Author Topic: The Runaway by Mary Beth Sanford (Read 26374 times)

BetBots · « **Reply #7 on:** February 11, 2006, 09:44:30 PM »

runaway 8runaway 8

Username: marybethsanford, Sep/23/2005 12:48:49 [-04]

"Actually you do, in a manner of speaking. I mean we do. As it happens,

Cindy remembered she had some things in the attic and found a few items

you can wear. At least around here for now. Once you're up and about we

can shop for a few more things," Helen said.

"Oh, OK," Joey said as Helen slid her arms under him before easing him up

again. She carried him effortlessly and his leg only twinge slightly after

Helen removed the soft brace that had been wrapped around the lower

portion of his leg.

Joey had no idea who the clothes belong to, but he guessed someone who had

stayed there before, given they'd been here already. With that thought

another as he suddenly paused. Joey paused realizing that Helen had

mentioned only girls staying here before him. She couldn't be thinking of

girl's clothes Joey mused with more than a little discomfort.

"I'm off," Carol said as she walked past Helen and Joey in Helen's arms.

Another moment to cause Joey another blush since he was naked in Helen's

arms.

"You going to be home for lunch," Helen asked.

"Yes, actually. I think there are two more boxes of Cindy's things to go

through. In fact I'm sure of it because there were at least four pair of

shortalls besides those yellow ones," Carol said.

"Great, I'll wait then before starting lunch. I'm going to plant John in

the garden this morning then get his school stuff in the works," Helen

said laughing as Joey rested comfortably in her massive arms.

"See you two at lunch then," Carol said as she grabbed her purse and car

keys from the small ornate bench in the hallway. Helen nodded, bending

slightly to kiss Carol before walking with Joey to his bath. There was

water already in the tub and bubbles still.

"Cindy's clothes," Joey asked.

"I don't think Carol realized she'd even said that. Honey, Cindy is

someone Carol knew and about your size, but she has some clothes that

don't look too girlish that you can wear for now. We're not going anywhere

and it beats sitting around in just a diaper and plastic pants, right,"

Helen said.

"What are shortalls," Joey asked trying to figure out if those were meant

for both girls and boys. He wasn't familiar with the term.

Helen lowered Joey into the tub slowly with the water feeling hot at first

then warm as his body got use to it as she said. "Kind of like bib

overalls that are short, hence shortalls. Like farmer's bib overalls more

or less. Carol found some boxes of clothes she kept that should fit you.

At least some of them."

"Oh," Joey said trying to imagine those shortalls and feeling relieved

that they were overalls at least. Not long pants but not too girlish

either before he noted them hanging on the door. Joey was looking at a

bright yellow pair of overalls before he saw the yellow tee-shirt and

sandals.

"Girl's clothes," Joey said.

"Boy/girl clothes actually. Carol's partner Cindy, was a girl, yes, but

shortalls are not too gender specific and until you can hobble around on

your own those are going to be easier to get you in and out of. The legs

snap closed so they'll go over your head," Helen said handing Joey the

Johnson's Baby Bath Gel, Baby shampoo and a soft white wash clothe.

"Snaps," Joey asked.

"Snaps around the inside of the legs. Going to make it so much easier when

I change you," Helen said as she stood and added, "now, are you OK for

your bath or would you like me to wash you?"

"I can managed most of this I think. I might not get my left foot," Joey

said smiling.

"I'll get that foot when you're almost done and ready to get out. You stay

sitting on your bottom till I come in, OK," Helen said, laughing suddenly

and adding, "last thing I need to do is explain to Social Services how you

broke a leg or arm just taking a bath."

"I can do that," Joey said.

"Then go ahead and get clean and I'll start the bacon and potatoes. I'll

cook your eggs when I've gotten you dressed," Helen said.

"OK," Joey said as Helen left the bathroom.

'Toddler clothes," Joey mused as he took up the sweet baby powder smelling

baby bath gel. It filled the room with a baby powder scent far stronger

than before with just the bubble bath and Joey saw that on the sink. He'd

remembered where he'd seen that style of clothes before and it was on

toddlers.

The smell of bacon filled the hallway and his room when Helen carried him

to the crib again after drying him. Helen had drained the tub after asking

if he was done which was after he said yes. He was dried after the water

drained fully. Helen lifted him with the large pink towel draping her arms

to catch the last of the water around his bottom.

She laid him over the diaper before returning to the bathroom for those

shortalls, tee-shirt and sandals. Joey fingered the diaper happily before

Helen returned and the ritual began again with his baby powder. He smelled

so much like a baby laying there and felt so comfortable after his bath as

Helen turned his loins nearly pure white with baby powder before tugging

his diaper between his legs.

Those shortalls were draped over the end of the crib and Joey saw the

small round daises sewn onto the pocket. Perhaps not exactly what a boy

might wear, he mused. Definitely not a boy his age he also decided, but

Helen was pinning him into his diaper and over that would go his baby

pants and he was mesmerized by how wonderful it felt being babied right

then.

"John, do you like to read," Helen asked as she deftly diapered him as

easily as she would a baby and as casually as if she'd been doing this to

him for ages.

"Yes," Joey said feeling the softness of the diaper once again and that

deep sense of comfort it gave him.

"We've got a ton of books in the library. I've got a wheel chair I'll

plant you in and you can search through them while I clean the kitchen

after breakfast. The patio is designed for wheel chairs and it's a nice

way to spend a day. In a few days, or when the doctor says it's OK, we'll

let you exercise that leg of yours," Helen said.

"OK, Joey answered as he watched Helen take up the baby pants, gather them

before working them over his feet and along his legs. This time he lifted

himself easily knowing when as the baby pants reached his diaper. His baby

pants were more puffy without the soaker from last night but it was still

just as clear he was in a baby's diaper when those soft plastic panties

went in place.

The bright yellow tee-shirt followed after Joey sat and he wasn't sure if

it was a girl's tee or boys decided it was a girls but could be for both.

It matched perfectly those shortalls and the only small bit of mental

discomfort was when Helen undid the snaps that circled the inseam. It went

over his head as a dress might before he laid back down so Helen could tug

it on and buttoned it closed.

"Sorry about the little flowers on these, I hadn't noticed them till now,"

Helen said as she tugged the pants legs so she could close the snaps

around the crouch. Each snap making Joey feel odd as it reached his ears.

The sandals could be for a boy or girl and he wondered about those as

Helen slipped each over his foot. They fit, which seemed remarkable.

"What does Carol do," Joey asked trying to change the subject of those

daises decorating the pocket, as Helen went about closing John's shoes.

Helen was amazed at how well the clothes fit him and that now included the

shoes she was sure would most likely be too small given who they belonged

to before John.

"She's a seamstress. Quite good actually, makes costume and custom dresses

as a matter of fact. Dresses, toddler clothes as well and, in fact, these

shortalls," Helen said as she sat Joey's last foot back down on the cribs

mattress before adding, "so, John you hungry,"

"Yes," Joey said as Helen slipped her arms under him once again. His hair

was brushed back and Helen had used a rubber band to hold it into it's

usual ponytail but it could very easily have been a yellow bow and why

Joey thought that made him smile again. No that wasn't true, he knew why

given that he looked like a toddler in his mother's arms and felt like it

as well. Something struck a cord given that the clothes he wore also once

belonged to a girl. Wasn't a bad cord that was struck either.

BetBots · « **Reply #8 on:** February 11, 2006, 09:45:21 PM »

runaway 9runaway 9

Username: marybethsanford, Sep/24/2005 02:13:31 [-04]

This time Helen slipped him from the kitchen chair into a small,

lightweight wheel chair then eased him to the table again. It was meant

for a child with the advantage of not taking up too much space Joey noted.

He ate ravenously but carefully as Helen shared her portion of breakfast.

He felt so secure, so wonderful and so silly given his outfit.

Helen and he made small talk about the books he liked or might like, and

how much time he'd spend doing school work as they finished their

breakfast. Helen was, in her words, a stay at home mom, explaining how

she'd started with her sister, then moving on to other children with

special needs. Her sister was with another sister a year older than Helen.

It was a beautiful place and the patio clearly tended with huge amounts of

love as Helen adjusted a garden hose so Joey could softly water the plants

along his pathway. That pathway was a foot wider than his chair and smooth

allowing him to move easily along it. Joey had picked a book to read and

there was juice on the patio table in both a glass and picture as Helen

left him to himself.

"So how did he do with the clothes," Carol asked after Helen dialed their

business.

"Like he's worn them before," Helen said, then paused when she realized

what she'd just said, causing her to add, "that was Freudian wasn't it? I

didn't mean it to sound that way."

"Too late! They fit perfectly didn't they? You're having second thoughts

about that part of this aren't you," Carol asked. Her meaning about Cindy

coming back as John or as part of John was clear.

"Those shoes fit him perfectly. The whole outfit fits him like you made it

for him and he didn't bat an eye over the appliqued daises on the pocket.

I'm not sure I can belive it's your Cindy or that she was reincarnated,

but I can say this at least, it's odd. Very odd indeed," Helen noted.

"Gee, it's beginning to sound like I might be able to convert you," Carol

said laughing.

"It's not me you've got to convince, it's the boy. How's he going to feel

when you tell him that the girl you knew is inside of him and wants to

come out," Helen said laughing over the terms and definitions. She was

actually talking about a transsexual as she said it. They both know a

couple of transsexuals and more than their share of Drag Queens.

"Well, without scaring you too much, and if it's true that Cindy's Karma

is now part of John's, then his coming out as it were would be fairly

easy. Could even be automatically," Carol said snickering as she added,

"we could try leaving out a few pretty things for him to consider."

"Not likely. Anyway, he's adorable in that yellow outfit," Helen said.

"How's he doing," Carol asked.

"He's fine. On the patio with a book. I put him in charge of watering this

morning," Helen said happily as she looked at the clock. John had been on

the patio for an hour. Given that amount of time he was most likely wet as

she added, "in fact, I'm going to go see if he needs changing."

"OK, see you at lunch time then," Carol said giving Helen a kissing sound

before hanging up.

"John," Helen said sliding the glass door open.

"Hi, watering is done," Joey said with a smile.

"Great and speaking of which, how are you doing," Helen asked.

Joey's face flushed.

"Thought so! Come one and lets get you changed and then we can figure out

which lesson guide to start with," Helen said coming up to Joey's chair

and stepping behind it to push him into the house.

Helen was right about the ease of changing a diaper with pants that

unsnapped around the legs as she did so. Before long she had his pants

open and was once again tugging his diaper and plastic pants down and off.

Two more baby wipes and a generous amount of baby powder took a couple of

minutes more before Joey felt the tug of a soft clean diaper between his

legs again. Joey couldn't help himself believing he could do this forever

as Helen expertly pinned his diaper snug around him. Helen could do this

forever she also mused as she gathered another pair of baby pants in her

hands.

"There, that should hold you for a couple of hours or at least till

lunch," Helen said snapping the last snap under Joey's plastic panties.

'An hour,' Joey mused as he was lifted and put back into his wheel chair.

They started with seventh grade math, history and a few chapters of

science with Joey sitting at the living room table while Helen went about

her house work. Joey got a fifteen minute recess which he happily took on

the patio after he was changed again just past that hour.

Joey was changed again at lunch time and once more for his afternoon

recess completing all of the lesson guide recommendations by three that

afternoon. Carol had come home to share lunch with Joey and Helen holding

her comments when she sew Joey in Cindy's clothes. He could so easily be

Cindy with so little effort Carol decided.

"Just a bow," Cindy said kissing Helen before she left the house for the

second half of her day.

"Never mind that," Helen said softly.

Their routine went on like that for another six days till the doctor, in

his follow-up exam said Joey needed to start walking on his leg. Joey did,

beginning with an hour, and adding fifteen minutes worth of gardening each

day. They never did shop for Joey in that time using some of the basic

things Cindy had once worn including the six pair of shortalls. Joey only

wore the lavender pair because Helen hadn't washed yet.

That last was an experiment of sorts testing how Joey might feel about

something a bit more feminine looking. That had been Carol's pleading with

Helen for the sake of her arguments that it was Cindy sharing that life.

They didn't dare try that with the pink pair but the lavender pair with

it's matching tee-shirt was more than enough proof for Carol.

Rose Partridge of Social Services thought she was looking at a girl when

she saw Joey in the backyard weeding one of the flower beds. Joey had

taken over the chore of the garden which to Joey wasn't much of a chore.

It was the cloth diapers Helen had noted as the reason John was in those

shortalls. Rose, already aware of John's incontinence, ignored what Joey

was wearing with an understanding nod.

"He's working at a ninth grade level," Helen said to Rose who jotted that

bit of information in her notebook for later inclusion into John Dough's

file.

"That is a very happy boy out there," Rose told Helen before leaving and

right after hugging John. Rose, noting the doctor's report on Joey's

injuries, was also a positive in Rose's report, but the doctor could not

explain Joey's continuing amnesia. They were going to have to consider a

psychologist at some point Rose noted.

Meanwhile, Joey's uncle was furious with the police and their inability to

track down and jail that little bastard for taking his hundred dollars.

Had it not been for the money, Joey's uncle would have happily ignore

Joey's disappearance, except no one stole from him and got away with it.

That hundred dollars was not high on Sergeant Whittier's list of issues

even before he actually met that man. The man was a slob, crass and easily

disliked by Whittier after his interview at the house. If there was any

reason to keep the case open it was that small photo of Joey that his

uncle had and now two or three years older. The issue, for Sergeant

Whittier, was some similarity to a poster he'd just seen if he could

remember where he'd seen it.

Detective Beckman, Juvenile Division, had just taken a bite out of his

sandwich when his phone rang. There was a muffled hello when Sergeant

Whittier got an answer. They exchanged pleasantries, compared notes,

deciding that the boy known as John Dough was most likely not this kid

that Whittier was looking for.

This man's nephew was sixteen going on seventeen and John Dough was eleven

or thereabouts. What changed things a little was the picture that Whittier

sent over his computer to Beckman. It was an old photo but the hair on

this boy was as long as it was on John Doe. There was also that feminine

look that could be connected if not similar to John.

However, it was worth a few minutes follow-up, said Beckman, who promised

the Sergeant who slipped his own folder at the top of his pending file.

The crime itself was a misdemeanor at best, but finding a missing boy and

connecting him with family was always a priority. Beckman jotted down a

note to call Rose Partridge of Social Services. His plan before that call

was to get a picture of this John Dough and email it to Sergeant Whittier

so he could show it to that man filing the complaint and missing person's

report.

Rose in turn called Helen who didn't see any reason why not when Rose

explained what was going on. Clearly John wasn't that boy, but like most

of those already involved, she knew there was a family possibly in agony

over a child missing. What shook Helen though was John's reaction when

Helen mentioned what Rose wanted to do regarding that picture.

BetBots · « **Reply #9 on:** February 11, 2006, 09:46:38 PM »

runaway 10runaway 10
Username: marybethsanford, Sep/25/2005 05:42:39 [-04]

Helen and John had been together for nearly four weeks now and both had
easily bonded to each other by that time. Even Carol liked John for John's
sake, but she also adored him those similarities with Cindy. Helen knew
John was upset and said at much to Cindy who was as confused as Helen was
that evening after John went to bed. "He's eleven, the missing boy is
sixteen." Carol noted.

However, the fact that John had also been so afraid of getting hypnotized
added another piece to the puzzle but both women were more concerned over
John than any mystery surrounding him. They decided that Helen would ask
John point blank that following morning if he was, in fact, that boy.

Joey cried softly for nearly as hour after going to bed. His uncle had
found him or was about to and worse, this was all about to end. Joey had
only one choice and it was painful but he had to get out of there, or go
back to his uncle.

The decision to run left him devastated, but he had no choice. It was
nearly three in the morning when John stepped into his undershorts. It
would be his first time without diapers in over a month and he would miss
those, he mused, as he tugged his jeans on.

Helen wasn't sure what woke her, but she knew it was something as she took
up her robe to investigate. Check John first, she decided, walking softly
down the hallway to John's room. They both had their hand on the door knob
when Helen started to turn the knob.

It seemed odd seeing John in boy's clothes or in something other than his
shortalls and in the moonlight he appeared older suddenly. Older, odd and
out of place giving Helen a hint that John wasn't really John but possibly
this boy Joey. It was clear John was sneaking out and Helen felt a deep
sadness over that.

"John, what are you doing," Helen asked standing there in the doorway
looking at John who was as surprised as Helen was in those seconds.

"I'm sorry, I really am, but it's not John, OK! Damn it, it's Joe, Joey.
I'm the boy that man is looking for and I'm not going back," John or
rather Joey now said as tears welled up in his eyes. There were a few
short sobs before Joey could gain enough composure to say, "I'm really
going to miss you and Cindy."

Helen took Joey into her ample arms. There was nothing to be said, no
questions to be asked in those seconds. Just a child hurting in Helen's
mind and that was what she reacted to in that instant.

"What's going on," Carol asked coming out into the hall as she was tying
her robe closed. She'd heard the voices.

"Some of the mysteries have been solved," Helen said softly twisting her
head to talk to Carol, but holding tightly to Joey who was still sobbing
quietly.

"I'll put on the water for tea," Carol said walking off to give John and
Helen those moments.

"John... I mean Joey, can we talk about this before you take off again,"
Helen asked softly.

"Nothing much to say. I lied, and now it's over," Joey said.

"I don't care about that. What I care about is the why, so let's spend
some time over tea talking about that part," Helen said and added, "you've
got time if you still need to leave after we talk."

"OK, but I can't stay. I've got to be on the road before my uncle finds
out I'm here," Joey said.

"One cup," Helen promised and added, "and I can make you something to take
with you. She lied about letting him go, but that wasn't the issue at the
moment.

It was heart wrenching for Helen listening to Joey's story. His parents
taken by rebels in Bolivia and presumed dead. A uncle she rightly began to
believe was a deadbeat and a boy just this side of adult with no where to
go. Joey wasn't a minor though and that misdemeanor charge, while slight,
would put him into the legal system. Especially with an uncle hell bent on
pressing charges.

"Joey isn't a minor, but almost," Helen said out loud and suddenly
smiling. It was clear she was excited.

"What," Carol asked looking from Helen to Joey with Joey now as confused
as Carol.

"OK, hear me out for a second. Joey is more or less a minor under the law
still, but.. But, because of his true age, he's clearly old enough to be
emancipated," Rose said.

"Emancipated," Carol asked. Even Joey sat up slightly.

"Emancipation! OK, let me explain, emancipation is a legal process by
which minors can attain legal adulthood before actually reaching the age
at which they would normally be considered adults.
In Joey's case, emancipation would give him a legal status, and some of
his independence. The real advantage, in this case... in Joey's case that
is, is releasing him from any parental control imposed by his uncle.

"I can do that," Joey asked suddenly excited.

"Absolutely, I've seen it done twice now so I know that can happen. We can
make our own case with Rose Partridge about keeping Joey here till we can
get him in front of a judge. Rose will help us, and of that I'm certain,"
Helen said.

"Really," Joey said a second before Carol echoed that same thought.

"Really! More importantly it allows you to chose where you live which
means here even. No legal system or major issues in that case, just
decisions," Helen said.

"I could," Joey said shocked and more than a little happy suddenly.

"No, it's not could I live here honey! You will live here! I'm insisting
on it," Helen said.

"But he's got criminal charges facing him. That's what started this whole
thing in the first place," Carol said and added, "so if he's here,
emancipated or not, he's still facing that."

"Yes he is, but what do you want to bet that the District Attorney's
office, and I would wager the police department, would love to see those
nitty little charges go away," Helen said.

"Can it go away," Joey asked.

"Of course it can! Look, it's a misdemeanor charges at best. A hundred
dollars? Come on, I'll give your uncle two hundred to drop the charges and
if he's the man you says he is he'll be glad not to get you back. He
should take that two hundred dollars without batting an eye," Helen said.

"But before that, there is still the legal side of this. I mean what if
the police find Joey before all of the other parts can be taken care of.
And what if they push this fraud he's perpetrating? How we going to do any
of this if he's arrested or taken into custody. He's still a ward of his
uncle," Carol said sounding worried.

"There is no fraud. We could simply say that his amnesia has gone away. In
fact, it went away this very night. You're cured," Rose said.

"I'm cured," Joey asked.

"You just began to remember right now so that takes care of the social
system and any fraud," Rose said.

"Rose, that's excellent, but he's still facing that petty theft," Carol
said.

"I've been thinking about that. Joey, you've got to run away for a few
days," Helen said.
"Run away! Helen, do you know what you're saying," Carol said shocked. The
comment had surprised Joey as well.

"Yes I know what I'm saying and the thing is, Joey is going to run away!
Tonight in fact! We'll report it within the hour to Detective Beckman of
juvenile division and then I'll call Rose Partridge of Social Services,"
Helen said and then laughed.

"What," Carol asked looking at Helen as if she'd flipped her lid.

"You two are simply going to have to trust me for a few more minutes. I'm
planning this as I go here so give me a moment," Helen said before adding,
Carol, how would you like it if Cindy visited for a while," Helen asked.

"WHAT," Carol said shocked at what Helen had just said.

"She was eighteen wasn't she," Helen asked.

"No! I mean yes she was eighteen but that was when I met her. We were
together for three years. She was twenty one when she died," Carol said
confused, but knowing enough that Helen was up to something and it was
most likely going to be a good thing.

"And you've got her doc-uments like birth certificate, drivers license,
student body card, stuff like that still," Helen asked.

"Somewhere? Yes, I've got all of her papers," Carol said still confused
over what it was Helen was planning till she began to realize why Helen
was asking about Cindy's papers. There was a long pause and a range of
emotions crossing Carol's face that ended suddenly in a laugh as she said,
"Oh Helen! Cindy would love it!"

"What," Joey asked still unclear what it was Helen had said, what she was
saying or why Carol was laughing.

BetBots · « **Reply #10 on:** February 11, 2006, 09:47:43 PM »

runaway 11runaway 11

Username: marybethsanford, Sep/26/2005 05:41:23 [-04]

"Give me a few more minutes Joey," Helen said and then added, "we've got

to scan in those doc-uments and get some paper, make some changes and poof!

Joey is Cindy."

"OK," Joey said but slightly hesitant suddenly. Poof, Joey is Cindy, was

what caught his attention.

"OK, I think I've got most of this figured out. So Joey runs away tonight

right?" Helen asked of Joey.

"OK," Joey said.

"And when Joey runs away and after we contact the police we also contact a

really great attorney who can get the ball rolling on your theft, this

so-called fraud and your emancipation. That's going to take a few days,

maybe a week. Meanwhile, tomorrow... or rather later on today, I get in

touch with this uncle of yours and try and get him off your back," Helen

said and added, "OK so far?"

"OK so far... I think," Joey said trying to understand how his running

away was going to help and the connection to being Cindy.

"Now that you're gone and out the grasp of the police we start working on

the issues at hand," Helen said and added, "You guys with me so far?"

"I am, I think" Carol said.

"I'm not," Joey said.

"That's because you're worried about this running away part. I'll explain

that this way... So you've run away, but even so you are still going to

need a place to live, right," Helen asked.

"Yes," Joey said.

"Since you'll need a place, what better place than here! Here with Carol

and I," Helen said and added, "are you with me so far?"

"No," Joey said and added, "if I've run away, how do I stay here?"

"Cindy is the key," Helen said making Joey feel even dumber suddenly since

her tone suggested he already know where this was heading.

"Honey, don't you get it? You stay here as Cindy! You become Cindy for the

next few days or so. It's brilliant," Carol said and added, "you're hiding

in plain site."

"Cindy? I'm Cindy," Joey asked suddenly realizing what Helen was trying to

say.

"You're Cindy complete with some kind of identification even. We've got to

have something with a picture but no date. All we do is change the dates.

No on is going to look at that stuff too closely and I can do a pretty

good forgery on the computer or I think I can," Helen said turning to

Carol.

"Drivers license, no, that's laminated.... Wait, I've got her student ID.

That has a picture but no date," Carol said and then added, "We could get

paper to maybe match her birth certificate... This could work."

"Know where it is," Helen asked.

"Yes," Carol said excitedly getting up as she added, "I just found the box

when I was looking for some more of Cindy's clothes."

"So I'd be dressing as Cindy," Joey asked slightly blushed and more than a

little nervous.

"Yes, but honestly, we don't have to do too much for that to happen,"

Helen said.

"What's that mean," Joey asked.

"Joey, the thing is, you've more or less been dressing as Cindy anyway. I

mean it's been her shortalls up to now, her shoes even. All we've really

got to do is continue wearing those, maybe shifting slightly to the pink

and flowery stuff, add a bow, perhaps a temporary perm and, of course,

just a little makeup," Helen said.

"Right. I hadn't thought about that," Joey said growing happier by the

minute. Everything was working out. Everything except that one thing...

those things.... and he would miss terribly his diaper and even more his

diapering.

"Just one more thing," Helen said but in a tone slightly softer, quieter,

making her sound less sure suddenly. She was so cleaver, she mused, after

noting the sadness in Joey's eyes.

"What," Joey asked.

"Honey, Cindy was incontinent. What I mean to say is how do you feel about

continuing, just for awhile at least, that diaper part. It would be

temporary obviously, but I think, for this to work, we should keep up with

the whole disguise," Helen said keeping her fingers cross mentally.

"Besides giving him a cute little butt," Carol noted.

Joey almost jumped up and hugged Helen, but held himself in check as he

fought that impulse to sit there looking serious while pretending he was

thinking about it. After a moments thought he said, "so you think that

would be best then?"

"Absolutely, the closer you are to Cindy, figuratively that is, the better

our chances of pulling this off," Helen said.

"Then I guess we should do that," Joey said with a face he was sure was

giving him away.

"Great. So, we've got a little work cut out for us. Tell you what, let's

go get you changed and ready for bed again. I'm not ready to get up yet.

Meanwhile we'll make sure we've got that ID card Carol's going to be

looking for and get this ball rolling," Helen said.

"What did I do," Carol said catching the last part of the conversation

while coming into the kitchen with a hand full of papers as she added,

"Student ID, pictures of me and her, birth certificate and a library card.

Even found her old wallet and purse. Oh, and if we need the additional

clothes, I found a box of her Summer stuff."

"Great. I was just telling Joey, and he agrees, that we should keep this

disguise pretty accurate so we're going to continue pretending he's

incontinent," Helen said.

"Excellent idea," Carol said feeling suddenly mischievous given that no

one actually knew Cindy since she'd been gone nearly sixteen years now.

Helen was doing this for John's sake and perhaps even for Carol's sake,

she mused, as she laid the pink leather wallet, purse and papers on the

table.

"Perfect. I was just going to get Joey here ready for bed again, then we

can make those calls," Helen said as she added, "we're going to need bed

clothes. This time, something of Cindy's."

"Her sleepers. Sleeper, robe and slippers for now," Carol said.

Joey blushed crimson at the thought of what those sleepers might look like

and thrilled over the fact he was going right back into diapers.

"Ready," Helen said standing.

"Yes," Joey said standing as well.

"You OK with this," Helen asked.

"Yes," Joey said and meant it. He was more than OK with this.

"I'll be right back," Carol said. She was sure some of this was Helen

wanting to help her decide if Cindy or her Karma were here as it were.

Carol was positive it was but knew, deeper still, that it could simply be

her wishful thinking. The thing was though she was gathering up Cindy's

baby clothes and with it another set of coincidences to add to a growing

list.

Carol almost decided on the baby doll night dress and ruffled lace panties

but knew it would be too much for Joey. It had always been Cindy's

favorites those baby sleep dresses. So too the pink baby blanket soft

sleepers she now held. If this was working, if Cindy was part of Joey,

she'd be just as happy in these, Carol decided, and these would be less

scary than a frilly night dress for Joey.

Joey meanwhile was back in his bedroom or the room he considered his after

these past few weeks and the most happy he'd been since arriving. Helen

now knew the truth and from Joey's point of view this was even better

because it was him now and no longer him having to hide.

"Same as before," Helen said helping Joey up on the changing table with

the last of his clothes off.

"Same as before," Joey asked.

"We'll go with the soaker again for night time," Helen said and added,

"gives you a little more 'puff' in case we get visitors once I start

making those calls."

"Oh, right. Makes sense," Joey said thrilled as he lifted his hips for the

diaper and soaker.

"Found them," Carol said coming into the room with the pink footed

sleeper.

BetBots · « **Reply #11 on:** February 11, 2006, 09:48:29 PM »

runaway 12runaway 12

Username: marybethsanford, Sep/27/2005 06:35:26 [-04]

Joey looked at the pink first, the footed bottom and then at the pastel

teddy bears sewn on as an applique that would sit over the heart. It

zippered from the left leg near the ankle all the way to the neck he noted

as Helen started sprinkling baby powder over him.

"I'm going to get him ready for bed the same way Cindy slept, then, after

I get some sleep, we can make the calls," Helen said.

"Good idea. You know, I was wondering if Rose might remember that Cindy...

No, that might be too much," Carol said.

"What," Helen asked tugging Joey's diaper between his legs and fussing

with the massive amount of material that now gathered there.

"Do you think Rose would remember the bottles," Carol asked.

"Bottles... Oh, the baby bottles? Honestly, I'm not sure. Wait, we're not

going to have to go that far if I tell Rose what we are doing," Helen said

but added, "although, why take chances. We can at least fill one half way

and leave it with Joey in the crib. That way it's there to be seen.

Another prop as it were."

Helen knew Rose didn't know Cindy and Helen knew what Carol was

suggesting. If Cindy liked taking a baby's bottle to bed and if Cindy was

part of Joey, he might like a bottle as well. Helen didn't see this as

harmful and she too was now growing curious. Way too many coincidences.

"Excellent idea. I'll go find one of her bottles and get it filled," Carol

said turning as Helen was pinning Joey's diaper closed.

"A baby's bottle," Joey asked slightly taken back by the fact he'd be

nursing a baby's bottle when Helen mentioned it.

"Honey, Cindy was slightly handicapped mentally and something of a baby in

her mind. She took a bottle at night and Rose, from Social Services, knows

that. It's just a prop actually," Helen said.

"Oh, OK," Joey said.

"You don't actually have to use it honey, just keep it with you. This is

all going to be about perception and a hint of something becomes a fact if

it's in context," Helen said as she turned for the dresser and Joey's baby

panties. This time Helen was going to use one of the pink pair instead of

the white.

If this was going to work, this part about Cindy being here or part of

him, whatever part that was, then Helen was going to give Carol the

benefit of the doubt and take this as far as she could. It certainly

wasn't going to bother Joey wearing his diapers and baby pants and this

slight shift towards the feminine really was only slight.

"I think we should use one of the pink pair this time," Helen said walking

over to Joey with a soft pastel pink pair of baby pants.

Joey felt slightly dizzy already over the thrill of being put back into

his diapers and a wave of giddiness swept over him when he saw the baby

pink panties.

"Makes sense I guess," Joey said in what he hoped was a noncommittal

sounding voice.

"Thought so too," Helen said working the panties into a gather before she

slipped them over his feet. The soft pastel pink was delightfully cute

Joey mused as he watched them coming closer to the large mound of white he

also delighted in seeing once again. He was now glad his diaper pins were

pink already.

They fit was well as the white pairs had. That also meant that the ruffled

pairs would fit, Helen mused to herself, as she ran a finger around the

waist elastic of Joey's panties. A second later she was easing the footed

sleepers on Joey now standing by the changing table. Like all of Cindy's

clothes so far these fit Joey perfectly as Helen took up the zipper from

near the ankle.

"I've been thinking," Helen said as she brought the zipper to Joey's neck.

"What," Joey said feeling the soft baby blanket material cuddling him.

"We're not going to call tonight, we're going to make these calls in the

morning," Helen said.

"Why," Joey asked.

"Why what," Carol added as she came into the bedroom. Obviously that baby

bottle had been close at hand because she wasn't gone very long. It too

was pink with tiny baby animals in pastels decorating it. What captured

Joey's attention was that soft nipple and what it might feel like nursing.

Carol fought with herself over the shock of seeing Joey in that footed

sleeper now looking almost identical to Cindy. It was simply too amazingly

coincidental all of this.

"I was just telling Cindy... Joey that is, that we should wait till

morning for those calls. It's just a few more hours and if we wait till

then we've got better odds of reaching everyone. In fact, what I think we

should do is have you go to work, taking Cindy... darn it, take Joey with

you and then I make those calls," Helen said as Cindy handed Joey his baby

bottle. It was cool to the touch and filled with milk from the

refrigerator.

Joey hadn't missed the reference to him being Cindy but the thing was he

felt feminine or at least odd and it wasn't bad or as odd wearing pinks

and holding that baby bottle. Being called Cindy made sense in a way but

more than that, it made Joey feel... he was looking for a word then

blushed when he thought of the word 'cute'.

"Great idea. We'll be gone when you make those calls. Out of sight, out of

mind," Carol said watching Joey with his baby bottle looking now for a

spark of Cindy in his actions. Carol didn't miss that slight touch of his

thumb on the baby bottle nipple.

"It will give us a chance to calm down and give me a little more time to

think on this plan of ours," Helen said as she moved to the crib to give

Joey a hand getting in. His leg was nearly healed or enough that he was

walking on it fully now. He missed being carried though but even so, Helen

tucked him in and did so again. Same baby blanket but it now matched the

color of his sleeper. Joey felt awkward holding the baby's bottle but he

didn't dare nurse it with the two women in his room.

"Try and get some sleep," Helen said moving a finger over Joey's forehead.

Joey nodded fearful of saying anything. Joey was overwhelmed with emotions

most of which made him feel wonderful, safe, secure and so very silly

laying there in a pink sleeper and baby pants over a diaper with all of

it, except for his diaper, clearly meant for a girl. Helen's idea was

sound, he couldn't argue with the logic of it, but the logic of it only

carried him so far.

"I can't believe you talked him into dressing as a girl," Carol said to

Helen as they got ready for bed.

"OK, so I've pushed this a little. The thing is it's a good plan and then

I got to thinking that what if you are right? I mean what if we do

continue on in some fashion? I may have trouble believing it but I really

can't deny all of these coincidences. Just too many," Helen said.

"I know, it's making me nervous suddenly," Carol said.

I know that too. So then I got to thinking of Joey and how happy he's been

so far. Some of it those diapers and his diapering. Trouble is there was

no reason now for his diapers and clearly those were important to him.

Very important to him and to me as well. So, then I got to thinking that

if he dressed as Cindy and if Cindy was incontinent then Joey, by

pretending to be Cindy, could also pretend to be incontinent once again,"

Helen said.

"You realize of course that even with a little makeup and a bow, even a

dress, isn't going to hide him from the people that know he's here," Carol

said excitedly.

"Of course, but I wasn't intending to hide him," Helen said.

"But you said that was why he was going to dress as Cindy and run away,"

Carol said getting a little confused.

"I know. The thing is him dressing as a girl complicates things for the

system and for his uncle," Helen said.

"I don't follow you," Carol said.

"OK, look at this way... My intent, by dressing him as Cindy, is to

convince those people who know he is here that he'd rather be a girl,"

Helen said smiling.

"OK, you've lost me again," Carol said as she began getting ready for bed.

BetBots · « **Reply #12 on:** February 11, 2006, 09:49:16 PM »

runaway 13runaway 13
Username: marybethsanford, Sep/29/2005 01:18:01 [-04]

"It's his emancipation that I'm worried about," Helen said as she too
began taking her clothes off.

"How so," Carol asked.

"Emancipation of a teenager, under the laws of this state, can only be
granted under stringent guidelines, none of which would support Joey's
attempts. Joey's uncle, while a low life, isn't really abusive so that
argument, if we tried to make it, would fail," Helen said.

"OK, so I've got that part now. So he can't be emancipated then," Carol
said sounding disappointed.

"But he can! OK here's the thing, the second most sound reason for
emancipation and the most often used would be for medical or mental
reasons. It has already been determined, and this by Joey himself that
he's incontinent or pretending to be. Rose knows that. She's also going to
know he's been faking his amnesia but I think she will go along with this.
While that isn't a strong enough case as medical reasons it's something,"
Helen said.

"OK," Carol said.

"What I do know, and this from past experiences, is that gender issues are
or can be considered reason enough for a near adult to partition for a
court ordered emancipation. More specifically those who are transsexuals
or thought to be. I believe it can be. I mean if Joey was perceived to be
a transsexual then I think we've got a case for his sake," Helen said.

"Helen, that makes sense, it really does, but Joey's a boy and no boy is
going to run around like a girl for the rest of his life just for the sake
of being emancipated," Carol said.

"It's not for the rest of his life. It's not even for a good portion of
it. In fact, it's only going to be for a couple of weeks, a few at most.
It's only going to be for as long as this legal process takes place. Look,
it's the perception that Joey wants to become female that we're looking at
here, not a reality. All we've got to do is help Joey convince a judge
that he would rather be a girl," Helen said.

"And you think Joey will dress as a girl for this," Carol asked.

"Honey, he already is, more or less. Heck, he's wearing those shortalls as
if he's been in them all of his life anyway. The only difference is
putting him into the pink ones," Helen noted and added, "and a couple of
additional hints that he desires to be female.

"And all that takes is him wearing a dress," Carol asked in a skeptical
voice.

"No, it also takes a doctor and, of course, the boy himself saying so
first of all," Helen said.

"And where are we going to find a doctor that is willing to go along with
this," Carol asked.

"Marcy Stern! Marcy is perfect. Marcy is a hypnotherapist but a therapist
first, but more importantly she's a psychologist and it takes a
psychologist to make that determination," Helen said.

"Oh Helen! You are brilliant! Yes, yes she'd do it in a heart beat. She
already is half convinced, no, make that more than half that Joey is Cindy
or that Cindy is Joey anyway. I can't believe this," Carol said moving to
Helen taking her in a warm embrace.

"All we've got to do now is explain this to Joey and get the legal stuff
out of the way. Once we've got that, he's free to be whoever he wants to
be or, if, as you believe, Cindy is part of him, then who she wants to
be," Helen said smiling.

"So he's not going to be running away," Carol asked.

"No, he's going to be in transition," Helen noted.

"OK, so we've got that part worked out, but there is still his uncle,"
Carol said with some amount of despair in her voice.

"Right! So we've got an uncle who, according to Joey, already thinks he's
some kind of sissy because of his size and looks and that's been part of
the problem with their relationship. So what do you think his uncle is
going to do if it turns out that Joey really is some kind of sissy," Helen
asked.

"Drop him like a bad habit I'd guess... I mean I hope," Carol noted.

"Exactly! So I get in touch with him, pay him his money with interest and
tell him that the boy he knows as Joey would rather be a girl known as
Joey," Helen noted and added, "maybe a cute picture of Joey in one of his
new dresses."

"Gosh, I hope this works," Carol said meaning it.

"It should and if it doesn't, then you and I really will help Joey run
away only I'll go with him," Helen said looking very determined.

"You'd run away," Carol asked.

"I would and in a second if I thought we might lose him back to that man,"
Helen said as she added, "truth is Joey has gotten under my skin and I
like him there."

Carol promised to call Marcy first thing and had. Helen also called Rose
Partridge of Social Services first thing that morning. Dr. Stern promised
to have a file developed to cover those weeks that Joey was in the women's
care, and under therapy. Marcy also promised a history of gender issues
with a diagnosis of transsexualism already defined.

Ironically, Rose wasn't surprised to discover that the boy in Helen's care
was slightly tipped towards female having seen the boy. She was also
thrilled to discover that the women would take on the responsibility of
supporting Joey's transition if that was a possible course of action.
There was no additional paper work and Rose liked that as well.

When that was settled Helen told Rose candidly about Joey's fraud and why
he had lied. It was Rose herself who suggested that Joey hold on to the
story that he'd had amnesia because that would take care of the fraud
issues with Social Services. Rose also promised to act as Joey's social
advocate when it came time to partition the court for both his
emancipation and his transition issues. It was all coming together nicely.

Detective Beckman, Juvenile Division, was contacted by Rose on Helen's
behalf and agreed, for the boy's sake to contact Sergeant Whittier,
Juvenile Crimes Division, at South Metro. Rose was hoping to see if they
couldn't drop the charges and get Joey's uncle out of the picture. By the
time Joey woke almost everything that needed to be in place was in place.

"Hey sunshine," Helen said coming into the room after knocking once.

"Hi," Joey said smiling up at Helen as he stretched. The act of stretching
tugged at his pink sleeper drawing it snug around his night time diaper
and those pink baby pants making his smile slightly broader. A second
later, as if caught in a new thought, Joey was frowning and Helen caught
it.

"Hey, what's wrong," Helen asked as she began the ritual of changing Joey
without realizing she no longer needed to.

"I... I guess I forgot and wet," Joey said sheepishly. It was the truth as
odd as it sounded.

"I guess I need to forget we're pretending then as well and put you right
back into diapers again," Helen said looking stern but breaking into a
slight smile as she added, "tell you what, we could simply pretend that
you're getting into your Cindy character more."

Joey's blush grew deeper as he nodded a yes. It was then that Helen noted
the baby's bottle laying next to Joey's pillow and that a third of the
milk was gone. Helen, without making any comment on the missing milk put
the bottle on the dresser as she tugged the drawer open for Joey's day
time diaper.

Joey watched Helen pick up the bottle flushing even deeper as he realized
he'd nursed more milk out of it than he'd planned. Helen had instantly
began tilling Joey about the change in plans and the calls that they'd
made. Joey didn't see that it made much difference in what he was to be
doing given that he'd still be dressing as a girl.

They had decided that it would be better if Joey went to work with Carol
so Helen could get with Detective Beckman and Sergeant Whittier to take
care of Joey's legal issues. That part worried Joey given that he was
still connected to his uncle for now.

Helen promised Joey that if things went sour with his uncle, Joey would be
hidden at Marcy's place immediately and remain there till they could get
in front of a judge. That part made Joey rest a little easier as Helen
tugged the zipper of Joey's sleeper down. It was oddly thrilling to see
those pink baby pants again Joey mused as Helen pulled the waist band down
to undo the pink diaper pins.
Joey laughed then, nervously.

"What," Helen asked.

"I guess we won't be needing to change the diaper pins," Joey said
remembering how he'd felt wearing those pink tipped pins at first.

"We can and, in fact, I will," Helen said smiling mischievously.

"Why," Joey asked suddenly sad to see the pink ones go.

BetBots · « **Reply #13 on:** February 11, 2006, 09:49:58 PM »

runaway 14runaway 14

Username: marybethsanford, Sep/29/2005 18:33:22 [-04]

"Tired of looking at these pink bunnies. Think I'll pin you into your day

time diaper using the pink teddy bear set for a change," Helen said

snickering as she released Joey's wet diaper.

Joey joined in with Helen's laugh as Helen draped his sleeper over the end

of the crib before tugging his wet diaper and baby pants down his legs and

over his feet. He blushed some more given that this was no longer

something he 'had' to have.

"We're going to go with the pinks beginning today if that's still OK,"

Helen said as she fixed Joey's day time diaper under him.

"Anything that keeps me here is more than OK," Joey said smiling as he

held his bottom up so Helen could adjust the diaper.

"That's the spirit," Helen said twisting open the baby powder after a

couple of baby wipes. Joey thought he'd never smell that sweet talc-um ever

again as Helen sprinkled it over him.

She changed his diaper pins as promised using the pink teddy bear set to

pin his diaper on. She smiled warmly at Joey and Joey smiled back as she

pinned his diaper closed. Joey wore his second pair of pink baby pants

almost clear but with a tint of that color as Helen pulled them to his

diaper.

Joey's new short-all was identical to the ones he'd been wearing but of

course now in pink as Helen slipped those over his head. He wore a soft

pastel pink tee-shirt to match, thanks to Carol. Joey lifted again so she

could draw the open legs past his diaper and panties. Four snaps on either

side closed the legs and three between them at the crouch sealed his pants

closed.

Not much of a change except for the colors, Joey mused, till Helen stepped

from the dresser but now with a pair of lacy socks. Girls' socks in white

but laced slightly and edged in a pink ribbon to go with his or rather

Carol's Mary Jane shoes. Those shoes were decidedly girlish and very

definitely a little girl as Helen closed them on Joey's feet.

"There we go honey," Helen said patting his left ankle before helping Joey

stand. In the mirror and looking back a girl, Joey mused, and cute

besides, he thought, with a slight reddening of his face.

Joey's face reddening as it did caused Helen comments when she said, "I

think we'll go lighter on the blush when we do your makeup. I mean if

you're going to be doing that much."

It only made Joey blush more giving Helen a reason to laugh which then

gave Joey another reason to laugh. The laughing continued for a bit, some

of it nervously on Joey's part until Helen hugged him.

"What's that for," Joey asked since it was out of the blue almost.

"Just because," Helen said and then added, "so, are you going to feel

comfortable going to work with Carol? At least till I get some of this

stuff taken care of?"

"No," Joey said and meaning it but knowing, given Helen's plan, that him

being out of the house was less risky of him getting picked up. Getting

picked up looking like he did and wearing what he wore was not something

he wanted to happen.

"Oh oh," Rose said.

"What," Joey asked looking at the mirror.

"Your hair," Rose said moving to the dresser for the brush. Took a second

to part Joey's hair and another to brush the right side into a bundle

before Rose slipped a pink clip over it. She did the same to the other

side adding the second glittered clip and there was no doubt Joey was a

girl suddenly.

"Do you think my uncle will drop the charges," Joey asked.

"Yes," Helen said and then added, "and I'm going to bet he's not going to

contest your emancipation either."

"How do you know that," Joey asked slightly confused.

"I just know it," Helen said taking hold of Joey's hand to walk him into

the living room as she added as picked up her digital camera, "and I need

a picture of you as well."

Carol, in spite of preparing herself for this moment was still shocked at

the likeness between Joey and Cindy. It was that feminine look Joey now

had that made it so remarkable. It was striking and very unnerving as Joey

walked into the kitchen meekly.

"Ready my dear," Carol said as she tried desperately to ignore her

feelings while at the same time not succeeding.

"Did you manage to get in touch with Marcy," Helen asked.

"I did and she is developing a paper trail of visits to cover Joey's case.

She should have everything in the works by this afternoon," Carol said.

"Who's Dr. Marcy," Joey asked.

"Your doctor. She specializes, among many things, in helping young men

become young women," Helen said.

"Excuse me," Joey asked.

"It's how we are going to get you emancipated honey and one of the reasons

your uncle isn't going to want you back," Helen said as she adjusted the

camera before saying, "say cheese."

It had taken an hour to explain to the two policemen what was happening

and another hour to reach Joey's uncle.

"This him," Detective Beckman had said after showing Joey's uncle his

badge and introducing the rest.

"What the hell," Joey's uncle said looking again at Joey's picture as he

added, "I knew it! Damn, he looks just like a girl."

"That's why he ran away, and one of the reasons Rose here wants to pay you

back," Detective Beckman said.

"Or, you can continue to press charges and, since it's a misdemeanor, we

pick him up at this woman's place and return him here till his trial,"

Sergeant Whittier noted.

"Here," Joey's uncle said looking disgusted at the sissy image before him.

There were neighbors, co-workers and just passersby that would see the

same thing he saw as he said, "hell no."

"Sir," Sergeant Whittier asked.

"I said hell no. I don't want him here, not like that," Joey's uncle said.

"Are you dropping the charges," Sergeant Whittier asked.

"Hell yes! So where's my money," Joey's uncle asked.

"Going to get that when you come to court to sign a release," Sergeant

Whittier said.

"Release, court," Joey's uncle said.

"Won't take but a minute and you can see the boy if you want," Sergeant

Whittier said.

"Not me! No way! Keep the damn money and keep that... thing wherever he

is," Joey's uncle said before adding, "and good riddance."

Detective Beckman started the car smiling at Sergeant Whittier as he

closed the door. Rose was slightly confused still holding the money in the

envelope.

"Why didn't you let me give him the money," Rose asked.

"Wasn't worth it. I knew if I told him he'd have to see the boy he'd bolt

and why waste your money on the likes of that," Sergeant Whittier said.

"Thank you," Rose said watching Joey's uncle spit, then wipe his face

before turning back towards the broken screen door.

"Rest of this is up to you," Detective Beckman said as he moved off

towards Rose's place as he added, "both our cases just got closed."

Meanwhile, Joey was learning how to use a sewing machine as Carol lowered

the foot so Joey could add a bit of lace to the hem of an old dress. They

had driven in with Joey's new identity in his purse stopping first for a

donut and coffee before opening the shop. Carol put Joey to work

immediately cutting out a pattern after she showed him how. The were both

nervous waiting to hear from Rose.

No one gave Joey anything other than a smile for most of the morning and

Joey found himself happily smiling back. This was too weird, he mused,

then not he also mused as he stepped on the pedal of the machine to start

feeding the material and lace through. What had his uncle said, he

wondered.

"Hey," Rose said coming into the shop under the tinkling of the bell over

the door. Joey was up in an instant and met Rose with a hug. Carol too

came from around the counter and Rose got another hug before the two stood

quietly, waiting.