👨👨👧👦 A family in diapers
Part 3: Carl invites me to his house
⚠️ This is a work of fiction
⚠️ Reproduction and distribution prohibited
Today, during recess, Carl surprises me by proposing something I didn't expect.
- Do you want to come to my house this afternoon? We could play, and I'll show you my favorite games.
I am so taken aback that it takes me a second to respond.
- Yes, of course! That would make me happy.
Since we became friends, I have never been to his house. The idea of discovering more about his life intrigues me. Carl is nice, intelligent, but sometimes remains a bit mysterious. I wonder what his house looks like, and most importantly, his family.
After school, we leave together. He doesn't live very far, about a fifteen-minute walk. On the way, he tells me a little about his brothers and sisters.
- There are four of them. I'm the second in the siblings, he explains to me. It's noisy, you'll see, but it's always like that at our house. There's Lucas, he's 17 years old, and is passionate about mechanics and motorcycles. He spends hours in the garage tinkering, fixing, or improving engines. He also loves video games, particularly racing simulations. There's also Emma, whom you already know. She loves dance and music. She often invents choreographies that she proudly presents to her family. She is also passionate about art and crafts, such as drawing or making bracelets. And finally, there's Noah who loves animals, especially dogs and horses. He collects animal figurines and loves to watch documentaries about wildlife. He also enjoys playing with Lego and building imaginary things. And my little sister, Camille, she's one year old.
- Wow, I say after listening to him without interrupting. You have a lot of brothers and sisters!
- And there's my dad, Antoine, he's a freelance architect, he mainly works from his home office. And finally, there's mom, she's a school nurse. She has a flexible schedule, which allows her to spend a lot of time with us: she loves cooking and trying new recipes. Her name is Sophie.
- It must be noisy at your house with such a big family. It doesn't bother me, I have a little sister who sings all the time.
When we arrive, his house is modest but welcoming. A sweet smell lingers in the air. As soon as we enter, a little boy runs past us, laughing. Carl catches him gently.
- Noah, say hello to Tim.
The boy stops, with a smile on his face.
- Hello!
I greet him back, amused by his energy. He must be around the same age as my sister Elena. Then I see Emma, whom I already know, sitting on a rug in the living room, playing with dolls.
- My big brother hasn't come back yet, he adds, and Camille is sleeping for now.
I nod, trying to match each name to those I've seen.
We go up to Carl's room and I discover a wonderful room. His double bed, placed against the main wall, is covered with a large midnight blue blanket sprinkled with star and constellation patterns. Above, a hanging shelf is filled with books with colorful covers, mainly fantasy novels with evocative titles: dragons, lost kingdoms, heroic quests. Some of the books, clearly often flipped through, are still lying on his pillow or on the floor, next to the bedside lamp.
In one corner of the room, there is a light wooden dresser. On top of it seems to be a small museum of his passions. A vintage globe sits there, surrounded by stones he picked up during his walks in the forest, a slightly worn brass compass, and a figurine of a knight in armor. A photo frame shows Carl and his friends on an exploration, their faces beaming with joy.
Next to the window, a large plush green rug, a bit worn in places, invites to sit or lie down with a book. A soccer ball sits in a corner, accompanied by a pair of muddy sneakers. On the desk, placed next to the window to enjoy the natural light, a notebook is opened, filled with drawings of fantastical creatures and hand-drawn imaginary maps. Nearby, pens, colored pencils, and a pot filled with decorative feathers are scattered.
The walls are adorned with posters of mysterious forests, famous football teams, and a corkboard where Carl pins postcards, photos of his discoveries, and small souvenirs. A string of fairy lights in the shape of small lanterns is hung around the window, giving the room a warm and magical atmosphere once night falls.
We start playing a board game that he introduces as his favorite. We play for a little while before I express the desire to look at his books that appeal to me. I then get up and walk around his room.
I eye his books and several interest me but I continue to tour his room. On his dresser where different objects are displayed, there is a dragon sculpture that catches my eye, so I approach it. I then see, in an open drawer, what looks like a neatly stacked pile of diapers. I wonder who they belong to, but I decide not to say anything. It's not my business. Yet, now that I think about it, downstairs, near the changing table in the living room, I had already seen diapers. While playing, I can't help but glance at these diapers. If they are in his room, are they not for him?
After thirty minutes, his mom calls us for a snack. We go down to the kitchen, where everyone is gathered. Camille, the baby, is in a high chair, and Emma and Noah are already at the table.
The kitchen is lively, filled with laughter and tears. Their mom finishes preparing sandwiches while their dad pours glasses of juice. Camille, the baby, gurgles happily in her high chair.
- Ah, Tim! It's a pleasure to meet you, says their mom with a warm smile. Carl has told us about you.
- Hello, ma'am, hello sir, I reply timidly.
We sit around the table, and the atmosphere is light and joyful. They ask me questions, and I answer while observing them.
Noah tells a preschool anecdote, while Emma sings a nursery rhyme, exactly like my little sister would. I eat in silence, watching this family so different from mine. They are so close-knit, so open with each other, that it fascinates me.
But, amidst all this, I notice something intriguing: their mom then goes behind Emma and Noah. She slightly lifts Emma's skirt and Noah's shirt, as if it were the most normal thing in the world.
I tense up a bit, not sure where to look, but no one seems embarrassed.
- Everything is fine for both of you, remarks their mom with a satisfied smile. And you, Carl?
- I'm good, he replied.
Their dad chuckles softly.
- As usual, you're always on the ball, he says, grabbing a sandwich.
That's when I understand: Emma wears a diaper, I just saw it under her skirt as she bent down. Noah too, I see him raise his arms to grab a toy from the kitchen buffet. I am surprised, but I pretend not to see anything.
Carl seems to notice my curious gaze.
- Are you okay? he asks me softly.
- Yes, yes, everything's fine, I reply with a smile.
I feel that something here is different, but I don't want to judge or ask questions too quickly.
After the snack, as we return to his room, Carl stops on the stairs and turns to me.
- Tim, I saw that you noticed some things. You're probably wondering why Emma and Noah wear diapers, right?
I am taken aback.
- Uhm... a bit, I admit. But I didn't want to make you uncomfortable.
Carl smiles.
- It doesn't bother me. In fact, in my family, it's normal. Some of us wear them because they need to, like Noah or Camille, and others because they like it or find it convenient.
I blink my eyes, surprised by his response.
- Seriously?
- Yes. In our house, we do not judge. We do what suits us. My parents are very open about this, and they just want us to feel good.
I stay silent for a moment, reflecting on his words. I did not expect that, but I can see that everything is done in a caring atmosphere. Carl does not seem uncomfortable talking about it, and it puts me at ease.
- That's... cool, I finally say. I mean, it's good that you can be yourselves, without anyone criticizing you.
Carl nods.
- Thank you. Many people would not understand, but I'm glad that you are different.
I smile.
- Don't worry, Carl. I'm your friend, and I think it's great that you guys are so close.
Since I arrived at Carl's, I can't help but think about what he told me. His whole family seems to live with this particular dynamic around diapers, and I don't understand everything. It's not that it bothers me, but I'm intrigued. And then, a question has been on my mind for a while now: does Carl himself sometimes wear them?
We are in his room, doing our homework. Carl is focused on a math exercise, but I notice that he suddenly gets up.
- Wait, I'll be right back. I'll be gone five minutes, he says before leaving the room.
I nod, without asking any questions. But as soon as he closes the door, my mind races. Where is he going? Why did he leave like that, in the middle of our exercise?
When Carl returns, he is wearing a gray jogging suit that falls slightly on his hips. I immediately notice something different. Under the fabric, there is a slight shape, a bit inflated. My gaze is drawn despite myself, and Carl notices it right away.
- Yes, you saw correctly, he says with a calm smile.
- Saw what? I reply, a little taken aback.
- That I wear a diaper now, he admits sitting on the floor.
I don't know what to say. It's not really a surprise, but hearing him say it affects me.
- Do you wear them often? I finally ask.
- Not all the time, but I like it. It makes me feel more relaxed. And as I told you, in my family, it's normal.
I nod, once again struck by the atmosphere of caring that seems to prevail at his place. Carl is so natural, so comfortable with it, that I can only be impressed.
- Okay, I understand, I simply say. That's why there are diapers in your room then.
- Exactly, those are my nighttime diapers.
I can't believe what Carl is telling me. So he also wears diapers at night in addition to those he wears during the day.
He smiles and picks up his pen.
- Come on, let's finish this exercise.
We continue our homework as if nothing had happened, but in my head, questions are swirling. This family is truly unique, and I still wonder how all this works for them. Strangely, I feel good here. Different, but good.
Back to story 👨👨👧👦 A family in diapers