Emma is in charge [Julians tale] [02] -- (Author) kiri

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Author: kiri
Timestamp: Aug 17, 2021 at 6:11 PM
Content: Hi everyone,

because I felt like it, I wrote down a second part of Julian's tale. As always, I'm happy about every criticism and all comments, but just as with the 'park bench chat', I would like it much more if you'd share your imagination with me.

There are no wrong answers and it's not about changing the story or "pushing" it in one direction. (The story is already lined out and I already have notes and ideas for all the details I ask you about.) I am really just very interested in how you imagine the characters, the scenery or individual details (materials, fabrics, smells, sounds...).

a) What does Emma look like?
b) What does Paul look like?
c) What does the Miller family home look like?
d) What do you notice inside?
e) What does the backyard look like?
f) What else is standing around?
g) What does Emma see while she is in the kitchen?
h) What does Juli's room look like?
i) Are their any specific care products?
j) What other details do you imagine?

I hope you have fun reading!
kiri

P.S.: Since I've been asked again: Of course I don't mind if you feel like writing your very own spin-off. The only thing I ask is that you do not publish my story on any other platform.

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Author: kiri
Timestamp: Aug 17, 2021 at 6:12 PM
Content: Emma is in charge

It's just after one o'clock when the cheerful girl squeaks her bike to a halt in the Miller family's front yard. Although her own house is only two streets away, two drops of sweat shine on her forehead. When her phone had rung ten minutes ago, fifteen-year-old Emma Walsh was still in her bed. She had hurried. And indeed, it appears to be an emergency. Peter Miller is already waiting at the open front door. He is buttoning up a snow-white shirt and is in such a hurry that he gets it wrong. Twice. His hair is a mess. Next to him on the stones is his open laptop. He breathes an audible sigh of relief when he sees the girl.

"Hi Emma! You're a lifesaver! Awesome you made time for us on such short notice. There's an emergency at my firm and Nora is still stuck at the airport in Columbus. The ground controllers are on strike..."

"No problem, Mr. M., I'm happy to babysit Juli and Evy! They are always nice and sweet!"

"Yeah, with you! Cause our monsters love you..."

"That's the advantage of a long customer relationship!"

She grins sheepishly and shakes the hand Peter holds out to her unconsciously. One can literally see the thoughts swirling in his head.

"It can get very late and god knows when Nora's plane will start… Are you sure you could stay the night, should it be necessary?"

Emma nods and points to her backpack, which she had placed on the floor next to her.

"Yep. I brought my sleeping things and my mom knows."

"Without you, we'd be dead in the water sometimes."

"My pleasure! Recommend me to your friends!"

They both laugh. The happy girl already is the most popular babysitter with all their friends in all Traverse City. Peter searches his pockets and finally finds his car keys on top of the shoe cabinet while he goes through his inner checklist, muttering.

"Money for dinner is on the table. Emergency phone numbers haven't changed. The kids are in the backyard..."

Emma giggles.

"Don't worry. I've got everything covered! Good luck with the emergency, and drive safely."

Peter grins and nods as he picks up his laptop. He presses the key and it beeps as the turn signals light up on the brand-new midnight blue VW ID.4.

"Oh… one more thing! We switched back to Pampers..."

"...Oh, is Evy having some trouble with the potty again? No biggie, I'll take care of it!"

Peter shakes his head.

"No, no, Evy is our big girl. But Juli's pull ups haven't been able to keep up with his accidents lately."

"Juli? You're kidding, right?"

"I'm afraid not. He's been back in Pampers for a few days now..."

"Juli's diapered right now?"

"No, not at home, usually. Here, he makes it to the potty in time, mostly. He only wears them to sleep and when we're out for a bit longer. And since we just switched back a few days ago, we don't want him to put them on himself... I hope that's not a problem either..."

For a brief moment, Emma was flabbergasted. Though you can hardly tell by looking at him, Juli attends Junior High. Of course, she knew he was still sleeping with Goodnites. Also, the girl had witnessed more than one minor accident from him in the nearly three years she'd been babysitting, but she hadn't expected that. Yet as she thinks about it, this change in the Miller household just sounded like a normal, perfectly logical consequence. And with his slight frame, it would make hardly any difference whether she was diapering Evy or Juli. Emma grins and nods.

"Oh... well... I mean, of course, no, no problem either. So, he wears regular…?"

"Yep, regular baby diapers. They fit him just fine. You'll find everything you need by the changing table. And if he gives you any trouble changing him, just give him a pacifier..."

Emma has to chuckle again. When he played with his little sister, it happened quite often that Evy offered him one of her pacifiers. Although he always took great pains to make it look as if he wanted to please the four-year-old, Emma had already witnessed him fetching one himself several times when she didn't offer it and he felt unobserved.

"Is he still sneaking those from Evy?"

"Nope, no more sneaking... When we started putting him in Pampers again, we also got him his very own binkies and a night-time-bottle. It was a little shock for him when he realized that we knew about it, but now he uses them almost like Evy."

"Wow. How cute."

Peter nods and grins. He leans into the hallway and shouts for his kids.

"Guys, I have to run to the office! Emma's here and she's in charge. Don't let me hear that you gave her any trouble."

All at once the children come running to the front door.

"What? Why?!" the boy asks, clearly concerned.

The girl, however, who just like her brother wears nothing but neon green swimming trunks, immediately jumps into Emma's arms like a happy bouncy ball.

"Yay! Emma's here!"

Peter gives Juli a quick squeeze, but then gently holds him by the shoulders to look him in the eyes.

"Have a great day and don't wait up. ...and Juli, no drama about your Pampers."

"Dad!" Juli squeaks outraged. Yet his father just hugs him once more and starts walking to his car.

"No whining, monkey! I love you guys! Be good!" Peter says right before he shuts the door.

"Hi Emma! It's great that you're here. I missed you so much!" the four-year-old babbles happily.

While the girl clings to their babysitter and showers her with kisses, Juli's lower lip quivers. He wipes a tear from his cheek as Peter rolls out of the driveway.

"I missed you too, Evy! ... Oh, Juli! Come on! Don't pout!" Emma giggles.

"Don't mind him. He is just grumpy when someone talks about his diapers."

"Hey! You little devil!" Julian whines offended and pouts even more. Yet, the little girl just shrugs and grins. She pulls on Emma's hand and radiates pure joy.

"Come outside with me! We are playing croquet! And Daddy has set up the swimming pool for us." Evy chatters.

Emma willingly allows herself to be pulled along by the little girl. While still in the living room, Julian leaps past them through the open patio door. Four huge parasols provide shade in the garden. On the floor next to a lounger lies a book unfolded. A tube of children's sunscreen is on the table. In the grass, between countless small gates, three colorful balls rest next to the wooden mallets. Julian stands in front of the 10ft long inflatable pool and grins inadvertently at the girls while conspicuously holding both arms behind his back.

"Wow. You guys have a huge pool!"

Emma steps toward him, as if to examine the pool up close, but squints over his shoulders. She giggles and lets one hand glide through the cool water.

"Yep!" the boy agrees proudly.

"But whose baby bottles are you hiding behind your back, kiddo?" Emma asks bluntly.

He is so startled by the question that both bottles fall out of his hands and tumble across the lawn.

"The pink one is mine and the green one with the little monkey is Juli's." Evy explains happily right away.

"Well, well! Finally got your own bottle, huh?"

Emma giggles as he looks down at the floor with his head flushed red in shame. Immediately she feels sorry for the little guy and decides not to push it. She ruffles through his hair and gently tugs on his earlobe. Juli tilts his head toward her hand to be petted more and cuddles back when she hugs him.

"Shall I refill them quickly?" Emma asks kindly.

"Peach iced tea!" Evy chortles loudly.

Since the boy still hugs her close and seems struck with muteness, Emma tickles between his bare shoulder blades. He starts to giggle and eventually loosens the embrace.

"What about you, Juli? What do you want me to fill in your bottle?"

"Iced tea is fine." he mutters still bright red towards the granite tiles.

"Two bottles of peach iced tea, coming up!"

When Emma is back in the garden 5 minutes later, both children are splashing around in the cool water. They race two small boats from one end of the pool to the other while trying to push them along with waves. Since his sister hits the water way too hard, Juli gently and calmly explains to her again and again how she could boost her boat up faster. As soon as Evy catches sight of her drink delivery service, however, she immediately jumps out of the water, grabs her bottle, and starts drinking greedily. Not seeing Juli move, Emma brings his bottle to him. He hesitates for a moment, but finally grabs it and drinks. The fifteen-year-old laughs and tickles him behind the ears.

"There you go!" she giggles.

"Thank you!" he mutters sheepishly.

The three of them spend quite a while in the garden. They play a game of croquet and relax in the shade. Whenever the children cool off in the pool, Emma, who regrets not having thought of a bathing suit, wades through the water, which reaches up to her knees at least. It's so hot that drying off would be a waste of time.

"Whew… What do you guys say we go down to the river and get some ice cream?" Emma says when her calves had dried by sunlight for the third time.

"Yay! Ice cream!" both kids shout enthusiastically.

"Well then let's go upstairs. You can't walk around town in your swimwear."

Without having to ask the children a second time, they both immediately follow her upstairs. Emma is astonished when she spots the changing table which had been in Evy's room just two months ago through Juli's open bedroom door. All three open compartments are filled to the top with diapers.

"Wow, the changing table is even in your room! And that's a lot of Pampers! And what is Evy's potty doing here?" Emma asks giggling.

"Hey it's not just mine! Juli needs that a lot more than I do. I go to the big potty!" Evy declares.

"What, really?" asks Emma, almost in disbelief.

She can't suppress her grin as she looks back and forth between Juli and the potty. The boy says nothing and looks at the floor.

"Uh-hum!" Evy says proudly.

"Well, comes in handy when you both can still sit on it, huh? Evy will you please get some underpants and shorts? And you, Juli, climb up on the changing mat please?" says Emma eventually.

Juli looks at her indignantly and offended.

"Jeez! I don't need diapers to go to the ice cream parlor!"

"Juli come on. Your daddy said, 'whenever you're out...'. Or are you just whining because you want your binky?"

"What?! No!" he squeals.

"Can I have mine, Emma?" Evy asks in her begging voice.

"Sure, sweetie! And you Juli, up on the changing table! Although, if it's already here, you better go potty first!"

"But I don't even have to pee..."

Emma has had enough. Without hesitating any further, she pulls down the boy's speedos, gives him a stern look and puts a pacifier, which had been lying on Juli's nightstand until then, into his mouth.

"Oh Juli... enough whining! Now, that stays in until we have you ready." says the fifteen-year-old.

His eyes glaze over, but all at once he obeys without argument. Emma is almost surprised when he actually sits down on the potty without even asking for the toilet. She hears him sucking in air again and again as 'Sofia the First' bobs up and down on his binky.

"My gosh! You look so cute!" giggles Emma.

His ears glow, but even when his little sister comes back to his room almost three minutes later, fully dressed, Juli still hasn't been able to pee. Eventually, Emma takes pity on him.

"Now, you really don't have to pee, do you? Well then up here!"

He quietly rises, only to lie down on the changing table seconds later. A veteran babysitter, Emma unerringly reaches for the baby wipes, powder and a fresh diaper. She giggles in amusement because it's really no more difficult at all to diaper Juli than any ordinary toddler. Quite the opposite, in fact. He obeys without her having to say anything at all. Barely a minute passes before she closes the Pampers on his belly.

"Done! Now we don't have to worry about an accident. Wow! Those really fit perfectly. Just like they were made for you. Such a cute tushy!" the girl says aloud.

"Jeez, you talk like mommy… I mean Mom." he moans.

He throws on a lemon-yellow shirt and slips into the cornflower blue shorts that hung over the back of his chair. Emma fights with herself not to giggle. Not only does the edge of his Pampers clearly peek out of the back of his jersey shorts, but the soft fabric stretches so clearly over Juli's bottom that his daytime protection is advertised rather than hidden. Emma can hardly believe how young Juli looks. Even more so since the pacifier is still bobbing in his mouth. Probably no one would even ask if he belongs there if his parents delivered him to a kindergarten in that outfit. Emma is not sure whether the boy does not notice or does not care. She chuckles and pats his rustling bottom once more.

They had been strolling down the street for almost 5 minutes when Emma stops and leans over to Julian.

"Do you really want to walk all the way with the binky in your mouth, cutie? And maybe you should tidy up your shirt a bit."

Julian opens his eyes, grabs his mouth and looks down at himself in alarm. He turns bright red while he takes the pacifier out of his mouth and lets the edge of his diaper disappear under his shirt. Emma and Evy giggle as he looks around nervously, trying to figure out who might have seen him like this.

"Oh. No. Thank you!"

"Got your back, buddy!"

A short line of customers waits in front of the counter of the oldest ice cream parlor of Traverse City. Cheerful Italian music wafts softly from loudspeakers to the plaza, creating a delightful feeling of vacation. Emma laughs as she moves to the end of the line while the two children excitedly bounce forward to marvel at the selection of homemade delicacies. As they do so, Julian wobbles strangely familiar from one leg to the other.

"Someone is doing the potty dance." Evy giggles and gives her brother an affectionate pat.

The rustling is unmistakable. Juli stops at once. He glares reproachfully at his sister and looks around nervously just seconds later. Not until he is convinced that no one except Emma and Evy are interested in him does he relax a little. Emma covers her mouth. She has given up counting how many times the little boy's blush has risen to his face today.

"Shut it! You noisy twerp!" he hisses quietly at her. Evy shakes her head, grins and sticks her tongue out at him.

"Hey, no bickering!" Emma says sternly.

Immediately Evy wraps her arms around her brother and cuddles up to him. He sighs, shrugs his shoulders and lets her have it. Just at this moment, it's their turn to order.

"Hello there! What would you folks like to have?" asks a cheerful, tubby man with a slight accent.

"Ooh! I want vanilla and strawberry and smurf-ice cream and lemon..." Evy gushes.

"One scoop each, silly." laughs Emma.

"Bummer!" the little girl sighs.

"She gets smurf and me lemon. And then we share." Juli tells the ice cream man like an experienced diplomat.

The little girl nods excitedly and gives him a peck on his cheek. Juli rolls his eyes, but says nothing. The man grins and prepares two cones. A good twenty peaceful minutes later Emma closes the family home's front door behind the group again.

"Alright, let's go back to the backyard. But first, Juli, let me have a look at your Pampers."

"Do you have to?"

"Yep, I do."

Once again, he turns bright red when Emma pulls down his shorts. It is evident that his diaper has not remained completely dry during the walk. She pats his barely rustling bottom and giggles.

"You don't need diapers to go to the ice cream parlor, hum?"

Julian looks embarrassed at the floor and sniffles. Suddenly he grabs his crotch and bounces nervously from one foot to the other.

"That… that was just an accident... dang! Can you take those off now? I have to pee really bad."

"But Daddy said when you're wearing Pampers, you're wearing Pampers, Juli."

The little girl chuckles as she tries to imitate her father's voice. He glares at her in annoyance.

"You darn tattletale!"

"Hey! Stop fighting!" says Emma.

Again, Evy wraps her arms around her brother and looks at him with apologetic puppy eyes. He sighs and wiggles himself free. Now Emma grabs his shoulders like Peter had done hours before.

"But Evy's right, kiddo. If your dad says so, then we'll stick to it. Besides, your diaper is wet anyway. You might as well just pee in it again now."

"But... no fair!" he wails.

Julian wants to protest, but just when he puts his hands on his hips, his bladder gives way. Startled, he looks down at himself as his crotch becomes wet and warm and then dry again shortly afterwards.

"See?! It was easy, wasn't it? Good boy!"

Emma is unable to contain her giggles as she noticed for herself how much she sounded like she was praising a toddler. He looks at her in a huff. But as soon as Emma ruffles his hair and gives him a hug, he forgets his anger and cuddles back.

"Wow, you're really soaked! Come on, let's get you cleaned up and dry real quick, kiddo."

Julian lets himself be led by her hand into his bedroom and this time lays down immediately on the changing table. Without giving it much thought, he reaches for one of the pacifiers lying in a bowl at the edge of the table and puts it in his mouth, closing his eyes. Emma giggles because, without her having to say anything, he lifts his little butt. She hums happily to herself as she takes off his wet diaper and wipes him clean with the baby wipes. When he feels fresh powder on his groin, Julian opens his eyes again in panic.

"What are you doing? I don't need diapers at home!"

She doesn't answer his complaining and just seconds later closes a fresh diaper on his belly.

"Shush! No whining, Juli. You also said you didn't need one for the walk to the ice cream parlor. Besides, it's almost bedtime anyway." Emma explains.

Puzzled, Julian looks at his watch. It's a quarter past five and he doesn't have to go to bed until nine. Emma grins at him, helps him down from the changing table and straightens the outlet cuffs in his crotch, just like his mother always does.

"Can I at least have my pants back?"

"Nope. Why, cutie? It's so hot outside. Also, it's so much easier for me to check if you need to be changed. And this outfit goes so much better with your binky."

Juli wants to complain, but just doesn't know what to say. Emma smiles lovingly at him and caresses his cheek. The boy looks back reproachfully, but still reaches out to her to be cuddled some more. When she finally takes him by the hand and leads him back to the backyard, he sighs and surrenders to his fate. On the garden table, Evy is trying to set up a memory game and chuckles happily when she sees her big brother. Because pants now seem superfluous to her too, she slips out of her shorts, giggling, and sits down at the table in her pink underpants. Laughing, Emma fetches two new bottles filled with cool milk from the kitchen and joins them at the table. This time, both children grab them almost simultaneously and start drinking. At just before six, Emma orders pizza for dinner. She has barely finished the phone call when the front door opens.

"Guys, I'm home! Where are you all?", shouts Nora Miller into the hallway.

"Mommy!" both children call back in unison.

Two happy bouncy balls greet Nora as soon as she sets foot in the backyard. She enjoys hugging both her children and waves towards Emma.

"Hi Ms. M. How was your flight?" asks Emma.

"Hello there, my cuddle bunnies! Hi Emma! Oh, don't ask. It was pure chaos... I wonder if they'll ever find my luggage again..." Nora replies visibly exhausted.

"Pizza should be here any minute. Why don't you guys set the dinner table and let your mom catch a little break?" giggles Emma.

She takes one cuddly spider monkey after the other from the woman. Immediately, the children happily disappear into the living room and get to work. Nora sinks into an armchair and nods gratefully and at the same time deeply impressed by her offspring's obedience.

"That bad, huh?" asks Emma sympathetically.

"Worse! But how was your day? Did our monsters behave? And I see someone is wearing his magic undies early, today."

Emma laughs and nods.

"Sure! Juli and Evy were super sweet as always. And since Juli had a little accident while we were out for ice cream, I figured it might be best to put a new Pampers on him for the rest of the afternoon."

"Yep, probably a smart decision! Did he give you any trouble with that?"

"He fussed a bit at first. But when I gave him his pacifier, he played along great. He even sat down on Evy's potty. As if he was the best-behaved toddler in town."

"Yeah, the binky works like a charm for him. And actually, it's more his potty than Evy's by now..."

"Yep, so I was told. Amazing how well regular baby diapers still fit him and the changing table is so neat and convenient."

"That's true. If I had known sooner how big Pampers were, I probably wouldn't have bothered with all the struggles with his Goodnites in the first place."

"And in his diapers, he doesn't look a bit too old for the binky or bottle. He looks just so cute."

"He does! It's almost like we have two toddlers at home right now. And sometimes it's hard to tell who the older sibling is..."

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Author: kiri
Timestamp: Aug 18, 2021 at 9:15 PM
Content:

ItsYourBoi said:

So just from what popped into my mind as i was reading:

Emma is an average girl, she has red-blonde hair and is wearing daisy dukes and a wife-beater like shirt in some fancy color, like turqoise or orange.

Paul looks friendly, maybe like Bryan Cranston in malcolm in the middle. He's wearing black jeans and a white shirt tucked into them.

The miller home has wooden floors. There are two floors. The lights aren't on, as the light shining through from the windows provide more than enough light. The furniture is either white or uncoloured wood.

There's a white staircase, a white short wall with a deep, dark wooden counter on it.

The backyard was rather undescript in my mind. But it has a short wooden fence, and no trees or other kinds of shrubbery. Just grass and whatever things you added in the story. There is an empty void beyond the fence.

Not much to add to the rest of the questions.

I imagined it was late summer. There was an orange glow to everything, it was warm and somewhat dreamy.

[End of quote]

Wow, I learned two new terms! I only knew the shirts as 'tanks' and the shorts as 'jeans hot pants'. Thank you!

I know now that they are really called that, but 'wife beater' sounds pretty creepy, doesn't it?

I love Hal, but I always though (even back with Malcolm) he looks kinda... well... old. Yet, when it comes to attitude and emotions, Peter is very much like Hal in my mind, too.

Love your thoughts! Thank you again!
kiri