Snowflakes drifted in the wind as Lizzie ate her scrambled eggs.

“Somebody’s up bright and early for a change.” A voice called out from behind her.

“Of course, it’s almost Christmas,” Lizzie smiled, giving her father a hug.

“What time were you up?” Jennifer asked, rubbing her eyes.

“I don’t know, around seven? I made everyone breakfast.” Lizzie gave her mom a quick hug too.

“An early Christmas gift for us?” Philip asked as Lizzie got them seated.

“It’s pretty simple, but I hope you like it. I asked Aunt Katherine for some advice.”

She presented the plates. On each were five bite-sized sausages, a handful of cherry tomatoes, a few slices of bacon and mushrooms, and to top it all off, a healthy portion of buttery scrambled eggs.

“Wow, this tastes amazing!” Jennifer complimented.

Lizzie beamed. In truth, she was quite proud of her breakfast, but it was rare to see her mom this impressed.

“There’s some orange juice and milk, but I didn’t make any coffee since I didn’t know how to use the machine.”

“That’s fine, thank you so much sweetie, this was an awesome surprise.” Philip gave her another hug. Lizzie even let him sneak in a forehead kiss, it was Christmas after all.

“Don’t you want to sit and eat with us?” He asked as she headed for the stairs.

“Sorry, I do, but I need to finish packing before Lucas arrives.”

Back in her room, Lizzie began checking off the final items on her packing list. Not wanting to repeat the events of Thanksgiving, she prepared not one, but two spare sets of pajamas and packed three extra pairs of goodnites.

She packed her other clothes, carefully choosing her best Christmas outfits.

“Books, Switch, chessboard, and vitamins…,” she mentally checked items off as she tossed them into her luggage.

The doorbell rang just as she finished zipping up her suitcase.

“Hi Lissie! Mewwy… Mewwy Cwistmas!”

“Hi Lucas, Merry Christmas to you too!” Lizzie smiled. “Merry Christmas Aunt Jenny and Uncle Grant!” Under his winter jacket, Lucas was once again dressed in his footed sleeper, this one a forest green. His outfit was completed with matching green mittens and boots.

“Merry Christmas Lizzie,” Jenny replied. “Are you ready for the trip?”

“Yup, I just finished packing.” She revealed her suitcase and backpack.

“Let me help you get that onto the car,” Grant offered, but Lizzie politely declined, stating that she could do it herself.

The car trunk swung open to reveal several wrapped boxes.

“Wow, they’re so many presents!”

“Now don’t tell anyone else, but there’s extra presents this year. Lucas picked them out, there’s one for you too, Lizzie!”

“Can I open it now?”

“You’ll have to wait until tomorrow for that.” Lizzie gave her aunt an overdramatic pout, crossing her arms for a moment before breaking into a giggle.

“What’s with the two garbage bags though?”

“Those are some of Lucas’ old clothes we’re donating for Aunt Mira’s church event.”

“We brought some of your old clothes too.” Jennifer appeared from behind, holding a similar bag.

“Wait, you didn’t take any of my favorite clothes, right?”

“Don’t worry sweetie, we didn’t take anything from your closet. Only old clothes that don’t fit you anymore,” Philip reassured.

“Alright, if we’re all packed, then let’s move out!” Grant announced.

Lizzie hopped onto the car, checking to see where Lucas’s car seat was. Instead, all she found was what looked like a mess of straps in the leftmost rear seat.

“What’s that?” Lizzie asked as her aunt led Lucas toward the seat.

“Oh, this? This is Lucas’s new car harness. After the last trip, we wanted to find something that Lucas was more willing to accept since we didn’t want a repeat of the car seat from last time.

“You know how I work at a special needs equipment store, right?” Her aunt asked. Lizzie didn’t, but she nodded anyway.

“Well, coincidentally, they’re testing out this new product. A vehicle safety harness. It helps position Lucas and keep him safe, much like the car seat, while being far less bulky.

“The company is still trying them out in limited quantities to see if it’s worth carrying full-time. It’s also very adaptable and has plenty of accessories.”

“How does it work?” Lizzie asked, intrigued.

“Let me show you,” Jenny said. She fiddled for a bit before detaching one bundle from the others, lowering it down for Lucas to step into. “The harness first goes onto the passenger like so.” Jenny then pulled it up and over his shoulders.

The web unfolded to reveal two straps running horizontally, one around the waist, and the other under the armpits. The ends of each joined in the back with two buckles, which Jenny promptly fastened, pulling the harness secure around Lucas’s body.

The two straps Lucas had stepped into now ran along the inner side of either leg, connecting to the front of the waist strap. The straps that had gone over his shoulders ran all the way around front and back, connecting the horizontal straps.

“Normally, we’d might have to tighten the straps so the harness is snug, but not too tight. However, since Lucas just rode in it, it’s already perfectly fitted,” Jenny said, pointing to the adjusters on his shoulders.

On the seat, there was still one vertical strap remaining, which was pulled tight against the back of the seat. Jenny guided Lucas onto the seat, so his back lined up with the strap.

“Finally, the harness is attached to the seat at these four points.” Jenny pointed to four rings. One at the top of each shoulder, and one on either side of his waist.

Jenny then hopped onto the seat beside Lucas and motioned for Lizzie to do the same. From here, she brought out four straps from the back of the seat, two going over and two from between the seat cushions. She pulled each strap through its corresponding ring, before feeding it back behind the seat.

Reaching behind, Jenny fastened all of them to the central anchor point on the back.

“Wow, that’s cool, but it seems to have taken a bit longer than the car seat.”

“You’re right, it does take a while to set up. We’re still not too sure if we’ll use it in the long run, since a car seat is safer overall. But Lucas seems to enjoy it a lot more, and it’s a lot easier to get him in if he’s happy and cooperative.”

“Me like seatbelts!” Lucas smiled. Jenny smiled back, handing him his Chompa.

“Is it as safe though? Wouldn’t he be able to reach around and just unbuckle himself?” Lizzie asked.

“The buckles are all behind him and out of reach,” Grant explained. “Of course, just like with the car seat, we have a strap cutter in case of emergencies.” He waved the tool from the driver’s seat.

“If you don’t believe it, you’re welcome to try one. I loaned two to have one in each vehicle. I think I still have the other one in the bag back here…” Jenny said.

“Oh no no, no thank you,” Lizzie said, shaking her head and waving her hands in front of her. Perhaps she would’ve tried it if it was a short trip. But the thought of being stuck for the entire ride to her cousins’ didn’t sound fun. Memories of Thanksgiving were still fresh in her mind.

Jenny chuckled, “I’m only kidding of course. Another reason we chose to use the harness was so we wouldn’t need you to match with him again. In fact, that’s also why we decided to meet here, so we could get him dressed before seeing you. Thankfully, Lucas has gotten a lot better with his diapers recently. Of course, if you want to try it sometime, you just let us know,” she mentioned with a wink.

Lizzie smiled, she appreciated them going out of their way to consider her feelings.

“Alright, I hate to rush everyone along, but if we want to make it for dinner we should head out soon,” Grant called out from the driver’s seat.

***

The first few hours of the ride were relatively uneventful. Lizzie alternated between her phone, Switch, and books to keep herself occupied. A bunch of her friends were still at Madison’s, and she scrolled by plenty of pictures. Lizzie sighed, a bit sad that she was missing out on all of the fun.

She occasionally checked in with Lucas too, although he spent a lot of the time sleeping.

Lizzie herself didn’t sleep. Not only was she a bit too excited to fall asleep, she also didn’t want to risk missing an opportunity to use the bathroom. Her experience with the diaper was one Lizzie didn’t want to repeat again.

As she thought about it, Lizzie realized her bladder was feeling a bit full again. “Uncle Grant, do you think we can stop for a washroom break soon?”

“Soldier, that’s the third time you’ve been to the washroom today and we finished lunch less than an hour ago! Just what did you drink this morning?” Philip asked.

“Are you feeling okay? You’re not feeling sick, are you?” Jennifer asked.

“No, I’m fine, I just want to pee is all. I guess I drank too much water.”

“There’s a rest stop just ten minutes ahead, we can stop by there.”

“Thanks Uncle Grant.”

“No worries, if you have to pee, you have to pee. Besides, it’ll be good to stretch our legs for a moment.”

The car soon pulled into a gas station and Lizzie quickly went to relieve herself. When she got back, she noticed Lucas walking around in his harness. A strap led off the back, to which Aunt Jenny held on to. Lucas stomped around, playing with the snow.

Lizzie couldn’t help but chuckle. “He looks like a dog on a leash.”

“Lizzie, that’s not nice,” Jennifer said.

“Don’t worry, Lucas actually enjoys pretending to be a puppy running around, since he knows he can’t get into any trouble while wearing his harness,” Jenny explained.

“Woof woof!” Lucas agreed, going onto all fours in the snow. Thankfully, his mittens kept him safe and warm.

“But your mom is also right, other people might find that offensive,” Philip said.

“Sorry,” Lizzie apologized, before joining Lucas for a little fun in the snow.

Soon, they were back on the car. It took less than a minute to reattach the harness to the seat, which Lizzie thought seemed convenient enough.

Back on the road, the family drove by pastures upon pastures of pristine white snow. It was a cloudy day, with the snow continuing to flutter outside her window. But Lizzie was glad that it seemed like they were going to have a white Christmas.

After only an hour, Lizzie felt the urge to pee again. She tried ignoring it at first, distracting herself with some music. But it wasn’t too long before her bladder felt like bursting.

“Uncle Grant,” Lizzie started sheepishly, “I need to use the washroom again.” It must have been the soda she had for lunch.

The families soon pulled over to a McDonald’s, where Lizzie quickly went and did her business.

“If I knew you needed to go to the washroom that many times, I would’ve just gotten you to wear a diaper,” Jennifer joked as Lizzie returned to the car.

“Ha ha mom, very funny.” Lizzie rolled her eyes.

“I know we’re joking, but given the road conditions, we really can’t afford to stop more than one more time if we want to make it on time for dinner.” Grant frowned.

“Sorry, I think I got all of it out this time,” Lizzie said.

“If we have to stop again, you might actually have to wear a goodnite for the remainder of the trip,” Jennifer warned.

“I’ll only need one more stop at most, I promise.”

Thankfully, the conversation ended there, and the family got back onto the road.

True to her word, Lizzie only needed one more stop, and while her mom had once again suggested she wear a goodnite, her dad had managed to convince her since they were less than an hour from their destination.

The sun long set by the time they pulled into the neighborhood. But even in the dark, Aunt Mira’s house was easy to find.

From afar, Lizzie could see their house shine in the night. Lights snaked across the roof and around the railings, illuminating the house in a warm glow.

“Wow, Lucas, look at the lights!” Jenny said as they approached the building.

“Pwetty!” Lucas exclaimed, his face lighting up.

In front, several Christmas-themed decorations stood. Multiple inflated snowmen, a family of gingerbreads, and an assortment of large candy canes welcomed them. Several reindeer were scattered around the lawn, interacting with the other figures. And, standing in the middle of it all was a large Christmas tree, decorated with all sorts of ornaments and lights.

Everything shone with Christmas joy, bringing a smile to Lizzie’s face. This is why the families always chose Aunt Mira’s house for their Christmas gatherings.

The car pulled into the driveway, and the families began rolling their suitcases toward the door. Lights illuminated either side of the pathway.

By the door, an inflatable Santa sat in a rocking chair, sipping from a mug. A large sack laid beside him, and tops of presents peeked out from within.

“Merry Christmas!” Aunt Mira exclaimed as she opened the door. She was already in the festive spirit, dressed in a red and white sweater with a Santa hat on top.

“Wow, you really outdid yourself again this year, Mira,” Philip said after the parents exchanged greetings.

“Oh, thank you, thank you, the kids just really love Christmas.”

“You mean you really love Christmas,” Uncle Samuel said in a stern voice as he appeared from behind. However, he too was wearing a Santa hat, and quickly broke into a smile as he exchanged greetings with everyone.

“And how are you two doing this year, do you think you’re on the nice list?” Samuel asked, looking down toward the two children.

“Yes!” Lucas said. Lizzie nodded shyly as well, but smiled.

“Well then, in that case, here’s an early Christmas present. But only if you promise to eat it after dinner,” Uncle Samuel said, handing them each a candy cane.

The two reached for the treat, only for their uncle to pull back at the last moment. “I didn’t hear you promise.”

“We promise!” Lucas and Lizzie exclaimed. Lizzie didn’t even particularly like candy, but she couldn’t help but get pulled in by the Christmas spirit. It was rare to her stern-looking uncle so cheerful.

Lizzie stepped inside and removed her boots. Lights ran around edges of walls, leading off into the living room. A large Christmas tree sat in a corner, the surrounding floor already littered with gifts. Stockings for each child hung above the fireplace. Even the couch cushions were red and green.

“Lizzie, let me show you your place downstairs,” Mira said.

The Christmas lights continued down to the basement, snaking along the railings and floor.

They turned a corner into the basement living room. However, in place of the couches and TV were several mattresses laid out on the floor.

“We couldn’t fit everyone in the rooms this year. So rather than have only a few people sleep on the floor, we thought why not have all of the kids together in the basement?”

Lizzie frowned, she really didn’t want to share a room with the others, it made it much more difficult to hide her goodnites.

“I’m sorry Lizzie, I know you would’ve preferred your own room, but we can’t fit everyone. So unless you want to room with your parents like Lucas…”

Lizzie briefly considered it, but then remembered that her father snored.

Mira brought her over to the far corner. “I did save you this bed in the corner, so you have a bit more privacy than the others,”

“Thanks Aunt Mira.” In reality, the corner offered minimal extra privacy, but it was the thought that count. Lizzie would need to be extra careful during this stay.

“Anyways, I’ll let you get settled in, but come up quick as we’ll be having dinner soon. Oh, and please make an effort to keep the bedding on the mattresses and not on the floor.”

The request seemed a bit peculiar, but Lizzie nodded, plopping herself onto the mattress as her aunt left. She unzipped her luggage and began unpacking.

“Lizzie!” The girl hardly had time to react before a little green bundle crashed into her, causing her to tumble onto her bed.

The little green bundle turned out to be Alice. She was still giggling as Lizzie helped her to her feet. “Merry Christmas Alice, and wow, you look so cute!”

Alice was wearing a green dress with a brown belt. Her legs were covered in red and white striped stockings and a green hat completed the look.

“You’re an elf!” Lizzie realized, a part of her suddenly wishing she had dressed up too.

“Yeah, our mom made us all wear it.” Noah and Calvin showed up from behind, wearing similar outfits.

“Aww, don’t worry, you both look adorable too,” Lizzie said with a smirk. Calvin stuck out his tongue in response while Noah just looked away.

“Mom wanted us to come get you, it’s time to eat,” Noah mumbled.

The four stumbled upstairs. The delicious smell of the Christmas feast reached their noses before they even stepped foot into the dining room. They entered to find plates upon plates of mouthwatering food laid out on the tables before them.

“Hurry, we’re about to take the pictures.” Uncle Joseph beckoned them over. Most of the family was already gathered behind the table. Uncle Grant manned the tripod as the others got into place.

They snapped what felt like a million pictures before finally sitting down to eat.

Returning to the kids table with a plate of food, Lizzie saw Lucas still wearing his harness from the car.

“Why’s Lucas still wearing the harness?” Lizzie asked.

“Let me show you,” Jenny said. She brought Lucas over to sit on a nearby chair.

“Lucas dear, mommy is going to secure you to the seat to keep you safe, okay?”

“iPad.”

“Alright, but only until I bring you your food. And then you can play after you’ve finished dinner, okay?”

“Okay,” Lucas nodded. Jenny pulled out a small bundle of straps from her bag and began getting to work. Lizzie watched as the mess of straps unfolded to an X shape. It became clear as Jenny began securing the two straps at the top to the harness.

“You can secure it to the chair just like on the car!” Lizzie realized.

“Exactly!” Jenny said. “This is far less bulky than the highchair. But unlike the highchair, he can topple it over if he’s feisty enough. So Grant or I always need to be nearby when using the harness.”

“But why does he need to wear the harness at all? He was sitting just fine by himself during Thanksgiving,” Charlotte, who had been listening in, asked.

Lizzie turned to see all of the children were keenly watching the demonstration.

“Good question,” Grant said, joining the conversation. “You’re right that Lucas doesn’t need the harness, just like how he doesn’t need the highchair. Lucas usually does a good job of staying seated. But sometimes, whether he’s having a bad day and throwing a tantrum, or if he’s feeling a bit restless, we might use tools like the highchair or harness to help him stay safe.

“Today is a bit of an exception though. Since your aunt is helping her company evaluate the harness, we’re trying to extensively test all of its functionality.

“This is the first overnight trip we’ve been on, so we’re making sure to try it out and catch any potential flaws,” Grant concluded.

Lucas craned his head, noticing the attention from everyone. “Seatbelt make Lucas safe,” Lucas said, giving everyone a thumbs up before turning back to his iPad.

“Of course, when using the safety devices, it’s vital that we keep a close eye on him to make sure nothing goes wrong. In fact, it might be even more important than when not using them because if anything happens, Lucas has limited ability to help himself,” Jenny explained.

The other kids asked more questions and Jenny went about re-explaining the harness like she had to Lizzie earlier. Not wanting to listen to it again, Lizzie instead sat down and began munching on her Christmas dinner.

Lizzie’s plate was filled to the brim with juicy chicken thighs, savoury pork belly, and an assortment of sautéed veggies. This went along with a bowl of creamy soup and a healthy helping of mashed potatoes.

As the kids enjoyed their feast, they talked about what they wanted for Christmas.

One by one, kids and adults alike began to disperse after finishing their food. After a second helping of chocolate lava cake, Lizzie helped clear some dishes before heading to the living room to join the others.

Most of the family was sitting on the couches and floor in front of the TV, watching Home Alone. Lizzie watched for a bit, but having watched this movie nearly every Christmas, she quickly grew bored.

“Psst, you want to go downstairs?” Lizzie whispered to Noah, who was sitting on the floor with his phone.

“Down.”

The two snuck to the TV in the basement and booted up Lizzie’s Switch. It wasn’t long before Calvin, Alice, and even Charlotte came down, looking to join in.

The kids had a blast, laughing and screaming as they raced each other around the tracks of Mario Kart.

Lizzie was about to win another race when a knock at the door disrupted them.

“Lizzie, can you come here for a moment?” Jennifer called out from behind the door.

“Just a minute, we’re almost done.” Noah was hot on her heels.

“Right now please,” Jennifer said again.

“Alright, alright, I’m coming,” Lizzie said. Pausing the game, she tossed her controller to the side and stomped to the door.

“What do—“ Lizzie started, before noticing her dad at the door as well. He had a seriousexpression on his face. Lizzie forced herself to take a deep breath. “What did you need me for?”

“There’s a small change to the bedtime routine for tonight—“ Philip paused for a bit before continuing, “Let me cut to the chase. Your Aunt Mira heard about the leak during Thanksgiving, and she asked if you could wear these tonight instead,” he said, pulling out a white bundle from a bag.

“What?” Lizzie said, instantly recognizing the unmistakable crinkling sound. “No, no way,” she took a few steps back.

“Lizzie, you know we’re at your uncle and aunt’s house, we need to follow their rules.”

“But I won’t leak. That was just one time, I haven’t leaked since then!”

“Lizzie, we know you leaked once more after Thanksgiving,” Jennifer stated flatly. “We appreciate that you cleaned up all by yourself, but your Aunt Mira isn’t wrong for being cautious.”

“Then you know I can clean it up too if I do leak.”

“We do. And we would obviously help you clean up too, but that’s beside the point. You know well that leaking could damage the mattress and other bedding. Besides, how would you explain to your cousins if you had to air out your mattress?”

“How about I wear two layers of goodnites? And I’ll also make sure to pee twice before sleeping. And… and… Please, I’ll do anything. I just don’t want to wear that. Please!”

“Lizzie… Enough. You know that those aren’t foolproof. And we are guests here, so we have to respect their rules. How about this, if you don’t wet for the next night or two, I’ll ask your aunt if you can go back to using goodnites for the remainder of the trip, okay?” Her father consoled.

Lizzie could hardly believe their words. Why couldn’t her aunt and parents trust her? It wasn’t like she leaked on purpose. So why were her parents forcing this onto her?

“I hate you!” Lizzie said, ripping the bag out of her father’s hands and sprinting away.

She ran and ran, eventually finding a bathroom to lock herself inside. Sitting on the toilet, she felt her frustration continue to rise.

She fiddled with the diaper in her hand, folding and unfolding it.

Why do I have to wear this like a stupid baby?

Lizzie threw the diaper at the floor with all her might. A million angry thoughts ran through her head.

Why am I being punished?

Why doesn’t anyone trust me?

But perhaps what angered her the most was the fact that deep down, she knew her aunt was right. She had only leaked once or twice in past years, but now, she had already leaked twice in the past month alone.

Was her bedwetting getting worse? Would she actually need to wear diapers?

Despite her anger, Lizzie couldn’t help but chuckle at the irony. Normal kids eventually graduated from diapers to goodnites. And here she was, doing it all backwards.

Eventually Lizzie pulled out her phone, searching up some funny videos to help her anger subside.

After only a few minutes, a knock at the door interrupted her. “Lizzie, are you in there?” The voice belonged to Uncle Samuel.

Lizzie hesitated, but eventually got up and opened the door a crack.

“Hi Uncle Samuel, did you need something?” Lizzie hoped her voice sounded normal.

“In fact I do, I was wondering if you could help me with the old car in the garage.”

“Uhh, sure.” Lizzie answered, not sure why her uncle needed her in particular. “Can I meet you there in a few minutes?”

Her uncle nodded before leaving. Lizzie quickly rebagged the diaper, bringing it downstairs and stuffing it deep into her suitcase before heading to the garage.

The strong stench of motor oil hit her nose as soon as she stepped foot into the garage. The family van was parked ahead of her, but her uncle wasn’t anywhere to be seen.

“Over here!” his voice called out from the other side of the garage.

As she walked, she saw a bookshelf on the side with several trophies and medals, as well as several pictures of her uncle with a variety of different racecars. She’d heard that her uncle was into cars, but she hadn’t realized he actually raced.

Peering around the family van, Lizzie saw what she could only describe as an epic-looking racecar.

“Wow,” Lizzie couldn’t hide her amazement. The red car glistened under the shop lights.

“She’s pretty ain’t she?” Uncle Samuel said with a proud smile, running a hand along the white stripe that ran down the middle.

“I didn’t know you were a racer.”

“Was. And I was by no means a pro.”

“But you won so many trophies and medals!”

“Oh, most of those were small races. I’m far too old to actually race, your uncle is more of a mechanic these days,” he said with a chuckle.

He patted the hood of the car, “I rescued this old puppy. Good old 2015 GT 500. She wasn’t even that old, but the transmission was faulty and the bumper had a couple dents. The previous owner knew little about cars, just wanted to get rid of it when it wasn’t working, so I got her for a really great price.”

Lizzie nodded, not fully understanding, but she’d never seen her uncle so passionate. It was a stark contrast to his normal stern self.

“Anyway, I’m rambling. I wanted your help with changing out the brake pads and oil. Would you like to help?”

“Sure,” Lizzie said, “But why me?”

“Oh, all of the adults are still watching the movies, and I was going to get the twins to help but they were busy playing games.”

The reasoning sounded a little weak to Lizzie, but she didn’t mind lending a hand, she had been wanting a distraction anyways.

“Before we start, you’re going to need some protection so you don’t get all dirty.” He pointed to himself. Uncle Samuel had changed out of his Santa outfit, and was wearing grey coveralls with a pair of thick gloves. “If you could put on one of those coveralls and gloves over there, I think you’re roughly the same size as the twins so they should all fit.”

Lizzie didn’t particularly like being reminded that she was the same size as her much younger cousins, but stepping into them, the coveralls were indeed a perfect fit.

The next hour was spent fixing the car with her uncle. It was surprisingly fun to learn. Her uncle actually let her do a lot of the work while walking her through the steps.

“Whew,” Lizzie said, exhausted after tightening down the last bolt.

“Great work!” Lizzie smiled back as she began taking off the coveralls. Wiping a bit of sweat off her forehead in the process.

“Thanks, I guess I should get ready for bed,” Lizzie said, glancing at the time on her phone, she had just over an hour remaining.

“While on a normal night I would certainly agree, I don’t think we’re done yet.”

When Lizzie gave him a confused look, he continued, “We haven’t even tested the new brakes out! I think we can spare half an hour and take the car out for a quick spin, don’t you agree?”

It took Lizzie a couple seconds to register the question before she nodded excitedly.

“Well, don’t just stand there, hop in!”

Lizzie hopped into the passenger seat and got ready to fasten herself when she was greeted by a surprise. Aside from the normal seatbelt, the seat also had a bunch of other straps.

“Let me help you with the racing harness. I installed those myself. They’re technically not street legal but in my experience they’re far safer and more comfortable than a seatbelt. That being said, your aunt makes me and the kids promise to wear both since it’s safest that way,” Her uncle explained.

“If you mind, you can stick with just the normal seatbelt.” Lizzie shook her head, she wanted to feel like a real racer.

Her uncle pulled two straps over her shoulders, securing them to a buckle that came up from between her crotch. He then pulled two straps from either side of her waist, feeding those into the same buckle before tightening everything down.

Once they were fully buckled in, her uncle started the car. The engine roared to life, and soon they were on the road.

Even with the earlier snow, the roads had been shovelled clean. But despite that, Uncle Samuel still drove carefully down the streets.

They made a pitstop at a Tim Hortons where Uncle Samuel got them each a hot chocolate.

“Alright, it’s a bit chilly, but there isn’t any ice. Let’s do a little safe demonstration. Are you ready?” Samuel asked as they pulled onto a small freeway.

“Yes!”

With that, he shifted the car into gear and the powerful engine roared as Lizzie felt herself pushed firmly into the seat. The car blitzed onto the empty freeway as Lizzie giggled in delight.

Uncle Samuel soon slowed the car down, a smooth deceleration before they rounded the first corner. Despite this, Lizzie felt her body lean sideways, pushing hard against the harness.

The feeling reminded her of the car seat. The unyielding straps of the harness keeping her firmly positioned as the car twisted and turned.

“Do you want to try something even more exciting?” Samuel asked. Lizzie eagerly nodded. What more did her uncle have in store?

The car slowed down as they climbed up a small mountain. Lizzie wasn’t quite sure how the slow crawl was more fun than speeding on the highway.

She was about to ask when they reached the top and the car pulled into an empty lot filled with snow.

“Alright, have you heard of drifting?” Uncle Samuel asked her.

“Is it the same as sliding in Mario Kart?”

“Basically! But it’s a lot more fun in real life. Put the hot chocolate into the cupholder so we don’t spill and let me show you.”

With that, her uncle put the car into gear. The car accelerated through the lot before he jerked the steering wheel to the side, causing the car to spin sideways.

However, instead of turning, the car kept sliding in their original direction. Lizzie watched as the car headed toward the trees along the edge, they didn’t seem to be stopping or slowing down!

But her uncle shifted the car, turning the car further as the wheels slowly picked up traction. They narrowly avoided the trees, before Uncle Samuel jerked the wheel again.

Lizzie screamed in delight as the car slid this way and that, throwing her side to side against the harness.

Soon, she realized they were making figure eights in the snow.

Eventually, the car rolled to a stop and Lizzie took a moment to catch her breath.

“Was that fun? I hope I didn’t scare you.”

“Was that fun? That was amazing!” Lizzie said, “Can we do more?”

“Hmm,” Uncle Samuel checked the time, “If you promise to shower quickly when we get home, I think we can squeeze one more in.”

With that, the car kicked back to life and soon Lizzie was sent into another screaming frenzy.

***

On the way back, Uncle Samuel drove slower on the freeway, and the two enjoyed the view of the city while sipping on their hot cocoa.

As they re-entered the city, Lizzie realized it would soon be her bedtime. And bedtime meant changing into that cursed diaper. The thought alone made her frown as she sat there quietly.

“What’s wrong?” Samuel asked, clearly having picked up on her mood change.

When Lizzie didn’t speak, he continued, “Is it about the diaper situation by any chance?”

Lizzie opened her mouth, before realizing it was obvious that her uncle would know. “Yeah,” she said quietly.

“I’m sorry Lizzie, I honestly tried to convince your aunt about it. But your aunt has had several nightmares with goodnites back when we were raising Calvin and Noah, so she was adamant.

“We had to throw out many bedsheets and blankets alike. You might know this, but many of the sheets at our home are hand-sown by her and her mom.

“You met her once, but you were quite young so you might not remember her. She passed away soon after the twins were born. The blankets were one of the only things she left behind, so they hold a lot of sentimental value for us.”

“Oh.” Suddenly, her aunt’s earlier warning about the bedding made much more sense.

“Because of that, your aunt takes super good care of all of our bedding. Even the new ones she’s made are still dedicated in her mom’s name. After the goodnites started leaking, she made Calvin and Noah go back to wearing diapers until they were both fully trained, and Alice still wears diapers now as well, even though she’s getting older.

“So I know it’s especially tough for you. And I apologize for making you wear the diapers, but I hope you can understand your aunt wasn’t purposely trying to make you uncomfortable.”

There was a short silence before Lizzie spoke, “Thanks for explaining. I understand that Aunt Mira has her reasons. And they do make sense. But…” Her voice trailed off.

“It still feels unfair that you’re being punished for something you can’t control?”

“How did you…?”

“I’ll tell you a secret, but you have to promise not to tell anyone. Not even your father, okay?”

Lizzie nodded.

“I actually used to be a bedwetter too.”

Lizzie blinked, dumbfounded.

“Until I was just about your age in fact. So I can relate a bit with your situation. I know the feeling of hiding it from your cousins and classmates. I know the feeling of alienation. And I know the teasing too.

“My younger sister, otherwise known as your mom, and the others used to tease me about it too. But your grandma managed to nip that in the bud pretty early.”

Samuel paused as Lizzie absorbed the information. Her uncle, the same uncle that fixed racecars and drifted in the snow, used to be a bedwetter just like her?

“If you can let this old man give you one piece of advice: know that your bedwetting doesn’t define who you are.”

“But… How can I do that? It always gets in the way.”

“It will be annoying at times, perhaps even a lot of the time. But Lizzie, you need to remember that you are so much more. You’re a smart, beautiful, and thoughtful child. You’re a chess tactician, an athletic beast at dodgeball. And most importantly, you’re a genuinely kind person. All of those define you far more than being a bedwetter.”

Lizzie blushed at her uncle’s praise, but was he right? Would her cousins and friends see her as those things if they knew she was a bedwetter too?

More importantly, did she even see herself as more than a little girl who still wet the bed?

“I know it’s something you may not understand just yet. It’s certainly not something I understood at your age. But hopefully soon one day it will make sense.”

“But how?”

“Unfortunately, you’ll have to figure that one out on your own kid. But I’m not worried, you’re one of the smartest ones I know,” he said, patting her leg.

The remainder of the trip was quiet as Lizzie sat pondering her uncle’s words.

Before she knew it, the car was in the driveway. Lizzie stayed patiently seated as the car shut off and Samuel opened the door.

“Are you coming?”

Lizzie turned to look at the harness securing her to the seat, before realizing that this wasn’t a car seat. Sheepishly, she began fiddling with the release.

“Thanks for tonight, Uncle Samuel, I really needed it.” Lizzie hopped off the car.

“No, I should be thanking you! You were such a big help.”

Lizzie smiled before heading back into the house. She had already realized earlier that her uncle hadn’t actually needed her help for any of the tasks, but was glad he’d given her the chance to help anyway.

More importantly, she felt a bit better about the diaper now, knowing more of the context. And knowing her uncle’s similar past helped her feel less isolated.

Lizzie got ready for bed. After her shower, she pulled out the white bundle from between her clothes.

She sighed, knowing she’d have to go through with it.

Sighing again, she taped the diaper up while sitting on the counter, careful to secure the tapes closely, lest she leak even with the diaper. It took her a few tries as she tried to remember how Aunt Jenny had taught her.

It was only when she hopped off the counter that she felt the thick padding between her legs. She had worn Lucas’s diapers before, but she’d forgotten how uncomfortably massive they were. As she walked, the diaper crinkled loudly, causing her to cringe.

Putting her pajama bottoms on, she couldn’t help but frown, the bulge seemed obvious to her in the mirror. Thankfully, she’d brought an oversized hoodie which was long enough to cover a portion of it.

Lizzie moved around again. Thankfully, the pants did help muffle the crinkling enough that she was quite confident her cousins wouldn’t notice.

She finished brushing her teeth before exiting the bathroom. Outside, her dad was waiting for her.

“Lizzie,” he seemed hesitant to continue. Lizzie gulped, was he going to check her diaper? Or scold her for being late to bed?

“Sorry again about the diaper,” He instead whispered. “Your mom and I…”

“It’s okay.” Lizzie interrupted, “And I’m sorry for saying I hate you. I don’t hate you and mom, I was just mad at the situation.”

“We understand. It’s not your fault. We should’ve done a better job bringing it up with you. Hug it out?” He reached out his arms.

Lizzie smiled, of course her father had found an excuse for another hug. But today, she didn’t blame him, instead accepting the bear hug before heading downstairs.

“Where were you?” Noah asked as she returned downstairs to see the others were getting in bed. Uncle Samuel was helping Alice get tucked in.

“I went out for some fun,” Lizzie said with a wink to her uncle, who winked back.

“Alright now everyone, it’s time for bed. Charlotte, you too now,” Uncle Samuel called out to the girl as she was walking by, on her phone as usual.

“Huh? Oh, don’t worry uncle, my bedtime isn’t until later.”

“No young lady, I believe it’s right now actually. I can’t have you waking up the others when you eventually decide to go to sleep, so get ready within the next ten minutes unless you want Santa to take away your presents tomorrow.” Uncle Samuel’s voice left no room for argument.

“Fine,” Charlotte mumbled, storming off to the bathroom, much to Lizzie’s delight.

“Alright, before I shut off the lights, did everyone brush their teeth? Drink water? Use the bathroom? I don’t want you all tripping over each other trying to get up in the middle of the night.”

“I need some water,” Lizzie pulled out her water bottle and rushed upstairs.

On the way down, Lizzie bumped into Charlotte who had changed into t-shirt and shorts.

“Aren’t you going to be cold at night?” Lizzie asked.

“Unlike you, I don’t need to be wrapped up like a baby.” The statement caused Lizzie to flinch, but Charlotte didn’t even pause as she continued down the stairs.

“Took you long enough to waddle down the stairs,” Charlotte whispered to her as Lizzie slipped under the covers.

Lizzie froze again. Did Charlotte know about her diapers? Or was she just making an innocent joke? The thought made Lizzie uneasy as the other kids settled in for the night.

However, Charlotte said nothing more, and soon, the lights were turned off. And after the long day of travel and night of work, it didn’t take long before Lizzie fell to a deep sleep.