Vivian seemed to really think both boys were totally cute, and her mothering instincts took over.
The next morning, Ryan was disappointed he hadn't seemed to grow, and as he got up out of the bed they shared in the 2nd bedroom, he noticed Bradley did seem a bit bigger.
"No fair" muttered Ryan.
They were about to change out of their pj's when Vivian entered the room. She had Ryan sit down, and told Bradley to go shower and get dressed. Ryan sat, feeling a bit meek and shy, as Vivian collected clothing for him from the dresser. She pulled of his pj top and had him stand up. Ryan wasn't sure why he was letting this happen, but for some reason, he felt it should seem normal; he obediently arose and allowed this strange woman to pull down his bottoms.
Ryan knew this strange woman probably shouldn't do that, but at the same time, an idea formed; I should just pretend she's my Mommy, Ryan decided. This is all a big play, and we're pretending to be a family.... yeah, that's what it is; it's okay to do whatever I need to do to fit in, this is all just a big act! Ryan smiled as he figured out how to handle this.
Ryan sat on the bed obediently as Vivian pulled a pair of long, cute looking socks gently up each leg. They were white, with little orange tigers all over them. Next came a very cute little shorts-set, orange form-fitting bike-shorts type bottoms, and an orange and white t-shirt with another big tiger face on it.
Ryan swung his skinny, slightly shorter legs back and forth as he fingered the design on his socks, wondering if something seemed off about this or if he should just enjoy the cuteness... a prospect that seemed strangely 'right' to him just then.
Bradley, hair still a bit wet, came in just as Ryan was standing up, admiring his new look in the mirror. Bradley, dressed in cut-off shorts, bare feet, and a blue t-shirt with a bmx bike design on it, smiled upon seeing his brother. He knew he always dressed like that (didn't he?), but it struck him as kind of over the top today. "Lookin' cute there, lil' bro! Mum dress you this morning, huh?" He ruffled his little brothers head briefly, a wave of protective honor sweeping through him.
Ryan blushed, and mumbled something about not being younger than Bradley, but a confused moment later, Ryan was skipping out of the room to join Vivian in the kitchen, where she was calling the boys for supper. Both boys raced to the table, wondering how their first full day at this weird testing-plac would turn out.