Chapter 1
Susie could not contain herself. She ran right up to her friends with a big dumb grin on her face. They must have thought that she had problems or something.
“Whoa, where’s the fire, Susie?” Emma asked.
“You know that vacation my family was taking on spring break?” Susie asked.
“To that fancy beach house?” Penny asked.
“The one Abigail is going to with you?” Mimi asked.
Susie nodded. “They said we could each bring one friend, so I picked Abigail.”
“We know,” Lilly said, “And we still haven’t forgiven you for that.”
“Well,” Susie said, “My brother can’t go because of a school thing and my sister can’t go because of a teenager thing and my dad has a work thing and now there is this big trip that’s already paid for and since I can go my mom said I can invite as many people as I want and guess who I am inviting?”
“More sixth graders?” Emma asked.
“Please,” Susie said, “If I went with other kids from my class do you think I’d be able to hang out around the beach, by the campfire, and in the cabin all while wearing diapers?”
“Wait,” Mimi said, “You’re inviting us instead of Abigail?”
“No, Abigail is still coming,” Susie said, “But you four can come too.”
Everyone cheered with excitement.
“I knew you were still relevant!” Mimi said.
“Oh and Izzy is coming too,” Susie turned to Emma and said, “I am sure we can make sure you guys get a whole room to yourself.”
Emma blushed. “For what?”
“Please,” Mimi said, “Ever since we watched that video in science class you and her have been all weird.”
“No we haven’t,” Emma said. “What does that even mean?”
“The time has come,” Lilly said. “It’s time for you to lose your flower”
Emma turned bright red. “Oh my GOD, Lilly, shut up!”
“Come one,” Lilly said. “Everyone’s doing it. I’ve done it.”
“You did it?” Emma asked, “You and Zachery?”
“We sure did,” Lilly blushed, but it was not the same kind of blush on Emma’s face. “He came over to watch The LEGO Movie, we took off our pants, I kissed him three times, then he peed in the bed. It was magical. I couldn’t have asked for a better first time.”
After a moment, Lilly realized everyone was staring at her.
“What?” she said, “It’s still further than any of you have ever gotten.”
“You’re nine,” Susie said.
“Anyway,” Penny said, “When is the trip? We can go ask our parents today and start getting ready.”
“We leave this Friday morning and get back next Thursday,” Susie said.
“Thanks for inviting us,” Emma said.
“Just remember to bring plenty of diapers,” Susie said, “Cus once you’re there toilets are off limits.”
“As long as I can get up early on Saturday to watch the Monster Story finale I’ll be fine,” Lilly said. “I would just die if I missed it.”
“You really still watch that show?” Mimi smirked.
“Relax,” Lilly said, “Once it’s over I promise you’ll never have to listen to me be excited about something I love ever again.”
“Great!” Mimi said.
That night, Susie got phone calls confirming all her invited guests were able to be in attendance for the trip. She was surprised they were all able to go, especially for a trip on such short notice that was going to have them all out for a week.
Susie started packing all sorts of fun things to do for the trip. She wanted to make sure nothing could go wrong. It was sure to be the best time of their lives.
Chapter 2
The car ride was long. They made their way to the eastern coast and headed south into warmer territory. It was long enough that they were able to watch an entire movie, Protectors of the Planets, from beginning to end without bathroom breaks. That wasn’t very impressive, considering… Well, you know what you’re reading by now.
Susie could not contain her excitement. The thought of getting to spend the entire break with her friends at the beach was still blowing her mind. She had always wanted to see the beach, having grown up in Utah. When she heard she was moving to the east coast she was excited to finally be able to put the sand beneath her toes and the sun at her back.
And then she realized that Harmony Hills was closer to Ohio than the beach and winter started in September.
But now that it was spring, the time had finally come.
When they arrived, everyone jumped out of the car to stretch their legs as Mrs. Young started unpacking the trunk.
“It’s so nice to finally be free!” Mimi said, stretching her arms as high up as they would go. She lowered them and let out a long sigh. A moment later, a stream of yellow pee could be seen trickling out of her denim shorts and darkening the sand under her feet.
“Mimi, what the heck? Penny asked.
“Ah man these things must be cheap,” Mimi said, peeking into her shorts. “They don’t feel like they absorbed anything.”
The others approached her and took a peek as well.
“Mimi is that a swim diaper?” Izzy asked.
“Of course it is,” Mimi said, “We’re at the beach. You said bring diapers, right, Susie?”
“Yes,” Susie said, “But the whole point of swim diapers is that they don’t absorb liquid.”
“Oh,” Mimi blushed.
“They’re only for poop,” Izzy leaned in and whispered the last word of that sentence.
“Oh thank God,” Mimi said, “At least that isn’t coming out.”
As she waddled to the front door and into the bathroom, everyone started to realize what that smell in the car had been.
“This is gonna be fun,” Abigail said.
Izzy approached Emma and handed her her bag. “Here, Emma,” Izzy said.
“Thanks,” Emma said, not exactly looking at Izzy.
“Susie said we get a room to ourselves,” Izzy smiled. “Isn’t that great?”
“Nothing!” Emma shouted. The others turned and stared.
“Is something wrong?” Izzy asked.
“I just,” Emma didn’t know what to say, “It’s early, I’m tired.”
“Let’s all unpack and then meet by the volleyball net in ten minutes,” Susie said. “After that we can jump in the ocean until lunch.”
Susie and Abigail shared a room with two beds, Penny, Mimi, and Lilly had a room with a bunkbed and an extra mattress hidden underneath the bottom bunk, and of course Emma and Izzy had a small room with a single, large bed all to themselves. Mrs. Young had the master bedroom while the rest of the house was made up of a kitchen, living room, and a few bathrooms that Susie once again reminded everyone were off limits.
The girls arrived at the volleyball net in short sun dresses, most of which exposed several diapered bottoms.
“I think I’m gonna go stick my feet in the water,” Penny said, “I’m not really a big fan of volleyball.”
“And I want to work on a tan,” Abigail said tossing her dress to the side, “But in the shade with my phone and some cookies.”
“I love cookies!” Lilly said, walking off with Abigail as Penny headed to the beach.
“I’m kinda woozy from the drive,” Emma said, “I think I’m gonna lay down.”
“Do you want me to come with you?” Izzy asked.
“No, I’m fine,” Emma said as she returned to the house. Izzy followed anyway.
Susie suddenly found herself at the volleyball net with just Mimi.
“What the hell is going on?” Susie asked.
Chapter 3
Izzy slowly opened the door and walked into the room. Emma was curled up on top of the covers.
“Are you okay?” she asked. “You seem off today.”
“I’m fine,” Emma said, looking in the opposite direction.
Izzy sighed and walked around the bed so Emma would be forced to look at her. “I have a surprise for you,” Izzy said. She lifted up her dress, revealing a babyish white diaper. “Remember? They’re just like the ones I used to wear.”
Emma took a close look and said, “I remember.”
Izzy was stunned. She was certain that would make Emma happy.
“You know,” Izzy said, “These aren’t like Pull-Ups. I won’t be able to change myself.”
“Mrs. Young seemed willing to help,” Emma said, turning around.
Izzy sighed again. She walked around the bed again.
“What is your problem?” Izzy asked. “You didn’t say a word for the entire ride here and now you won’t even talk to me? I know you and I know when you’re hiding something. You used to tell me everything.”
“I just-” For a second, Emma was going to say something. “Let’s go play volleyball.”
“What?” Izzy was stunned again. “That’s it? Seriously, what is wrong?”
“Come on,” Emma stood up. “Nothing is wrong, I’m fine.”
“You’re lying,” Izzy said.
Emma ran to the door and said, “Seriously, I’m fine.”
As Emma opened the door, the two watched as a very drippy Mimi walked by with a three sizes too big Pull-Up about to burst out of her one-piece.
“It’s not what it looks like,” Mimi said.
“It looks like you put on a normal diaper instead of a swim diaper and went in the water,” Emma said.
“It’s exactly what it looks like,” Mimi said as she walked toward her room.
***
At lunch, when the group was finally all together, Susie tried once again to rally everyone together. “How about a game of Beach Diaper Tag?” she suggested.
“We have to wait thirty minutes first,” Penny said.
“We can stay on the sand,” Susie explained.
“Aren’t we getting a little old for diaper tag?” Emma asked, pushing her food around her plate.
“You made it up,” Susie said, “Like three months ago.”
“I don’t want to have to run around in a wet diaper anyway,” Lilly said, “I hate when they get all saggy, it makes it hard to run.”
“Mine’s actually getting a little itchy just sitting here,” Mimi said, “I think it’s the humidity.”
“You don’t even know what humidity is,” Penny said.
“Why do you people even wear diapers?” Susie asked, “Because I do it for fun. I thought that’s what we all did.”
“I sometimes wet my bed,” Izzy said.
“Same,” Abigail said, “And the nerves aren’t totally gone during the day either.”
“Honestly it’s just easier than going to the bathroom at this point,” Mimi said, “I’m not gonna wet it unless I have to.”
“I’ll tell you why I wear them when everyone is a little older,” Penny said.
“Zachary needs them and it makes him happy to think that I need them,” Lilly explained.
“So I am the only one here who actually likes diapers anymore?” Susie slumped in her chair.
For a moment, no one said a thing.
“I’ve been wetting at night,” Emma said, “When I'm asleep. On accident.”
Everyone turned to her.
“Ferrealz?” Mimi asked.
“Are you okay?” Penny asked.
“Emma?” Izzy looked up at her girlfriend, but Emma wouldn’t even look at her.
As Mrs. Young came by with a tray of brownies, Emma jumped out of her chair and ran off.
“Who wants brownies?” Susie’s mom asked.
Someone farted, and to this day no one has owned up to it.
Chapter 4
Izzy walked into the room and once again found Emma sulking, this time under the covers. She crawled into bed, even bothering to get close. “How long has this been going on?”
“When Lilly first got sick, I think,” Emma said. “Or when Nicole left, or whenever, who knows?”
“You should tell your parents,” Izzy said.
“Why?” Emma asked, “They’re already buying me Pull-Ups.”
“You could be sick,” Izzy said, “or it could mean something.”
“Like what?” Emma asked.
“Like you are afraid of something,” Izzy said, “Afraid of something with me.”
Emma opened her mouth to say something, but she wasn’t sure what to say.
“We’re not even ten yet,” Izzy said, “We’re not getting married.”
“After we had that special science class,” Emma said, “I had some questions and went online. I only found things about boys and girls, so I tried looking up things about girls and girls.”
“Oh.”
“Did you know that it’s weird?” Emma asked. “It’s supposed to be boys and girls. Boys and boys and girls and girls is wrong. We’re wrong.”
“You could say the same thing about wearing diapers in fourth grade,” Izzy said. “We can wear diapers, even though they’re for babies. Lilly can watch Monster Story even though it’s for boys. And we can do whatever we want, even if we’re both girls.”
Emma turned around and grabbed Izzy, not letting her go.
“I don’t want to do anything,” Emma said, “I just want to be with you.”
“Emma,” Izzy whispered.
“I love you,” Emma said.
“Emma.”
“And I’ll never let you go.”
“Emma!”
“Yes?”
“I… have… to… pee.” Izzy let out a small sigh of relief.
“Oh,” Emma said, “Sorry.”
“It’s okay,” Izzy said. “But I’ll still need help changing.”
“I thought you’d never ask,” Emma said.
***
“Mom, do you think we’re growing up too fast?”
Mrs. Young looked down at her daughter, who was almost twelve and wearing a diaper.
“No,” she said.
***
After watching a movie that night, most of the girls were tired and headed off to bed. As Susie was about to do the same, she noticed Lilly wasn’t moving.
“What’s up, Lil?” Susie asked. “You goin to bed?”
Lilly shook her head. “It’s the series finale of Monster Story tomorrow,” Lilly said, “The last episode ever. I don’t want to miss it by even one second, so I am gonna stay up all night so I can be there the moment it starts.”
Susie looked around and everyone scattering to bed. “I’ll stay up with you,” Susie said.
Chapter 5
Susie returned moments later, teeth brushed and dressed in her pajamas. She found Lilly on the floor now, scribbling in a small book.
“Since when do you have a journal?” Susie asked.
“Zachary got it for me,” Lilly said.
“You’ve already written a lot.” Susie sat down next to Lilly and turned on the TV. “So what do you want to watch first?”
“Anything really,” Lilly said, “I want to stay up all night long so I don’t miss the show!”
“Wouldn’t it make more sense to go to bed now and wake up early?” Susie asked.
Lilly stared at her like she just said the Earth was flat or diapers weren’t fun.
“Okay so cartoons it is,” Susie said.
After what seemed like hours, Lilly had a question.
“Hey, Susie,” she asked. “How come you’re trying so hard to make sure everyone has fun?”
“What do you mean?” Susie asked.
“You’re like, trying to arrange all these activities,” Lilly explained, “Make sure everyone is doing something. You can’t just be happy with us lying around, we have to be playing volleyball or tag or something.”
“Well,” Susie said, “The truth is my dad is out of state on a job interview. If he gets it, we’ll have to move. This could be our last weekend all together. I wanted to be special.”
Lilly smiled.
“Susie,” Lilly said, “Have you taken a look at our lives? No matter what comes between us, we always find each other again. You can move all the way to Japan but we’ll still be together again, I just know it.”
Susie smiled and nodded. “Yeah. I never thought Emma would wake up, or you would get better, or Abigail would stop being so mean. But it all worked out.”
Susie yawned, it was a long one.
“I think I’m gonna turn in,” Susie said, “I hope you like your show.”
As her eyes slowly closed, the last thing Susie saw was Lilly smiling back at her and whispering, "Good night."
***
The alarm was buzzing, three sharp blasts every second. Susie slowly sat up and looked around. Across the living room, on the floor, Lilly was sprawled out in front of the TV. Susie looked at the clock, it was almost eight.
“Lilly, wake up!” Susie stood and made her way over to the kitchen, her diaper sagging between her thighs. With how hot it was, her diaper was probably filled with more sweat than last night’s soda.
When she returned with a glass of orange juice, Lilly hadn’t moved.
“I told you it was better to go to bed early,” Susie said.
She sat the orange juice down on the coffee table, right next to a coaster.
“Come on, it’s the last episode, right?” Susie looked around, but couldn’t find the remote.
A burst of wind caused the curtains to rustle.
Susie slowly tip-toed toward Lilly.
“Lilly?”
Lilly’s eyes were wide open.
“You up?”
Lilly didn’t move. Her eyes were transfixed on the ceiling, where the fan whirled a cool breeze throughout the house.
“Hey, Lilly.”
Susie stopped and stood in place.
“Lil?”
A second passed, then another. The next alarm went off. The series finale of Monster Story was about to start.
Susie bent over to shake Lilly awake. The moment her hand met the smooth, cold skin, Susie recoiled and stepped back. She stared for a moment.
Completely still.
“Lilly?”
Susie could not contain herself. She ran right up to her friends with a big dumb grin on her face. They must have thought that she had problems or something.
“Whoa, where’s the fire, Susie?” Emma asked.
“You know that vacation my family was taking on spring break?” Susie asked.
“To that fancy beach house?” Penny asked.
“The one Abigail is going to with you?” Mimi asked.
Susie nodded. “They said we could each bring one friend, so I picked Abigail.”
“We know,” Lilly said, “And we still haven’t forgiven you for that.”
“Well,” Susie said, “My brother can’t go because of a school thing and my sister can’t go because of a teenager thing and my dad has a work thing and now there is this big trip that’s already paid for and since I can go my mom said I can invite as many people as I want and guess who I am inviting?”
“More sixth graders?” Emma asked.
“Please,” Susie said, “If I went with other kids from my class do you think I’d be able to hang out around the beach, by the campfire, and in the cabin all while wearing diapers?”
“Wait,” Mimi said, “You’re inviting us instead of Abigail?”
“No, Abigail is still coming,” Susie said, “But you four can come too.”
Everyone cheered with excitement.
“I knew you were still relevant!” Mimi said.
“Oh and Izzy is coming too,” Susie turned to Emma and said, “I am sure we can make sure you guys get a whole room to yourself.”
Emma blushed. “For what?”
“Please,” Mimi said, “Ever since we watched that video in science class you and her have been all weird.”
“No we haven’t,” Emma said. “What does that even mean?”
“The time has come,” Lilly said. “It’s time for you to lose your flower”
Emma turned bright red. “Oh my GOD, Lilly, shut up!”
“Come one,” Lilly said. “Everyone’s doing it. I’ve done it.”
“You did it?” Emma asked, “You and Zachery?”
“We sure did,” Lilly blushed, but it was not the same kind of blush on Emma’s face. “He came over to watch The LEGO Movie, we took off our pants, I kissed him three times, then he peed in the bed. It was magical. I couldn’t have asked for a better first time.”
After a moment, Lilly realized everyone was staring at her.
“What?” she said, “It’s still further than any of you have ever gotten.”
“You’re nine,” Susie said.
“Anyway,” Penny said, “When is the trip? We can go ask our parents today and start getting ready.”
“We leave this Friday morning and get back next Thursday,” Susie said.
“Thanks for inviting us,” Emma said.
“Just remember to bring plenty of diapers,” Susie said, “Cus once you’re there toilets are off limits.”
“As long as I can get up early on Saturday to watch the Monster Story finale I’ll be fine,” Lilly said. “I would just die if I missed it.”
“You really still watch that show?” Mimi smirked.
“Relax,” Lilly said, “Once it’s over I promise you’ll never have to listen to me be excited about something I love ever again.”
“Great!” Mimi said.
That night, Susie got phone calls confirming all her invited guests were able to be in attendance for the trip. She was surprised they were all able to go, especially for a trip on such short notice that was going to have them all out for a week.
Susie started packing all sorts of fun things to do for the trip. She wanted to make sure nothing could go wrong. It was sure to be the best time of their lives.
Chapter 2
The car ride was long. They made their way to the eastern coast and headed south into warmer territory. It was long enough that they were able to watch an entire movie, Protectors of the Planets, from beginning to end without bathroom breaks. That wasn’t very impressive, considering… Well, you know what you’re reading by now.
Susie could not contain her excitement. The thought of getting to spend the entire break with her friends at the beach was still blowing her mind. She had always wanted to see the beach, having grown up in Utah. When she heard she was moving to the east coast she was excited to finally be able to put the sand beneath her toes and the sun at her back.
And then she realized that Harmony Hills was closer to Ohio than the beach and winter started in September.
But now that it was spring, the time had finally come.
When they arrived, everyone jumped out of the car to stretch their legs as Mrs. Young started unpacking the trunk.
“It’s so nice to finally be free!” Mimi said, stretching her arms as high up as they would go. She lowered them and let out a long sigh. A moment later, a stream of yellow pee could be seen trickling out of her denim shorts and darkening the sand under her feet.
“Mimi, what the heck? Penny asked.
“Ah man these things must be cheap,” Mimi said, peeking into her shorts. “They don’t feel like they absorbed anything.”
The others approached her and took a peek as well.
“Mimi is that a swim diaper?” Izzy asked.
“Of course it is,” Mimi said, “We’re at the beach. You said bring diapers, right, Susie?”
“Yes,” Susie said, “But the whole point of swim diapers is that they don’t absorb liquid.”
“Oh,” Mimi blushed.
“They’re only for poop,” Izzy leaned in and whispered the last word of that sentence.
“Oh thank God,” Mimi said, “At least that isn’t coming out.”
As she waddled to the front door and into the bathroom, everyone started to realize what that smell in the car had been.
“This is gonna be fun,” Abigail said.
Izzy approached Emma and handed her her bag. “Here, Emma,” Izzy said.
“Thanks,” Emma said, not exactly looking at Izzy.
“Susie said we get a room to ourselves,” Izzy smiled. “Isn’t that great?”
“Nothing!” Emma shouted. The others turned and stared.
“Is something wrong?” Izzy asked.
“I just,” Emma didn’t know what to say, “It’s early, I’m tired.”
“Let’s all unpack and then meet by the volleyball net in ten minutes,” Susie said. “After that we can jump in the ocean until lunch.”
Susie and Abigail shared a room with two beds, Penny, Mimi, and Lilly had a room with a bunkbed and an extra mattress hidden underneath the bottom bunk, and of course Emma and Izzy had a small room with a single, large bed all to themselves. Mrs. Young had the master bedroom while the rest of the house was made up of a kitchen, living room, and a few bathrooms that Susie once again reminded everyone were off limits.
The girls arrived at the volleyball net in short sun dresses, most of which exposed several diapered bottoms.
“I think I’m gonna go stick my feet in the water,” Penny said, “I’m not really a big fan of volleyball.”
“And I want to work on a tan,” Abigail said tossing her dress to the side, “But in the shade with my phone and some cookies.”
“I love cookies!” Lilly said, walking off with Abigail as Penny headed to the beach.
“I’m kinda woozy from the drive,” Emma said, “I think I’m gonna lay down.”
“Do you want me to come with you?” Izzy asked.
“No, I’m fine,” Emma said as she returned to the house. Izzy followed anyway.
Susie suddenly found herself at the volleyball net with just Mimi.
“What the hell is going on?” Susie asked.
Chapter 3
Izzy slowly opened the door and walked into the room. Emma was curled up on top of the covers.
“Are you okay?” she asked. “You seem off today.”
“I’m fine,” Emma said, looking in the opposite direction.
Izzy sighed and walked around the bed so Emma would be forced to look at her. “I have a surprise for you,” Izzy said. She lifted up her dress, revealing a babyish white diaper. “Remember? They’re just like the ones I used to wear.”
Emma took a close look and said, “I remember.”
Izzy was stunned. She was certain that would make Emma happy.
“You know,” Izzy said, “These aren’t like Pull-Ups. I won’t be able to change myself.”
“Mrs. Young seemed willing to help,” Emma said, turning around.
Izzy sighed again. She walked around the bed again.
“What is your problem?” Izzy asked. “You didn’t say a word for the entire ride here and now you won’t even talk to me? I know you and I know when you’re hiding something. You used to tell me everything.”
“I just-” For a second, Emma was going to say something. “Let’s go play volleyball.”
“What?” Izzy was stunned again. “That’s it? Seriously, what is wrong?”
“Come on,” Emma stood up. “Nothing is wrong, I’m fine.”
“You’re lying,” Izzy said.
Emma ran to the door and said, “Seriously, I’m fine.”
As Emma opened the door, the two watched as a very drippy Mimi walked by with a three sizes too big Pull-Up about to burst out of her one-piece.
“It’s not what it looks like,” Mimi said.
“It looks like you put on a normal diaper instead of a swim diaper and went in the water,” Emma said.
“It’s exactly what it looks like,” Mimi said as she walked toward her room.
***
At lunch, when the group was finally all together, Susie tried once again to rally everyone together. “How about a game of Beach Diaper Tag?” she suggested.
“We have to wait thirty minutes first,” Penny said.
“We can stay on the sand,” Susie explained.
“Aren’t we getting a little old for diaper tag?” Emma asked, pushing her food around her plate.
“You made it up,” Susie said, “Like three months ago.”
“I don’t want to have to run around in a wet diaper anyway,” Lilly said, “I hate when they get all saggy, it makes it hard to run.”
“Mine’s actually getting a little itchy just sitting here,” Mimi said, “I think it’s the humidity.”
“You don’t even know what humidity is,” Penny said.
“Why do you people even wear diapers?” Susie asked, “Because I do it for fun. I thought that’s what we all did.”
“I sometimes wet my bed,” Izzy said.
“Same,” Abigail said, “And the nerves aren’t totally gone during the day either.”
“Honestly it’s just easier than going to the bathroom at this point,” Mimi said, “I’m not gonna wet it unless I have to.”
“I’ll tell you why I wear them when everyone is a little older,” Penny said.
“Zachary needs them and it makes him happy to think that I need them,” Lilly explained.
“So I am the only one here who actually likes diapers anymore?” Susie slumped in her chair.
For a moment, no one said a thing.
“I’ve been wetting at night,” Emma said, “When I'm asleep. On accident.”
Everyone turned to her.
“Ferrealz?” Mimi asked.
“Are you okay?” Penny asked.
“Emma?” Izzy looked up at her girlfriend, but Emma wouldn’t even look at her.
As Mrs. Young came by with a tray of brownies, Emma jumped out of her chair and ran off.
“Who wants brownies?” Susie’s mom asked.
Someone farted, and to this day no one has owned up to it.
Chapter 4
Izzy walked into the room and once again found Emma sulking, this time under the covers. She crawled into bed, even bothering to get close. “How long has this been going on?”
“When Lilly first got sick, I think,” Emma said. “Or when Nicole left, or whenever, who knows?”
“You should tell your parents,” Izzy said.
“Why?” Emma asked, “They’re already buying me Pull-Ups.”
“You could be sick,” Izzy said, “or it could mean something.”
“Like what?” Emma asked.
“Like you are afraid of something,” Izzy said, “Afraid of something with me.”
Emma opened her mouth to say something, but she wasn’t sure what to say.
“We’re not even ten yet,” Izzy said, “We’re not getting married.”
“After we had that special science class,” Emma said, “I had some questions and went online. I only found things about boys and girls, so I tried looking up things about girls and girls.”
“Oh.”
“Did you know that it’s weird?” Emma asked. “It’s supposed to be boys and girls. Boys and boys and girls and girls is wrong. We’re wrong.”
“You could say the same thing about wearing diapers in fourth grade,” Izzy said. “We can wear diapers, even though they’re for babies. Lilly can watch Monster Story even though it’s for boys. And we can do whatever we want, even if we’re both girls.”
Emma turned around and grabbed Izzy, not letting her go.
“I don’t want to do anything,” Emma said, “I just want to be with you.”
“Emma,” Izzy whispered.
“I love you,” Emma said.
“Emma.”
“And I’ll never let you go.”
“Emma!”
“Yes?”
“I… have… to… pee.” Izzy let out a small sigh of relief.
“Oh,” Emma said, “Sorry.”
“It’s okay,” Izzy said. “But I’ll still need help changing.”
“I thought you’d never ask,” Emma said.
***
“Mom, do you think we’re growing up too fast?”
Mrs. Young looked down at her daughter, who was almost twelve and wearing a diaper.
“No,” she said.
***
After watching a movie that night, most of the girls were tired and headed off to bed. As Susie was about to do the same, she noticed Lilly wasn’t moving.
“What’s up, Lil?” Susie asked. “You goin to bed?”
Lilly shook her head. “It’s the series finale of Monster Story tomorrow,” Lilly said, “The last episode ever. I don’t want to miss it by even one second, so I am gonna stay up all night so I can be there the moment it starts.”
Susie looked around and everyone scattering to bed. “I’ll stay up with you,” Susie said.
Chapter 5
Susie returned moments later, teeth brushed and dressed in her pajamas. She found Lilly on the floor now, scribbling in a small book.
“Since when do you have a journal?” Susie asked.
“Zachary got it for me,” Lilly said.
“You’ve already written a lot.” Susie sat down next to Lilly and turned on the TV. “So what do you want to watch first?”
“Anything really,” Lilly said, “I want to stay up all night long so I don’t miss the show!”
“Wouldn’t it make more sense to go to bed now and wake up early?” Susie asked.
Lilly stared at her like she just said the Earth was flat or diapers weren’t fun.
“Okay so cartoons it is,” Susie said.
After what seemed like hours, Lilly had a question.
“Hey, Susie,” she asked. “How come you’re trying so hard to make sure everyone has fun?”
“What do you mean?” Susie asked.
“You’re like, trying to arrange all these activities,” Lilly explained, “Make sure everyone is doing something. You can’t just be happy with us lying around, we have to be playing volleyball or tag or something.”
“Well,” Susie said, “The truth is my dad is out of state on a job interview. If he gets it, we’ll have to move. This could be our last weekend all together. I wanted to be special.”
Lilly smiled.
“Susie,” Lilly said, “Have you taken a look at our lives? No matter what comes between us, we always find each other again. You can move all the way to Japan but we’ll still be together again, I just know it.”
Susie smiled and nodded. “Yeah. I never thought Emma would wake up, or you would get better, or Abigail would stop being so mean. But it all worked out.”
Susie yawned, it was a long one.
“I think I’m gonna turn in,” Susie said, “I hope you like your show.”
As her eyes slowly closed, the last thing Susie saw was Lilly smiling back at her and whispering, "Good night."
***
The alarm was buzzing, three sharp blasts every second. Susie slowly sat up and looked around. Across the living room, on the floor, Lilly was sprawled out in front of the TV. Susie looked at the clock, it was almost eight.
“Lilly, wake up!” Susie stood and made her way over to the kitchen, her diaper sagging between her thighs. With how hot it was, her diaper was probably filled with more sweat than last night’s soda.
When she returned with a glass of orange juice, Lilly hadn’t moved.
“I told you it was better to go to bed early,” Susie said.
She sat the orange juice down on the coffee table, right next to a coaster.
“Come on, it’s the last episode, right?” Susie looked around, but couldn’t find the remote.
A burst of wind caused the curtains to rustle.
Susie slowly tip-toed toward Lilly.
“Lilly?”
Lilly’s eyes were wide open.
“You up?”
Lilly didn’t move. Her eyes were transfixed on the ceiling, where the fan whirled a cool breeze throughout the house.
“Hey, Lilly.”
Susie stopped and stood in place.
“Lil?”
A second passed, then another. The next alarm went off. The series finale of Monster Story was about to start.
Susie bent over to shake Lilly awake. The moment her hand met the smooth, cold skin, Susie recoiled and stepped back. She stared for a moment.
Completely still.
“Lilly?”