It was a cool wet dark dull gray morning and the light mist doted the windows. Mike took one look at the morning from his warm bed and rolled over and tried to go back to sleep. Mike tossed and turned but could not get back to sleep. The gray morning had won. Mike got up and dressed.

After Mike made some coffee, he wished that he had brought his book to read. Mike looked at the books on the one shelf and found that he had read them all. Mike had only one choice left and that was the Sunday paper. Mike left a note by the coffee pot saying that he went to get a paper.

Mike went out through the front door as his car was closer that way. When Mike started his car the clock lit up to tell any one who cared the current time. Mike had a few choice words when he saw the clock. The clock read 5:59.

Mike drove the five miles into the small town. The only place open was Sally’s restaurant, they open at five every morning and only serve breakfast, that is all and has been for fifty years so said the sign on the door. Mike opened the door and walked in and went back fifty or so years. The few patrons inside gave Mike the once over and then went back to they meals. As Mike waited for someone to help him, another patron walked in and said good morning, got a mug off of one of the shelves and went back to the kitchen. A few moments later a little girl came out of the kitchen and asked if she could show him to a table. Mike said "that he wanted to buy a paper." The little girl pointed to the dusty sign over the big old cash register that read "We work on the honor system, please make your own change. Thank You Sally." The patron that went into the kitchen came out and sat down at one of the table with his mug. Mike picked up a paper and put a one dollar and fifty cents in the open drawer of the cash register. "Thank you, and have a nice day," the little girl said as Mike walked out the door.

When Mike got back to his car the light mist had turned into a soft rain. As Mike drove back to the house he wounded what life out here was really like. Did the people know each other that well. Mike knew this much that he would go back to Sally’s one day and maybe even stay for breakfast. As Mike wounded he drove pass the drive back to the house, it was not until the cross roads that Mike realized that he missed the drive way. Mike turned the car around and drove back to the house a little mad at himself for daydreaming while driving.

Mike took the paper into the house with him and set it down on the floor next the easy chair. Mike then went into the kitchen and removed his note and poured himself a second mug of coffee before going back to read the paper. On the front page of the paper was a story about the ‘Mall vandals a gang of six arrested’ the story captured his attention.

‘Six youths were arrested late Saturday night. The six are the ones that vandalized the Video Game Room and other store at the local mall last Wednesday. The groups' leader has not been arrested, at the time this story was going to print. Police plan to arrest the leader later today. The police suspect that eight to ten other youths were involved in the vandalizing of the mall and scaring mall patrons. The police and the state police are look for the others. Any one that saw the vandals are asked to call the police at 1-800-555-COPS’

The story sent a cold shiver down Mike’s back and the word gang would not leave his head. Mike set the front page of the paper on the floor and then hunted for the comics. As he was looking for the comics the stair case squeaked. Mike looked up to see Helen coming down the stairs. Helen was surprised to see Mike and the paper. Helen said good morning to Mike and asked for the coupons. Mike wanted to show her the front page of the paper but decided to wait until after breakfast.

Mike asked if the boys were good last night after he went to bed. Helen said "yes they were they were very good." Mike said that he was glad that they were good boys. Helen put down the coupons and looked Mike straight in the eyes and asked two questions back to back. "What part of what deal? What happens after today if the boys wish to wear diapers?" "The deal was that I was to take care of them, to try to show them that I loved them no matter what they did or do. The second question it will be up to them, if they wish to wear diapers fine, if not that is fine too but it is up to them. After today they are on their own for that item," said Mike "If they were to ask you Mike what would you tell them," questioned Helen. Just what I said, they would not have to hide the fact from me that they are wearing a diaper but it is up to them. Helen said that Mike maybe asked that very question sometime soon. "So that is what last night was all about," said Mike. "That and some more but that is between them and me," stated Helen.

Helen then asked Mike for the front page of the paper, which he handed to her. Mike watched as she looked over the front page and then she turned to page two.

The stair case squeaked to announce that someone else was coming down them. A moment later Paul appeared, dressed for the day and in search of his morning coffee. Paul took the sports section of the paper with him into the kitchen. He was muttering that his team lost a game that they should have won. The other team had lost eight games in a row. Paul came out of the kitchen with his coffee and the sports section of the paper and sat down in his chair. Paul finished reading the sports before moving to the comics then the front page.

By this time Helen had seen all of the paper that she cared to have read and went upstairs to get dressed. Mike finished the other sections that he likes to read on Sundays. When he looked up Paul was pointing to the story on the front page about the mall. Mike said I have read it and I will talk to the boys after breakfast about it. There was some noises that came from upstairs but Mike and Paul did not pay any attention to them.

It was about half an hour later when Helen came back downstairs dressed and with both boys behind her dressed also. All three of them went into the kitchen only saying good morning on the way by. A moment later Ken came out with plates and Greg with the silverware and they set the table for breakfast. The aroma and the sounds of breakfast being cooked filled the house.

When breakfast was served and all were seated, Ken lifted his juice glass in a toast and said "Happy Father’s Day dad."

"Ahh, thank you." An overwhelmed Mike said.

Helen kissed Paul and then Mike on the cheek the said for them to eat while the food was still hot.

After breakfast but before a dish was removed from the table Mike said that there was something that he needed to know. Helen said they are fine and the boys shook their heads in agreement. "Not that," said Mike as he got up from the table. Mike got the front page of the paper and placed it on the table then took his seat. The mall story shook both boys. A look of fear flowed over both Ken and Greg. "But we were here when that happened." Greg stated. "If you know who planned it, then call the police and tell them what you know." Mike said. "We can’t tell on a friend," said Greg. "If they are friend they are not the type of friends you want." Paul said in a soft tone. "You both are bright young adults that should know right from wrong." "Look at what happened when you lie, people that love you stop trusting you," said Mike. "But ... you wouldn’t understand," said Greg. "Understand what, that you two joined a gang and have some code of silence?" questioned Helen. "Yea," said Ken "something like that." "OK all the lies stop now, I love you both, I don’t want you dead or in jail. Your mother and I wished that you did something with your lives that was positive," said Mike. Greg and Ken looked at each other and said "Leave mom out of this." "I can’t," said Mike "it was both of us that made you, both of us care about you. I am here, and so is your mother in spirit. Talk to us." Pleaded Mike. "Can’t." The boys said. "Then talk to me," said Helen. "Can’t." The boys almost in tears said. A ray of sunshine illuminated the room and the boys’ bodies shook as they started to cry like babies. When the sun light disappeared and the gray rainy day returned, both boys stopped shaking and crying. Ken got up and went to the phone. Ken told the police who he was and started to tell them things about the group. Helen, Paul and Mike sat stunned over what had just happened. Greg started to tell them how this all took place from the first day until now in cold hard facts. When Greg and Ken were done, they asked if they go to there room. Helen shook her head to say yes they could go. The three of them sat looking at each other trying to understand what had happened.

Helen then started to clear the table of the breakfast dishes. Paul and Mike also helped with the dishes. By the time the dishes were washed and put a way the rain had stopped but the clouds were still a dark gray color.

Mike went to check on his sons after the dishes were done. The door to their bedroom was half open. Mike knocked on the door and it swung open. The boys were sitting on the floor one facing one corner and the other facing other corner. Mike asked the boys to turn around and to face him. Both of them did, with tears running down they faces. "I love you both. You did the right thing, I know it may not seem that way now," Mike said. "What is our punishment?" Ken asked in a sad voice. "None," stated Mike. "Then why did you come up?" Ken asked. "To see that you both were OK. I am your father do I need a reason to see my sons?" Mike asked. "No," Ken said. "When you are ready join us downstairs OK" Mike said and then he left the door way. At the top of the stairs were Helen and Paul watching. Mike shrugged his shoulders and headed for the stairs. Helen and Paul followed Mike down and they waited for the boys to join them.

Almost ninety minutes had passed when Helen said that was it she had it. She got up and went into the kitchen. The clatter that came from the kitchen was so loud that Mike and Paul ran into the kitchen to see if Helen was OK. She was. She was making cookies to get the boys to come downstairs. With all the noise, no boys.

As the cookies baked in the oven the house full with the aroma of baking cookies, and still no boys.

After the cookies had cooled, Helen made up a small plate of them and two small glasses of milk and took them upstairs. Helen’s voice echoed down the stair way "You two are acting like babies, it’s a good thing that you two are in diapers or I would put you in them. Your actions today are beyond words. Trust in yourself must come first, then family, then friends. Mike will you come up here."

Mike raced up the stairs and to the boys’ room where Helen had both boys in her arms. Ken and Greg were saying the they were sorry. Helen turned the boys over to their father to hold. The boys kept saying that they were sorry, sorry that they lost the trust of their dad. All Mike could do was to hold them close and try to calm their fears. The boys were too big to hold the way he felt they needed to be held. The week had lots of highs and lows with every ones' emotion's, and set new levels of trust and feeling for each other. Mike could see the physical size of his sons but the mental side only started to show itself and it was torn between the safety of childhood and the fear of the unknown of adulthood.

After a while the boys pulled a way from their dad, their faces showed the signs of the emotional burn out that they had gone through. Mike wiped the last of the tears from their eyes.

The cookies and milk seemed to help build up energy in two very fatigued boys. As the two of them eat the cookies, their dad changed their wet diapers. When he was done, he took the boys by their hands and lead them downstairs. The boys said that they were sorry for the way they acted today to grandma and grandpa. Grandma had more cookies set out on the table which Ken and Greg feasted on.

When the cookies were gone the boys looked through the Sunday paper and fell to sleep in the chairs they were sitting in. The adults let the boys sleep until the late lunch was served.

Between the boys fell a sleep and lunch Mike packed the bags to go home. Only the items needed for a diaper changing were not pack, just in case someone would need to be changed. Mike also left a little gift of baby diapers for Paul in the master bedroom. Mike also checked the laundry for any of his or the boys’ clothing that was missing because it was dirty. On his way pass his sleeping sons he could see the peace that had come over them as they slept.

Helen had made a warm lunch it was tomato soup and toasted cheese sandwiches. At was Helen who woke the boys up from their nap for lunch. It took the boys a few moments to wake up and stretch before coming to the table for lunch.

After lunch and the few dishes were done, Mike said that they would be heading home now and thanked both Helen and Paul for having them. Helen and Paul said that they were welcome any time, and that Mike knew where the key was hidden so come and use the place. Mike asked that they call him after Paul’s surgery. They said that they would. Mike asked if the guys would get the bags from upstairs and if any diapers needed to be changed. Both boys blushed at the question. I take it that is a yes said Mike. The boys went upstairs. Mike said that he would get a list of items from the school and pickup the items on the list, if the offer to tutor the boys was still good. Both Paul and Helen said that it was. Paul said that he wished to thank Mike for his understanding and for the items from the other nights. Not a problem Mike said. Paul gave Mike a hug, it was a very warm and firm hug, and it caught him totally off grad.

Mike went upstairs to take care of his sons needs. The door to the boys’ room was shut when Mike went by. Mike went to his room first and got his bag before the fact that the door to the boys’ room was shut hit him. Mike set his bag down outside of the boys’ room before he opened the door. When Mike opened the door part way he saw that Helen had beaten him to his task. She was changing Ken and Greg was taking the sheets off of his bed. Mike closed the bedroom door and took his bag downstairs.

The boys came downstairs a short time later with their bags and Helen had the sheets from the boys’ beds in her arms. Mike said that they would be leaving now and thanked Helen and Paul both for having them. Mike also wished Paul good luck on his upcoming surgery. As the boys said good-bye to grandma and grandpa, and that they would be back after the fourth for help with their school work. Grandpa said something that shocked all of them even grandpa as he said it. "When you come back if you want to wear diapers bring them." They all stood their for a moment in shock, replaying in their minds the words just said. The boys each gave grandma a kiss and a hug, grandpa just a hug before going to the car.

The drive home was quiet because both of the boys were a sleep in the back seat. The drive was slow and hard do to the heavy rains and high winds that were in their path on the way home. The back and forth of the wipers on the windshield had a hypnotic effect on Mike, as he had to follow the wiper blade to see the road in front of him. Mike stopped a couple of times on the drive home to keep himself awake and for fuel. When Mike stopped for fuel his eyes moved left to right and back as if they were attached to the wipers. The sales person at the fuel stop told Mike that the coffee today was on the house do to the bad weather today and he looked like he needed a break.

Mike got himself a cup of coffee then paid for the gasoline that he had pumped and two bottles of juice for the boys. Mike walked around the small store a few times, until the cup of coffee was finished. Mike then used the store’s restroom before going back to the car.

When Mike got back in the car both Ken and Greg were awake and were questioning where they were, as the curtain of rain hid any landmarks that would tell them where they were. Mike told them where they were and gave them the juice to drink. Mike also asked if they needed their diapers changed. Both of them said no. Mike then started the car and started back on the road home.

The simple two hour drive from the country place to home took just over four hours of driving and five hours in total with stops that Mike had made. After the car was unloaded and the bags were unpacked but before dinner was ordered from the local pizza place, Mike set about the task of changing his sons’ diapers. Both of them had very wet diapers. The good thing was that Helen had night time diapered both of the boys for the trip home. Mike did not ask any question or make any comments about it, and the boys did not offer as to why the night time diapers had been put on them either. Mike just put a regular diaper on them.

After the boys were changed and Mike had washed his hands the task of what should be on the two large pizzas was the main topic. When the selection of topping on the pizza was agreed to by all, Mike ordered the pizzas. The pizza place told Mike that they would be delivered in about forty minutes and how much they would be and that the driver carried no change.

Twenty minutes after the pizza order there was a knock at the front door. Mike got the money for the pizza delivery person and went to the door. Mike opened the door to find two police offices standing there. The officers asked if they could come in and talk to his sons ‘Ken and Greg’ they questioned the names. Mike asked if they were to be asserted. The officers stated that the boys were not in trouble, all they needed was a written statement from each of them. Mike let the two officers in and asked them what they would need. The one officer said three chairs and a table.

The one officer asked to see Ken first and for Greg to be some place that he could not hear them talk to Ken. Mike got Ken and sent Greg to his room. Mike sat in the fourth chair at the table. The officer asked for Mike to leave them, that this was police business. Mike said no way he would stay or he would call his lawyer and have him here before they would talk to either of his sons. The two police officers looked at each other then looked at Mike. Mike got up and went for the phone. The one officer said that he could stay but he could not say a word. Mike sat back down and the police started asking Ken questions.

The police had Ken write down what he knew about the group. The two officers read what Ken had written and asked him more question and made notes when Ken would answer the questions. This went on for twenty-five minutes the pizza delivery person broke the questioning. Mike stated that the questioning would wait until after they had eaten dinner and that the officers could stay to make sure that the boys did not talk about what was going on. The police did not like it, but since both of the boys were minors and witness Mike had the upper hand tonight.

After dinner the police talked with Greg and had him also write a statement out about the group. With the two statements in the police officers' hands the police told Mike that the boys would not need to go to court but the boys should get out of town for the summer. Mike said that the boys would be going to their grandparents' house after the 4th of July. The police said that would work out well and thanked the boys and Mike for their help and dinner. The two police officers let them selves out of the house.

Mike looked at the clock and saw that it was a few minutes to nine thirty. Mike said that the boys’ punishment would end at ten. Mike also said that he was proud that his sons talked to the police and he hoped that they all, he included learned something this last week. Mike went to the kitchen and put the few dishes into the dishwasher. The empty pizza boxes in the trash. Mike also set the coffee maker up to brew his morning coffee at five a.m. tomorrow morning.

Mike asked if any one wanted any ice cream. Two yes votes came from the other room. Mike served three bowls of ice cream. Mike carried the three bowls into the family room where the TV on and the last of a show was finishing before the ten o’clock news.

At ten o’clock Mike asked the boys if they wanted to stay in their diapers that night or not. Both boys blushed and said that they would wear their diapers to bed because they had been wetting them in their sleep and did not want to wet their bed. Mike then asked if they wanted help with their diapers when they went to bed. Both said yes, that they liked the private time with him even though at first it was embarrassing to be diapered by their dad.

That night when Mike went to change Greg. Greg asked his dad to close the door when he came in. Mike did as Greg had asked. Greg asked his dad if he would mind if he were to ware diapers for a while longer. Mike said no he would not mind, but Greg would have to make that choice himself. Greg said that was OK with him. With that, Mike changed Greg for the last time. Mike stopped and looked at Greg and said, "I love you, I really do love you." Greg then placed his arms round his father and gave him a big hug, and a kiss and smiled. Mike then started for the door. Mike stopped at the door and said, "Good night, son, and have pleasant dreams." Greg said, "Good night dad."

Mike then went to Ken’s room to change him for the last time. Ken also asked his dad if he would mind if he stayed in diapers for a little longer. Mike told him the same thing as he had told Greg. Ken then asked his dad about what had happened between Greg and Mike, from fights with words to now this. Mike said to Ken, "The bad thing is, or maybe a good thing is, that it took diapers to stop the fighting." As Ken lay down for the last time to let his father change him, he said that he would miss this. Mike shook his head in agreement he too would miss the private time with each of them. Mike put the lotion, powder and the diapers on Ken for the last time. "I knew Friday night that it was you who started it by the fact that you were crying. The two things that didn’t figure on was Greg saying it was him and his willingness to be feed baby food. I figured you would be the one but ... Goodnight and have happy dreams," said Mike. Then he started to walked out of the room. Ken said, "Good night dad I love you, and thank you for understanding."

Mike went to his room and got ready for bed. Mike was sad because tomorrow he would have to go to work the vacation was over. Tomorrow his sons would have to take care of them selves and hopefully they would know he loved them and trusted them.

Mike laid his head on the pillow and heard something. He reached under the pillow and found. A note written by both of his sons, it read, "We love you dad. Love, Ken and Greg."

Mike fell off to sleep thinking about how short the vacation was, how he and Greg are now treating each other and the gift under his pillow.

The next morning Mike was up with his alarm from his alarm clock before sunrise. Just before he was ready to leave Mike looked out the window at the start of the new day the color was breath taking. Mike decided to get the boys up tp watch it with him.

They stood together watching the sunrise. Mike said to the boys "Thank you for the note it means a lot." Then Mike had to leave for work and the boys went back to bed.

The End