Joey's Pacifier

Chapter Description: Joey has to go out to the mall. No matter how much he wants to hide from the world, it seems that the world demands to see him. After an embarrassing trip into a store, it's time for an unexpected stop.

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The drive was humiliating. Joey had no way of hiding himself from people who might look in the window and see what he was sitting on. The way the car seat curved underneath him, it seemed to thrust his crotch up and make his padded underwear that much more obvious. He spent most of the journey trying to hide his face whilst also peeking out between his fingers to see if he could see anyone he knew. As usual, Fran seemed either unaware or unmoved by his plight.

At a red light, not far from the mall parking lot, Joey let go and wet his diaper. The warm liquid splashing over his crotch and into the thirsty padding. He felt like such a baby. Sat in an overgrown car seat and wetting himself pathetically. He glanced sideways at his baby brother who seemed completely unconcerned about anything that was happening. Joey found himself feeling jealous of Lucas. What he wouldn’t have given to have that same uncaring nonchalance about the world around him…

Fran drove into the multistorey car park and soon found a space. She parked in a family bay near the main entrance. Joey cringed at how many people were walking past the car, he wanted to hide but the straps on his chair kept him firmly in place.

“Right, just a moment.” Fran said as she stepped out of the car and closed the door behind her.

“Hurry…” Joey whined to himself.

Joey thought his mom was going to go straight to the backseat to let him out of the oversized booster that he was sitting on, instead, she went to the trunk of the car and opened it. Joey kept his eyes away from the windows and tried to ignore the people that were double taking when they glanced in.

When Fran reappeared next to Joey’s door, it was with a stroller unfolded. For a horrifying second Joey feared it was going to be for him, but then he realised that, unlike the car seat, the stroller was normal sized. It was for Lucas. The relief almost made him forget what a horrible position he was in for a few seconds. Then the door opened, and Fran leaned in.

“Can I just wait here?” Joey asked plaintively.

“Absolutely not.” Fran replied as she reached behind the seat for a release button to the straps, “I’m not going to leave my baby in a car unattended!”

Joey let his head fall back so that it hit the rigid rear of the seat. When he felt the straps loosen, he was only too happy to jump out of the car. He was worried that people might see his diaper, but they would definitely notice him sitting in that seat.

“Stay there.” Fran said. She took Joey’s hand and placed it on the metal just below one of the stroller’s handles, “And keep hold of that.”

Joey looked away. He was so embarrassed. He hated the idea that people were seeing him be directed like a toddler, as if he might wander off if left alone for a second. If he hadn’t been so worried about causing a scene, he would’ve said as much to his mother. He knew Fran wouldn’t have had any problem telling him off if he spoke out of line.

Fran got Lucas out of the car and the youngest brother was soon sat in the stroller. Joey kept hold of the handle, just like he was told, and as they walked into the mall, he made sure not to let go despite his brain telling him to do so. He wished more than anything that there was a quiet corner or small room that he could go and hide in forever.

“Why are we here anyway?” Joey asked.

“We need to do some shopping.” Fran replied, “We need some diapers for you and some pull-ups for Lucas, I think he’s getting close to big boy pants.”

Just like every time his mother was indiscreet about his diapers, Joey looked around for anyone who might’ve been eavesdropping. Thankfully the general noise of the mall and everyone being there for their own reasons meant no one noticed. He still wished his mother could show more discretion. He was so anxious about being overheard that it took him a few seconds to take in that Lucas was going to be potty training at the same time his own toilet privileges had been revoked. It was a humiliating thing to have to face as an eighteen-year-old.

“Then we need to go to the hairdressers.” Fran continued. As she spoke, she leaned forwards and ruffled Lucas’s hair causing him to look up at her indignantly.

“Great…” Joey sighed. He knew from past experience that Lucas’s haircuts could take a while, especially if the place was busy.

The stroller moved through the crowds towards a specialist baby store near the back of the mall. It had a large shop window which always seemed to have at least a few little kids looking in. Joey had to admit that the panorama they had made with specially crafted toys, and a model train set was pretty cool.

The inside of the store was much quieter than the rest of the mall. There didn’t seem to be many customers, and those that were there were all with young children of various ages. It was an impressive store. They seemed to sell pretty much everything a parent would need, and whilst it focused on babies they still had plenty of stock for children that were a little older, though nothing that would interest someone Joey’s age.

Fran wheeled them past a few clothing displays and made sure to keep the stroller away from the toy section. Joey knew that if Lucas saw all the colourful bits of plastic there, he would cause a fuss until they left with something. On the right-hand side of the store were the shelves for diapers. They really catered for every option here as well, from bulky cloth diapers to small incontinence slips and everything in between. To Joey’s embarrassment they even had diapers that would fit him.

“I think we’ll get three packs.” Fran said as she lifted one pack up, “That should be enough for a little while. Damn, I should’ve got a cart. Joey, I’m going to need you to hold one of them.”

“Me!?” Joey’s face was burning a bright red. He continued in a whisper, “But, Mommy, people will know they are for me!”

“And?” Fran raised her eyebrows, “There are plenty of little boys and girls your age who wear diapers.”

“I’m eighteen…” Joey said. A light green rectangular packet was being thrust into his hands. He took it with the one that wasn’t holding on to the stroller.

“And down here we have the pull-ups.” Fran moved around to stand in front of the stroller, “Ooh, look, Lucas! They’ve got ones with that puppy show you like!”

Fran picked up a colourful packet of pull-ups and held them up for Lucas to see. Alongside the pictures of the cartoon dogs was a child, about Lucas’s age, sitting on a potty with one of the pull-ups around his ankles and smiling.

“Don’t wan ‘em!” Lucas said sulkily.

“Why not?” Fran asked.

“Want diapers!” Lucas folded his arms across his chest and pouted.

“Sweetie, we talked about this.” Fran said patiently, “When you’re a big boy you get to wear big boy pants like these.”

“Joey doesn’t!” Lucas fired back.

Joey couldn’t help feeling a sense of schadenfreude despite his position. It was true. Right there and then, Joey was evidence that not all big boys wore big boy pants, Fran had said so herself. Had she known Lucas was listening she might’ve chosen her words more carefully. Joey’s smile didn’t last long though, not when he saw a young mother with a baby clutched to her chest looking at the diapers he was holding.

“Well, that’s because…” Fran paused. It seemed like she was trying to think of the best counter to Lucas’s argument, “Well, that’s because Joey isn’t a big boy.”

Joey’s eyes went wide, and he turned an even deeper shade of red. It wasn’t long ago that he would’ve argued the point, but after the events on his last day at school and since, he didn’t really feel like he could make that argument. He swallowed down the shame that threatened to choke him. It always felt, in moments like that one, that the diaper he was wearing seemed to double in size.

“But… he’s big.” Lucas said with a confused voice.

“He’s wearing diapers, sweetie.” Fran said. She shook her head, “He’s not big.”

Whilst Lucas thought over their mother’s logic, Joey hung his head in shame. He wished he hadn’t left the pacifier in the car. He was in public, but he was so desperate for relief it may not have mattered. Besides, at that point, he felt like a little kid.

Lucas eventually assented and he was given a packet to hold. The stroller was wheeled to the checkout, and Joey sheepishly placed the disposables that he would one day be wearing on to the counter. They were bagged up and paid for, and Joey carried a large plastic bag with a couple of the packets of diapers out of the store. He was very grateful the bag’s plastic wasn’t see-through.

“OK, haircut next.” Fran said, “Just down here.”

The stroller rolled back towards the front of the store. Joey looked through the window as soon as they drew level with the hairdressers and was glad to see that there were empty seats, it meant they wouldn’t have long to wait for Lucas. They went inside and up to the reception desk.

“Hello, appointment for two.” Fran said the young woman at the computer.

Joey frowned. It was still the morning. If the appointment was for two o’clock then they were several hours early. The woman typed into the computer, confirmed names, and then pointed at an empty chair in front of a mirror.

“If you would like to take those two.” The woman said, “Someone will be with you shortly.”

Once in front of the mirrors, Fran undid the straps on the stroller and lifted Lucas out. There were two chairs in front of them, and he was sat on the one that had the booster seat so he could see into the mirror. Joey remained behind, attached by one hand to the stroller.

“Joey.” Fran said as she pointed at the other seat.

“Me?” Joey said.

“Yes.” Fran replied, “You’re getting a cut as well.”

Joey didn’t understand. It hadn’t been too long since he’d had his hair styled and trimmed. It was a little long but not anywhere near the time that he would consider a haircut necessary. He slowly let go of the stroller, his palm felt clammy after it had been wrapped around the metal for so long. He placed the bag he was carrying in the seat and then slowly and suspiciously stepped forwards.

“I don’t need a haircut.” Joey said. Though he still did as he was told and sat down in the seat.

“I don’t think that look suits you.” Fran replied, “Now wait there. Hopefully we won’t have to wait too long.”

Every time Joey had a decision made for him it was a jarring feeling. No matter how long he spent in his state of second babyhood he wasn’t used to just not getting a say in anything that happened to him. He looked at himself in the mirror and waited. He started to wonder if he should stop thinking about things, he was someone who usually thought about everything TOO much. He’d grown used to going as far as overthinking everything, but there was a certain appeal to just turning his brain off. Why stress himself any more than he had to?

Joey was still staring at himself in the mirror and thinking when one of the hairdressers approached the three of them. Before the young woman managed to reach her two customers, she was intercepted by Fran who started talking to her quietly. All Joey could use to judge how things were going was the woman’s eyes. He saw confusion, then a frown and finally a little amusement as she nodded her head.

“Alright, who am I doing first?” The hairdresser asked.

“Me!” Lucas demanded. He was clearly getting bored and wanted to get back home as soon as possible.

“Well, alright then!” The hairdresser laughed, “My name is Dana, OK? If you need me to stop or anything, just let me know.”

Joey was looking across to Lucas in his chair. He saw Dana smile and then turn to look at him; her smile seemed to become just that much more amused. Joey had no idea what she found so funny, he really hoped his mom hadn’t revealed some embarrassing information to her.

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If you enjoyed this update and want to see what happens next without waiting you can find part two posted at the following links:

https://reamstories.com/page/lpjgftb4y2/story/ms1lat8c054a4d/chapter/mw7vzwl9a7689113

https://subscribestar.art/posts/2776822