Eager Beaver

Epilogue

The last few days before the new year I mostly spent at home. Dad had been on the phone constantly chattering away about needing additional support from the office back in California. Mom has gone full swing on preparing for Cub Scouts. I wasn't sure why, but I think she was worried about Alex's Dad running the show. I'd mostly spent the last few days playing with my gifts from Christmas and setting up my tablet just the way I like. It had games, movies and I even installed the app for my school.

I kept texting Zach. He was the only other person I knew my age with a cell phone. I was pretty sure he was ignoring me. I couldn't really blame him to be honest. I once again refreshed the texting page to see all the bubbles with the messages I had sent. He hadn't replied since the day of Swim Up.

It was finally New Year's Eve. Charlie's Mom and Alex's Dad had planned a big party at their house and all the Cubs and Beavers were invited, as well as all the parents.. I was a little nervous about it. I hadn't stayed up until midnight for ages, and even on weekends the latest I managed was about nine o'clock. With Mom's new bedtime routine, I always found myself yawning and my eyelids drooping as soon as the clock struck seven. Honestly, it kinda made me feel like a baby.

That was the other thing. Mom was making me wear these stupid new pull-ups to bed! After the storm at Christmas, Mom and I had gone to the store only to discover the place had been completely cleared out. The only options that remained were far from ideal.

"Cooper, you need to pick one already." Mom had told me.

"These are for babies!" I'd objected loudly, drawing more than a few looks. I went bright red, dropping into an embarrassed hiss. "Pull-ups are for little kids who aren't even potty trained. I only need them at night!" I told her and looked longingly at the empty shelves. What had happened to all the plain ones?

"Look, there isn't much choice." Mom said holding up a blue package with Buzz Lightyear on it. "It's either these or the pink ones." She nodded towards a pink package with Ariel from The Little Mermaid on it.

Obviously, I'd decided to go with the Toy Story pull-ups - but I wasn't happy about it. I wet the bed every single night with them on, and I ended up sleeping with Mom and Dad in their room. Dad had made a comment that when school returned I'd have to stay in my own bed, and that it was just for the holidays, Mom just glared at him when he brought it up.

The real issue was with tonight, though. We were going to be at someone else's house all evening, and as ridiculous as it was, Mom had been convinced that some extra precautions were necessary.

"No one will be able to tell." She assured me as she took out the babyish package from its hiding place at the back of my closet, placing it on top of my dresser.

"They'll know, they always know." I told her, mustering the deepest poutiest scowl I could. "It's not like we're staying the night. And I'm not going to pee my pants while I'm awake!"

"I know sweetie, but it's just in case." She insisted. "I know you. You get tired early. Would you rather you accidentally fall asleep, make a mess of your pants, and have everyone think that you did have an accident like that?"

"They all know I'm eleven now... It's embarrassing." I tried to explain to her.

"It's not such a big deal. I thought all your friends knew about your accidents anyway?" Mom tried to explain.

"Mommy!" I spat at her. I mean - she was right - but the way she had said it so matter of factly made me so much more embarrassed. Like me rocking up to the party in toddler's training pants was to be expected.

"Sorry Cooper. But make sure you wear them - you're old enough that I don't need to check." She told me and started to select my outfit from the closet. She paused thoughtfully. "If you want you can just wear your pajamas to the party - some of the other kids might do that."