Making Amends with A Baby

“When is she gonna arrive?”

"Any moment, now, sweetie, " Mommy said.

“But, when?” I stomped my feet.

“Be patient, honeybear.”

I pouted.

"Want me to sing you a song?"

Ding-dong!

“I'll get it!” I ran to the door and opened it.

“Hey, Jade,” Beth said.

“Beth!” I hugged her.

“See, Jade? You gotta be patient.”

“Sorry, Mommy.”

“That’s my lil guy.” She pinched my cheek.

I smiled. I didn’t care Beth saw.

I started acting younger than I really was three years ago. I didn't like to talk about what happened before, but I loved being babied!

It's just who I am!

”Thank you again for coming, Beth,” Mommy said, grabbing her purse.

“Oh, it’s no problem, Ms. Bonomnomnom, I promised Jade I’d babysit him."

“Well, I appreciate it. Jade needs company while I’m gone.”

“Yes, he does,” Beth said.

“You be good!”

“I will. Bye Mommy.”

“Bye, darling,” she walked out and shut the door.

“So, I brought some stuff for you,” Beth said, took her backpack off, and unzipped it,

“Ooh, toys!”

“Yeah, I’m a good babysitter, aren’t I?”

“Yes, let’s go play!”

“But first.” She felt my diaper. “Yep, I figured…”

I giggled.

“Come on… up we go!” She picked me up and carried me into my room. "Lucky, I take gymnastics!"

“I went potty, didn’t I?”

She laid me on the changing table and undid my diaper.

"Wait..." My fourteen-year-old brain kicked in. "You sure you wanna do this?"

"Jade. I don't mind changing you. All I want is to make you happy."

"Thanks, Beth."

"Are you comfortable with me doing this?"

"Yes."

"Good."

I stuck my thumb in my mouth.

“Here, lemme get your binky,” she said and looked around. “Here it is!” She strolled to my shelf, grabbed my teddy bear paci, walked back, pulled my thumb out, and put Mr. Binky in. “Better?”

I nodded and sucked. It soothed me.

Beth took my diaper off and wiped me. “What a good boy!”

I smiled.

She lifted my butt up and slid a new diaper under, then put my legs down, ”And, now for Mr. Powder. There. All done.” She patted my diaper.

“Thankies, Beth.”

“No, prob. Now, are you hungy?”

“Not yet.”

“OK, tell me when you’re hungry.”

“OK, can we pway?”

”Sure, lemme go get your new toys.” She left the room.

Beth returned with her backpack. “You’ll like these, Jadie-Wadie…” She dumped out the contents on my crib. “A choo-choo train, a brown teddy, and a silly, orange giraffe.”

“Cool! I love them!”

“What do you say?”

“THANKIES!”

“You’re welcome!” She ruffled my hair.

“So, what do we play?”

“Hmm, let’s see… How about Stuffie Tea Time?”

I giggled. “OK, sounds fun!

"OK, I'll set everything up."

It took her ten minutes to set the card table up, place my stuffed animals in seats, and get cups for each of them.

"Your chair, little one..." She placed the last chair at the end.

"Why, thank you, ma'am," I replied and sat down. This was cool! She actually wanted to play my baby games with me! "Can you put my ducky bib on me? It’s in my closet.”

“Unlike you… Oh! Sorry, I didn’t mean that.”

 “I’m not gay.”

“I know.”

“Fuck you!” I said. "Beth, how could you?!"

“Jade, I wasn’t thinking."

“That’s right you weren’t!”

“What do you want me to do?”

I thought for a moment. “Dress up as a baby at school.”

“Oh, hell, no.”

“Then, fuck off!”

”Jade,..”

I turned my back on her.

“OK, I will.”

“When?”

“Tomorrow, after school, I will dress up as a baby.”

“Diaper and all?”

Beth sighed. “Yes, diaper and all.”

I walked into the hall as Beth took her math book out.

"Hey, Jadie," she cooed.

"Hi," I smiled. I let her bavbytalk to me in public. I don't care if some jerk ripped on me.

"So, I will put it on after school," she said.

"Yaysies!" I clapped my hands.

She bit her lip. "To tell you the truth I don't wanna go through with this..."

"So, you're backing out?"

"Maybe."

"Beth, yiou promised!" I stomped my feet.

"I know, but everyone will see."

"So? You hurt my feelings. You said I was gay! I would've brushed it off it was some punk, but, you? You're supposed to be my friend!"

"I know, but—"

"But, what?" I said and checked the clock. "I have to go," I marched toward class.

"Well, wello, widdle baby-waby Jadie!" Boomer cooed. "How are you today? Did your Mommy put a fresh dipy on you this morning?"

"Shut the Hell up!" I trudged past him.

How could Beth back down on our amends?

In geometry, I passed by Beth in the front row.

"Hey." she said.

I ignored her and sat down in my seat in the next row.

"Hey, Jade." Heather sat next to me. "What's wrong?"

"Nothin'." I felt my lp stick up.

"Don't look like nothin'."

"Just leave me alone, OK?"

"OK." She turned around.

"Hmph!" I crossed my arms.

Some students stared at me like I was having a hissy fit.

Mrs. Mentry walked in. "Good morning, I hope you all studied for your quiz on postulates."

Beth looked at me.

At lunch, I sat down and pulled out my Blue's Clues lunchbox. Let's see what Mommy packed for me today. I grabbed the latch when I saw Beth walk over. "Hey, you want me to feed you?"

"I can do it by myself. Thank you."

"Jade, I'm sorry. You know I wouldn't do anything to hurt you."

"Yeah, right." I rolled my eyes.

"I'll make it up to you, I swear."

"There's one thing you need to do."

"Jade, why must I embarrass myself for you?"

"You really hurt my feelings."

"I said I'm sorry. Can't you forgive me?" She tromped away.

I walked out of sixth-period choir.

"Nuice solo, man," Lora said, patting my back.

"Thankies, I've been practicing at home with Mommy."

"Sweet, she must be a great singer!"

"Yep."

"Well, catch you later, Jade."

"OK, bye-bye!" I waved as she walked off.

I turned into another hall when my phone chirped. I pulled it out.

K.., I'll do it.

I typed. rly?

yes.

gr8, step out @ 3:30

yh, i kno

I put my phone away stuck two fingers in my mouth, and let out a shrill whistle

the hall fell silent

"Attention, everyone, gather at the front of the school before three-thirty. Beth McDoogle has something to show you."

"What?"

"Show us?"

"What's this all about?"

"You'll just have to wait." I grinned.

“So, what was this surprise?” asked the whole eighth grade gathered outside. 

“You’ll just have to wait.” I smiled.

Beth walked out. Her purple Zelda blouse dashingly matched her pants. She strolled to the end of the sidewalk and stopped.

Taking a deep breath, Beth muttered, “OK, here goes…” She pulled her pants down, revealing a Pamper. Everybody gasped.

I smirked.

“And now for my shirt.”

“Wait, what?” Jade blurted out.

Beth undid her blouse and took it off.

“Beth, what are you doing?”

“Babies don’t wear grown-up clothes…” She unhooked her bra and took it off.

“Cheers and gasps filled the playground.”

Beth smiled. “I’m a widdle baby girl. Ain’t I cute?” She stuck her diaper butt out as kids snapped pictures.

I walked up and pulled her aside. “Why?”

“Well, you made me wear a diaper and expose myself to the whole eighth grade, so I thought what the fuck and go the extra mile.”

“You’re mad at me, huh?”

“I’m not mad. I just did it.”

“What about your parents?”

“Jade, it's OK, I’ll tell them I’m a baby and they’ll be fine.”

“Really?”

“Yes, my parents are really chill,”

“You didn’t have to do this.”

“I know, but I wanted you to know I ‘m sorry.”

“Apology accepted.” I hugged her.