Chapter 1
Even though she hadn’t had an early rehearsal since Thanksgiving, Abigail still woke at the crack of dawn each morning. Even today, on a Saturday, Abigail was up before the sun made its way through the overcast above Harmony Hills. However, even though Abigail was still waking up at her normal time, her routine had greatly changed.
Abigail kicked the blanket off of her and slumped out of bed. She skipped the make-up, the aerobics, she didn’t even bother to brush her teeth. Conveniently not wearing pants, Abigail scratched an itch on her rear and adjusted her damp Goodnite back into place. She left her bedroom with a slight waddle and explored the hallway.
Her parents bedroom was empty.
Their guest room, which was now Nicole’s room, was empty save for the various symbols of her new sister’s identity crisis. Advanced reading books lined a bright pink bookshelf. An oriental rug was draped across the floor, covered in Abigail’s old dolls and stains. The stains were Nicole’s, not Abigail’s. Well, a few of them might have been Abigail’s.
The bathroom door was open, the inside smelled of an air freshener with a slight hint of feces. Abigail closed the door and moved on.
Downstairs, Abigail found a note on the fridge. It was from her father and read: “Got called in. How’s about my three favorite ladies treat themselves to a nice brunch?” Taped to the note was a few twenty dollar bills.
On the kitchen counter, covered by breakfast leftovers, as another note. This one, from her mother, read: “Taking Nicole to the ballet. Or the new Disney movie. We’ll see how she’s feeling. You two order pizza or something.” Another bundle of cash was positioned near this message.
Abigail sighed.
She folded all the cash together and stuffed it in the pocket of her long sleeved pajama shirt. Then, Abigail taped the note from the counter to the fridge, right next to the other one. Lastly, she cracked the ice box open and took a look inside.
The finest fridge money could buy was filled with last month’s old produce and packaged food. Nothing too exciting. Nothing that Abigail had the skills to prepare herself. She was skilled enough to order a pizza, and had the money to do so. But she didn’t feel like pizza was an appropriate breakfast.
In the back of the fridge was an old pound cake wrapped in tin foil. She pulled it out and set it on the table where she unwrapped it. Then, she stuck twelve candles in it, lit them with the matches her father thought he hid well, and blew out all twelve of them in one breath. She sighed.
By six o’clock in the morning, Abigail had eaten the entire cake and wet her Goodnite again. As she was getting ready for a shower, the wad of money fell out of her shirt. She picked up and and counted it out. There was over fifty bucks. In the eyes of a new twelve year old, Abigail was a millionaire.
She counted it out again. And then she smiled and said, “Uh oh.”
Chapter 2
Mimi had grown more and more accustomed to Abigail’s house as the two became closer. Nicole being there was also a plus. However, Mimi was not used to being invited over so early on a Saturday morning.
The front door was unlocked. Mimi was never big on doorbells so she let herself in.
“Abigail?” she called throughout the foyer. “I’m here.”
Neither Mimi nor Abigail had ever seen Risky Business, but had seen the film’s most famous moment parodied enough that Abigail’s recreation of it was not lost on Mimi.
Abigail slid in wearing nothing but her dad’s oversized shirt, socks, a Goodnite, and her mother’s sunglasses. In her hand she held up one of her old pageant trophies, like a microphone. And that was it. No music. No dancing. Just Abigail standing there with her back turned to a confused Mimi.
“Is this why you wanted me to come over?”
Abigail turned around and revealed what was in her hand: a huge wad of cash. “Look what my parents left me.”
“Holy crap!” Mimi said. “What do you mean they left you? Are you an orphan now?”
“Daddy went to work and mommy took baby sister out on the town,” Abigail explained. “That leaves me and you to order five large pizzas just for us.”
“I can’t eat all that,” Mimi said. “I’m not Lilly.”
“Well then get her over here,” Abigail said, tossing her cellphone to Mimi. “Then we’ll call Susie and Penny and Emma and Izzy and everyone else.”
The last thing Mimi wanted to do right now was hang out with Emma and Izzy. She tried to find something to change the subject, so she examined Abigail’s ensemble and noticed her Goodnite.
“I see you woke up dry,” Mimi said. “Congrats.”
Abigail shook her head and said, “Woke up wet, peed again, then put on another one.”
Mimi could not believe the harrasy she was hearing. “You peed… On purpose? And then put on another one?”
“Why not?” Abigail shrugged. “That’s what all the kids are doing these days, right?”
“Yeah but we’re stupid,” Mimi said. “And we’re nine. You’re like… Eleven.”
Abigail didn’t correct her. “Look consider it me making up for all those years of being mean to you guys? Free weekend party at my big house with no adults. Run as fast as you want. Scream as loud as you want. Pee in whatever you want.”
Mimi couldn’t see Abigail’s eyes through the sunglasses. But it’s not like Abigail’s eyes really would have swayed Mimi that much. As she said, she was stupid. Mimi dropped her jeans, standing in nothing but her shirt and a pair of her Japanese training pants.
“How do you feel?” Abigail asked.
“Like I am wearing a diaper,” Mimi said, “Which is how I feel every day.”
“Have you ever worn a diaper in my house?” Abigail asked.
“Yes.”
“Have you ever wet a diaper in my house?” Abigail asked.
“Yes.”
“Have you ever wet a diaper so much it leaked all over the place in my house?” Abigail asked.
“Yes.”
“Ew! When?” Abigail asked, disgusted.
“Remember when you tried to give me Princess Leia hair?” Mimi asked. “And it took so long and then you screwed it up and started over and then it got worse so you gave up.”
“WHILE YOU WERE SITTING ON MY MAKE-UP CHAIR?!” Abigail shrieked.
Mimi stepped back. This was not Abigail, her new best friend. It was the old Abigail. The one who lied to them and manipulated them and treated them all like dirt to make herself feel better about her own horrible life.
This was not the first time the beast has awoken. Mimi knew there was only one thing she could do.
“I’ll call the others,” she said.
Abigail simmered down. She didn’t apologize. Instead, she didn’t even seem aware it had happened. “Good,” she said. “After everyone gets here I’ll order the pizza. And then we can celebrate.”
Before Abigail turned around, Mimi caught a glimpse of the slight change in color that had appeared on Abigail’s Goodnite, most likely during her brief outburst.
When Abigail was out of sight, Mimi started dialing as she asked herself, “Celebrate what?”
Chapter 3
Josie walked into Emma’s room, where she found her sister smiling at something on her phone, and said, “Mimi called. Big party at Abigail’s.”
Emma hid her phone and asked, “Wait, what? Mimi is inviting me to Abigail’s house?”
“It sounded like Abigail is going through an identity crisis, just like the rest of you,” Josie explained. “She’s doing so in a self-destructive fashion, it seems. Apparently it’s a diaper party, so you can wear whatever and if it leaks on the fancy rug it’s okay because her parents left her alone with a lot of money.”
“You know I hate it when you talk like that,” Emma said. “All grown up and smart. And why is Mimi calling to invite us to Abigail’s party?”
“They’re best friends now,” Josie said, “Just like you and Izzy are, right?”
Emma blushed, then shook it off. “Are you going?”
“Eh,” Josie shrugged. “Not my scene.” And then she left.
“I liked you better when you didn’t talk!” Emma called. That was a lie. Her and Josie had been getting along more, but they were hardly best friends like she was with Penny and Lilly or Izzy. But Josie’s comment about Izzy caught Emma off guard.
Did she know? What was there even to know? Emma didn’t really even understand it for herself. She liked her sister. She liked her cousin. She liked her friends. But she liked Izzy just a little bit more. More than a best friend. More than a friend at all.
She liked spending time with Izzy, just the two of them. She liked holding hands with Izzy. She even liked that one, single time when Izzy kissed her on the cheek. She wanted to do all of that with Izzy. With only Izzy. Without anyone else knowing. It was their own personal private fun that she didn’t want anyone else to be involved in. But she didn’t know why.
Emma looked down at her phone, she had gotten a few new texts during her conversation with Josie. They were all from Izzy, growing more and more concerned as to why Emma had not texted her in the past few minutes.
“Uh oh,” Emma said.
***
“So how did that play go?” Abigail asked as she and Mimi lounged about on the floor in front of the TV. “Nicole came home from it in 9 Year Old Mode and wouldn’t say a word about it.”
Mimi giggled. “She was probably embarrassed about what her 3 Year Old Mode self did. Dancing like an idiot, it was a lot different from what she does at the recitals and dance class stuff you guys do.”
“Used to do,” Abigail reminded her. “You had the lead role, right?”
Mimi nodded. Before she could say more, the doorbell rang.
“You get it,” Abigail hopped up. “I wanna do the Risky Business thing again.”
Mimi rolled her eyes and said, “Come on,” and grabbed Abigail by her dad’s shirt and pulled her to the door.
“Hey, Red,” Abigail said to Susie. “I’m calling you Red now, by the way.”
“Oh,” Susie thought about it. “I don’t know if I like that or not.”
“Whatever,” Abigail said. “Lose the pants, this is a diaper-only zone.”
Susie complied, undoing her jeans and revealing a purple Tru-Fit Goodnite underneath.
“No more Huggies?” Mimi asked.
“Well they stopped fitting me,” Susie said. And then she blushed and added, “These come highly recommended from Penny. Is she coming? I mean is she going to be here?”
Abigail turned to Mimi and asked, “Did you call her?”
“Why am I in charge of calling everyone?” Mimi asked.
“Remember how you said you wanted to be a party planner when you grow up?” Abigail asked.
“I told you I wanted to be a panda wizard,” Mimi said.
“Oh that’s right,” Abigail said. “I need more friends my age.” She turned to a smiling Susie and said, “The diaper thing is going to pose a problem.”
Emma arrived next, followed by Lilly who wouldn’t stop talking about her new boyfriend Zachary. Later, Izzy showed up, having been dropped off by her mother. Penny was out shopping, so that was as big as the party was going to get.
Abigail ordered a cheese pizza, a meat lover’s pizza, an order of garlic bread, an order of cheesy garlic bread, an order of breadsticks, two chocolate lava cakes, and a Diet Pepsi. And then, when everyone’s diapered butts were settled in, Abigail took them all into the living room and proclaimed:
“Truth or dare.”
Chapter 4
“Are you serious?” Emma asked.
“Truth or dare is what big kids play at parties,” Abigail explained.
“But we’re not big kids,” Lilly said.
“Yeah,” Mimi said. “Everyone here is still in elementary school and we’re all wearing diapers.”
“I kinda thought we were going to play diaper tag,” Susie said.
“The game Emma made up?” Izzy smiled.
“We’re playing truth or dare!”Abigail said. She forced everyone to sit down and explained the rules. “We go from youngest to oldest. The truth has to be answered right away and the dare has to be something doable right here in the house. And you can’t dare someone to say a truth. So who is the youngest?”
Everyone turned to Izzy.
“Dare,” Izzy spat out. “I mean truth. No dare. Wait, who is going to ask me?” Izzy asked.
“Anybody have one?” Abigail asked.
“Show us your butt,” Lilly said.
“No!” Emma declared. Everyone agreed.
“No, I mean,” Lilly explained. “She’s Puerto Rican right? I heard Puerto Rican girls have tails and the boys have horns.”
“Isn’t it enough that I’m wearing a Pull-Up?” Izzy asked. Everyone stared at her. “Fine.” She stood up, turned around, and lowered her diaper enough to reveal her normal, healthy tailbone. “You’re next, Lilly. And I dare you to not eat any of the chocolate cake that Abigail ordered.”
“Not fair!” Lilly screamed.
“It’ll do you some good, chubby,” Mimi giggled.
“Zachary happens to like my healthy physique,” Lilly said proudly. “And since your next Mimi, I dare you to-”
“Truth!” Mimi smiled.
“Oh yeah,” Lilly said. “I forgot about that. Hey that means I can still eat the cake if I say truth, right?”
Abigail shook her head. “You called on Mimi, so we’re moving on.”
Mimi stuck her tongue out at Lilly.
“Okay,” Lilly said. “Then tell me the truth: How did you get the lead role in the class play? You were terrible in it. Did you suck up to the teacher or something?”
“Actually,” Mimi said, “He gave the role to Courtney but she didn’t want it and pretended to lose her voice and I was the only one who didn’t audition cus I was sick that day, so he had to give it to me.”
“Me next!” Susie said, “And I pick truth!”
“Why did you move to Harmony Hills?” Emma asked.
“Everyone in Salt Lake City was something called a Mormon,” Susie explained. “We were Mormons too, but my dad decided he didn’t want us to be anymore, so we left.”
“Boring,” Abigail said.
“Well you’re next,” Susie said, “Truth or dare.”
“Dare,” Abigail said all cool and suave.
“I got one,” Mimi said. “I dare you to call one of your parents and tell them that they left you here all alone on accident.”
Everyone turned to Abigail.
“Uhm...” Abigail wasn’t budging.
“Well?” Mimi asked. “We’re waiting.”
“I don’t have a phone,” Abigail said.
Everyone suddenly held their phone out.
“When did you all get phones, you’re like nine?” Abigail asked. “And where were you hiding them? Diapers don’t have pockets.”
“We all got them for Christmas,” Lilly said. “How else can I text my boyfriend every second of every day? Look, I have a text from him right now. It says ‘How is the party? ps. I love you.’ That’s how you know you’re in love, when you can’t stop texting the other person.”
After Lilly said that, Emma looked away. Abigail caught that and realized something.
“Hey!” she said. “Emma didn’t go. She’s at least younger than me and Susie.”
Everyone turned their eyes to Emma.
“And me,” Mimi said.
“And me,” Lilly added.
“Weird,” Emma said. “Well we already moved on, so I’ll go after you call your parents, Abigail.”
The doorbell rang.
“Pizza!” Emma and Abigail both ran to the door.
“They’re both acting funny,” Susie said. Lilly nodded in agreement.
“I think something is wrong with Abigail,” Mimi said.
“That’s obvious,” Susie explained. But what’s up with Emma?”
“How should I know!?” Izzy almost yelled.
The girls stared back at her, and Mimi said, “We weren’t asking you.”
A teenaged pizza boy stood at the door, staring down at two girls of about ten wearing no pants to cover their diapers. “Uhm… Hi.”
“Hi,” Abigail said, almost flirtatiously. She handed him all the money and took the food with Emma’s help. “Keep the change.”
“Are you sure?” the pizza boy asked, “This is a very generous tip, where are your parents?”
“Who the hell knows?” Abigail slammed the door with her foot.
Chapter 5
“Was that Rena’s brother?” Izzy asked.
“He likes me,” Abigail said. “Probably thinking about me right now. The weirdo is probably sitting in his car picturing me in my diaper and… You know.”
Everyone stared at her.
“Do you?” Susie asked.
“Yeah,” Abigail stammered, “He like… Takes off his shirt and like… Twists off his chest hairs and… Eats them.”
“Ew!” Lilly said. “Teenagers are so gross. Zachary would never do that.”
Susie rolled her eyes.
“Pizza time!” Abigail proclaimed.
The girls sat on the fancy white rug in the living room. It was speckled with red spots in a matter of minutes.
“Abigail, you still have to do my dare,” Mimi said. She was too preoccupied with Abigail to even notice Izzy and Emma sitting uncomfortably close. “Call one of your parents and tell them they left you here alone.”
“I’m a big girl,” Abigail said. “They probably don’t care. I can take care of myself.”
“Are they going to think that when they come home and find the house like this?” Mimi asked.
“Why are you on my case today?” Abigail said. “Some friend you are.”
“It’s because I’m your friend that I am like this,” Mimi said.
“You know, Mimi,” Abigail said, “You’re not the same person I welcomed into my home. You used to be joyful and adventurous. Penny said you used to come home covered in scrapes and bruises from climbing trees and trying to jump over creeks. Now you’re yelling at me for misbehaving a bit?”
“And you used to be a mean, spoiled brat,” Mimi spat back, “But now you’ve gotten worse. You still don’t care about anyone or anything, except now that includes you. I’ve grown up, but you’re acting more immature than Nicole.”
“I don’t need you to take care of me!” Abigail screamed back.
“I just want you to be okay!” Mimi screamed.
“I can’t take this anymore!” Susie joined the screaming.
“I thought we were having a party!” Izzy screamed too.
“I have a headache!” Lilly practically cried.
“Izzy is my girlfriend!” Emma screamed.
Everyone stopped and turned to Emma.
“What?” Abigail asked. “Since when?”
“Emma,” Izzy said, inching closer to Emma. “You said we shouldn’t tell them.”
“I didn’t know what there was to tell,” Emma said. “I was confused. But now I get it. Seeing Lilly and Zach together makes me sure that this is what I want.”
“It’s Zachary,” Lilly said, “Not Zach.”
But no one was listening. Everyone watched as Emma leaned in and pressed her lips against Izzy’s. For a moment, no one said a word. And then Lilly gagged.
“Don’t be dramatic, Lilly,” Mimi said, “It’s not gross, you and Zachary kiss all the time.”
But Lilly wasn't gagging in disgust. She was holding back something big and chunky, and it wasn’t staying down.
“Duck!” Abigail called as everyone backed out of the way and Lilly unloaded a few slices up pizza across the fancy white rug.
“Ew,” Abigail said plainly. “How much did you eat?”
But it wasn’t just too much food. There was something else. Something strange.
Lilly burped and said, “I have a headache,” and then collapsed.
Chapter 6
Everything that happened after that was a blur to Abigail. She remembered Susie taking control of the situation, but she didn’t know the specifics. She couldn’t recall if Susie ran down the street to get Lilly’s mom, or if Susie called an ambulance or if Susie performed CPR or if Susie preformed an emergency appendectomy. All Abigail could remember was that she did nothing.
By the time Abigail snapped out of it, Lilly was gone. Mrs. Shepard (Emma’s mom, not Abigail’s) came over to look after the kids as Susie’s and Izzy’s own mothers came and picked them up. By the time Abigail was aware of what was going on, she was alone with her cousin while her aunt tried to reach one of her parents.
“What happened?” Abigail asked.
“Lilly threw up,” Emma said. “Then she passed out. I think her mom took her to the emergency room. Everyone else is gone.”
“This is all my fault,” Abigail said. “I should not have ordered all that food. Or had this stupid party. I shouldn’t even be allowed to be alone. Look at me. I’m twelve years old and I still need a babysitter.”
“You’re not twelve,” Emma said. And then she did some counting in her head and gasped. “Oh my gosh. That’s why you wanted to have the party?”
Abigail nodded.
“And your parents just forgot about you?” Emma couldn’t believe it. “I guess I’m just as bad as them. I’m sorry I forgot your birthday.”
“It’s okay,” Abigail said. “You were... Busy.”
Emma blushed. “Before they left,” she explained, “Well, before the first adults got here. Everyone said they wouldn’t tell anyone.”
“It’s a secret?” Abigail was confused.
“My mom says no dating until I’m sixteen and have a car and a job,” Emma said. “And Izzy’s parents won’t let her date until she’s married. We’re not ready to tell the whole world like Lilly and Zachary.”
“God, Lilly.” Abigail covered her mouth, still in somewhat shock. “What do you think happened. I mean… Was it because I-”
“I’ve seen that girl eat an entire cheesecake,” Emma said. “There’s no way it was the pizza. And she didn’t even have some of the chocolate cake. But she did say she had a headache. But she always says that… Actually she’s been getting headaches a lot lately.”
Abigail was crying.
“I’m gonna be in so much trouble,” she said.
Emma sat there as her cousin started weeping uncontrollably. It was the first time since Abigail “turned nice” that they had really spent any alone time together. Emma slowly lifted her hand and patted Abigail on the back a couple times.
Abigail grabbed Emma and unloaded twelve years of tears onto her shoulder. The only thing wetter than Emma’s shirt was Abigail’s Goodnite.
“Ugh,” Abigail finally noticed the smell emitting from her rear. “Don’t tell anyone, but I think during all the commotion I had an actual accident.”
“Please,” Emma smiled, “Your whole school knows you wet the bed and the whole town saw you wet yourself on stage. I think we can say the mighty Abigail Shepard has fallen.”
Abigail looked down in shame.
“But everyone hated that girl,” Emma said. “I like the new Abigail. She’s kind and considerate. Anyone else would’ve spent all that money on video games or make-up. But you wanted to throw a big party. It was hands down the best birthday party I’ve ever been to. ‘Cept for the vomit.”
Abigail smiled. “Thanks,” she wiped her tears. “Next time I get left home alone, I think I want to go over your house.”
“We’re cousins, Abigail,” Emma said. “That is your home.”
Abigail smiled again, her eyes finally clear. “Hey, Emma, truth or dare?”
Emma smiled back and said, “Truth.”
“Abigail,” Emma’s mom appeared in the room. “I finally got ahold of your mom, do you want to-” Before she could finish, Abigail stormed to her aunt and grabbed the phone.
Emma, alone, suddenly realized she had a full bladder. She assumed that while Abigail peed uncontrollably during the commotion, she was too distracted to even think about it. But now she certainly did have to pee.
As Emma watched her cousin confess her crimes over the phone, she tried to concentrate and make her Pull-Up a little heavier. Usually she could do it no problem. But for some reason on this particular occasion, Emma couldn’t bring herself to do it.
Even though she hadn’t had an early rehearsal since Thanksgiving, Abigail still woke at the crack of dawn each morning. Even today, on a Saturday, Abigail was up before the sun made its way through the overcast above Harmony Hills. However, even though Abigail was still waking up at her normal time, her routine had greatly changed.
Abigail kicked the blanket off of her and slumped out of bed. She skipped the make-up, the aerobics, she didn’t even bother to brush her teeth. Conveniently not wearing pants, Abigail scratched an itch on her rear and adjusted her damp Goodnite back into place. She left her bedroom with a slight waddle and explored the hallway.
Her parents bedroom was empty.
Their guest room, which was now Nicole’s room, was empty save for the various symbols of her new sister’s identity crisis. Advanced reading books lined a bright pink bookshelf. An oriental rug was draped across the floor, covered in Abigail’s old dolls and stains. The stains were Nicole’s, not Abigail’s. Well, a few of them might have been Abigail’s.
The bathroom door was open, the inside smelled of an air freshener with a slight hint of feces. Abigail closed the door and moved on.
Downstairs, Abigail found a note on the fridge. It was from her father and read: “Got called in. How’s about my three favorite ladies treat themselves to a nice brunch?” Taped to the note was a few twenty dollar bills.
On the kitchen counter, covered by breakfast leftovers, as another note. This one, from her mother, read: “Taking Nicole to the ballet. Or the new Disney movie. We’ll see how she’s feeling. You two order pizza or something.” Another bundle of cash was positioned near this message.
Abigail sighed.
She folded all the cash together and stuffed it in the pocket of her long sleeved pajama shirt. Then, Abigail taped the note from the counter to the fridge, right next to the other one. Lastly, she cracked the ice box open and took a look inside.
The finest fridge money could buy was filled with last month’s old produce and packaged food. Nothing too exciting. Nothing that Abigail had the skills to prepare herself. She was skilled enough to order a pizza, and had the money to do so. But she didn’t feel like pizza was an appropriate breakfast.
In the back of the fridge was an old pound cake wrapped in tin foil. She pulled it out and set it on the table where she unwrapped it. Then, she stuck twelve candles in it, lit them with the matches her father thought he hid well, and blew out all twelve of them in one breath. She sighed.
By six o’clock in the morning, Abigail had eaten the entire cake and wet her Goodnite again. As she was getting ready for a shower, the wad of money fell out of her shirt. She picked up and and counted it out. There was over fifty bucks. In the eyes of a new twelve year old, Abigail was a millionaire.
She counted it out again. And then she smiled and said, “Uh oh.”
Chapter 2
Mimi had grown more and more accustomed to Abigail’s house as the two became closer. Nicole being there was also a plus. However, Mimi was not used to being invited over so early on a Saturday morning.
The front door was unlocked. Mimi was never big on doorbells so she let herself in.
“Abigail?” she called throughout the foyer. “I’m here.”
Neither Mimi nor Abigail had ever seen Risky Business, but had seen the film’s most famous moment parodied enough that Abigail’s recreation of it was not lost on Mimi.
Abigail slid in wearing nothing but her dad’s oversized shirt, socks, a Goodnite, and her mother’s sunglasses. In her hand she held up one of her old pageant trophies, like a microphone. And that was it. No music. No dancing. Just Abigail standing there with her back turned to a confused Mimi.
“Is this why you wanted me to come over?”
Abigail turned around and revealed what was in her hand: a huge wad of cash. “Look what my parents left me.”
“Holy crap!” Mimi said. “What do you mean they left you? Are you an orphan now?”
“Daddy went to work and mommy took baby sister out on the town,” Abigail explained. “That leaves me and you to order five large pizzas just for us.”
“I can’t eat all that,” Mimi said. “I’m not Lilly.”
“Well then get her over here,” Abigail said, tossing her cellphone to Mimi. “Then we’ll call Susie and Penny and Emma and Izzy and everyone else.”
The last thing Mimi wanted to do right now was hang out with Emma and Izzy. She tried to find something to change the subject, so she examined Abigail’s ensemble and noticed her Goodnite.
“I see you woke up dry,” Mimi said. “Congrats.”
Abigail shook her head and said, “Woke up wet, peed again, then put on another one.”
Mimi could not believe the harrasy she was hearing. “You peed… On purpose? And then put on another one?”
“Why not?” Abigail shrugged. “That’s what all the kids are doing these days, right?”
“Yeah but we’re stupid,” Mimi said. “And we’re nine. You’re like… Eleven.”
Abigail didn’t correct her. “Look consider it me making up for all those years of being mean to you guys? Free weekend party at my big house with no adults. Run as fast as you want. Scream as loud as you want. Pee in whatever you want.”
Mimi couldn’t see Abigail’s eyes through the sunglasses. But it’s not like Abigail’s eyes really would have swayed Mimi that much. As she said, she was stupid. Mimi dropped her jeans, standing in nothing but her shirt and a pair of her Japanese training pants.
“How do you feel?” Abigail asked.
“Like I am wearing a diaper,” Mimi said, “Which is how I feel every day.”
“Have you ever worn a diaper in my house?” Abigail asked.
“Yes.”
“Have you ever wet a diaper in my house?” Abigail asked.
“Yes.”
“Have you ever wet a diaper so much it leaked all over the place in my house?” Abigail asked.
“Yes.”
“Ew! When?” Abigail asked, disgusted.
“Remember when you tried to give me Princess Leia hair?” Mimi asked. “And it took so long and then you screwed it up and started over and then it got worse so you gave up.”
“WHILE YOU WERE SITTING ON MY MAKE-UP CHAIR?!” Abigail shrieked.
Mimi stepped back. This was not Abigail, her new best friend. It was the old Abigail. The one who lied to them and manipulated them and treated them all like dirt to make herself feel better about her own horrible life.
This was not the first time the beast has awoken. Mimi knew there was only one thing she could do.
“I’ll call the others,” she said.
Abigail simmered down. She didn’t apologize. Instead, she didn’t even seem aware it had happened. “Good,” she said. “After everyone gets here I’ll order the pizza. And then we can celebrate.”
Before Abigail turned around, Mimi caught a glimpse of the slight change in color that had appeared on Abigail’s Goodnite, most likely during her brief outburst.
When Abigail was out of sight, Mimi started dialing as she asked herself, “Celebrate what?”
Chapter 3
Josie walked into Emma’s room, where she found her sister smiling at something on her phone, and said, “Mimi called. Big party at Abigail’s.”
Emma hid her phone and asked, “Wait, what? Mimi is inviting me to Abigail’s house?”
“It sounded like Abigail is going through an identity crisis, just like the rest of you,” Josie explained. “She’s doing so in a self-destructive fashion, it seems. Apparently it’s a diaper party, so you can wear whatever and if it leaks on the fancy rug it’s okay because her parents left her alone with a lot of money.”
“You know I hate it when you talk like that,” Emma said. “All grown up and smart. And why is Mimi calling to invite us to Abigail’s party?”
“They’re best friends now,” Josie said, “Just like you and Izzy are, right?”
Emma blushed, then shook it off. “Are you going?”
“Eh,” Josie shrugged. “Not my scene.” And then she left.
“I liked you better when you didn’t talk!” Emma called. That was a lie. Her and Josie had been getting along more, but they were hardly best friends like she was with Penny and Lilly or Izzy. But Josie’s comment about Izzy caught Emma off guard.
Did she know? What was there even to know? Emma didn’t really even understand it for herself. She liked her sister. She liked her cousin. She liked her friends. But she liked Izzy just a little bit more. More than a best friend. More than a friend at all.
She liked spending time with Izzy, just the two of them. She liked holding hands with Izzy. She even liked that one, single time when Izzy kissed her on the cheek. She wanted to do all of that with Izzy. With only Izzy. Without anyone else knowing. It was their own personal private fun that she didn’t want anyone else to be involved in. But she didn’t know why.
Emma looked down at her phone, she had gotten a few new texts during her conversation with Josie. They were all from Izzy, growing more and more concerned as to why Emma had not texted her in the past few minutes.
“Uh oh,” Emma said.
***
“So how did that play go?” Abigail asked as she and Mimi lounged about on the floor in front of the TV. “Nicole came home from it in 9 Year Old Mode and wouldn’t say a word about it.”
Mimi giggled. “She was probably embarrassed about what her 3 Year Old Mode self did. Dancing like an idiot, it was a lot different from what she does at the recitals and dance class stuff you guys do.”
“Used to do,” Abigail reminded her. “You had the lead role, right?”
Mimi nodded. Before she could say more, the doorbell rang.
“You get it,” Abigail hopped up. “I wanna do the Risky Business thing again.”
Mimi rolled her eyes and said, “Come on,” and grabbed Abigail by her dad’s shirt and pulled her to the door.
“Hey, Red,” Abigail said to Susie. “I’m calling you Red now, by the way.”
“Oh,” Susie thought about it. “I don’t know if I like that or not.”
“Whatever,” Abigail said. “Lose the pants, this is a diaper-only zone.”
Susie complied, undoing her jeans and revealing a purple Tru-Fit Goodnite underneath.
“No more Huggies?” Mimi asked.
“Well they stopped fitting me,” Susie said. And then she blushed and added, “These come highly recommended from Penny. Is she coming? I mean is she going to be here?”
Abigail turned to Mimi and asked, “Did you call her?”
“Why am I in charge of calling everyone?” Mimi asked.
“Remember how you said you wanted to be a party planner when you grow up?” Abigail asked.
“I told you I wanted to be a panda wizard,” Mimi said.
“Oh that’s right,” Abigail said. “I need more friends my age.” She turned to a smiling Susie and said, “The diaper thing is going to pose a problem.”
Emma arrived next, followed by Lilly who wouldn’t stop talking about her new boyfriend Zachary. Later, Izzy showed up, having been dropped off by her mother. Penny was out shopping, so that was as big as the party was going to get.
Abigail ordered a cheese pizza, a meat lover’s pizza, an order of garlic bread, an order of cheesy garlic bread, an order of breadsticks, two chocolate lava cakes, and a Diet Pepsi. And then, when everyone’s diapered butts were settled in, Abigail took them all into the living room and proclaimed:
“Truth or dare.”
Chapter 4
“Are you serious?” Emma asked.
“Truth or dare is what big kids play at parties,” Abigail explained.
“But we’re not big kids,” Lilly said.
“Yeah,” Mimi said. “Everyone here is still in elementary school and we’re all wearing diapers.”
“I kinda thought we were going to play diaper tag,” Susie said.
“The game Emma made up?” Izzy smiled.
“We’re playing truth or dare!”Abigail said. She forced everyone to sit down and explained the rules. “We go from youngest to oldest. The truth has to be answered right away and the dare has to be something doable right here in the house. And you can’t dare someone to say a truth. So who is the youngest?”
Everyone turned to Izzy.
“Dare,” Izzy spat out. “I mean truth. No dare. Wait, who is going to ask me?” Izzy asked.
“Anybody have one?” Abigail asked.
“Show us your butt,” Lilly said.
“No!” Emma declared. Everyone agreed.
“No, I mean,” Lilly explained. “She’s Puerto Rican right? I heard Puerto Rican girls have tails and the boys have horns.”
“Isn’t it enough that I’m wearing a Pull-Up?” Izzy asked. Everyone stared at her. “Fine.” She stood up, turned around, and lowered her diaper enough to reveal her normal, healthy tailbone. “You’re next, Lilly. And I dare you to not eat any of the chocolate cake that Abigail ordered.”
“Not fair!” Lilly screamed.
“It’ll do you some good, chubby,” Mimi giggled.
“Zachary happens to like my healthy physique,” Lilly said proudly. “And since your next Mimi, I dare you to-”
“Truth!” Mimi smiled.
“Oh yeah,” Lilly said. “I forgot about that. Hey that means I can still eat the cake if I say truth, right?”
Abigail shook her head. “You called on Mimi, so we’re moving on.”
Mimi stuck her tongue out at Lilly.
“Okay,” Lilly said. “Then tell me the truth: How did you get the lead role in the class play? You were terrible in it. Did you suck up to the teacher or something?”
“Actually,” Mimi said, “He gave the role to Courtney but she didn’t want it and pretended to lose her voice and I was the only one who didn’t audition cus I was sick that day, so he had to give it to me.”
“Me next!” Susie said, “And I pick truth!”
“Why did you move to Harmony Hills?” Emma asked.
“Everyone in Salt Lake City was something called a Mormon,” Susie explained. “We were Mormons too, but my dad decided he didn’t want us to be anymore, so we left.”
“Boring,” Abigail said.
“Well you’re next,” Susie said, “Truth or dare.”
“Dare,” Abigail said all cool and suave.
“I got one,” Mimi said. “I dare you to call one of your parents and tell them that they left you here all alone on accident.”
Everyone turned to Abigail.
“Uhm...” Abigail wasn’t budging.
“Well?” Mimi asked. “We’re waiting.”
“I don’t have a phone,” Abigail said.
Everyone suddenly held their phone out.
“When did you all get phones, you’re like nine?” Abigail asked. “And where were you hiding them? Diapers don’t have pockets.”
“We all got them for Christmas,” Lilly said. “How else can I text my boyfriend every second of every day? Look, I have a text from him right now. It says ‘How is the party? ps. I love you.’ That’s how you know you’re in love, when you can’t stop texting the other person.”
After Lilly said that, Emma looked away. Abigail caught that and realized something.
“Hey!” she said. “Emma didn’t go. She’s at least younger than me and Susie.”
Everyone turned their eyes to Emma.
“And me,” Mimi said.
“And me,” Lilly added.
“Weird,” Emma said. “Well we already moved on, so I’ll go after you call your parents, Abigail.”
The doorbell rang.
“Pizza!” Emma and Abigail both ran to the door.
“They’re both acting funny,” Susie said. Lilly nodded in agreement.
“I think something is wrong with Abigail,” Mimi said.
“That’s obvious,” Susie explained. But what’s up with Emma?”
“How should I know!?” Izzy almost yelled.
The girls stared back at her, and Mimi said, “We weren’t asking you.”
A teenaged pizza boy stood at the door, staring down at two girls of about ten wearing no pants to cover their diapers. “Uhm… Hi.”
“Hi,” Abigail said, almost flirtatiously. She handed him all the money and took the food with Emma’s help. “Keep the change.”
“Are you sure?” the pizza boy asked, “This is a very generous tip, where are your parents?”
“Who the hell knows?” Abigail slammed the door with her foot.
Chapter 5
“Was that Rena’s brother?” Izzy asked.
“He likes me,” Abigail said. “Probably thinking about me right now. The weirdo is probably sitting in his car picturing me in my diaper and… You know.”
Everyone stared at her.
“Do you?” Susie asked.
“Yeah,” Abigail stammered, “He like… Takes off his shirt and like… Twists off his chest hairs and… Eats them.”
“Ew!” Lilly said. “Teenagers are so gross. Zachary would never do that.”
Susie rolled her eyes.
“Pizza time!” Abigail proclaimed.
The girls sat on the fancy white rug in the living room. It was speckled with red spots in a matter of minutes.
“Abigail, you still have to do my dare,” Mimi said. She was too preoccupied with Abigail to even notice Izzy and Emma sitting uncomfortably close. “Call one of your parents and tell them they left you here alone.”
“I’m a big girl,” Abigail said. “They probably don’t care. I can take care of myself.”
“Are they going to think that when they come home and find the house like this?” Mimi asked.
“Why are you on my case today?” Abigail said. “Some friend you are.”
“It’s because I’m your friend that I am like this,” Mimi said.
“You know, Mimi,” Abigail said, “You’re not the same person I welcomed into my home. You used to be joyful and adventurous. Penny said you used to come home covered in scrapes and bruises from climbing trees and trying to jump over creeks. Now you’re yelling at me for misbehaving a bit?”
“And you used to be a mean, spoiled brat,” Mimi spat back, “But now you’ve gotten worse. You still don’t care about anyone or anything, except now that includes you. I’ve grown up, but you’re acting more immature than Nicole.”
“I don’t need you to take care of me!” Abigail screamed back.
“I just want you to be okay!” Mimi screamed.
“I can’t take this anymore!” Susie joined the screaming.
“I thought we were having a party!” Izzy screamed too.
“I have a headache!” Lilly practically cried.
“Izzy is my girlfriend!” Emma screamed.
Everyone stopped and turned to Emma.
“What?” Abigail asked. “Since when?”
“Emma,” Izzy said, inching closer to Emma. “You said we shouldn’t tell them.”
“I didn’t know what there was to tell,” Emma said. “I was confused. But now I get it. Seeing Lilly and Zach together makes me sure that this is what I want.”
“It’s Zachary,” Lilly said, “Not Zach.”
But no one was listening. Everyone watched as Emma leaned in and pressed her lips against Izzy’s. For a moment, no one said a word. And then Lilly gagged.
“Don’t be dramatic, Lilly,” Mimi said, “It’s not gross, you and Zachary kiss all the time.”
But Lilly wasn't gagging in disgust. She was holding back something big and chunky, and it wasn’t staying down.
“Duck!” Abigail called as everyone backed out of the way and Lilly unloaded a few slices up pizza across the fancy white rug.
“Ew,” Abigail said plainly. “How much did you eat?”
But it wasn’t just too much food. There was something else. Something strange.
Lilly burped and said, “I have a headache,” and then collapsed.
Chapter 6
Everything that happened after that was a blur to Abigail. She remembered Susie taking control of the situation, but she didn’t know the specifics. She couldn’t recall if Susie ran down the street to get Lilly’s mom, or if Susie called an ambulance or if Susie performed CPR or if Susie preformed an emergency appendectomy. All Abigail could remember was that she did nothing.
By the time Abigail snapped out of it, Lilly was gone. Mrs. Shepard (Emma’s mom, not Abigail’s) came over to look after the kids as Susie’s and Izzy’s own mothers came and picked them up. By the time Abigail was aware of what was going on, she was alone with her cousin while her aunt tried to reach one of her parents.
“What happened?” Abigail asked.
“Lilly threw up,” Emma said. “Then she passed out. I think her mom took her to the emergency room. Everyone else is gone.”
“This is all my fault,” Abigail said. “I should not have ordered all that food. Or had this stupid party. I shouldn’t even be allowed to be alone. Look at me. I’m twelve years old and I still need a babysitter.”
“You’re not twelve,” Emma said. And then she did some counting in her head and gasped. “Oh my gosh. That’s why you wanted to have the party?”
Abigail nodded.
“And your parents just forgot about you?” Emma couldn’t believe it. “I guess I’m just as bad as them. I’m sorry I forgot your birthday.”
“It’s okay,” Abigail said. “You were... Busy.”
Emma blushed. “Before they left,” she explained, “Well, before the first adults got here. Everyone said they wouldn’t tell anyone.”
“It’s a secret?” Abigail was confused.
“My mom says no dating until I’m sixteen and have a car and a job,” Emma said. “And Izzy’s parents won’t let her date until she’s married. We’re not ready to tell the whole world like Lilly and Zachary.”
“God, Lilly.” Abigail covered her mouth, still in somewhat shock. “What do you think happened. I mean… Was it because I-”
“I’ve seen that girl eat an entire cheesecake,” Emma said. “There’s no way it was the pizza. And she didn’t even have some of the chocolate cake. But she did say she had a headache. But she always says that… Actually she’s been getting headaches a lot lately.”
Abigail was crying.
“I’m gonna be in so much trouble,” she said.
Emma sat there as her cousin started weeping uncontrollably. It was the first time since Abigail “turned nice” that they had really spent any alone time together. Emma slowly lifted her hand and patted Abigail on the back a couple times.
Abigail grabbed Emma and unloaded twelve years of tears onto her shoulder. The only thing wetter than Emma’s shirt was Abigail’s Goodnite.
“Ugh,” Abigail finally noticed the smell emitting from her rear. “Don’t tell anyone, but I think during all the commotion I had an actual accident.”
“Please,” Emma smiled, “Your whole school knows you wet the bed and the whole town saw you wet yourself on stage. I think we can say the mighty Abigail Shepard has fallen.”
Abigail looked down in shame.
“But everyone hated that girl,” Emma said. “I like the new Abigail. She’s kind and considerate. Anyone else would’ve spent all that money on video games or make-up. But you wanted to throw a big party. It was hands down the best birthday party I’ve ever been to. ‘Cept for the vomit.”
Abigail smiled. “Thanks,” she wiped her tears. “Next time I get left home alone, I think I want to go over your house.”
“We’re cousins, Abigail,” Emma said. “That is your home.”
Abigail smiled again, her eyes finally clear. “Hey, Emma, truth or dare?”
Emma smiled back and said, “Truth.”
“Abigail,” Emma’s mom appeared in the room. “I finally got ahold of your mom, do you want to-” Before she could finish, Abigail stormed to her aunt and grabbed the phone.
Emma, alone, suddenly realized she had a full bladder. She assumed that while Abigail peed uncontrollably during the commotion, she was too distracted to even think about it. But now she certainly did have to pee.
As Emma watched her cousin confess her crimes over the phone, she tried to concentrate and make her Pull-Up a little heavier. Usually she could do it no problem. But for some reason on this particular occasion, Emma couldn’t bring herself to do it.