47.
At the end of the session things had settled own a bit, and Archie and Conor, with assumed reluctance but obvious pride, posed for photos. In their innocence it never occurred to them that allowing a disparate bunch of girls to record them in tight shiny leotards and ballet tights might not be the cleverest idea. But they had built up very high opinions of their own importance. As the group broke up, Millie took Archie by the hand.
“Are you looking forward to Saturday, Archie? My mum’s got so much great stuff for you! Please come early, won’t you?”
Archie had a couple of evasive phone conversations with Patrick that evening, but he was distracted by the thought of Millie’s party. One thing he determined. He would refuse to act like a baby, whatever. He would simply hang around there for a few hours, and not get involved. No silly childish party games. But he would eat as much of the party food as he could lay his hands on – which, given the only competition was going to be a few little girls, he was sure would be a cinch.
But things didn’t work out quite as he had expected.
Sinead drove him round to the Prices earlier than he would have liked. It was a few minutes after nine when she rang the bell. Millie answered the door immediately, took him by the hand, and dragged him into the house. Mrs Price was all smiles.
“Archie! So pleased you got here nice and early. A couple of Millie’s friends are coming early to help get everything ready, so…”
Archie blushed. “Happy birthday, Millie.” He handed over a box tied up with a big blue ribbon. Sinead had insisted he buy Millie a present, and even choose it himself. Sinead had been quite surprised at his choice, but it showed great thoughtfulness, and she had given him a big hug for being such a sweetie. Archie had noticed how Millie had been staring at their leotards; so he had bought her a lovely ballerina outfit – blue leotard with tutu, blue ballet shoes and white tights. She could hardly believe it when she opened the box, and rushed at Archie and threw her arms round him. He was pleased she liked it, and secretly hoped it would buy him some consideration during the day’s proceedings.
“He chose it all by himself,” said Sinead, as Millie disappeared to try it on.
Before Millie returned there was another knock. Mrs Price showed in the arrivals.
“This is my friend Vicki, and this is Millie’s best friend Clara. This is Sinead and her brother Archie. Millie will be back in a minute, Clara. She just trying on Archie’s present…”
As well as Clara, Archie saw to his chagrin that Vicki also had a baby with her in a carry cot.
“Oh, and that little cutie is Stephanie. I’m afraid you’re going to have some competition, Archie.”
“Archie, Megan’s told me all about your kind offer to play the baby today for the girls! How sweet. I’m afraid Stephanie’s a little too young to be mauled by all those little rascals – but you’ll be perfect!”
That didn’t sound too promising. But Millie was back, looking very pretty in her ballerina costume.
“Clara! Look what Archie gave me!”
“Wow, that’s cute!”
“It’s the best! Can I wear it for the party, mummy?”
“Of course, dear, if you want. I must say it’s a very clever present, Archie. You’re quite a smart boy, aren’t you?”
He grinned, gratified. He could take any amount of praise, however trivial.
“Well, now Clara’s here, maybe we should get Archie ready. His things are all laid out in the spare room. Girls? Would you like to come with me? Vicki, make yourself at home as usual. Maybe Sinead would like a coffee…”
Mrs Price ushered Archie into the spare bedroom, but shut the girls out.
“You can come in shortly, once I’ve got Archie into his nappy.”
Archie was feeling nervous.
“Well, Archie, not a nappy as such. You’re not a tiny baby, so… There. Big boy pull-ups. Look, they got little racing-cars all over them. That’s not so bad, is it? Millie wanted to get you girl ones, with pink dolls and teddies – she said something about you liking pink – but I didn’t think that was fair. Now take off all your clothes. I’ll turn my back while you get that on.”
Reluctantly he undressed, folding all this clothes neatly and stacking them on a chair. Then on went the pull-up. The largest size, and it fitted snugly.
“Ready? Okay, girls – you can come in now.”
Millie and Clara burst in, grinning all over their faces.
“Get his vest, mummy – wait till you see it, Clara.”
“Oh yes, your vest, Archie. Special order. Here – arms in – now your head… Now I just need to do up the poppers between your legs…”
It was made of sky-blue spandex, with little short sleeves, and the words Baby Archie across the front, surrounded by red hearts and yellow daisies. Archie sighed. The girls squealed with delight.
“Now his baby pants!” cried Millie, jumping up and down. “He’s going to be a real baby, isn’t he mummy?”
“I believe he is. Now Archie, call me old-fashioned, but I don’t believe you can beat a nice pair of rubber baby pants, all soft and rustling. I hope you like these. She held them up. Nice and puffy to fit over your pull-up, elasticated waist and legs – perfect!”
They may have been boy pants, in pale blue translucent latex, but they were smothered with hearts and daises just the like vest. The girls were beside themselves with excitement.
“Wait till the others see him,” laughed Clara.
Mrs Price held them out, and he stepped in. She pulled them up and snapped firmly around his waist and thighs. She picked at them until she was happy they looked neat.
“Now sit on the bed so I can put your socks on.”
She produced a pair of short blue cotton socks, and from under the bed a pair of old-fashioned blue leather sandals with buckles.
“You can thank your sister for giving me all your measurements.”
“Thank you, sister,” he replied, sarcastically.
“Now you’re nearly all set. Stand up. I got you a harness, too. I won’t put the reins on yet – only when you go outside.”
She made his put his arms through the blue nylon harness, one pair of straps going over his shoulders, the second pair under his arms, and buckled it tightly up at the back.
“It’s padlocked to, so don’t think about escaping from it. Just to make sure you behave yourself, I’ve got you some special baby mitts. Put out your hands.”
She pushed on a pair a short blue nylon mitts, forcing him to fold his fingers into the palms of his hands. She buckled up the wrist-straps, while Archie stared at his useless hands in dismay.
“There. Now I know this is going to make things more difficult for you darling, but you have to remember you’re a baby, and that you’ll be surrounded by little girls eager to pet you, and I have to make sure there’s no grabbing or misbehaviour. So if you want your bottle or your pacifier or your bonnet, just ask Millie or Clara, okay?”
She kissed him on cheek, and smiled indulgently.
“So…” She pinned a giant pacifier with a firm rubber bulb on a length of blue ribbon to the collar of his baby vest. “Feel free to suc-k it whenever you need a little comforting. And when you go outside, make sure to take your bonnet and waterproof jacket. They’re both in this little vinyl rucksack. Clara, maybe you could look after that? Now there’s the door again. More guests. Millie dear, hold on - why don’t you take Archie with you?”
“Yay! Okay mummy!”
She grabbed his wrist and dragged him out. Mrs Price put her hands on her hips and smiled.
“What a perfect punishment…” she murmured.
Topic: Pink Panties (Read 32525 times)
