Published: November 28th 2021, 10:19:03 am
Ch. 1 Ch.2 Ch.3 Ch. 4 Ch. 5 Ch. 6 Ch. 7 Ch. 8 Ch. 9 Ch. 10 Ch. 11 Ch. 12Ch. 1 Ch.2 Ch.3 Ch. 4 Ch. 5 Ch. 6 Ch. 7 Ch. 8 Ch. 9 Ch. 10 Ch. 11 Ch. 12 Pt. 12.1 Pt. 12.2 Pt. 12.3
Note: The draft is finished on this. About another 7 pages complete this chapter. I'll be editing that up along with the new audio file Tomorrow!! Full speed ahead!!
Eventually, the day finally came when they had to leave on their big trip to see Robbie's family. By this time they had gotten plenty of practice in for the holidays, so they felt prepared, but they were both still nervous.
"Come on, kiddo. We've got to go!" said Colt, checking his Pear Watch as Robbie continued to find reasons to dilly dally.
"Hold on, I know I'm forgetting something...""
"You've said that a dozen times by now. You got Mr. Cuddles, our diapers, a pencil bag full of pacifiers, your toothy brush, some snacks for the trip, some games, and your favorite clothes. What else could a little boy possibly need?" Robbie played with his hands nervously as he thought about it.
"I know there's something... Uh... I need... I need..."
"You need to calm down, little boy. Here," said Colt, reaching into his 'day bag' and shoving a familiar and well-loved bear into Robbie's arms. "Everything you need is already packed. You just hold onto Mr. Cuddles."
"But the Ryde driver will see..."
"And he'll see a lot more if you keep complaining, turkey butt." That shut Robbie up quickly.
"O-okay, Daddy," Robbie said. He whimpered, slightly embarrassed but happy to have his most favorite comfort object in his arms as Colt loaded their two suitcases into the back trunk. The whole way to the airport, he sat next to Daddy, holding his teddy. Robbie was feeling especially self-conscious as they approached the airport, imagining all the people at the airport who would see him holding his teddy bear. "Breathe," he said to himself, quietly, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath. It was one thing to go to a familiar place and be little around people he knew. But this was a new place for Robbie full of strangers and who knows what else.
Colt smiled as Robbie stopped and repeated his affirmations to himself. It made Colt super proud to see his boy using the techniques they had practiced to deal with his anxiety. Robbie finally opened his eyes and nodded to himself with a look of determination.
"That's my good boy," said Colt.
"Th-thanks, Daddy," whispered Robbie, blushing and playing with his hands and blushing.
When they got out and unloaded the luggage, Robbie noticed that both suitcases were locked. "Uh... Can I put Mr. Cuddles away now?"
"Hmm, I think you'd better hold onto him. You wouldn't want him to get lost, now would you?" Robbie's eyes went wide and he shook his head, clinging to Mr. Cuddles tightly. Colt chuckled and patted Robbie's head. "That's what I thought."
In line to pick up their boarding passes, Robbie was looking all around to see if anyone was looking at him with his teddy. He noticed that he wasn't the only one with a teddy bear, though he was probably one of the oldest. Still, no one seemed to give him a second glance, and he fantasized that, dressed as he was, maybe a toddler was all they saw. This thought led him to be extra self-conscious about the thick crinkly diaper under his pants as he waddled forward in line.
Once they got to the front, Daddy did all the talking, checking the suitcases, to Robbie's relief, and picking up the boarding passes without worry. The moment the bags were out of Colt's hands, he grabbed Robbie's hand to keep the boy from wandering. Robbie happened to catch the last bit of Colt's conversation among all the distractions around them in the busy airport.
"...and I spoke ahead with the airline about special arrangements for this one's seat?" said Colt. Robbie's ears perked up.
"Oh yes, you can just talk with the ticket agent at the gate." Colt thanked her, adjusted Robbie's 'day bag', which was really just a diaper bag, on his shoulder, and tugged gently on Robbie's hand to get him moving.
"What was that about?" asked Robbie, as they made their way to long and winding security line.
"Just some safety precautions," said Daddy, "Don't worry about it."
Robbie nodded. He'd learned to trust Daddy when he said don't worry about it. Usually it was nothing to worry about. But of course, when you try not to think about something, you often end up thinking about it more, at least that was the case with Robbie. Robbie imagined all kinds of blushy car seats and contraptions he could find himself in, and it was making his diaper tight. He was so busy thinking about what 'special seating' he would get that he was taken completely by surprise when they found themselves right at the front of the line.
"Whoa! We're here already?"
"Global Pass," said Colt, giving Robbie a lopsided grin. "No muss no fuss, just like I like it," he said, giving Robbie a swat on the butt. Robbie blushed hard as Colt set his 'day bag' on the scanner belt.