Chapter 18
Chapter Eighteen
Samantha kept her face covered, as if that somehow made the experience of being diapered less humiliating.
Lying atop the adult-sized changing table, she kept still as Auntie sent a poof of powder between her legs and gently moved it around, distributing equally.
Auntie’s touch would have been comforting had it not been for the awful embarrassing circumstances in which they were occurring.
“The rules are, little girl,” Athena said as she went about her work, “when you are being disciplined in diapers you have to use said diapers. That means no pulling them down to use the big girl potty. All bathroom privileges are revoked for the remainder of your stay today. Is that understood, sweetie?”
Samantha nodded.
“Not good enough, honey.”
She cleared her throat. “Yes, Ma’am.”
“Good girl.”
The diaper was so thick as Auntie brought it between Samantha’s legs. When it pressed up against her skin and covered her entirely, she wondered how she would ever walk with that thickness between her legs.
The sound of Athena pulling the tapes free to secure them to the front of the diaper caused Samantha to jump a little. Gosh, this was awful.
After it was securely in place, Auntie Athena patted the front of it as she smiled down. “Now, aren’t you a cutie? Get up and walk for me, honey. Let Auntie see.”
Samantha groaned, but that was as far as she took the protest. She hopped off the changing table and walked toward Athena, who had taken a few steps back.
She wasn’t really walking, Samantha realized as she trudged forward.
She was waddling.
The cotton and plastic were so thick! The diaper crinkled loudly with each movement she made.
As much as she hated to admit it, though, it felt kind of good. But she wasn’t about to give into all this without at least voicing her anger. She couldn’t let them win!
Ignoring the voice inside her head that screamed, Just let it go! You’re in enough trouble already, she said, “This is stupid! I’m like one of those stupid babies downstairs!”
Athena sighed. “Well, I was hoping this would humble you. But I see you’re not quite where you need to be yet. Hmm.” She tapped her chin. A smile replaced her perplex look a few seconds later. “I know! Come on, honey. I have just the cure for that haughty attitude.”
Samantha reluctantly allowed Auntie Athena to guide her by the elbow.
She wondered what on earth was going to happen now.
Five minutes later, Samantha had her answer.
She found herself lying flat on her back atop the couch in the back den. Her head was on Auntie Athena’s lap, cradled in the crook of one of her arms.
The thick rubber nipple of an adult-sized baby bottle was between her lips.
“All right, little baby. This is a special formula I made for cuties just like you. It will give you all the nutrients you need, lovie. Now drink up. Until the whole bottle is gone-gone.”
This worked. Samantha didn’t dare argue. All the fight had been drained from her—along with that snotty attitude.
She wanted to cry. Why had she made fun of those other girls? It had been so cruel!
Perhaps she could apologize later.
Did it even matter? Tonya was “moving away.” But for whatever reason, she had the overwhelming urge to try and make amends.
The formula tasted good, with a distinct vanilla flavor.
But it was still bitter to swallow thanks to how mortified she was.
Littles walked by, coming and going. Some played nearby.
Others were just talking. But almost everyone there saw Tonya being fed a bottle, wearing only a shirt and thick diaper while being cradled by Auntie.
Even Iris and her friends saw. Thankfully, they didn’t point or laugh. There was no mocking.
Learn from them, Sam. Do the right thing for a change. Be a better person.
The worst part, though, was that Kendrick saw.
She felt his eyes on her before she actually noticed that he’d stepped into the den. He stopped a few feet away, watched her for a moment, and then moved on.
Closing her eyes, she winced.
At least Tonya was going away forever. That was the only bright spot in all this.
It was time for a fresh start.
Thirty minutes later, Samantha was with Monica in the backyard, on the swing set.
Both were wearing only their shirts and diapers.
Samantha was thankful she could cover up that much, at least. If she would have undressed completely, she would have just left. Her fake boobs being revealed would blow her whole cover!
“I can’t believe Marissa just left,” Monica said.
“Did you think about it?” Samantha asked her as they continued to swing.
A moment passed. “Yeah. Did you?”
“Yeah.”
They went on in silence for a moment, the squeaking of their swings the only sound as they went forward and then back.
All the other Littles were inside now, watching a holiday movie. She and Monica had talked about joining them and might in a few minutes. But first, Samantha had to drop the big news.
She didn’t really know how to say it. Perhaps it didn’t matter. It wasn’t as if they were really close. They’d really just connected over their snobbery. Monica really was rich. She thought Tonya was.
“I’m leaving.”
“Like, you’re leaving the nursery so you don’t have to wear that diaper?”
Samantha shook her head. “I’m moving to New York City.”
“Seriously? Why?”
“I met a guy.”
“Is it a Daddy?”
“Yeah.”
Silence settled over them as they continued to swing. Finally, Monica brought herself to a stop, hopped off, and said, “Well, I hope it works out for you. I bet you’ll love New York. Lots of good shopping and stuff.”
With that, she walked into the mansion.
Samantha was surprised by the woman’s reaction. But she shouldn’t be, she realized. Again, it wasn’t like they were true friends. Their common bond had simply been that they were both brats. Monica wouldn’t miss her when she “moved to New York.”
Not wanting to be alone, Samantha brought her own swing to a stop but didn’t get off. Instead, she sat there, barely swaying, contemplating what to do.
If she went inside, that would mean she was around Iris and the group from the Daddy Guard mansion. That would be problematic for several reasons. One, she felt extremely guilty about what she’d done earlier. The weight of their gazes might be more than she could bear right now.
Two, being around them would give them more chances to recognize her later tonight. Maybe it was best just to go ahead and leave the nursery. Tonya didn’t really need to tell anyone goodbye. No one would be sad she was gone.
That made her a little sad. But she also was self-aware enough to know she’d made her own bed. There was no one to blame but Tonya.
Or Samantha.
That thought was difficult, too. In her mind, she’d always done pretty well at separating the two personas. Samantha never felt too guilty about what Tonya did. And Tonya never dwelled too much on Samantha’s conscience.
Things were different now. Why was that? Was it a result of just her short—and it had been extremely short—time knowing Kendrick?
She was still contemplating what to do when she heard the back door open again. Shifting in her swing, she saw the last person on earth she expected to.
Kendrick.
And he was walking straight toward her.