The one good thing about living in the crappy town was that I didn't have to help put groceries away or carry them inside. Once we got home, mom let me go inside and play. Maybe it wasn't all bad.

Dad kissed the top of my head as he walked by. He stopped on the other side of the couch and rested his chin on his arms beside my face. "What are you watching?"

I rolled my eyes, pointing to the TV with the remote. "TV."

He nudged my shoulder with his elbow. "I know that. But what are you watching?"

One of the rules I hated about the town, aside from wearing a diaper all the time, was the parental controls on the TV. I wasn't allowed to watch anything interesting unless mom or dad unlocked it and I knew they wouldn't do that.

"The PowerPuff Girls."

"Now you can't tell me you don't like it here if you get to watch this all day."

"I still don't, dad."

He walked around the couch and sat down beside me. He put his arm on the back of the couch. "Come here."

I looked at him hesitantly. "Am I in trouble?"

He smiled. "Why do you always think you're in trouble?"

"Because it feels that way all the time."

He rolled his eyes and pulled me onto his lap. "You're not in trouble all the time."

"You're not at school with me."

"What happens at school?"

"Lunch is ready!" Mom called from the kitchen.

I grinned at dad as I got to my feet. "Saved by the bell."

"We're not done talking about this, Lyla."

---

Mom rubbed the loofah over my back, holding my hair aside. "Are you nervous about going to a new class tomorrow?"

I pulled a large pile of bubbles close to me and covered my chest with them. I'd gotten used to mom bathing me every night but that didn't mean I liked being naked around her.

"What if I can't make any friends?"

"You're a good person, Lyla. You're funny and kind and they would be lucky to have a friend like you."

I bit my lip. "But... what if no one wants to play with me?"

"That says more about them than about you." She reached past me and lifted the plug, releasing the water.

I stood up and let her rinse the soap off of me before she wrapped a towel around me. "Can I stay up a little bit longer?"

"I don't want you to be tired in the morning for school. You need to get a good night's sleep."

I frowned. I hated having to go to bed so early. It was bad enough I didn't get to watch TV or listen to music like I used to. It felt like every advantage of growing up was being taken away from me.

She dried me off then pulled a purple nightgown over my head. "Get a clean diaper out for me while I clean up in here."

I walked back into my room and to the dresser. I ran my fingers over the wood surface, my brows furrowed. I wanted to be happy with our new life. I wanted to be comfortable acting like a baby and fit in with everyone. But something about the town and the rules didn't sit right with me. I couldn't just pretend that something weird wasn't going on.

I opened the top drawer and pulled a white diaper from the many that were neatly stacked inside. It was soft in my hand, delicate even. But it was wrong and I couldn't deny that or pretend it wasn't.

I walked over to the changing mat and sat down just as mom came out of the bathroom. She knelt down in front of me to put the clean diaper on me.

"Your dad and I just want you to be happy, sweetie."

I frowned and turned my head. She said she wanted me to be happy yet she wasn't doing anything to make me happy. She thought that toys and a play set were going to cheer me up but none of that was going to help me be any more comfortable in town. The baby stuff wasn't doing me any good.

She patted my knee and gave me a smile after taping my diaper shut. "Go get into bed."

I climbed into my bed and pulled my blankets up to my chin. I glanced at the baby doll lying at the foot end of my bed but made no movement to get it. I didn't need it nor did I want it. I could sleep just fine without it.

Mom kissed my cheek. "Good night, sweetie."

I hid my face in my pillow, wishing mom would just go away. I just wanted to be alone.