Sitting in Veronica’s office, eating some chicken strips that Suzie had heated up for her, Briana felt ridiculous. The diaper she was wearing was far more bulky than a pullup, too much so for her to ignore its presence. “I feel like I’m waiting for the principal to scold me. Or my mom.”
“Thank you for taking care of her so quickly.” Veronica said from the next room, giving Erin a hug.
“Let me know if I can do anything.” Erin squeezed Veronica tightly, then stepped out of the room.
Veronica came into the office and stroked Briana’s hair. “You look very sad.”
“Wouldn’t you be?” Briana forlornly munched on a chicken strip.
“It’s okay if you are.” Veronica said, taking a seat. “Today was embarrassing and I’m sure worrying too.”
Briana nodded. “Everything was going wrong, I totally blew my lab work, I lost my lunch and a bunch of our Tupperware, it was hard to even get up today. Then I just… I just lost control. I didn’t even feel that I had to go until I was…”
“Wetting?” Veronica asked, nodding when Briana blushed. “I told you before, extreme stress does terrible things to people. We’re doing our best to help you, but I’m not surprised that it’s getting worse before it gets better.”
“I hate this.” Briana screwed up her eyes in frustration.
“I’m so sorry hon. We’re here to help. First of all, stop worrying about the Tupperware. They were cheap store brand ones anyway. Okay?” Veronica smiled gently at Briana. “Second, I think it’s time to have you wear pullups during the day.”
“What!?” Briana stared at Veronica in a panic. “No, I don’t need that! This was a one time thing!”
“Well, it happened for the first time today. If it is a one time thing then that is great.” Veronica said. “But if it follows your pattern so far, it will get a bit worse before it gets better. You don’t want a repeat of today, do you?”
“Veronica, please, please don’t make me.” Briana whimpered.
“I’m not making you do anything.” Veronica said. “I’m telling you what I think is best.”
“Please don’t.” Briana’s voice fell to a whisper. “No, please.”
Veronica stared at Briana curiously, letting the silence drag out. She gently took the plate out of Briana’s hand and set it aside. “Come here and sit on my lap.”
Briana took the seat without protest, leaning her petite frame against Veronica.
“Do you need me to make you wear the pullups?” Veronica asked. “Would that make it better for you?”
“I don’t want to wear them.” Briana whimpered into Veronica’s neck.
“But you’re afraid that you need to. And it’s a choice that would hurt you to make.” Veronica stroked Briana’s hair and held the girl close. She let Briana sit there quietly, gently caressing her, until she felt Briana’s shoulders relax.
“Briana?” Veronica said.
“Yes?”
“I’ve made a decision. You’re going to need to wear pullups for a while.”
“But…”
“No arguing, young lady. If you can keep them dry for a solid week, you can go back to underwear. I won’t count nighttime wetting against you, only daytime.”
Briana buried her face further into Veronica’s neck, but didn’t answer.
“I’d like to hear a, ‘Yes Veronica’.”
It took a minute, but Briana managed a muffled, “Yes Veronica.”
“Good girl.” Veronica patted Briana’s back. “If you do wet, you have to come tell me. If you make it to the bathroom, you can tell me that too, but you don’t have to.”
“Okay.” Briana sighed.
“I’m not trying to embarrass you. I want to keep track of this for you. I imagine that would be some pretty depressing data for you to collect.”
“If it happens at all.” Briana said.
“And I hope it won’t.” Veronica said. “But, if you lie to me about it, you will be in really big trouble. We can only help you if you’re being honest. A spanking would be the least of your worries if you lie about this, understand?”
Briana winced. “Yes Veronica.”
“Now, how do you feel?”
“Tired. Sad. Embarrassed.” Briana sighed. “I’m scared about this. I’m falling apart, and I can’t make it stop.”
“We’re here to catch you.” Veronica said. “You need a break for tonight. I’ll look over your homework but I don’t think you have anything due tomorrow. You’re excused from chores as well.”
“Really?” Briana sat up, looking gratefully at Veronica.
“Really.” Veronica slid Briana off her lap, patted her rear. “Go play with Suzie. You need a distraction, and she’s great at them.”
“Okay, thank you Veronica.”
Briana found Suzie in her room, and got a huge hug as soon as she arrived. Suzie lung to Briana until she squeaked a little. “Ronnie sent you to me huh?”
“She said I needed a distraction.” Briana said.
“I bet you do, I heard what happened.” Suzie said. “Well I have a great idea! I’ve been working on it all week. Ronnie hasn’t let me be in charge of you much.”
“You’re sorry you didn’t get to babysit me?” Briana stuck her tongue out.
“Yeah, pretty much!” Suzie grinned maniacally. “I used to love to babysit, but all the film projects I have running don’t leave any time.”
“I was being sarcastic.” Briana said. “You’re not actually babysitting me.”
“Well I kind of am.” Suzie smirked. “I’m the one in charge of you right now, right?” She looked at Briana challengingly.
“She wouldn’t spank me as hard as Jane did.” Briana thought. Something about Suzie’s manic attitude didn’t give her much confidence in that idea. “Fine, yes, you are.”
“Good! So let’s get you good and distracted!” Suzie hopped in excitement. “Take a little break from yourself. Do some make-believe. You’re getting baby-sat, I’m the coolest baby sitter ever, and we’re going to have a great time.”
Briana shook her head, bemused. “Coolest baby sitter ever, really?”
“Lots of kids have been skeptical!” Suzie declared. “Don’t worry, I’ll show you. Come on, let’s check out your room.” She took Briana’s hand and led her enthusiastically around the upstairs balcony.
Briana had to admit the excitement was infectious. She followed along, trying to ignore the crinkles from her diaper.
“Now, let’s play dress up!” Suzie threw Briana’s closet door open.
“Dress up?” Briana asked.
“That’s right.” Suzie plucked at Briana’s old brown skirt. “These clothes are a depressing reminder of a sucky day. Off they go!”
“You want me to strip?” Briana shook her head.
“Oh please, everyone in the house has seen you naked at this point!”
“That’s not true!” Briana protested. “Uh… Veronica, and Erin, and sorta Casey… and I guess Jane had my pants down.”
“So everyone in the house but me.” Suzie smirked. “Babysitter says strip!”
Briana sighed and shucked her shirt. She dropped the skirt as well and sat on the bed to yank off her socks.
“Oh, this is cute!” Suzie hopped over and patted Briana’s diaper. “You can leave this on.”
“It’s so babyish!” Briana looked down at the purple pandas.
“So what? We’re playing dress up!” Suzie reached behind Briana and popped open the clasp on her bra. Briana shrugged it off and sat shyly on the bed.
“Now you’re a blank slate!” Suzie hopped in front of Briana, brimming with endless energy.
“Almost blank.” Briana poked the diaper sourly.
“So cover it up.” Erin ruffled Briana’s hair. “Get in that closet and pick out a crazy outfit. Something clashy and dumb and silly. Bonus points if it involves a tutu!”
Briana laughed and rummaged in her closet. She couldn’t stay down in the face of Suzie’s relentless cheer. There were no tutus in her closet, but she did find an old cat-costume from Halloweens past. It went on as a slinky leotard, wire-stiffened tail protruding from the back. A rainbow skirt from a folk fair went over the cat costume, with the tail sticking out over the skirt..
“Awesome!” Suzie giggled. “Do you still have the ears for that costume?”
“Yes, but I have a plan.” Briana set a plastic tiara from another costume on the ears and then set the whole thing on her head. She posed for Suzie with a silly grin.
“Hail! Rainbow Princess Kitty Briana!” Suzie said, taking a knee.
“Your Rainbow Princess Kitty demands snacks!” Briana giggled.
“As your Rainbow Majesty commands!”