“Lizzie?… Lizzie?…” The voice sounded far away.

“Five more minutes,” Lizzie stirred.

“Good morning, Lizzieeeeeee,” the voice sang, getting louder. Lizzie ignored it, pulling the covers over her head. There was some shuffling along the foot of her bed but the voice stopped. Lizzie relaxed, drifting back to sleep.

“Ah!” Lizzie yelped, as something crawled under her covers, the warm bundle squirmed up, wrapping around her. “Hey, that tickles!”

Alice appeared from underneath the blanket, her smile wide.

“Let’s see how you like it.” Lizzie began her revenge, running her fingers along Alice’s sides.

“Ahh!” Alice half-laughed, half-screamed as she squirmed. Arms flailing to try and protect herself from Lizzie’s assault.

“Do you surrender to the might of the tickle monster?” Lizzie began tickling Alice’s stomach through her sleeper.

“I surrender, I surrender!” Alice exclaimed.

Lizzie stopped her attack, wrapping her arms around the little five year old in a gentle embrace. Alice returned the hug, snuggling her head against Lizzie’s chest.

“Good morning, Alice.”

“Good morning, Lizzie.”

“What time is it?”

“Seven thirty?”

Lizzie sighed, rubbing her eyes. Now that she had been jolted awake, it would be difficult to fall asleep. Not that Alice would let her. “Well, since we’re up, do you want to get something to eat?”

Alice nodded, and so Lizzie flipped over her covers and the two stumbled out of bed.

“Hey, you changed pajamas!” Alice said.

Lizzie looked down. Last night’s events came flooding back as she realized her outfit.

Lizzie brought her hands around her chest, in a futile attempt to cover the blue sleeper. “I… Well you see… They’re not mine… I borrowed them from Lucas actually. And uh… I was uh… cold last night and these were just warmer,” Lizzie stammered.

“Yours have feet too! We’re twins!” Alice replied, not seeming to care about the explanation. Footie pajamas don’t seem weird to a five year old, Lizzie realized. Still, she wanted to change out of them before Alice noticed the zipper.

“I guess we are.” Lizzie relaxed a bit and gave Alice’s head a rub. “How about we go get changed and I’ll meet you downstairs.” Alice nodded.

“Wait,” Lizzie called out as Alice was exiting the room. “Did you… need someone to change you?”

Alice stopped, turning around, she pulled down the zip of her sleeper, revealing her diaper. Lizzie was somewhat taken aback, but Alice didn’t seem to mind showing off her diaper. It was a light purple, decorated with various dancing ponies and rainbows.

“Nope!” Alice said happily, pointing to the stars in the front. The blue outlines were clear, indicating she hadn’t wet.

“How often do you wet?” Lizzie prodded, curious to her cousin’s bedwetting situation.

“I’ve been dry for…” Alice took a moment to think, “five nights in a row now!” She beamed.

“Wow, great job!” Lizzie said, somewhat disappointed at the fact that, despite being over twice her age, she couldn’t remember the last time she’d stayed dry for that many days in a row. “I’m going to take a quick shower, I’ll meet you downstairs in a bit.”

Lizzie was eager to step under the steaming water. She’d only been able to wipe herself with some wet paper towels the night before, afraid that a shower would’ve woken someone up.

It took some effort, but Lizzie managed to reach behind her and unzip herself. As she peeled off her goodnite, Lizzie realized with dismay that she had managed to wet again. It was barely damp, but the smell was unmistakable.

She threw the goodnite against the wall. That was her last one. What was wrong with her? She sat on the floor of the bathtub, face in her hands as she let the water run over her hair. Even Alice had a better time staying dry at night.

Why do I still wet?

The thought had first occurred when she was seven. She’d learned the hard way when she asked a couple friends what designs they had on their diaper, only to learn that they had all stopped months, if not years ago.

“Leaky Lizzie is still in diapers… Leaky Lizzie is still in diapers…” The bullies had moved onto their next target after only a couple of days. But even now, Lizzie could still hear their voices. It was from that day on that Lizzie vowed to never let anyone find out about her diapers again.

What if it never stopped?

The thought had crossed her mind more than a few times, but she’d always pushed it away.

I only have a few accidents. I am still small, I’m sure it will stop by next week.

But soon, weeks became months, and months became years. And with each passing day, that tiny sliver of fear had grown. Now, Lizzie felt that pent up anxiety weighing her down. In every other aspect, Lizzie was maturing and becoming an adult. Yet, this little problem stuck out like a sore thumb. It labeled her as a little baby, someone who couldn’t even control their own bladder.

Why can’t I just be normal?

She slapped her hand against the floor, causing the pooled water to splash about as she cried out in frustration. Life was so unfair. Tears welled in her eyes.

No. Lizzie got a hold of herself. She wasn’t going to cry. That was what little kids did.

Instead, she stood up, washing the tears out of her eyes. She took slow, deep breaths, letting the water cleanse her. She didn’t know how to deal with her problem now, but she wasn’t going to let it define her.

With a calm mind, she made a plan. She’d wash her clothes before heading out. Then, she’d buy a pack of goodnites at the mall using the allowance money she’d brought. Finally, she’d dry her clothes when she got back home.

Lizzie dried off, tossing her used goodnites, sealed within a couple ziplock bags, into the bathroom trash before bundling it. She swallowed her meds with a sip of water and tied her hair into a sleek high ponytail. She loved the way her hair swayed from side to side as she hopped down the stairs.

She first snuck out the front, where she was blasted by a gust of the icy winter wind. It took a few minutes to find the family trash bin, where she promptly disposed of the evidence before joining Alice in the kitchen, shivering slightly.

Alice was seated at the kids table, still rocking her Frozen jammies as she watched some YouTube on her phone.

“Hey, what took you—” Alice turned around to see Lizzie, “hey, you changed!” she curled her lips into a pout.

“Well, I showered and wanted to change. I’m sorry, I didn’t realize you still want to be twins,” Lizzie explained. Alice crossed her arms. “But isn’t my outfit cute?” Lizzie tried to cheer her up, twirling around, letting her white skirt flare out. She finished with a cheesy pose, showing off her new top. The white and red striped shirt had mid-length sleeves and left her shoulders exposed. It was a bit chilly for the weather, but Lizzie was more than willing to bare with it for the look.

Lizzie flashed a few more poses, finishing with her fingers pointed at her cheeks with an innocent look on her face. This one got a chuckle from Alice, and soon she was posing too. Lizzie quickly switched to become the photographer, holding her hands in a mock camera to snap pictures as Alice posed.

“Gimme some more flare. Yes, yes, that’s it. How about a cute one? A bigger smile… There we go, beautiful. Now a crazy one.” The two were barely able to hold in their giggling.

“What are you two doing?” The nasally voice interrupted their party. Lizzie sighed, turning around to face Charlotte. She was surprised to find her dressed in a light purple leotard. The long-sleeved garment was tight around her body, accentuating her thin arms. White tights covered her long legs. A thick winter coat, resting only on her head and shoulders, finished the outfit.

“What are you doing?” Lizzie bounced the question back.

“I just came back from practice,” Charlotte said, lifting up her hand, revealing a pair of ballet slippers. Her nose and cheeks a rosy pink from the chilly outdoors.

“Wow,” Alice hopped down from the table and went over to Charlotte. “So you’re a ballerina?” Charlotte nodded. “Can you do the splits?” Again, she nodded. “Show us, show us!”

“Fine,” Charlotte grunted, dropping her belongings onto a chair before walking over to the carpeted living room. There, she dropped onto one knee. Using her arms, she carefully lowered herself until her legs were in full splits.

“That’s so cool!” Alice clapped her hands, “You’re so awesome!”

“It’s nothing,” Charlotte said, looking away, her rosy cheeks turning a darker shade of red. Even Lizzie had to admit that it looked impressive. With her legs stretched out, Lizzie grew even more envious of Charlotte’s long, slim figure.

“Can I touch?” Alice didn’t wait for an answer before stroking Charlotte’s outstretched leg. When Charlotte didn’t immediately stop her, Alice got a bit more brave, and began poking at the taut muscles.

“Hey, that tickles!” Charlotte said, rolling away and standing up quickly before Alice could begin a full on assault.

“Did you have practice this morning? I thought it was Thanksgiving weekend,” Lizzie asked.

“Well, our teacher is pretty strict. She makes us practice every Monday and Friday morning, even on holidays.” Charlotte undid her hair, letting it fall from the neatly kept bun around her shoulders.

“Technically the Friday one is only for the students that need the extra practice, like you.” Aunt Katherine appeared at the doorway, dropping off a couple bags on the kitchen table.

“Mom!” Charlotte whined as Alice and Lizzie giggled.

“Oh, it’s alright, Ms. Sylvia said you’re improving very quickly!” aunt Katherine brushed a strand of Charlotte’s hair to the side. “Anyways, what are you two doing up so early?”

“Well, Alice woke up and then woke me up too. We were about to make some breakfast.”

“You know how to make breakfast?”

“Well, I was going to look for some cereal and milk,” Lizzie admitted.

“That won’t do. Let me teach you how to make my special omelet. Charlotte can help out too after she changes.”

“But mom—”

“No buts, I want to make sure you remember how to make the omelet too,” Katherine interrupted. Charlotte sighed before leaving to get changed.

“I can help too!” Alice piped up.

“Of course you can,” Katherine patted her on the head.

The four soon got to work, cracking eggs, chopping scallions, and frying strips of bacon. Even Alice helped by beating the eggs and buttering some toast.

Aunt Katherine demonstrated with the first omelet. First, she cooked the eggs in a healthy amount of melted butter. Next, she added the other ingredients they had prepared. Then using a spatula, she carefully wrapped the egg around the filling, lifting a perfectly packaged omelet out of the pan and onto the plate. The girls were impressed.

“Now it’s your turn.” The kitchen was soon a hectic mess as Katherine monitored the two older girls as they made their own omelets.

Lizzie’s first attempt didn’t turn out well. The egg got partially burnt and the omelet fell apart as she tried to lift it from the pan. Charlotte was quick to laugh and criticize, but her mom quickly shut her down, stating Lizzie was just learning and encouraged her to try again.

The second one came out a bit better, the shape was slightly odd, but Lizzie successfully plated it. Lizzie was beginning to get the hang of it, and soon, she was flipping out omelets left and right. The kitchen was soon filled with the wonderful aroma of bacon and eggs.

“Wow, what smells so good?” Lizzie turned around to see her dad and uncle Joseph enter the room.

“Your daughters are busy making their papas some breakfast,” Katherine said, giving her husband a hug and a quick kiss on the cheek.

“Well, perfect, because I’m starving,” the two fathers said in sync. The girls laughed, and each brought their prettiest omelets over to the table.

Other family members soon began piling in as well, drawn by the delicious smell from the kitchen.

“Thanks for helping you three, I can finish up here, go sit down and eat.” Lizzie nodded, her stomach growling, she’d only barely resisted the urge to sneak a couple bites while cooking.

She took her own plate, the one that was oddly shaped. As per aunt Katherine’s instructions, each plate had been finished with a simple salad, some sliced avocado, a piece of buttered toast, two orange slices, and a small bunch of fresh red grapes. There was also an extra plate of bacon and mini sausages to share, and Lizzie took some of each.

The plate looked amazing. And, as she bit into the first bite, she realized tasted even better than she had anticipated. The eggs, the scallions, the bacon, and the cherry tomatoes, all of the ingredients Lizzie had worked hard to prepare came together in a delicious masterpiece.

Drinks complemented the meal. Milk and juice for the kids, coffee and tea for the adults. The families sat together and chatted while they all enjoyed their meals.

As they finished breakfast, each of the parents thanked Lizzie and Charlotte for the delicious meal. Lizzie couldn’t help but blush at the compliments. It was only an omelet after all.

“What a great way to start the day,” uncle Samuel said with a happy sigh as he finished his coffee. “Really gets us all ready for the busy day ahead of us! Now, we are already a little behind schedule, so let’s hurry and get ready to leave.”

With that, the parents helped quickly clean up and everyone headed to prepare.

“Make sure you change into a sweater or something warmer,” Jennifer told Lizzie as she was leaving the kitchen.

“But it’s not that cold, and we’ll be inside most of the day, can I just wear a jacket?”

“Sure,” Philip jumped in to the rescue, cutting off Jennifer before she could respond, “but hand me one of your sweaters. I’ll keep it in my backpack so you can change into it if it gets cold.”

Her mom sighed, “And put on some leggings,” she said. Lizzie nodded, satisfied with the compromise, quickly leaving before her mom could change her mind.

***

Lizzie rushed out the door. She had waited for people to begin stepping outside before sneaking back into the basement laundry room. There, she happened to find her Fanta-stained pajamas in the hamper and so she tossed them in with her load before starting the cycle.

“Alright, looks like everyone’s finally here,” uncle Samuel said. Aside from the grandparents, who had decided they would stay at home, the families had all gathered outside.

Lizzie had put on her relatively thin, but puffy, red winter jacket, and a pair of black leggings under her white skirt. Her allowance, an entire thirty dollars, was safely tucked away in her jacket pocket.

“The kids, aside from Alice, will go in Jenny and Grant’s van. Alice and the rest of the adults will go in mine,” uncle Samuel announced.

Almost all of the kids with Jenny and Grant? They must have drawn the short straw this time.

“But I want to sit with Lizzie and Charlotte,” Alice complained. She had changed out of her pajamas and was dressed in a white shirt with black hearts. She also wore a matching skirt with black leggings. Alice had showed off her outfit earlier to Lizzie, having picked out the white skirt and leggings in particular in order to match with Lizzie. Mira had also made her wear a pink winter jacket. It had a Minnie Mouse logo on the chest with matching ears on the hood.

“You need to sit on your car seat, and we’re already running late.” There was no room for discussion in Samuel’s voice.

“It’s okay, we’ll be at the mall soon,” Lizzie comforted the little girl. With that, aunt Mira swooped in and picked Alice up, taking her into the vehicle.

The remaining kids followed uncle Grant and aunt Jenny to their car. Calvin and Noah were in front of Lizzie. The twins looked nearly identical from the back, with their black jackets and navy blue jeans. The only major difference was Calvin’s jacket had red accents whereas Noah’s were blue. Sometimes, it was difficult to tell the two apart, and Lizzie had only known because she caught a glimpse of Noah’s glasses before they had turned around.

As Grant slid open the door, he stopped. “There’s a small problem. Someone will have to sit in the extra car seat.”

“Can’t we just remove it?” Lizzie asked.

“It would take too long to get it removed, and like uncle Samuel said we’re already running late.”

“What if someone switches with Alice and we remove her seat instead?” Noah suggested.

“The seat is too big for her,” Grant replied, shaking his head. “One of you will have to use the seat.”

“How about we let Lucas choose?” Charlotte suggested.

“Hmm, that sounds like a good idea,” Jenny said, and the others began either nodding or shrugging at the suggestion. Lizzie shrugged, it seemed somewhat fair at least.

“Okay, seems like everyone agrees. Lucas, who do you want to sit with you?”

“I want Lissie,” Lucas blurted out almost immediately.

“Wait, but I—” Lizzie started, but a look around told her she would have no support from the other children. “Never mind,” she grumbled.

“Alright, that’s all settled then,” Jenny said, and began helping Lucas onto his seat.

Lizzie sighed, hopping into the now familiar seat. She shifted the straps around, but didn’t bother to buckle herself, letting Grant take over.

As Lizzie felt the straps tighten around her body, she began to wonder if Charlotte had suggested letting Lucas decide on purpose. Had she anticipated that he would choose her given yesterday’s events?

“The red really suits you,” Charlotte’s smirked, taking her seat between Lucas and Lizzie. “How does it feel, strapped in safe and sound?” Charlotte gave Lizzie’s leg a poke.

“Stop that.” Lizzie said, noticing Calvin and Noah giggling at her situation.

“Oh, what are you going to do about it?” As if to prove her point, Charlotte reached through and pinched Lizzie’s arm.

“Why you,” Lizzie tried to kick Charlotte, but she ducked away. Lizzie then tried to slap her, but leaned back in the seat as she was, it was impossible to reach her.

“Aunt Jenny, Lizzie’s trying to hit me,” Charlotte called out.

“She pinched me first!”

“Settle down back there, both of you,” Grant said as he settled into the driver’s seat.

With that, the vehicles rolled out of the driveway and they were onto the road.

The ride took around half an hour, but thankfully, Charlotte had quickly gotten bored of teasing Lizzie and had spent most of the time browsing her phone. Lizzie had been content to do the same, chatting a bit with Ivie.

As they arrived at the mall, Calvin unfastened his seatbelt and stood onto his seat to get a better look outside the window.

“Calvin, sit down and fasten your seat belt,” Jenny said, peering over her shoulder. “Right now,” she added sternly.

The boy sat down, but was still bouncing in his seat as Grant drove around the parking lot. Lizzie looked at the massive outlet. The large store fronts were a pale yellow, with white roofs and some brown accents. Lizzie spotted several designer brands. She couldn’t wait to try on some new clothes. Off to the side, there were several other big-box stores, including a Target. They would have goodnites in stock.

The kids leaped out as soon as the ignition was turned off. That was of course, aside from Lizzie and Lucas. Lizzie tried to play it cool, acting nonchalant as she fiddled with her jacket, pretending to be busy.

“You need help getting out of your baby seat?” Charlotte asked, leaning her head back into the car.

“Uh… No… I’m just…” Lizzie stumbled to find a good excuse.

“Charlotte, Calvin, Noah, let’s go meet up with your parents,” Grant interrupted. Shuffling the three toward the mall entrance.

Jenny released Lizzie, allowing her to adjust her jacket, before moving to exit the car.

“Wait one second Lizzie, let me get Lucas first and we can walk over together.”

“But I can see them still, I can just run over.”

“I don’t think so, the parking lot is too busy. Just give me two minutes.”

Lizzie frowned, she wasn’t a little child like Noah, Calvin, or Alice. She was more than capable of navigating the parking lot on her own. Lizzie hopped off the car.

“Lizzie!” Jenny called after her, but Lizzie sped away, running after Noah and the others.

Lizzie questioned if she’d made a mistake. But Jenny wasn’t her mom, plus, it wasn’t like going across the parking lot was dangerous. Her aunt was probably just used to being overprotective from taking care of Lucas.

The rest of the group was gathered by a massive fountain at the entrance. Alice gave her a wave as she joined the group. Lizzie waved back, picking up a map of the mall along the way.

“Alright everyone, since a lot of people are out for lunch right now, we will go get our shopping done first.” This was met by the groans of many of the kids. “But…” Mira waited to regain the group’s focus. “We will meet back here at three and then go to play some fun games!” This elicited many cheers from the younger half of the group.

Unlike the other kids, Lizzie couldn’t wait to go shopping. She browsed the map, finding all of her favorite stores. Just as she was about to leave, she heard a voice from behind.

“Woah there soldier, where are you heading off in such a rush?” Philip asked, appearing from behind and putting a gentle hand on Lizzie’s shoulder. “So where did you want to head to first?”

“Oh, oh, how about Lululemon? I want some new leggings, my old ones are getting… well, old!” Lizzie said, tugging at her existing ones to emphasize her point.

“Sure, but that’s a ways away, let’s stop by Tommy Hilfiger first, your father hasn’t gotten new shirts in ages.” Jennifer said.

“I can go to Lululemon first and meet back there with you at Tommy’s later,” Lizzie said, not exactly eager to go shopping with her parents.

“No, you will do no such thing. The mall is too busy today and I’m not ready for you to get lost.”

“But mom, I have my phone.” Lizzie held it out proudly.

“And what would you do if you lost it, or if you got picked up off the streets?”

“But…”

“No buts. Unless you want me to rent one of those for you.”

Lizzie followed her mom’s gaze. To their right, there was a family of four. There was a boy that looked around ten or eleven, and his younger sister. But what stood out were the harnesses they wore.

The harnesses had a primary strap that encircled each kid’s upper body, joining together at the chest. Connected straps went over each shoulder, joining again at the back with a stuffed animal. The boy’s was a playful monkey whereas his sister’s was a yellow fox. The final piece was the lead attached to the back, its other end held by the parents.

The little girl ran around, her mom struggling to rein her in and prevent her from running into the crowd. She was clearly having fun. Her brother on the other hand looked more tamed, following idly beside his father.

Lizzie almost laughed, they looked ridiculous strapped up like dogs on a leash. There was no way that they rented those in her size, and even less likely her mom would actually go and rent one.

However, the look on her mom’s face began giving Lizzie second doubts. She decided not to test her hypothesis. Besides, Lizzie realized she’d need her parent’s money to buy her clothes, so it was a good idea to be on her best behavior for now.

“Okay, mom,” Lizzie said, and the three made their way toward Tommy’s.

Stepping inside, Lizzie immediately remembered why she hated the place. The stiff polos, the drab colors, everything about the store screamed old.

Jennifer immediately got to work, picking out various shirts and pants for Philip to try. Lizzie could have sworn her mom almost looked excited for once.

“Well, try to entertain yourself for a bit, we’ll try to be quick.” Philip said, patting Lizzie quickly before being dragged away by Jennifer.

Lizzie sighed, deciding she might as well check out the children’s section. But after a few minutes, she was already bored. Lizzie contemplated sneaking out to a nearby store, but reminded herself to behave. She could behave for a couple hours to get some leggings.

So instead, Lizzie decided to stay put and play some chess on her phone. She had finished three blitz games before her parents came back to fetch her. Her dad was already carrying two large bags of clothes.

Lizzie’s hopes of going to straight to Lululemon were shattered when they took another detour to Ralph Lauren. This happened a couple more times until Lizzie realized they had begun going the long way around. She thought about speaking up but bit her lip. Stay on her good side, Lizzie thought to herself.

Next, the family made their way to Levi’s. At least Levi’s was somewhat reputable among her classmates, and so Lizzie browsed around for a bit. She tried on a couple pairs, before finding a trendy pair of ripped, washed out, jeans.

Lizzie rushed over to her dad. “Can I—” she began, but her dad shook his head, cutting her off.

“I’m afraid all purchasing decisions must go through the boss’ approval, ma’am,” Philip said, pointing to her mom.

“Mom, please, can I get these, please,” Lizzie begged her mom, handing the pair to her. Jennifer played around with the pair in her hand for a bit.

“They are cute, but look at this large rip though, and the thin fabric, this doesn’t look durable at all. Fifty dollars? And they even look faded!”

“They’re a style, mom, please.” Lizzie thought of Alice’s puppy face, and tried her best to imitate. She brought her lips up into a pout, clasping her hands in front of her.

“You know what, since you’ve been patient for a while now, we can get it—”

Lizzie leapt up in joy, “thanks mom!” She almost gave her a hug.

“But you have to try out some clothes later for me, okay?” Lizzie nodded, too ecstatic at her new jeans to really process her mom’s question.

And Lizzie soon had to make good on that promise, as to her dismay, the next stop was The Children’s Place. Of all the stores in the world, Lizzie loathed this one the most. The Children’s Place. It was literally in the name. It had been fine when she was younger and didn’t know better, but after starting middle school, it had only taken one girl’s ridicule for Lizzie to quickly start learning the reputation of each brand. The Children’s Place sat close to the bottom of the fashion hierarchy, its clothes boring and childlike.

The problem was, her mom seemed to love the store. Lizzie flipped through some flowery dresses. Maybe it was because of the cheaper prices. Lizzie didn’t understand it, they weren’t poor, why was her mom so cheap? Or perhaps her mom genuinely found them cute.

Of course, Lizzie didn’t dare say anything to her face as she followed her mom around the store. Jennifer quietly humming as she picked through the racks, piling item after item into Lizzie’s arms for her to try on. Lizzie looked around, the store was filled with children shopping with their parents. As Lizzie expected, the average age seemed to be around Noah and Calvin’s.

Finally, they made their way to the changerooms, where Lizzie began mentally preparing herself.

“You step in there, I’ll hand you one outfit at a time, and you can come show us when you’re ready.”

Her mom handed her the first outfit. A pink sweater covered with red strawberries and a pair of denim shortalls. She changed and looked at herself in the mirror. Could her mom have chosen a more childish look?

“Oh those are adorable,” her mom said as Lizzie stepped out.

“Yeah, if I was seven,” Lizzie said under her breath.

“How do you like it?”

“The top I don’t really like, it’s a bit childish, but I guess the bottom is alright,” Lizzie said, thinking if there was a way she could pull off the shortalls at school. Maybe with a white or black tee.

“Lizzie!” Her thoughts were interrupted as she looked to see Alice running toward her.

Alice had changed into a new outfit, and as luck would have it, she too was wearing a pink top with matching denim shortalls.

Lizzie gave her mom a glare, as if to say “I told you it was childish.” But to her surprise, her mom sighed in awe.

“You two look adorable,” Mira and Jennifer said in unison. Both of them taking out their phones to snap a picture. Lizzie could only blush as strangers turned to look at the commotion.

Lizzie tried on several more outfits. Some more childish than others. She tried to subtly suggest to her mom the ones that at least had some semblance of maturity. There were a few that Lizzie could make work.

“This is the last one.” Lizzie’s happiness was cut short as she saw what her mom draped over the door.

The final outfit was a pair of pajamas, but not just any pajamas, it was a blue one-piece sleeper. The material was a fuzzy fleece. Lizzie put it on with a sigh. At least this one zipped up in the front. Lizzie realized there was a hood and put it on, causing the purple attached ears to plop up.

It was a Stitch onesie, Lizzie realized. She groaned, her mom loved Stitch— she even had a large Stitch stuffie at home, an anniversary gift from Philip— how was she going to convince her mom to not get this one?

“Are you sure you don’t want it? But you look so adorable.”

“It’s a bit itchy, and I think it’s a bit too warm, I’ll sweat at night,” Lizzie explained to her mom.

“Oh, that’s unfortunate.” The disappointment was evident on her mom’s face. “But if it’s uncomfortable then we can’t buy it. Thanks for trying it on.”

Lizzie couldn’t believe her lie had worked that well. If only she’d thought of it sooner.

“You can snap a picture if you’d like,” Lizzie said. Her mom’s face brightened, and she happily snapped the picture. Lizzie felt herself blushing slightly. “Can we go now? I’m exhausted.”

“Sure thing, I’m exhausted too,” Philip agreed.

“You were just standing there!”

“I got tired just watching you change into that many outfits,” Philip said, eliciting a brief glare from Jennifer. But Jennifer nodded, clearly satisfied to be leaving with a bunch of new clothes for Lizzie.

After another detour to Nike and a kitchen store, the family finally made their way to Lululemon. Lizzie practically sprinted into the store, having quickly forgotten her exhaustion. Racks of leggings flanked either side, with more along the walls. There were plain ones, colorful ones, and even ones with fascinating designs. Lizzie ran a hand through the stretchy, soft fabrics, enjoying the sensation.

Half an hour later, Lizzie sat down in her changeroom and admired the pile of clothes sprawled in front of her. Her mom had promised her a pair of leggings for her good behavior, but there were just too many to choose from. She picked through the pile, taking out any that weren’t perfect.

After several minutes, Lizzie held up her final options. There were the burgundy leggings that fit perfectly, like a second soft skin around her waist and legs. But there was also the absolutely adorable white tank that she’d found. Lizzie sighed, holding the top up against her and looking at the mirror. Still, she had plenty of tops at home, and her mom wasn’t going to let her get both. With one last look, she discarded the top, and left to meet up with her parents to checkout.

As they joined the lineup, Lizzie caught sight of Charlotte and her parents walking up to the cashier ahead of them. She bit her lip in envy as Charlotte dumped her basket of new clothes. Her parents not even batting an eye as their order rang up to a couple hundred dollars. Why did she have to work so hard to buy even a single pair of leggings whereas Charlotte got whatever she wanted? Lizzie clutched her Lululemon bag tightly against her chest as they exited the store.

They visited a couple more stores, but Lizzie wasn’t able to convince her mom to get her any more clothes. Tired, the Cooper’s then went to buy some drinks from the food court. Lizzie and Philip decided to stay for a snack as Jennifer went to browse alone.

After a while, the families regrouped, and they headed to the Target next door. Lizzie had Operation Goodnite all planned out. They would enter the store as normal and she’d shop with her parents for a bit, while secretly locating where the goodnites were. Then, as everyone got ready to leave, she’d ask to use the restroom and sneak off to buy them, meeting up with the others outside. No one would be the wiser.

“I’m going to check out the toys!” Calvin declared, and began to run off, but uncle Samuel immediately chided him for running, and instead took him and Noah by hand toward the toys section. Lucas wanted to check out the toys as well, and he and his father followed the twins. Charlotte strolled into the store, heading separate ways from her parents, who didn’t seem to mind.

Just as Lizzie was about to step into the store, her mom called out, “Lizzie, come here for a second.”

That tone couldn’t be good. She turned to see her parents standing with aunt Jenny by the entrance. She walked over, a pit beginning to grow in her stomach.

“Your aunt told us what happened in the parking lot. Why did you ignore her and run off like that?” Philip asked.

“I… didn’t think it was that bad.” Lizzie looked down, twiddling her thumbs.

“What do you have to say to your aunt?” Jennifer asked.

“I’m sorry aunt Jenny, I won’t do it again.”

“Look up at someone when you apologize.”

“I’m sorry aunt Jenny.” Lizzie looked up, face red as a passerby glanced in their direction. Jenny nodded, thanking Lizzie before entering the store.

Lizzie’s parents took her and picked up a shopping cart. “You can hold onto the cart while we’re in Target,” Jennifer said plainly.

“What?”

“Clearly, you need to learn that running off isn’t okay. If your hand leaves the cart before we leave the store you’re going to be in a lot more trouble, am I understood?”

“It’s only while we’re at Target,” Philip said, gently placing Lizzie’s hand on the side of the cart. “We know you know better, but actions do have their consequences.”

Lizzie tried to make herself as small as possible as they strolled around the store. Her eyes darted from left to right, trying to find anyone who could be judging from afar.

The shopping went painstakingly slow, as her parents looked at random items. Lizzie felt her hand glued to the shopping cart. In a way, this was more humiliating than the car seat. With the seat, at least she was physically forced to sit in place. However, here, there was nothing technically stopping her removing her hand from the cart, yet, she knew she was still ruthlessly bound to it. Lizzie’s ears burned as a couple strangers glanced toward her.

Stuck to the cart, there was no way for her to get her goodnites now, and Lizzie wasn’t in the mood to tell her parents, fearing her mom would chew her out further.

Partway through, Philip strolled off on his own, leaving Lizzie stuck with her mom. They walked around in silence. Not that Lizzie really minded. Sometimes, she didn’t really know what to talk to her mom about. Her mom was a boring accountant for some large firm, and the two didn’t exactly share many hobbies or interests.

As they walked near the toy aisle, Lizzie noticed Alice and Charlotte in the distance. She crossed to the other side, trying to hide behind the cart. However, she was too slow.

“Lizzie!” Alice ran over. Lizzie wished with all her might for the ground to swallow her whole. Unfortunately, there was no such luck.

“Come look at the Barbies with us!” Alice tugged on Lizzie’s sleeve.

“Sorry, I’m not interested right now, maybe next time.”

“Why not?” Alice asked, to which Lizzie struggled to come up with a response.

“Sorry Alice, but Lizzie promised to check out some new bedsheets with me, we’ll come check out the Barbies later,” Jennifer explained to Alice.

Lizzie nodded, taking the lifeline and allowing her mom to redirect the cart away. “Thanks,” she muttered once they were out of sight. Not sure why her mom had gone out of her way to help.

“The punishment is to teach you a lesson, not to humiliate you,” her mom replied, reading her mind.

“I learned my lesson. I’m sorry, I won’t do it again. Can I go now?” Lizzie asked hopefully.

“Nope. The punishment lasts until we exit the store, that’s not changing. But, since you’re stuck with me for a bit, I wanted to apologize to you.” Lizzie’s sadness immediately turned to confusion.

“I’m sorry for yelling at you in front of your cousins yesterday. While you did deserve some scolding, I should have done it in private, and after I’d let you change. I lost my temper, and for that, I’m sorry.”

“Thanks. And I’m sorry as well, I should’ve known better and been more responsible. Both yesterday and today.” Lizzie hoped her mom could hear the sincerity in her voice.

“I forgive you, and I know you’ll try your best. You’re getting older now, but you will still make mistakes. That’s expected. As long as you keep up your good behavior, I promise I’ll start treating you more like an adult. But of course, the reverse applies as well. Okay?”

Lizzie nodded. It was all she’d ever wanted. Jennifer reached a hand out, leaving it dangling in the air. After a few seconds, she let it come to rest on Lizzie’s shoulder.

Jennifer let her hand slide off. “Well, I’m basically done shopping, is there anything you wanted to see? How about I let you pull the cart around for a bit?”

Being in charge of the cart restored some of Lizzie’s confidence. For the remainder of the trip, Lizzie was in a better mood. She began talking to her mom, gossiping about school, fashion, and even boys. Jennifer followed along, asking questions to keep Lizzie going.

“Brandon? The one from the hockey team? He’s no good,” Lizzie said, “I guess he’s sporty, but he’s so obnoxious during class, all the teachers hate him.”

“But you’re not a teacher, and don’t a bunch of the girls in your grade fan over him?”

“Yeah, a lot of girls like him. I guess he has a pretty face,” Lizzie admitted. “But he’s not my type!” Lizzie quickly corrected. Jennifer raised an eyebrow. “I’m serious! I mean he’s tall, and… Wait, I mean… I don’t…” Lizzie felt herself blushing.

“I’m just teasing you,” her mom chuckled. “Besides, if you brought someone like him home, your father would freak out.”

“I would what?” Philip ambushed the two from behind, grabbing everyone together in a big hug. “So, are you two fine ladies almost done? The others are checking out already.”

“What do you mean, we were waiting for you to finish browsing all the camping and fishing equipment!”

With that, the Cooper family headed toward the checkout. And soon, they were out the door, Lizzie was happy to finally let go of the cart, putting her earlier indiscretion behind her.

As promised, the rest of the afternoon was spent on fun activities. After a short ten minute ride, the families arrived at Noah’s Adventure Park. It was quite cumbersome to be go through all the steps to be strapped in for such a short ride, but thankfully, it also meant Charlotte and the others hardly had time to tease her for it.

The small adventure park had several games, from arcade games and laser tag, to minigolfing and bumper cars. It was a paradise for all of the kids, Lizzie included. What kid wouldn’t enjoy ramming their bumper cars into their parents’?

Even the parents got in on some of the games. Philip and Lizzie teamed up for laser tag. The two moved like assassins, weaving quickly and silently through the field, sniping unsuspecting foes before ducking back into the shadows.

Lizzie emerged from the arena slightly sweating, giving her dad a high five as they got first place by a fair margin. Jennifer, who had been resting with some of the others in the dining hall, came by to snap some pictures of the triumphant duo.

Several games later, the families made their way over to the trampoline park. The area was full of square trampolines sewn together with foam supports to form a massive grid of the bouncy flooring. Lizzie loved flying through the air, feeling like a bird, soaring through the air with wings. The kids tried various flips and spins, diving into pools of foam blocks.

They finished the afternoon with some trampoline dodgeball. Lizzie bounced about, her small, agile body made it easy to weave between the shots, allowing her to setup the perfect timing to land her own tosses.

The best moment of the night happened in the epic final showdown. The game had been kids versus adults, and it was down to a two versus two. It was Noah and Lizzie versus Philip and Mira. The other kids were yelling from the sidelines, cheering their team on. The two adults were harassing the kids, throwing volley after volley. But the kids were patient, and eventually they managed to retaliate, coordinating a throw and scoring a hit onto Mira. It was now two versus one, but Philip was not about to go easy on them.

His military training began to show, and Philip suddenly picked up speed. He ran about, surprisingly agile, dodging ball after ball from the two kids. Lizzie panted, it was no use. With his guard up, there was no way her dad was going to get hit, and they were quickly running out of both energy and ammo. Suddenly, Lizzie had an idea. She pulled Noah to the back, whispering her plan.

“Stop stalling!” Philip called out. Two balls went whizzing by Lizzie’s head.

“We’re not!” The two sprinted forward, picking up the remaining balls on their side. Lizzie charged, throwing a ball purposely to the left of her father, this made him dodge to the right. She continued this approach, and with her last toss, her dad was forced into a corner. At that moment, Noah, who had snuck toward the other corner, struck, jumping into the air and throwing with all of his might.

Straight into the welcoming hands of Philip. He had caught the ball. Noah was out!

“No!” The crowd cried. Lizzie was on the floor, back turned, collapsed by the corner where she’d thrown her last ball, panting. Her dad now walked toward her slowly with a smirk on his face.

“Nice try, but you’ll have to do better than that to take me down.” He raised his hand.

In that instant, Lizzie whizzed around, throwing the extra ball she’d kept secretly hidden with her body. Philip tried to dodge, but it was too late. The ball landed squarely on his rear.

The kids cheered and screamed as Philip collapsed dramatically onto the floor. Alice ran to give Lizzie a hug, but Lucas, Noah, and Calvin went crazy, tackling the girls to the floor as they all went down laughing. Even Charlotte gave Lizzie and Noah a high five for the play.

The kids were still hyped about the play as the families left the adventure park. They walked toward a restaurant down the street. Jennifer had made Lizzie change into her sweater. She had sweat and her mom didn’t want her to get a cold. Lizzie hated to admit it, but with the sun down, it was indeed chilly, and her mom had been right to bring the extra clothes. But Lizzie didn’t mind much, she was too busy chatting with the other kids about the evening. It’d been ages since Lizzie had been to an adventure park, and now she couldn’t wait to go again.

The restaurant turned out to be a Chinese buffet. Lizzie was amazed by the vast selection. There were plates upon plates of dishes, many she’d never seen before. Everything smelled amazing, and after a full day of walking and running about, she was famished. She piled item after item onto her plate, wanting to try a bit of everything.

“How did you manage to get Mount Everest onto your plate?” Mira joked as Lizzie returned to the table.

“I’ll finish it all,” Lizzie said confidently.

“Let’s do this!” Philip and Joseph said in unison, both holding equally full plates.

Thirty minutes later, Lizzie collapsed into her chair. She’d done her best but there was still some food remaining. Thankfully, her dad finished it for her.

Conversations were lively, with all the kids still excited from the day’s adventures. Even the adults praised Lizzie for her spectacular strategy during dodgeball.

“So, did you purposely plan to hide the ball at the end?” uncle Samuel asked Lizzie.

“She did! She told me all about it. Lizzie said we’d draw her dad into a corner, then I’d run in at the last second. She said my attack might work, but that uncle Philip would be fast. So, in case it didn’t, she’d keep a ball hidden behind her and try to surprise him,” Noah explained.

“It’s because she studies too much chess,” Philip said, shaking his head. “She’s just always two moves ahead of me.”

“She probably deserves an Oscar for that performance as well,” Katherine added. Lizzie sat back in her seat, happy to be showered in praise, but also a bit embarrassed to have all eyes on her.

“So, who’s ready for some cake?” Joseph asked.

“I am!” Lizzie jumped up.

“Weren’t you full just a minute ago?” Grant asked.

“Dessert goes in the dessert tummy of course,” Lizzie said, heading over to grab the pretty little cookies and cakes she’d seen earlier.

Soon, dinner was over, and it was time for the families to head home. As they got back to the car, Lizzie began auto piloting toward the car seat.

“Hey Lizzie, I think we can let someone else ride the seat on the way back,” Jenny suggested. “Charlotte, I think it’s your turn.”

“What? Why me?” Charlotte looked up from her phone.

“Well it’s a bit big for Noah and Calvin, it would take a while to adjust it properly,” Grant said. Lizzie frowned, it didn’t seem that complicated to adjust, but she wasn’t about to complain.

“Plus, you seemed quite fond of teasing Lizzie earlier while she was in the seat. Perhaps once you experience it you’ll realize there’s nothing wrong with sitting in a seat that helps keep you extra safe,” Jenny added.

“Yay! Sharlee sit with me.” Even Lucas approved of the decision.

Charlotte, for once, seemed at a lost for words. With a large pout, she was strapped into the seat. Lizzie could hardly believe her luck, quickly snapping a picture on her phone while the others weren’t watching.

As they drove back, Lizzie spied on Charlotte, watching as she squirmed about in her seat. Lizzie could understand exactly what was going on in the girl’s head. Charlotte tested the straps, tugging and twisting. But eventually, she gave up, pulling out her phone and shifting around trying to find a comfortable position.

Lizzie wanted some revenge. A little pinch or poke felt more than justified, but she caught Jenny occasionally sneaking glances back at them, as if waiting to see if Lizzie would retaliate for earlier. She decided not to push her luck.

“I think the red suits you too.” Lizzie settled on the witty remark.

“Oh shut up,” Charlotte said, pretending not to care. However, glancing over, Lizzie could still see Charlotte testing the straps from time to time.

When they arrived home, Grant helped release Lucas as Jenny moved over to help unstrap Charlotte.

“Thanks, but I can do it myself,” Charlotte said, hands going toward the chest clip.

“If you say so,” she exchanged a knowing glance with Lizzie, who sat back down to enjoy the show.

“Hmm,” Charlotte muttered as her fingers fiddled with the release. Lizzie tried her best to suppress her laughter.

“You sure you don’t need help?” Jenny asked. But Charlotte shook her head. “Okay then, I’ve got to help Lucas change, I’ll let Lizzie help you when you need it.” Charlotte didn’t seem to pick up on Jenny’s peculiar choice of words.

Jenny walked over to Lizzie, passing her the key, which Lizzie quickly palmed. “Don’t be mean now, okay?” she whispered, to which Lizzie quickly nodded. She stepped off the car, shutting the door behind her and leaving the two girls alone.

Eventually, Charlotte gave up on the chest clip, shifting focus to the buckle. Her hands going over the buckle guard’s surface to no avail. Charlotte was getting visibly agitated. Her normally neat hair a fraying mess as she jerked against the straps, trying to get a better angle.

“What’s so funny?” She asked, finally noticing Lizzie.

“You need this to get out.” Lizzie held the key up. “It’s the key to the car seat.”

“You’re lying.”

“Why would I lie about it? They designed it so the person sitting can’t escape on their own. The chest clip and buckle are locked, that’s why you can’t release yourself.”

Charlotte extended her hand expectingly, but Lizzie ignored it. “Well?” Charlotte asked.

“What?” Lizzie feigned innocence.

“Give me the key.”

“Not unless you say please.” Lizzie was having too much fun.

“Screw you,” Charlotte lurched forward, but Lizzie was ready, stepping just out of reach. Charlotte reached out again, but the straps did their job, keeping the girl firmly seated.

“Give it to me you lil—”

“Little what? Maybe I should let you cool off for a bit and come back later.” Lizzie put her hand on the door.

“No wait,” Charlotte called out. “Please…” she muttered.

“Please what?” Lizzie dangled the key in front of her.

“Please give me the key,” Charlotte whispered. Her eyes downcast, she looked close to tears.

Lizzie handed it to her, it’d been fun to make Charlotte beg and squirm, but now she felt a bit bad.

“Do you want some help?” Lizzie asked as she noticed Charlotte was having trouble with the buckle despite using the key. Charlotte gave her a glare. “I’m being serious.”

“Fine.” Charlotte handed back the key and sat back as Lizzie expertly unlocked her seat. “Thanks,” she muttered as she hopped off the car. Lizzie picked up her Lululemon bag and hopped off as well.

“I’m glad you didn’t go overboard.” The voice startled Lizzie as she turned around to see Jenny standing by the car door. “Grant and I thought she deserved a little payback for all the earlier teasing, but I was worried you’d take it too far.”

“I did want to tease her a little, but I didn’t want to make her cry or anything,” Lizzie said, handing back the key. “Also, sorry again for earlier. I should have listened to you.”

Her aunt rested a hand on her shoulder. “Lizzie, you have to know that as adults, we are responsible for keeping you safe. We aren’t purposely trying to baby you.

“It’s not that we don’t trust you. I do trust you, but I don’t trust the random drivers out there. You’re a small girl, it’s easy for a distracted driver to miss you. How would I face your parents if you’d gotten hurt?

“Sometimes, we will ask you to do things you might not agree with. You might feel like it’s dumb, inconvenient or even embarrassing, but trust me, as parents, all we want is to keep you kids safe.”

“I understand that now. I’m sorry, can you forgive me?”

“Of course I forgive you Lizzie. I know you’re a mature girl, I wouldn’t have given you the key otherwise. But you’re still only thirteen and have a lot to learn.”

“I wish I was a grownup already, they get to do whatever they want.”

“Oh, you really shouldn’t be in such a hurry to grow up. Trust me, it isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Once you’re older you’ll miss the freedom of being a kid.”

“If you say so,” Lizzie said, not entirely convinced.

“I don’t expect you to understand me now. I sure didn’t when I was your age,” Jenny chuckled, “But you will one day… Now, hurry along and get inside, you don’t want to catch a cold.”