A Return to Diapers - Chapter II

Chapter Two

Jake had had these stressful dreams that made him wake up every night at around two in the morning. He would just go down to the kitchen, drink a bit of water, and try to go back to sleep. It would’ve never crossed his mind that his brother, Michael, knew about it. After all, he was the strong older brother, and nothing could break him. But the pressure in life was becoming unbearable, and he truly just wanted to relax and enjoy his youth. He couldn’t admit it to anyone. Not to his family; his mother idolized him, and so did his brothers. His father was distant and not very emotional. His best friends were just fun-loving people, and his girlfriend was superficial and unavailable.

It was okay, he could take it. He could take it and stay on his feet.

That night when he went down for some water, he was met with a surprise. It was Michael, sitting in dad’s favorite chair.

“Everything okay?” asked Michael.

Jake nodded.

“What about you?”

Michael nodded, “Just couldn’t sleep.”

“Same.”

“I actually just started meditating.I think it’s helping.”

“It doesn’t look that way.”

“I literally just started tonight. You should try it. It’s a guided meditation.”

“Not a big yoga or vegan or soy fan.”

Michael chuckled, standing up “You kinda look like one. Hey, use it or not. I think it can help.”

He handed his phone to his brother.

“Just listen to it for a bit. If you don’t think it can help, okay.”

Jake thought about it. Michael was never one to do anything for anyone, but maybe he was finally ready to be a productive part of the family. No more resentment.

“Alright. I’ll try.”

“Good.”

Jake sat, put on the earbuds, and began listening to the guided meditation. He didn’t know how or when, but the next thing he remembered, he was waking up in the morning in his own bed. But something was odd. He was sucking his own thumb, and as soon as he realized it, he stopped.

The meditation seemed to have worked. He felt energetic, revitalized, and ready for anything. So, what if the side effect was sucking his thumb? It wasn’t the worst thing ever. Nobody needed to know.

“How was it?” asked Michael as Jake reached the dining room.

“Good. Surprisingly good.”

“That’s great, bro. Are you gonna try again?”

Jake nodded.

‘Try what again?” asked Robb.

“Just some app,” said Jake.

“Can I try?”

“No. It’s not for kids,” said Michael.

“You are a kid,” said Robb.

They chuckled.

The rest of the week went by as usual, but for one little strange detail. Every time Jake found himself bored or unfocused, his mouth began looking for his thumb, and it would find it most of the time.

“Are you sucking your thumb?” asked Monica.

“What? No.”

She was one of those popular girls that were too smart and too pretty to be real. Blonde, big breasts, sexy lips, stunning would describe her better. A bit of a bully, but it didn’t bother him. She was mean and raw, but she was honest.

“Don’t be gross. you’ve been acting strange lately,” she said.

“It’s just stress.”

“Aha.”

“Hey. It’s okay. I’ll deal with it. What are we doing next week?”

“I wanna go to the beach. The girls are going, and also Leonard and Diego.”

“They told me.”

“We are going. Don’t suck your thumb there, I don’t want to be embarrassed in front of my friends.”

He nodded, “Don’t worry.”

But he was worrying. It happened so many times he was actually beginning to worry that the meditation had done something to fuck up with his brain. But it felt so nice to finally sleep properly after so long. Maybe he needed to try other meditations and not the one Michael had given him.

That night, he tried again with another guided meditation. This time, however, he couldn’t settle or sleep.

“You can keep trying with mine,” said Michael.

“Yeah, but. You know. The side effects.”

“What?”

“Don’t play dumb with me.”

“I truly have no clue of what you are talking about.”

“Never mind. Do you have any other guided mediation that works?”

Michael smiled, “I have plenty. I’ll give you another tonight”

“Thanks.”

The next step of his plan was about to begin, and he was too excited to think about anything else. The next step was going to be a lot more fun. It would be the time to break his brother and remake him into the perfect dumb baby boy. His humiliation would just help to push that image further, until he himself would be the one begging to be kept in diapers.