Chapter Thirty - Alex's Dad

I cringed away from Laurie as he finally let go of me, both my hands shooting down to my groin to desperately contain the wee spurting out into my pajama pants. It was too late however, my loose fingers putting up no more resistance than the feeble tree branches against the relentless rain thundering down outside as the warm wet liquid spread slowly out across my cold damp crotch.

I let out a defeated moan, breathing heavily in and out as I sat up on my butt. I still couldn’t see anything. The blinding bright white lights had all of us squinting and the loud booming noise of an engine was roaring like a hungry predator. Eventually the engine noise stopped, leaving nothing but the persistent drum of the rain on the porch over our heads. The lights remained however, my eyes slowly adjusting to the bright light to make out the vague shape of a large gray van parked on the muddy patch of grass in front of the workshop.

I heard the car door open and close with a thud, a formless burly figure stepping out into the murky darkness behind the headlights. At first, I only recognized the man from his voice. “Alex!” Ross McLaughlin, Alex’s father shouted, frantically stomping forward through the rain and up onto the porch to give her a big hug. “What are you doing here?” He asked her and knelt down so they were eye to eye. I could see now that he was wearing a huge bright yellow raincoat, the hood framing a kindly comforting smile.

“It was an emergency.” She answered and planted her chin on his shoulder. “It was raining so hard!”

Ross lifted his daughter up and held her on his hip as if she weighed no more than a tiny baby, kissing her forehead. He looked at the five of us, mentally counting. “You’re all here.” He observed. “Thank goodness, you have half the town out looking for you.” His deep, serious voice sent a chill down my spine. It was just like Zach had said. We were in deep trouble.

“Sorry Alex’s Dad.” Zach intoned gravely, and stood up in front of us - taking full responsibility. “I-I didn’t know it was going to rain like this.”

Ross looked him up and down, setting Alex down on her feet again. “Zachary, you should put on your pants. I’m taking everyone home.” He told him.

Zach looked down at his bare legs and blushed, but obeyed immediately rushing inside to collect his clothes. “I’ll get everyone’s stuff.” He narrated, starting to gather up shoes from the pile we’d made in the corner and beaver vests from the hook by the door. “Cooper lost a shoe.” He stated in his frantic voice.

Ross plodded over towards me and looked down to show me the same comforting smile he’d shown Alex. I was still gripping tight to my crotch, frantically trying to hide the stain on my pajama pants, but there was no disguising the small puddle that had formed under my butt. “You okay little guy?” Ross asked gently and went down to one knee, offering a hand. “Your parents are worried sick.”

I tried to say something, but I was too flustered. I looked away. It still hadn’t quite processed in my head that I had actually peed my pants. I was supposed to be eleven years old, yet there I was in a soaked pair of pajama pants like a terrified toddler. I stole a nervous glance at Laurie who was looking at me with his hands covering his mouth in shock. “Cooper! Did you have an accident?” He whispered in a scandalized tone, a guilty look on his face.

“I…uh…” I sputtered in humiliated confusion and looked away from both of them to stare at the ceiling. I scrunched shut my eyes, trying to collect my thoughts. Too much was happening all at once. I dared to open my eyes again, but my vision was all blurry from tears. I took in a few shuddering sniffs. I was such a baby.

A heavy reassuring hand landed on my shoulder, squeezing it a little. “It’s okay.” Ross said soothingly. “It was a scary night, huh?” He reached one arm behind me and one under my legs, scooping me up and holding me against his rain jacket. I wiped my teary cheeks on the wet plasticky material, letting out an incoherent moan. “Let’s get you changed okay?”

Ross carried me quickly through the rain as Alex opened the sliding side door of the Van. I didn’t know what I was expecting, but after the ram shackle workshop I was taken off guard by the clean and organized interior of the van. On the outside it looked like the type of van my Dad sometimes had at his work sights, but on the inside it looked just like a trailer.

Behind the driver's seat was a small bed with woodland themed sheets, high walls on every side making it look almost like a crib. Beside that was a tiny kitchen with wood cabinets, a sink, and a counter, a closet for the toilet and shower on the right. At the very back there was a big lifted bed decorated with a fur blanket, a couple of storage containers underneath.

Alex hurried inside and Ross perched me on the counter beside the sink. “Stay right here.” He told me. Charlie, Laurie and Zach all piled into the Van behind us, starting to fill up the small space. “Zachary, sit up front with me.” Ross instructed him and pointed to the passenger seat.

Zach hurried over there without question, now dressed in his damp pants and his wet shoes again. The other Kindies all found a place on the edge of the big bed, Laurie shooting me an awkward smile. I looked away. I was still too embarrassed.

Ross sat down beside Zach in the front seat and dialed a number on his cell phone. “Bianca, I found them.” He said. A loud muffled chatter could be heard on the other side, Ross nodding along with a serious look on his face. “Yeah… they were at my workshop.” He held the phone to his ear and nodded a couple times. “Charlie is fine Bianca, it’s the Young’s boy who seems out of sorts.” He nodded a couple more times. “I’ll bring everyone over and we can sort it out there. Let’s get them warm first.” After another moment he smiled a little. “Thanks sweetie, I’ll see you soon.” When he was done, Ross put down the phone - turning to show me a warm smile. “Right, let’s get you cleaned up.” He told me, swinging out from the driver’s seat and coming to stand beside me at the counter.

“Do you need any help, Daddy?” Alex asked helpfully, springing to her feet. I shuddered shyly, my cheeks blushing hot red. It was bad enough that Alex’s dad was seeing me like this. The thought of Alex herself getting involved made me want to jump up and sprint back out into the rain

“No, honey.” Ross chuckled. He opened one of the wooden cabinets above the sink, producing a couple of fresh towels. “You and your friends should take off your shoes and get dry.” he instructed.

“Okay!” Alex sang, grabbing the towels.

Meanwhile, Ross reached up for a large curtain with a green floral pattern tied up against the side of the bathroom closet. He pulled it all the way across, dividing the kitchen and bathroom areas from the rest of the space. I let out a sigh of relief, glad that I would have at least some privacy.

“Arms up.” Ross instructed. I did as I was told, letting him pull the muddy wet pajama top off and exposing my bare chest and tummy. I was still plenty muddy, some of the muck dried onto my skin. Ross started to run the water in the sink, producing another powder blue towel and draping it over my shoulder before he crouched down to sort through another cupboard down below. I snuggled the towel gratefully, noticing that it had a little applique of a duckling embroidered in the corner. I frowned unhappily, thinking back to the pattern on the pull up I’d worn at camp.

“I like your van.” I observed in a quivering breathy voice, trying to distract myself.

“Thanks, little guy.” Ross smiled, jumping back up with a washcloth and a plastic bottle of soap in hand. “I converted it myself.”

“Wow…” I exclaimed, looking around in wonder at the various appliances installed efficiently around the tiny space. The van was pretty high tech: they had running water; an oven; my towel was even a little bit warm. “Really?”

“It was a lot of work.” Ross smiled, hooking a finger into the waistband of my soiled pajama bottoms. “Mind if I get rid of these?”

I gulped, but quickly nodded, glancing nervously up at the ceiling. Ross quickly shimmied them down to my ankles, and I readjusted my towel - laying it across my lap like a blanket. “Thank you…” I squeaked, glad to be rid of the yucky things.

“No problem, buddy.” Ross told me, wetting the wash cloth under the warm water. He squeezed a little soap onto my bare shoulders, methodically scrubbing some of the encrusted mud off my chest, neck, and back. Finally he leaned down and cleaned the exposed lower half of my legs, concluding with a mischievous tickle on the bare soles of my feet. I couldn’t help but let out a high pitched delighted giggle, probably making myself come across another good few years younger than I appeared. I wondered how old he thought I was. Eight, like Alex? Five, like Zach? Or even younger, perhaps?

Ross gestured for me to jump down. “That’ll do for now. You can have a proper bath when you get in. Alex will have something spare for you to wear.”

“Okay…” I muttered, hopping down as requested and quickly wrapping the towel around my waist.

Ross pulled back the curtain, and I stepped out into the van proper. Alex had already changed, lounging on her bed in a pair of bright pink long sleeved pajamas decorated with various cartoon images of snoozing pussy cats. I gulped, hoping I wouldn’t have to wear something quite so girly. She sniggered happily as she saw me coming, sliding across to make a space for me next to her.

“All clean?” she asked.

“Uh…yeah.” I answered, forcing a smile back. “Your dad said you would have spare clothes for me…”

Alex nodded and leaned down to pull out what looked like a long bluish green shirt. It was covered all over in adorable fluffy white bunnies hopping through wreaths of white flowers that looked like daisy chains. I inadvertently wrinkled my nose. It was clearly for a girl. I was surprised Alex even owned such a thing. It seemed really unlike her. I sat there awkwardly, staring at it. “Is that a dress?” I asked her dumbfounded.

“No… Well, kind of.” Alex answered, holding it up to reveal its elastic cuffs and ruffled collar.

“It’s a nightie.” Charlie butted in. I wasn’t sure, but I thought I could see just the smallest of teasing smirks in the corner of his lips. “My Mom bought it for Alex ages ago.” He explained.

“I’ve never worn it.” Alex added. “So it’s totally clean.”

I fidgeted beneath my little duckling towel, my left foot stepping nervously on top of my right. “It’s for girls.” I told her. She didn’t really expect me to wear it, did she? It must have been a joke.

“Well yeah, I am a girl.” Alex retorted with a sly grin. “What else are you going to wear?”

I looked to Charlie and Laurie for support but Laurie refused to make eye contact - still wearing a guilty expression on his face and biting his lower lip. Charlie on the other hand was actually snickering a little. I growled in embarrassment. Was he making fun of me? “Come on.” Charlie said. “You’re going to catch a cold.”

Alex bunched up the nightie over my head, forcing the collar down to my neck. “Hey!” I exclaimed, taking a step back. Alex giggled as the material fell down around me - draping everything under my neck in bunnies and flowers. I cringed at the absurdly girly design. The outfit would have been embarrassing even to some of the girls in my class!

“It fits!” Alex announced in excitement . “That means you can keep it. Come on, bring your arms through.”

I let go of the towel, letting it pool at my ankles, and pushed my arms through the sleeves. “I look ridiculous.” I complained with a grumpy pout.

“At least it’s not wet.” Charlie stated. I was sure he was still smirking just a little. I opened my mouth to reply, but nothing came out - my eyebrows lowered in a sulky scowl. I didn’t know if he was talking about the rain or my accident, but I didn’t want to dwell on either topic. I interlocked my fingers in front of me, mouth hanging dumbly open as I squirmed on the spot.

“Come up Cooper.” Alex invited, patting the empty spot beside her in the bed. “Daddy won’t drive until we are all in the berth.”

“Berth?” I asked, looking at her bed with the rails. I managed a playful half smile of my mouth. “Isn’t that a crib?”

“If it moves it's a berth.” She countered, unbothered.

I shrugged and stepped into the foothold, heaving myself over the side with Charlie and Alex’s help and nestling in beside her. The nightie seemed to bunch up all over the place! It was like managing a bathrobe. A big, frilly, flower-themed, bunny-covered bathrobe. I crossed my legs beneath the material, the feeling of cold air wafting up my bare legs making me feel very exposed.

Ross seemed to have been having a conversation with Zach in the front seat, the bigger boy’s face stuck in a permanent serious frown with his hands balled up in his lap. I cocked my head in curiosity, trying to hear what they were talking about, but Ross had already turned on the engine. He turned around and saw the four of us sitting in Alex’s berth, smiling at the sight of me. It was hard to tell if he thought I looked ridiculous, or just cute. I wasn’t sure which was worse. “Everyone ready?” He asked.

“Yes Daddy.” Alex responded quickly, and he began to reverse out of the parking spot.

I watched through the window as we drove through the dark windy forest. It seemed like this trail entrance could only be accessed via a bumpy road on the outskirts of town, the van trundling along for a long time down an endless winding dirt track.

The rhythmic rocking feeling of driving over uneven ground and the odd awkward silence between the six of us left me feeling pretty drained. I was still concerned about how much trouble we would be in. My mom probably wouldn’t let me run off after school unsupervised or go out alone with the Beavers anymore. Alex’s Dad had said like half the town was looking for us. I was struck with a mental image of our faces on the side of a milk carton, ‘MISSING’ written in big blocky black letters mocked up like an old western wanted poster. My tummy rumbled in concern. Those missing kid posters all had ages on them, didn’t they? Did the whole town know how old I was now? I stared at the side of Alex’s Dad’s head, thinking it over. It didn’t seem like he knew. He had been treating me like a toddler. I couldn’t blame him. I’d wet my pants just like one.

I slouched down further in the bed, all four of us sitting side by side. It was hard not to lean onto Alex’s arm for support. It was soft, her fleecy pink pajamas making a nice pillow. I was sure this was the first time she had worn anything pink in front of me before. I pulled up my sleeve a little to let the brown and pink friendship bracelet pop out of the ruffled sleeve and spun the six beaded letters spelled out on my wrist. I didn’t know why, but the ritual made me feel a lot better; each spin seeming to tease out a little bit of stress knotted up in my chest and sending it up and out with each wispy breath to dissolve in the cold night air.

Eventually the bumpy road turned into normal traffic, white headlights and yellow street lamps intermittently flashing across the van. I nestled closer to Alex while Charlie leaned on me, Laurie leaning on him in turn.The walk had been cold, long and my foot hurt from all the stones and twigs I’d hobbled across. I’d fallen in the mud, slogged through a storm, and eventually peed my pants. I was exhausted. It must have been past my bedtime. Eventually, I nodded off.

I woke up to the sound of the van door opening. I rubbed my eye and tried to sit up, but Alex’s Dad was faster - stomping up to the bed and scooping me up as if I weighed nothing. He gathered up my nightie under my bum and sat me against his hip, squeezing me tight. I grabbed the material of his coat with one hand, rubbing my eyes sleepily. “Where are we?” I yawned, stretching out my arm into the air.

“Charlie’s house.” He whispered to me. He reached down and placed a hand on Alex’s shoulder to wake her up, Charlie and Laurie stirring too. “Get your shoes on, guys.” he instructed, before turning to step out into the rain again - holding me protectively to his torso as he carried me steadily towards the grand portico entrance, the big house aglow with inviting warm light.