Getting Even

It’s been a long time since I did any writing, but I couldn’t find a well written story that contained everything I was looking for. So I’ll do it myself. I’m trying to write a story that is believable enough to make you think, “Maybe this could actually happen.” So here is what I have so far. Also, being that I haven’t written anything in quite a while, I’ll be continually updating the entire store for things like formatting and wording throughout the process. The themes will be diaper punishment, ABDL, femdom, cuckoldry, and coming of age. I promise that this story will be written to a *logical* conclusion that is grounded in practicality. I always hated stories that basically end, “He loved wearing diapers and became a full time diaper baby forever.” So I won’t be doing this here. This story will take place over the course of around 2 weeks in the story’s timeline.

Getting Even

Ch. 1 - Office Antics

Brad was a stereotypical 23 year old. A recent college graduate, he was enjoying being thrown into his first real taste of the adult world. He was a stocky, good looking guy, with brown hair, green eyes, and wide shoulders. He had even wrestled in college, but was never good enough to earn a scholarship. Still, he enjoyed being on the team, and while he wasn’t turning any heads with his prowess on the mat, his sense of humor had made him a popular figure around campus. He graduated middle of his class, but his personality had landed him a good job with an ample starting salary.

Unfortunately, the glory days of college were now long behind him. 5 days a week, at 8AM, he drove from his downtown apartment, through rush hour traffic, out to the industrial part of town. It was his first “real” job, and he enjoyed it, even though the benefits could’ve been better. He worked in logistics at a small air freight company. His job was simple: use the company resources to move customers’ freight from place to place as efficiently as possible. He took pride in being one of very few employees in his department, and they were a tight knit group. It was in his small office building where he met the woman who would soon take his life in a direction he could’ve never seen coming.

April was physically perfect in Brad’s eyes. She was short and sweet with strawberry blonde hair, blue eyes, freckled cheeks, and a pixie nose. Her figure flowed like an autumn wind, with the slightest curves that were just enough to draw everyone’s eyes up and down her 5 foot 3 inch frame. She walked with a reserved slouch that told the whole story. She had no idea how beautiful she was. She was in her first week at the company when she met Brad. April was the CEO’s new secretary. Brad had originally been called into the boss’ office to get chewed out for forgetting to submit his weekly report, but he didn’t hear a word his boss said that afternoon. He stared right through his scowling superior, completely transfixed by the way the new secretary’s nose twitched ever so slightly as she chewed her bubble gum and typed away at her desk.

It didn’t take long for Brad’s sense of humor to win April over. She was freshly 21 years old and had moved to the area for school, but had quickly become burned out and was taking a light semester while she weighed her options. The secretary position allowed her to work on her school work most of the day. In the back of her mind, she wondered why her boss, Dan, even needed a secretary? He was pleasant enough to work for, but she was bored out of her mind most days. Then again, she was never one to question a good thing. Besides, Brad had clearly been fawning over her since the day they met, and she found his antics amusing. After only a few days, she found herself looking forward to his next excuse to find his way over to her desk.

It all happened quickly for them. After a week, they were practically attached at the hip. In a month, she’d given up her lease and moved into his apartment. He proposed to her on Black Friday. He said he’d wanted to do it on Christmas Eve, but couldn’t wait. The day he got the ring, he popped the question over dinner. She enthusiastically said yes, but in the back of her mind, she knew that they had a lot to work on before they officially tied the knot. Brad was still a heavy drinker on the weekends, and as much as he was rarely a problem, when he was, he was a *big* problem. After one particularly heavy night out, he’d taken a fall through the glass coffee table and cut his chin deep enough to require stitches. On another occasion, he’d thought that her menstrual cycle would make the butt of a hilarious joke. It was far from funny in April’s eyes. Still, she understood that he was new to the real world, and he’d promised that his New Year’s resolution was to cut back on drinking. She had no reason to doubt him, and she was far too concerned with her own excitement as a bride to be to worry about that for now.

Ch. 2 - Unfulfilled Promise

Months had passed. New Years came and went. Wedding planning was progressing slowly but surely. Unfortunately, Brad’s drinking only seemed to get worse. April would beg and plead with him to stop, but the economy was facing downturn and it seemed the whole world was tense and begging for an escape. After a particularly embarrassing night out, she’d even considered breaking off the engagement. But he was still the man she loved - at least 5 days a week. Spring was just around the corner, and they were looking forward to two weeks hiking in Utah. April wondered if maybe that’s what Brad needed? A two week break from the stresses of the normal adult world would be good for both of them.

The week before they left for the mountains of Utah was particularly rough. Work was slow and Brad had been getting off work a few hours early every day. He was drowning his anxiety in his all too familiar favorite bottle. Tequila had been his favorite liquor since college, but now, April was wondering who he loved more - her, or José Cuervo? Thursday morning came and she woke up to a slightly different but all too familiar sight. Brad was passed out on the couch. As he stirred awake, he groaned and told her that he was going to call in sick. Finally, April lost it.

April screamed at the top of her lungs, “What the FUCK is wrong with you? Can’t you stay out of that bottle long enough to at least do your fucking job?!? And look at this - you pissed yourself on the couch!” Brad did his best to bolt to his feet and he swallowed hard. He’d never seen his otherwise reserved fiancé like this before. He fell to his knees and cried at her feet, “I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to! Things have been hit or miss at work and I just don’t know what to do! Please calm down! I’ll stop! I know I can!”

April crossed her arms and sighed. She argued with herself about what to do. “I should go.” She quipped to him. Brad bolted back to his feet. “Please don’t go. I’ll do anything. I can’t lose you over something as dumb as this.” He pleaded with every ounce of emotion that he could muster. April started to cry. “You keep saying that. Over and over. I’m sick of the apologies. I’m sick of hearing you make that promise when you clearly don’t care to keep it.”

Brad gently took her hand and begged again, “Please don’t go. I’ll make it right. I’ll do whatever you want.” April took her hand away and paced the room. “You’ll do anything?” She asked. “Anything.” Brad quickly retorted. “Fine.” April crossed her arms and continued. Brad sat down at the breakfast nook, “You’re not going to leave?” He asked. “No. But I’m not going to let you get away with this. Go to work.” Her lip trembled as she promised that she wouldn’t leave. Brad got dressed and chugged a cup of coffee. Before he walked out the door he looked the love of his life in her eyes and asked, “What do you mean I won’t get away with this?” April sighed and assured him, “I’m going to get even, but I’m not going to leave you. Things are going to be different for a while. You’re going to hate it, but I’m going to get my satisfaction for once.”

Brad sighed and left for work. He may as well have been anywhere else. He spent all day wondering what she’d meant by getting her satisfaction. At 4PM he left work and by 5, he was sauntering into the apartment, thinking about his tequila bottle, but knowing it was far out of his reach for now. When he finally got settled in, April came and sat on the couch, as far away from him as she could. Brad nervously looked up and asked, “So… What have you decided?”

April vexed within herself. Maybe she should just leave after all. Maybe what she was thinking was too much for both of them to handle. After an agonizing amount of time, she spoke up. “I’m not leaving.” Brad looked at her, still nervous. “You said that already.” April stopped him, “I’m not done yet. I spent all morning thinking about this. What do you do with the man who isn’t being a man? What do you do with someone who is constantly getting into things that they shouldn’t be?” She lamented. Brad could only stare at her, his emotions too heavy to manage words. April carried on, “You’ve been acting like a giant fucking toddler, you know that?” Brad managed a response, “I know. I’m sorry.”

April once again rose to her feet and paced the room. “I’m sick of being in second place to that fucking bottle of tequila. I thought about dumping it down the drain, but you’d just go get more. I thought about leaving, but you’d just go get more tequila. So I’m not going to take your tequila. I’m going to take everything else.” Brad swallowed hard again, “What the hell does that mean?” April retorted, “Don’t take that tone with me. It means you’ve been acting like a giant toddler and you’re going to be treated like a giant toddler. I’ve been over here feeling like a single mom, and I’m going to act like one. And we are NOT going to Utah next week. We’re staying right here until you’re back in your damn place.”

Brad stammered. “What do you mean?” April raised her voice again, “I mean that for the next two weeks, you don’t get to be a man. You don’t get to drink, go out, cook for yourself, anything. And it damn sure means that you don’t get to sleep with me. Everything that makes you an adult is off the table for the next two weeks. You’ll do what I say, when I say it, and you’ll do it without a word of complaint. Either you agree to that right now, or I’m leaving. I’m already halfway packed.”

Brad slumped off the chair and to his knees again, “I’m sorry! I’ll do anything! Please just promise you won’t leave.” April frowned, “Good. Stand up.” Brad stood up. As soon as he did, April grabbed a wooden spoon and pulled him by the collar over her knee as she sat on the chair. “What are you doing?!?” Brad yelped. April retorted, “I told you that I’m going to treat you like a giant toddler, and kids get spanked when they act like you have.” The wooden spoon cracked hard against Brad’s ass. He yelped and kicked and begged, but the blows kept coming until the spoon broke against his backside. April tossed the handle of the spoon away and rubbed his back. “Now you know how things are going to be handled when you act out. Stand up.” Brad struggled to his feet.

April grabbed his wrist and dragged him into the bathroom. She jerked his belt undone and pulled his pants down. “Take off your shirt.” She demanded. Brad quickly yanked his shirt off and stepped out of his pants that were at his ankles. He began to sweat. “There’s no way she’s about to make this into a sex thing, right?” He wondered. He was right. She dragged him into the bedroom and pushed him onto the bed. She stood over him and looked him up and down with a furious gaze. He stammered again to ask, “What are you doing?”

April paced the bedroom again. She was doubting herself like she had done all day. She looked him up and down again. “I told you that you’re going to be treated like a toddler for the next two weeks.” She started speaking softly. She was nervous. Brad could tell. “I know…” Brad grumbled a bit. April sat down on the bed. “Don’t you want to know what all that means?” She asked.

Brad shook his head, “I guess I just assumed it meant no drinking, staying up late, or going out.”

“No. It means that I’m going to treat you EXACTLY like a toddler for the next two weeks, and you’re going to act like one.” April responded.

Brad turned to her, “But…”

April quickly retorted, “No buts, or I leave, and I don’t want to hear a word of complaint. It’s your decision.”

Brad sighed and started to resign himself to whatever happens next. Surely she’d let this blow over by tomorrow, but for now, he reasoned that he’d go along with whatever she wanted, no matter how absurd. He finally replied, “Okay. No buts. I won’t complain.”

April smiled. “Good.” She continued, “Then let’s get you dressed for bed.”

Brad closed his eyes and waited to see what sort of ridiculous outfit she had picked for him. He could hear her rummaging in the closet. After a few moments, he could hear her step back into the room.

“Open your eyes.” She ordered.

When Brad opened his eyes, he swallowed hard again. It looked like his fiancé, the love of his life, was holding up a onesie and a diaper. Brad could only stare.

“You didn’t think I was serious, did you?” April chuckled.

Brad stuttered, “No, I just didn’t think you were going to take this to the extreme…”

April sighed, “And I didn’t think you were going to take drinking to the extreme. So are you going to fight me on this or not?”

Brad sighed as tears welled up in his eyes. “No…”

“Good.” April responded. Now lift up your legs.

Brad lifted his legs as high as he could. How could this be happening? Maybe he was having a nightmare?

April unfolded the diaper and laid it under him. She sprinkled baby powder on his butt and pulled his ankles down. The feeling of a diaper being pulled up between his legs removed any doubt that this could possibly be a dream. April fastened the tapes snugly and he tried to close his legs. It was difficult. Brad blushed hard and looked down. Elmo. It had Elmo on it. He sighed hard and went limp on the bed. The diaper felt humiliating, but vaguely familiar.

“Stand up and raise your arms over your head.” April ordered. Brad leaned forward and stood up. His legs couldn’t close as much as they usually should, so he stood there in a slightly awkwardly wide stance. As he did, he caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror and started laughing hysterically. April ignored him momentarily and tugged the onesie over his head, snapping it into place.

His sense of humor was disarming. “What’s so funny?” April looked at him and started laughing herself. Brad stifled his laughter to respond, “I look like a character in a cringey 80s Halloween movie or something.”

April laughed, “No, you look like a big baby!”

Brad’s momentary hysteria began to subside, “At least I’m YOUR big baby!”

April laughed a bit more and ruffled the hair on his head but responded seriously, “Only if you act your part.”

The sternness of her voice brought Brad back to reality. “I haven’t been a toddler in over 20 years. How am I supposed to know how to be something that I barely have a memory of?” He asked her, very seriously.

April smiled again, but shook her head slightly, “I guess you’ll have to figure that out, but there are going to be rules.”

Brad looked up at her again, “Rules?”

April took his hand and led him into the living room. She sat on the couch and pointed to her lap. “Lay your head in my lap.” Brad climbed onto the couch and laid his head in her lap - his favorite spot after a hard day at work. NApril looked down at him and tickled his chin. “I’m going to give you a bottle while I explain the rules.”

Brad looked up at her, “A bottle?”

April nodded and pulled a huge baby bottle out of her backpack that was sitting on the coffee table. She held it to his lips. Brad wanted nothing more than to keep his mouth shut, but he’d already learned his lesson about hesitation earlier. He opened his mouth and she pushed the nipple into it. He slowly began to suck on it. Chocolate milk - his favorite drink after a workout.

April held the bottle and began to explain, “First off, I’m going to do what I want and when I want to do it. You don’t have a say in anything. I don’t think I need to repeat myself again, but if you complain at all, I’m gone.”

Brad continued to slowly suck on the bottle and look up at her as she continued. “You’re going to act like a toddler. You’re going to speak like a toddler. You’re going to wear and use diapers like a toddler. You’ll have a bedtime and baby toys and I’m going to rent some nursery furniture for the bedroom. You’ll sleep in a crib. I’ll feed you and I’ll take care of you. You’ll have to keep your toys picked up and play your part perfectly. When you inevitably screw up, you’ll be punished appropriately. If you outright refuse, I’ll be gone before you know it.”

Brad spit the nipple out of his mouth, “Okay, okay. I get it. But there’s more I need to know.” April looked down at him sternly, “That’s not how a toddler would say that, is it?” Brad pleaded with his eyes as the last shred of his adult life was ripped away with a single sentence.

April stood him up. “You just earned yourself a time out.” “What?” Brad retorted as he was dragged to the corner. April faced him into the corner and pressed a pacifier against his lips. He dared not to refuse it. He opened his mouth and began to suck on it. “You’re going to stand here in the corner for 15 minutes without making a sound.” April demanded.

Brad slumped his shoulders and pressed his forehead against the wall as April sat on the couch and opened a book. Just yesterday, he was a young professional climbing to the top of his field. Today, he’s wearing a diaper, sucking on a pacifier, and standing in time out. Tears welled up in his eyes and he sniffled as softly as he could. April had warned him not to make a sound, and he didn’t want to know what would happen if he did.

Minutes had seemed like hours. His eyelids stung, having been dried out and rubbed raw by the tears that trickled down his face. He felt a tap on his shoulder. “Times up.” April said from behind him. He turned around and she hugged him warmly, patting his back and leading him back to the couch where he laid his head in her lap again. She took the pacifier out of his mouth and looked at him, “Are you ready to try that again?”

“I ha-“ Brad began to reply but stopped himself. He stared at her for a moment as he tried to think of how a toddler would phrase everything that was running through his head. He swallowed hard and started again, “I gotted a question, mommy…”

April chuckled and smiled, “What is it, sweetheart?” Brad vexed again. He furrowed his brow and started to speak, “Where mommy gotted all this stuff? Why I gotta wear diapees? Do I gotta go potty in da diapee? Why mommy think this gonna make things better?” He blurted in his best toddler accent.

April rubbed his chest. “Much better, baby boy. I bought most of this stuff online. Some of it was readily available at that weird shop near your office - the babies and toddlers store that seemingly never has a customer. You have to wear diapers, and yes, go potty in them, because if you hate being a baby enough, when this is over, hopefully you’ll stop acting like one.”

Brad sighed and closed his eyes again. “I just wanna go bedtime…”. He lamented.

“Awh, is somebody tired? It’s okay baby, I’ll get you all tucked in.” April responded in her best motherly tone.

April motioned for him to stand. She stood with him and took his hand. She led him into the bedroom and pulled back the covers, ushering him under the blankets. “Does someone want a bedtime story?” April asked. Brad shook his head no. She put the pacifier back in his mouth and he pretended to suck on it, but was soon fast asleep. He slept soundly through the night - 12 hours of solid sleep. He dreamed of his college days, and what he wouldn’t give to go back.

He was gently awakened by April brushing his hair. The sunlight streamed through the curtains illuminating the room. He’d thrown the covers off in the middle of the night. He looked down and saw the purple onesie. He saw the bulge between his legs that told him yesterday was unfortunately more than a dream.

“Did my baby sleep well?” April asked.

Brad nodded his head.

“Does someone need a diaper change?” April cooed at him.

Brad shook his head no.

“Are you sure? Maybe mommy should check.”

Brad emphatically shook his head no, but as he did, April’s finger slid into the leg gathers on the diaper.

She smiled and kissed his forehead, “All dry! Now you just wait here. The furniture people are waiting downstairs. He blushed and hid under the covers. He could hear people moving through the house - through his room - moving heavy objects and furniture.

After what seemed like an hour, the voices faded and the noise stopped. April pulled the covers away from Brad’s face. He stared at the ceiling, trying to avoid facing the continuation of his new reality. “It’s time to get up.” April firmly recommended.

Brad stood. He stared blankly ahead. There was a large white crib in front of him. It had baby toys in it. Next to that, there was a baby blue table with a pink mattress on top of it, and a shelf under it, stacked high with - diapers.

“What does my baby think?” April asked.

Brad swallowed hard. It was disgustingly cute. It was disgusting how large it was. It was disgustingly his, but he dared not voice his distaste. “For me?” He asked.

April smiled and nodded. “Only the best for my baby boy!” She unsnapped his onesie and tugged it over his head. He was left standing in the room, completely naked save for a diaper, staring at the new additions.

April opened the side of the crib. “You’ll need to stay in here while I finish setting everything else up, okay?”

Brad nodded silently and climbed in the crib. April closed the side and left the room. He could hear her moving things around through the door. “Mommy!” He called out.

“Yes baby boy?” April called back through the door.

“Mommy! Come here!” Brad called back.

April soon appeared in the doorway and looked at him. He stared at her through the bars of the crib. “I gotta go potty, mommy…” He meekly informed her of his situation.

April shrugged and replied, “Then go?” Motioning to his diaper before leaving the room again.

He shook the bars of the crib, trying to get the side open. It was a useless endeavor. He felt his stomach groan and looked down at the diaper. It felt like an hour had passed as he stared through the bars, praying for something to save him from his anguish. He held his composure as best he could, but the pain in his stomach was growing every second. Tears welled in his eyes again. He held the bars of the crib tightly as he began to squat down. It was more difficult than he expected. He could feel the seat of the diaper pushing back against him as he began to relieve himself. It swelled as it began to absorb his fluids and contain the mess. It forced his legs further apart. He began to sob uncontrollably.

April heard his sobs and meandered her way into the room. She looked at him and laughed, knowing what had finally happened. “What’s wrong, baby?” She asked, grinning as she was well aware of the answer. Brad hid his face in his hands and sobbed.

“Does someone need a diaper change?” April cooed at him. Brad could only manage to nod through his sobs. She unlocked the side of the crib and he continued to sob as he climbed out. As he stood there hysterically sobbing, April patted the mat on the changing table. “Hop on up!” The urged him. He ignored her and continued crying, trying unsuccessfully to stifle himself. “Climb up, baby.” She urged him again, “Otherwise you’ll spend the whole day in your crib in a dirty diaper.”

He stopped crying, but continued to sniffle and hyperventilate as he climbed onto the table and laid down. “Please don’t do this mommy. Please stop! I be a good grown up again! I swear!” He passionately begged. April stomped her foot on the floor and retorted, “Is someone refusing? I guess I’ll go grab my suitcase.” Brad stopped cold. “No mommy, please no leave! I not refusing, I promise!” He pleaded. April stopped and looked down at him. “Then stop crying and tell me what I should do?” Brad took a deep breath and shyly stammered out, “Mommy change diaper please..?” April smiled down at him, “Much better. Yes baby, I’ll change your diaper.”

April popped the tapes on his diaper and pulled it back with a grimace. Brad hid his face in shame. He was a grown man, lying on a changing table, on a dirty diaper that was now pulled back, leaving his genitals exposed and covered in his own filth. April stopped and looked at him. “I think I know what baby needs!” She turned away momentarily, turning back to hold a pacifier to his lips. This time, he eagerly opened his mouth to suck on it. Next, she handed him a new diaper and asked him to hold it while she cleans him up. He sucked on the pacifier and choked back his tears as he held up the diaper and looked at it. It was white and purple with Sesame Street characters on the face. Big Bird was always his favorite character as a kid, but now the familiar face did nothing to soothe his embarrassment.

He felt the cold baby wipes on his skin as she cleaned his soiled genitals. He shivered and shrunk. “Upsie over, baby!” April called, and motioned for him to lift his legs. He did. She wiped more filth away. She pulled the diaper out from under him and rolled it up, tugging the new diaper out of his hands. He tried to hold on, but he didn’t know why. He felt her unfold it and slide it under him, sprinkling powder and lowering his legs. He was helpless, and he was embarrassed, but it wasn’t the *worst* feeling in the world. He chucked slightly to himself as he realized that he hadn’t thought about work in almost 24 hours. Then, he felt something that was decidedly unfamiliar.

He looked down and saw April sliding a rubber ring and a tube around his genitals, snapping into place. He looked up at her with curious concern. She patted his genitals and explained, “You’re a baby now. Orgasms are for grown ups only. And besides, you’re big enough that if you were to somehow get hard, that diaper of yours would almost definitely leak.” He crossed his arms, sucked on the pacifier, and sighed again. He felt her pull the clean diaper up between his legs and secure it snugly into place. She helped him sit up, off the changing table, and stood him by the dresser. She rummaged through the drawer and pulled out a blue onesie, tugging it over him and snapping it in place. He looked in the mirror again, then down at his feet.

“I bet someone’s hungry!” April guessed. He nodded. Skipping dinner last night wasn’t all that smart. She pointed to the floor. “Follow me to the kitchen, baby. But I want you to crawl.” He got on his knees and looked up at her. 5’3 had never seemed so tall to him. She slowly walked to the kitchen and he followed on his hands and knees. As he crawled through the living room he passed a giant playpen filled with baby toys and blankets. Blues Clues was playing on the TV. She led him into the kitchen where he could smell something cooking, but before he could concern himself with any meal, a high chair loomed ahead of him.

The chair was mostly white and hard plastic. It had a seat with a pronounced bulge at the front, and a hinged tray. She lifted the tray and urged him into the seat. When he sat down, the he felt himself sliding. The bump in the seat kept him from falling out, but it made the diaper between his legs feel more obvious than it already was. She secured him with a strap and lowered the tray table. Then, she pulled a bib out from a kitchen drawer and snapped it around his neck.

“I don’t ne-“ He stopped himself. Maybe just in the nick of time. “I no need bib, mommy.” He babbled. “I heard that.” April retorted to him. “And yes you do. Babies are notoriously messy eaters.” She slid a plate of pre cut pancakes in front of him and held a spoonful to his mouth, taking his pacifier away. He rolled his eyes and began letting her feed him. He felt like she was intentionally missing his mouth, causing food to drop onto the bib and tray. “Hmmm, looks like baby needed a bib after all.” He shook his head no, but continued to be fed until the plate was empty. He looked down at it. It had princesses on it. “Thirsty!” He demanded in his best toddler talk.

April wiped his face and set a baby bottle of milk on the tray as she cleaned the dishes. He grabbed it and started to suck. When she finished with the dishes, the walked over and asked warmly, “Did baby finish his bottle?” He had. She lifted the tray, removed his bib, and removed the strap. She gently wiped his face with a baby wipe and helped him out of the chair. “I bet I know what would be super fun for my baby boy!” She cooed. “What?” Brad asked, once again nervous at what may happen next.

April beamed with enjoyment as she looked at her fiancé, enjoying how much control she had for the first time in her memory. “I bet my baby boy wants to play with his new toys!” He looked at her blankly. He correctly assumed that she wasn’t talking about a new video game or console. She took his arm and he waddled behind her into the living room where she opened the gate to the playpen and led him inside, closing the gate behind him. “You just play with your toys for a bit while I straighten up the house, okay?”

Brad slowly nodded to her again. He watched as she left the room, staring out through the mesh sides of the playpen. He was stuck again. Maybe he could climb over the walls, but he didn’t want to find out what another broken spoon felt like. He sat down with his legs spread apart to take it all in. The playpen was blue and green. It had a vinyl floor that was covered with blankets, and high mesh walls. Inside were a few stuffed animals strewn about, with baby toys stacked in the corner. He grimaced and felt a bit sick to his stomach looking at them. After about 15 minutes of staring at the wall, he stood up. His footing immediately became unsure. She’d put blocks under the floor making it impossible to stand. That just seemed sadistic to him, but he was desperate for entertainment.

He crawled to the corner and stared at the pile of baby toys. How could he, a grown man, stay entertained with this stuff? Maybe that was another point April was trying to make. He picked up a ball and tried throwing it at the side of the playpen. “This is worse than my 3 hour astronomy lecture.” He thought to himself. Then, he took the ball and threw it upwards, hard. It bounced off the ceiling and into his lap. That seemed mildly entertaining enough. For the next few minutes, he threw the ball off of random walls in the room, trying to get it to bounce back to him. After a while, he decided to see if he could bounce the ball off of one wall, off the TV, and back to himself.

Brad stared at the wall trying to figure out the angles. He wound up and launched the ball at the wall. It bounced off the corner and missed the TV to the right, disappearing when he heard glass shatter. His heart sank. He grabbed a pacifier and started to suck on it, pretending to play with the animal sound machine. Moments later, April rushed in. “Are you okay baby?” She emphatically asked. He nodded affirmatively. “What happened?” She inquired. He shrugged his shoulders. She walked around the playpen and bent over, holding up the ball that he had so carelessly thrown. “What is this?” He shrugged again. She flung the gate to the playpen open and grabbed him by the arm, pointing his face at the flower vase lying in pieces on the floor.

“Did you do this?” She demanded an answer. “I threwded the ball and it broked the flower pot, mommy…” He used his best innocent voice in reply. “And then you tried to lie about it.” April snapped back at him. “Bad baby boy!” She hounded him. “You’re going straight to time out!” She jerked his arm as she dragged him into the corner. “30 minutes, and not a sound out of you!” He stared at the corner. She unsnapped his onesie and tugged his diaper down around his ankles. He sucked on the pacifier and stared at the wall.

He rested his forehead against the wall. He was angry; not at April or himself, but in general. His anger had no direction. He heard April snap a photo a few minutes into his time out. He assumed it was of him. “Why would she take a fucking picture of me like this?” He asked himself. “At least this can’t get any worse. And she’s still here. That’s the important part.” He opined. After what seemed like an eternity he heard April’s voice calling, “You can come out of time out now, sweetheart!” He turned around to see her sitting on the couch with a book in her hand. He waddled over to her, diaper still around his ankles. She tugged it back into place and snapped his onesie back on.

“Come snuggle with mommy.” She urged him. He climbed onto the couch and laid in her lap. “What do you have to say?” She asked. Brad sighed and closed his eyes. “I sorry mommy.” He lamented. “And what are we not going to do ever again?” She pressed. “Throw toys out of da playpen, mommy.” She smiled at his response and ran her fingers through his hair. “That’s right, baby boy.” She praised him for getting the answer correct on the first try.

“Now, I’m going to talk to you like an adult, but you’re still a baby, so respond appropriately.” She said firmly. Brad looked up curiously. Why would she dress him like this, and treat him like this, then talk to him like an adult?

“I’m having company over tonight.” She explained. He felt like he was falling. “Nobody you’ve ever met and you’ll never see them again.” She continued. That made him feel slightly better, but why would she invite a stranger over? At least this was still a secret to his family and friends. She gently turned his head to face her with her fingertips. “Bradley, I’m going to hook up with my friend, and you’re not going to complain about it.”

“But why?” He emphatically asked, unable to contain himself. Her look went cold at his question. “Because I can’t do it with you - not while you’re being punished like this. You had your wild times in college. I never got that. And I told you that I’d be acting like a single mom until this is over. I told you that I’d get my satisfaction in the end, and that I wasn’t stopping until we were even. When this is over, we’ll be more than even.”

He swallowed hard. How could he argue? If he complained at all, she’d leave him in general. Emotions swirled like a hurricane in his head and heart. He looked up at April with tears in his eyes. She returned his stare with a sadistic gaze. “You’re not going to stop this from happening.” She said. “What do you have to say? Choose your words very carefully.” She told him.

He closed his eyes and furrowed his brow, thinking as hard as he possibly could. “I scared, mommy.” He stammered. She relaxed her stare. “How come, baby boy?” She asked. “What if mommy gotted pregnant? What if mommy likes this new person more than me..? Are we still gonna get married? All this stop after spring break, right mommy?”

She rocked him gently in her lap and spoke softly. “You know that I’m very careful. I’m on birth control and I’ve never missed a day. And I could never like anyone more than I like you. Yes, baby boy, when this is over, this will never happen again, and we are still getting married.” She explained. It helped - slightly. Brad was still extremely saddened at the thought of the love of his life with another man, but he knew what his options were. “I either lose her for two weeks or I lose her forever.” He lamented to himself.