It was wintertime. Mom Betty and the Jones boys were going to visit Aunt Mary and their 13 and 14-year old cousins Randy and Tommy, flying on an overnight red-eye 6-hour trip on a wide-body jet. Andy(7) was often bedwetting and wore diapers at night. Billy (10) bedwet maybe monthly. In winter, as the youngest, Andy had always worn footed pajamas. Billy and Cory(11) had recently started wearing them in winter ever since mom had heard on the Dr. Oz TV show that it was important feet and legs be warm during sleeping. All the boys still occasionally pleaded that footed pajamas were “only for babies”.

The boys had not flown before but mom had been on wide-bodies. The day of the flight they all packed, including trying on the new bib-top snowpants that had been bought for each of them because they had outgrown their former ones. The older two boys had always resisted wearing them, claiming they were “only for little kids”, and were upset upon seeing the new ones. “Do we really have to take them?” asked Billy. Overprotective mom, raising the boys alone since their father had died, felt she needed to everything to prevent them from possibly gettings chills and colds. “You bet”, mom said, mentioning the uncertain weather at their cousins, and the rare possibility of the plane being diverted to some snowy other city. And Aunt Mary suggests there’s a surprise event for which you’ll need your snowpants.

At supper the night of the flight mom appraised the boys: ‘So that you don’t miss any sleep, you’ll all go to bed at your normal bedtimes and we’ll wake you to go to the airport. You’ll be more comfortable sleeping on the plane in your pajamas. Since it’s already cold and snowing here and we have to trek from the parking lot to the air terminal, you should wear you’re snowpants and jackets over your pajamas to the airport, and remove them at your plane seats. Before we land in the morning you can change in the lavatory into your normal underwear and pants , which I’ll have in a bag at the seats.” Cory expressed “but people seeing us in the footed pajamas will think we’re toddlers!’ Mom replied, “but you’ll be in your seats and sleeping most of the time.”

Mom continued: “It can be difficult to get around on wide-bodies, especially if they’re full. The aisles can be crowded and there can be long waiting lines for the few lavatories, causing you to have to try and hold your pee.. And any air turbulence with some up-and-down motion can upset your system, like the roller coaster ride last summer did causing Billy to wet his pants. For these reasons, I’ve decided that you all – not just Andy- should wear diapers on the plane. Billy and Cory, for your larger sizes I’ve gotten some modern older boy Star racing car diapers” for you. You can see boys wearing such new designs on the internet.” “Holy cow” shrieked Cory –“I’m 11 and don’t want to wear diapers.” Billy likewise complained over the thought of diapers. But mom chimed in “This is a one-time special situation where should you have to use a toilet it may be too difficult to. It’s no different than wearing diapers on long car trips like when you were little. And in your snowpants, there should be no bulge of diapers.” She insisted “so we can leave as quickly as possible after we awake you, you’ll all wear your diapers to bed here.”

At 11pm the kids were awakened, all already wearing their diapers under there footed pajamas. Andy, not wet, didn’t have to be changed. .After the boys put on their snowpants reluctantly and their jackets, the foursome headed to the airport for the trip.

At the airport baggage was checked. In the waiting line at the gate were Donny and Eddie, twins from two grades higher than Cory’s class. “Hi Cory” Donny shouted so all the Jones boys could hear. He approached them, saying “we’re traveling alone to visit friends”. Cory replied “we’re going to visit cousins”. Donny and Eddy stared at Cory and Billy wondering why, here in the airport, the older Jones boys were bundled up like little kids, in snowpants.

Upon getting to their four cheap center section seats, Cory realized Donny and Eddy were sitting across an aisle in their same row. In the row on their other side were two teen-age girls. As the Jones boys removed their jackets and snowpants, mom placed the snowpants in a bag. Eddy, looking across the aisle, blurted out “Look, all the Jones boys are wearing not only snowpants, but also footie pajamas!” Eddy and Donny both laughed. The two girls in the row, being close enough to notice diaper bulges on the boys , thought to themselves how cute yet juvenile the boys looked,

Not close to a window to look out of, the boys settled down. The plane took off and completed its ascent. Andy fell asleep. The nearest teen-age girl offered to mom, within earshot of the boys, “Hello, I’m Holly, and my friend is Kelly. We’re returning home.” Mom introduced the girls to Billy and Cory. Holly continued “ I occasionally babysit for boys of their age and who sometimes have to wear protection, and we’ll be glad to watch them whenever you’re away from you seat.” Cory and Billy looked sheepishly at the girls, their faces red. “We’re the Jones family, and your watching them would be very nice” said mom, asking “How old are you girls?” “Fourteen and fifteen” was the reply.

About one hour into the flight, Andy awoke needing to pee. He told mom who said, “I’ll take you to the lavatory”. As mom led Andy to the lavatory several rows down their aisle. Donny, was watching the aisle and giggled to Eddy “With that bulge in his pajamas, young Andy must be wearing a diaper! Mom and Andy returned, with Mom thanking the girls for watching the other two boys. Later Billy needed to pee and awoke and told mom. Again mom said “I’ll take you”. Bill remarked “And I want to wear my jacket so less of my pajamas show”. Wearing his jacket, with mom he proceeded down the aisle, with Donny and Eddy watching. Eddy told Donny said “There’s also a bulge in his pajamas and he also appears to be wearing a diaper. I wonder if all three of them are?”

The flight continued. Later, Andy, despite having visited the lavatory, did wet his diaper in his sleep. Upon At one point Cory awoke and needed to go to the lavatory, telling mom “You don’t need to take me - I saw where it is upon entering the plane”. He put on his jacket to cover part of his pajamas as he headed down the aisle. Eddy, awake and watching, got up and followed Cory. He noticed a bulge also in Cory’s pajamas. He stood outside the lavatory door when Cory was inside. When Cory exited, Eddy confronted him. “Hey Cory, are you wearing diapers and did you just change them? “ Mortified, Cory almost sank to the floor. “No!” he exclaimed. “Please don’t tell anybody about this back at school” he begged, “but our mom made us wear them in case of long lavatory lines, or the lavatories being closed.” Eddie offered, “I’ll be your friend and not tell.”

During the up and down turbulence, Billy, half asleep, uncontrollably peed into his diaper. The flight proceeded during the night. As the flight end approached, mom awoke each of the boys, whereupon Andy and Billy told her they were wet. All the boys were looking forward to changing into their day clothes in the lavatory. Suddenly the plane loud speaker came on with the Captain announcing “Folks, for the remainder of the flight we’ll go thru serious turbulence. No one may leave their seats, and the lavatories are dark. We’re in a very harsh blizzard, so the jetway isn’t working. Leaving the plane, everyone will have to walk down a stairway and then into the elements across the tarmac to the terminal building gate. Keep your seat belts fastened until we stop to deplane on the tarmac.”

Soon after the boys inquired of mom: “Gosh how can we change into our day clothes?” Mom added “I guess any changing will have to be done here at your seats.” Whereupon Cory voiced “Change here and let all the people along our row see our diapers? NO WAY! And our day pants don’t hide our diapers like our snowpants did entering the plane. As we leave the plane, they’ll be more obvious.” Mom thought a moment and announced “With the blizzard conditions outside on the tarmac, you should wear your snowpants, and with them on, the diapers should not be so obvious. Andy and Billy I’m sorry you’ll have to remain wet.” The boys were only mildly relieved, and put their day pants on, then struggled a little to get snowpants on over the layers. After landing, as they made their way down to and along the tarmac, Donny and Eddy, walking behind, whispered so the boys could barely hear: “They came aboard wearing diapers, footed pajamas and snowpants, and are leaving the same way. What a bunch of sissies!”

Before leaving to make the pickup at the airport, Aunt Mary had told Randy and Tommy that Andy was a bedwetter, and not to “rub it in”. Aunt Mary, Randy and Tommy met the Jones inside the terminal. After exchanging greetings, she announced “We should get your baggage and leave here immediately before roads possibly become impassible. I hope you all used the rest room on the plane.” Mom explained turbulence prohibited that towards the end of the flight, and agreed all should leave immediately. Billy whispered “but Andy and I need to change”. No, said mom, considering the storm it’s more important we get going. As the group was heading towards the terminal front door, Tommy, knowing Holly and Kelly from school, saw the girls approaching. They announced “Hi Tommy, –hello Joneses. Since we were passing by we just wanted to

say hello again. You look so cute in your snowsuits.I wonder if we’ll see you again while you’re in our town?

Bye.” Cory squirmed and quickly turned away as the girls left.

In the car Aunt Mary announced that, upstairs, Andy and Billy would be sleeping in the guest bedroom, while Cory would be sleeping on a cot in Randy’s and Tommy’s room. Mom explained: ‘I want you all to realize that for better sleeping and in case lavatories had long lines or were unavailable, I had all the boys wear their pajamas and also diapers on the plane. But due to the closed lavatories due to turbulence, they couldn’t change out of them before leaving the plane. Andy and Billy really have to use the bathrooms as soon as we arrive at your place.” As they exited from the car, Aunt Mary took Betty aside, saying “Betty, you’re just as overprotective as our mother was of us. I wonder how embarrassed the boys were? I hope you don’t think the same way about the return trip.”

Immediately upon entering the cousins’ home, the boys took off their jackets and snowpants. Randy and Tommy noticed the bulge in the boys’ pajamas. Quickly mom took Andy and Billy to the guest room and then to the bathroom to help them undress and dispose of their wet diapers. They put on their day clothes. Cory went with Randy and Tommy, who showed him their room. As Cory undressed, Tommy offered “Are those really footed pajamas Cory? We haven’t worn them since we were four , and I wouldn’t be caught dead in them! Randy remarked “Those diapers sure look jazzy with the racing car designs on them, but I’d die if I had to wear them. Cory explained “I certainly didn’t need them on the airplane, but Andy and Billy did, but please don’t say anything to them”. As he undressed and then put his day clothes back on, Cory uttered “I hope I don’t have to wear them ever again, but mom may insist on them for the return overnight trip.” All went downstairs.

That night when mom took Andy and Billy up to bed , Andy as usual wore his diapers, and mom told Billy if he unexpectedly wet Aunt Mary’s guest bed any night, he would have to wear diapers the remaining nights. Later , Randy, Tommy, and Cory went up and shut their room door, Randy offered Cory a pair of his pajamas so Cory wouldn’t have to sleep in his footed pajamas. Cory smiled with glee and gave a high five to Randy, excitedly thanking him. The “pajama loan” occurred the remaining nights with mom never knowing.

The next day at breakfast Aunt Mary announced” We have a special treat this afternoon. We’ll be going sledding and tubing at the popular and crowded new Winter Park. Since it’s so extremely cold, Randy and Tommy (who no longer wore snowpants) will be wearing long underwear, which you other boys should also.” Cory exclaimed :”Buy we didn’t bring long underwear”. Mom inserted “Well your footed pajamas can serve the same function, so you can wear them instead of course along with your daypants and snowpants.” “ One more thing”Aunt Mary added, “the toilets at the new park aren’t fully installed yet and may not be open; our neighbor’s child found them that way yesterday and ended up having a peeing accident. So everyone must seriously use the bathroom before we leave.” “Well, what if the boys need to pee and don’t want to stop sledding early? We certainly don’t want any accidents”, mom said. “ Andy, Billy, and Cory , you’ll have to wear diapers just in case. I brought some spare diapers, including older boys’ sizes, for the trip home in my bag.” “Please mom”, Cory said, “not diapers again! Why do we have to wear them if Randy and Tommy don’t?” “Because since they’re older than you little guys, they can hold without peeing longer than any of you can.” Randy and Tommy smiled. Shortly thereafter everyone dressed and bundled up, with the Jones boys bulky-looking, to go to Winter Park. Aunt Mary offered “It’s so cold I have extra thick mittens for all of you.”

As the boys dressed for Winter Park, mom provided all her three boys a diapers to wear. Andy and Billy put them, their footed pajamas, and day pants again, on in their room. Their slight diaper bulge was observable downstairs before they dressed in their snowpants and jackets. Cory was not about to wear the diaper mom had provided him. Avoiding Randy and Tommy, he took his snowpants to his room and after putting on the footed pajamas under his daypants, put on his snowpants. That way , when he got downstairs, mom would not be expected to notice the lack of a diaper bulge.

At Winter Park, with the cold not bothering them much, the boys enthusiastically did much sledding and tubing and worked up a sweat. In mid-afternoon Andy peed once, being unable to wait longer to do so. And when his sled on one trip down hit a string of up and down bumps in the snow and almost turned over, Billy peed.

It happened Holly and Kelly, were sledding on the same sledding hill. They came upon the boys as all were walking back up the hill . “Hi, Randy and Tommy. I remember you others as the Jones boys we sat next to on the airplane. We’re leaving because the toilets are closed,” Holly announced. Then noticing Billy’s sweaty red face she said “You’re face is so awfully sweaty. I bet you’d like to open your jacket and cool a little, but there’s no way you can handle your zipper with those thick mittens. Let me help you and unzip the jacket a little way.” Whereupon she did, and saw, inside over the top of Billy’s snowpant's bib, the footed pajamas. “Wow” she exclaimed “ you’re wearing those same footed pajamas as on the airplane.” And then she realized a urine smell. “Oh my gosh cutie, it smell s like you’ve peed, but your snowpants don’t look wet. Is it because you’re wearing a diaper again like you did on the plane?.” Billy blushed and started tearing. Then she looked at Andy and Cory. “Are you two also wearing diapers? When the toilets are finally installed, I bet they won’t have changing tables big enough to accommodate you! ” Andy and Cory squirmed. Tommy approached and intervened ‘”My cousins’ mom is very overprotective, and made the two youngest boys wear diapers so as to be able to stay all afternoon without possibly having any accidents because the toilets aren’t open.” Kelly, with the boys listening, replied “I’ve never heard of boys their age wearing what they’re wearing for sledding! The diapers plus the footed pajamas seems so babyish. But at least their thick snowpants hide them.” All three Jones boys turned pale. Randy asserted “At least we are not having to leave early because of no toilets; we’re staying to enjoy more sledding. . You should mind your own business about what people wear”. The girls left, remarking “Randy and Tommy, we’re certainly glad you aren’t treated like your three sissy cousins. Otherwise we’d be too embarrassed to be around you.” And then the girls left.

At the end of the afternoon when the five sledders returned home, they were looking forward to getting into their normal day clothes. Mom retrieved her sons’ diapers, of which Andy’s and Billy’s were wet. She thought Cory’s didn’t even look worn. When she confronted him he admitted “I forgot to put it on mom, and I didn’t need it just like I didn’t need it on the airplane. And I won’t need it on the airplane going home.” “We’ll see” said mom . Then Billy told mom “Holly and Kelly from the airplane were also sledding on our hill and saw us and as they left said we were sissies because of what we were wearing diapers and footed pajamas.” Mom replied “Well their entitled to their opinion. “Aren’t you glad you could stay the entire afternoon because of the diapers? You obviously outlasted those girls and probably some other sledders at the park. I wouldn’t let what they thought bother me.”

The morning of the night the Jones were to return home, all were praising the nice stay at their cousins. Cory offered to mom, “but it’s not fair that we have to be treated like toddlers traveling at night.” Mom offered “ I do what I think is best for you. But also recognizing your feelings, it won’t happen while we return home. You’ll be in your normal day clothes because I’ve spent the extra money to change tonight’s night flight to one during the day tomorrow. You won’t be sleeping, and we’ll assume the lavatories will be available the entire trip” All the boys smiled hugely.