Gus moved his body a bit, as the bed seems way more comfortable than last time. He turns around, and finally starts to open his eyes, feeling way more relaxed. Usually he wakes up with doctors calling him for more exams, but now he just woke up, no needles, no tech babble from the doctors, no doctors at all.
He sat on the bed, stretching his arms and giving a loud yawn, finally giving a good look at his room, just to feel way more surprised that he wasn’t in his medical room. No, he was in what seemed like a regular bedroom. The bed had safety rails on the upper half, the wardrobe was different, there’s toys scattered around the floor, a small colored plastic table with 2 yellow little chairs there, and even a small tv. It did feel good but, where was he?
A minute later, the door opens, and Annie walks inside, holding a cup of cold milk for him.
“Hi Gus, hope you had a good nap.” She says, walking toward him, and sitting on the edge of the bed.
“Annie? wha….what happened? Where am i? Where’s your uniform? and…. How i came here?”
Annie smiled at him, getting her paw on his shoulder. She expected he would get confused at this sudden change, so she made sure to pay attention to him and what he said.
“Alright, calm down Gus. Now, in order… We’re on vacation, you’re at my home, more specifically in Arthur's bedroom, i don’t need to wear that uniform while here, and I got you here while you were asleep. The bosses didn’t want you to know how to leave or arrive at the base, so they told me to bring you while you were asleep.” She explained to him, on a calm and slow tone, so he wouldn’t skip anything.
“Ohs… well.. so this is what it looks like being out of the base?” He said, getting up from the bed.
“Just the beginning of it. Ain’t it better without meanie doctors or even the medical gown?
“Huh? Am I not wearing it… Gaah” He said in surprise as he looked down , to find himself wearing a yellow shirt with a childish design, and a pullup, this one being different from the ones he wore back then. He gave a good look at the shirt, holding it and stretching a bit, so he could see the print on it’s side. Once he had examined it enough, he looked at the underwear he was wearing, noticed the dinosaur print on its front, and even poked it a bit.
“Hope your new clothes are more comfortable than the ones from the base.” She said, smiling at him, that looked like a curious little kid.
“Wha… When did I get these on?”
“I dressed you in them when you were asleep. The shirt is new, I’ve bought a pack of 3 shirts for you, just in case you don’t want to wear Arthur’s. But the pullups, you’ll be sharing the packs for a while.” She said, explaining to him about his new clothes.
Gus still felt weird back in pullups. He had gone through a rough month trying to get re-trained as soon as possible, right after the regression, and in fact did it with Annie’s help, so being back in them, even if not actually needing them didn’t sound totally right for him, but he accepted with it to help Arthur, so he thought sometime he’d get used to them.
“So.. uh… Where’s Arthur?” He asked, looking at her.
“He’s at daycare, but he’ll be here soon. I told the daycare that he’ll spend this month with us, so we all get a good time together. I already told him he’d be having a friend to stay with us this month.”
Gus nods at her, still giving a look at his room.
“So, what about we explore the house for a bit? I can tell you what you can do to help Arthur in this way.” She asked him, kinda not expecting a denial from him as she got her hand near him, so he could grab it and they go explore the house together.. She knew he could still be confused and curious as to what he had to do, but she thought it could be better for him to know where he’ll stay for the next month.
Gus nodded to her, trusting Annie, as she helped him through regression rehab all the time, and grabbed on her paw, as they both walked outside the bedroom.
“So, shall we start with the bathroom? It's the most important part during the training.” She said, chuckling a bit. They went through the hallway and turned on the next right door. It was the house’s bathroom. It had pastel green walls, a high sink with a step stool under it, a toilet like any bathroom had, and a bathtub.
It was possible for Gus to see some rubber toys there, as well the shampoos they use, and at the side of the toilet, Annie grabbed something plastic, Gus knew what it was.
“This is where you and Arthur will use whenever you need to relieve yourselves.” She said, placing it on the floor in front of Gus
“But… You know I can use the toilet, right?” He said, blushing a bit, thinking about himself using the potty.
“I know, Gus. But remember you’re helping Arthur, pretending you’re a little kid like him, so I gotta make sure you both stay at the same level for this, as he’s not used to sitting on the toilet yet.” She explained to him in a calm way, so Gus wouldn’t be too embarrassed about it.
“So, I just go here and sit on this? Like that? “He asked her, actually sitting on the plastic potty, still keeping the pullup on his waist, causing Annie to chuckle a bit.
“Well, yes, but I’d prefer if you do exactly like Arthur. He tells me if he needs to go, then I go here with him and help him get his pullup off before he sits.” She said, explaining to him how Arthur does, and the exact way she expects him to do.
“Uh. I think I… I can do it… It’s embarrassing being helped to do this though.” He said, looking at her while still sitting down over the potty.
“I understand, sweetie, I remember your struggles on the first days of your training at rehab. But now that you know how to use it, you can settle a good example for Arthur, and that may encourage him to do his best and learn it too.”
“I see. It makes sense. I think I can follow this, at least until Arthur gets totally potty trained.” Gus told her, smiling, as she had a good point, he knew how to use the potty now, and all he had to do was pretend he hadn’t so Arthur can think they’re at the same level and not alone through it. He remembered how hard his first weeks after his regression were, and he could imagine how a little kid would feel about it.
Annie smiled at him, helping him to get off the potty and giving him a big hug, as another way to show gratitude for his help. She then smiles, grabbing his paw once again, heading outside the bathroom.
“Now to the living room.” She said, heading back to the hallway, walking through all of it heading to the living room. Gus could watch it having some toys here and there, a couch in front of a big tv, some pictures of Annie and Arthur around the walls and table. She sat on the couch, patting the seat so he could sit there.
“You got a great house. Can’t even remember the last time I felt so comfortable. At Base we’re oriented to always be ready if needed.” He said as he sat on her side.
“And if you weren’t ready that day, this could have been destroyed, together with all the neighborhood and city.” She said, smiling at him, waving her paw over his hair, giving it a playful rub. “So, Arthur’s bedtime is around 7:30 to 8pm… Once he sleeps, I can get you here to watch some proper tv, but until then, it’s just cartoons for both of you.” Annie said, setting a tv rule for him.
Gus nodded at Annie’s rule. It was fair, since he wasn’t a real kid, but while he pretended to be one with Arthur, he shouldn’t have any access to adult content on tv. But it was nice to know that Annie isn’t keeping him out of it all the time. “And… we could chat and discuss stuff, right?”
“Of course. You can give me your daily report, officer.” She said as both chuckled a bit. For Gus, it was great to know that he’ll still have some freedom. For Annie, it was important that it helps Arthur, but at same time she wanted Gus to be happy doing it.
“Oh.. and uh… Shouldn’t i get any… uh… shorts?” He asked, looking down back to his waist, looking at the smiling dinosaur in front of his pullups.
“ I think it’s better keeping you both without pants at home, so it’s easier to reach and go potty. Let’s save the shorts for when we go outside.” she said, giving a good reason to keep Gus without any shorts over his pullups.
“Oh. Right, so… Arthur is…” He’s about to ask but was interrupted by Annie, who knew exactly what he’d ask.
“Yes hun, Arthur will also get his shorts off when he arrives. Don’t worry about it. All you gotta worry is what to play, what to watch and to make it to the potty in time with Arthur, ok?”
“Fine but… what if… uh… Don’t want to sound rude or think it’s not gonna work but… “He took a deep breath and asked.” What if it doesn't work? What if Arthur kept having accidents?”
Annie nodded at his question,she thought about that a few times before getting her plan into action.
“Well, that’s something else I’d like you to help. If you notice Arthur is having issues or not doing it in time, it would mean a lot to me if you could pretend you also don't make it.” she said, looking at the blue skunk getting a blush on his face. “You don’t have to actually do it, just pretend. That way Arthur won’t feel so behind on training. Can you do this for me, hun?”
Gus thought about it for a while. That wasn’t part of their deal, but after what she told him, it makes sense. Arthur could feel really bad if he sees someone being ‘promoted’ to big boy underwear before him again.
“Fine. I can do it for him… But you gotta get one of your famous lasagna for me.” He said, blushing a bit.
“It’s gonna be on your plate tomorrow. It’s quite late to start preparing it, and already have the dinner planned for us.” She said, shaking his paw in a deal. Everything seems to be going perfectly as planned. With Gus helping Arthur even when he has accidents, she was really optimistic that Arthur will make it through this time.
Eventually she got up, but turned the tv on for him. She used the remote to set up a cartoon channel. “Now stay here while I’ll work on lunch.” She said, rubbing his hair again before heading to the kitchen.
Gus was on the couch, finding it really comfortable, or at least more than the base’s usual couch. He adjusted himself over the couch, just to hear his pullups crinkling at each move, making him blush a little. He wasn’t still 100% sure about this, but he trusted Annie enough to help her, after all the time they spent in the base together. And even when she talked about them, it didn't sound like a big deal.
In a matter of a minute or two, Gus was just relaxing on the couch, watching a show about a little cub exploring the jungle and learning how the creatures from the place act and how they should act properly, like saying “please”, or “thank you”. It seemed really boring, but having never watched cartoons at all at base, he tried to focus on the details, like how the animations were done, or the scenarios, that indeed were beautiful.
He lost track of time as the episode went on, and by the time the show ended, Annie walked into the living room to talk with him.
“The lunch is almost ready, and Arthur’s about to arrive. Do you need to go potty?” She asked him, clearly and directly.
“Uh… Not now, Annie. I’m fine.” He said, actually not really having a huge need to go now.
“Alright, but when Arthur arrives, both of you will try it for a while, understood?” She said, not actually asking if it was ok, but telling him that’ll be done.
It made Gus feel like a little kid, and even if that’s what was expected for him, it kinda caught him off guard. “Y.. Yeah, fine.” He said, trying to keep his voice calm..
A few minutes later, Annie walks over the door, opening it and waiting there. Gus wanted to check what she’s waiting, but he figured out it was Arthur, and as he made a single move to go to her and wait with her, his underwear crinkled, remembering him what he’s wearing, and throwing away the idea of being near a door where people could see him wearing it.
A small kid’s voice was heard: “Mommy, you back early!”
“Of course sweetie. I told you I’d be back early today, and I’m not alone.” Annie said, as she walked back home, with a little skunk, from her same dark blue fur color, but white hair. He was dressed in a white t-shirt with a logo of one of the shows he probably watches, “Space Pawtrol”, some regular green shorts, and holding his backpack.
Annie walked with him inside the home, closing the door and was helping him take off his backpack. “Come here, Gussy.”. She said a bit loud but still calmly.
What did she call him? Gussy? The only memory he got from this nickname was right on the first day after his regression. He was really scared, and barely could control himself through a sea of tears and squirms, not believing that the man he was turned into a fragile little kid. He remembered Annie sitting on his side, grabbing him and giving him a big hug… The words she said calmed him, and also gave strength to deal with the treatment.
“Shh, I’m here, Gussy. You’ll be better… You’re safe…”
That was the only moment he could remember being called that. If she said it again now, maybe it could mean that it’s all ok, and that there’s no need to refuse obeying her. He slowly got up from the couch, and walked to both skunks.
“Arthur, this one is Gus. Gus, meet Arthur.” She told both boys.
“Hi Gus, nice to meet ya.” Said Arthur as he seemed happy for having someone around, and maybe for noticing Gus were in pullups too, so they’re alike.
“Hi Arthur. Nice to meet you too, hehehe. Uh, how was daycare?” Gus asked, blushing a bit, not used to talking with kids, and especially one at his size..
Arthur was about to talk about his day, but Annie gave a pat on Arthur’s shoulder before he could start talking.
“You can tell us about it while trying the potty, sweetie. You can show Gussy how it’s done.” She said, smiling at him while grabbing both boy’s paws and started to walk with them toward the bathroom.
“Ok mommy. Oh, Daycare was fun. We had storytime with puppets! “Sai Arthur as they walk through the bathroom. There, Annie helped him pull down his shorts and pullups, until finally guiding him to sit on the plastic potty.
“That’s so fun, sweetie. And what story did they read?”
“Oh, it was Goldilocks. But it was so fun cuz the puppets were super funny.” Arthur said, as he sat on the potty and kept talking about his day in daycare.
Gus couldn’t help but blush a lot, as he watched everything. He was in an auto pilot trying to don’t look while Arthur tried to use the potty, just answering the same words for whatever Arthur said, like “Cool”, “Nice”, “Sounds fun”.
Annie noticed how shy Gus became, but that’s something only Gus could overcome, even if she helps him with it, everything on their own time. She waited a few minutes, until help Arthur out of the potty. “Nothing this time sweetie. but remember to tell mommy if you need to go.” She said, getting Arthur’s shorts off, and pulling his pullups back to its place. Gus noticed they had the same design, but Arthur’s dinosaur was orange while he was wearing a green one.
“Your turn Gussy. Come to me, please.” She said in her calm and somewhat motherly tone, catching his attention as he gave a few steps toward her, and she repeated the process with him, sliding his pullups down to his ankles, and sitting him on the same potty.
Gus felt a small need to actually pee, but figured out it would be better to save it and go after Arthur succeeds on his next attempt, and just stood there, sat over the plastic potty with Annie and Arthur around him for a few minutes. As the time passed, Annie helped him getting up from the potty, and sliding up his pullups again.
“Good job, boys. We’ll try again before naptime. Now let’s fill our bellies with a delicious lunch? Yes or No?” She asks in a happy tone, waiting to hear both boys' answers.
“Yes!” They said, but while Gus was more like a real answer, Arthur’s had an excited and happy tone.
As Gus was about to leave the bathroom, Annie stopped him.
“But before we go… What do we always have to do after trying potty?” Annie asked.
Gus thought a bit about that. He had to do something? Maybe something with flushing the toilet? No, he hadn’t used the toilet yet, and the potty was still empty… Maybe check if the pullup was in place? He looked down to check and yeah, his pullups were around his waist.
“Wash our paws, mommy.” Said Arthur happily.
“That’s right sweetie. Good boys wash their paws after going potty.” She said, praising Arthur, while pulling the step stool from under the sink, so both boys could use it to reach the sink and wash their paws.
Arthur was the first one, as he stood up on the top of the step stool, and could get both his paws under the faucet, as the water flowed from it washing his paws. He got some soap on his paws, scrubbing them together and then back under the water to remove it, and to get off the step stool,
“Your turn Gussy.” Annie said again, as Gus nodded to her with his head, and repeated Arthur’s steps to wash his own paws. He was still getting used to this routine, and so far it doesn’t seem so hard or bad. All he needs to do is check what to do and how he should do to help Arthur and go back to his regular routine or enjoy the vacations as the adult he was inside.
Once Gus was back on the floor, Annie moved the step stool under the sink, and finally then she headed towards the kitchen with both boys.
Gus hadn’t been in the kitchen earlier, but he could feel the nice aroma from the food. It didn’t seem so different from the cafeteria from the base, just smaller and personal. Arthur sat in one of the chairs, as Gus followed him and sat on the other one. Meanwhile Annie went straight to the sink, got three plates , and started to pour some food on them all. A bit of rice, a bit of beans, a piece of steak, but two of them on tiny slices, some carrots and tomatoes also sliced in tiny bits.
Annie smiles as she grabs two plates, one in each paw, and places them over the table in front of each little skunk. She gave each one a spoon, and smiled at them once again.
“Time to eat everything from the plate and fill your tummies” She said as she went to grab her own plate, finally sitting down on a chair and starting to eat.
Gus smiled at the food, it looked delicious and way better than the regular hospital food he received from time to time, and he started eating it happily, enjoying each spoonful. Arthur was eating normally, but was leaving the carrots and the tomatoes on the plate, and as Annie ate, she looked at the boys, noticing it.
“Arthy, the vegetables too, sweetie.” She told him.
“Awws, but they’re no fun, mommy.” He said, pouting a bit.
“Of course they are, or Gussy wouldn’t be eating them all, right?” She replied, giving a look at Gus, who wasn’t too much of a picky eater, and was half done with his lunch.
Arthur looked at Gus too, noticing he was actually enjoying eating the vegetables, and so after giving a good look at his plate, he decided to eat them, this time without the pouty face. Annie smiled at it, realizing that Gus is already helping Arthur, even if he was just eating. It was nice to see Arthur having someone to show him that not all vegetables are bad.
As the boys finished their lunch, Annie got all the empty plates together, and carried them to the sink. Then she headed to the fridge, grabbing two sippy cups filled with apple juice from there. She handed one to each boy there.
“Okay boys, now go play and drink everything.” . “And remember to call me whenever you need to go potty, understood?” She told them while heading to the sink to wash the dishes.
“Yes Ann..”Gus said at the same time as Arthur.
“Yes mommy! Come on Gussy, Let’s play with my toys!” The little dark blue skunk said, as he giggled holding Gus’s paw and walking with him back to his bedroom. Arthur seems really happy to have a friend to play with him, and as a bonus, the fact that the new friend also wear pullups.
Gus followed Arthur back to the bedroom. Once they arrived, Arthur left his paw and went straight to his toy chest.
“What'cha wanna play with?” Arthur asked as he started to dig through his toys.
“Uuh, I don’t know… What do you have there?” Asked Gus back. Even if he woke up at his room, he hadn’t checked the toy chest, nor had any idea on what to or how to play properly.
“I’ve got Space Pawtrol toys, and a ball, but mommy just let us play with it in the backyard only. And I have some papers to draw with crayons… We can ask mommy to get fingerpaint if you want. It’s super fun, but it ends in a bath all the time. hehe” He said, actually enjoying having someone to talk to, and play at home.
“Uh… maybe we can draw, or color something?” Said Gus, who wanted to start the little kids' activities slowly. He was still new to the interactions, especially with little kids, so nothing better than starting with a calm activity.
“Alrighty! I’ll get the papers and the crayons.” Arthur said happily, wagging his tail, as he grabbed a box of crayons from the toybox, and set it over the small table. He then got two paper sheets, and finally sat on the plastic chair.
Gus sat down on the other chair, and grabbed one of the paper sheets. “Thank you”. He said smiling, looking at Arthur get the green crayon, and starting to scribble through the bottom of the paper.
“What you gonna draw?” Arthur asks Gussy, still focused on his own drawing, as he scribbles what would be the grass area.
“Uh… maybe I'll just draw us… yeah.” He said, looking at Arthur and paying attention to the details on how he holds the crayon, so he could mimic him and make his drawing actually look childish
Gus grabbed the crayon like Arthur, and started to scribble a cyan shape, adding legs and arms, then finally a head. He proceeded to get a white crayon, and this time drew a white line in the middle of the cyan scribble’s head, up to it’s top, then scribbled a bit more there, trying to make it’s hair.
He eventually grabbed a dark blue crayon, and started to repeat it, now drawing Arthur. He took his own time on his drawing. As soon as he finished Arthur, he started to draw a bigger scribble on it’s side, clearly supposed to be Annie. This time instead of just using the dark blue crayon, he got some red to make her dress. He then thought a bit, on having Annie drawn with clothes. He blushed a bit, grabbing the white crayon again, to scribble a triangle on the other boy’s waist, making it to be the pullups. As he drew it, something called his attention.
“Mooommyyy.. I need to go potty…” Arthur said, as he stood up , heading to the hallway.
Annie was quick and soon came to help him.
“That’s great sweetie. To the potty! “ She said, guiding him to the bathroom. “Do you need to go too, Gussy?” She asked him, waiting for his answer.
“Uhh…Yeah, just a bit.” He said, still sitting on the chair and with a crayon on his paws.
“Well, then come here, silly. We don’t want any accidents happening today.” She said, arriving in the bathroom with Arthur, helping him with his pullups, and sitting him over the potty.
Gus got up from the chair and walked to the bathroom, watching Arthur sit on the potty and hearing what seemed like water sound hitting a plastic surface, clearly the sound of Arthur relieving himself in the potty.
“ That’s it hun, mommy’s so proud of you, darling. It’s a golden star on your potty chart.” Annie said, waiting for Arthur to finish it to give him a hug and a kiss on his forehead. “Keep doing it like that and you’ll be in big kid underwear in no time.” She told him, praising him for his success.
Gus could notice how the simple act of potty training was important for Arthur, and how helping Arthur through it was important for Annie. He decided to help them to reach that goal, no matter what happens.
Annie helped Arthur out of the potty, cleaning him. She then got his pullups back in place, told him to wash his paws and turned back to Gus. “Your turn, Gussy”.
Gus blushed a bit again, but went near Annie, so she could “help” him out of the pullups, and be sat over the potty just like Arthur. Maybe it was Gus trying to help pretending he didn’t have to go, or maybe he was just embarrassed about using a plastic potty right after someone, but he just sat there for a while, not letting a single drop reach the potty.
“Nothing, Gussy?” Annie asked, looking at him.
“N… No… sorry.” Said Gus blushing a bit as Annie helps him out of the potty, getting his pullup back around his waist.
“It’s no problem, sweetie. We’ll try again later, but let me know if you need to go.” Said Annie, rubbing his hair a bit.
Maybe Annie knew that Gus needed to go, but decided to give him his own time to adapt to his current situation. In the worst scenario, he’s protected against leaks at all. She made sure Gus washed his paws, and then headed with both boys back to their bedroom, heading to one of it’s walls, where was hanging a kind of sheet, with Arthur’s name written on it’s top, and some stars and raindrops.
“And now, another golden star for going potty right in time, sweetie.” She said, grabbing another star sticker and sticking it together with the others.
Arthur smiled proudly after earnt a golden star, then he looked at Gus and wondered.
“Mommy, where’s Gus’ potty chart?” Arthur asked.
Annie looked at it, and nodded at him “You’re right sweetie. Let’s get a potty chart for Gussy."
Gus couldn’t help but blush at it, as he watched Annie open a drawer and get a piece of paper that looked exactly like Arthur's potty chart, but it had no stickers and no name.
Annie calmly wrote "Gussy" on its top and stuck it on the wall, right at the side of Arthur’s. It was oficial now: Gus was through potty training.
Gus kept staring at his potty chart. It wasn’t just visible to everyone else, but also empty, just because he chose to don’t use the potty when he had the chance. In fact he was feeling a bit more full now.
