The afternoon passed oh so slowly. He got another bottle around 4pm. It passed some time while he desperately waited for 5pm and the announcement of the results. Eventually the tannoy announced that competitors should report to the festival tent for prize giving.
Tom was pushed into a line of prams with the other ladies clearly knowing that they were not going to win first prize with their dolls in the prams. There were prizes for all sorts of categories, ladiesâ, menâs, childrenâs costumes. Best jivers, best waltzers.
Tom was shifting uncomfortably in the pram as his need for the loo grew. How long was this going to take?! He whimpered through his soother and pointed to his nether regions again. âWe canât go to the van now. We have to wait until our category comes up.â Martha leaned in. âI have clean nappies and plastic pants in the bag so itâs fine!â Tom didnât think that was fine!
âAnd now Mother and Pramâ. Finally! The prams were all pushed up a ramp by the stage. When they got to the top there was a bump between the ramp and the stage. âNnnggghh!â Tom started flooding his nappy. The warmth was still spreading around as his mother turned the pram so he was facing the audience. Some other women did the same but some decided not to make it so obvious they hadnât got a live occupant.
All eyes of course were on, what everyone assumed was a teenage girl, dressed as a very pretty baby, wedged into the large pram, suc-king on a soother. He tried not to give away any signs of the discomfort of his soggy nappy.
Third prize was called and the lady went up to the podium for her trophy. Then second was announced. All eyes were on Tom as the presenter tried to spin out the drama. Of course his mother won and went towards the podium.
âOh we have to see our pretty baby up here too, donât we?â the announcer insisted and the crowd clearly agreed. Tom was panicking now. If he had to get out of the pram they would all see his frilly nappy cover under his short dress, his pink tights and the fact that he was wearing a real thick nappy. They would wonder why all that realism was necessary when the childâs lower half was covered by a blanket all day.
âNnngggghhh!â Tom tried to object as his mother came to get him. Martha came over and helped her lift him out. He was terrified that the movement would make his soggy nappy leak onto his tights and then let everyone know he was in a wet nappy.
The crowd applauded wildly on seeing how complete Tomâs costume was. He tried to push his petticoats down despite knowing by now how pointless that was. To him the nappy felt ten times heavier now it was saturated. He thought it must surely be sagging obviously. He scanned the crowd for any sign of anyone noticing. They were all laughing and pointing but it could have been any number of things â his bonnet, his nappy, his tights, the soother he was still determinedly suc-king.
The announcer tried to get him to say something but he suc-ked insistently on his soother, terrified if he opened his mouth people might identify a boyâs voice. As it was, he was so totally covered in pink and frills that nobody could guess.
He was desperate to get back in the pram. When his mother pushed the pram over that bump again he let more wee into his nappy. âIâm afraid the camper van has gone nowâ, Martha told them. âThere is a baby changing tent over there.â Tom could see the queue for the changing tent and whimpered in protest at the idea of joining that queue and everyone knowing he had wet his nappy. âWould you prefer to wait until we get home?â his mother asked. He nodded vigorously.
Just then one of the other pram ladies came over. âCongratulations!â She leaned into Tom and tweaked his soother playfully. âWe always have a celebratory dinner after the festival competition, would you like to join us?â âThatâs very kind of you, of course we would!â Tom squirmed in his wet nappy.
They returned to the catering tent and the ladies sat along two benches while his mother propped his pram at the end again. âSurely baby would like to get out of the pram now?â they asked, moving up to make room. Tom shook his head convincingly. They were disappointed. âWe canât see your whole pretty costume while you are tucked up in your pram!â That was exactly why Tom wanted to stay there however uncomfortable it was.
He was given another bottle and his bib was replaced for feeding. The women were clearly amused, and more than a little puzzled, that he was keeping up the baby act even though the competition had finished.
His nappy had gone very cold now and this was looking like a long meal. The starters took a long time to come. Tom whimpered hoping his mother would take pity on him and take him home.
She looked across. âThereâs no queue for the changing tent now â all the real babies have gone home.â She stood and said âexcuse usâ to the other women. âNnnghhh!â he tried to protest. They would surely realise what was happening. But his mother ignored him and picked up the hold-all and swung it over her shoulder as she pushed him in the pram towards the changing tent. The women all looked at each other astonished.
He had to cooperate with having his nappy changed but was dreading going back to the women with what they now knew. They tried to act reasonably naturally but they were all looking at him in amazement. This teenage âgirlâ has wet her nappy and had it changed. Her mother was calmly sitting down and prepared to spoon feed him some curry as if nothing was untoward.
Even in the cool of the evening, Tom was roasting under his blanket, petticoats and tights. He had a full tummy and started to drift off to sleep. The ladies were getting well oiled and there was no sign of anyone leaving.
He was woken by a flash. He opened his eyes to find the women all gathered around his pram pointing their phone cameras at him. It was clear some were taking videos. One reviewed her footage. âOh look!â She turned the screen to him and he saw himself suc-king contentedly on his soother while he snoozed only to be woken by the flash and startled at everyone taking photos and video of him.
âTime to go!â his mother announced taking hold of the pram. âAw, bye, bye!â they all waved. âGo on wave back!â his mother insisted. Tom waved and the rattle stuck over his mitten jingled and they all laughed.
âIt must be way past your bedtimeâ, one joked. âI knowâ, his mother responded, âyou are usually in your cot by 7pm, arenât you?â The mothers didnât know what to make of that as he was pushed away.