One sugar, no cream.

Chapter 3
Beginning the process

As soon as Oliver awoke he realized how the room seemed to loom over him. Tim was still asleep on the couch, and he took a few moments to look around. The TV that had been at perfect height before he slept was now almost out of reach. Plants looked like trees and tables looked like mountain plateaus. Even the footstool seemed massive. He had no idea how tall or what age he might be, but he knew it was young, very young. He glanced over at Tim and guessed him to be about seven, maybe younger. As he was looking on at Tim, he noticed him wake, and they immediately shared skewed glances.

“Oliver, you’re a baby!” Tim spoke first.

”Well, I’m not a baby, but I’m wittle. Wook at you, your pwobabwy seven. I can’t bewieve dis stuff actuawy works.”

Tim agreed. It was not every day that you’re used to waking up a child. The change was new for them, but they almost readily accepted it, both under the pretense it was only temporary, they looked at it as a comical adventure.

Kyle came in a short while later. It was still early, maybe about seven or so, and he didn’t expect them to be up. He came in to find them walking aimlessly around the room, staring at everything in its new grandeur, in disbelief they were actually looking up at a table lamp. Oliver felt even the chairs seemed out of reach.

“Hey guys, didn’t expect you up so early,” Kyle started, then noticing Tim, “Uh oh Tim, seems you had a little accident last night.” He said all too nonchalantly, referring to the soaked sleeping bag. One would have guessed Kyle had anticipated such a thing. Tim then admitted he had wet the bed until he was about 10, which got quite the chagrin from Oliver.

“Don’t laugh Oliver, you seem to have had the same problem.” Kyle said in an all too fatherly tone, which immediately ceased Oliver’s giggling.

Tim felt an uneasy tone out of Kyle, almost as if everything was too expected. Tim was sure that if he came into a room and found his two friends reduced to children, the first thing out of his mouth wouldn’t be regarding an accident, but he was sure that because of the careful planning this was nothing out of what was to be expected.

“Debbie went to one of those 24 hour shopping centers to get you guys some clothes. She got some measurements before you left. Why don’t each of you take a shower, she should be back soon. Then you can get dressed. We were just going to hang out here today anyway, I have a lot of stuff I need to get done before the trip.”

With that, his two charges went into the bathroom and started the shower. Tim let Oliver go in first. After being chided for taking too long, he hopped out and grabbed a towel as Tim hopped in, but the towel was heavy and Oliver now somewhat lacking motor-skills, he was forced to give up and head to find Kyle. Though the change had taken place very recently, an unknown feeling was coming over Oliver. He felt no shame in being naked, no shame in asking for help. He gathered it was just part of the reversing process, and upon deeper thinking, rationalized that he was small now, and needed someone’s help.

Shivering, he made his way to the kitchen where he found Kyle and Debbie, they stopped talking immediately as Oliver made his entrance.

”Oh you look adorable! Oops, sorry,” she giggled, “You look very handsome. You were a cute kid you know that?” She continued, but then noticed the look on Oliver’s face, as if to say, “Lady, what are you doing standing there, I’m freezing, get me some clothes.”

She knelt and motioned for Oliver to take a few steps closer. He did, and she removed the towel and dried him off quickly, then pulled a few clothes out of the bag. The first thing Oliver noticed was her pulling out a pair of disposable training pants. The look on his face said it all.

”Don’t worry Oliver, I know you don’t need them but it’s just in case. Especially after what happened to the sleeping bag. Besides, you don’t have to use them and nobody will know you’re wearing them.”

Something about the way she said it calmed Oliver down. He noted he still had full use of his adult mind, but sometimes his childish reasoning would kick in. He was still trying to find the delicate combination of using both.

She held out the training pants and he stepped into them, followed by her pulling them high to his waste. She then handed him a polo shirt, a pair of khaki overalls and a pair of socks. He took them and ran to the living room to dress in front of the TV. His shirt made it on with no problem, but he couldn’t clasp the snaps on the overalls, and his dexterity was lacking too much to maneuver the socks on. Debbie dropped some clothes off in the bathroom for Tim, and came back to see Oliver with his pants around his ankles, struggling to put on his socks.

She smiled to herself. Even though she knew how unfortunate it must be for him, an adult struggling to put on his socks, but the entire scene was too adorable to frown at. She walked over and deftly finished dressing him, Oliver both slightly embarrassed for her help, but at the same time happy to finally be wearing clothes. He waited on the couch and watched TV until Tim came out, dressed similarly, only with the khakis being pants instead of overalls.

“Why’d she dress us like dorks?” He said. All Oliver could do was shrug.

The two played video games for a few hours to pass the time. It’s not like they could hop in the car and go to the movies or anything, and they were happy to finally be able to not have to worry about deadlines or paperwork. This was the first time the two of them were able to relax without something looming over their head.

The games actually got pretty heated. However, there was something about Tim that Oliver knew was amiss. He was acting the part a little too much. Becoming a little too excited at times. He knew it wasn’t an act, but genuine childish reactions. Afterwards, Tim would always apologize about his outbursts or yelling, especially when Debbie piped in to quiet them, but the fact that they still occurred were puzzling to Oliver. He dismissed it and they were back to playing games, until Tim paused and slowly looked around.

”Oliver, how long ago did you fart?” Tim asked.

”What do you mea....” As soon as Oliver spoke, he shifted his weight ever so slightly, and immediately noticed there was something other than training pants covering his seat. He slowly looked down, paused, and looked back up with a look of shock on his face. Tim immediately knew what happened, but was unsure about how to handle the situation.

”Did you go poopie in your pants?” Tim asked, already knowing the answer.

“I didn’t mean to, it just sorta happened...” Oliver replied, slowly breaking into a sob, the embarrassment too much.

”It’s OK, stay right here.” He said, as if Oliver was going to go anywhere.

Tim rushed and grabbed Debbie, who came back and picked up the now crying toddler. She coddled him briefly, and took him back to the bedroom.

”Oliver it’s OK, that’s why I put you in training pants. You’re going to be a little guy for a while, don’t worry about it, it’s totally normal.”

Again, there was something about the way she said it. She was very calming, very reassuring. Although Oliver knew that he had just messed his pants, and that it wasn’t normal, he felt soothed.

She quickly had him changed, this time into a diaper, telling him they would be more comfortable. She set him on the ground, and with a playful swat on his behind, sent him off to finish playing. She couldn’t help but smile as the little guy walked out of the room and joined his friend in the living room.

Oliver couldn’t help but notice the audible crinkle every time he moved, and Tim noticed it as well, but politely said nothing. He sat down, looking to put this whole situation behind him, and they continued playing video games through the afternoon, only to break for dinner, and continue playing through the night.

That night, Oliver sat with Tim on the couch with Kyle and Debbie, and Oliver was the first to fall asleep, nestled between everyone, looking like a trademark of a Rockwell portrait.

The only thing Oliver remembered the next morning was a brief moment of hustle, then the lights faded and he was asleep again. He really awoke later in the airport, to the sound of two women talking.