Gap Year - Chapter 8 (Patreon)

Where had the time gone? That was the question first and foremost on Danielle's mind as she sat next to her parents, squirming in her soggy diaper, watching her baby sister walk across the front of the room, smiling and waving as she took her little diploma, such as it was.

Where had the time gone since Tessa had been born? It felt like only yesterday Dani had gone to see her in the hospital for the first time, and fallen in love with her. She'd been so sweet, and innocent... And she still was, really, but, despite knowing she was far older than the girl, watching this it was hard not to think about how far she'd fallen behind her.

Where had it gone since Dani's graduation? She'd been so proud, walking across the stage... And scared, thinking about what was going to happen next. Tessa had been so proud of her, but Dani could tell she was sad, too, just like Dani was, knowing this put her one step closer to leaving the nest. Tessa had still been in diapers then, and - at least in the context of wearing them herself - they were a distance memory for Dani... How things changed...

Where had it gone since Danielle's fateful decision to join Tessa in the daycare, to take a gap year? She ought to be finishing up her second year of college now; if she hadn't done it last year, she would need to be thinking about transferring out of the local community college, moving away. Instead, she was still at daycare, still unable to re-master her potty training... If anything, it was worse than ever, as evidenced by the squelch she felt, squirming out of the way for Tessa to walk by and sit down between her and their mother.

She blushed, wiggling her bottom, nibbling her bottom lip, hoping her mom wouldn't notice. Of course, all the girl's nervous energy did was draw attention to herself, and, as soon as her mom was done giving Tessa a hug, she sniffed the air, shaking her head at Dani. "Now?" she whispered.

"S-Sorry," Danielle mumbled. There were plenty of other younger siblings around she could have blamed it on, but she knew her mother would find out the truth anyway eventually.

"Well, we're going to wait until the rest of Tessa's classmates finish," she was told. 

She nodded; she was used to staying in her poopy diapers by now. Whether she was too embarrassed to ask for a change, or had been in the middle of something when it happened that she didn't want to interrupt, the feeling was getting almost worryingly common. 

"Look, Dani!" Tessa held up her diploma proudly. It was nice, for something the daycare had made up themselves, lots of rainbows and happy baby animals, all declared that Tessa was ready for kindergarten at last. In a way, it was nicer than the one Danielle had gotten for finishing high school... At the very least, it was more colorful, and fun to look at.

"That's great, Tess," Dani hugged her. "Congratulations."

But she knew this meant the tables had turned... Now, Tessa was the one leaving her behind, instead of it being the other way around. That diploma, as unofficial as it was, in the grand scale of things, compared to Danielle's, indicated that Tessa was no longer going to be spending her days at the daycare... Of course, Dani had barely seen her since she'd moved to Miss Tori's class anyway, however, now, Tessa would be in a whole other school, and there was no chance of running into her, even on accident.

How could she have let this happen?! This was supposed to last a couple months in the summer, to spend more time with Tessa... Now, it had been a couple years, and her whole motivation for doing this had grown up and was ready for kindergarten! That really struck home, put things into perspective for Dani, as she watched the rest of the kids claim their diplomas.

She'd planned on talking to her mother about it during her diaper change, but when Miss Katie came over to congratulate Tessa, she knew right away what had happened. "Why don't you let me take care of her?" she winked at Dani's mom, taking the girl's hand. "You stay here with Tessa."

"Oh, you don't have to do that," Dani's mother insisted. "You aren't on duty now!"

"No, I don't mind," Miss Katie smiled. "You stay here and celebrate Tessa's accomplishment!"

Dani toddled away, wordlessly and obediently following beside Miss Katie, back to the old, familiar changing tables the next room over. A few of the smaller kids were there, playing, having had too much energy to sit still through the whole little ceremony, though it was far quieter than usual. Dani would have thought that would be nice, that it would feel more private, but, instead, it was kind of strange, feeling like she was just about the only one there with Miss Katie.

"S-Sorry," she told her, as she was helped up onto the table.

"No, it's okay, sweetie," Miss Katie rubbed her arm gently. "Don't worry... You'll be ready to graduate soon, too, I bet! As soon as you get your potty training under control, the rest of it will be a piece of cake!"

Of course it would; Danielle had already done the rest, years ago. She'd been potty trained then, too, but she was far more confident that she remembered her numbers and letters than she was that she could make her body remember how to control itself. "Wh-What if I don't?" she sniffed, squirming as Miss Katie untaped her diaper and started to clean her up. "Wh-What if I can't learn to use the potty?"

"Then I guess you'll stay here with me forever," Miss Katie teased, tickling her tummy. Dani knew she meant it as a joke, but, at that moment, she couldn't help wondering if it was going to turn out to be the truth.

"All better!" Miss Katie taped up the fresh diaper. "Now, let's get you a real piece of cake!" She helped Dani down, holding her hand and leading her back to the party.

The cake helped take her mind off things a little, but she was wet again before it was time to leave, and getting buckled into her seat reminded her that, as yummy as the cake was, it hadn't solved any of her problems. 

"Mom," she said, as she was being put into her night-time diaper, "I think we need to talk."

"You're right," the woman answered, to her surprise. "It's probably past time for that, really."

"Oh, good," Dani nodded, glad this wasn't going to be as tough as she'd thought. "I mean, now that Tessa is going off to a different school, it seems kind of dumb..."

"Exactly," her mom agreed. 

Danielle was relieved, though a little shocked. "You aren't mad? I-I know we said I needed to be potty trained again before I could start college, but..." 

Her mother furrowed her brow, confused, then burst out laughing. "I'm sorry," she shook her head, trying to contain herself. "I-I shouldn't laugh, I just... No, Dani, you aren't going to college! Don't be silly!"

"I-I'm not!" Dani blushed. "Wh-What are you talking about, then?"

"Danielle," her mom said, turning more serious, "your father and I have talked, and you are clearly not even close to being ready for adult responsibilities. Really, you're in the right place already, so... That's where you're going to stay."

"F-For how long?!" Dani whined.

Her mother taped the diaper into place, gave it a pat. "Get potty trained again, and we'll talk."

"Mooom!" Dani fumed, kicking her feet unhappily. "I've been trying! It's too hard!"

"Honestly, Dani," the woman shook her head. "Look at yourself! In diapers, throwing a tantrum... How could you think you're ready for college?"

"It's not a tantrum," Danielle huffed, crossing her arms.

"What's changing, Dani," her mother told her, "is that you are not going to be driving anymore. We probably should have stopped letting you do it a long time ago, but it was more convenient..." They had stopped, mostly; the only place Danielle went was to the daycare and back. "Now that Tessa is going to be going to a different school, we didn't think we could trust you to take her there, then take yourself to daycare."

"Mom, I can do it!" she insisted, partially because she didn't want to lose the freedom of her car, even if she wasn't able to fully use it, and partially out of guilt, knowing how much easier it was for her parents to get to work on time if she handled getting herself, and Tessa, to school. Now that there would two stops, it would be harder than ever for them. 

"You couldn't even make it all the way through the graduation tonight without messing yourself," her mom reminded her. "No, Dani... It is past time that we accepted the way things are. That's why we're getting you a babysitter."

"Mom, no!" Dani shrieked. It was bad enough, having to dress like this, and act like this, at home, at the daycare... There was no way she was going to let some stranger treat her like a toddler, too! "No! This is going too far! I don't need a babysitter!"

Her mother ignored her protests, expertly undressing her, getting her into her footed sleeper for the night. "She's going to fix you breakfast, get you to daycare and your sister to kindergarten, then she'll pick you both up in the afternoon after her classes are over."

"Her classes?!" Danielle had imagined some stuffy old lady... "How old is she?!" Had her mother hired someone her own age for this?!

"That doesn't matter, Dani," she was informed. "Her references are all stellar, and she seems very responsible. And you will give her the respect she deserves, young lady, because she has fully authority to punish you any way she sees fit."

"P-Punish?" Danielle's eyes widened. She'd been spanked a couple times over her diaper, and sent to the corner a few more... Neither was the end of the world, though she still wasn't fond of them, especially not of the idea of some stranger, probably around her age, doing them to her. And who knew what else the girl would do to her?!

"Just behave yourself," her mother shook her head with a chuckle, tucking Dani in, "and you won't need to be punished. I have no doubt she'll be fair... But I have to make sure you're going to do as she says."

"Mommy, please," Dani begged, sniffling, as her mom bent over, kissed her on the forehead. "I-I don't need a babysitter!"

"Just give her a chance, Dani," the woman said. "I bet if you do, you'll love her. Vivien seems very..."

"Vivien?!" Danielle gasped, sitting up. "M-Mom, you're kidding, right?"

Her mother was already halfway across the room, flipping on the night-light. "Just go to sleep, Dani," she said.

"No!" Dani groaned. "Anyone but her, Mommy!" She flopped back onto her bed as her mom ignored her, turning out the light, her stomach churning as she realized that, once morning came, her life was going to be over. How, out of everybody in this town, could her mother have chosen HER?!