A Little at A Time

Chapter 7
Back at Home

After we got home and I got changed into some of my own clothes, I started following Jessica around the house as she attended to my dirty laundry. “Tim, why don’t you go sit down and relax for a few minutes while I take care of this?” I did as she said, sitting down at the kitchen table.

I lasted about five minutes, then I started feeling bored and wondering where Jessica was. I started looking around the house for her. I saw that our master bathroom door was closed. Without knocking (or really thinking about it), I opened the bathroom door. Jessica was sitting on the toilet. “Hi,” I said and just stood there. “Tim!” she shouted. I came to my senses and realized what I had done. “Oh, jeez, really sorry,” I said, backing up and closing the door. “Just wait there, Tim, I’ll be right out.” She said. I did as I was told.

A minute later, she came out. As she washed her hands, Jessica said “Can you do me a favor and watch TV for a few minutes, while I get some things done?” “Sure,” I said, but she could see I wasn’t thrilled. “Come on,” she said, “sit on our bed.” I did as she said. She grabbed the TV remote, clicked on our TV, and turned to the sports channel. “Now, sit here for a minute and let me get some things done and I’ll bring you up a snack, OK?” She asked. “Sounds good,” I replied, but I was kind of hurt and, besides, I hadn’t really watched much sports in the last few weeks. Jessica took a step toward the bedroom door, then stopped. She picked up the remote again and changed the station to one of the cartoon channels. I almost protested, but then I realized it was one of Ashley’s favorite shows, about a special agent mouse who solved mysteries. I figured watching it was a good idea, since it would give me something to talk to Ashley about. A little while later, Jessica came back and quietly handed me a plastic cup of grape juice and a snack pack of crackers and cheese. It was delicious.

“Tim. Tim!” I realized with a start that Jessica had been standing next to me calling my name. I was still sitting in our bed, enjoying the cartoons. “Oh, sorry,” I said, “what’s up?” “We need to go get your bloodwork for tomorrow’s appointment,” she explained. “I called my sister to pick up Ashley from school and watch her.” I had a sudden feeling of jealousy upon hearing that. Jessica’s sister, Pamela, had a six-year-old son, my nephew Kevin. That meant that Ashley was going to get to play at Kevin’s house. That sounded like a lot of fun. Without thinking about it, I said “But why can’t I go there and play with Kevin too?!” Again, I saw that look of concern and horror pass over Jessica’s face, but somehow she remained calm and just said “Because we need to get your bloodwork before tomorrow’s appointment.” That was enough to snap me out of it. “Of course,” I said.

I stood up and walked toward the bedroom door. Jessica either noticed the diaper bulge or heard the crinkling, because she said “Do you need fresh underpants?” “No,” I said right away. “Maybe you should check the indicator stripe, just to be sure?” Jessica suggested. “Well, ok,” I said, “but I know that I didn’t …” I stopped as I pulled my pants down slightly and saw that the blue indicator stripe was gone and that the diaper was sagging slightly. “I guess I do.” I said, sheepishly.