Waist deep in the ball pit at the McDonald's playground, Tanner realized that as long as he stayed within the hundreds of plastic balls, he needn't fear exposure to everyone else in the restaurant.
He glanced around the area, hoping to see Derrick. From deep in the pit, he found looking for anyone difficult. He picked up a green ball. The color was attractive to him. He told himself his bigger brother would show up eventually.
He tossed the ball back into the rainbow sea of other plastic balls. On an impulse, he took a bellyflop into the balls. A peal of childish laughter helped chase away the anxiety of being a nude little toddler in public. In fact, he was so intent on wading and pushing through the ball he failed to note Derrick's arrival. The adult Derrick watched with interest as Tanner lost himself in his solitary play among the swirling tide of colorful plastic balls. He took some time before he finally interrupted.
"Tanner!" He said loudly enough to make himself heard quite clearly. "What do you think you're doing?"
Tanner froze, turned, and raised his face up at Derrick. "Just pwaying," he lisped softly.
"I can see that," Derrick said, bemused. "Why are you naked, buddy?"
"Some mean boy took my clothes." Tanner felt encroaching consciousness about standing naked in front of his brother. He was very glad he was standing deep in the balls enough to hide his state from most onlookers.
Derrick looked down and chuckled. "I can't leave you alone for a moment, can I?" Derrick asked. He burst into laughter once again.
Tanner's face burned with a crimson blush. "Don't waff at me!"
Derrick got himself under control. "Sorry, buddy." He reached down and hooked his hands under Tanner's armpits.
Tanner felt himself hoisted out of the ball put. His pudgy little legs kicked and a cool breeze chilled him, but a moment later he felt one of Derrick's large, warm hands cradling his bare bottom.
"We do need to get a handle on this," Derrick joked. "You're running through that package of pull-ups way too fast."
Tanner felt secure and safe, if embarrassed, held closely in Derrick's strong arms. But he felt uneasy, just the same, at how he had lost himself in mindless, childless play. "Can we go home now?"
Derrick smiled. "Sure, buddy."
Tanner realized he needed to get his hands back on the Chronivac. He'd had his fun, but he was a bit scared how easily it was to forget he was supposed to be 17 years old, not a pull-up-wearing toddler.