Stuck in the car seat for the ride home, it had been and embarrassing day and all Leah could do was to hope to never again show her face at that baby place or see any of those people again.
“I’m sure it was just stress.” Tina offered up out of nowhere to Leah.
“Shut up!” Leah couldn’t listen to anything, but realize she hadn’t actually paid any attention to what was said, she just assume it was a criticism. “What?”
“I said, I’m sure it is just stress.” Tina repeated. “…and possibly exacerbated by a bit a discomfort from the irritation you are feeling from those couple of things.”
Leah was still angry at the world. Her mind was a fury. She couldn’t understand why she felt so irritated and couldn’t settle herself down. Sarcastically she thought to herself, maybe it’s because I am sitting in this infantile car seat encased in a diaper.
Tina could hear Leah huffing and puffing in the back seat. “You will feel better once you can relax at home and have a hot meal.”
“Maybe”
“I’ll get more of that oral balm and rash cream on you later this evening to help sooth you.”
“I don’t need any more I feel fine.”
“Well, once you try to sleep, those little aches will feel more uncomfortable. You may even want a little pain killer like an aspirin or something too.”
Leah was irritable and exhausted. Leaving the daycare her single thought was to rip off the cloths she wore and especially that wretched diaper, by the time they got home though, she had ignored it all and flopped down on the couch and zoned into a stupid music video. Before she knew it Tina was calling her over for dinner.
Tina couldn’t believe it. Leah was still dressed as a toddler, right down to the diaper. Her gate had the hint of a waddle as she made her way to the table. The mini teen was trashed from what must have been too much of a day for her to bear.
Leah was in another world as she ate her meal almost by reflex. Spilling and dropping much of her food and drink as one might expect from someone eating while half asleep.
After a long week, Tina was happy to have a break from dealing with her step daughter. She could be quite the handful, but tonight she was going to be as easy as one of her day care charges.
Leah paid no mind to Tina as she efficiently cleaned up after dinner, including wiping down Leah.
Now let’s get you changed.
The words made sense, but Leah didn’t really internalize the meaning as she should have, she just allowed herself to be tended to.
While Tina carried Leah upstairs, “shall we pop you into a nice warm bath?”
Leah gave no reaction
“Maybe not.”
Tina proceeded to the nursery, where she removed Leah’s toddler attire and noting the wetness of her diaper became a bit concerned about popping her into bed without some kind of protection.
Before saying anything, Tina slid yet another dose of the suppository in her bottom.
Leah, looks like you had another accident today.
That seemed to get her attention. “What?”
“Did you even notice you wet your diaper?”
“Of course I did.” Leah was afraid to admit that she had another accident.
“You mean you intentionally wet yourself? Why didn’t you just go to the bathroom?”
“I, I,” Leah realize she had made a mistake and tried to figure a way out.
“Do you like wearing diapers now? Or is it you just like making in your pants? That could explain a lot of things that have happened today.”
“No I mean, yes. I don’t know.”
“Take a deep breath. Maybe we should start this again.”
“I have a bigger question to ask you. You have had a few accidents today and I think it would be a good idea for you to wear something to bed tonight. How about it?”
“I am not wearing a diaper to bed.”
“But baby, you haven’t made it to that bathroom all day.”
“I am not a baby. I don’t need diapers.”
“So you just like to use them?”
“No, it was just an accident.”
“Oh I see.”
“No you don’t”
“Then explain it to me.”
“Just shut up.” Leah was feeling very vulnerable. After all she is lying on her back on a changing table naked with her step mom standing over her.
“How about this, I have another set of these training pant, come on they are just like thick underwear. Wear them tonight, it’s just a little something. Then when you wake up dry we forget about any of this ever happening.”
“Fine.”
Leah was rather animated, but let Tina put the pants on her, smear rash cream and dress her for bed.
“Would you like one of these to help you sleep?” Tina offered Leah a mild over the counter pain killer to help her sleep along with a glass of water lace with more of that diuretic.
Leah was still agitated as she attempted to sleep and 15 minutes later when Tina looked in on her she noticed she was still tossing and turning.
Tina walked in and conveniently dropped the princess pacifier next to Leah’s bed making sure it was in Leah’s field of vision.
After another 30 minutes, Tina looked in again and was only a little surprised when she noticed Leah suckling away on the pacifier, comfortably asleep. Apparently, the little device did provide comfort for her earlier that day.