CHAPTER 1The only thing Izzy wanted for Christmas was for all of her friends to be friends again. She wanted Penny to forgive Emma. She wanted Nicole to stop being kidnapped. She even thought it was about time Abigail joined their little gang, seeing as she had more in common with them than she let on.
This is why Izzy wanted to throw a party for everyone. It was set for a day before Christmas Eve and would end in a sleepover, the first time Izzy ever hosted one. She was always afraid someone would find out she sometimes wet the bed or wore diapers for it sometimes. Now she had nothing to hide.
It was the week of Izzy’s party, the week of Christmas, and the girls all sat together in the school’s multi-purpose room as they constructed gifts for their parents. Christmas-themed gifts that would go out of style the same day they are opened. Christmas-themed gifts that the parents themselves had to pay for the supplies. Christmas-themed gifts the children really, really put their hearts into.
“And we’re gonna have gingerbread men,” Izzy said, “The normal kind and the upside down kind that look like reindeer.”
“Is there gonna be a pinata?” Lilly asked.
“It’s not anyone’s birthday,” Mimi said.
“Yuh-huh!” Izzy said. “It’s Jesus’s birthday. And then a week later it will be the day of his baptism. And then a week after that it will be my little brother’s birthday. We’re going to name him Emmanuel but I’m allowed to call him Manny if I want to.”
“Are you gonna have movies for the sleepover?” Rena asked.
Izzy nodded and said, “The Lion King and The Little Mermaid.”
“Izzy, those are baby movies,” Mimi said.
“And they’re not even Christmas movies,” Lilly said. “Don’t worry, I’ll bring my RBCU collection.”
Everyone stared at her in silence.
“You’re kidding?” Lilly could not believe it. “RBCU. The Rankin Bass Cinematic Universe. Rudolph? Nestor?”
“Oh,” Rena said, “Those claymation movies? Those are lame.”
“Okay, first of all,” Lilly counted with her fingers, “ They’re not lame. You’re lame. Second of all, they’re not claymation. They’re stop motion animation. Similar to claymation but using a combination of silicon and porcelain models and other materials. Thirdly, they’re amazing. They tell different legends related to Christmas and they all take place in the same universe, culminizing in a massive crossover movie where they all team up to save Christmas in July.”
They continued to stare at her.
“Like the Avengers?” Mimi asked.
“Like the Avengers,” Lilly nodded.
“Are you coming, Emma?” Izzy asked.
Everyone turned to Emma, who was sitting on the end of the table and looking out the window, staring intently and not acknowledging anyone else.
“She’s peeing,” Mimi said. “I know that face anywhere. She lied about not having any more Pull-Ups and is keeping them all for herself.”
“I’m not peeing,” Emma said, still looking out the window. In the distance, she could see the middle school building. Every Christmas, Penny would sneak over to Emma’s table and make whatever craft her class was working on. It was easy because Penny was smaller than most of the girls in Emma’s class.
But now, Penny was in a different building, attending a Christmas party that consisted of a cookie and orange drink while they read quietly. And not only that, Penny wouldn’t want to sit with Emma anyway.
“I don’t know,” Emma said. “About the party, I mean.”
“I invited Penny,” Izzy said.
“She’s not going to come,” Mimi said.
“You don’t know that!” Izzy spat, not wanting her friendship uniting party to fall apart.
“Uh, yes I do.” Mimi said. “We live together. She told me.”
“She could change her mind,” Izzy said.
“Ha!” Mimi said. “Penny change her mind? She has a better chance of changing her own diaper.”
As luck would have it, Penny was across town in the middle school building, changing her own diaper. With the cold weather Penny had a justification to wearing clothes that could easily hide the Tru-Fit Goodnites.
Penny waited until quiet reading time, when everyone was crunching on their stale cookies, slurping loudly on their orange drink, and talking loudly amongst themselves. She sat back in her chair and pretended to read a book as she slowly peed herself.
It was the most thrilling experience she had ever had while holding a chapter book. When she started to be able to smell it, Penny went to the bathroom. As Penny had discovered one day earlier in the month, there was more fun to be had with the wet padding between her legs.
After finishing, Penny wadded the wet insert up in toilet paper and hid it at the bottom of the trashcan. She wiped herself off and slid the Tru-Fit underwear back on. Without the pad, they felt different. They weren’t the most comfortable thing she’d ever worn, and if she hadn’t secretly paid for them herself she probably would’ve just thrown it away.
Penny made sure not to look at herself in the mirror as she washed her hands and left. She felt disgusted in herself for many, many reasons. She had peed in a diaper like a child, the same thing she had shamed her best friends for doing. And, to make matters worse, she had done something she didn’t fully understand, and wouldn’t understand until that special day in sixth grade when the girls and boys went to different rooms for science class.
The worst thing about all this was that it was too late. She couldn’t go to Emma and just say, “Hello, I like peeing in diapers too. Have you tried rubbing yourself after? Want to be friends again?”
Their friendship was too far gone now. There was nothing that could bring them back together.
Nothing short of a Christmas miracle.
CHAPTER 2The girls had woken that day to a full flurry of snow piling up around their world. By the time they were off to school, the streets had plowed all the snow into large piles. Their play area, a dismal autumn mush had become a winter wonderland, recapturing the spirit of their summer fun.
Emma told all of the girls to meet her after school and to bundle up and bring their sleds. She offered them all an early Christmas present. While she handed them sealed boxes wrapped in colorful paper, she promised them they were festive winter hats that they should wear today.
When the girls went home and opened their presents, they were shocked to find something completely different.
“Nobody’s here yet,” Josie said as she stood with her sister, bundled up in multiple layers and standing in the freezing landscape that was once a playground.
“They’ll come,” Emma said as she spotted a figure on the edge of the park. “Look, here comes someone now.”
Mimi galloped through the snow and ran right up to Emma, leaping into a hug that knocked them both over.
“Thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou!”
“You’re welcome.”
Emma pushed Mimi off of her and the two stood up.
“What is she doing here?” Mimi asked, pointing to Josie.
“My sister is my new best friend,” Emma said, “And there is nothing wrong with that. Where is your sister at, hmm?”
Lilly appeared out of nowhere, somehow having snuck up on them, saying “Emma, you give the best Christmas presents.”
Izzy and Rena showed up next, dropped off by one of their parents in a car.
“Wait a minute,” Rena said, “You gave me a what?!”
“You didn’t open it?” Emma asked.
“You said it was a hat,” Rena pointed to her warm head. “I already have a hat, so no I didn’t even open it.”
“I did,” Izzy giggled.
“It’s not like I would even wear one of those,” Rena said.
“Oh come not,” Izzy said, “You’re still gonna be a party pooper?”
“You’re the ones who are all literally pooping at this party,” Rena said.
“You give me such a headache,” Lilly said, “Didja know that?”
“Heeeeey!” Susie ran up to them, panting as she arrived. “Thanks for the present, Emma.”
“Just glad I was able to drop it off in time,” Emma said.
“So are we gonna play freeze tag?” Lilly asked. It was their usual winter game.
“I had an alternative idea,” Emma said. “Diaper tag.”
“Diaper tag?” the others asked in unison.
“You tag someone only by hitting them on their bottom,” Emma explained. “And they can’t tag someone else... Until they pee.”
As everyone was going over the rules in their heads, Emma slapped Mimi in the behind and shouted, “Go!”
Everyone scattered, waddling in their snowsuits. It did not take long for Mimi to meet the requirements needed to be able to tag someone. Out of revenge for the recent events in the shed, Mimi tagged Josie.
Josie had only been sharing in Emma’s hobby for a short time. Everyone scattered and were soon twenty feet away from Josie, hiding behind the various playground equipment.
Josie stood there still and quiet for a moment. She didn’t move.
When it seemed as though nothing was happening Emma slowly approached Josie and said, “Hey, if you can’t do it, you don’t have to, okay? We can stop and--”
Josie gave her sister a light tap between the legs and said, “You’re it!” and then ran off. In that moment, the little seven year old who had locked them up in the rain have suddenly gained everyone’s respect.
“Why you little!” Emma giggled as she sought out her next victim.
A minute later, the title of “It” passed to Susie and then Lilly and then, after a rather long wait that ended with what sounded like an unpleasant fart, Lilly tagged Izzy.
Izzy scanned the playground, eyeing up every one of her friends who had all taken a turn.
“So that’s it?” Rena asked. “Game over? No one is left, after all.”
Izzy smiled and slowly approached Rena. “Not everyone.”
As Izzy tagged Rena and let out a cheer, their sporty friend was ready with a rebuttal.
“You can’t tag me,” Rena said. “I don’t have a diaper to tag or to pee in.”
“I never said the word diaper when describing the rules of Diaper tag,” Emma said as she approached. “You tag someone only by hitting them on their bottom And they can’t tag someone else until they pee. Diapers aren’t part of the game, they just make things easier.”
Rena looked around, everyone was suddenly surrounding her.
“You can’t be serious,” Rena said. “You’re really gonna make me do that?”
“You’re the only one who hasn’t,” Izzy said.
“She hasn’t ever ever,” Lilly clarified.
“I’d say you’re overdue,” Mimi said.
“Hi, I’m Susie. I think we met like twice,” Susie said, “But it is kinda fun.”
“We can stop playing Diaper Tag if you want,” Emma said. “But then we’ll just start playing Tickle Rena instead.”
“It’s just like Everyone is a Dinosaur Now,” Mimi explained. “But instead of everyone being a dinosaur, we just tickle you.”
The circle had soon closed in around Rena. There was no room to escape. And to make matters worse, she actually did have to pee.
“No,” Rena said. “I’ll hold it in even if it kills me.”
Everyone was just staring now, smiling and giggling.
“I mean if I was wearing a diaper, then maybe I’d think about it,” Rena wanted to back away, but there was nowhere to go.
The eyes didn’t go away.
It was suddenly like they were forcing her bladder to shrink with their gaze. “Come on, guys,” she said, “Let’s play something else.”
But they didn’t say a word. They just slowly crept closer and closer until Rena found herself locked in a cage of her weird friends.
“You guys are so.... Weird,” Rena whispered as she finally gave up and released a sigh of relief.
Everyone could tell what had happened instantly, and when they say the involintary smile on Rena’s face they knew they were all clear to celebrate by throwing their hands in the air and cheering.
“Look!” Josie pointed to the small yellow patch that had formed beneath Rena’s boot.
“Guess there won’t be any hiding this,” Rena said. And then, a second later, she came to a realization. She slapped Emma’s behind and yelled, “Tag!”
“What?” Emma watched as everyone scattered.
“But I already-” Emma stopped herself, realizing she hadn’t completely emptied her bladder during the excitement. It took her a moment to finish up, feeling the warmth overflow in her Pull-Up and form a warm trickle down the inside of her pants that left her with a slight yellow footprint.
The second half of Diaper Tag was less formal, with everyone simply running around and leaking, regardless of who held the title of “It.”
The girls found themselves lying on their backs in the snow, staring up at the bright sun above.
“I’m glad we’re all here,” Emma said.
“We’re not all here,” Rena said. “We’re missing Nicole.”
“And Penny,” Susie said.
“And Abigail,” Mimi said, eliciting a shock from everyone. “What? You all saw her pee her pants on stage and pass out. She’s one of us and we should treat her like one.”
“Yeah,” Susie said. “Whenever we had sleepovers she was always trying so hard to make sure I couldn’t see her diaper. If we just told her there was nothing wrong with it she’d be able to relax. Then maybe she wouldn’t have so many accidents.”
“You guys are my best friends,” Emma said. “But yeah. We’re not complete yet.”
They lay there for a while longer, wet both inside and out. It was a blissful, happy time. They had one of the greatest afternoons of their lives. They came together as friends.
And they had no idea how much trouble they were about to get in.
CHAPTER 3Christmas music was playing in the pharmacy as Penny made her way through every aisle. She couldn’t just make a b-line for her desired section, she had to make herself look like she was interested in other things. But she couldn’t exactly drive a shopping cart around. she was still a child, so she had to keep light on her feet and if anyone asked, which they obviously wouldn’t, she would simply say she was picking up a few things for her mom.
Eventually, after getting distracted for a few minutes by the colorful school supplies, Penny casually headed into the diaper aisle.
This wasn’t the kind of place she could linger. Penny had to grab what she came for and get out of there. She spotted her size of Tru-Fit Goodnites refill pads on the shelves and went to grab them, her hand bumping into another.
Penny looked next to her and found herself standing next to a girl, maybe a few years older than her, with short curly blond hair.
“Oh.” They both said.
The awkward silence did not last long. The girl grabbed a package and handed them to Penny.
“Word of advice,” she said, “Don’t be embarrassed.”
“They’re for my sister,” Penny lied.
“Sure,” the girl said as she grabbed her own package. “Y’know I’ve been wearing something or other like this since I was six.”
“Since,” she says. Penny couldn’t believe that. She herself stopped having accidents around then, but here this complete stranger admitted to still having them at her mature age.
“I stopped for a year or so,” the girl explained, “But it never really went away. I even liked them for a while. My mom let me wear them for like two years. Day and night.”
Penny thought this girl was sharing way too much.
“We’re just driving through for the holidays,” the girl explained, “My dad surprised us with a trip up to a cabin. This place is a lot colder than Virginia Beach.”
“I’m not embarrassed,” Penny said. “It’s complicated.”
“I had complications,” the girl said. “With my dad and my cousin and all sorts of different friends. Even a boy. For a while it stopped being a part of my life and I was okay with it. But there was a hole that needed to be filled.”
“Why are you telling me all this?” Penny asked, wanting to get down to the bottom of things.
The girl shrugged. “My problems first started around Christmas time so I’m feeling nostalgic. And I could tell just by looking at you that you needed some words of encouragement.”
“Okay,” Penny wasn’t exactly sure what this girl had said that was supposed to have been encouraging.
“Think about it like this,” the girl said, “Don’t let this stand in the way of you being happy. Let it be the thing that makes you happy. You can’t change who you are, so stop fighting it. If you want to go to sleepovers, do it. And if people make fun of you than they’re not your real friends. Don’t let this be a handicap. Be yourself, even if yourself wears diapers.”
A woman appeared in the aisle and said, “Come on Ariel, we have to get back on the road.”
As the girl disappeared, Penny questioned the entire experience. How was it that this girl knew exactly what to say? Had she been spying on her? Reading her mind? Was she even real? Had Penny just dreamt the entire encounter?
As Penny made her way to the counter, questioning her entire existence, she found herself standing at the back of the check out line behind Ariel and her mother.
“Oh,” they both said in unison again.
It was awkward.
***
When Penny returned home, it was just before dinner time. However, nothing was on the stove or in the oven. That could only mean that her mother had gotten distracted by something outrageously terrible.
Penny snuck passed her mother, who was screaming on the phone, and headed upstairs where she peaked into Mimi’s room. She found her sister wrapped up in a towel. It was as if she had just gotten out of the shower, but her hair and skin were dry.
“What’s going on?” Penny asked.
“Mom found out,” Mimi said, “About the diapers.”
Penny panicked on the inside. How did she know? Penny was smart enough to dispose of the pads on her own. She hand washed the underwear so they never turned up in the laundry. She had all sorts of air fresheners. Was that Ariel girl a spy?
“Wait a minute,” Penny asked, “Who’s diapers?”
“Mine,” Mimi said, “And Lilly’s and Susie’s and… Emma’s.”
“Oh,” Penny said. and then it hit her. “Ohhhhhhhhhhhh.”
CHAPTER 4The phones at the Shepard family house were off the hook that night. Mrs. Gaines called first to ask why Mimi had come home in a leaky Pull-Up. Apparently Mimi told her she bought them herself, but after calling around Emma was revealed as the source.
Mrs. French had suspected all along that there was something up with Emma. She knew a diaper butt when she saw one but assumed it was for a medical issue. She was furious to learn this was some new and disgusting hobby, especially after Lilly had been out lost in the rain for hours and returned with very, very soiled clothes.
Mrs. Young had no idea why Susie had arrived home in that state. Her sweet little girl would never want to do something like that. She choked this up to moving to a bad neighborhood where Susie’s mind was corrupted by Emma.
Mrs. Perez didn’t call. Izzy was always known to leak in her snow suit from time to time, especially on the exciting first real snowfall of the season.
But Mrs. Taylor called Mrs. Perez and told her that Rena had come home in soaking wet pants that reeked of urine.
All the phone calls pointed to one person: Emma Shepard.
Emma sat up in bed. She and Josie took turns showering after they got back inside and when they got out their mother simply told them to sit down and not go anywhere. They overheard the first few phonecalls, but the screaming started to drown out the rest.
“Are we in trouble?” Josie asked.
“Probably,” Emma said. “Yeah.”
“What’s going to happen to us?” Josie asked.
Emma shrugged. “They’ll take the diapers away. And probably send us to St. Harmony’s. We’ll live with Aunt Judith you’ll be in Olive’s class and I’ll never see my friends again.”
Mrs. Shepard walked in and said, “Josie, can I speak to Emma for a moment?”
Emma said goodbye to her sister and then patiently awaited the horror that was to come. Her mother sat down on her bed and smiled.
“Why didn’t you tell me you were sharing them with your friends?”
Emma shrugged.
“I’m not mad at you,” her mother said. “I stand by what I said before. I have nothing against you liking diapers. It’s better than you drinking or doing drugs. But you can’t give them to your friends unless their parents are okay with it.”
“I didn’t mean to get everyone in trouble,” tears were welling up in Emma’s eyes.
“Sweetie,” Emma’s mother grabbed her close and said, “Don’t worry about that. I’ll take care of everything.”
They remained like that for a while. The whole time, Emma wondered exactly what her mother planned to do.
***
Mrs. Shepard called the mothers of Harmony Hills together to get to the bottom of the situation at hand. She first confessed to allowing Emma to indulge in her diaper interests and then clarified that she had no idea Emma was distributing them among the children.
“Do you let her sleep in a crib too?” Mrs. Taylor asked. “Does she drink from a bottle and ride around in a stroller?”
“If this was for a medical reason that would be one thing,” Mrs. French said.
“Oh, it’s fine,” Mrs. Perez said, causing every eye to turn on her. “It’s just a phase. Isabella has always been a bedwetter to some degree or another. She wears diapers to bed more often than not and this is probably just another stage of her exploring herself.”
“A phase. Exactly,” Mrs. Shepard took command of the room again. “These girls aren’t going to college in diapers. They’ll probably get bored and move on to something new before Easter. Are they hurting anyone? Are they hurting themselves? I say as long as she doesn’t get a rash Emma can do what she wants. She never asks me to carry them for her. I have never changed her. Honestly I wouldn’t even be able to tell she was wearing them half the time.”
The room was suddenly coming around to Mrs. Shepard’s way of thinking. Until Mrs. Gaines spoke up.
“I had to buy Pull-Ups for Penny for what felt like eight years,” she said. “They smelled and were uncomfortable and embarrassing.”
“For you maybe,” Mrs. Shepard said. “I honestly think the girls just like they way they feel more than the ability to use them. And as far as expenses go? They’re not wearing them 24/7. They wear them as often as they watch cartoons or play video games. Sure, she might lounge around in one all weekend, but I don’t think Emma has ever worn them to school. I look around the room and see the wives of doctors and lawyers and businessmen. I think we can afford to fund our kid’s having some safe fun.”
No one spoke up in protest. Not even Mrs. Gaines.
“After all,” Mrs. Shepard finished, “It’s Christmas.”
CHAPTER 5Abigail stayed away from school for over a week after Thanksgiving. With the nerves that someone would discover her secret over with, she was having less accidents and now only lived with the shame of what had happened.
Her gaggle of minions gone, Abigail talked to no one at school, and sat in silence as she ate lunch with Susie.
Mrs. Shepard had retired Abigail from beauty pageants and dance class. Her quest to reclaim her lost childhood was over, and so she let Abigail live her life as as she pleased.
For Abigail, freedom from her mom meant she could sleep in when she wanted and not have to rehearse stupid dances. All of the stress was gone. Stress that she would disappoint her mother. Stress that her secret would be discovered. Stress that she would have an accident.
And yet she still had accidents. Only at night, and not every night. But they still happened. While she was no longer stressed to not disappoint her mother, Abigail now lived with the guilt from the fact that she eventually did disappoint her mother and brought about public shame.
It didn’t help that her mother lounged around the house nowadays, a constant reminder to Abigail of what she did.
At least Abigail had her father. He had always been sweet and gentle to her and now that her mother was in hell, her father had to be there for her. And since he knew she had a childhood that needed catching up on, he had nothing against taking her to the mall the same week of Christmas.
The mall was packed, to say the least. Since his brother was a head honcho at the mall, Abigail’s father got the best deals. But this day was not about spoiling Abigail, it was about spending time together.
“You wanna get a pretzel?” he asked her as they walked through the crowd. “The kind with cinnamon sugar? And a root beer?”
Abigail looked up at her father, smiled, and nodded. She hadn’t had something like that since she couldn’t remember when. That many calories would not sit well with her mother.
They grabbed a table on the perimeter of the child’s play area. Foam padded floors and large structures sat among a sea of toddlers screaming and running around and pulling each other’s hair.
“Remember when I used to let you run around and play in there?” Abigail’s father asked her. “And you would run into your cousins and their friends and create a whole society where the outside world didn’t exist. It was so cute watching you guys play together.”
“I pretended I was a dictator,” Abigail said, “And they were my slaves.”
There was an awkward silence, and then they both laughed.
“Now wouldja look at that,” her father asked, “That girl looks like she’s about your age. Dressed up like that in public?”
Abigail turned around to share in some people watching. Her smile disappeared when she realized who she was looking at.
“Daddy,” she asked, “Will you hold my shoes?”
Abigail made her way passed the screaming toddlers and found Nicole playing by herself. She was all dolled up for Christmas in red and green fabrics with her hair done up in big curls.
“Nicole?” Abigail asked, still not sure if that was her.
“Oh, hi, Abbie!” Nicole smiled.
Abigail cringed. No one called her Abbie. “Uhm… How are you doing?”
“I’m great!” Nicole cheered. “I’m just playing here while Miss Kathy is shopping.”
“Last minute Christmas shopping?” Abigail assumed.
Nicole shook her head. “Since she is gonna adopt me, she wants to buy some more stuff for my room.”
“You’re getting adopted?” Abigail seemed a bit distressed, but covered it up. “Well if that crazy lady wants to keep you like this than… Oh whatever. Merry Christmas.”
Abigail didn’t feel the need to insult Nicole, or anyone else for that matter. Her days as a tormenting witch were behind her. Instead, Abigail actually felt some legitimate concern for her old dance class acquaintance.
“Who was that?” Mr. Shepard asked as Abigail was putting her shoes back on. “Was that your little friend from dance? The former mayor’s daughter?”
“She’s not my… Yeah, that’s her.” Abigail finished tying her shoes and found her father still watching Nicole. “Apparently some crazy foster lady dresses her up like a baby. And now she is going to adopt her.”
“That’s not right,” Abigail’s father shook his head. “I have half a mind to go to this crazy foster lady’s house and give her a piece of my mind.”
“But,” Abigail asked, “Aren’t you an accountant?”
“And a golfer,” he said. “A golfer who knows lawyers and social workers and more. And I know a hardassed woman who needs a new project.”
Abigail turned and saw Nicole squatting and concentrating on something. Her father shook his head and decided it was time to go.
CHAPTER 6Rena was the first to arrive, since she lived just down the street from Izzy. The house was decorated in full Christmas mode, with wreaths and garlands and a massive tree in the middle of the living room. A dozen or so miniature Nativity scenes, and even more of the Three Kings, were all speckled throughout the first floor. However, Rena recognized those because, as Izzy constantly reminded people, “In Puerto Rico we keep them up all year round.”
Izzy greeted Rena in a beautiful red dress, looking almost like a little Mrs. Claus. Her hair was done in fancy curls and her feet covered in the most elegant socks.
Rena was in jeans and a t-shirt.
“Should I put this anywhere?” Rena asked about her overnight bag.
Izzy directed her to the designated sleepover location (the floor in front of the TV) and said, “There are cookies and egg nogs in the kitchen. Help yourself until everyone else gets here.”
Lilly came over next, equally as dressed down as Rena. Susie made up for it by arriving in a green dress that complimented her red hair.
“Izzy I had no idea your family was so,” Susie couldn’t think of the word, and then came up with, “Festive.”
“In Puerto Rico the Christmas season is a time for family and friends,” Izzy explained, “It technically doesn’t end until Three Kings Day.”
Everyone stared at her.
“What’s Three Kings Day?” Susie asked.
“What’s Puerto Rico?” Lilly asked.
Izzy sighed, shook her head, and walked off to answer the door as she muttered, “Estoy rodeado de idiotas.”
“Was she speaking Spanish?” Susie asked.
“Who is that and what has she done with Izzy?” Lilly asked.
Mimi was at the door, covered in snow that had recently begun to fall. “Sorry we’re late,” she said as she kicked the snow all over the foyer.
Everyone stopped, looked at each other, and then turned to Mimi.
“We?”
The door remained open as Penny entered, miraculously free of any snow. “Hi, guys,” she said. “So… Is Emma coming?”
Everyone turned to Izzy.
“Well,” their host said, “I mean she said maybe… But she didn’t say no?”
“This is crazy!” Susie declared, retrieving her coat and digging into her pockets.
“What are you doing?” Lilly asked.
“I got an early Christmas present,” Susie said as she pulled out a cellphone.
***
Emma was bored. She sat up on her bed flipping through a book she’d read over a hundred times. It was cold and dark outside, and she could hear the whirl of wind banging against her window.
Josie walked in, holding the cordless house phone. “Emma,” she said, “You have a phone call. It’s Susie.”
Emma sighed and took the phone, “Hello?”
“GET YOUR ASS DOWN HERE!”
Emma recoiled, pulling the phone away from her ear.
“Oh, sorry,” she said, “Hi, it’s Susie. Uhm… Are you coming to the party?”
Before Emma could say anything, she heard a strange shuffling noise and then a new voice.
“Emma, it’s Lilly. We’re starting the movies without you so if you don’t understand where Santa got his powers from that’s on you.”
There was another shuffle.
“This is Mimi. They have egg nog. I don’t know what it is but I love it.”
Another shuffle.
“Hi, Sorry. This is Izzy. You don’t have to come over if you don’t want. I understand.”
“Of for cryin out loud!” Lilly seemed to snatch the phone away again and was joined by Mimi and Susie in declaring, “PENNY IS HERE!”
Emma hit the end call button. Her heart was racing. Josie was still standing in the doorway, anxiously awaiting Emma’s reaction.
“Wanna go to a party?” Emma asked.
Josie smiled and nodded.
“Let’s go!”
Emma ran out the door. Josie stood there waiting for a moment until Emma slowly returned.
“Yeah,” Emma said. “I know.”
“You’re not wearing any pants,” Josie said, pointing to Emma’s not at all hidden Pull-Up.
“I said I know.”CHAPTER 7Nicole finished hanging the tiny ornaments on her tiny tree. She stood back and nodded at a job well done. It looked terrible. There was a sudden noise, then a series of noises. Nicole was scared.
She made her way to the entrance of the house where she saw Miss Kathy arguing with a woman she did not quite recognize.
“You have no right to enter my home,” Miss Kathy said.
“And you have no right to treat that child the way you have been,” the woman declared. “Social services has already be notified.”
“She wants to be here. She is happy.” Miss Kathy said.
“It doesn't matter,” the woman explained, “Once a report has been made they will follow through with a full investigation. Once they see what’s going on in here you’ll be gone and she’ll be out of here.”
They were going to take her away. That’s what Nicole gathered from what they were saying. She stepped back, causing the floor beneath her to creek. The adults turned and saw her. Frightened, Nicole scampered back to her room.
“Don’t worry,” an unknown voice said. “Leave her to me.”
Nicole was hiding in the furthest corner of her room with the lights off when a figure appeared in the doorway.
“Nicole?” the voice, a girl Nicole recognized.
“Go away!” Nicole screamed. “You’re going to take me away.”
Lights flickered on. Nicole saw her guest, Abigail, slowly abroach her.
“I’m not here to hurt you,” Abigail said. “I want to help.”
“I no need help, Abbie!” Nicole spat.
“Nicole,” Abigail said. “You are talking like a baby and dressing like a baby and acting like a baby. You need help. Serious, psychological help.”
“I need Miss Kathy,” Nicole said.
“Miss Kathy is part of the problem,” Abigail said. “This isn’t the way big girls are supposed to live.”
“I’m not a big girl,” Nicole whimpered. “I’m a baby.”
“You’re in the fourth grade,” Abigail said, trying to get through to her.
“I a baby!”
“You’re the best dancer I know,” Abigail said.
“I a baby!” Nicole started sitting up.
“You’re a tough girl who once put me in my place,” Abigail said.
“I baby!” Nicole was now standing on her feet, looking Abigail right in the eyes.
“And now I’m going to return the favor,” Abigail said. And then, to finally even the score, Abigail raised her hand into a fist and clocked Nicole so hard she fell down and landed on her butt.
For a moment, Abigail thought the waterworks were about to begin and the plan had failed. A second went by, Nicole sat there in shock. No tears. No screams. Nothing.
“I’m sorry,” Abigail said. “Your dad’s in jail. That sucks. Your mom ditched you when you were little. That sucks. Life sucks, Nicole. That’s… Kinda the point. It sucks, but you try to find the good in it. You have friends, people who care about you. They’ll help you. I’ll help you. Miss Kathy is not trying to help you. She is a weirdo.”
With that, Nicole sat up, grabbed her jaw and said, “Thank you.”
Abigail smiled and said, “For?”
Nicole smiled too. “Thank you, Princess Abigail for rescuing me from… All this.”
Abigail grabbed Nicole and helped her up.
“I’ve been drinking from a bottle,” Nicole said, “and sleeping in a crib and eating baby food.”
Abigail grabbed Nicole and pulled her in for a hug. “I know.”
“And I’ve been wearing diapers,” Nicole said, “I’m wearing one right now.”
“I know,” Abigail patted Nicole on the back of her head.
“I pooped,” Nicole said, “I pooped in my diaper.”
“Okay,” Abigail said. Her nose twinged. “That’s enough sharing for one night.”
“Okay,” Nicole said.
“And,” Abigail added, “if you ever call me princess again I will take you back here myself.”
Nicole giggled. “Deal.”
CHAPTER 8“SHE’S HERE!” Mimi screamed when the doorbell rang. Susie and Lilly raced with her to the front door and pulled it open. Josie found three older girls staring at her with quickly vanishing excitement.
“It’s just her sister,” Lilly sighed.
“Hey,” Emma said as she appeared behind Josie.
The girls rejoiced, pushed past Josie and dragged Emma into the living room.
“Some things never change,” Josie sighed as she closed the door.
Emma was dragged through the kitchen, where she quickly waved to Izzy and Rena, before she was pushed into what looked like a home office.
The girls shoved Emma inside and closed the door behind her.
“Guys?” Emma asked. She turned around and was greeted by a face that, while she was expecting, was still surprising to see.
“Hi,” Penny said.
For a moment, no one said a word. and then they both blurted out a series of inaudible apologies before they forced themselves to stop.
“Wait,” Emma said, “You’re sorry?”
“I knew you weren’t doing it to upset me,” Penny said. “I was just… I don’t know. At first I think I was offended. Then I was confused. Why didn’t you just come and tell me about it? And then I just didn’t understand.”
Emma said, “I am so, so-” but was cut off.
“But now I understand,” Penny said.
Emma was confused. “You understand? Understand what?”
Penny giggled. “Remember when we were kids, and I started kindergarten and came over afterwards to show you how proud I was that I got to wear Pull-Ups?”
Emma nodded. Penny smiled, and then lowered the waistband of her holiday themed sweatpants. Emma looked inside, and only saw regular purple cotton panties.
“I don’t get it?” she asked.
Penny curled the top of the underwear down, revealing the absorbent pad attached inside.
“NO. WAY!” Emma’s eyes grew wide with excitement and joy. “How? When? Why?!?!?”
Penny smiled. She grabbed Emma and brought her in for a hug. “Don’t worry about it for now. Just know that I am sorry we fought. Now can we please be best friends again?”
Emma laughed, tears in her eyes, and said, “Yeah.”
There was a sudden roar of applause. Emma turned around and both girls looked and saw the others cheering through the glass door. The doorbell rang. Izzy ran off as the others opened up and entered the office.
“Well the status quo has been restored,” Lilly said.
“Everything is back to normal!” Mimi cheered as they made their way through the kitchen to the living room.
“Not everyone,” Rena said quietly.
When they got to the living room, they all saw Izzy standing at an open door, with Abigail patiently standing on the porch.
“Abigail?” Emma asked, “What are you doing here?”
“I was invited,” Abigail said. “Wasn’t I?”
Izzy nodded. “We just didn’t think you’d come,”
“I wasn’t going to,” Abigail said. “I know I havn’t been the nicest person to any of you. And for that I am sorry. I was mean, selfish, spoiled, and a big brat.”
“Did you come here just to tell us all what we already know?” Lilly asked. “Or do you really want to sleepover with a bunch of little kids.”
Abigail put on a scowl, “Like I would ever want to hang out with you dweebs. I am only here because she needed a ride.” She dropped her scowl and winked.
Everyone was confused.
“She?” Izzy asked.
At that moment, someone walked up to the porch and stood next to Abigail. Her hair was long and straight, naturally hanging down to her neck. Her skins was dark, so much so they could barely see her in the the night. She wore a normal outfit, one they had all seen Abigail wear on a few occasions. She looked so familiar yet so strange, but they knew who it was right away.
“Nicole,” Rena whispered it first.
Others muttered it, not sure if they could believe it, not sure if they were ready for it to be true.
“Nicole!” Rena leapt across the foyer and grabbed her friend so tight, not wanting to let go. Izzy joined her, and soon the three were locked in an embrace that seemed like it would never end.
Abigail closed the door and walked up to Emma, who was standing next to Penny.
“I see you two made up,” Abigail said.
Emma was in shock. “Abigail, how did you-”
“My dad knows a guy who knows some people,” Abigail explained, “The details are all very boring. But basically crazy Miss Kathy is out of the picture.”
“She looks… Normal,” Lilly said. “At the Thanksgiving pageant she was everything Rena and Izzy said she was. Walking and talking like a baby and wearing diapers.”
“She just needed a good punch,” Abigail smiled.
Nicole broke from the embrace and said, “I’m not quite done with the diaper thing, but I can count past 10 again.”
“Where are you gonna live?” mimi asked.
“You can stay with me!” Izzy and Rena said in unison.
“The arrangements are already made,” Nicole said.
“So you’re going to another foster home,” Izzy frowned.
“Not exactly,” Abigail said.
Everyone turned to Abigail, and then Nicole, and then back to Abigail.
“WHAT?!” everyone asked together.
“My mom may have pushed me my whole life,” Abigail explained, “But I turned out okay. I’m sure she can mold Nicole back to normal in a few months.”
“Is that how social services work?” Lilly asked.
Abigail said, “Don’t worry about that. It’s not important right now.”
Emma was confused. “So you guys are like-”
“Sisters?” Josie asked.
“I’m not changing my name or anything,” Nicole said.
“But we will be living together,” Abigail said.
“It’s a Christmas miracle,” Izzy declared.
“Ay dios mio!”
Everyone turned around. Mrs. Perez stood in the hallway, grasping her beach ball sized belly. A puddle had formed beneath her feet.
“Holy crap, Izzy’s mom peed her pants,” Lilly said.
“Her water broke, you dummy,” Josie said.
“Oh,” Lilly said.
They all stared for a moment and then said, “Oooooh,” in unison.
Mr. Perez helped his wife onto the couch. “I just called the hospital, they’ll have a room ready for you as soon as we get there.”
“The girls,” Izzy’s mom said in a sweaty panic, “We can’t leave them here alone.
“I can’t get ahold of any of their parents,” he said, “We’ll have to take them with us.”
“You can’t can’t fit ten kids in the back of your car,” Emma said.
“Of course we can,” Mr. Perez said, “We’re Puerto Rican.”
CHAPTER 9The decorations at St. Harmony’s Memorial Hospital were nothing compared to the ones they had left behind at Izzy’s house.
A nurse got them all situated and sat them down in the waiting area as Izzy’s mom was rushed to delivery.
“The little girl’s room is right over there if anyone needs it,” the nurse said. No one seemed to respond.
“Emanuel is coming early,” Izzy giggled.
Mr. Perez finally got ahold of a few of the parents on the way to the hospital. The girls decided to stay. They had been through so much the past few months that now that they were all together they did not want to be separated so soon.
Susie sat down next to Abigail and said, “I’m sorry let your secret out.”
“It’s okay,” Abigail said, “I’m sorry I was mean to you, even though you were like my only friend.”
Susie smiled.
After a few hours of sitting around doing nothing, they were starting to regret the decision to stay at the hospital.
“You all can borrow some books from pediatrics,” the nurse said, “Just follow the rainbow line on the floor.”
“I’ll go!” Nicole instinctively jumped at the promise of pictures books. “I mean… Whatever.”
“I’ll go with you,” Josie offered.
As the two followed the rainbow trail, Josie spoke up and said “I know what you’re doing.”
“Hm?” Nicole looked down.
“Tricking them,” Josie said, “Pretending like you’re not a baby anymore. It’s okay. I’m pretending too. They think me and Emma kissed and made up and that was it? But she is still first born and I am still just her little sister. You might stop being a baby one day, but I’ll always be Emma’s little sister.”
Nicole hadn’t been around intellectual thought for a very long time, certainly not from a seven year old. She brushed it off and found her way to the children’s section with Josie.
Everyone was tired and ready for bed. They didn’t have time to change into their pajamas, or any other nighttime garments, but a few girls managed to grab their bags.
“I don’t know about these,” Emma said as she stepped out of the bathroom stall. In all the excitement and sitting around, Emma had wet her Pull-Up twice, the second time without even thinking twice it. She just let it out because she knew the situation at hand was more important. She had changed into one of Penny’s Tru-Fits. “I like the plasticy, papery feel of a regular diaper. This just feels like thick underwear.”
“Maybe Abigail could use them.” Penny said, “Or Nicole, or Izzy. Do any of our friends not wear diapers?”
“Rena,” Emma said as they left the bathroom, “But we’re working on it.”
When they arrived in the waiting area, everyone was gone.
“Where’d they all go?” Emma asked, to no one in particular.
A nurse walked by and said, “Room 107.”
Emma and Penny made their way inside, where they found the other girls surrounding the bed where Izzy’s mom held a newborn in her arms.
“Did you check?” Izzy asked.
Her parents both nodded.
“So we have to repaint the nursery?” Izzy asked, “And return all of the blue toys we got?”
“It’s a girl?” Emma asked.
“It’s a girl,” Mrs. Perez said. “12:01 AM. Do you girls know what they say about a child born on Christmas Eve?”
“That they’ll get jipped out of birthday presents?” Lilly suggested.
“They have to sleep in the stable?” Susie asked.
“They’ll turn into a werewolf?” Mimi asked.
Mrs. Perez smiled, “December 24th is the night when the brightest star shines above, a beacon calling all to come see the new child. And here she is, surrounded by family and friends. She is the luckiest little girl in the world tonight.”
The girls smiled and looked around. They were all lucky to have each other and see a real Christmas miracle.
CHAPTER 10By the time Emma had played with all her new toys, she could already feel the Christmas spirit fading away. As of December 30th, life was already beginning to slip back to normal. Soon she would be back at school.
The snow was already melting. It was warm enough that Emma could go outside and play in just a light jacket.
She found herself idling on the swings. It seemed as though everything was ending up just was she wanted. She was friends with Penny again. Nicole had returned to them. And even her evil cousin Abigail was saying nice things without her parents making her.
Emma almost missed the drama.
Lilly suddenly ran up to her. Whenever one of them went to the playground by themselves, the others seemed to know.
“You won’t believe what I got!” Lilly said.
“Some cartoon thing? A video game? What?” Emma was not in the mood to guess.
Lilly did indeed have a “cartoon thing.” She pulled down the front of her pants, showing off a blue Goodnite with Spider-Man swinging away.
“What? Where did you get that?” Emma asked.
“My mom sat me down and told me she understood and blah blah blah took me to the store to pick out any kind I wanted!” Lilly explained.
“So you got the boy’s kind?” Emma asked, confused.
“Helloooooo, Emma!” Lilly said, “It’s got Spider-Man on it!”
Penny and Mimi soon arrived, both with similar news.
“Mom just said, ‘Why not?’ and asked us what kind we want,” Mimi explained, revealing a strange sort of Pull-Up no one had ever seen before. “It’s Japanese, like me. We got it in Chinatown. It’s got weird little things on it.”
“Hey!” Lilly said, taking a closer look. “Those are from Monster Story. But the colors are all wrong. What knock offs!”
“What about you?” Emma turned to Penny, who pulled the elastic from her Tru-Fit up enough so Emma could see it.
“I stuck with the same.”
Susie showed up next, a simple larger sized Huggies between her legs. “I like to keep it simple,” she said. “And not being able to pull it down makes it more… Fun.”
Abigail and Nicole made an appearance soon.
“You all got diapers for Christmas?” Abigail asked.
“You gonna make fun of us?” Lilly asked.
“I wear them too, remember?” Abigail rolled her eyes.
“And wakes up wet more often than me,” Nicole jabbed her new sister.
The gloom had left Emma, she was now happy as can be. They had truly all gotten what they wanted. Nine really was her last birthday. In all the excitement, Emma found herself slowly swinging back and forth.
“We should call Rena and Izzy,” Emma said.
“Rena wouldn’t be caught dead in a diaper,” Lilly said.
“And Izzy is probably helping her mom change Noel,” Mimi said, “Probably doesn’t have time to change herself.”
“Then let’s go visit them,” Emma said, slowing picking up speed on the slide. “They don’t have to wear diapers to hang out with us. This isn’t some club. We’re friends. All of us. Together.” Emma pumped her legs harder than ever before. “And nothing is ever going to separate us again.”
Emma smiled and jumped for joy off the swing. Everyone watched in awe at how high and how far she went. In that moment, Emma was happier than she had been in a long time. Happier than the first time she tried on a Pull-Up. Happier than seeing all of her friends share that joy with her. Happier than finally reconnecting with Penny. That was the moment that Emma felt happier than she could possibly remember.
And then she landed on her feet, slipped on a patch of ice, and cracked her head open on a rock.
This is why Izzy wanted to throw a party for everyone. It was set for a day before Christmas Eve and would end in a sleepover, the first time Izzy ever hosted one. She was always afraid someone would find out she sometimes wet the bed or wore diapers for it sometimes. Now she had nothing to hide.
It was the week of Izzy’s party, the week of Christmas, and the girls all sat together in the school’s multi-purpose room as they constructed gifts for their parents. Christmas-themed gifts that would go out of style the same day they are opened. Christmas-themed gifts that the parents themselves had to pay for the supplies. Christmas-themed gifts the children really, really put their hearts into.
“And we’re gonna have gingerbread men,” Izzy said, “The normal kind and the upside down kind that look like reindeer.”
“Is there gonna be a pinata?” Lilly asked.
“It’s not anyone’s birthday,” Mimi said.
“Yuh-huh!” Izzy said. “It’s Jesus’s birthday. And then a week later it will be the day of his baptism. And then a week after that it will be my little brother’s birthday. We’re going to name him Emmanuel but I’m allowed to call him Manny if I want to.”
“Are you gonna have movies for the sleepover?” Rena asked.
Izzy nodded and said, “The Lion King and The Little Mermaid.”
“Izzy, those are baby movies,” Mimi said.
“And they’re not even Christmas movies,” Lilly said. “Don’t worry, I’ll bring my RBCU collection.”
Everyone stared at her in silence.
“You’re kidding?” Lilly could not believe it. “RBCU. The Rankin Bass Cinematic Universe. Rudolph? Nestor?”
“Oh,” Rena said, “Those claymation movies? Those are lame.”
“Okay, first of all,” Lilly counted with her fingers, “ They’re not lame. You’re lame. Second of all, they’re not claymation. They’re stop motion animation. Similar to claymation but using a combination of silicon and porcelain models and other materials. Thirdly, they’re amazing. They tell different legends related to Christmas and they all take place in the same universe, culminizing in a massive crossover movie where they all team up to save Christmas in July.”
They continued to stare at her.
“Like the Avengers?” Mimi asked.
“Like the Avengers,” Lilly nodded.
“Are you coming, Emma?” Izzy asked.
Everyone turned to Emma, who was sitting on the end of the table and looking out the window, staring intently and not acknowledging anyone else.
“She’s peeing,” Mimi said. “I know that face anywhere. She lied about not having any more Pull-Ups and is keeping them all for herself.”
“I’m not peeing,” Emma said, still looking out the window. In the distance, she could see the middle school building. Every Christmas, Penny would sneak over to Emma’s table and make whatever craft her class was working on. It was easy because Penny was smaller than most of the girls in Emma’s class.
But now, Penny was in a different building, attending a Christmas party that consisted of a cookie and orange drink while they read quietly. And not only that, Penny wouldn’t want to sit with Emma anyway.
“I don’t know,” Emma said. “About the party, I mean.”
“I invited Penny,” Izzy said.
“She’s not going to come,” Mimi said.
“You don’t know that!” Izzy spat, not wanting her friendship uniting party to fall apart.
“Uh, yes I do.” Mimi said. “We live together. She told me.”
“She could change her mind,” Izzy said.
“Ha!” Mimi said. “Penny change her mind? She has a better chance of changing her own diaper.”
As luck would have it, Penny was across town in the middle school building, changing her own diaper. With the cold weather Penny had a justification to wearing clothes that could easily hide the Tru-Fit Goodnites.
Penny waited until quiet reading time, when everyone was crunching on their stale cookies, slurping loudly on their orange drink, and talking loudly amongst themselves. She sat back in her chair and pretended to read a book as she slowly peed herself.
It was the most thrilling experience she had ever had while holding a chapter book. When she started to be able to smell it, Penny went to the bathroom. As Penny had discovered one day earlier in the month, there was more fun to be had with the wet padding between her legs.
After finishing, Penny wadded the wet insert up in toilet paper and hid it at the bottom of the trashcan. She wiped herself off and slid the Tru-Fit underwear back on. Without the pad, they felt different. They weren’t the most comfortable thing she’d ever worn, and if she hadn’t secretly paid for them herself she probably would’ve just thrown it away.
Penny made sure not to look at herself in the mirror as she washed her hands and left. She felt disgusted in herself for many, many reasons. She had peed in a diaper like a child, the same thing she had shamed her best friends for doing. And, to make matters worse, she had done something she didn’t fully understand, and wouldn’t understand until that special day in sixth grade when the girls and boys went to different rooms for science class.
The worst thing about all this was that it was too late. She couldn’t go to Emma and just say, “Hello, I like peeing in diapers too. Have you tried rubbing yourself after? Want to be friends again?”
Their friendship was too far gone now. There was nothing that could bring them back together.
Nothing short of a Christmas miracle.
CHAPTER 2The girls had woken that day to a full flurry of snow piling up around their world. By the time they were off to school, the streets had plowed all the snow into large piles. Their play area, a dismal autumn mush had become a winter wonderland, recapturing the spirit of their summer fun.
Emma told all of the girls to meet her after school and to bundle up and bring their sleds. She offered them all an early Christmas present. While she handed them sealed boxes wrapped in colorful paper, she promised them they were festive winter hats that they should wear today.
When the girls went home and opened their presents, they were shocked to find something completely different.
“Nobody’s here yet,” Josie said as she stood with her sister, bundled up in multiple layers and standing in the freezing landscape that was once a playground.
“They’ll come,” Emma said as she spotted a figure on the edge of the park. “Look, here comes someone now.”
Mimi galloped through the snow and ran right up to Emma, leaping into a hug that knocked them both over.
“Thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou!”
“You’re welcome.”
Emma pushed Mimi off of her and the two stood up.
“What is she doing here?” Mimi asked, pointing to Josie.
“My sister is my new best friend,” Emma said, “And there is nothing wrong with that. Where is your sister at, hmm?”
Lilly appeared out of nowhere, somehow having snuck up on them, saying “Emma, you give the best Christmas presents.”
Izzy and Rena showed up next, dropped off by one of their parents in a car.
“Wait a minute,” Rena said, “You gave me a what?!”
“You didn’t open it?” Emma asked.
“You said it was a hat,” Rena pointed to her warm head. “I already have a hat, so no I didn’t even open it.”
“I did,” Izzy giggled.
“It’s not like I would even wear one of those,” Rena said.
“Oh come not,” Izzy said, “You’re still gonna be a party pooper?”
“You’re the ones who are all literally pooping at this party,” Rena said.
“You give me such a headache,” Lilly said, “Didja know that?”
“Heeeeey!” Susie ran up to them, panting as she arrived. “Thanks for the present, Emma.”
“Just glad I was able to drop it off in time,” Emma said.
“So are we gonna play freeze tag?” Lilly asked. It was their usual winter game.
“I had an alternative idea,” Emma said. “Diaper tag.”
“Diaper tag?” the others asked in unison.
“You tag someone only by hitting them on their bottom,” Emma explained. “And they can’t tag someone else... Until they pee.”
As everyone was going over the rules in their heads, Emma slapped Mimi in the behind and shouted, “Go!”
Everyone scattered, waddling in their snowsuits. It did not take long for Mimi to meet the requirements needed to be able to tag someone. Out of revenge for the recent events in the shed, Mimi tagged Josie.
Josie had only been sharing in Emma’s hobby for a short time. Everyone scattered and were soon twenty feet away from Josie, hiding behind the various playground equipment.
Josie stood there still and quiet for a moment. She didn’t move.
When it seemed as though nothing was happening Emma slowly approached Josie and said, “Hey, if you can’t do it, you don’t have to, okay? We can stop and--”
Josie gave her sister a light tap between the legs and said, “You’re it!” and then ran off. In that moment, the little seven year old who had locked them up in the rain have suddenly gained everyone’s respect.
“Why you little!” Emma giggled as she sought out her next victim.
A minute later, the title of “It” passed to Susie and then Lilly and then, after a rather long wait that ended with what sounded like an unpleasant fart, Lilly tagged Izzy.
Izzy scanned the playground, eyeing up every one of her friends who had all taken a turn.
“So that’s it?” Rena asked. “Game over? No one is left, after all.”
Izzy smiled and slowly approached Rena. “Not everyone.”
As Izzy tagged Rena and let out a cheer, their sporty friend was ready with a rebuttal.
“You can’t tag me,” Rena said. “I don’t have a diaper to tag or to pee in.”
“I never said the word diaper when describing the rules of Diaper tag,” Emma said as she approached. “You tag someone only by hitting them on their bottom And they can’t tag someone else until they pee. Diapers aren’t part of the game, they just make things easier.”
Rena looked around, everyone was suddenly surrounding her.
“You can’t be serious,” Rena said. “You’re really gonna make me do that?”
“You’re the only one who hasn’t,” Izzy said.
“She hasn’t ever ever,” Lilly clarified.
“I’d say you’re overdue,” Mimi said.
“Hi, I’m Susie. I think we met like twice,” Susie said, “But it is kinda fun.”
“We can stop playing Diaper Tag if you want,” Emma said. “But then we’ll just start playing Tickle Rena instead.”
“It’s just like Everyone is a Dinosaur Now,” Mimi explained. “But instead of everyone being a dinosaur, we just tickle you.”
The circle had soon closed in around Rena. There was no room to escape. And to make matters worse, she actually did have to pee.
“No,” Rena said. “I’ll hold it in even if it kills me.”
Everyone was just staring now, smiling and giggling.
“I mean if I was wearing a diaper, then maybe I’d think about it,” Rena wanted to back away, but there was nowhere to go.
The eyes didn’t go away.
It was suddenly like they were forcing her bladder to shrink with their gaze. “Come on, guys,” she said, “Let’s play something else.”
But they didn’t say a word. They just slowly crept closer and closer until Rena found herself locked in a cage of her weird friends.
“You guys are so.... Weird,” Rena whispered as she finally gave up and released a sigh of relief.
Everyone could tell what had happened instantly, and when they say the involintary smile on Rena’s face they knew they were all clear to celebrate by throwing their hands in the air and cheering.
“Look!” Josie pointed to the small yellow patch that had formed beneath Rena’s boot.
“Guess there won’t be any hiding this,” Rena said. And then, a second later, she came to a realization. She slapped Emma’s behind and yelled, “Tag!”
“What?” Emma watched as everyone scattered.
“But I already-” Emma stopped herself, realizing she hadn’t completely emptied her bladder during the excitement. It took her a moment to finish up, feeling the warmth overflow in her Pull-Up and form a warm trickle down the inside of her pants that left her with a slight yellow footprint.
The second half of Diaper Tag was less formal, with everyone simply running around and leaking, regardless of who held the title of “It.”
The girls found themselves lying on their backs in the snow, staring up at the bright sun above.
“I’m glad we’re all here,” Emma said.
“We’re not all here,” Rena said. “We’re missing Nicole.”
“And Penny,” Susie said.
“And Abigail,” Mimi said, eliciting a shock from everyone. “What? You all saw her pee her pants on stage and pass out. She’s one of us and we should treat her like one.”
“Yeah,” Susie said. “Whenever we had sleepovers she was always trying so hard to make sure I couldn’t see her diaper. If we just told her there was nothing wrong with it she’d be able to relax. Then maybe she wouldn’t have so many accidents.”
“You guys are my best friends,” Emma said. “But yeah. We’re not complete yet.”
They lay there for a while longer, wet both inside and out. It was a blissful, happy time. They had one of the greatest afternoons of their lives. They came together as friends.
And they had no idea how much trouble they were about to get in.
CHAPTER 3Christmas music was playing in the pharmacy as Penny made her way through every aisle. She couldn’t just make a b-line for her desired section, she had to make herself look like she was interested in other things. But she couldn’t exactly drive a shopping cart around. she was still a child, so she had to keep light on her feet and if anyone asked, which they obviously wouldn’t, she would simply say she was picking up a few things for her mom.
Eventually, after getting distracted for a few minutes by the colorful school supplies, Penny casually headed into the diaper aisle.
This wasn’t the kind of place she could linger. Penny had to grab what she came for and get out of there. She spotted her size of Tru-Fit Goodnites refill pads on the shelves and went to grab them, her hand bumping into another.
Penny looked next to her and found herself standing next to a girl, maybe a few years older than her, with short curly blond hair.
“Oh.” They both said.
The awkward silence did not last long. The girl grabbed a package and handed them to Penny.
“Word of advice,” she said, “Don’t be embarrassed.”
“They’re for my sister,” Penny lied.
“Sure,” the girl said as she grabbed her own package. “Y’know I’ve been wearing something or other like this since I was six.”
“Since,” she says. Penny couldn’t believe that. She herself stopped having accidents around then, but here this complete stranger admitted to still having them at her mature age.
“I stopped for a year or so,” the girl explained, “But it never really went away. I even liked them for a while. My mom let me wear them for like two years. Day and night.”
Penny thought this girl was sharing way too much.
“We’re just driving through for the holidays,” the girl explained, “My dad surprised us with a trip up to a cabin. This place is a lot colder than Virginia Beach.”
“I’m not embarrassed,” Penny said. “It’s complicated.”
“I had complications,” the girl said. “With my dad and my cousin and all sorts of different friends. Even a boy. For a while it stopped being a part of my life and I was okay with it. But there was a hole that needed to be filled.”
“Why are you telling me all this?” Penny asked, wanting to get down to the bottom of things.
The girl shrugged. “My problems first started around Christmas time so I’m feeling nostalgic. And I could tell just by looking at you that you needed some words of encouragement.”
“Okay,” Penny wasn’t exactly sure what this girl had said that was supposed to have been encouraging.
“Think about it like this,” the girl said, “Don’t let this stand in the way of you being happy. Let it be the thing that makes you happy. You can’t change who you are, so stop fighting it. If you want to go to sleepovers, do it. And if people make fun of you than they’re not your real friends. Don’t let this be a handicap. Be yourself, even if yourself wears diapers.”
A woman appeared in the aisle and said, “Come on Ariel, we have to get back on the road.”
As the girl disappeared, Penny questioned the entire experience. How was it that this girl knew exactly what to say? Had she been spying on her? Reading her mind? Was she even real? Had Penny just dreamt the entire encounter?
As Penny made her way to the counter, questioning her entire existence, she found herself standing at the back of the check out line behind Ariel and her mother.
“Oh,” they both said in unison again.
It was awkward.
***
When Penny returned home, it was just before dinner time. However, nothing was on the stove or in the oven. That could only mean that her mother had gotten distracted by something outrageously terrible.
Penny snuck passed her mother, who was screaming on the phone, and headed upstairs where she peaked into Mimi’s room. She found her sister wrapped up in a towel. It was as if she had just gotten out of the shower, but her hair and skin were dry.
“What’s going on?” Penny asked.
“Mom found out,” Mimi said, “About the diapers.”
Penny panicked on the inside. How did she know? Penny was smart enough to dispose of the pads on her own. She hand washed the underwear so they never turned up in the laundry. She had all sorts of air fresheners. Was that Ariel girl a spy?
“Wait a minute,” Penny asked, “Who’s diapers?”
“Mine,” Mimi said, “And Lilly’s and Susie’s and… Emma’s.”
“Oh,” Penny said. and then it hit her. “Ohhhhhhhhhhhh.”
CHAPTER 4The phones at the Shepard family house were off the hook that night. Mrs. Gaines called first to ask why Mimi had come home in a leaky Pull-Up. Apparently Mimi told her she bought them herself, but after calling around Emma was revealed as the source.
Mrs. French had suspected all along that there was something up with Emma. She knew a diaper butt when she saw one but assumed it was for a medical issue. She was furious to learn this was some new and disgusting hobby, especially after Lilly had been out lost in the rain for hours and returned with very, very soiled clothes.
Mrs. Young had no idea why Susie had arrived home in that state. Her sweet little girl would never want to do something like that. She choked this up to moving to a bad neighborhood where Susie’s mind was corrupted by Emma.
Mrs. Perez didn’t call. Izzy was always known to leak in her snow suit from time to time, especially on the exciting first real snowfall of the season.
But Mrs. Taylor called Mrs. Perez and told her that Rena had come home in soaking wet pants that reeked of urine.
All the phone calls pointed to one person: Emma Shepard.
Emma sat up in bed. She and Josie took turns showering after they got back inside and when they got out their mother simply told them to sit down and not go anywhere. They overheard the first few phonecalls, but the screaming started to drown out the rest.
“Are we in trouble?” Josie asked.
“Probably,” Emma said. “Yeah.”
“What’s going to happen to us?” Josie asked.
Emma shrugged. “They’ll take the diapers away. And probably send us to St. Harmony’s. We’ll live with Aunt Judith you’ll be in Olive’s class and I’ll never see my friends again.”
Mrs. Shepard walked in and said, “Josie, can I speak to Emma for a moment?”
Emma said goodbye to her sister and then patiently awaited the horror that was to come. Her mother sat down on her bed and smiled.
“Why didn’t you tell me you were sharing them with your friends?”
Emma shrugged.
“I’m not mad at you,” her mother said. “I stand by what I said before. I have nothing against you liking diapers. It’s better than you drinking or doing drugs. But you can’t give them to your friends unless their parents are okay with it.”
“I didn’t mean to get everyone in trouble,” tears were welling up in Emma’s eyes.
“Sweetie,” Emma’s mother grabbed her close and said, “Don’t worry about that. I’ll take care of everything.”
They remained like that for a while. The whole time, Emma wondered exactly what her mother planned to do.
***
Mrs. Shepard called the mothers of Harmony Hills together to get to the bottom of the situation at hand. She first confessed to allowing Emma to indulge in her diaper interests and then clarified that she had no idea Emma was distributing them among the children.
“Do you let her sleep in a crib too?” Mrs. Taylor asked. “Does she drink from a bottle and ride around in a stroller?”
“If this was for a medical reason that would be one thing,” Mrs. French said.
“Oh, it’s fine,” Mrs. Perez said, causing every eye to turn on her. “It’s just a phase. Isabella has always been a bedwetter to some degree or another. She wears diapers to bed more often than not and this is probably just another stage of her exploring herself.”
“A phase. Exactly,” Mrs. Shepard took command of the room again. “These girls aren’t going to college in diapers. They’ll probably get bored and move on to something new before Easter. Are they hurting anyone? Are they hurting themselves? I say as long as she doesn’t get a rash Emma can do what she wants. She never asks me to carry them for her. I have never changed her. Honestly I wouldn’t even be able to tell she was wearing them half the time.”
The room was suddenly coming around to Mrs. Shepard’s way of thinking. Until Mrs. Gaines spoke up.
“I had to buy Pull-Ups for Penny for what felt like eight years,” she said. “They smelled and were uncomfortable and embarrassing.”
“For you maybe,” Mrs. Shepard said. “I honestly think the girls just like they way they feel more than the ability to use them. And as far as expenses go? They’re not wearing them 24/7. They wear them as often as they watch cartoons or play video games. Sure, she might lounge around in one all weekend, but I don’t think Emma has ever worn them to school. I look around the room and see the wives of doctors and lawyers and businessmen. I think we can afford to fund our kid’s having some safe fun.”
No one spoke up in protest. Not even Mrs. Gaines.
“After all,” Mrs. Shepard finished, “It’s Christmas.”
CHAPTER 5Abigail stayed away from school for over a week after Thanksgiving. With the nerves that someone would discover her secret over with, she was having less accidents and now only lived with the shame of what had happened.
Her gaggle of minions gone, Abigail talked to no one at school, and sat in silence as she ate lunch with Susie.
Mrs. Shepard had retired Abigail from beauty pageants and dance class. Her quest to reclaim her lost childhood was over, and so she let Abigail live her life as as she pleased.
For Abigail, freedom from her mom meant she could sleep in when she wanted and not have to rehearse stupid dances. All of the stress was gone. Stress that she would disappoint her mother. Stress that her secret would be discovered. Stress that she would have an accident.
And yet she still had accidents. Only at night, and not every night. But they still happened. While she was no longer stressed to not disappoint her mother, Abigail now lived with the guilt from the fact that she eventually did disappoint her mother and brought about public shame.
It didn’t help that her mother lounged around the house nowadays, a constant reminder to Abigail of what she did.
At least Abigail had her father. He had always been sweet and gentle to her and now that her mother was in hell, her father had to be there for her. And since he knew she had a childhood that needed catching up on, he had nothing against taking her to the mall the same week of Christmas.
The mall was packed, to say the least. Since his brother was a head honcho at the mall, Abigail’s father got the best deals. But this day was not about spoiling Abigail, it was about spending time together.
“You wanna get a pretzel?” he asked her as they walked through the crowd. “The kind with cinnamon sugar? And a root beer?”
Abigail looked up at her father, smiled, and nodded. She hadn’t had something like that since she couldn’t remember when. That many calories would not sit well with her mother.
They grabbed a table on the perimeter of the child’s play area. Foam padded floors and large structures sat among a sea of toddlers screaming and running around and pulling each other’s hair.
“Remember when I used to let you run around and play in there?” Abigail’s father asked her. “And you would run into your cousins and their friends and create a whole society where the outside world didn’t exist. It was so cute watching you guys play together.”
“I pretended I was a dictator,” Abigail said, “And they were my slaves.”
There was an awkward silence, and then they both laughed.
“Now wouldja look at that,” her father asked, “That girl looks like she’s about your age. Dressed up like that in public?”
Abigail turned around to share in some people watching. Her smile disappeared when she realized who she was looking at.
“Daddy,” she asked, “Will you hold my shoes?”
Abigail made her way passed the screaming toddlers and found Nicole playing by herself. She was all dolled up for Christmas in red and green fabrics with her hair done up in big curls.
“Nicole?” Abigail asked, still not sure if that was her.
“Oh, hi, Abbie!” Nicole smiled.
Abigail cringed. No one called her Abbie. “Uhm… How are you doing?”
“I’m great!” Nicole cheered. “I’m just playing here while Miss Kathy is shopping.”
“Last minute Christmas shopping?” Abigail assumed.
Nicole shook her head. “Since she is gonna adopt me, she wants to buy some more stuff for my room.”
“You’re getting adopted?” Abigail seemed a bit distressed, but covered it up. “Well if that crazy lady wants to keep you like this than… Oh whatever. Merry Christmas.”
Abigail didn’t feel the need to insult Nicole, or anyone else for that matter. Her days as a tormenting witch were behind her. Instead, Abigail actually felt some legitimate concern for her old dance class acquaintance.
“Who was that?” Mr. Shepard asked as Abigail was putting her shoes back on. “Was that your little friend from dance? The former mayor’s daughter?”
“She’s not my… Yeah, that’s her.” Abigail finished tying her shoes and found her father still watching Nicole. “Apparently some crazy foster lady dresses her up like a baby. And now she is going to adopt her.”
“That’s not right,” Abigail’s father shook his head. “I have half a mind to go to this crazy foster lady’s house and give her a piece of my mind.”
“But,” Abigail asked, “Aren’t you an accountant?”
“And a golfer,” he said. “A golfer who knows lawyers and social workers and more. And I know a hardassed woman who needs a new project.”
Abigail turned and saw Nicole squatting and concentrating on something. Her father shook his head and decided it was time to go.
CHAPTER 6Rena was the first to arrive, since she lived just down the street from Izzy. The house was decorated in full Christmas mode, with wreaths and garlands and a massive tree in the middle of the living room. A dozen or so miniature Nativity scenes, and even more of the Three Kings, were all speckled throughout the first floor. However, Rena recognized those because, as Izzy constantly reminded people, “In Puerto Rico we keep them up all year round.”
Izzy greeted Rena in a beautiful red dress, looking almost like a little Mrs. Claus. Her hair was done in fancy curls and her feet covered in the most elegant socks.
Rena was in jeans and a t-shirt.
“Should I put this anywhere?” Rena asked about her overnight bag.
Izzy directed her to the designated sleepover location (the floor in front of the TV) and said, “There are cookies and egg nogs in the kitchen. Help yourself until everyone else gets here.”
Lilly came over next, equally as dressed down as Rena. Susie made up for it by arriving in a green dress that complimented her red hair.
“Izzy I had no idea your family was so,” Susie couldn’t think of the word, and then came up with, “Festive.”
“In Puerto Rico the Christmas season is a time for family and friends,” Izzy explained, “It technically doesn’t end until Three Kings Day.”
Everyone stared at her.
“What’s Three Kings Day?” Susie asked.
“What’s Puerto Rico?” Lilly asked.
Izzy sighed, shook her head, and walked off to answer the door as she muttered, “Estoy rodeado de idiotas.”
“Was she speaking Spanish?” Susie asked.
“Who is that and what has she done with Izzy?” Lilly asked.
Mimi was at the door, covered in snow that had recently begun to fall. “Sorry we’re late,” she said as she kicked the snow all over the foyer.
Everyone stopped, looked at each other, and then turned to Mimi.
“We?”
The door remained open as Penny entered, miraculously free of any snow. “Hi, guys,” she said. “So… Is Emma coming?”
Everyone turned to Izzy.
“Well,” their host said, “I mean she said maybe… But she didn’t say no?”
“This is crazy!” Susie declared, retrieving her coat and digging into her pockets.
“What are you doing?” Lilly asked.
“I got an early Christmas present,” Susie said as she pulled out a cellphone.
***
Emma was bored. She sat up on her bed flipping through a book she’d read over a hundred times. It was cold and dark outside, and she could hear the whirl of wind banging against her window.
Josie walked in, holding the cordless house phone. “Emma,” she said, “You have a phone call. It’s Susie.”
Emma sighed and took the phone, “Hello?”
“GET YOUR ASS DOWN HERE!”
Emma recoiled, pulling the phone away from her ear.
“Oh, sorry,” she said, “Hi, it’s Susie. Uhm… Are you coming to the party?”
Before Emma could say anything, she heard a strange shuffling noise and then a new voice.
“Emma, it’s Lilly. We’re starting the movies without you so if you don’t understand where Santa got his powers from that’s on you.”
There was another shuffle.
“This is Mimi. They have egg nog. I don’t know what it is but I love it.”
Another shuffle.
“Hi, Sorry. This is Izzy. You don’t have to come over if you don’t want. I understand.”
“Of for cryin out loud!” Lilly seemed to snatch the phone away again and was joined by Mimi and Susie in declaring, “PENNY IS HERE!”
Emma hit the end call button. Her heart was racing. Josie was still standing in the doorway, anxiously awaiting Emma’s reaction.
“Wanna go to a party?” Emma asked.
Josie smiled and nodded.
“Let’s go!”
Emma ran out the door. Josie stood there waiting for a moment until Emma slowly returned.
“Yeah,” Emma said. “I know.”
“You’re not wearing any pants,” Josie said, pointing to Emma’s not at all hidden Pull-Up.
“I said I know.”CHAPTER 7Nicole finished hanging the tiny ornaments on her tiny tree. She stood back and nodded at a job well done. It looked terrible. There was a sudden noise, then a series of noises. Nicole was scared.
She made her way to the entrance of the house where she saw Miss Kathy arguing with a woman she did not quite recognize.
“You have no right to enter my home,” Miss Kathy said.
“And you have no right to treat that child the way you have been,” the woman declared. “Social services has already be notified.”
“She wants to be here. She is happy.” Miss Kathy said.
“It doesn't matter,” the woman explained, “Once a report has been made they will follow through with a full investigation. Once they see what’s going on in here you’ll be gone and she’ll be out of here.”
They were going to take her away. That’s what Nicole gathered from what they were saying. She stepped back, causing the floor beneath her to creek. The adults turned and saw her. Frightened, Nicole scampered back to her room.
“Don’t worry,” an unknown voice said. “Leave her to me.”
Nicole was hiding in the furthest corner of her room with the lights off when a figure appeared in the doorway.
“Nicole?” the voice, a girl Nicole recognized.
“Go away!” Nicole screamed. “You’re going to take me away.”
Lights flickered on. Nicole saw her guest, Abigail, slowly abroach her.
“I’m not here to hurt you,” Abigail said. “I want to help.”
“I no need help, Abbie!” Nicole spat.
“Nicole,” Abigail said. “You are talking like a baby and dressing like a baby and acting like a baby. You need help. Serious, psychological help.”
“I need Miss Kathy,” Nicole said.
“Miss Kathy is part of the problem,” Abigail said. “This isn’t the way big girls are supposed to live.”
“I’m not a big girl,” Nicole whimpered. “I’m a baby.”
“You’re in the fourth grade,” Abigail said, trying to get through to her.
“I a baby!”
“You’re the best dancer I know,” Abigail said.
“I a baby!” Nicole started sitting up.
“You’re a tough girl who once put me in my place,” Abigail said.
“I baby!” Nicole was now standing on her feet, looking Abigail right in the eyes.
“And now I’m going to return the favor,” Abigail said. And then, to finally even the score, Abigail raised her hand into a fist and clocked Nicole so hard she fell down and landed on her butt.
For a moment, Abigail thought the waterworks were about to begin and the plan had failed. A second went by, Nicole sat there in shock. No tears. No screams. Nothing.
“I’m sorry,” Abigail said. “Your dad’s in jail. That sucks. Your mom ditched you when you were little. That sucks. Life sucks, Nicole. That’s… Kinda the point. It sucks, but you try to find the good in it. You have friends, people who care about you. They’ll help you. I’ll help you. Miss Kathy is not trying to help you. She is a weirdo.”
With that, Nicole sat up, grabbed her jaw and said, “Thank you.”
Abigail smiled and said, “For?”
Nicole smiled too. “Thank you, Princess Abigail for rescuing me from… All this.”
Abigail grabbed Nicole and helped her up.
“I’ve been drinking from a bottle,” Nicole said, “and sleeping in a crib and eating baby food.”
Abigail grabbed Nicole and pulled her in for a hug. “I know.”
“And I’ve been wearing diapers,” Nicole said, “I’m wearing one right now.”
“I know,” Abigail patted Nicole on the back of her head.
“I pooped,” Nicole said, “I pooped in my diaper.”
“Okay,” Abigail said. Her nose twinged. “That’s enough sharing for one night.”
“Okay,” Nicole said.
“And,” Abigail added, “if you ever call me princess again I will take you back here myself.”
Nicole giggled. “Deal.”
CHAPTER 8“SHE’S HERE!” Mimi screamed when the doorbell rang. Susie and Lilly raced with her to the front door and pulled it open. Josie found three older girls staring at her with quickly vanishing excitement.
“It’s just her sister,” Lilly sighed.
“Hey,” Emma said as she appeared behind Josie.
The girls rejoiced, pushed past Josie and dragged Emma into the living room.
“Some things never change,” Josie sighed as she closed the door.
Emma was dragged through the kitchen, where she quickly waved to Izzy and Rena, before she was pushed into what looked like a home office.
The girls shoved Emma inside and closed the door behind her.
“Guys?” Emma asked. She turned around and was greeted by a face that, while she was expecting, was still surprising to see.
“Hi,” Penny said.
For a moment, no one said a word. and then they both blurted out a series of inaudible apologies before they forced themselves to stop.
“Wait,” Emma said, “You’re sorry?”
“I knew you weren’t doing it to upset me,” Penny said. “I was just… I don’t know. At first I think I was offended. Then I was confused. Why didn’t you just come and tell me about it? And then I just didn’t understand.”
Emma said, “I am so, so-” but was cut off.
“But now I understand,” Penny said.
Emma was confused. “You understand? Understand what?”
Penny giggled. “Remember when we were kids, and I started kindergarten and came over afterwards to show you how proud I was that I got to wear Pull-Ups?”
Emma nodded. Penny smiled, and then lowered the waistband of her holiday themed sweatpants. Emma looked inside, and only saw regular purple cotton panties.
“I don’t get it?” she asked.
Penny curled the top of the underwear down, revealing the absorbent pad attached inside.
“NO. WAY!” Emma’s eyes grew wide with excitement and joy. “How? When? Why?!?!?”
Penny smiled. She grabbed Emma and brought her in for a hug. “Don’t worry about it for now. Just know that I am sorry we fought. Now can we please be best friends again?”
Emma laughed, tears in her eyes, and said, “Yeah.”
There was a sudden roar of applause. Emma turned around and both girls looked and saw the others cheering through the glass door. The doorbell rang. Izzy ran off as the others opened up and entered the office.
“Well the status quo has been restored,” Lilly said.
“Everything is back to normal!” Mimi cheered as they made their way through the kitchen to the living room.
“Not everyone,” Rena said quietly.
When they got to the living room, they all saw Izzy standing at an open door, with Abigail patiently standing on the porch.
“Abigail?” Emma asked, “What are you doing here?”
“I was invited,” Abigail said. “Wasn’t I?”
Izzy nodded. “We just didn’t think you’d come,”
“I wasn’t going to,” Abigail said. “I know I havn’t been the nicest person to any of you. And for that I am sorry. I was mean, selfish, spoiled, and a big brat.”
“Did you come here just to tell us all what we already know?” Lilly asked. “Or do you really want to sleepover with a bunch of little kids.”
Abigail put on a scowl, “Like I would ever want to hang out with you dweebs. I am only here because she needed a ride.” She dropped her scowl and winked.
Everyone was confused.
“She?” Izzy asked.
At that moment, someone walked up to the porch and stood next to Abigail. Her hair was long and straight, naturally hanging down to her neck. Her skins was dark, so much so they could barely see her in the the night. She wore a normal outfit, one they had all seen Abigail wear on a few occasions. She looked so familiar yet so strange, but they knew who it was right away.
“Nicole,” Rena whispered it first.
Others muttered it, not sure if they could believe it, not sure if they were ready for it to be true.
“Nicole!” Rena leapt across the foyer and grabbed her friend so tight, not wanting to let go. Izzy joined her, and soon the three were locked in an embrace that seemed like it would never end.
Abigail closed the door and walked up to Emma, who was standing next to Penny.
“I see you two made up,” Abigail said.
Emma was in shock. “Abigail, how did you-”
“My dad knows a guy who knows some people,” Abigail explained, “The details are all very boring. But basically crazy Miss Kathy is out of the picture.”
“She looks… Normal,” Lilly said. “At the Thanksgiving pageant she was everything Rena and Izzy said she was. Walking and talking like a baby and wearing diapers.”
“She just needed a good punch,” Abigail smiled.
Nicole broke from the embrace and said, “I’m not quite done with the diaper thing, but I can count past 10 again.”
“Where are you gonna live?” mimi asked.
“You can stay with me!” Izzy and Rena said in unison.
“The arrangements are already made,” Nicole said.
“So you’re going to another foster home,” Izzy frowned.
“Not exactly,” Abigail said.
Everyone turned to Abigail, and then Nicole, and then back to Abigail.
“WHAT?!” everyone asked together.
“My mom may have pushed me my whole life,” Abigail explained, “But I turned out okay. I’m sure she can mold Nicole back to normal in a few months.”
“Is that how social services work?” Lilly asked.
Abigail said, “Don’t worry about that. It’s not important right now.”
Emma was confused. “So you guys are like-”
“Sisters?” Josie asked.
“I’m not changing my name or anything,” Nicole said.
“But we will be living together,” Abigail said.
“It’s a Christmas miracle,” Izzy declared.
“Ay dios mio!”
Everyone turned around. Mrs. Perez stood in the hallway, grasping her beach ball sized belly. A puddle had formed beneath her feet.
“Holy crap, Izzy’s mom peed her pants,” Lilly said.
“Her water broke, you dummy,” Josie said.
“Oh,” Lilly said.
They all stared for a moment and then said, “Oooooh,” in unison.
Mr. Perez helped his wife onto the couch. “I just called the hospital, they’ll have a room ready for you as soon as we get there.”
“The girls,” Izzy’s mom said in a sweaty panic, “We can’t leave them here alone.
“I can’t get ahold of any of their parents,” he said, “We’ll have to take them with us.”
“You can’t can’t fit ten kids in the back of your car,” Emma said.
“Of course we can,” Mr. Perez said, “We’re Puerto Rican.”
CHAPTER 9The decorations at St. Harmony’s Memorial Hospital were nothing compared to the ones they had left behind at Izzy’s house.
A nurse got them all situated and sat them down in the waiting area as Izzy’s mom was rushed to delivery.
“The little girl’s room is right over there if anyone needs it,” the nurse said. No one seemed to respond.
“Emanuel is coming early,” Izzy giggled.
Mr. Perez finally got ahold of a few of the parents on the way to the hospital. The girls decided to stay. They had been through so much the past few months that now that they were all together they did not want to be separated so soon.
Susie sat down next to Abigail and said, “I’m sorry let your secret out.”
“It’s okay,” Abigail said, “I’m sorry I was mean to you, even though you were like my only friend.”
Susie smiled.
After a few hours of sitting around doing nothing, they were starting to regret the decision to stay at the hospital.
“You all can borrow some books from pediatrics,” the nurse said, “Just follow the rainbow line on the floor.”
“I’ll go!” Nicole instinctively jumped at the promise of pictures books. “I mean… Whatever.”
“I’ll go with you,” Josie offered.
As the two followed the rainbow trail, Josie spoke up and said “I know what you’re doing.”
“Hm?” Nicole looked down.
“Tricking them,” Josie said, “Pretending like you’re not a baby anymore. It’s okay. I’m pretending too. They think me and Emma kissed and made up and that was it? But she is still first born and I am still just her little sister. You might stop being a baby one day, but I’ll always be Emma’s little sister.”
Nicole hadn’t been around intellectual thought for a very long time, certainly not from a seven year old. She brushed it off and found her way to the children’s section with Josie.
Everyone was tired and ready for bed. They didn’t have time to change into their pajamas, or any other nighttime garments, but a few girls managed to grab their bags.
“I don’t know about these,” Emma said as she stepped out of the bathroom stall. In all the excitement and sitting around, Emma had wet her Pull-Up twice, the second time without even thinking twice it. She just let it out because she knew the situation at hand was more important. She had changed into one of Penny’s Tru-Fits. “I like the plasticy, papery feel of a regular diaper. This just feels like thick underwear.”
“Maybe Abigail could use them.” Penny said, “Or Nicole, or Izzy. Do any of our friends not wear diapers?”
“Rena,” Emma said as they left the bathroom, “But we’re working on it.”
When they arrived in the waiting area, everyone was gone.
“Where’d they all go?” Emma asked, to no one in particular.
A nurse walked by and said, “Room 107.”
Emma and Penny made their way inside, where they found the other girls surrounding the bed where Izzy’s mom held a newborn in her arms.
“Did you check?” Izzy asked.
Her parents both nodded.
“So we have to repaint the nursery?” Izzy asked, “And return all of the blue toys we got?”
“It’s a girl?” Emma asked.
“It’s a girl,” Mrs. Perez said. “12:01 AM. Do you girls know what they say about a child born on Christmas Eve?”
“That they’ll get jipped out of birthday presents?” Lilly suggested.
“They have to sleep in the stable?” Susie asked.
“They’ll turn into a werewolf?” Mimi asked.
Mrs. Perez smiled, “December 24th is the night when the brightest star shines above, a beacon calling all to come see the new child. And here she is, surrounded by family and friends. She is the luckiest little girl in the world tonight.”
The girls smiled and looked around. They were all lucky to have each other and see a real Christmas miracle.
CHAPTER 10By the time Emma had played with all her new toys, she could already feel the Christmas spirit fading away. As of December 30th, life was already beginning to slip back to normal. Soon she would be back at school.
The snow was already melting. It was warm enough that Emma could go outside and play in just a light jacket.
She found herself idling on the swings. It seemed as though everything was ending up just was she wanted. She was friends with Penny again. Nicole had returned to them. And even her evil cousin Abigail was saying nice things without her parents making her.
Emma almost missed the drama.
Lilly suddenly ran up to her. Whenever one of them went to the playground by themselves, the others seemed to know.
“You won’t believe what I got!” Lilly said.
“Some cartoon thing? A video game? What?” Emma was not in the mood to guess.
Lilly did indeed have a “cartoon thing.” She pulled down the front of her pants, showing off a blue Goodnite with Spider-Man swinging away.
“What? Where did you get that?” Emma asked.
“My mom sat me down and told me she understood and blah blah blah took me to the store to pick out any kind I wanted!” Lilly explained.
“So you got the boy’s kind?” Emma asked, confused.
“Helloooooo, Emma!” Lilly said, “It’s got Spider-Man on it!”
Penny and Mimi soon arrived, both with similar news.
“Mom just said, ‘Why not?’ and asked us what kind we want,” Mimi explained, revealing a strange sort of Pull-Up no one had ever seen before. “It’s Japanese, like me. We got it in Chinatown. It’s got weird little things on it.”
“Hey!” Lilly said, taking a closer look. “Those are from Monster Story. But the colors are all wrong. What knock offs!”
“What about you?” Emma turned to Penny, who pulled the elastic from her Tru-Fit up enough so Emma could see it.
“I stuck with the same.”
Susie showed up next, a simple larger sized Huggies between her legs. “I like to keep it simple,” she said. “And not being able to pull it down makes it more… Fun.”
Abigail and Nicole made an appearance soon.
“You all got diapers for Christmas?” Abigail asked.
“You gonna make fun of us?” Lilly asked.
“I wear them too, remember?” Abigail rolled her eyes.
“And wakes up wet more often than me,” Nicole jabbed her new sister.
The gloom had left Emma, she was now happy as can be. They had truly all gotten what they wanted. Nine really was her last birthday. In all the excitement, Emma found herself slowly swinging back and forth.
“We should call Rena and Izzy,” Emma said.
“Rena wouldn’t be caught dead in a diaper,” Lilly said.
“And Izzy is probably helping her mom change Noel,” Mimi said, “Probably doesn’t have time to change herself.”
“Then let’s go visit them,” Emma said, slowing picking up speed on the slide. “They don’t have to wear diapers to hang out with us. This isn’t some club. We’re friends. All of us. Together.” Emma pumped her legs harder than ever before. “And nothing is ever going to separate us again.”
Emma smiled and jumped for joy off the swing. Everyone watched in awe at how high and how far she went. In that moment, Emma was happier than she had been in a long time. Happier than the first time she tried on a Pull-Up. Happier than seeing all of her friends share that joy with her. Happier than finally reconnecting with Penny. That was the moment that Emma felt happier than she could possibly remember.
And then she landed on her feet, slipped on a patch of ice, and cracked her head open on a rock.