A few days later Todd was being tucked into his cot. His mummy inserted the ear buds in his ears and quickly put the headphones on over. âNnngghhh!â Todd protested through his soother. He presumed that it was to reinforce his baby talk and he pawed at the headphones with his mittens but his mummy quickly pulled his bonnet on over the headphones and tied it under his chin.
The soothing voice was quickly encouraging him to fall asleep. He closed his eyes. Through the headphones he just about heard his mummy say âBye Bye Baby Todd!â For a moment he didnât think about it. He was dropping off to sleep. Then he wondered: bye, bye? What did she mean by that? She usually said ânightie, nightâ.
He forced his eyes open against the sleep that was about to consume him. His mother was attaching a pink sash to the end of his cot. It had the name âBaby Cissyâ on it. Was this tape to turn his mind into that of a baby? Is that why she said âbye, bye Baby Todd.â
He struggled and wriggled in his pink sleeper. He kicked his feet within the fleecy material. He tried to spit out his soother but his bonnet was tied tightly under his chin. The soothing voice on the tape took over and he gradually slipped off to sleep, suc-king rhythmically on his soother. When the special headphones detected his deep sleep pattern, the tape switched to its new recording.
The following morning he woke to see his mummy leaning over the bars of his cot. âHow is Baby Cissy this morning?â she smiled. Todd giggled, kicked his legs and waved his mittens. His mummy lowered the side bars.
âWould Baby Cissy like to wear his prettiest pink baby dress?â She held the frilly, flouncey dress up in front of him. Normally he would cringe but Baby Cissy smiled and giggled again. âAnd your pretty pink tights and frilly nappy cover?â No sign of any resistance. It looked like the tape had done its job.
When he was strapped into his high-chair for his morning bottle of formula she handed him a rattle and large dolly and he shook his rattle with more enthusiasm than usual while clutching his dolly.
âBaby Cissy is going to the crèche today to see all your friends!â He shook his rattle happily. There was no sign of any reluctance to be seen in public and by the ladies and parents at the crèche in his pretty pink baby dress.
She made him stand in front of the hall mirror while strapping him into his harness. She made a point of fluffing out the lace on his nappy cover, clearly visible below his petticoats and there was no sign of any reaction. âWeâre going to walk with Lucy to her school so all of her friends will see you in your pretty pink dress!â Baby Cissy just suc-ked on his soother and giggled, happy that his mummy was happy.
Lucy held open the front door and Baby Cissy waddled out without having to be tugged on his harness. As they approached Lucyâs school and the crowd of children and parents arriving, there was no slowing down.
There was the usual laughter and pointing when the children saw Lucyâs big baby brother in his pink dress, bonnet and tights and his enormously thick nappy. For the first time Baby Cissyâs smile faltered. He looked at his mummy wondering why everyone was laughing. She looked carefully but there was no sign that he was wetting his nappy. âWhat a sissy!â they laughed. He couldnât understand why they found his name so funny.
They went on to the crèche. His mummy hadnât said anything to them but just delivered him into their care as usual. When picking him up they did comment. âHe seems quite happy now. He did a big poop and didnât look remotely embarrassed when we took him off to be changed!â Baby Cissy smiled up at them clearly not understanding the conversation.
âOK weâre going down to the Mall to do some shoppingâ, she told him. He just smiled and giggled again. She held his reins as he waddled happily along to the busy Mall, seemingly unconcerned at the crowds that would gawk at him in his pink baby dress and nappy. There was some hesitation when people laughed particularly obviously but he clearly couldnât comprehend why they were so amused.
Back at home, Lucy looked at him playing happily with his rattles in the play-pen. She was going to miss his obvious humiliation when people saw him in his frilly baby dresses and when he wet or soiled himself in front of them. But overall, she was pleased that he was going to remain her big sissy baby brother while she grew up in front of him. Her friends would love coming over to her house to spoon-feed him or have his nappy changed and they could choose his dress and bonnet for walks in the park. It would be endless fun!
THE END