Playing House - Chapter 3

Riley froze in terror as Aunt Lucy pulled out a small collection of photographs from her bag and handed them to his mother. She excitedly started to leaf through them, each one depicting different scenes from the wedding. He supposed he should have been expecting it when he heard that Aunt Lucy would also be coming for tea at Aunt Joan’s house, but he’d had other concerns - much more worried about what Bradley might have planned out for that afternoon than the evidence of what he had done the month before. He shrunk into the corner of the couch, hoping against hope that she somehow wouldn’t notice - but of course, she did.

“Riley, honey?” She asked, her voice an uncertain mixture of disbelief and amusement as she held up one of the photos. It depicted him pouting in the middle of the aisle, one finger hanging out of his mouth as he clinged onto Freddy’s hand. The bulky diaper was poking conspicuously out of the top of his waistband, clear as day. “Is that a diaper?”

The boy looked hurriedly away, instead staring across the living room to where Bradley was sitting. The younger boy’s face was a picture of serenity, but Riley was certain he could detect just the hint of a smirk lingering behind his neutral expression. He instinctually adjusted the waistband on his jeans, having the vague idea that the top of his underpants might be showing.

“I was going to ask about that!” Aunt Lucy interjected curiously, looking expectantly at the boy.

“Honey?” his mother called, touching him lightly on the collar of his blue and white striped t-shirt. He flinched away in embarrassment, still staring desperately at Bradley - but it was clear that the other boy had no intention of coming to his rescue.  He blinked nervously as he turned back to his look at his mother. What could he even say?

“Y…yeah…” he finally choked out. He couldn't very well deny it, afterall. He gave a nervous chuckle, hoping that somehow he wouldn’t be called upon to explain himself any further.

His mother gave a bemused smile “Why on earth were you wearing a diaper?”

Riley squirmed uncomfortably, trying to formulate some kind of response. Was he going to do it? Was he finally going to tattle? He supposed it was now or never. Ever since the morning after the wedding when Bradley had finally given him back his clothes, he’d been turning the issue over in his mind. His cousin had really gone too far - but Riley had somehow deluded himself up to that point that he could simply put it out of his mind. Afterall, his mother had never seen anything. She didn’t need to know, and surely everyone who had seen him would soon forget the incident anyway.  But now she’d seen ths photos. Now it was too late.

“I…” Riley began, but he quickly trailed off - losing himself in thought. If he told, he’d have to tell it all - the crib, the pacifier, the accident, the change. If he left something out, Bradley would be sure to bring it up, if not to defend himself then just to make the most out of Riley’s humiliation. The adults would never take Bradley’s side, but still - they would definitely make a big deal out of it. It would be like living the whole thing over again.

He looked up at Bradley who was still looking neutrally over at the scene. Of course, there were reprisals to think about as well. Bradley was certain to get in a lot of trouble - and the younger boy was nothing if he wasn’t vindictive. What would he do if Riley told? Was he capable of thinking up something even worse than he’d done at the wedding?

Riley bit his lip nervously, still staring over at the larger boy. Bradley seemed to read his mind - giving a curt shake of his head in warning. The smaller boy gulped with fear. That was it. There was no way he could tell. It just wasn’t possible.

“Riley?” His mother repeated “I asked you a question, honey.”

The boy turned back to his mother, taking in a couple of short nervous breaths. “Sorry…” he apologized. He’d have to think of something fast.

“That’s alright, sweetie.” his mother assured “But the diaper?”

“Um…yeah. The diaper.” Riley repeated, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Where was he going with this? “Yeah…that was…it was just a game.” he finally concluded, still flying by the seat of his pants.

“A game?” his mother pursued, not satisfied with the explanation “What game?”

“Umm…” Riley stalled, still trying to construct some kind of marginally plausible explanation. “What’s it called…” he wondered out loud “You know, when you pretend to be a family?”

“House?” Aunt Lucy offered helpfully.

“Yeah!” Riley agreed “We were just playing House, and…and I was s’posed to be the baby.”

He cringed, hoping that the strange explanation would somehow convince his mother. To his frustration, she still looked rather skeptical - looking suspiciously over at Bradley.

“What about you, Bradley?” she interrogated “Were you playing this game as well?”

“Huh?” the younger boy asked. Somehow, he managed to look quite convincingly as if he had genuinely only just tuned into the conversation.

“House.” Riley’s mom prompted.

“Oh - well it was mostly just Riley and Freddy’s idea.” he confirmed, shrugging nonchalantly as he immediately and effortlessly started to riff on Riley’s kernel of an excuse “Freddy was the big brother, and Riley was the baby. I think maybe I was supposed to be the Dad? But it was their thing, really.”

There was an awkward pause as Riley tried to gauge whether anyone was buying the ridiculous story, before the silence was suddenly punctuated by a series of high pitched giggles emanating from Aunt Lucy.

“Awww!” she exclaimed “That is just so cute!”

To Riley’s relief, even his mother's distrustful frown softed into an amused smile.

“Oh, Riley.” she commented happily “What are you like?”

The boy gave a terse smile, hoping that they could now move on from the topic - but Aunt Lucy seemed positively obsessed.

“It’s just the most adorable thing!” she raved “Coming up with a game like that…”

“Well he’s always been so good-natured,” Riley’s mom praised, giving him a little squeeze “But I wouldn’t have expected it - you were so shy that morning!”

“Freddy really brought him out of his shell.” Bradley interjected wryly, his villainous smirk now openly spread across his face.

“The perfect little page boys!” Aunt Lucy enthused, showing his mother even more photos of them at the wedding. In every one of them, Riley’s diaper was on full display.

A few agonizing minutes later, Aunt Joan came back into the living room carrying a fresh pot of tea.

“What’s all this hullabaloo?” she asked, taking a seat beside her oldest son and pouring herself a mug. Bradley was still smiling from ear to ear.

“Go on and tell your Auntie what you told us.” Riley’s mom instructed, barely suppressing her laughter.

Riley sighed, wishing that they could just forget about it.

“Err…at the wedding last month…” he began nervously as his other Aunt turned to give him her full rapt attention. “Me and Freddy were playing house, and um…I was the baby.” He trailed off, hoping that he might be allowed to get away with burying the lead.

“Come on, sweetie.” His mother encouraged “No need to be shy.”

Riley seethed - was she trying to humiliate him? “And that’s why I was wearing a diaper…” he stumbled through hurriedly, looking down at the ground.

Immediately, the whole room erupted into an adoring clamor of giggles.

“I saw  that!” Aunt Joan laughed “They were playing House?”

“That’s right!” Riley’s mom confirmed “Having the time of their lives.”

“Isn’t it adorable?” Aunt Lucy insisted as the giggling began to die down. Riley was still bundled into the corner of the couch, his cheeks flushed red as he tried his hardest to make himself appear as small as possible.

“Where is Freddy hiding anyway?” Aunt Lucy asked.

“Mmmm.” Aunt Joan hastened to explain through a sip of tea “He’s just on the lawn playing catch with his Daddy.”

Riley scrambled to his feet, glad for the opportunity to escape “I’m going outside as well.”

The adults nodded their approval, but to Riley’s annoyance Bradley also stood up “Me too.”

The smaller boy jogged hurriedly out of the living room and across the kitchen to the backdoor, not wanting to be left alone with Bradley for even a second. To his relief, Uncle Bill was indeed outside in the yard - tossing a ball back and forth with Freddy.

“Hey Champ!” he greeted as he caught Freddy’s weak toss. He didn’t throw it back, instead giving a final complimentary smile to his younger son and leaving both the ball and the glove on a nearby table. “How’s school going?” he asked, putting a fatherly hand on Riley’s shoulder.

“Pretty good…” Riley replied uncertainly. He liked Uncle Bill, but he was still a little nervous about Bradley’s looming presence.

“Nice!” Uncle Bill enthused “And what about sports? Are you still going to try out for the little league team?”

Riley looked down at the ground, embarrassed “No. I’m not gonna go…”

“What? Why not?”

“I’m too small!” he said dejectedly “I wouldn’t make it anyway…”

“Nonsense!” Uncle Bill rebuked him “Listen, you can do anything that any other kid your age can. I want you to promise me that you’ll go to those tryouts.”

Riley felt strangely ashamed, even though he was still certain that he’d only end up humiliating himself “Okay…” he conceded shyly.

“Attaboy!” Uncle Bill praised “You kids gonna play some games with Riley?” he asked, turning to his sons. The two boys had been whispering conspiratourly in the corner together. Riley narrowed his eyes. That couldn’t be good. Surely they wouldn’t try anything while their dad was watching though?

“I wanna play House!” Freddy enthused. Great, Riley thought. Bradley must have told him everything. Why had he come up with such an infantile story? But he supposed there weren’t very many mature explanations for why he had been wearing a diaper at his Aunt’s wedding.

“House?” Uncle Bill asked, looking down with amusement at his youngest boy.

“Yep! We played it at the wedding! Riley’s the baby so he has to wear diapers - and I’m the big brother!”

Uncle Bill gave an amused chuckle, but not in a mean way “I had been wondering about that…”

Riley gave a sheepish look to his uncle, shrugging his shoulders as if to give the impression that he had only ever been humoring his younger cousin. Uncle Bill looked at him sympathetically.

“Can’t we just play baseball or something?” he asked, still trying to get everyone’s mind off the wedding. “Or just throw some balls?”

“Well.” Bill interrupted, giving a last tousle of Riley’s hair as he made his way back towards the back door “It sounds like you kids have a lot of good ideas.”

“You’re leaving?” Riley asked, sounding more than a little bit betrayed.

“I’m only going inside.” he reassured “Need to catch up with your mom and Aunt Lucy.”

“But…” Riley began, but his uncle had already left, closing the door. He turned around slowly, seeing Bradley sauntering ominously towards him.

“So…” the larger boy smirked, “House?”

“Come on, Bradley - don’t.” Riley tried to reason, backing slowly away. The larger boy lunged forward, grabbing hold of his hand and making a gesture at his brother. Freddy nodded obediently, running towards the house. “No!” Riley objected more desperately, trying to get free - but it was impossible “What are you doing?”

“Time to get Ry-Ry ready!” Bradley sang, grabbing the scruff of his neck and yanking at his collar to pull the t-shirt roughly off from over his head.

“Stop!” Riley insisted, but Bradley wasn’t listening. He poked invasively at the boy’s exposed belly button.

“Fussy as always, huh?” he smirked, “Lie down, baby.”

“No!” Riley spat, hating how much all of his protests sounded indistinguishable from those of a real little kid.

“Riley.” Bradley said gravely “Lie down. I’m not going to ask again.”

“Or what?” the smaller boy challenged, feeling a strange rush of courageous defiance.

“I’ll make you.” Bradley explained. “We both know I can. Maybe I’ll punish you as well.”

“P...punish?”

“That’s right. It’s going to be a little while before Freddy comes back with those diapers. Maybe you can have a little romp around the garden - naked.”

“No way…” Riley said doubtfully. He wouldn’t, would he?”

“No?” Bradley continued, amused. “What about a bare-bottom spanking instead then? Since you’re so set on being naughty.”

Riley let out a pained howl. He wanted more than anything else to just run - but he couldn’t, Bradley still holding him tightly by the hand.

“What’s it going to be Riley?” Bradley cooed, his calm sing-song voice somehow even more terrifying than his stern chidings. With no other options, Bradley collapsed onto his bottom - breathing deeply in and out.

“Good boy.” Bradley praised, pushing his back onto the grass. The larger boy slipped off his shoes and socks before he slowly began to thread his jeans off of his legs. Riley cringed as he felt the cool air against his thighs, already knowing what was next. However, to his surprise Bradley instead pulled him up into a seated position once more.

“Since you’re being so good, you can just sit in your little undies until Freddy gets back.” he instructed, tickling light at his tummy. “Hmmm, Power Rangers.” he commented, indicating his undies “That one of your favorite shows?”

Riley ignored him, adopting a glassy eyed frown and staring directly forward.

“Maybe you’re not big enough to talk yet, huh?” Bradley taunted.

The smaller boy growled, not willing to let the insult stand “Yes. I like Power Rangers. Happy?”

Bradley shrugged “Happy enough. Nothing cuter than a baby boy in his baby undies.”

Soon enough, Freddy came back outside - struggling to carry the same large backpack that Bradley had had at the wedding. Riley steeled himself as the two brothers began to unpack all of the paraphernalia - beginning by rolling out the baby blue teddy bear changing mat a few feet from where he was sitting.

“Go lie down on your changing mat, Ry-Ry.” Bradley commanded, but Riley ignored him. “Ry-Ry…” he repeated sternly “Remember what I said about being a good boy?”

Letting out a disgruntled harumph, Riley went to get his feet - but Bradley instantly pushed him back down again. “Nu-uh, baby. Crawl.”

Riley tried to object “But I-”

Bradley only had to raise an eyebrow to cut him off. He supposed it wasn’t so much of a big deal compared to what they all knew was coming. He let out a few high pitched grunts of efforts as he shuffled awkwardly across the grass, eventually collapsing down supine on top of the changing mat. To his annoyance, he saw that a few grass stains had formed on his hands and knees. .

“Let’s get the baby changed.” Bradley narrated.

Riley firmly closed his eyes, trying to pretend he was somewhere else. He didn’t even try to resist as he felt his underpants swiped off from around his ankles before his legs were raised into the air -  the familiar crinkly soft material making contact with his butt. He heard the tapes being secured before he dared to open his eyes again, looking down to see a little cartoon girraffe smiling up from the pastel green papery cloth fastened over his crotch.

“All done!” Bradley intoned, grabbing Riley by the hands and pulling him unsteadily to his feet. He felt the wind rustle through his bare legs, feeling very exposed.

“Can I have my clothes back?” he asked, looking around for where they had gone. Since they were nowhere to be found, he supposed that Bradley must have stored them in the backpack that was sitting atop the table.

“Don’t think so, buddy.” Bradley “Those are big boy clothes, but you’re not a big boy are you?”

Riley gave an outraged snort “So I’m meant to just run around out in here in nothing but a diaper? Like some idiotic toddler?”

Bradley laughed “Sounds like you’re getting it, buddy.”

The smaller boy groaned. He really shouldn’t have said that. Just then, he felt a pair of hands come around from behind - starting to tickle incessantly on his bare tummy. He jumped back in surprise - but only managed to fall over onto the grass again. Freddy jumped on top of him as he tried unsuccessfully to kick the younger boy away, tickling all around his legs, feet, chest, arms, and belly.

“Sto-oh-ohp!” he cried through reels of involuntary giggles, but the younger boy just wouldn’t let up. After what felt like an eternity, Bradley finally intervened.

“You might wanna stop, Freddy. Last time I tickled him, he peed his diaper.”

The boy finally ceased, flinching back in disgust  “Gross!”

Bradley just laughed, “It’s why he wears them.”

Riley writhed around on the floor for a little before he finally managed to find his way to his feet, staring indignantly at the pair of brothers as his tousled hair blew in the wind.  He looked down at the diaper still taped securely around his waist - actually surprised that the tabs had managed to stay attached through the whole incident.

“So.” Bradley said, taking control once more “Why don’t we play some baseball?”

“Baseball?” Riley asked suspiciously, thinking the activity far more mature for Bradley’s usual schemes.

“Sure - you wanted to play earlier, right?”

“Not like this.” he moaned.

“What difference does it make?” Bradley said nonchalantly. Riley harrumphed. That was easy for him to say.

“Fine. But I wanna bat first.”

“Sure thing, bud.” Bradley conceded. “Let me just get the stuff out of the shed.”

Bradley pushed Riley down firmly back onto the grass, instructing him to stay put before he walked off towards the shed. As soon as he was out of sight Riley briefly considered sprinting back into the house, but as soon as he got to his feet Freddy grabbed his hand - signaling for him to sit down once more.

“Don’t be a naughty baby.” he smirked, sounding just like his brother.

Riley considered that he might have been able to break free from the six-year-old’s grip, but instead he simply sat back. It wasn’t like he was going to achieve anything by running away in any event. What was he going to do, tell the adults? As far as they were concerned, he was just playing another game of House.

Bradley soon returned, but instead of a regular bat he seemed to be carrying something much more colorful. Riley squinted as the boy got closer, making out a small plastic yellow batt and an accompanying red and blue plastic tee. It seemed that Bradley had dug out some old toddler tee-ball set. Of course, Riley thought. There had never been any chance that Bradley was going to let him play a regular game. Where was the fun in that? The larger boy started to set up the tee on the ground, waving the yellow plastic bat enticingly back and forth.

“Here ya go, Ry-Ry.” he smiled, pulling him to his feet with his free hand “The perfect bat for a baby boy.”

“I don’t wanna play.” Riley said stubbornly. There was no way he was going to humiliate himself like this.

“Oh?” Bradley smiled, “Not big enough for baseball, huh?” He dropped the bat and kneeled down, grabbing Riley’s arm with one hand and making for the tabs of his diaper with the other “No worries.” He continued, “You can just run around in your birthday suit instead.”

Riley’s eyes widened as Bradley ripped off one of the tabs “No!” he screamed, putting a protective hand against his diaper. “I’ll play! I’ll play!”

Bradley chuckled, re-securing the fastening. “There’s my good boy.”

Soon the game was all set up, both Bradley and Freddy putting on their gloves and walking off to opposite ends of the lawn. Riley tried to look as mature as possible, adopting a stern expression and intimidating stance - but it was a difficult task when he was standing in front of a toddler’s plastic tee-ball set in nothing but a diaper.

I'll show them he thought, bringing the bat back over his shoulder. He intended to hit the ball so hard that it went way over both of their heads and right over the fence. As he swung with all his might however, he was surprised by the extreme light weight of the plastic bat. Instead of making contact with the ball, his swing was wildly off target - flying freely over the top of the tee and putting him dangerously off balance. Riley collapsed onto his knees, jostling the tee on his way down and causing the ball to fall painfully on top of his head.

His cheeks flushed red as he heard both boys let out a few cruel titters, but as he twisted around, he was even more embarrassed to see the adults crowded around by the back door  watching the scene with amusement. Even worse, Aunt Lucy seemed to be holding a camera.

He tried desperately to explain himself as he stumbled to his feet  “I was just-”

“Playing house?” his mother interrupted, smiling down at him. He could only gape, dropping his plastic bat and bashfully going to cover up his diaper with his hands.

“Don’t be shy, honey.” Aunt Lucy encouraged, snapping a few more shots “Just keep playing!”

Riley groaned, collapsing back down onto the grass in shame as he heard the clicking of the camera. He was never going to live this down.