As soon as the Olivers had left, Randy got started on his homework. He’d have all weekend to finish it, but he always tried to do as much as possible on Friday. Today, his heaviest assignment was a 200-word composition for English. The class had been studying creative writing, and had been given a choice of themes on which to base their stories. Randy had decided to write about an attempted kidnapping in which the captive child must find a way to escape and get help. The captive had nothing to use but his hands and his brains. It would be a tough call.

Randy was about half way through a rough draft of his story when the phone rang. Picking it up, he was pleased to hear Mrs. Oliver’s voice.

"We made it!" she said. "We’re safe! That lightning was scary for all of us, but we didn’t get hit."

"Great!" Randy answered, relieved, "I’ll tell Mum and Dad."

Just as he hung up, Shane came in to the kitchen.

"Who was that, son?" he asked.

"Mrs. Oliver," Randy replied. "They’re home."

"Thank goodness!" Shane said. "I was wondering when they’d call."

He glanced at the papers on the table. "I see you’ve started on your homework," he remarked, "What are you writing about?"

Randy showed him the theme. Shane smiled.

"That’ll be a challenge," he said. "But I must say, your teacher seems determined to focus on potentially true situations. I bet most kids would either panic or die of shock if someone just grabbed them like that."

"I hope it never happens to me," Randy said.

Grace came up from the laundry room with her arms full of clean diapers. She glanced at the clock, then at Randy’s homework.

"How much longer are you going to work?" she asked. "It’s getting late."

"I want to finish the first copy," Randy answered. "Then I can do the good copy tomorrow. I know that’s not due till Tuesday, but you know what Mrs. Franklin’s like."

Grace looked closely at her son. He sat very upright, and there was a look of concentration on his face. Nevertheless, his eyes were beginning to droop, and he looked a bit pale.

"I think you’d better leave it for tonight, dear," she advised. "You’ve had a busy day. Put these diapers away and then go jump in the tub."

Randy marked his place, put his papers in order and rose slowly from the table. Grace followed him upstairs and set the diapers on his bed. Randy picked out the night diaper and plastic pants, then stowed the clean ones on the shelf in the closet while his mum went to fill the tub.

It was not until he lowered himself in to the steaming water that Randy realized how tired he was. He didn’t spend much time soaking, but scrubbed himself, got out and began applying body lotion. He was nearly done when his mum knocked on the door.

"Almost done?"

"Yes," he answered, "I just need to use the toilet."

Grace was waiting in his room when he came out of the bathroom. He reached for his diaper, but she stopped him.

"I’ll put it on for you," she said. "You’re almost asleep on your feet."

"Thanks, Mum," Randy yawned, "but I’m still awake enough to do it myself."

He’d put on the body powder before leaving the bathroom, so there wasn’t much left to do. He put on his diaper, pulled up his plastics and reached for his PJ’s. Grace, who’d been waiting respectfully outside, came in to kiss him goodnight. As Randy crawled in to bed, she asked, "Did the Olivers phone?"

"Yes, they’re all right," Randy said.

"Good," Grace answered, "see you in the morning."

Randy slept quite late, he was so tired. When he finally awoke, the wind still blew strongly, but the clouds were higher and less dense. The worst of the storm had passed. He got up, changed, dressed, and went downstairs to find his parents at breakfast.

"Morning, Sleepy head," Shane chuckled. "I was just going to wake you. How do you feel?"

"Hungry!" Randy answered, and set his parents laughing.

Grace gave him a large bowl of porridge sprinkled liberally with maple sugar. He was about half way through when the phone rang. Shane answered it. He listened for a moment, then said,

"How close is she to delivery? ... Right. I’ll be right over."

"What is it?" Randy asked as his dad began gathering up his equipment.

"A mare’s about to foal," Shane told him, "and her owner thinks there may be a problem. I’d better fly."

Randy helped his mum with the dishes, then spent the rest of the morning finishing the rough draft of his story. It was a bit longer than the instructions called for, but he didn’t think this would matter much.

Barry dropped in just before lunch. All were glad to see him. Between school and work, he hadn’t visited since August. He was impressed by Randy’s story and even gave him a few pointers.

"Is this your first story?" he asked.

"The first long one," Randy said.

"Well, you’ve done a pretty good job," Barry praised, "just watch out for those run-on sentences–like this one." He pointed to the third paragraph on page 2. Randy made a mental note to change this in his final copy.

"Another thing you might want to watch," Barry went on, "is vocabulary. Try not to use "said" quite so much when indicating dialogue. I know it’s not easy to think of other verbs off the top of one’s head. I used to have the same problem."

"This is only the rough draft," Randy explained. "I’ll have to hand it in as it is. Once I get it back, then I start the "good" copy. Mrs. Franklin marks all the places where we’ve messed up and puts notes in the margins."

"She sounds like a good teacher."

"She is," Randy agreed, "but she’s really strict."

"I bet Ralph doesn’t like that," Barry guessed.

"He doesn’t. She wouldn’t let him sit next to Margaret in class."

"Who’s Margaret?" Barry asked.

"I think she’s his cousin, or something," Randy replied. "They always seem to be together."

"How did she take to seeing Ralph in diapers?"

"Probably just laughed along with the rest of us," Randy said. "I didn’t see her." After a pause, he asked, "How did you know about that?"

Barry nodded towards Grace who smiled back. "Besides," he added, "I was working when Mrs. Brinckman came in to stalk up."

"Lunch, Barry?" Grace asked with a smile.

"Thanks," Barry replied. "Just let me change my diaper first, or I’ll leak."

Randy also went to change. He was first to return to the kitchen and found his mum spreading the table. Quickly, he grabbed a handful of serviettes and helped to finish the task.

Barry came in to the kitchen just in time to see Grace turning away from the stove holding a large platter.

"What’s that?" he asked. "It sure smells good."

"Grilled cheese sandwiches!" Grace announced, "made with sharp cheddar!"

"Yum! Yum!" Barry exclaimed, grinning. "I don’t get those very often anymore.

Shane came in just as they were getting started.

"Just in time, dear! Grace said, "it’s your favourite."

Barry couldn’t help smiling at this. Shane set down his med bag, threw off his jacket and boots and half skipped to the table. That set Barry laughing.

"How’s the mare?" Grace asked.

"Just fine," Shane answered, "There was nothing really wrong. The foal was just a bit too big. Mind you, Maxine’s no smalley herself. Seventeen hands."

"How big’s the foal?" Barry asked.

"About 100 pounds. A perfect colt."

"Is it her first?" Barry asked.

"Second. Her first one was a filly. She’s three now, and in excellent shape."

"What’s the colt’s name?" Grace put in as she brought a fresh load of hot sandwiches to the table.

"The owners haven’t decided yet. They’ll contact me tomorrow. The filly is Martina, after her mistresses grandmother."

Everyone ate heartily, and Barry helped to clear up.

"Are you doing anything this afternoon?" Grace asked him.

"I should get home and study a bit," Barry answered without much enthusiasm. "The mid-terms are coming up in a couple of weeks."

"Surely you can afford a break," Grace insisted. "From the sound of things, you don’t get much free time anymore."

Barry let himself be persuaded. It was true that he spent most of his time studying when not at work. He didn’t complain, but Grace had noticed the lonely expression in his gray eyes.

Barry joined Randy in watching cartoons for an hour, then helped him with his math and French homework. Math wasn’t one of Randy’s better subjects, but Barry was a whiz at it and even gave Randy a couple of shortcuts to help solve some of the trickier problems. Randy was beginning to see him almost as a big brother.

On Sunday, Randy awoke with a headache and a sore throat. He was puzzled by this, for he’d felt fine at bedtime last night. He changed out of his night diaper and put on one of his warm sweat suits.

"Is something wrong, dear?" Grace asked as he entered the kitchen. "You look pale."

"My head aches," Randy answered. "I hope I’m not getting a cold."

"Best take it easy today," Grace advised. "Have you finished all your homework?"

"Yes."

Randy spent the morning tidying his room and doing a few small errands for his mum. After lunch, however, his headache returned and his nose began to run. Grace gave him a dose of child’s aspirin and suggested he take a nap. He slept for a couple of hours and woke feeling a little better. Paddy dropped in briefly, and they watched Barney.

"I didn’t see you at the park today," Paddy remarked as the show ended.

"I think I’m getting something," Randy said. "I don’t seem to feel like doing much."

Paddy left just before dinner. Randy joined his parents at the table, but found he couldn’t eat much. He felt strangely heavy, and his stomach seemed to have shrunk. Grace noticed that he was shivering slightly despite the warmth of the house.

"Are you sure you’re all right, son?" Shane asked, concerned.

"I don’t know," the boy replied. "I’m so tired."

Randy did not join his parents in watching the evening comics, as he normally did on Sundays. He picked out his clothes for school tomorrow, then took a long, hot bath. The steam did something to ease his headache, but the mild nausea still persisted. Grace met him as he emerged from the bathroom, and accompanied him to his room. This time, he didn’t protest as she put him in to his night diaper and a pair of his heavier pajamas. Once he was in bed, she fetched a cup of ginger tea to help his stomach.

By Monday morning, he was no better. As he rose, his stomach began to gurgle ominously. Hastening to the bathroom, he barely reached the toilet before an attack of diarrhoea hit him.

"How are you feeling?" Grace called softly from outside the bathroom.

Not receiving a response, she gently opened the door. Instantly, her nose told her what she needed to know. Randy looked up at his mum as she came close.

"Can you bring my day diaper please, Mum?" he asked. "I forgot it in my room."

"You go on back to bed," Grace said firmly. "You can’t go to school like this."

Randy was in no shape to protest. He wiped up, flushed the toilet and walked slowly back to his room. Grace helped him in to another night diaper and back in to bed.

"I’ll bring you some breakfast in a bit," she said.

"Where’s Randy?" Shane asked as he ate his breakfast. "He’ll be late for school."

"I sent him back to bed," his wife explained, "He’s had nasty diarrhoea this morning, and he’s awfully pale."

Shane looked worried. Randy very rarely had colds of any sort. "Have you called Dr. Shermann?" he asked.

"Not yet," Grace answered, "but I will if he’s no better by noon."

Grace was just making some ginger tea for Randy when Paddy arrived. She greeted him with a worried look.

"I’m afraid Randy’s too sick for school today," she told him.

"What’s wrong?" Paddy asked.

"I’m not sure yet," Grace admitted, "it looks like a mild flu."

"I hope it’s nothing serious," Paddy said. "Want me to take his homework? I can have the office give it to Mrs. Franklin."

"That’s very kind of you," Grace praised, "but I’ll take it in myself. I have to write a note explaining his absence anyway."

Paddy hurried away, and Grace took the ginger tea upstairs. Randy was awake, and raised himself on one elbow as she approached his bed.

"Here’s some tea," she said. "I’ll see that Mrs. Franklin gets your homework."

Randy heaved himself up against his headboard and took the hot cup. "How long will I have to stay in bed?" he asked.

"Hopefully just for today," Grace said gently. "Paddy might come over after school, and you can get up for him if you feel better. Just don’t get too close."

Randy finished the tea and handed the cup back. Grace helped him to settle down again. Then she hurried downstairs, poured the remaining ginger tea in to a thermos and returned to Randy’s room.

"I’ll leave this here in case you feel queasy later," she told him. "I’m off to work now. Daddy’s downstairs if you need anything." she blew him a kiss and left.

"How’s he doing?" Shane asked as Grace came downstairs.

"I’ve left the rest of the tea for him," Grace said. "He was on the verge of falling asleep when I left his room."

"I’ll stay here till you get home," Shane promised. "There’s nothing urgent at the moment. If I get an emergency call, I’ll buzz Mrs. Manning. She’s nearest."

Grace nodded. Mrs. Manning was a dress maker and worked mostly from home. Her husband was head chef at a luxury hotel.

On her way to the hospital, Grace dropped off a package for Mrs. Franklin, containing Randy’s homework and an explanation of his absence. As she was leaving the school, she ran in to Mrs. Brinckman and Ralph. Today, Ralph was dressed in red pants and a Squirrel Nutkin t-shirt. He looked rather subdued, and Grace was sure the punishment was beginning to affect his mood. The diaper made his pants bulge noticeably, and the crinkling was audible with every step.

About mid morning, Shane crept upstairs and found Randy sleeping peacefully, one hand clutching "Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone". Carefully, he lifted the boy’s hand, slipped the marker in to place, closed the book and set it on the night table. He smiled down at his son and tiptoed out of the room. He went up again at noon to find Randy awake and drinking from the thermos.

"How do you feel?" he asked.

"Still drowsy," Randy answered quietly, "and hungry."

"Feel like getting up for lunch? You’ll be needing a diaper change by now anyway."

Randy set down the thermos and rose. His diaper sagged heavily. He hesitated, unsure whether to put on a day diaper or another night one.

"Better use another heavy one," Shane advised, "That way you won’t have to change as often."

Randy took his father’s advice. He went to use the toilet before changing, but there was no more diarrhoea. Once changed, he felt better. He put on his robe and went down to the kitchen to find a bowl of chicken-vegetable soup and a honey sandwich waiting for him. He smiled his thanks and began to eat. He was about half way through the soup when Grace came home.

"Feeling better?" she asked.

Randy nodded. "I’m awfully thirsty though."

"Not surprising," Shane laughed, seeing how soaked your diaper was. You must have been weeing constantly in your sleep."

"How long did you sleep?" Grace asked, fixing herself a sandwich and some coffee.

"I don’t know," Randy answered.

"Most of the morning," Shane put in.

"Just as well," Grace said.

After lunch, Randy read over the word list from the next unit of his spelling book. He was able to finish most of the assignments before he began to grow drowsy again. This time, he didn’t go up to bed, but lay on the couch. Grace placed a large bottle of ginger beer on the end table by his head. Ellen Murray, a classmate who lived at the far end of the block, came by around 3-30 with the day’s homework. Grace thanked her, but urged her not to stay since Randy was pretty tired and might be infectious.

"Can’t I at least say hi to him?" Ellen pleaded.

"All right," Grace said, "but don’t get too close."

Ellen pulled off her jacket and shoes and entered the living room. Randy raised himself on one elbow as she approached the couch.

"Hi," he said with a weak smile.

"How are you feeling?" Ellen asked.

"I’ve been tired all day," Randy answered, "and my nose won’t stop running unless I’m on my back."

"Yuck!" Ellen empathized. "I had something like that back in April. Mum made me spend a whole weekend inside. If I wasn’t in bed, I was watching TV or playing on the computer."

Randy reached for the bottle and took a swig.

"What’s that?" Ellen asked.

"It’s ginger beer," Randy replied. "It’s really good for bad stomachs. So’s ginger tea."

"I’ve always liked ginger," Ellen remarked. "I wish I could try some of that. I’ve never had it before."

At that moment, Grace came in to the living room.

"Did you say you wanted to try some of Randy’s pop?" she asked.

Ellen nodded. Grace nipped in to the kitchen, returning with a tumbler. The bottle was full except for a few mouthfuls, so there was plenty to spare. Grace poured some out and handed it to Ellen.

"Thank you," Ellen said. She was a small girl for her age, with long, thick, auburn hair which she wore either in a ponytail or a braid.

"What’s the homework?" Randy asked.

"French and Science."

Randy grimaced. He didn’t mind French, but Science wasn’t one of his better subjects. Ellen handed him a slip of paper on which she’d written the assignments. There was just one French exercise to do, and the Science was to read the pages on the respiratory system and draw a labeled diagram.

"Do you think you’re up to that?" Grace asked. She’d been reading over Randy’s head.

"I think so," Randy answered. "I’ll need a change first, though."

"Change?" Ellen asked. Then she turned scarlet. "Oh! I forgot! Shall I go away?"

Randy’s face reddened too. He’d never even referred to his diapers in front of a girl, let alone asked for a change. For a second, he and Ellen stared at each other, then suddenly they both burst out laughing. Grace couldn’t help joining in.

"Little slip of the tongue there, honey," she chuckled.

"Guess so," Randy agreed.

Ellen glanced at the clock.

"I’d better get home," she said. "Mum’ll be wondering where I am. See you at school tomorrow, I hope."

"Same here," Randy answered. "Thanks for bringing the homework."

As soon as Ellen was gone, Grace hurried to fetch the diaper-changing supplies. Randy was up when she returned to the living room, but she gently pressed him back on to the couch. She helped him in to the dry diaper, then went for clean pajamas and some slippers. Once dressed, Randy went to the kitchen table where Grace had set out his books. He was just getting started when the doorbell rang. It was Paddy. Grace ushered him in and soon had him seated across from Randy.

"Feeling better?" Paddy asked.

"A bit," Randy said. "I was just going to start my homework."

Paddy opened his backpack and pulled out his. He had Math and Socials. Grace was busy preparing snacks.

"Lots of homework, Paddy?" she asked.

"No, but this Socials is a bit tricky."

Grace came to the table with a plate of oatmeal cookies.

"Let’s see."

Paddy held up the assignment. It was to be a 300-word essay on the tanning and preservation of animal hides by native Indians.

"That shouldn’t be too hard," she encouraged him. "What books are you to use for the research?"

"We’re supposed to do it in the library, starting tomorrow," Paddy answered.

"When’s it due?" Grace asked.

"Next Monday."

"Well," Grace said, "it should be all right. I admit, there aren’t many books to choose from on that subject. If you run in to trouble, let me know and I’ll let you borrow our copy of the Canadian encyclopedia."

"Thanks," Paddy answered, leaning forward to take a cookie.

There was little talking after that, as the boys were soon lost in homework. Shane, who’d gone to check up on the new foal, came home as they were finishing up. Entering the kitchen, he found Grace helping Paddy with a math equation and Randy sipping a cup of chicken broth.

"How long have you been up?" he asked.

"Since Paddy came," Randy replied. "I wanted to do my homework."

"Don’t strain yourself," Shane cautioned, "you’re looking pale again. Have you eaten anything besides that broth?"

"Not yet."

"I was just going to start some veggie," Grace said. "You will join us for dinner won’t you, Paddy?"

"Thank you," Paddy said, "but I can’t. Mum wants me home by 5-30."

"Better go then," Shane advised, glancing at the stove clock, "it’s almost 5-15 now."

Paddy was startled. Neither he nor Randy had noticed the time, so busy were they with their homework. He gathered up his things, thanked Grace for the cookies and hurried to put on his jacket and shoes.