The New Normal

Chapter 4
Redo Childhood

With eyes full of diapers and toys, John's anguish only deepened. Was this real? He thought. Only days ago, he'd dreamed of moving into an apartment with his boyfriend, but that law had seen the end to it.

"I know you hate this Johnny, but rules are rules, ya know."

A fatherly voice sliced through the thick haze surrounding John's mind. Freed from dark thoughts that plagued him, he refocused his attention to the burly figure before him. "Yeah, I know, but do I have to do this stuff at home? I mean, no one will ever know."

"Your mom wants you to get adjusted to your new life. Besides, the law only lasts till you are about twenty-five. Trust me; them years will fly by."

His well-meaning father didn't persuade John, but all he could muster as a reply was "ok." Drained physically and mentally from an earlier verbal spar with his mother, the boy clad in only a diaper temporarily surrendered. However, John was a stubborn youth and would resist once more when the strength was within him. He was an eighteen-year-old man, not an infant, and no one could convince him otherwise.

"Good lad, now I am going to get your formula ready. Your highchair will be arriving tomorrow, but for now, take those clothes and head upstairs. Your mom is gonna wanna get you properly dressed."

Brown irises rolled across an expanse of white. The last bit of his resistance reduced to a childish eye roll. No further words were exchanged between John and his dad. John instead shuffled over to the colorful lump and lazily scooped the garments into his arms. Promises of wearing clothes over his diaper were made, but he didn't think it would be baby outfits.

Again, he trekked up the wooden staircase leading to Jennifer, where she patiently waited for him. Disappointment etched itself on her face when she beheld the mass of garments. "Johnathon, you have got to be more careful with your clothes; they are all wrinkled." Exasperated by the whole ordeal, he didn't even bother blaming his father. Instead, he uttered a little "sorry" and just received his talking to. Mercifully, it wasn't very long, and she led the youngster into his room to be changed.

When they'd arrived at his room, John placed the clothes on his bed. His mother, Jennifer, sorted through the garments until she found a teddy bear patterned onesie. "Perfect. You will look cute in this." She said before sliding his arms and legs into the form-fitting outfit. Lastly, she fastened the snaps on the back of the infantile costume. Unfortunately for John, the onesie did nothing to hide his bulging diaper.

"Seriously?" John queried as he eyed the embarrassing wardrobe. "You are going to dress like this from now on, so you might as well get used to it." Before he could process what was happening, John's father arrived with a bottle of milk. "I guess that's for me?" John asked, eyeing the childish container. "Yep. Now be a good lad and give it a chance." Cautiously thin lips enveloped the nipple, unsure of what the bizarre liquid would taste like. "Wow.. that's not awful." A smirk crept onto Jennifer's features at her son's admission. "See, I told you it wasn't so bad...Now if you will excuse me, I am going to go make your father some coffee."

'Yeah, yeah, I get it." John mumbled as his mom left the room.