Jack sat on the couch, conflicted. On the one hand, he felt very grateful to be back in pants, but on the other, his fat diaper and the snugness of the pajama pants only made the entire affair embarrassing for him, especially since Jessie’s pajamas looked like those of a teenager. She wore a simple white t-shirt and shorts with starfish on them. He could not help but feel that she looked several years older than him, even without the diaper pressing against his fleece pants. At least Jessie had not come down in time to see his pronounced waddle as he had slowly made his way from the nursery to the living room, clinging to his mom’s hand the whole way. He had suspected she had made his diaper thicker and that had proved it.
“Who’s going to pick the movie?” Diane asked. “How about Jack?”
“Cute jammies.” Jessie said as he waddled past her to look at the available movies.
“Jack, thank your sister.”
“Thanks.”
“Aren’t you forgetting something?” He looked back at his mom in confusion. She mouthed a reminder to him.
“How am I supposed to curtsey in this?” Jack asked irritably.
“Like this.” Jessie demonstrated with the hem of her t-shirt. “Your turn, Jackie.” He sighed and mirrored her.
“Thanks for complimenting my pajamas.”
“Do it again without the attitude.” Diane said.
“But mom!”
“Do it again or we’ll go into your nursery and find you something that’s easier to curtsey in.”
“This is ridiculous.” He muttered. “Thank you for complimenting my pajamas.” He said, curtseying about as well as he could with his thick diaper and boyish clothes.
“Much better.” Diane said as Jessie squealed with laughter. “Now pick out a movie for us to watch please.” Jessie’s laughter only grew as she watched her brother slowly make his way over to the bookshelf of movies, leaning heavily on furniture to keep his balance as his legs swung out wide to compensate the ridiculous bulk between his legs. He almost fell over when Jessie asked his mom a question.
“Is his diaper thicker than normal?” Jack’s ears burned. Why did she sound so blasé about it?
“I figured we’re close enough to bed that I should put him in a diaper that’ll last all night.” Noticing Jack’s outraged expression, Diane added “just in case.” Jack just tried his best to ignore them, making his way over to the movies. He felt a bit of relief about being able to just sit down to look at them, although he wondered if he might have some trouble standing back up. Now that his mom had fully confirmed that she had made it thicker, he felt like he could feel every single diaper pressing against him, mocking him with its constant presence.
“I’ll be out of them tomorrow.” He mumbled to himself. He just wished he could convince himself that that was true.
“Oh!” Diane exclaimed, overhearing her son’s mumbles. “That reminds me! Jack used the potty earlier!”
“Congratulations!” Jessie exclaimed. Jack looked over his shoulder at them sitting side by side on the couch while he sat on the floor in his diaper and childish pajamas. How had this happened? It was just a coincidence though. He would just pick out a movie and then stand up and be back on equal footing with his sister.
“Thanks.” He said, pulling on the hem of his shirt in a sort-of curtsey. He hoped that he would not be expected to stand and properly curtsey. His effort seemed to please them, so he returned to finding a movie. When he picked, he crawled the short distance to the television and got it all set up.
“Ravagers?” Jessie moaned. “You’ve seen this movie a million times.”
“It was your brother’s choice, Jessie. Quit whining.”
“It’s so dumb.”
“Shush.” Diane said. “Come join us on the couch, Jack.” Jack used the TV stand to get back onto his feet, but the distance from it to the coffee table proved to be too much and he fell down on his bottom. “Good thing you have that padding!” Diane said as Jessie almost fell over from laughter. “Do you want my help?”
“No.” Jack said, his bruised ego on full display.
“Then just crawl over here. It got you to the television, so just swallow your pride.” It seemed sensible, but Jack was too stubborn to admit it. He pulled himself up with the TV stand again and gave it another shot. He thought that running would help, but he just ended up on the floor again.
“You look ridiculous.” Jessie teased. Jack glared at her.
“Don’t glare at your sister, Jack. Stop laughing at him, Jessie. He needs his diapers.”
“No, I don’t!” Jack yelled. This was all too much for him and his anger broke free. “I don’t need diapers!” The way his mom glared at him made him immediately grateful he had kept from swearing.
“Jacob Anthony! What have I told you about yelling?” Both Jack and Jessie froze as they always did when their mom took this tone. “I have half a mind to keep you in diapers until school starts again this fall! Is that what you want?”
“No.” He said in the smallest voice he had. It seemed to mollify her somewhat.
“I know you’re upset about them, but you’ve made it very clear to me that you need those diapers. It’s tough to get around in them and that’s frustrating, I get that, but you don’t need to take it out on me or your sister.”
“But”
“No buts, Jack. Now, are you going to watch the movie with us or is it bedtime for you?”
“I’ll watch the movie.”
“Then you need to behave. Your diapers are supposed to help you contain your accidents. They are not a free pass to behave like a baby. Understand?”
“Yes.”
“You may watch the movie with us, but I want you to promise to be a good little boy. Can you do that?”
“Yes.” He said with a bit more of an edge to it than he meant to. “I” he tried not to look at his sister. “I promise to be a good little boy.” Diane nodded.
“Thank you. Now crawl over to the couch or the chair or wherever.”
“I don’t want to crawl.”
“I can help you walk.” Jessie was clearly trying to appear helpful, but she had her usual predatory grin.
“No.” Taking his mother’s advice, Jack just swallowed his pride and crawled over to the chair, pulling himself up and into it.
“There. I’ve been saying it all day, Jack, but you better consider yourself on very thin ice by this point.” His mom said, giving him one of her trademark serious looks.
“Why isn’t the movie working?” Jessie asked.
“Oh.” Diane said. None of them had noticed, but the television was showing some strange error. “Incorrect Input?” Diane said. “I’m not sure what that means.” Jack was in no rush to get up and try to fix it himself, diapered as he was, so he remained still while his mom and Jessie tried to remedy the situation. Try as they might, they just could not seem to make the movie play.
“Did you try taking the disc out and putting it in again?” Jack asked from his chair. He wanted to be helpful, to earn back some goodwill.
“Duh!” Jessie said.
“Tone, young lady.” Diane scolded. She smiled gently at her son. “Yes, Jack. We did try that. I don’t think your movie’s going to work though. Jessie, how about you pick out a movie for us to try?” Jack groaned softly, but tried to keep a happy face. His face fell, however, when he saw her grab a bright pink case and put a familiar-looking disc in the player.
“Ponies of Periwinkle Park?” He moaned.
“Pretty Ponies of Periwinkle Park.” Jessie corrected. “Your panties put me in the mood.” She stuck her tongue out at Jack, whose face was now quite red.
“I don’t want to watch this!”
“Jack, get over it. It’s just a movie.” Diane said. “And Jessie, get that smug look off your face.”
“But mom!” The twins said in unison.
“I’m not watching this, mom.”
“Then you can go to bed.” Diane replied.
“I don’t want to do that either.”
“Then watch the movie.”
“This is f****** ridiculous.” Jack muttered darkly.
“What was that?” Diane said, coming right over to his chair and standing over him.
“It slipped out.” Jack said.
“That’s it, mister. Bedroom. Now.” Jack could feel the rage radiating off of her. She did not even give him a chance to stand up. She lifted him off of the chair and set him against her shoulder. He did not even realize she could still carry him! He tried to get free, but she smacked his thigh just below his diaper. “Stop.” She said. “Jessie, I’ll be right back. I’m putting your brother to bed.”