Back to School Buddies - Part Three Raindrops glistened in the early-morning summer sunlight on the smallest bedroom window in a neo-eclectic suburban house in the town of Wedgewood. A six-year old white bunny with thick red headfur, blue eyes and brown feet watched as a couple of the raindrops ran down the window, the breath from his open mouth fogging up the lower pane. He fidgeted, flexing his legs. As he did so a loud crinkling sound came from the heavily soaked diaper secured around his waist, which wobbled clumsily. Nearby on the floor, a ten-year old fox cub stirred and rolled over to face the little bunny boy, pushing the sleeping bag off of him he rose to his feet and smiled warmly. "You okay, Robby?" asked the fox, joining the little bunny by the window and opening his arms for Robby to give him a cuddle. Robby smiled back and waddled the short distance over to the older fox, sinking into his embrace and sobbing a little. "I... I want my mommy," Robby sniffled, his eye pupils growing and his ears drooping a little. "I... I'm sorry, Friendly," Friendly comforted the little bunny as best he could, cuddling him and speaking softly. "It's okay Robby, nobody's going to make fun of you. Do you... do you want your diaper changed?" Robby looked up at Friendly with his mouth open slightly, he stammered a little but closed his mouth and nodded, slowly. Just then, in the bed over by the bookcase another stir came from a five-year old raccoon. Friendly and Robby went over to the bed, the fox gently pulling the duvet off of the little raccoon. "Looks like Timothy needs a change too." Friendly remarked in his soft voice to Robby, gently pointing to the raccoon's soaked red Lightning McQueen pull-ups, which squished noticeably too as Timothy emerged from the covers and set his feet down on the floor. Timothy's Mom stepped into the room, and chuckled softly as she saw the three boys already awake. "Looks like a couple of bedwetters need their diapers changed," she commented and beckoned Robby and Timothy over to the corner, where several packs of Lightning McQueen pull-ups and a pack of thick, plain white plastic diapers sat alongside a box of wipes. Friendly watched as Timothy and Robby stood beside each other, and Timothy's Mom fetched a new pull-up for him to change into. Helping him to pull down the soaked pull-ups and removing them from his feet, she then wiped him down and pulled a new pull-up onto him. Then it was Robby's turn. Plucking up the courage, Friendly opened his mouth and stood next to Timothy's mom. "Can I help?" he asked, "I'd really like to..." Timothy's Mom looked blankly at the fox, but smiled and gave him a thick white diaper. "Here, hold this for me while I help Robby," "C...can I have a go?" Friendly asked. "Are you okay with Friendly changing your diaper, Robby?" Robby blushed heavily and hid his face behind his ears, but he peeked out once and nodded his head quickly. "Okay then... come on Friendly. First you want to undo these tapes, be careful otherwise his diaper will-" *THUMP* "Ooops..." Friendly chuckled, as Robby's heavily soaked diaper fell from his waist to the floor. "It's alright, Friendly. Now you gotta give him a wipe down with this..." Friendly obliged, gently rubbing Robby's front with the wet wipe - though Robby batted his legs and kept hiding his face behind his ears, squirming as Friendly did his best to clean him up. "Turn around Robby, so Friendly can finish," said Timothy's Mom. Robby blushed even more but turned around, so his bottom was facing Friendly. The fox wasted no time in gently wiping down the little bunny's round bottom and then put the wipe into the soaked diaper. "All done Robby," Friendly said softly, "Now what do we do?" "Robby, can you lay down on your back? It'll make it easier to put your new diaper on," The little bunny squirmed, but did as he was told, still blushing and hiding his face behind his brown-tipped ears. Timothy's mom lifted him up slightly and slid the new diaper underneath Robby. "Would you like to do this part too, Friendly?" she asked. Friendly nodded and knelt down in front of Robby, watching as Timothy's mom explained and showed him how to secure Robby's new diaper on him. Friendly pulled gently on the wings until they would come no further, and secured the tapes to the front of the thick white diaper. "All done Robby," Timothy's mom said to the little white bunny, who quickly rose to his feet and cuddled the fox. "Th..thank you! I feel so much better now," "Let's get you dressed, Robby. Then we can go out to play," Friendly answered, promptly fetching the little bunny's green shirt and brown shorts. "Um, Friendly? Can I have help getting dressed too?" Timothy squeaked, holding up his blue shirt and orange flame shorts. "Heehee, no problem!" Friendly chuckled. -- A couple of hours later the boys had all gotten dressed and had their breakfast. They were watching morning cartoons when the doorbell rang. Timothy's Mom answered the door. "Hello?" she queried as she opened the door, to a seven-year old arctic fox with cyan headfur, paws and cheekdots; and a blue squirrel-mouse with purple headfur. "We're Robby's brothers. Mommy sent us to come pick him up." Robby came to the door and squealed with delight as he saw his older brothers. "Zekey! Flu!" Robby exclaimed and hugged both of them. "Awww, hey lil' bro! Nice to see you too," Zeke giggled as he rubbed Robby's thick red headfur. "The two boys came indoors and were greeted by Friendly and Timothy - as Robby introduced them. "PAW Patrol?" chuckled Flu, "Let's watch something much more exciting!" "What video games have you got, Timothy?" inquired Zeke. Timothy struggled to answer. Luckily he didn't have to. "Oh no, you're not all staying in here. It's a beautiful day outside, go play!" insisted Timothy's mom. Zeke and Flu looked blankly back at her, though it was obvious they were holding back pouty faces. "I know! Let's all ride our bikes to the park!" suggested Friendly, "You guys came on your bikes, right?" "Yeah, okay," Zeke agreed. "Sounds good to me," agreed Flu. The boys all fetched their bikes as well as their backpacks and Timothy's mom gave them each a juicebox and a snack. "There you are, have fun!" Friendly, Timothy and Robby fetched their bikes - as Zeke and Flu stood next to theirs as they lay on the front lawn. The second-graders sizing up the pair as Timothy and Robby rode off the driveway and waited for them to mount their bikes. Zeke picked up his purple bike and mounted it, facing Robby and Timothy - the squirrel-mouse grinning at them as they looked up at him. "Hmmm... What do you think Zekey?" said Flu, as he mounted his blue bike and joined Zeke, the arctic fox softly wagging his bushy tail as he saw Zeke grinning at the two first-graders, who were sitting propped up on their training wheels. "I think we should race to the end of the street!" Zeke answered, as he playfully nudged Robby, "Try and keep up, Training Wheels!" Zekey and Flu were fast riders, Robby pumped his pedals to try and keep up with them - his training wheels clattering along behind him as they kept him stable on the concrete sidewalk. "Wait for me!" he cried, "I can't ride as fast as you guys!" Zeke and Flu reached the end of the street, at exactly the same time. "I win!" they both proclaimed, "Hey, I won!" Robby then came up behind them, puffing and panting as he looked up. "Awww, sorry lil' bro, why don't you ride in front of us?" suggested Zeke. "Okay!" Robby replied eagerly, overtaking Zeke and Flu and riding at a pace that was more comfortable for him. "He's such a slowpoke," teased Flu. A few minutes later, Friendly and Timothy caught up with them. Robby's pace was identical to Timothy's, the two first-graders nonchalently pedaling along and making quite a racket as their training wheels scraped along the sidewalk. -- A little while later, the boys reached the road that led towards the park. They stopped by a lamppost to let Robby and Timothy regain their breath - with Zekey and Flu showing them some bicycle tricks they could do - such as jumping off the sidewalk onto the street, and burnout skids by building up speed and then jerking their rear brakes hard-on. "Hey, why don't you try that, Robby?" "Okay!" Robby turned the pedals on his little yellow bike and steered it onto the street, doing the same as his big brothers had done. He pumped his pedals and built up as much speed as he could, his training wheels clattering and scraping in protest. He then backpedaled to activate his rear-coaster brake, and he managed to do a small skid. "Yay! I did it!" Robby squeaked excitedly. "Cool move, Training Wheels!" Zeke nodded. "Quite good... It'd be better if you had a proper handbrake though," commented Flu. Friendly chuckled as he watched the antics of the three. Once Timothy and Robby were up to it, they set off once more with Robby and Timothy leading the three older boys. "Robby! Turn left up here!" called Friendly, as he noticed they were approaching the dirt trail through the woods that led to the park. "Hey, we've never been up here before!" Zeke commented as he followed closely behind Robby. "I dunno..." answered Flu, "No, I don't think we have," "It might be a little muddy..." began Friendly. "Oh, we can handle that, right Zeke?" "It's not you two I'm talking about, it's our two younger friends I mean." continued Friendly. "Huh? What..." Zeke answered, though he got his answer as he looked ahead at Robby. "It'll be different this time. I'm sure it'll be different this time..." Robby said to himself as he pedaled his little yellow bike, pushing on his handlebars to steer it along the trail - but as soon as the rear wheel of his bike was in the mud it spun round and round, all the pedaling Robby was doing was hopeless as his bike stalled, and the back wheel just kept slipping, groaning as it couldn't get any traction. "Help! I'm stuck!" cried Robby. Zeke and Flu chuckled to each other as they watched Robby struggling with his bike, as he pedaled he just sat propped up on his training wheels, as the back wheel of his yellow bike just spun, spun, spun. "Oh! Why does this have to happen to me?" complained Robby, his ears drooping as he looked down at the back wheel of his bike and his training wheels, as they softly bounced up and down with his pedaling and made a dull squelching sound, just audible over the groaning sound from the back tire as it kept slipping. "Hehe, come on little buddy, that's enough of you being stuck in the muck, like a duck," chuckled Zeke, as he left his own bike leaning against a tree and put his paws on the seat of Robby's shorts, pushing him out of the muddy patch. Robby pumped his pedals and rode on, this time doing his best to steer around any patches of mud. When he did get caught in a particularly big patch of mud he still tried getting out by pumping his pedals, with predictable results as the back wheel of his bike slipped, spun and spun helplessly, and threw mud behind him. "It's your turn now, Flu," chuckled Zeke. "But I'll get covered in mud!" protested Flu, steering his bike away from Robby and leaning it against a tree as Zeke had done earlier. "Help!" cried Robby, beginning to tire of his efforts to get his bike free and looking back solemnly at his two second-grader friends. Flu smiled softly at Robby and gingerly squelched his way up to the back of the little bunny's yellow bike - putting his paws on the seat of Robby's shorts and pushing him and his bike back onto solid ground. "We might have to change your diaper when we get to the park," giggled Flu, as he playfully swatted the thickly padded seat of Robby's shorts. Robby blushed heavily, but said nothing as he turned the pedals on his bike and set off again. Zeke looked back and saw Friendly helping Timothy out of another patch of mud, one that Robby had steered around. "You weren't kidding..." commented the squirrel-mouse, watching as Timothy promptly got himself stuck in the big patch of mud too. "Nope. Sometimes if the path is really muddy I just take out a bungy cord and tow Timothy along, he'd never get anywhere otherwise," "Help!" cried Timothy, as he pumped his pedals and just made the back wheel of his bike spin. "Yeah," agreed Zeke, as he made his way over to the little raccoon. Flu then noticed the red Cars Pull-Ups peeking above the low-riding waistband of Timothy's orange shorts and chuckled, "Heehee, that's kinda cute. Come on little racecar... Let's get your teeny tiny wheels outta this silly mud!" Timothy smiled bashfully at the artic fox as Flu put his paws on the seat of his training pants, but squeaked in gratitude as his bike was freed from the mud and he set off after Robby. "I think that's the last of the mud. Come on guys, let's catch up to our little buddies," said Friendly. -- Having caught up with Robby and Timothy, Zeke and Flu took on a leisurely pace behind them. The dirt path towards the playground meant that the first graders' training wheels no longer scraped or clattered as loudly as they had on the sidewalk, and the mud had softened the noise that they did make as they trundled along. It wasn't long before they arrived at the playground, Zeke and Flu looked impressed at the equipment they could play on. "Hey, a roundabout!" yipped Flu. "Swings!" squeaked Zeke, pointing out the swing sets. Flu and Zeke jumped off their bikes and ran over to the swings - their bikes going a short distance by themselves before falling over into the grass. Robby pedaled his bike and clambered off, hurrying over to join them. "I can't go on those!" cried Robby, starting to fuss as Zeke and Flu propelled themselves into the air, side-by-side. "Hey, come on little bunny buddy. Over here," said Friendly soothingly, putting his paw on Robby's back as they headed over to the swings for smaller cubs - his thick diaper lending him a considerable waddle. Friendly followed him, and then helped him into the swing. Robby looked over at Zeke and Flu and tried to copy what they were doing, but after a minute or so he began to fuss again. "I... I needa pushie!" squeaked Robby, wiggling his feet but not making the swing go anywhere. "Here, hold tight Robbie," Friendly answered, gently pushing Robby's swing higher and higher. "Wheeee!" squeaked Robby. Zeke and Flu watched as Robby was pushed by Friendly, softly chuckling to each other. "Having fun, Shortstack?" Zeke teased. Robby blushed noticeably at the nickname but nodded. "Hey look Zeke, over there!" Flu remarked, pointing to the roundabout, "Let's go on that!" Robby watched as Flu and Zeke jumped off the swings and ran over to the roundabout. "Do you wanna join them?" asked Friendly, letting the swing come to a stop. "No thanks, can you pushie me some more?" Robby answered. "Sure!" Friendly replied, smiling softly at the little bunny as he reached out with his paws, pulling the swing back and letting go, and as Robby swung back he reached out again and pushed on the seat of Robby's shorts. Meanwhile, Zeke and Flu ran over to the roundabout and clambered aboard, holding onto the metal rails both of them started pushing it round and round, going faster and faster. "Whoooaaah!!!" cried Zeke as he retracted his foot and tightened his grip on the metal rail. "Wheeeeeheeeee!" Flu exclaimed as he too retracted his foot and held on to the roundabout as it whirled round and round. Some minutes later the roundabout slowed down enough that the two second-graders could get off. "Whooaa--ohhh" groaned Zeke, clutching his tummy as he struggled to walk in a straight line, "I feel woozy," "That was fu-un!" Flu giggled, softly wagging his tail as he playfully shoved Zeke, who stumbled and fell into the grass, landing on his bottom, "Ooof!" "Can I have a go?" Robby squeaked, having been helped out of the swing by Friendly. His ears stood up as he looked hopefully at Zeke and Flu. "Sure you can handle it, Shortstack?" chuckled Zeke, as he stood up. "Um..." Robby hesitated, looking away with a slight blush. Then he noticed the wooden pirate ship with a long tube slide. "Hey, let's check that out!" Zeke and Flu ran over to the pirate ship and clambered up the rigging, racing up to the top deck. Robby was just about to join them when Friendly tapped him on the shoulder, and pointed out the slide. "Let's climb up the slide," "Okay!" Robby giggled, clambering onto the landing zone of the slide and making his way up into the tube. Friendly chuckled and followed closely behind him. Robby had barely made it into the tube when his feet started to slip and slide. Stubbornly the chubby little bunny kept trying, but with all his effort he made no progress. Friendly stopped and looked up, watching sympathetically as Robby struggled. Then, the little bunny started sliding backwards, even though he was still spinning his feet. He was stopped only by the older fox, as his round bottom bumped into Friendly's muzzle. "Mmmff!" said Friendly, as the bunny's thickly padded bottom wiggled in his face. Robby blushed heavily as he noticed what had happened, looking back at Friendly as the fifth-grader fox raised his head from under the seat of Robby's shorts and smiled back at him, "Need a push, bunny bud?" Robby nodded and giggled softly, watching as Friendly started pushing him up the slide. Robby tried to help, but his feet still kept slipping, making his thick diaper crinkle and squish under his brown shorts. -- Timothy was on the pirate ship already and met up with Zeke and Flu. The raccoon smiled at them. "C..can you help me get up there?" asked Timothy, shuffling nervously as he looked up at the rigging, "I'm not very good at climbing," "Awww, I guess we can. Right Zeke?" "Yeah, no problem!" Timothy began to clamber up the rigging. Flu clambered up on the left side of Timothy, while Zeke climbed up on the right. Zeke was an expert climber and in his haste, he began climbing ahead of Timothy. "Hey! Wait for me!" cried the raccoon, squeaking as he suddenly lost his footing and spun his feet. "Hold on Timothy!" exclaimed Flu, trying to steady the chubby first-grader raccoon. "Zeke, lend a paw!" Zeke clambered down and helped to steady Timothy. "Sorry. I got a bit carried away..." The raccoon blushed as he noticed his shorts had slipped down, fully revealing the seat of his red racecar training pants. Zeke and Flu exchanged soft chuckles as they couldn't help but notice Lightning McQueen's red bumper peeking above the elastic waistband of Timothy's orange flame shorts. "Haha. Come on little racecar," Flu chuckled. "Yeah! Your little wheels aren't very good at climbing nets. Come on Zeke, push his bumper," Timothy blushed as Zeke and Flu gently pushed on the seat of Timothy's training pants, making them crinkle softly as they clambered up to the top together. When the three boys reached the top of the rigging they clambered over the side and rested for a moment on the deck. "Let's go down the slide now!" squeaked Zeke, pointing over to the mouth of the yellow tube slide. Zeke and Flu hurried over to it, but just as Flu was about to sit down his muzzle bumped into Robby's nose. "Hi!" giggled Robby, beaming up at Flu as he clambered out of the slide. "Lookit! A baby bunny came outta the burrow!" giggled Flu. "You climbed up that slide all by yourself, Shortstack?" Zeke teased. "Nope... I had to push him. Poor little guy was slipping and sliding all over the place," chuckled Friendly, as he emerged from the slide too. "Anyone else coming up?" inquired Flu, peering down the tube. "Nope, just us!" Robby squeaked. "Come on Zeke!" "Robby?" "Yeah! I'm comin'!" "Me too," "Wait for me!" -- The End --