The Innocent

[Sandra B]

Chapter 39.  Baby Nathan.

“Nathan!  We’re up here!”  It was Autumn calling from the bedroom.
“Coming!”
He bounded up the stairs and into Rosie’s room. 
“Hey!  What’s that?”
“It’s a big new playpen for Milly.”
“Nice!  And you’ve got a high chair.  That should be downstairs in the kitchen.”
“Yes.  Mummy’s just storing it here for the time being.”
“Oh. I see.  Hey, and Tiddy Moll’s in the playpen!  I think she wants to come out!”
“Nathan was being Tiddy Moll last time,” Autumn explained to Penelope.
“Oh, was he?  And what was Tiddy Doll doing?”
“Being very bad!  Trying to bite us!” laughed Rosie.
“Why am I not surprised?” said Penelope.
“Can we plays dolls again, Nathan?” asked Rosie.  “Can I be Tiddy Doll this time?”
“Sure, if you want.  Is that a new bear in the playpen?”
“Yes.  I think it’s going to be Milly’s.”
“I want to be Blue Bear,” said Nathan, “cos I’m a boy.”
“Oh.  Do boys always have to have blue things,” asked Penelope, innocently.
“Well, not really.  But it’s the opposite of pink.”
“Oh, I see.  Well can I be Barbie then, cos she must be the opposite of blue.”
“And I’ll be Baby Doll,” said Autumn, selecting a chubby naked doll from Rosie’s toy box.

The dolls had a wildly exciting time that morning, jumping in and out of the playpen, hiding in the drawers and cupboards, and drinking milk from a tiny feeding bottle.  But it was getting near lunchtime, and the children were hungry.  Rosie’s mother had left them plenty of food, and they spent an hour sitting around in the kitchen and the dining room eating sandwiches, cold pizzas, fruit and crisps, and drinking juice, and watching stuff on television.  Penelope was watching Nathan out of the corner of her eye.  She was amazed how happily he fitted in with the girls, how he had enjoyed playing dolls just as much as they, and how now he was lounging around happily chatting with them.  She was beginning to like him, but she was not going to forget the task she had been charged with.  Just then Rosie suddenly remembered the dolls hadn’t had their lunch.  She found a jar of apricot puree baby food, and a plastic spoon, and headed upstairs followed by the others.  Soon the dolls were arranged in a circle, being fed the orange mush.  Each one was fed by her owner, and while Nathan was savvy enough to pretend to feed Blue Bear, while actually feeding himself, a couple of the other dolls were getting sticky faces.  Then Autumn managed to drop a blob of puree onto Baby Doll’s tummy. 
“Oh, dear, Baby Doll, you are such a messy eater,” she scolded, wiping it off with a tissue.
“She needs something to wear,” said Penelope.  “Doesn’t she have any clothes?”
“Look in the box,” said Rosie.  “She used to have lots of things.”
Autumn looked.
“Ooh, is this her nappy?  Yes, look, it fits.”
“And there’s her pants,” said Rosie, leaning across her friend.
“That’s better!  Nice pink plastic pants!  Now she really looks like a baby!”
Penelope saw her chance.  “That’s right.  She looks very trendy now.”
“Trendy?” queried Nathan.
“Yes, trendy,” said Penelope.  “You know, like with that babywear fashion that’s around now.”
“That’s a real thing, is it?”  Nathan was interested now.
“Yes, course.  Didn’t you know about it?  One of my friends has just got an outfit.  I’d like one, but my mum says it’s too expensive at the moment.  She thinks it’ll get cheaper when it catches on more.”
Nathan decided to sound her out.
“Yeah, well obviously I’ve heard about it.  One of the kids at school says it’s just for girls, but I don’t think that true.”
“Of course it isn’t!  Girls have pink stuff and boys have blue.  Obviously!”
“But Nathan,”  interposed Autumn, “don’t you have an outfit?  I mean, what you were wearing the other day?”
“That’s right.  I do, as a matter of fact.”
“Why were you asking me about it, then?” asked Penelope, frowning.
“Oh, I just wanted to see how much you knew.  I wasn't sure how much you younger kids keep up with fashion trends.”
“Just as much as you, Nathan.  Do you really have a babywear outfit?  I’d be surprised if you do.  Not many boys know about that stuff.  They spend too much time thinking about football and computer games.”
“Not me, Pen,” Nathan replied, familiarly.  “I’m really into fashion and all that stuff.  As a matter of fact I think my aunt packed my outfit for me today.”
“Oh, yes Nathan,” piped up Rosie.  “I forgot to tell you.  She left that bag for you.  There – the big bag in the corner.”
“Thank you, Rosie.”  Nathan stood up importantly and went over to the hold-all.  He picked it up and peered inside.  “Yes, it’s here.”
“Show me,” demanded Penelope, trying to keep a straight face.
Obligingly Nathan opened the bag and began to take out the clothes one by one, passing them to Penelope for inspection.
“Let’s see, vest, jacket…”
“Wow, that’s a cute jacket,” exclaimed Penelope, not altogether dishonestly.
“…socks and shoes – they’re called ‘Mary Janes…”
“Yes, I know.”
“… and pants…”
“Nathan, these are really smart!  And such good quality.  I love the bands round the legs!  They’re even better than what my friend’s got. So you really do have a babywear outfit!  Why did you tease me, then, pretending you didn’t?”
“Sorry.  I just wanted to surprise you.”
“Where did you get it?”
“My aunt bought it for me.  She’s really into high fashion and stuff.  Oh, she’s even put a pull-up in.  You need to wear one under the pants, see, so they puff out like they’re s’posed to.”
“I know.  You don’t have to tell me.  I know all about it.”  She looked at him admiringly.  “Would you put it on for me?  I can’t wait to see you in it.”
“Sure.  I’ll go change in the toilet.  Back in a minute.”  And he collected up his outfit and swaggered out of the room.
Poor Penelope had to bite her lip to stop herself screaming with laughter.  The two younger girls still didn’t quite get it though, even after Catherine’s chat.  Probably just as well, she thought.
“I didn’t know about all that,” said Autumn. “But it’s true, he does look very smart.  Normally I only see him in his school clothes or old jeans.”
“Yes,” said Rosie.  “And then we can play mummies and babies again, can’t we, Penelope?”
“I think that’s a great idea, Rosie.  Who’s going to be mummy?  Shall we all be mummies?”
“No,” said Autumn.  “There can only be one mummy.  It should be you, Pen, cos you’re the oldest.  We can be aunts, can’t we Rosie?”
“Yes.  We’ll be aunts.”

After a few minutes they heard the toilet door open.  Penelope dug her nails into her palms to help her maintain a straight face, but when Nathan appeared at the door in his blue splendour, she nearly lost it, and was seized with a fit of coughing.
“Are you all right, Penelope?” he asked in a concerned voice.
“Yes…ahem…yes.  Would you mind getting me a glass of water, Nathan?”
“Of course.”  And he went downstairs to fetch one, giving her a few moments to recover herself.  Next door, Emilia was following events closely on the monitor.  “Catherine’s going to be ecstatic!” she murmured to herself.
He returned.  Penelope had composed herself now.  She took a few sips of water.
“You look amazing!” she exclaimed – which was the absolute truth.  “ Do you mind if I take a picture?”
“Help yourself.”
“I’d like to show my friend.  She’s gonna be so jealous.”
Nathan preened himself, posing proudly for not just one, but half a dozen snaps.
“Point at you pants!  Super!  Now turn around and look over your shoulder.  Perfect!”
When Penelope was satisfied, she said, “Thank you, Nathan.  Great.  The girls were asking if we could play mummies and babies, like they did the other day.  Could we?”
“Sure.  Who’s going to be the mummy?”
“Well, Nathan, I think it’s me, if that’s all right with you.”
“You’re almost too pretty to be a mummy,” he hazarded, clumsily, colouring up.  But Penelope expertly defused the awkwardness.
“Well, you’re too handsome to be a baby, Nathan,” she smiled, blinking prettily and playing coquettishly with one pigtail.  Gosh, he thought, I never realised how cute this girl is.  I’ve always thought she was pretty, but I imagined she was just like Autumn.  She’s nothing like Autumn.  She’s so grown up!
Penelope knew she had him on a leash now, and she would have no compunction in exploiting it.
“So Baby Nathan, mummy thinks you should go take off your jacket and bow tie and go in your playpen now, and your aunties will give you some nice toys to play with, and some milk.”
“Yes, mummy.”  And Nathan obediently slipped out of his jacket, took off his tie, and crawled through the little barred wooden door that Penelope was holding open for him.
“Good Baby!” she smiled, fastening it shut.  “Is Baby comfy?”
“Yes mummy.”
“Auntie Rosie, would you like to take my phone and video Baby Nathan so we can see how much he likes his new playpen?”
“Yes, Nathan mummy,” she replied, taking Penelope’s phone.  “Oh, it’s already running.  I’ll sit on the bed so I can get a good view.”
“Would Baby like his Blue Bear to cuddle?”
“Yes please, mummy.”
“Auntie Rosie, could you pass Baby Nathan Blue Bear, please?  He’s just next to you on the bed.  Thank you.”
“And would Baby like his nice milky bottle?”
“Yes please, mummy.”
“Auntie Autumn, could you go and fill Baby Nathan’s bottle for him, please?”
“Yes, Nathan mummy.  I will.”  And she took the bottle downstairs to fill it with milk from the fridge.
“And what’s that I see in the corner of Baby’s playpen, on top of the pull-ups?”
“It’s a rattle, mummy.”
“And would Baby Nathan like to have his rattle to hold?”
“Yes, mummy,” Nathan replied, picking up the rattle and shaking it happily.
“Is Baby happy, with his bear and his rattle all nicely dressed in his shiny blue panties and his little vest?”
“Yes, mummy.”
“Oh, look!  Here’s Auntie Autumn with Baby’s milk!  What a big bottle.  Do you think you’ll be able to drink it all up, like a good boy?”
“Yes, mummy,” said Nathan uncertainly, “I think so…”
Autumn handed the bottle into the playpen.  She had filled it to the very top.  The teat was already dripping milk.
“Hmm,” said Penelope, “we don’t want to get milk on Baby’s pretty vest, do we?  Maybe mummy should change him into one of these nice shirts with bears on the front that Auntie Catherine sent.”
“All right, mummy.”
“Auntie Autumn, could you give mummy one of those shirts, please?  Baby, stand up and I’ll pull off that grown-up shiny one, and put on a proper baby vest.  There.  That’s much better.  Now you can drink your milk.”
Nathan propped himself up against the big pack of pull-ups, and started guzzling the milk.  He looked like a real baby, trying to hold onto his bear and his rattle as it dripped onto his vest and trickled off his pants.  Eventually Penelope said, “Nathan darling, I think maybe we should feed you, then you can  hold Blue Bear in one hand and your rattle in the other.”
Autumn and Rosie, who had been watching proceedings with undisguised delight, both sprang up at once.  Rosie shouted, “me first!” and Autumn countered with, “okay, me second!”  So Rosie passed the phone to Autumn, and had first go, leaning over the side of the playpen and holding the teat of the bottle firmly in Nathan’s mouth while he fed greedily.  None of them could believe how easily and completely Nathan had fallen into his role.  In the next house, Emilia was hugging herself with disbelief, and periodically sending little texts to Catherine, such as “you won’t believe this!!!” or “Pen’s a genius!”.  But the truth was, that Nathan was in a state of bliss, submerged in the fantasy of being a real baby, and dreaming of walking down the street hand-in-hand with Penelope, wearing his amazing babywear outfit!
Autumn had taken over feeding duty, and Rosie had resumed filming, and he had consumed nearly half the bottle, when Penelope noticed his eyelids beginning to droop, and his grip on the rattle loosening.
“I think Baby’s going to sleep,” she whispered.  “Auntie Autumn – why don’t you stop feeding and give him a pacifier – look, there’s one right there next to him,”
“Yes, Baby mummy.  There we go.  Look, it popped right in straight away.”
Nathan was indeed asleep, and his mummy gently laid him down on the soft changing mats  and pulled his baby blanket over him.

[Sissy Little Girl]

Sandra B, Nathan doesn't know that the moms are conspiring against him in order to turn him into a baby.  Rosie and the other girls are going to have fun.  Thanks for continuing this story.  This story is fantastic.  Keep up the good work.

[Sandra B]

Chapter 40.  Baby at Last.

While Nathan was sleeping, Emilia was on the phone to Catherine, relating in an excited voice all that had passed.  She was interrupted by a knock at the door.  It was Imelda.
“Come in Mel.  You’re late.  Catherine?  Have to go.  Mel’s  here.”
“Sorry.  My mum needed me to help her with the shopping.  Anything happened yet?”
“You won’t believe!  I can’t run the recording yet, but I’ll tell you all about it.”  And she related the events to an increasingly amused Imelda.
“So he still believes in this babywear fashion stuff?”
“Absolutely!  Mum showed him an article in one of my magazines – it was basically about cosplay – and since then everyone has been reinforcing it.”
“We mustn’t disabuse him of it.  Keep him believing as long as possible.”
“Yeah, course.  But aside from that he really is into it, the whole baby thing.  Penelope – have you met Penelope?”
“I’ve seen her with Autumn a couple of times, that’s all.”
“Penelope is the best.  She ten, but she’s incredibly cute – I mean cute as in clever.”
“She quite cute anyway, isn’t she?”
“Yes, I guess.  But she’s got Nathan wound round her little finger, calling her “mummy” an’ everything!  “Yes, mummy,” “no mummy,” “please mummy”!  She’s playing her part to perfection.”
“So where are they at?”
“He’s been playing baby for over an hour.  He asleep now – see?”
“Oh, he looks so sweet!  Cuddled up under that little blanket, the dear thing.”
“I know.”
“Where’s his ordinary clothes?”
“I dunno – outside somewhere.  Maybe he left them in the toilet when he changed.  Why?”
“I was just wondering…  How about if they got stolen?  He’d have to stay in his baby stuff till everyone got home.”
“You’re naughty, Mel!  Always thinking of pranks.  But I don’t know.  How would we do that?”
“Simple.  Text Penelope, get her to collect them up and put them downstairs in the hallway, then one of us can sneak in and snatch them.  It’d take a few seconds.  Why not?  You’ve got a key, right?”
“Yes.  You’re gonna do it, right?  You'd better be quick.  Okay.  I’ll text her.  What should I say?”
“They don’t know they’re being filmed, do they?”
“No.”
“Okay.  Just say, “If Nathan’s in his baby stuff, Auntie Catherine would like you to find his other clothes and leave them in a bag in the hallway.”
Emilia picked up her phone.  “Okay, done.”
On the monitor they saw Penelope, who was sprawled on the bed, take out her phone and read the text.  She looked a little puzzled, but she left the room, and when she returned she texted the single word “Done” back.
Imelda was about to fetch Nathan’s clothes, when things started happening, so instead she pulled up a chair and sat next to Emilia, riveted to the screen.

Nathan was waking up after his nap.  Penelope jumped off the bed, let herself into the playpen, and knelt down beside him.  She looked into his face and smiled a motherly smile.
“Hello, darling.  How’s my sleepy little man?”  She stroked his forehead gently.  Autumn and Rosie knelt outside the playpen, looking on eagerly.
Nathan opened his eyes fully and stared at Penelope for a moment, not understanding.
“It’s mummy, dear.”  She leant forward, her pigtails tickling his face, and placed a kiss on his cheek.  Nathan yawned, and sat up.
“Have I been asleep long, mummy?”
“Oh my god!” ejaculated Imelda, on the other side of the wall.
“No darling.  Would you like some more milk?”  She picked up his bottle, which was leaning against the side of the playpen, and used the teat to moisten his lips with milk.  Automatically, he drew it into his mouth and started feeding.
“There.  Baby Nathan likes his milk, doesn’t he,” smiled Penelope, tilting the bottle higher.
Nathan nodded, without relinquishing his hold on the teat, which he was now milking vigorously with his teeth.  The bottle was nearly empty when he suddenly repulsed it, and said,
“Nathan need wee-wee, mummy.”
He threw his blanket off and struggled to sit up, but Penelope took him by the shoulders and pushed him gently back down.
“That’s all right, darling.  Baby’s wearing a nice fluffy nappy and his best pants.  Baby can lie there and wee as much as he likes.”
A momentary expression of panic flitted over Nathan’s face, but then he lay back again.
“Mummy won’t mind?”
“Of course not, dear!  That’s what Baby’s pull-up and panties are for.”
He closed his eyes.  The younger girls were craning over, wide-eyed.
“I think he’s going to do it,” whispered Autumn to her friend.
Nathan’s forehead puckered for a moment.  Then his face relaxed, and in the silence the girls could hear the sound of wee filling his nappy.  It seemed to go on for ages.  As the pull-up absorbed the liquid it slowly swelled, tautening his plastic pants.  When he was quite finished, he opened his eyes.
“Baby Nathan do big wee, mummy,” he said, in a voice devoid of either shame or pride.
“Good boy,” whispered Penelope.  Relax, Baby, and soon we’ll come and change you.  Okay?”
Nathan nodded passively, and closed his eyes again.
Penelope beckoned to the others, and led them out of the room.  Softly she closed the door, then they all hugged each other with delight.
“Pen, that was incredible!  You’re amazing!” exclaimed Autumn, in a delighted whisper.
“I didn’t believe he would do it,” said Penelope, “but he really believes he’s a baby now, doesn’t he?”
“He, like, is a baby!  It’s just like having a big Milly.  And now we get to change him!  Our very own baby!”

Next door, the girls were wondering what was going to happen next.
“Aren’t you going to nick his clothes?” asked Emilia.
“Not yet.  I’m not gonna miss this for the world.”
The friends were glued to the screen as Autumn, Rosie and Penelope returned.  Penelope hardly dared to hope Nathan would actually allow them to change him, but it quickly became clear that he was deep in baby mode.  He watched them with interest but unconcern as they entered the playpen one by one.  Penelope took a pair of latex gloves and handed the box to the others.  When they had put them on, she passed them a plastic bag for the soiled nappy.  All the other necessaries were next to the big pack of pull-ups by his head.  Then she knelt down next to him, while Autumn and Rosie took up positions at his feet.  She smiled tenderly at him as she began gently to unbuckle his belt.  She realised she was actually experiencing an access of real maternal affection.  It was very easy now to see him as a real baby, not as a little boy.
“Lift up, sweetie,” she cooed. As she began to ease his pants down.  He obediently raised his bottom, and she slid them down to his knees, where the other girls took over and pulled them over his feet, laying them to one side.  Then the pull-up.  It was very wet and soggy, but she held it by the legs and it was soon around his knees.  The others pulled it off and dropped it into the bag.  Penelope opened the box of wipes and pulled out two or three, which she used to wipe him, which she did with meticulous thoroughness.  Then she helped him to turn over, and with some fresh wipes cleaned his bottom and his flanks.  She collected up the used wipes and dropped them into the bag, which Rosie held out for her. 
“In a minute I’ll get rid of these and rinse out his pants,” said Autumn.
When his bottom had dried off, she turned him over and patted him dry with a couple of tissues.  She knelt back and looked at him.  Was this really the little boy who was capable of being so rude and so grumpy sometimes?  It hardly seemed possible.  She noticed he was looking around for something.  Of course.  His pacifier.  She found it and popped it into his mouth.  He closed his eyes peacefully.
Rosie and Autumn were entranced.
“Our very own baby!  Our very own baby, Autumn!  Ours to play with whenever we want!” whispered Rosie. 
“Yes,” returned Autumn.  “We’re, like, his parents now.  Mummy says that’s a big responsibility.”
“Yes.  But we can look after him, can’t we?  We know what to do and everything.”
Penelope picked up the pot of cream, scooped out a blob, and applied it carefully to his front, smoothing it lightly into the skin.  Then she turned him and did the same for his bottom.  Lastly, she dusted him with a little scented talc.  She leant forward, putting her face close to his neck.
“He even smells like a baby now.”
The other two crawled up and sniffed Nathan’s face and cheeks, making him giggle.
“He does!”
Then it was time to put on a fresh pull-up.
“There!  All sweet and clean again.  Does that feel better, darling?”
His mouth being fully occupied with his pacifier, Nathan smiled and nodded in concurrence.
“Now, what can you wear?  Your blue panties will need washing and drying.  That’ll only take a minute, dear, but I think auntie Catherine put some other things in the bag for you.  Let me see.”
She got up, went out of the playpen, and rummaged through the hold-all.
“Here we are!  Plastic panties and some pretty little rompers. They almost match your vest.  Let’s see if they fit, shall we?  Stand up, dear.”
They were pale blue with little white bunnies on them.  Nathan stood up. 
“Which pants would you like, darling?  There's blue, but look at these pretty pink ones!”
“But they’re for girls!” he protested.  “Nathan have blue panties.”
“All right.  Blue, then.  Come on then, pop them on.”
He stepped into them, and Penelope pulled them up until they were nestling neatly over his pull-up.
“Now Baby’s pretty rompers.”
She held them out for him.  He looked at them dubiously.
“These wompers for boys, mummy?”
“Of course!  Blue for boys.”  He climbed in.  Penelope pulled them up, got his arms through, and buttoned up the crotch.
“There.  A perfect fit!  And they match your vest and your shoes.  Who’s my pretty boy?”
Nathan responded with a pleased smile.
Next door, Emilia said, “now’s your chance, Mel.  Go and get his clothes.”
“I’m going.  Give me the key.  Back in a second.”

[Sandra B]

Chapter 41.  The Great Escape.


But Nathan had become frisky after his sleep, and now he started agitating to get out of the playpen.  The passive baby stage seemed to have been subverted by the naughty child stage, and once out he began chasing and tickling the girls and bouncing on the bed as if it were a trampoline.   Then someone suggested chocolate, and all four of them burst out of the room and barrelled down the stairs in search of Mrs Spicer’s secret stash of sweets.  Imelda had just let herself in, grabbed the bag, and was about to leave, when the torrent of children was heard thundering down upon her.  She looked around, and the only hiding-place available was a cupboard, which turned out to be full of brooms, buckets and mops.  Quickly she slipped in and pulled the door to.  The children, screaming and pushing, dashed into the kitchen.  The front door was right next to the kitchen door, so it was clear she was going to have to stay where she was until the coast was clear.  But in the kitchen things were taking an unexpected turn.  The sweet box was empty!   
“That’s stupid!”  cried Rosie.  “There’s always something there!”
“Maybe your mum emptied it cos she knew we’d eat the lot,” suggested Autumn.
“What are we going to do?” wailed Rosie.
“We’ll have to go to the shop and get some stuff,” said Penelope.  “Come on, it’s not far.”
“No!  Wait!” cried Nathan, finally reverting to the role of responsible babysitter.  “You can’t!  I’m not allowed to let you out!”
“How you gonna stop us, then?” taunted Penelope.  “Come on guys, let’s go!”  And with a shout, they headed for the front door, and before Nathan could react, were running down the path.  In desperation he dashed after them, but by the time he got outside they were already ten yards down the road.  He ran to the gate, calling them to come back.  But they ignored him.
“Won’t be long, Nathan!” called Autumn over her shoulder.
Inside the house, Imelda saw an opportunity.  She emerged from the cupboard, sprang across the hallway, and slammed the front door!  Nathan wheeled round.  “No!” he cried.  Not realising there was another person in the house, he assumed the wind must have blown it shut.  What to do?  Rosie had the key.  He considered knocking at his own door, but knowing Emilia she’d refuse to let him in; an in any case, then she’d find out that he’d allowed the girls to go out unaccompanied.  He could see a couple of boys approaching from the opposite direction.  It looked like Darren and Steve.  He hesitated no longer.  He slipped out of the gate, and ran as fast as he could until he had caught up the girls.
“Rosie…” he gasped, “I…I got…shut out.  Give me the key.”
“No way, Nathan.  You’ll probably lock us out if I do.  You might as well come with us to the shop.  We’re half way there already.”
He looked back.  Those boys were only a hundred yards behind.  It was Darren and Steve!  He got in front of the phalanx of girls so he couldn’t be so easily seen.  They were soon  inside the shop and the girls were piling up goodies on the counter. 
“What do you want, Nathan?” asked Autumn.
I want to be invisible, he thought.  “Can I have a Picnic bar?”
“Okay.  And one Picnic, please.  Yeah a double one.  Thank you.”
The girls had what they wanted, and they all headed for the door.  Politely, Nathan opened it to let them through.  He was about to exit himself, when he came face to face with Darren coming in!
“Nafan!” 
“Er, hi, Darren.”
Suddenly he clocked the rompers.
“What…?
“Gotta go.  See you round.”
Nathan dashed out and caught up with the girls.
“Can we run?  That was Darren.”
“So what?” said Penelope.
“He saw what I’m wearing. He’ll never let me forget it!”
“Oh, who cares.  He looks like an idiot, anyway.”
“I care.  Please!”
“Oh, all right.  Come on then.  Race you.” 
And she shot off down the road, with the rest in pursuit.  But as they turned in through the gate, Nathan could see Darren and Steve running after them.  They got inside the house and he slammed the front door.  He went into the kitchen and peered out between the curtains.  The two boys were outside now, standing at the gate and smirking.
“Nafan!”  Darren called.  “Come out ‘ere and show us yer rompers!”
“Why did that have to happen?  What am I going to do?”
“Go out there and punch him in the face,” suggested Rosie.
“That would only make it worse.  Why did I have to be wearing a baby’s romper suit?”
“Yeah, that was unfortunate,” said Penelope.  “If you’d had your proper babywear on you’d have been okay.  They’d probably have asked where you got it.”
“Do you think so?”
“Course.  Why don’t you go and change now?  Your pants will be dry.”
“You comin’ out, or what,” Darren yelled.
“Go on.   It’s the only way.”
Nathan dashed upstairs to change.  When he was out of sight, Penelope opened the door and advanced on the two boys.
“What d'you want?  Come to beat us up?”
“No.  I’ve come to offer you money.”
“What?”
“In a few minutes, Nathan’s going to walk out that door in full baby gear.  You are not going to laugh, you are not going to jeer, you are going to be impressed and respectful, and tell him how cool he looks.  And you’re not going to tell anyone about this.”
“Who says?” 
“Five pounds each.”
“Five?  Ten!”
“Okay, I’m not going to haggle.  Ten.  But if you laugh at him, or give the slightest hint he’s not the coolest kid in town, no money.  And if you tell your mates, the Brook Lane Mafia will finish the pair of you.  Understand?”
“Yeah.  Understood.  You better come up with the cash, though, or we’ll come in there and trash yer garden.”
“Don’t worry.  Just do your job.  Excuse me.”
She pushed her way past them, went next door and knocked.  Imelda answered.  She’d nipped back as soon as the kids were out of sight.
“Penelope.  Hi.  What is it?”
“Lend me twenty pounds.  Now.  Don’t ask why.  It’s important.”
“Wait a mo.”  She returned with two ten pound notes.
“You’ll get it back tonight.  I have to go.”
She returned to the house, flashing the notes at the boys on the way.  Nathan was coming downstairs, dressed in his baby outfit.  He looked close to tears.
“They’re going to crucify me.”
“No they’re not.  Tell them this is your real outfit.”  She pushed him out of the door.  “Courage, Nathan!”
He advanced on his erstwhile friends, not sure how to begin.  They took in his outfit, but there was not a flicker of amusement on their faces.
“Why didn’t you stop and say hi back there?”
“Sorry.  You know I’m babysitting.  The girls weren’t supposed to be out, so I had to get them back quickly.”
“Ah, course.  That’s a cool outfit, ain’t it, Steve?”
“Yeah!  Dead cool!  Where d’yer get it, mate?”
Nathan looked at them closely.  Were they being sarcastic?  Maybe not! 
“Oh, actually my aunt got it for me.  She’s, like, really into fashion.  She’s cool.”  He was suddenly feeling better.
“Oh, I see…cos I’d like one like that, but I reckon it’d be dead expensive, wouldn’t it?”
“It’s true, Darren.  They’re not cheap.”
Okay, well that’s…er...really cool, Nafe.  We gotta go.  But see you round, yeah?”
“Yeah, sure.  Bye guys!”
Nathan returned, glowing with confidence.
“What did I tell you, Nathan?  Now go upstairs with the girls and share out the chocolate.  I’ll be up in a sec.”
Once they were upstairs, she slipped out and paid the boys.
“Thanks, guys.  Great performance.”
“No probs.  Any time.  What’s it all about?”
“Private matter.”
“Oh..yeah. okay.”  He lounged against the gatepost and leered at her.  “You ain’t from round 'ere, is yer?”
“Nope.  So don’t waste your time.  Bye!”
Penelope returned indoors.  She let out a long sigh.  That had been a close one.  But she felt sure she had done the right thing. 
“They’ll happily pay up for keeping him in play,” she said to herself.

[Sandra B]

Chapter 42.  Acronyms.

Penelope’s surmise was quite right.  At that very moment the four women were sitting round a table in “The Three Kildurkins”, sipping wine and discussing their conspiracy.
“You know, he’s not going to swallow this stuff about a baby fashion for much longer,” Catherine was saying. 
“No Cath, but he’s obviously into babyhood and baby stuff anyway.  So does it matter?”
“Not really, I suppose.  It’s just that it would be a shame if he suddenly gets it, and refuses to wear it any more.  It would be better to end it with a bang rather than a whimper.  You know, at least get one final laugh out of it.”
“And how do you suggest we do that?”
“I don’t know.  I’m still working on it.”
“I can think of one way he could fall in – or rather we could push him in,” said Cynthia, mischievously.  The other three looked at her questioningly.  “Penelope’s been bugging me to have a party for ages.  What if I arrange one, a big one, invite all her friends, and she invites Nathan?”
There was a pause.  They looked at each other.
“That could work,” said Catherine.  “He’d have to turn up late, when the party was in full swing.  But if we could engineer it, well!  Imagine the reaction!”
“What, his or the guests?” asked Dorothy.
“Well, both, I guess.  What do you think, Eleanor?  He’s your son.”
Eleanor shook her head.  “I know I shouldn’t, but I’d really like to see that!  It won’t do him any harm.  I think he still needs a lesson or two, after the way he behaved towards Paul.”
“How long do you think it would take to arrange, Cynthia?  The sooner the better, really.”
“Leave it with me.  I’m pretty sure most of her friends aren’t going away before the end of this month.  I’ll sound them out.  Penelope will be delighted.”
“I think it’s a great plan,” said Eleanor.  “But it’ll be boring when he doesn’t dress up any more.”
“Who says he won’t dress up?” exclaimed Catherine.  “Our little subterfuge will be at an end, but if what I’ve heard from Emilia is right, we’ll have so much dirt on him we’ll be able to make him do anything we want!”
“You’re right,” said Eleanor.  “You know, I feel a bit ashamed to admit it, but I find the whole thing so much fun.  I wish we could find a few more boys to prank.  A few more of those big louts, like the ones Paul and Nathan used to hang out with, to turn into overgrown babies, or little sissies!”
“Maybe we could,” replied Catherine, thoughtfully.  “It’s just a matter of getting some leverage on them... I bet there are plenty of mothers out there whose kids are out of control, who'd be only too happy to help.”
“You’re right,” said Dorothy.  “I know several, just amongst my friends, who are having problems.  Maybe we should form a society.  Sort of lady superheroes.” 
“Why not?” said Cynthia.  “My life is so boring at the moment.  I’m all for it!”
They all agreed, and spent the next fifteen minutes trying to come up with a name.  Someone came up with the Behaviour Adjustment for Louts Ladies Society.  Cynthia suggested “Women for the Adjustment of Naughty Kids”.
“That’s just the sort of idea I would expect from you,” scolded Catherine.
Nevertheless the idea was born, the possibilities of which were, like this story, endless.

[Sissy Little Girl]

Sandra B, those girls and the mom's are devious.  They set Nathan up so he would play baby again and when they took his clothes away and then the girls ran to the store, it was the perfect setup to get him stuck outside in his romper.  When the boys showed up, Nathan took off after the girls.  The girls, Penelope mostly, got the boys to tell Nathan that his baby outfit was way cool.

I can't wait for the next chapters.  You are one KEWL writer.  Keep up the good work.  ;D :D ;) :) 

[Sandra B]

Chapter 43.  Ensnared.

Back at Rosie’s house, the children were playing happily again, no longer confining themselves to the bedroom, but dashing all over the house and garden.  There was no longer anything to see on Emilia’s monitor, but they could hear the screams, shouts and crashes through the wall.
“It’s all that chocolate,” Imelda remarked. “they’ve gone completely hyper.”
Emilia laughed.  “Yeah, good for them.  I’m glad Nathan’s having a good time.  I hardly recognise him when he goes into baby mode.”
“They really get on well together, don’t they?  It’s so sweet he likes playing with the girls.”
“Yes.  He’s a good kid.  He just needs to stay away from the Darrens of this world.”
The two friends climbed onto Emilia’s bed and started chatting about the summer holidays.
“I’ve got this project to finish, but then I’m free.  We should do some stuff together this summer.  You know, interesting stuff.”
“Would your mum let you go away for a week or something?  We could go camping.  Wales, maybe.”
“I can ask her.  It was a big no no last summer, but I’m a year older now.  Could you?”
“No problem.  My mum said it would be fine, provided she knew where I was and I kept in touch.”
“It would be great!  We might even meet some nice boys, do you think?”
“We might meet some boys.  Nice?  I doubt it.” 
They laughed.  They speculated about where they might go and what they might do.  Suddenly Imelda said, “They’re back.”
The kids had returned to the bedroom, red-cheeked and out of breath.  The girls threw themselves on the bed, but Nathan was still over-excited, jumping about and prodding at them or grabbing their hair.
“Nathan, stop it!” cried Autumn, annoyed.  “Leave us alone for a minute!”  But he persisted, laughing uncontrollably.
“He’s hysterical,” remarked Emilia.  “Calm down, boy.”
At that moment, Penelope jumped off the bed and confronted him.
“Nathan!” she bellowed.  He stopped dead.  “Nathan!  Stop it at once, or mummy will have to smack your bottom!”
The effect was remarkable.  At once he stood still, and hung his head.
“Sorry, mummy!”
“That’s better.  I won’t have this behaviour.  Now go and sit in your playpen until you’ve calmed down.”
Meekly, Nathan went in to his playpen, and sat down cross-legged on the mats.  Noticing his pacifier, he picked it up and put it in his mouth.
“Good boy.  Now you’ll stay there for ten minutes.  I’ll tell you when you can come out.”
He momentarily removed his pacifier.  “Yes, mummy.”  Penelope resumed her place on the bed, and winked slyly at the others.
Emilia and Imelda looked at each other open-mouthed.
“Do you think anyone could do that?” Imelda asked.  “I mean, would it work if your mum spoke to him like that?”
“I don’t know.  Maybe it would.  But that Penelope definitely knows how to handle him.”
“He likes her, doesn’t he?”
“There’s not much doubt about that.”

The rest of the day passed off without serious incident.  Though when the girls decided it would be fun to feed baby, Nathan insisted on climbing into the high chair, before they smeared his face with every variety of puree available in the kitchen.  Of course, just as Catherine had predicted, he contrived to get himself stuck, and for a moment Emilia thought she might have to concoct an excuse to go round and rescue him.  Eventually he extricated himself, pulling off both pants and pull-up in the process, to the great delight of the girls, but apart from the indignity, he suffered no other injury.  He showed no interest in resuming his everyday attire, even when the mothers returned at six.  Indeed, he seemed to have forgotten all about boy clothes, and when Mrs Spicer called them all to come round to his house, he happily dashed into the street in his babywear.
“You needn’t have bothered,” said Emilia,  “Here, give me the bag.  I’ll put his stuff in his room.”  She dropped it off, and they both went downstairs and joined the others.
“Well you guys, did you have a good day?” asked Eleanor.
“Yes, mummy,” gasped Nathan, “it was great.  We played games all day.”
“Did you?” asked Emilia innocently, winking at the ladies. “So that’s what all that noise was!”
“Sorry Em.  We didn’t mean to disturb you.”
“I’m only joking.  Mum, they must be hungry.”  (Vigorous nods.)  “Shall we make them some food?”
“Good idea, darling.  That would be nice.  We’ll go and sit down out of your way.”
So while Emilia and Imelda prepared supper for the children, the four mothers disappeared into the living-room.  Penelope followed them and explained to her mother why they now owed Imelda twenty pounds.  She had been right; she was commended for her quick thinking, and they assured her Imelda would be discreetly reimbursed.  Penelope returned to the kitchen, and gave Imelda a thumbs up.
“I can’t wait to see the video,” whispered Catherine.  “From what Em’s told me it sounds as though it might be quite entertaining.”
“Which reminds me,” said Dorothy, “I’d better go and disconnect the camera while Rosie’s still here.  Back in a minute.”

At the supper table, Penelope was flirting with Nathan.  She had contrived to sit next to him, and was now flicking her pigtails about, clipping his ear.
“Stop it, Pen,” he giggled, obviously gratified by the attention.
“Where’s your phone, Nathan?”
“Er, it’s in my room, I think.  Why?”
“You should have my phone number.  We should keep in touch.”
Nathan stared at her.  She smiled back innocently.
“Y-yes, course.  We can go upstairs after supper.”
“Ooh,” smirked Autumn, “is she gonna be your girlfriend, Nathan?”  And she and Rosie dissolved in giggles, while Nathan turned bright red.  Penelope just kept smiling enigmatically, and said nothing.  It was true she had developed a liking for him.  But it was fun to have a boy two years older than her on a string.  She was enjoying her newly-discovered power.  As she ate her pancake, she watched him out of the corner of her eye, sitting there in his plastic pants and little bear T-shirt, and wondered casually how far he could be pushed.
Her thoughts were interrupted by her mother.
“Penelope, darling?  I was thinking about that party I’ve been promising you for ages.  Do you know how many of your friends are going to be around next week?”
“Really, mum?  That would be so cool.  Yeah, I’m pretty sure they’re all gonna be around, except maybe Winny, but I don’t like her that much anyway.”
“Okay.  Good.  Let’s discuss it when we get home.  Obviously you three are invited.”
Autumn and Rosie looked at each other with delight.

After supper, Nathan took Penelope upstairs and showed her his room.
“It’s nice.  It could do with tidying, though,” she remarked.
“Oh, I was just about to do it yesterday, but then my mum asked me to, er, wash up,” replied Nathan, mortified by the thought she might think him slovenly.
She moved his discarded pyjamas, and sat down on his bed, an action that Nathan unconsciously interpreted as a mark of the greatest affection and familiarity.  He fumbled with his phone.  The truth was he rarely used it.  But that was going to change now, he decided.  Please don’t let it be out of charge, he thought.  But it was all right.  Ten percent left.  Penelope called him and he saved her number.  He added her to his contacts – of which there were few – as “Pen”.  His heart swelled with excitement.  Was it possible…she could be…?”
She patted the bed.  “Come and sit with me a minute.”  He sat down so suddenly Penelope bounced up in the air.
“Sorry….”
“We had a really nice day, didn’t we?  You play such good games, Nathan.  I really enjoyed myself.  But we don’t know each other very well, yet, do we?”
He hung on that “yet”.
“N-no….”
“Would you like to come over one day?  I mean, before the party?”
“Yes…yes, that would be great!”  He looked at her, slightly startled.  This was a new experience.  Suddenly all his other friends were forgotten.  No-one mattered except this girl.  No-one, and nothing.  It was the old tale.
She smiled.  If she had told him to throw himself out of the window, he would have done it without hesitation.  “I’ll ask my mum.”
“Kids?”  It was his mum calling from downstairs.  “It’s time for everyone to go home.  Come and get ready.”
Penelope put her arm round him and gave him a quick hug.  Before he could recover she was at the door.  He followed her downstairs, his mind in a whirl.  Five minutes later everyone had left, and he was there with Emilia and his mum.
“That Penelope’s really nice, isn’t she?” said his mum.  “So grown up.  Did you get on with her all right, Nathan?”
“Yeah, mum.  She’s okay,” he responded, with assumed unconcern.