was her beliefs any less odd to some?

"Don't you see! I mean even if you don't believe what I believe fine, but

you simply can't ignore how remarkable this is! I mean look at the

picture! Tell me that boy in there is not, at the very least, the twin of

this girl here," Carol asked.

"I can't! Honestly, I can't. So I'll grant you it's odd. I'll grant you

that much and that's for sure. Same hair, those eyes too pretty on him,

exactly the same, his lips, that chin and those cheeks, mouth....

Everything is nearly identical. Yes Carol, I'll grant you that part

easily," Helen said shaking her head as she moved to the stove to twist

the burner on under the tea kettle.

"And what about him being here? Right here, in our house! Right now?

Coincidence? What put him here with us? OK, even that is possible, but his

incontinence? His build? Helen, this can't simply be explained away as

just chance, it can't be even with your rational side," Carol said.

"No, I guess it can't be? Honestly, it's spooky as hell, but I can't help

myself over wanting to challenge what you are suggesting. He's not Cindy

obviously because I just pinned him into his diaper, and perhaps this all

could be just exactly that... coincidence," Helen said as she moved back

to the tea cup to set them on the table.

"OK, so we're rational human beings, or you are at least, and yes, I

believe in reincarnation and right now that's exactly what I'm suggesting.

However, and for your sake, I'm willing to listen to any rational that can

explain what is happening right now," Carol said as she sat hard at the

table.

"Honey, I wish I could explain it. I really do but I'm not sure I can even

dare. Carol, in spite of what I believe, I've just seen something very odd

that I can't explain and if you want to know the truth, it's way too weird

even for me at the moment. You and your damn Cosmic forces are going to

end up giving me an ulcer."

"And for your information, regarding that gender issue, that's explainable

as well because at least half of those doc-umented reincarnations end up

being gender swaps," Carol said taking up the tea bag as Helen poured the

hot water over it.

"Thanks, I need that small bit of information. So what now my love," Helen

asked sitting heavily onto her own chair. Helen knew enough to not try and

dissuade her partner in this, but she intended to guide her past the shock

of it. Helen's rational side argued strongly that the young man she'd just

diapered wasn't Carol's Cindy, but Helen's other side the more emotional

side scoffed at her own doubt. She had seen the same things Carol had

seen.

"Tell you what, if you can suspend your antagonism of my beliefs for a

time, perhaps I can shorten my giant leaps into my faith a little as well.

Between us both perhaps we can find a middle ground that doesn't read like

a Thriller Movie. I'm thinking that for this to not be so unnerving, for

me anyway, is to maybe settle it once and for all," Carol said.

"Settle it how," Helen asked.

"I'd like to bring someone in to hypnotize John and see if there is a past

life experience he can recall. It has to be under hypnosis simply because

it's not likely he's going to leap spontaneously into the life of a young

lady. At least not consciously. However, he might if he's put at ease

under hypnosis," Carol said as she allowed her tea bag to drip a bit

before placing it on her saucer.

"We can't do that against his will, so you'd have to ask him his

permission," Helen noted and added, "Carol, he's a minor and we are

responsible for his well being. This actually could put him at risk. It

might even traumatize him so my first response is no! No, unless you can

convince me otherwise."

"I know," Carol said anguishing over the right and wrong of this against

the knowing and not knowing. She too worried over the boy. She was sure it

would help him, but she wasn't positive. That slight bit of doubt weighed

heavily on her because there was a child involved.

"Then you also know that we really can't do that," Helen said.

"We could do it for the sake of possibly recovering his memory. That would

be therapeutic, even beneficial and well within the scope of our care,"

Carol said quietly, casually, hoping her suggestion would take root as

something doable. Helen was careful with her charges and Carol didn't want

to risk pushing her past that motherly instinct of hers.

"OK, now I'm feeling a little better about your suggestion. If it would

benefit him and even possibly help him remember, then yes, we could and

should do it," Helen said before adding, "but his well being would be our

first priority. Anything else would be secondary. Right?"

"Absolutely," Carol said excitedly. Clearly the compromise had taken her

past the conflict but Helen still worried about the outcome that she was

sure would not fair well in Carol's favor. It really might help the boy

remember and she was in favor of that, but she was positive Carol would be

hit hard by the fact that the boy was just a boy.

"What if he can't remember being Carol," Helen said not believing for a

minute that this boy would.

"Just means the memories are too deep, too new and given his age that

could definitely be something to expect. It won't change what I already

feel, because I feel it too strongly. That is the very nature of my faith.

Same as yours, I should add. However, it will leave me wondering when or

even if Cindy will be capable of reviling herself," Carol noted.

"So if nothing happens, you're not going to go off the deep end then,"

Helen asked patting Carol's hand.

"Helen! My dear sweet Helen! Something has already happened and, if you

hadn't noticed, I did go off the deep end. Fact is, right now, I'm

swimming back as we speak," Carol said laughing.

"Right! OK, so I'm in love with a nut, but I knew that going into this

relationship I suppose. So, what's next," Helen asked.

"Well, I need to contact Marcy Stern and see if she's willing to do this

and, if so, when. We can talk with John after he's comfortable here, and

settled in," Carol said.

"Comfortable! Are you kidding! I'll bet if I walked in there with a baby's

bottle the boy would take it happily. Never seen someone that age so

wonderful calm over getting diapered and with pink diaper pins no less,"

Helen said and added, "even the girls that had to wear their diapers hated

them."

BetBots · « **Reply #4 on:** February 11, 2006, 09:42:18 PM »

runaway 5runaway 5

Username: marybethsanford, Sep/18/2005 06:38:41 [-04]

"Cindy," Carol said with a slight touch of conviction.

"What," Helen asked.

"Cindy was like that," Carol said.

"Cindy was like what," Helen asked.

"When I babied Cindy, Cindy easily became a baby. The more I regressed

her, the more she regressed," Carol said.

"OK, I'm going to stick my neck out on this, but you might be right in

that regard. Actually, and I'm not admitting anything by saying this, but

I got the very real feeling that John would do the same," Helen said.

"Wow listen to us admitting this to each other. OK, so it's my turn as

well then. Believe it or not, that isn't inconsistent with someone's,

anyones child if they haven't had much nurturing. It could be that John

himself is reacting to that nurturing process itself and he's really not

Cindy," Carol said.

"Really," Helen asked and added, "how so?"

"He's suffering from amnesia. Given that, he could only have access to

those deeper feelings going back a ways. A long ways actually. He's

scared, that's obvious and he could very well be regressing because of

that fear. A sort of defense mechanism if you will," Carol said.

"You could be right about that," Helen noted as she took up her tea to sip

at it.

"Then again, John could be driven by Cindy without having the capacity to

know that," Carol said smiling.

"Like I noted earlier, you're going to give me an ulcer over this.

Meanwhile, that boy is hungry and I'm not doing anything about it, so

enough is enough for now," Helen said slapping her ample hips as she moved

to the refrigerator.

Carol got up, smiled at Helen at least for her effort, deciding to look in

on the young man now in their care. It was a remarkable likeness and she

couldn't help but think he was somehow connected to Cindy in some way.

Carol moved towards the room, stood at the door for a second and found

John comfortably on his back sleeping soundly.

John looked so peaceful laying there in the crib with only his tee-shirt

and diaper under the baby pants. The soft brace on his leg made him look

vulnerable, hurt, enhancing those feelings Carol had to suddenly nurture

John. If he had a dress on, one of Cindy's baby dresses, he'd be the

spitting image of her former lover. Carol turned back towards the kitchen.

"No need to hurry, he's fast asleep," Carol said.

"Sleep is good for now. I'm make his lunch and put it in the

refrigerator," Helen said as she coated a piece of bread with mayonnaise.

"Good idea, meanwhile, I'll give Marcy a call," Carol said and added,

"wonder why he wets when he's awake? I mean he's got to be aware of the

urge, and the doctor couldn't find anything wrong with him physically, so

what's driving it?"

"Honey, you know as well as I do it could be any one of a dozen things

causing it. He could even be attached to those diapers of his. Funny thing

is, I also got a little sense of that. I mean I felt that a little

diapering him a bit ago. We've seen that before and, as I think about it,

it's common enough with children experiencing traumas," Rose said as she

paused for a moment.

"You could be right," Carol said.

"Like I said earlier, and the thing I find so fascinating, is his lack of

conflict over wearing them. Most children, boys and girls, but boys

especially, and at his age are at least embarrassed over the fact they

wear diapers still," Helen said as she added baloney and a slice of cheese

to John's sandwich.

"Marcy could most likely tell us that as well," Carol noted adding another

benefit to using her friend for John's sake rather than for Carol's,

although it would definitely be for Carol's sake as well. Carol was

working on those ramifications when she dialed Marcy's number.

'Quod erat demonstrandum' Carol mused as she counted each phone ring of

Marcy's number.

QED meaning 'which has to be shown'. Those with faith are often the ones

who need proof of another faith, and never theirs, Carol noted just as

Marcy said, "hello?"

Helen, allowing her partner to at least begin the process, stood moving to

the bedroom and John. Joey sensing the movement before the light went on

smiled at the silhouette back lit at the door. He was wet again and this

time it had happened without him making it happen or, he decided, he'd

most likely made it happen without realizing it.

"Sleep well," Helen said after turning the light on.

"Like a ba... Yes," Joey said changing what he was going to say. Telling

Helen that he had slept like a baby unnerved him slightly and so did the

fact he was wet.

"Wet honey," Helen asked moving to the edge of the crib. Helen knew the

instant she asked if John was wet by the change in the color of his

cheeks.

"Yes," Joey said blushing.

"Well, let's get you changed and then put something in your stomach. You

haven't had anything to eat since you left the hospital," Helen said

moving to the dresser. She opened a drawer, pulling another contoured

diaper from the stack and along with it a rather thick rectangle shaped

diaper or what Joey thought was a diaper.

"Might as well get you ready for bed," Helen said laying the diaper and

the doubler next to Joey before returning to the dresser for another pair

of baby pants as she added, "how does your leg feel?"

"Feels good. Only time it hurts is when I forget and move it wrong but

even then it's just a twinge," Joey noted as he watched, in a kind of

bliss, Helen moving back with another pair of baby pants. He could get use

to this very quickly, he mused, then smiled since that was already a

given.

"Well, let's not push it too fast. We can keep you off it another couple

of days then try a little bit of time on it each day. Doctor says to let

the pain itself manage how much you're on it," Helen said as she hovered

over Joey's waist. She slipped the baby pants, he wore, down just enough

exposing the pink tipped diaper pins unlocking one and removing it before

the other.

The pink plastic changing pad was draped over the foot of the crib and

that went under Joey with his cooperation before Helen began to remove his

wet diaper and baby pants together. Pink wasn't a bad color Joey decided.

Babies don't mind about colors, he mused, as the diaper and pair of baby

pants reached his feet as a bundle.

Helen was slightly better with the baby wipes than his nurses, Joey also

mused, as he spread his legs slightly more for Helen. She was slower than

the nurses had been, slower and more careful it seemed. A good thing, Joey

decided, as Helen tugged another wipe from the plastic container with that

baby smiling on the front. Joey knew why that baby was smiling and he did

the same.

Joey's second diaper, as thick as the first was even thicker now with the

added doubler coming up between his legs. A soaker Helen said fixing the

long rectangle of cloth so it rested directly in the middle of the soft

fluff of his regular diaper. That doubler was as soft as his diaper, he

decided, when Helen tugged it all gently between his legs.

Helen fussed with the wings coming out from the small of his back before

she picked up the baby oil. Joey closed his eyes savoring the sensations

of his diapering and Helen's hands. The image of her deep ruby red

fingernails, such a contrast against the white of his diaper, lingered in

his mind as she rubbed the baby oil in.

Baby powder followed and after sprinkling a generous amount over Joey that

too was massaged and lightly manipulated onto his skin. A mixture of that

warm baby oil gathered together with the almost pungent smell of baby

powder reached his nose just as Helen pulled the diaper and it's doubler

between his legs. The process mixed his senses together and it made him

smile.

BetBots · « **Reply #5 on:** February 11, 2006, 09:43:00 PM »

runaway 6runaway 6
Username: marybethsanford, Sep/20/2005 06:05:46 [-04]

Joey was thinking of a pacifier or even a baby's bottle suddenly wishing
he had either to nurse on as Helen diapered him. How weird that was, he
mused, until he focused on the diaper again as Helen gathered the far side
for the diaper pins.

Those pink tips of his diaper pins were in the shape of bunnies, Joey
noted as Helen closed the diaper carefully, expertly and slowly. She did
the same with the second side causing the diaper to gather and move around
the small of his back and across his stomach while cupping him in a soft
embrace as well. Such an odd feeling and so wonderful besides, Joey mused
as Helen closed the diaper.

Joey lifted himself for his baby pants feeling the only pain in this when
he put pressure on his leg and squinting slightly at that twinge. "Don't
push on that leg," Helen said noting John's face twist into a slightly
painful grimace.

Helen tugged John's baby pants to the diaper then slipped a large hand
under the back of John's leg, near the knee, lifting it firmly and just
high enough to slip his baby pants over the diaper on that side. Helen did
the same on the other side reminding Joey of a mother changing a baby.

"There we go honey, all ready for bed. Now let's get you something to
eat," Helen said slipping her large hands under John. One under the knees
and the other near his neck under his back. She lifted his nearly ninety
pounds effortlessly bringing him to her chest as she straightened.

Helen's ample breast covered Joey's arm under her silky dress and thoughts
of nursing flashed into his head as she turned for the door. It was an
exceptional feeling flowing through Joey as that image blended with the
sensation of his diapers growing more pronounced when Helen lifted him.

"Hey, he's awake," Carol said looking at John with an affectionate smile
that was made warmer when she ran a hand over his forehead while adding,
"so how do you feel?"

"I feel wonderful," Joey said to Carol's question as her hand reached the
back of his head in that stroke beginning at his forehead. Carol was
amazed at how striking the similarities in this boy and Cindy including
his hair which was definitely as thick and as long as Cindy's had been.

For a moment Carol almost dared ask if John might consider allowing her to
put him into one of Cindy's toddler dresses. Cindy had so loved those
dresses Carol had made for her as part of their roleplaying. Which was
funny in a way.

Funny because Cindy had shocked Carol after their initial meeting telling
her she had to sleep in diapers. Carol had never known a bed wetter
Cindy's age, but allowed it to pass quickly enough. There was another
shock a couple of weeks later when Carol invited Cindy to come live with
her. That second shock came when Cindy admitted that she liked her diapers
and baby pants and those baby clothes that came out with Cindy's
confession.

Cindy was an adult baby, a toddler actually with a strong inner-child that
had been there for a long number of years before they met. Carol had no
idea what an adult baby really was nor why an adult would want to be, but
she found herself warming quickly to the role of a parent or nurturer.

A few days exploring this life style on the Internet, soon after Cindy's
confession, answered most of Carol's question. It was odd at first but not
too given that Carol found herself slipping easily into the role of a
mother with a child as Cindy became that child. With the exception of
those playful beginnings in their roleplaying their function as lovers was
just the same as any other couples.

Carol warmed quickly to her adult "keeper" role, as a nurturer, and as
easily as Cindy, as that inner-child and both looked forward eagerly to
those moments together. It wasn't too long after those first few weeks
that Carol began having Cindy's dresses made. Toddler dresses, adorable
confections that Cindy loved wearing as much as Carol did seeing her in
them.

It was a remarkable three years that ended one night after Cindy
complained of a minor headache laying in Carol's arms as Carol began to
give her the last baby bottle of milk before they went to bed. An autopsy
two days later concluded that Cindy was struck silent by an cerebral
aneurysm. Cindy had simply closed her eyes and never opened them again.
That was sixteen years ago.

"What," Carol asked as she caught herself drifting back to those days with
Cindy. It was Helen that had said something.

"I said he's getting a bit heavy," Helen said again as she urged Carol to
step aside so she could put John in one of the kitchen chairs.

"Sorry about that. I'm glad you're feeling better though," Carol said
moving quickly to a chair to pull it out for Helen. Helen lowered John
into the seat lightly before she made her way to the refrigerator and
John's sandwiches.

"Did you talk with Marcy," Helen asked sitting John's sandwiches down in
front of him. Joey's focus on his diapers was replaced by the noise his
stomach was making as he realized just how hungry he was. Helen sat a
large glass of milk down and that was followed by a bowl of fresh cut
apples, orange slices and grapes picked from their stems.

"I did and she's more than willing to help," Carol said. Helen nodded to
Carol who sat as Helen did. Both women now sitting as Helen cleared her
throat.

"John, we think there is someone that might help you remember who you
are," Helen said smiling.
"Really," Joey said trying to sound enthusiastic over that bit of news.
Since he didn't need to know who he was that wasn't as exciting for Joey
as Helen thought it would be.

"She's a therapist that specializes in deep hypnosis and she's worked with
a lot of trauma patients in your same set of circ-umstances," Carol noted.

"Hypnosis," Joey said almost choking on that last bite of his sandwich.
Hypnosis meant someone in his head without him being there. Joey
considered that realizing he could easily be discovered if he went along
with this.

Helen was patting him on the back as Joey coughed his food clear.

"Are you OK," Helen asked.

"Yes, went down the wrong pipe," Joey said still coughing in short burst
but definitely now OK.
"It's a simple procedure, completely harmless and very effective," Carol
said and she meant it given that it really was harmless and very
effective.

"Hypnosis," Joey said again but lowering his voice this time. There was a
hint of anguish in his face matching his tone or so Helen believed. Helen
sensed something definitely wrong.

"OK, tell you what, it's not something we need to decide now, nor do
anything about right away. Let's drop it for a later time and focus on
getting you past that bad leg of yours," Helen said surprising Carol
suddenly. Carol was as sharp as Helen though and she immediately decided
that Helen was thinking of something else.

They would take this up later when they were alone Carol decided as she
said, "that exactly right, leg first, then the head."

The relief in John's face was obvious to Helen and Helen hoped just as
clear to Carol. From Carol's look it was, as John began eating his
sandwich again... this time happily. It hardly seemed possible the boy
could put both sandwiches to rest and nearly all of the fruit but he did
and clearly, like a baby might, his eyes grew heavy.

"You ready to turn in," Helen asked.

"Definitely," Joey said looking down at his stomach almost sure it would
sound like a ripe watermelon if he thumped it. That had been such a close
call, that suggestion about hypnosis, he mused till Helen decided against
it... thank the stars.

"Come on then, we can decide your fate in the morning," Helen said
smiling.

"My fate," Joey asked nerviously.

"School sweets. Like it or not, there is still school and you've missed
nearly a week of it already. We can home school till you can kick a ball
at least," Helen noted.

"School! Right! I'd hoped you'd forgotten that part," Joey said smiling
more from the relief he felt again. Helen was talking about school and not
literally his fate.
"Not likely," Helen noted.

"But what grade," Joey asked.

"Let's see? My guess is that it's got to be at least the seventh, but we
can adjust that by a year one way or another if need be," Helen said and
added, "I've got all of the material for home schooling in a cabinet in my
office and I'll check to make sure it's updated for your grade.

"Seventh? I guess that's as good a place as any," Joey said as Helen bent
to pick him up.

BetBots · « **Reply #6 on:** February 11, 2006, 09:43:42 PM »

runaway 7runaway 7

Username: marybethsanford, Sep/22/2005 13:11:50 [-04]

"Good heavens, you've gained at least ten pounds from your snack," Helen

said cradling John in her arms once again.

Joey smiled meekly as he said, "it was the fruit."

"Let's also consider a diet if I'm going to be lugging you around for a

while," Helen noted with a mischievous tone in her voice as she carried

John to his crib. John only grimaced once when she caught the foot of his

bad leg on the cribs side. The cribs side was down but she began to lower

him too soon apologizing instantly as she slipped her arms from beneath

him.

Joey felt like he was resting on a folded blanket with the extra soaker,

but between his legs that fullness made him comfortably aware of his

state. His diapers puffed the baby pants into a soft bellowing, but

slightly wrinkled, mound of white before Helen lifted the baby blanket to

cover him.

It was pink, but Joey didn't care as the wide satiny nylon edge touched

his chin. Pink is OK so long as it's on a blanket, he mused, as Helen ran

a finger along his left cheek as she said, "sleep tight John and we will

start fresh in the morning."

Joey was thinking of his diapers when she said that part about fresh,

smiling at what he thought was a cute play on words. Helen was, in fact,

thinking about his reaction and how to find out why he'd reacted that way.

"Goodnight honey," Helen said at the doorway.

"Goodnight Helen... Helen," Joey asked.

"Yes honey," Helen answered.

"Thank you," Joey said softly.

"You're welcome, I think," Helen said with that last part a whisper before

switching the light off.

Joey closed his eyes, one hand resting on his baby pants under the baby's

blanket, the other clutching the satiny edge of it. It could have only

been seconds before his breathing slowed.

"So what was that all about, although I'm guessing it was because of his

reaction," Carol said sitting on the coach with her legs under her. That

days newspaper was open next to her as she folded the part she was reading

when Helen came in.

"It was his reaction. That boy nearly choked when we mentioned discovering

who he was," Helen said.

"OK, so I saw that. One of the reasons I joined in with you, but why? I

mean why would he be so worried over finding out who he is," Carol asked.

"Don't you see? It's beecause he already knows," Helen said after a few

minutes thought.

"What? No! I mean how can he? He's been diagnosed with amnesia by the

doctor," Carol noted.

"Because the doctor was told John can't remember and by John," Helen said

with a far off look.

"But how do you know that," Carol said.

"I don't. I mean not for sure I don't, but think about it, it's the only

logical explanation for his reaction. He already knows who he is and he's

afraid of us finding out. What that really means is that he doesn't want

to be found out nor does he want his parents or guardians to know he's

here," Helen said.

"You think he's been abused or something," Carol said suddenly feeling a

twinge of guilt that she had scared John even a tiny bit.

"Could be. Could be why he's so happy being mothered as well," Helen said

as she picked up her cell phone.

"Who you calling," Carol said.

"His nurse," Helen noted as she began dialing the number of the hospital

written on a paper now under a magnet on the refrigerator. John's case

worker's number was there as well as was the detectives.

"What for," Carol asked.

"I need to know if he was wearing a diaper or under shorts when he came in

after his fall and if undershorts if he was dry," Helen said putting the

phone to her ear as she finished punching in the numbers.

It took a bit to reach John's night nurse and then to get in touch with

the emergency room nurse who was on call that night John was brought in.

Helen's suspicions were right when the emergency room nurse told her John

was wearing shorts and there was no sign that he was incontinent.

Diapering John was simply procedure at the time and then only because the

doctor had guessed him to be under the age of a teen. It wasn't until

later, when he was diagnosed as incontinent that they continued with the

diapers, the nurse noted. Helen thanked the nurse, hung up and went to the

bag of John's clothes that he carried out with him. She found the shorts.

"He's not incontinent," Helen said.

"What do you mean he's not incontinent? Helen, obviously he is because

he's wetting..." Carol said before pausing suddenly as she added, "right,

him wetting actually doesn't mean a thing does it?"

"Just that he wants to be incontinent for some reason on another," Helen

said looking curious.

"So you think he wants to wear diapers then and it's not because he has

to," Carol asked.

"Yes, yes I do. The question I have is why? Why would a boy want to wear

diapers," Helen mused.

"Or not be found out," Carol added.

"Right, or not be found out," Helen noted as well.

"So what do we do now," Carol asked.

"Nothing about him at the moment. We do what we do best. We mother him to

death first of all. Right now the reasons don't matter so much as making

him feeling secure. We make sure he's healed both physically and, as much

as possible, mentally, and when I find the right time, I simply ask him,"

Helen said.

"What about the diapers," Carol asked.

"If those diapers and baby pants make him comfortable, he stays in diapers

and baby pants and we let that part work itself out later if need be. Like

I said, the first thing we've got to do is make sure he feels safe and

secure and if pinning him into diapers a few times a day takes care of

that, then so be it," Helen said.

The soaker worked nicely Joey mused running his hands over his baby pants

but not feeling as if he had wet even though he had. A soaker was a good

thing he also mused moving his legs slightly which slightly moved the

diaper around him. A diaper was a very good thing as well he decided once

more yawning himself more awake and smiling.

Dust motes danced in the sunlight knifing into Joey's room as he heard a

toilet flush off in the distance. Joey wondered over how long he could

keep his diapers and baby pants as part of this, weighing how old they

thought he was and how old before bed wetting might stop. Joey didn't know

the technicalities of bed wetting or over someone being incontinence but

it seemed it didn't matter much to these two women.

"Knock, knock," Helen's voice said as Joey's door opened quitely.

"Morning," He said happily when he saw her.

"And good morning to you," Helen said moving straight to the dresser for a

fresh diaper and clean pair of baby pants before coming to the crib. Joey

felt wonderful and that got better still watching Helen preparing to

diaper him for the morning. His fresh start he mused.

"How about a bath first, then breakfast and some time on the patio while I

get your schooling issues taken care of," Helen said moving to hover over

Joey as she began to fuss with his wet diaper.

"OK," Joey said softly as he watched the process he'd grown to enjoy as

Helen edged his baby pants down to expose once again the diaper pins.

Helen, as before, slid the mass of diaper, soaker and plastic pants down

along his legs to his feet and then off in a bunch. Joey sat up for this

tee-shirt realizing as he did so that he only had the clothes he'd come

into the hospital with causing him to add, "I don't have any more

clothes."