Chapter 11: Sarah

Dave called me from the hospital asking me to pick him up, I told him be there right away. At the hospital, I expected Dave to be waiting for me. I checked at the desk and was told that he hadn’t come down yet. So I went to find him.

Getting off the elevator, I was stopped by a nurse, “Can I help you? Visiting hours aren’t until 10 AM.”

“I’m here to pick up my neighbor, Dave Wilson. He’s supposed to be discharged today. I expected to find him downstairs, but he wasn’t there. So I came looking for him.”

“Did you say Dave?” I nodded, she continued, “Just a second. Joan, Dave’s ride is here.”

Another nurse walked out, she looked a little distressed. When she saw me she glanced right at my hands. “No one told you?”

I became alarmed, I had just talked to Dave, he couldn’t be worse. “Told me what?” I all but yelled.

See the look on my face and hearing the worry in voice, “No nothing like that, he’s fine. Absolutely all right. It’s just that, apparently the police took all of his clothes as evidence. Right now he’s in his room wearing nothing but a diaper.”

“God, you had me worried. Do you have anything for him to wear? I don’t think it would be right to take him home in just a diaper.”

“All I’ve come up with is if we take a gown and cut the ties off he can wear it and tie it closed, it should be big enough to cover him up. And no jokes about hospital gowns.”

We walked down to Dave’s room, in the room there he sat just like she said.

Joan said, “We have a solution, it’s not great but it should work.” And she pulled out the gown, “I’ve cut the ties off and tied them together. The gown should be big enough to wrap all the way around you, and the ties will hold it closed.”

Once he was wearing it, it covered him up. So I figured it would work. Dave sat down in the wheelchair and I put his stuff in my purse. We made a little parade as we headed down to the elevator.

Before we got on, one the nurses stopped us, handed Dave a card, and said, “On behalf of all of the nurses here, I have three things to say. First; we are all sorry about what happened yesterday. Second; you have been one of our best patients ever. And third; get well soon, because we don’t want to see you here again.”

I wondered what had happened yesterday, but I’d figured I’d ask Dave on the way home. We took the elevator down, and Dave was officially discharged. I went to get my car as they wheeled Dave outside. When I pulled up I got out and saw Dave look at the pavement. He didn’t even have any shoes, I walked over to pick him up and he held up arms, just like a toddler would. I don’t think he realized that it looked that way, but the nurse that had pushed him out smiled.

I gave her a look and reached down to pick him up. I lifted him to my hip and then got my arm underneath him while he put his arms around my neck. My arm felt plastic and I looked back at our reflection in the hospital doors. I could clearly see his diaper. The nurse looked like she was about to laugh, so I glared at her. She sobered her look and mouthed an ‘I’m sorry.’

I drove Dave home taking a longer route that would avoid bumps. I’d banged my head a few times and knew what bumps would be like. During the ride I asked, “Dave what happened yesterday?”

“Oh, that. Yesterday, almost all of the nurses came by to check my diaper. They were coming by about every fifteen minutes it drove me crazy. Judy finally stopped them.”

When we got home, I asked, “Dave will come in for a few minutes, there’s something I want to show you.”

“Is it the tape of what happened, ‘cause I don’t know if I want to watch it?”

“Yeah, it’s that. But I think you should see it.”

“All right I’ll watch it.”

He watched the tape, I watched him. When he pushed into the mailboxes he winced, but so had I and it hadn’t happened to me. When you could hear Thor he tensed up but kept watching. After I came into the picture he rewound it a little and watched the part with Thor a couple of more times. When he finally shut off the VCR he asked, "Sarah, can you do me a big favor?"

"Probably, what?"

"The doctors told me to take it easy for a little while and not to drive. Can you, the next time your in town, buy the biggest chew toy you can find for me to give to Thor?"

"Sure, I'll do it tomorrow. I have to go see my lawyer. I'm evicting those kids and their parents. By the way, my lawyer suggested you sue them."

"I'll think about it," he answered. Then I carried him home.

At his trailer, I followed him in, “Dave I did your dishes for you. I figured you didn’t need to come home to moldy dishes.”

“Thank you,” he said as walked back to his bedroom. I wondered at what he would say about the changes I made there.

I followed him to the room. When he opened the door, he let a little gasp of surprise. “Dave, I also figured that Power Puff Girls sheets weren’t really you, but that if you hadn’t bought a new bed yet you probably weren’t going to. So I went and got you some ‘Airplane’ sheets. With your job I figured you’d like them better. The Power Puff Girl sheets are still around if you want to use them though.”

“No these are great, that’s a Fokker Dridecker,” he said pointing at one of the planes. Then he proceeded to pick out each plane and name it. I hadn’t even known that they used real planes.

“I’m glad you like them.” He hugged me then. “Do you need any help changing?”

“No, but when you bring the toy for Thor, could you bring me a diaper to wear, I don’t want to have an accident.”

“Absolutely. If you need anything, just give me a call, at anytime. Either I or Judy will probably stop by every so often to check on you. Okay.”

“Thanks, I need to get Judy something too.”

I left his home wondering what he could get Judy.

A couple of days later Dave, wearing a diaper and a t-shirt, sat on a blanket out in his yard. The chew toy was under a fold in the blanket. Bob brought Thor over. Thor had been acting his usual way until he saw Dave, then he settled down and walked slowly towards Dave. He woofed once and crept up to Dave. Dave looked a bit like a deer caught in headlights.

Thor got up to Dave and sniffed him once, then plopped down right next to Dave and looked up to him. I stared at Thor, I had never seen him this way, and he normally doesn't stop moving or barking. I looked over at Bob, and he had an odd look his face. "Bob, what's going on? I've never seen Thor like this."

"I have and this surprises me. I wouldn't have thought Thor to be this perceptive."

Now I stared at Bob, I didn't think he would have known the word `perceptive.' "What are talking about?"

"Just watch, then I'll show you." We stood there watching as Dave clumsily petted Thor, and then hugged him. Dave pulled out the chew toy and gave it to Thor.

Dave and Thor sat for a few more minutes, then Bob said, "Come on, I'll show you. Thor, come here boy!"

Thor carefully got up, licked Dave once more and quietly woofed again. He walked over to Bob and Bob grabbed the chew toy. As we walked around the park Thor was back to bouncy self. Then all of the sudden he stopped and started walking slowly towards one of the yards. I looked over and there was Mrs. Parks with her twins.

Just like had with Dave, Thor woofed once and crept up to the babies, then settled between them. They obviously knew Thor and started climbing all over him. Thor just sat there.

I looked over at Bob, "Thor thinks Dave is a baby?!"

"Apparently. The only time I've seen him act this way is with babies, and now Dave."

"I don't think we should tell Dave."

"Probably not."

"I'll see you later, Bob."

Chapter 12: Dave

I was a bit frightened, Sarah had bought an enormous rawhide bone for me to give to Thor, and I was going to do it today. Sarah also had brought over a diaper; I didn’t want to mess up the blanket or my pants. Unfortunately I still didn’t have any pants that would fit over the diaper. Damn, I put on a long t-shirt and went out to sit on the blanket; the present for Thor was under a fold in the blanket. I sat there for a few minutes, when I saw Bob, Sarah, and Thor coming down the street. Thor was bouncing around Bob like he was made of rubber. I couldn’t help myself, even though Thor was still down the street, I started to wet my diaper. I was frozen in fear as I watched the three of them approach.

Something strange happened next, Thor looked right at me. I leaked a bit more into my diaper. Then Thor stopped bouncing around and slowly walked towards me. When he got to the grass he woofed, not like he usually barked all noisy and boisterous, but a more subdued thing. Then he continued on, even slower than he had been. Finally he got right up next to me sniffed me, I think I wet some more, and sat down on the ground right beside me.

I was still scared, but Thor just lay there. I started petting him, I don’t think I did a good job, but Thor didn’t seem to mind. He just lay there, occasionally looking at me. I hugged him and said, “I want to thank you for saving me Thor, those boys might have really hurt me if you hadn’t come by.” I babbled on for a few moments, and then pulled out the chew toy, “This is for you.” I gave Thor the chew toy; he started gnawing on it as I continued petting him.

A few minutes later Bob called Thor and the three of them started walking away. I wondered where they were going, because I seemed to remember that Sarah and Bob were talking while I sat with Thor. I should get up and go inside, I thought, but the sun was nice and warm and I hadn’t been out much since I was attacked. I carefully lay down and rested. A few minutes later I heard a voice call out, “Dave are you okay?”

I sat up slowly, moving fast gave me a bad headache, and looked around. There was a young girl walking over towards me, “Yes, I’m fine. I’m just enjoying being out in the sun.”

She continued over, and looked down at me, “My mom saw you out here and asked me to come over and check to see if you were all right.”

I looked up at her, I had seen her in the park before, but didn’t know she was. “Who is your mom?”

“Oh, sorry. My mom is Judy Peterson, I’m Ashley.” She said this with the sort of exuberance only a young girl can have. “She was worried that you might have passed out or something.”

“No, I’m fine. I was out here giving Thor a present, and decided to just rest for a while. But thank your mom for keeping an eye on me. There are times when I think I might need a keeper.”

“I will,” she said and she turned to walk away. She had taken one step, then stopped and turned back. “Dave, can I ask you a question?”

“Sure, what is it?” I answered as I was getting up.

“Ummm, why are you wearing a wet diaper?”

I blushed, and looked down at it. “Ahhh, it’s because, well... ahhh I’m afraid of Thor. He scares me...”

“But Thor wouldn’t hurt anyone,” she blurted out.

“That’s what everyone says, but I can’t really help it. When I was little, a neighbor used to have his dog chase me. I’ve been afraid of dogs ever since then.”

“That’s silly. Thor isn’t going to hurt you.”

“Two things, first that’s easy for you to say, you’ve never been hurt by a dog before. And second, is there anything you’re afraid of, like storms or the dark? Because I can tell you they aren’t going to hurt you, but that won’t make you not afraid of them.”

“But, that’s not the same.”

“You’re right it’s probably not, because I have been hurt by a dog, and the dark or whatever hasn’t hurt you.” I looked down at the blanket, I really shouldn’t leave it out for Sarah to get, but if I bent down to get it my headache would come back.

Ashley looked over at the blanket, “I’ll get that for you. I have to think about what you said though. ‘Cause I still think it’s silly to be afraid of Thor.”

“Thanks. While you’re thinking about what we talked about, remember that in my mind; I just did one of the bravest things in my life. I sat there and let Thor walk right up to me. Even if I wasn’t in any danger.”

As we walked up to my door, she was still carrying the blanket, “I will, even if it’s weird. Here’s your blanket, and you should probably change that diaper before you get a rash,” she giggled.

“Thanks, and Ashley remember that if anyone tells you they’re not afraid of anything, they’re probably lying.” She waved as she ran home. I looked over and waved to Judy, she was standing on her porch.

I went in and took Ashley’s advice and changed out of the wet diaper, of course I didn’t put on a clean diaper. I did go back to work though.

Sarah showed up a little while later and we chatted for a while. She asked if I had made a decision about suing the parents of those kids. I hadn’t and said so. She suggested talking to her lawyer, to at least get some good advice, and she offered to ask her lawyer to meet us together here. I agreed to talk to the lawyer.

We met with the lawyer that Thursday afternoon at Sarah’s. I was working when Sarah called me to come over. I had forgotten about the meeting. I hurried, as much as I could, over and we went into the living room.

I sat on Sarah’s new couch, next to her, and the lawyer sat across from us. As I looked over at the lawyer, I noticed a picture on the wall above her. When I looked at it, I blushed. Sarah had hung one of the portraits of me as Sissy on her wall. I hoped the lawyer didn’t notice.

“Dave, this is my lawyer, Allison Crawford. Allison this is Dave Wilson,” Sarah started the conversation.

Allison stood up and leaned over, “Nice to meet you Dave, and I hope you’re feeling better.”

I shook her hand, “It’s nice to meet you too, and I am feeling better.”

She sat back down, and continued on, “Dave, I think you should sue, those families, but I don’t think you’ll get much. I did a little preliminary checking and they just don’t have much in the way of assets. The case should be straightforward though, since two of the three confessed and turned on the third. And that videotape, well there is no doubt that they attacked you. What I’m going to suggest is that you wait until they’ve moved out of their trailers, they have what another week or so?”

Sarah answered that one, “Yes they had two weeks to vacate the park and a month to move their trailers. I think one of them is already out though.”

Allison continued, “Good, then what I suggest is that once all three have moved out. I will serve papers on them and make them an offer. You won’t sue them if they transfer the titles to their trailers to you. From what it will cost them to move the trailers, plus what they would have to spend on lawyers, I’m sure I can convince them to settle.”

“Dave, if they do settle, I’ll trade you. One of those trailers for the one you’re living in straight up. Then I’ll even help you sell the other two. You’ll own your home and have whatever cash we get from the sale.”

“Minus my fee, of course,” Allison chimed in. I looked at her. She added, “I’m sort of joking, as long as this doesn’t go to court my fee will be small, most of it is covered by what Sarah pays me to be on retainer. But I do have to charge something or they’ll kick me out of the Bar.”

“Okay, but if they don’t settle, we’ll have to talk again,” I said. We continued talking for about an hour, Allison explained what would happen if we went to trial, and what their lawyer could do and ask me. It seemed kind of scary. Then she told me about what had happened in the criminal case, she had watched over it for Sarah.

Chapter 13: Sarah

My lawyer was right, they settled and I traded Dave's trailer for one the ones that he got as a settlement. I helped Dave sell them too.

I was surprised that one of the first people out to look at them was Deputy Wildler. He checked out all three and then chose one of them. I was happy, having a Deputy living out here would be a deterrent.

Dave showed up one afternoon with his rent check and I finally asked him something that I had wanted to for the past month, "Dave will you come over and spend the weekend with me again?"

He paused, "Ah, what would we do?"

"I'm not sure, maybe see another movie."

"Would I have to dress like a girl?"

"I would like you to, didn't you have fun last time?"

Dave looked down and mumbled something I couldn't understand.

I got up and pulled Dave into my living room. We sat down on the couch and I asked him again if he had had fun.

He looked at me, and I could see tears in eyes. He nodded and then looked down again.

"So what is wrong?"

He looked at me again, and said, "They cut up my hair at the hospital and I'd look funny dressed like a girl."

I looked at his head, they had removed the stitches, but they had butchered his hair. I sighed, he would look funny dressed as a girl, actually he looked a bit funny anyway. I wasn't going to say anything though.

We sat there a little while, before I had an idea. "Dave how about if you come over on Saturday morning. We'll go get your haircut, they should be able to fix it. Then we can have lunch and see how you feel from there."

"Do you think they will be able to fix it?"

"I think so, but they should at least make it look normal. If you still aren't happy, then we can just come back here and watch a movie."

"Are you going to make me dress like a girl?"

"Dave, I won't ever make you dress like a girl. If you don't want to, you don't have to."

I could see tears forming again as he said, "If I don't will you still be nice to me?"

I pulled him into my lap and hugged him, "Dave, I'll do my best to always be nice to you. If you don't think I'm being nice to you, let me know."

He cried on my shoulder as I held him and sobbed, "OK, I'll come over Saturday."

I held him for a little longer, before he started squirming free. I let him go and he said, "I better be sure I am all caught up with work, if I am going to spend Saturday over here."

"Me too." I walked him over to the door, where we gave each other a last squeeze. Dave left after a quick look around and hurried over to his home. I went and changed my top, he had gotten it a bit soggy.

I called Judy and let her know to keep Ashley away on Saturday. We chatted a while as she asked me about what our plans were. I explained and could see her in my mind nodding to what I was saying.

Saturday came and Dave showed up early in the morning, I looked him over and asked if he was ready. He gave me a weak smile. “What’s wrong?” I asked.

He sighed, “I’m just kinda depressed about my hair. It took a long time for it to grow out.”

“Well let’s get you changed and then we can go see if we can get it fixed.”

We walked down to the nursery, and I kept an eye on Dave. He was staring at the diapers with the look of a condemned man. He pulled off his shirt and he started to undo his pants, when I interrupted him. “Dave, why don’t I just take you as Dave.”

He stopped and looked up at me, his chin quivering a bit, “But I thought that you wanted to me…”

“Dave, I just want to spend some time with you, besides I think it’ll be easier to deal with having your hair cut as Dave, than as Sissy.”

He redid his pants, “Are you sure, I always had problems with hair cuts. Barbers always looked at me funny, and if I went to a stylist they wanted to give me weird styles. They were trying to get me to dye my hair, and do all sorts of strange things.”

“I’m sure, I’m going to take you to where I go, and she always listens to me. The other choice is to just to get it all cut real short.”

“I don’t want that, it takes too long to grow out,” he said as he put his shirt back on.

As we drove out to the salon, I asked him how everything was going. He started talking about his job and the new article he was writing. I only half listened, but was surprised that I understood what he was saying, even though some of it was pretty technical.

We got to the salon and I introduced him to Jennifer. She turned to Dave and said, “Hi, uh Dave?”

He nodded, “Hello, it’s nice to meet you,” and held out his hand.

She looked him over, and asked, “What happened to your hair?”

He explained what had happened, as she slowly walked around looking closely at his hair. When he had finished his story, she gave him a hug.

“I can’t fix it all at once, but I tell you what. If you will agree to come back in about once a month for a couple of months, until you’re happy with it. I’ll give you a discount on the work I do.”

Dave hesitated, “I’m not sure. Can I wait until after I see what you do before I agree?”

She laughed, “I do my best to make sure that my clients leave happy, but that seems fair.”

She took Dave back to do her work, and I sat and read a magazine while I waited, only partially paying attention to them. I did hear Dave laugh a couple of times, so I guess they were getting along well.

When they had finished, Dave walked up with a smile on his face. I asked him to turn around, he did and I looked at what she had done. It wasn’t completely fixed, but it looked a lot better. She had evened everything out as best she could, and framed where the nurses had shaved his head. I figured that it wouldn’t be all that noticeable after another visit, but that his hair would still be short. We paid and left after Dave gave Jennifer a hug.

We had lunch, and even with his hair looking like it did, the waiter still thought that Dave was my daughter. I kept Dave from making a scene. He was frowning afterward as we stopped by the theater to see if there was anything worth seeing. There wasn’t.

We headed back to my place, and I invited Dave back in. He seemed a bit reluctant, but I convinced him. It took a bit more to get him to let me diaper him, but I managed it.

We spent the rest of the afternoon watching Disney movies and talking. That night Dave stayed in my crib.