It was a clear, bright Saturday in late August. Shane had left right after breakfast to see a prize show dog who was due to whelp. Grace was busy with housework, hoping to get as much done as possible before it became too hot. Randy, clad only in a diaper, white plastic pants, sneakers and a blue sun hat, was in the vegetable garden picking peas and cherry tomatoes for the salad his mum planned to make for dinner. As he worked, his mind wandered over the past year and how his life had changed. At this time last year, he’d been trying to get used to wearing diapers. Now he didn’t mind them at all. It was so much better than having to run to the washroom every hour. True, there’d been trouble with Ralph, but he was sure that wouldn’t happen again. The thought of how he’d helped punish the red-headed trouble maker still made him laugh.

"Randy!" Grace called from the patio door, "Would you like to come in for a drink?"

"Yes please," Randy answered. "I’ll just finish this row of pea plants."

Both his vegetable baskets were full. He placed the last fat pods on top, picked up the baskets and headed for the house. Grace beamed as she relieved him of his load.

"That organic fertilizer’s really made a difference," she remarked.

"Will that be enough?" Randy asked.

"I think so," Grace said as she began examining the tomatoes. "Now go change your diaper, then you can have some cold punch."

Randy’s diaper wasn’t really wet, but he changed anyway. It gave him an opportunity to use the toilet. (The very idea of pooping in his diapers had always disgusted Randy.) As he fastened his clean diaper and pulled his plastic pants back on, the doorbell sounded. Hastening downstairs, he reached the door at the same time as his mum. He pressed the button to activate the intercom.

"Who’s there?" he asked.

"It’s Paddy," came the answer.

Grace flung open the door.

"Come in, Paddy!" she exclaimed, smiling. "You’re just in time for some cold drinks."

Paddy stepped inside. He wore a cream golf shirt, beige shorts and sandals. His bare arms and legs glistened with sunscreen.

"Boy, it’s hot!" he remarked. "Wonder what the temperature is."

"It’s supposed to go up to about 30," Grace answered. "It’s a good thing we were able to get our air conditioner repaired before this hot spell started."

Randy was reaching to close the door when a voice hailed from outside.

"Hey there, Randy!"

"Barry!" Randy shouted back, "Is that you?"

Grace followed her son’s gaze. Sure enough, there was Barry, pedaling briskly toward the house. He was wearing blue cycling shorts, but no top.

"Hello, Barry!" Grace called, waving. "Come and have a drink!"

Barry jumped from his bike and started to chain it to the big maple tree in front of the house.

"Why don’t you put it in the garage?" Grace offered. "It’ll be safer."

"Thanks," Barry answered.

Randy took the key from his mum and led Barry around to the outside door. They brought the bike inside and chained it to the rack next to Randy’s. Randy then made sure the outer door was locked and returned to the front. Barry removed his cycling shoes and helmet, and everyone headed for the kitchen.

"Where’ve you been, Barry?" Grace asked as she served drinks. "Haven’t seen you for a bit."

"It’s been study, study, study for the end-of-term exams," Barry replied. "Then I went to see my folks for a couple of weeks. I’ve been saving up since Easter. What have you guys been up to?"

"I was in hospital for a week," Paddy said. "Something happened to the valve thing in my bladder so that I couldn’t wee properly."

"Ouch!" Barry exclaimed.

"That must have been scary," Grace put in.

"What did they do?" Randy asked.

"I think they replaced it," Paddy answered. "I don’t really understand it all, but it sure hurt."

Grace refilled everyone’s glasses. Then she filled Barry’s water bottle and placed it in the fridge to chill. As she returned to the table, they all heard the loud humming of the electronic garage door opener.

"That’ll be Dad," Randy said, hurrying to unlock the inside door.

Shane came in, pausing to remove his shoes.

"Hi there!" he exclaimed. "I see we have some company!"

Barry stood up and smiled. Paddy, caught with a mouthful of lemonade, waved from the far side of the table.

"Barry!" Shane said cheerfully. "Long time no see!"

"Haven’t had much time for visiting," Barry admitted. "I was up to the ears in studying till the end of July. Then it was off to Edmonton to see the family. I probably won’t see them again before Thanksgiving, if then."

"And how about you, Paddy?" Shane asked.

Paddy told of his surgery. Shane winced.

"I must say," he remarked, "it doesn’t make much sense, putting you through all that discomfort if it won’t change anything."

"It makes a bit of difference," Paddy said. "Doctors say that if they didn’t put the valve thing in, I’d be weeing all the time. I’d be even worse off than you, Randy."

Both boys laughed.

"How’s the bitch?" Grace asked.

"Six healthy puppies!" Shane said triumphantly. " Three and three! Her owners are over the moon!"

"What are you doing next week?" Randy asked Paddy.

"Mum’s taking me shopping for school stuff on Monday," Paddy answered. "Then I have a doctor’s appointment Wednesday, and a dentist appointment Thursday."

Randy grimaced. He’d always hated visits to the dentist.

"Pretty full week," Grace observed. Turning to Randy, she asked, "Were you wanting to go with Paddy to get your school things?"

"Do you think Mrs. Manning would mind?" Randy asked.

"I’ll ask her," Paddy promised.

"Talk about coincidence!" Barry laughed. "I have to buy my books too!"

Paddy and Barry stayed to lunch, then Barry left for the afternoon shift at the medical supply store. Paddy called his mum to ask if Randy could go shopping with them on Monday. Mrs. Manning didn’t mind in the least.

"It’s a good thing you two have made friends," Grace told Paddy as he was leaving. "That’ll be one less thing to do come next Saturday."

Monday began early for Randy. The Mannings were due at 9-30, hoping to get the shopping done before the stores got too busy. Randy hurried through breakfast and was ready in good time.

"What kind of car does Mrs. Manning drive?" Grace asked as she and Randy waited in front of the house.

"It’s a white Ford station wagon with a red roof," Randy answered.

He’d barely spoken when he spotted the car in the distance. A moment later, they were there.

"Hey!" Mrs. Manning called out. "Ready to go, Randy?"

"Yes!" Randy called back. He skimmed over his list one last time, then headed for the car.

"Want a lift, Grace?" Mrs. Manning asked. "We’ll be passing the hospital."

"Thank you," Grace replied.

They dropped Grace off at the hospital, then went on to the mall. Mrs. Manning led the way to a quality stationery store she knew, where school supplies were on sale. It was easy to pick out all that they needed. Then they headed for a sports store to buy new runners and PE strip for Paddy.

"I know you have to get your pants by special order, Randy," Mrs. Manning said. "But you could at least pick up a new singlet or two."

Randy looked around. Since he was so much bigger than most boys his age, he’d have to go over to the men’s section. In spite of himself, he felt suddenly shy.

"Don’t look so worried," Paddy encouraged him. "Remember, you aren’t the only one in diapers."

By the time they’d finished their shopping, both boys had everything they needed. Mrs. Manning had even bought them new backpacks. On the way home, Randy asked if they could stop in at the medical supply store so he could buy some new plastic pants. Mrs. Manning agreed, as Paddy needed more powder and rash cream. Both were a good deal cheaper here than at the drug store. As they headed for the incontinence department, Randy spotted Mrs. Brinckman and Ralph. Ralph looked sulky and was trying to hang back, but his mother had him firmly by the hand. As they drew nearer, Paddy punched Randy’s arm and pointed. Following his line, Randy saw that Ralph was wearing a fairly thick diaper and clear plastic pants, but no shorts.

"But Mum!" Ralph was saying as the boys and Mrs. Manning approached, "I’ve said I was sorry! Why can’t I–-?"

"Hush!" Mrs. Brinckman hissed angrily. "I told you what would happen if you were caught teasing again! Now any more whining and you’ll go to school diapered, without pants!"

Ralph glared at his mother.

"Wonder what he did this time?" Randy whispered.

"Must have been something really bad," Paddy answered.

"Whatever it was," Mrs. Manning said, "he must have forgotten the diaper threat."

Both boys were hard pressed to muffle their giggles.

To reach the rack given over to plastic pants, they had to pass the Brinckmans. Ralph spotted Randy and tried to hide behind his mother. Randy felt a strong urge to say something. His expression must have been revealing, because Mrs. Manning gave him an encouraging look and Paddy whispered, "Go on. Say it."

"What are you hiding from?" Randy asked. "I have to wear them two, you know."

"Yeah, but at least you get to wear pants," Ralph answered sulkily. "Mum won’t let me. She won’t even let me stay inside. Whenever she goes out, I have to go along. Everyone in our neighbourhood knows about my diapers now."

"Be glad it’s only for a short time," Randy said unsympathetically. "I have to live in them all the time."

"Not like this!" Ralph shot back. "And you don’t have to go everywhere with your mum like some stupid baby!"

So far, Mrs. Brinckman had remained silent, only keeping a firm grip on Ralph’s hand. Now she stepped forward and flashed a smile at Randy.

"I told him," she said, "if he behaved like a baby, he’d be treated like one."

"What did he do this time?" Randy asked.

Mrs. Brinckman looked sternly at her son. "Tell them!" she commanded.

Ralph didn’t answer.

"Well?" Paddy prompted.

Ralph glared at the two boys, but remained silent. Mrs. Brinckman altered her grip slightly and rapped his hand. Ralph gave a stifled yelp, but refused to speak. Finally Mrs. Brinckman spoke up, looking furious and disgusted.

"I caught him teasing our new neighbours," she explained. "Their oldest son has a medical problem that makes him stagger a bit. He’s also quite potbellied. I don’t think he’s overweight, it’s the way he’s built. Ralph, tell them what you were calling him."

"Mum! Ralph protested, "They don’t have to––ow!" He yelped as his mum smacked him again.

"Tell them!" she repeated, "Or it’ll be diapers at school for a week."

"I–I–I called him Gimpy," Ralph said reluctantly.

"And?" Mrs. Brinckman prompted.

Silence.

"I distinctly heard you call him a gimpy Pig!" Mrs. Brinckman said.

All three were shocked.

"How could you be so cruel!" Mrs. Manning gasped. "The poor chap must have been devastated!"

Randy, too furious to speak, simply scowled and went to choose some plastic pants.

That night, over dinner, Randy told his parents of Ralph’s latest actions and what Mrs. Brinckman was making him do.

"That young rat!" Shane growled. "A little public humiliation’s just what he needs! I’ve never heard of such cruelty!"

"I wonder if the boy was allowed to watch Ralph being diapered?" Grace put in.

"Mrs. Brinckman didn’t say," Randy replied. "But I hope so."

On Friday, Paddy dropped in again. This time, he brought Cindy. Grace was glad to see her and asked about the camp. Cindy was full of stories about the fun she’d had. There’d been a wide variety of activities, from water sports to hiking and survival exercises. They’d even had simulation activities in which kids and staff had to manage with a disability other than the one they already had.

"What was that like?" asked Randy eagerly.

"It was pretty funny," Cindy said. "I think the toughest one was being blindfolded. Most of the kids in the "blind" group either chickened out or worked very slowly. I got to be the boss. It gave me a chance to get back at two boys who kept teasing me about my blindness."

"Did they stop?" Paddy asked.

"Yes," answered Cindy. "I made them do some of the hardest things."

"Like what?" Grace inquired.

"Making them try to find things with sloppy directions," Cindy giggled.

"What do you mean?" asked Randy.

"Well," Cindy explained, "they always moved my things and wouldn’t tell me where they were. If I asked, they just said things like "over here," or "It’s there. You’re not looking.""

"That’s stupid!" Paddy snapped.

"So mean!" Grace added.

"Was there anyone there who wore diapers?" Paddy asked.

"I think there were a few who wore diapers to bed," Cindy answered. "I don’t know if anyone needed them full time, though."

"Maybe they were too embarrassed to say," Grace said.

Just then, the doorbell sounded. Grace went to answer it, and returned leading Keith and Lanny. Randy leapt to his feet.

"You’re back!" he cried. "How was it down under?"

Grace served lunch, and they swapped stories while they ate. Keith and Lanny had had a wonderful time, visiting their mother’s relatives and sight-seeing.

"We have a new cousin!" Keith announced. "Aunt Linda had her baby on July 30."

"Lovely!" Grace exclaimed. "Boy or girl?"

"Boy," answered Lanny. "His name’s Adam."

"Is it her first baby?" Cindy asked.

"Second," Keith replied. "Cousin Crystal is three."

The afternoon passed quickly. The kids played in the yard, running through the sprinkler and rough-housing over the grass. The boys saw to it that Cindy wasn’t left out, and all enjoyed themselves. Both Randy and Paddy had very heavy diapers by the time Grace called everyone in to tidy themselves up before going home. Paddy, of course, had brought a clean diaper and plastic pants to change in to. Grace helped him with the change, and noticed that he had a nasty rash around his scrotum.

"Does your Mum know about this?" she asked, concerned.

"Yes," Paddy answered. "She’s using some sort of cream, but it doesn’t seem to be working. It stops the itch, but it won’t kill the rash."

Grace thought a moment. She’d seen rashes of this sort at work.

"What kind of cream is she using?" she asked.

"I can’t say the name," Paddy said. "It’s some kind of salve."

Grace nipped in to the bathroom and returned with a large jar of zinc oxide cream and a smaller one of medicated body powder.

"This is what Randy’s using," she explained, "It really makes a difference."

She began carefully applying the thick cream to the affected area. Paddy shivered as the cream touched him.

"It’s cold!" he gasped.

"You aren’t the first to say that," Grace laughed. "It’s always like that at first. It’ll feel a bit slimy, but it’s the best thing I’ve found for diaper rash. We use it at the hospital. Once the rash is gone, then you just need this powder. It neutralizes the urine and keeps the skin dry."

"Thanks," Paddy said, "I’ll tell Mum. Where do you get it?"

Grace pulled Paddy’s diaper snug and fastened the snaps.

"You can take these," she said, handing over the two jars. "I get it from London drugs. The medical supply store sells both in bulk if you want to stalk up. It’s a bit expensive, but it’s worth it."