[#232] A Fitting Punishment

"I wanna be a Dependent. I got the bunny, I got the diapers, I gots the pretty clothes."

Why were they making this difficult on me? Why were they making me have to work for this? I had everything required except for someone who would try to force it on me.

~~~

"This isn't a vacation!  Do you know what they do to you?  They ruin you.  They break your brain.  They turn you into a pile of mush, and then they condition you to make piles of mush in your diapers!"

The man in uniform paced around the room with remarkable agitation.  It had been the sixth time I had come to see him.  Finally he slammed his hands down on the table.

"This program is for criminals.  Threats to our country.  You aren't a threat to anyone."

~~~

"I am so too a threat!! I got a C- in my History class, and I have like thirty dollars in late fees at Blockbuster! I wanna be a Dependent, you're supposed to make me one."

I pulled my purse up and took a piece of candy out of it and unwrapped it, just so I could drop the wrapper on the floor.

"Lookie, I'm a litterbug too!"

~~~

The man slapped his own face in annoyance.

"This isn't a game.  If you go through this, you can't ever come back?  You'll be a little diaper girl for the rest of your life.  Is that really what you want?"

~~~

"Uh, duh!"

I couldn't go back home, not after what I'd done. Losing my job at the fruit store for sampling the grapes was going to bring so much dishonor and shame to my family. I was certain, this was the only way.

~~~

"I can't believe I'm doing this," the man muttered. "But you've wasted so much of my time this month that it might as well be a federal offense..."

The man took his badge and set it down on the table.

"Take that and go to the third floor, room 312.  You'll be charged for crimes of terror, and there's no going back."

After that, the man left.

~~~

"Crimes of terror, yes, I believe that was the charge."

The man and the woman held each other tightly, looking at the very clearly baby girl crawling around in their living room, diaper drooping between her legs. It was such a shock, such an expected bit of news to get after their son had disappeared weeks and weeks ago. The man kept his chin up and sighed with resignation. 

"Yes, well, I suppose the punishment fit the crime. Stealing grapes like that, I guess he did really get off lightly."