The Settlement

[Sandra B]

Chapter 104.  The Inevitable.

After a brief consultation, it was decided the babies should pose in the play area, that being the most age-appropriate location.  They were photographed and filmed on the climbing-frame, on the swings, on a see-saw, on a slide, and on a spinner – often attended by a good-humoured melee of admirers.  Since they demonstrated scant willingness to smile, each boy’s pacifier was left in, as the most picturesque alternative to a sulky pout.  Apart from suffering the indignity of being required to adopt various humiliating poses, surrounded by a crowd of idle, sniggering spectators - many of whom were exploiting their predicament to take their own photos - the boys were terrified lest they should see someone they knew – or, to be more accurate, be seen by someone who knew them.
After twenty minutes or so, Dana suggested some “natural” snaps, with the trees as a backdrop, so the women led the way out of the play area and headed back up the hill, leaving behind a satisfied audience.  Philip seemed to be reluctant to leave, however, and had to be encouraged by Kimona and Dorelia, each pulling one arm.  Even then he was walking awkwardly with little steps, and looking very unhappy. 
“What’s the matter with Philip?” asked Toni, walking more slowly and looking back towards the play area.
Dana glanced back. “Oh, probably just being difficult, as usual,” she said, with a wink at Jess.  “Never mind, we can leave in half an hour or so.  I’ve just spoken to Shaniya, and she and her mates are going out at five.”
“No, I don’t think he’s being wilful…I think…maybe…he needs the toilet…”
“Toni, don’t fuss,” said Jess, “babies don’t use toilets.  That’s why they wear nappies.”
“But…but…are you just going to let him…?”
“Absolutely,” smiled Dana.  “It’s all part of the training.”
“Gosh…”  Tina stopped, shading her eyes.  “Matthew doesn’t look very comfortable either…”
The two boys and the four girls had now merged into a group.  There was some sort of consultation going on, and suddenly Kimona detached herself and came running up.
“Mummy!  The boys need the toilet!  Urgently!”  She started jumping up and down herself in a sort of telepathic sympathy. 
“It’s all right dear,” said Dana, calmly.  “let us deal with it.  We’ll wait for them here.”
The little group made its way fitfully up to them. 
“Mummy,” began Abigail, “I think…”
“We know, dear.  Everything all right, boys?”
“Mmm…mmf…m-mmf mmf!  Mmmff!” came from Philip.  He had a very indignant expression on his face.  Matthew, on the other hand, stood shifting from one foot to the other, looking pleadingly at them.
“What are you saying, dear?  Are you thirsty again?” asked Jill, straight-faced.
“MMM-MMMF!”  He repeated, louder, stamping one foot.
“Well, never mind.  Let’s just get back to the trees, and then we’ll sort it out, whatever it is.”
But before they could move on, Matthew, who was now looking ready to burst into tears, stiffened, emitted a little whimper, and placed both of his mittened fists on the front of his bloomers.  For a moment nobody spoke, but then Lucy, who was standing beside him holding onto his arm, stammered, “I-I think baby Matthew is doing…a wee!”
Baby Matthew certainly was doing a wee – and a very big wee it was, by all appearances.  Everyone stared at his yellow bloomers.  A slight but definite change was in process.  They seemed to be filling out, the material losing its folds and becoming tauter.  The women watched with satisfaction.  The pull-ups were doing exactly what they were claimed to – to swell and thus contain the wee, so that it neither escaped nor soaked baby’s skin.
The girls were momentarily unsure how to react.  But when Dana said - “Good boy, Matthew!  Doesn’t that feel better?” - they relaxed and gave free rein to their delight.
“Our baby’s done his wee!” said Abigail and Lucy proudly, claiming credit for Matthew’s weaker powers of resistance.  Kimona and Dorelia looked momentarily put out, but they weren’t disappointed for long, for Philip, set off by his friend, almost immediately followed suit.
The women gave them a little cheer and a round of applause.  Philip and Matthew were too embarrassed to look at each other, or anyone else, but started to make their way separately towards the trees, accompanied by their little admirers, the women following.
“See?” said Dana to Toni.  “No big deal.  They’ll be fine till we get home.”
“It certainly seemed to have a salutary effect,” remarked Toni.  “All Philip’s resentment evaporated the moment he wetted himself.”
“Precisely,” agreed Jill.  “Turning them into babies takes all the swagger out of them.  I’d recommend it to any mother of a difficult teenage boy.”
“Of course, she’d need a good babysitter, too,” laughed Jess.  “But it’s definitely worth it, even if only for the entertainment!”

[babycakes]

Don't know why Philip or Matthew are perturbed.  When you give someone free rein to abuse you, they are going to abuse you, even in the case of Matthew and his mummy.  I understand this is fiction but these characters are so week-willed that it must be an effort to decide on even the most basic of actions, like breathing.

There was brief hope for Philip when he told the women that he could still punch with the mittens on but, of course, that was just your tease and Philip could never muster up the courage to defend himself from anyone.  Again, this is fiction but how can the protagonist(s) still worry about their friends/schoolmates seeing them when everyone else in a five mile radius has seem the overgrown infants.

Philip and Matthew are getting just what they deserve for their lack of spines.  Definitely developing a love/hate position with this story.

[Sandra B]

Well, it's not Crime and Punishment, I grant you.

[antonia]

No - it is better!!!

[Sandra B]

Chapter 105. Persuasion.

The group made their way up to the trees.  The women seated themselves on the grass and began chatting, as if nothing had happened.  Matthew stood helplessly a few yards away, staring dismally in the direction of the park gates. 
“Is baby Matthew all right?” asked Lucy, concerned.  And, receiving no reply, attempted to console him with, “Never mind.  Soon we’ll take him home and change him into a nice fresh nappy.  Would he like that?”
Philip, however, was experiencing different emotions.  He was bursting with fury and indignation.  It was indeed as well that he was unable to express his feelings, as his language would surely have shocked the girls and earned severe punishment from the women.  As it was, he could only glare at them and repeatedly stamp his foot in anger and frustration.  Their response was merely to look at him questioningly, though Toni couldn’t suppress a giggle at his undisguised discomfiture.  Eventually Jess broke the silence.
“You look as though you have something to say, Philip,” she remarked.
He nodded vigorously.
“Right.  Well this is the deal, little man.  We’ll take your pacifier out…” - Philip frowned harder and nodded furiously - “we’ll take it out, on one condition.  No shouting, no swearing, no tantrums.  Remember there are girls present.  Speak politely and calmly, tell us what the problem is, and we’ll respond…er…as befits you’re position.  Do you agree?”
He expressed concurrence in as civil a way as his temper would allow him.  Jess got to her feet and unbuckled his pacifier strap.  As soon as it was removed from his mouth, he blurted, angrily:
“I wanna go home and change.  I wanna get out of these stupid clothes.  Now!”
Jess sighed.  She looked him in the eyes with a resigned expression.  Then she resumed her seat.
“Well, baby Philip, what you want and what you’re going to get…I have to tell you, they’re two different things.”  Philip opened his mouth to speak again.  “No, be quiet, please, and listen to me.  Thank you.  Now…  You have begun your training.  No, no, please…don’t argue.  You have begun your training.  Both of you.  You can’t switch back and forth whenever you please.  I know it may be difficult for you to understand at this stage, but you have to learn to behave like proper babies, not just dressed-up boys.  That’s the whole point.”
The other women looked at him seriously, with expressions that said, “We hope you’re taking all this in.  It’s not a joke, you know.”
“Now look at yourself.  Just look at yourself.  You’re making a complete fool of yourself at the moment.  Did you see that couple that just passed by, how they stared and laughed?  Exactly.  You get all upset, with your little red, indignant face peeping out of your pretty bonnet, and you simply make an exhibition of yourself.”
By now the girls had gathered round.  Kimona was nodding.  “Auntie Jess is right, Philip.  You’re spoiling everything.  Please just be a happy baby.  We want so much to play with you and Matthew, and when you’re all angry and sad….”
“It makes us sad, too,” put in Abigail.  “Please be nice.  We could have such a fun time…”
“There, see?” continued Jess.  “The girls want you to be happy, too.  We all want you to be happy.  Things don't have to be like this.  It's up to you, darling…”
Philip was feeling confused.  His anger had largely evaporated.  Standing there with everyone staring at him, painfully conscious of his appearance – his tight little bonnet, pretty baby dress, sweet bootees, and most of all his shiny little rubberised bloomers with their ribbons fluttering against his bare thighs – and, of course his soaked pull-up – it was suddenly brought home to him what a spectacle he must be.  And all the more so, when he behaved with such impotent petulance.  He blushed agin.
“But, I-I didn’t mean…” he began.  “I-I’m not being naughty…really…”
It was at that moment the women knew they’d made a breakthrough.  Perhaps only a small one, but it was just the beginning, after all.  Dana was quick to capitalise.  She jumped up and embraced Philip, repeatedly kissing him on the cheek, making the little bell on his chinstrap tinkle prettily..
“Darling, please.  Don’t be upset.  We know you’re a good little boy.  We love you so much!”
She patted his back and buried her face in his neck, murmuring motherly platitudes.  He could feel her warm breath and soft lips against his skin.  It tickled.  He shyly hunched his shoulders.  He almost giggled!  She drew back, placing one hand on each shoulder and looking him straight in the eye.
“You know that, don’t you?  You know we love you.  Why don’t you and Matthew come and sit down with us?  Let’s talk about it.  We’ll send the girls to get some ice-creams.  Would you like that, sweetie?”
His eyes were still brimming with tears of anger, but the anger itself was gone now.  He nodded slowly, and allowed Dana to take his wrist and sit him on the grass.  Jess went and brought Matthew, and they all sat down together.  Dana sat close to him and put her arm around his shoulder, looking solicitously into his face.
“Baby better now?” she whispered, playfully tickling his ribs with her free hand.  “Baby a bit happier?”
Philip squirmed and chortled quietly.  Maybe she was right.  Perhaps this was better than all that hopeless, pointless resistance.  Maybe it needn’t be so bad….
“So, what sort of ice-cream would you like, darling?”

[Sandra B]

Chapter 106.  A Choice.

While they were waiting for the ice-creams, Jill unbuckled her son’s pacifier so that they could all have a chat. 
“Now listen, boys,” said Jess, “you may not believe it, but we really aren’t into all this.”  The boys looked surprised.  “This, I mean.”  She indicated the boys inflated bloomers.  “I don’t know what this Mary lady is going to demand, but as far as we’re concerned, we could do without having to change you and wash your clothes all the time.”
“Really?  Then why…?”
“All we want is for you to go along with the baby clothes and baby behaviour.  It’ll be a good preparation for next week, and for us it’s a bit of enjoyable nostalgia.  Brings out all our motherly instincts, and makes us feel all warm and cuddly inside.  So why don’t we make a deal?”
“A deal…?”
“Yes, a deal.  You co-operate a bit more, let us dress you and treat you like real babies, just chill out and play along…”
“Yes…and…?”
“And we’ll drop all the heavy-handed stuff.  No strap-on pacifiers, no mittens, and you can use the toilet whenever you want.  You’ll still have to wear your pull-ups, but no wetting.  What do you say?”
Philip looked at Matthew.  Matthew raised his eyebrows encouragingly.”  Philip looked at Jess thoughtfully for a moment.
“Okay…” he said slowly.  “I guess it’s only for a few hours, anyway…”
“A few hours?  No, I don’t think you understand.  Dana has spoken to Rebecca, and to your aunt, and they both agree you should stay at hers until Monday.  Then she’ll drive you to Resborough in the morning.”
Philip’s mouth fell open.  “Stay at hers…?  As babies?  All week?  No way!”  He jumped to his feet.  “I’m going home.  Right now!  So there!”
It was Dana's turn to speak.  She smiled sweetly.  “Oh.  What a shame.  Well, off you go, then.  Have a nice walk.  Are you going too, Matthew?”  Matthew looked alarmed.
“I want to go home!” shouted Philip, stamping his foot again.  “You have to drive me!”
“As a matter of fact, Philip, I don’t have to do anything of the sort.  If you want to go home, go.  Perhaps the driver will let you on the bus for free if you explain.  But try not to squelch too much, won’t you?  Bye-bye, then.”
Philip emitted a howl of impotent protest, and punched the nearest tree.  “F***!  You can’t do this!  I’ll…I’ll…”
“Yes, Philip?  You’ll what?”
Philip threw himself to the ground, looking for all the world like a real toddler having a tantrum.  The women couldn’t help smiling.
“I’ll drive you back to your aunt’s, if you like,” said Toni, innocently, standing up.
“You would?”
“Yes.  But you’ll have to have your pacifier back in, and I don’t think your aunt will want to change you, so you may have to stay in your soggy little diaper for a while.  Oh, and if you do insist on deserting us, I have to tell you that I may be inclined to tell Shaniya all about our little escapade today, and show her that lovely video I just took of you wetting your bloomers.  I’m sure she’d be charmed by it, and I know she’d enjoy telling those friends of hers all about it.  So, are you ready to go?”
“No!” shouted Matthew, seriously panicked.  “Don’t go, Philip!  If she tells those boys….”
But Philip had already slumped back onto the grass, defeated.  And at that moment, the girls arrived back with the ice-creams.  Kimona looked anxious.
“Is everything all right, mummy?  I heard shouting.”  She looked from her mother to Philip, and back again.
“Everything’s fine, darling.  Philip and Matthew have asked if they could stay for the rest of the week and the weekend, and I’ve said yes.”
“Yippee,” cried Kimona, running wildly to Philip, putting the cones she was carrying in imminent danger.  “Philip!  We’ll be able to play babies every day!  Won’t that be great?”
Philip smiled at her weakly.  “Yes, Kim,” he said.  “Great.”

 

[Party Dress]

Hmm, this story has changed so much. I quite miss Phillip's Aunt and cousin. I also felt Nikki would have a larger role to play. Why are these girls so special to Miss Tancred? I enjoy nonetheless but feel Phillip has changed so much from reluctantly wearing what he was told to now enjoying being a girl