Sue Ellen and That One Day -- (Author) BobbiSueEllen

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Author: BobbiSueEllen
Timestamp: Jul 31, 2021 at 10:41 PM
Content: Sue Ellen and That One Day

Chapter 1
Spring was in the air at Elwood City! After a long, dreary Pennsylvania winter, signs of life were slowly returning all around: the first vibrant, colorful blossoms of the trees were beginning to emerge with their rich, green leaves. Birds were more active, singing; the thicker clothes of winter were now more cumbersome and hot, and so off came the layers so a game of kick-ball wouldn't be so warm...or clumsy.

It was an idyllic blue sky that day, layered with rich, puffy cottony clouds, and the green grass of the Lakewood Elementary school playground looked and felt inviting. The air wasn't too warm, wasn't too cool. It was perfect. On the ground lay most of the kids from Mr. Ratburn's 3rd grade class, resting, looking up at the sky; nearby rested the kickball they'd been kicking around, after class let out for the day.

They lay in a circle: Francine Frensky, the class' sports all-star, with Jenna Morgan next to her, another all-star athletic girl. Then there was Buster Baxter, Arthur Read, George Lundgren, Fern Walters, Prunella Deegan...and finally, the class sweetheart, Sue Ellen Armstrong.

Sue Ellen was relatively new to the class, having moved to Elwood City with her parents to settle down after they'd tired of globe-trotting from the patriarch's job as US Ambassador to various countries. They were well-travelled, well-cultured and had the souvenirs to show for it: they adorned their eclectic two-story home in abundance and impressed the others who'd stop in and visit, especially Sue Ellen's friends.

But now, the circle of kids began chatting...

Fern: "Ugh! Did anyone bring water? I'm parched!"

George: "Don't remind me, I can feel my antlers sag."

Arthur: "It seems like just the other day we were playing in the snow and complaining about how cold it was."

Buster: "It was just the other day, Arthur!"

Prunella: "In all my life--or any of my other previous lives--I've never felt this pooped!"

Jenna: "We need to start thinking about the party, people. We gotta get cleaned up. What time is the party again, Francine?"

Francine: "Six tonight. My parents will be gone, Catherine will be chap-er-on-ing. Ugh! I mean, really??? It's just a small get-together...what harm could there be? There will be food so don't bring any food, please...and that goes for you, Buster! What you bring tends to ruin appetites!"

Buster sighed, looked dejected for a moment. His tastes in food ran into the disgusting...he preferred the term "exotic". Sue Ellen felt good about Francine, who was well aware that Sue Ellen was a vegetarian and would have a special dish set aside just for her.

Sue Ellen spoke last: "I suppose I'll break up the team for now. I gotta get cleaned up," and Sue Ellen jumped to her feet, putting on her green backpack. "See you all at the party! Bye for now!"

Arthur perked up: "Wait! Sue Ellen! Before you go, I gotta ask something!" Up went Arthur, not as sprightly, but now he was up. He and Sue Ellen walked over to the tree to talk.

Arthur: "I haven't told anyone yet. Do you still want me to keep it a secret?"

Sue Ellen: (with sweet, pleading eyes) "Could you, please? I want to surprise everyone."

Arthur: "Oh, they'll be surprised, all right."

Sue Ellen's little secret...was that Tenzing, her Tibetan pen-pal, was coming over to Elwood City to visit. He'd had his mom make Sue Ellen a very attractive yak-wool pullover and send it to her as a gift. Arthur had made himself quite the rude bully at Sue Ellen over it for a short time shortly after she'd moved in, but they'd come to terms over it: Arthur made his apologies and their friendship moved forward again. Sue Ellen was just too lovable to allow this to go on unchecked and the rest of the class got onto Arthur over it. But all was forgiven and life went on.

Sue Ellen: "Okay, Arthur, thank you! (with eager, joyful eyes) I gotta go, see you all at the party!"

...and, as usual, Sue Ellen was gone like a shot across the green grass towards home, her fiery-orange bun-tails bouncing as she ran. Arthur looked on...and smiled. Sue Ellen was so adorable.

The rest of the group, not quite as passionate, continued to lay there, resting in the balmy breeze, talking about what the clouds looked like, Mr. Ratburn's latest homework torture...whatever came to their now-idle minds.

Chapter 2
Running down the sidewalk towards the two-story, Mansard-roofed house she called "home", Sue Ellen's mind thought of the fun they'd all have at the party. An only child, Sue Ellen didn't show it but she felt lonely quite often, especially in the overseas places she'd lived with her parents. It amazed her how open and accepting the students at Lakewood Elementary made her feel when she first got there...especially after having first met Arthur and Buster many weeks before on that cold, snowy, icy winter day. It was the first time she'd ever experienced snow...

But now, Sue Ellen had blended in so well. It'd been as though she was born in Elwood City, along with the others. Despite having been humbled in her quest to experience what having a little brother or sister was like--especially after D.W. had gotten her hands on Sue Ellen--she now felt okay with being an only child because her classmates took up the gap.

But there was home, rapidly approaching. Sue Ellen turned at the walkway, running past her mom Sarah, weeding near the porch. "Sue Ellen, sweetie! What's the rush?"

"I've gotta get ready for the party!" Sue Ellen replied, gasping.

"But it's not until six. Breathe a little! And there's fresh blueberry muffins in the solarium for you!"

The solarium was Sue Ellen's favorite place: for homework, looking out and thinking...entertaining. But there felt like not much time to enjoy but she made herself a promise she'd grab a muffin in a bit. But first...she had a special someone to go see...

Chester.

Sue Ellen had had Chester since she was a baby. He was so much to her: a cuddle-buddy, a confidant, someone to cry on here and there. With such a good companion, who needed a sibling? And so up the stairs, past the worldly decor, down the hall, into her room and off went that backpack, plopping to the wood floor; her arms spread wide-open as she called "Chester!!!" with a joyous face, hopped on her bed, grabbed him and hugged him oh-so-tightly, happily, blissfully.

After a few seconds, Sue Ellen held him in front of her. "Tonight's Francine's party! I'm so ready to go but I wish I could take you with me. I want to but they'd never understand. It's not right...I feel ashamed, not because I still have you but because I can't show everyone how much you mean to me. I love you so much!" and she squeezed Chester even closer, tighter. "I'll make it up to you, somehow. I promise!" and she kissed Chester and clutched him closer.

Sue Ellen had no homework so there was no rush, really. She just felt excited to go to the party. But suddenly she realized something. She was tired. Sue Ellen Armstrong, the perky, red-headed little girl with boundless energy, was now kind of sleepy. So she thought a moment...

...and looked at Chester, still in her arms. The clock said 4 pm. "I don't think a short nap will hurt, just a quick power-nap," she softly said to Chester: "Whaddyasay, Cuddle-Buddy! Wanna nap with me? It won't be a long nap."

Chester just looked on. Just as good as a "Sure!"

And Sue Ellen set her alarm, lay her sweet head on the pillow, somehow able to manage around her rather large, fluffy bun-tails on the pillow. Then she clutched Chester closely, tightly, closed her eyes...and gently slipped off to sleep, sighing, smiling...

Chapter 3
Awareness slowly took hold of Sue Ellen: her eyes were shut tight but now began to open in slits due to the brightness of her nicely-decorated room. The hard drive and cooling fan of her computer both softly hummed, her mind began processing things again. She felt Chester in her arms but also noticed some rather strange sensations she wasn't accustomed to...

"Okay, I'm up..." she muttered sleepily and her eyes began to open, looking down at Chester. And then opened wide due to what she saw...

Bewildered, she caught it: "My dress! It shrank to a t-shirt!", she said in surprise. Then other things caught her eye...

Sue Ellen's energy now returned fully and she stood up on her bed: "And why are there bars around my bed??? It looks like a baby's crib!" Long, tall, colorful bars rose vertically from her mattress and ended up in a tan horizontal rail. They were all around her, like a cage.

And a new sensation suddenly took hold: a pressure on the insides of her upper thighs...a bulky, warm, damp pressure. Sue Ellen looked down, then jumped a bit in shock...and was completely, almost catatonically horrified by what she saw and felt.

"And how in the world did I end up in a diaper??? A wet disposable diaper?!?!"

And there stood Sue Ellen Armstrong, clutching Chester, fully-dressed from head-to-toe...in a thick, wet disposable diaper. She somehow turned her head, looked and saw herself in a mirror. Yes, that is a diaper. And it's on my bottom! How did I get like this???

She stood there for a moment, wide-eyed, quivering...and reflexively, without thinking, yelled "HEEELLLP!!!" as tears emerged from both her eyes.

This was not right. She was eight, way too old for wearing diapers, for being in a crib! What was going on???

"Sarah!", called Sue Ellen's dad, Bob, "Sue Ellen's up! I'm a bit busy!" After several seconds, no response. The sound of a chair across the floor, then footsteps: "Daddy's coming, Sue Ellen sweetie, just a minute!"

But Sue Ellen was sobbing quietly, scared, overcome by bewilderment, wondering what to do. She looked around, trying to formulate an escape since the crib seemed too high for her to get over on her own. Then her dad arrived into her room, a warm baby bottle in hand.

"Hi, Sweetie! Did you have a good nap?" he said tiredly; "Here's a bottle...c'mon, no more tears; grab Chester, we'll feed you and get you changed. How's that?", and Bob's big hands went under Sue Ellen's arms as she grabbed Chester, lifting her out of her prison of a crib, resting her against his ample chest, then her bottom on his arm. It felt comforting to her...but still strange.

"Oh, baby, you're soaked!", Bob exclaimed. "Well, let's feed you first, then you'll have a dry bottom again."

Bob rested Sue Ellen in his arm, laying her back as she still clutched her bear. He reached for the bottle, got it, brought it to Sue Ellen's mouth and gently nudged the nipple into her mouth.

Oddly, instinct took over, Sue Ellen began to suck on the bottle, warm milk flowing freely in, then swallow, suck, swallow...repeat. Bob smiled down at her as he paced the room with her; Sue Ellen felt a little less panicked...and still as able as an 8-year-old. Very Twilight-Zone-ish...she was still tense from it all. Bob sensed it.

"Sweetie, why are you so tense? You feel tense!", but she could say nothing in return only because she was still bewildered by it all. But that was interrupted by the gurgling sound of an empty bottle.

Bob gently withdrew the nipple from Sue Ellen's mouth. "All done! Now, let's get you changed!" and he walked Sue Ellen, still cradled, still cradling Chester, to the changing table, where a large bag of Pampers and a tub of baby wipes sat.

"We'll get this over in a jif, honey..." and Bob grabbed a clean diaper out of the bag and gently laid Sue Ellen down on the well-padded table. Sue Ellen winced in fear because she remembered nothing about that part of her baby life...and now her dad was going to see her completely naked. He was going to change her diaper, a diaper she did not belong in. Not good.

"Here we go!" and the sound of hook-and-loop ripping came and went. Legs a bit apart, diaper pulled down and there she was: naked, vulnerable, scared. She shut her eyes tight.

"C'mon, you're almost done!" as her ankles were grabbed above her red high-tops and green slouch-socks, lifting them and her bottom off the table. Out went the old diaper, and then a warm wipe on her bottom to clean her off. Her eyes remained tightly shut in embarrassment. In came the new diaper, which Bob opened quite easily with his free hand and slid quickly under her exposed bottom, which then came down. She felt the softness, smelled the perfume...it was soothing but she had to remain focused. Then legs opened as the diaper softly came up between them, diaper down in front and a quick, snug taping-down.

"Sweetie, I don't understand," Bob said; "you're almost two now. Why are you like this? Are you okay? Is something wrong?"

"I'm not almost two, Dad, I'm eight!" Sue Ellen said. But she didn't see from his point of view, from the point of view of any other adult who could also be in the room. To anyone else of adult age, Sue Ellen would appear as almost two. What she'd said, heard in plain words to herself, her dad heard as baby talk.

"Bob! I need some help, please!" It was Sarah, Sue Ellen's mom and Bob's wife.

"Coming!" he yelled back as he grabbed Sue Ellen, still clutching Chester tightly and left the room to go help.

Chapter 4
Bob had to be careful going down the stairs because of his bad back. But they got down stairs, where Sarah struggled in with two heavy grocery bags. Sue Ellen looked at all the artifacts that adorned the house.

Bob quickly took Sue Ellen & Chester to a large rocking chair in the living room and sat them both down in it. He then turned towards Sarah at the open front door, hurried over, took a bag and helped Sarah to the kitchen. The front door remained open.

This did not escape Sue Ellen's notice. It was her chance. Escape! Ever so cautiously, she heard that her parents were still occupied by the groceries; she then grabbed Chester, quietly slid off the rocking chair and ever-so-quietly waddled out the front door. She had to find someone to help her, anyone! This wasn't real...this was surreal. She needed help. Who could she turn to? And down the front steps, across the yard and off she ran, Chester in tow.

She'd've ran faster and straighter if it wasn't for that thick disposable diaper between her legs...but she had to keep it on. She had nothing else to wear. And it was getting too warm for comfort inside that diaper. She had no choice. Just go.

Sue Ellen made the most of the cover available, darting from trees to bushes to other things that would hide her, not wanting anyone to see her, an 8-year-old girl, in a diaper. But at least she had a teal t-shirt, red high-tops and green slouch-socks on. She'd manage...

...somehow.

Trying to slow her mind down, she began to think better. She now knew where she was in the neighborhood; the nearest place to go to for safety was Arthur's. After a short break, she scampered towards his house, bush-to-bush. She successfully arrived, undetected. Both Read vehicles were gone....and Sue Ellen's hopes sank. The despair was short-lived as the back door of the house open and Arthur let out Pal, his dog. "Go on, Pal! Go run around!"

Sue Ellen made a mad dash to the fence at the back yard.

"Arthur! Help! Help me!"

He looked Sue Ellen's way, was a bit surprised...but not by Chester or her diaper, neither of which he could see behind the fence.

"Get over here, Arthur, please! I need your help, badly! Can you get me inside with your eyes closed? I'll explain everything!", to which Arthur gave a surprised, curious look...but he agreed.

"Is anyone else home inside?"

"No, it's just Kate and I, she's asleep upstairs; everyone else went to the spring expo."

Sue Ellen felt much more relieved. Just not completely. Okay, good! Close your eyes..."

He shut his eyes, Sue Ellen crinklewaddled through the gate, took Arthur's hand and walked him into the house, quickly. He almost tripped on the threshold but she caught him. His hand felt secure, safe in hers. His house was warm, spacious, quite basic but inviting. She loved how it all felt. And she'd admired Arthur ever since they'd gotten over the bullying dilemma. She felt much better now.

"Okay, you can open your eyes now," she told Arthur, in a dread-filled voice, expecting the worst. And his eyes caught the sight...

Through his glasses, Arthur's surprise was apparent: "Why do you have Chester with you? And why in the world are you wearing a diaper???" He'd already changed Baby Kate twice today, including one very messy diaper. He was familiar with diapers...just not on his friends.

"I don't know!!! I woke up like this, I just took a nap and now here I am!", she said with desperation in her eyes.

Arthur thought for a few moments at this whole scene...but he finally just accepted the situation. "Okay, you can stay here for now, the family will be gone all day...and I mean all day."

Sue Ellen let out a big sigh of relief, set Chester on the counter, stepped up to Arthur and embraced him in a hug. That, too, surprised Arthur at first but he surrendered to the moment. His arms went up around her, he felt her bun-tail in his face, her warmth, the softness of a girl...and for some reason the smell of her diaper made it feel all the better. Arthur was happy, too.

Sue Ellen broke the embrace; Arthur quickly regrouped so as not to let on too much and make an awkward situation ever more so. With worry on her brow, she asked "Arthur, what will I do?"

"Well,", Arthur began, "D.W.'s stuff won't fit you, it's too small. So is Baby Kate's stuff, including her diapers...and don't ask me to change you," he giggled.

Sue Ellen shot a piercing glare at Arthur, despite how she secretly felt about him. He caught the nuance, shrank back and continued: "Wait! I can get one of Dad's old t-shirts, you can wear that. If you want to take the diaper off, you can. Be right back."

Sue Ellen untaped the diaper and let it fall as she stood behind a tall box in the kitchen. Arthur returned with the t-shirt, which Sue Ellen rapidly slipped over her own teal t-shirt. It reached her ankles, thankfully. Then she looked down...it had a design: "Crosswire Motors Baby Derby", apparently a prize once won due to Baby Kate's victory. Now it was old, lightly stained...but better than nothing. They rolled their eyes together, managed a chuckle and continued to talk.

Chapter 5
"I don't know what happened, Arthur. I really don't!", Sue Ellen whimpered. "I just took a nap and woke up like this!" She was talking between sips of apple juice from a juice box as they talked.

"That is one weird story," Arthur admitted, "but I believe you. Have you ever wanted to be like this?"

Another mean-mug from Sue Ellen. "Okay, okay!!! I just wanted to make sure. It just all seems too odd, too unreal."

"Tell me about it," she said; "I was the one wearing the diaper. My dad even came into my room, bottle-fed me and changed me before I escaped. I was wet!"

Arthur's eyes went deer-in-the-headlight: "Uh, way too much information!" Sue Ellen looked down, gulped. Arthur felt a massive wave of pity for her...and a little something else. Love. Arthur secretly loved Sue Ellen. He really cared for Sue Ellen, even now in her moment of need. He'd do anything for her; Sue Ellen was friendly, confident, happy, sweet...and it all was infectious to him. It felt good being around her under any circumstance.

For some reason, the way Arthur felt and the way Sue Ellen felt coincided, silently. Neither one knew it about the other, it was like arriving at a flashpoint...with something needing to spark it all, to set it off.

"Let's just try and figure out what to do next. Let's put our heads together," Arthur said.

Again, relieved, Sue Ellen was overcome and it came out: she wrapped her arms around Arthur's neck, hugged him, sighed and softly said "Thank you!" Arthur's arms went around her ribcage and he held her.

They both sighed a little in relief.

The spark hit.

Arthur and Sue Ellen pulled apart a little...and stopped. They looked into each other's eyes a moment: Arthur's encouraging eyes, Sue Ellen's happy eyes. They met. They peered deeply into the other's. Ever so slowly, their heads came together...their lips softly touched, they kissed a simple kiss. A little apart again, then back, again and again, for a progressively longer, sweeter kiss every time.

Love took hold. Amid chaos, in a dimly-lit kitchen that smelled of pine cleaner, love found them both.

Sue Ellen laid her head on Arthur's shoulder; he felt the softness of her bun-tail, saw the adorable orange hair, the warmth of her breath, her soft breathing, her pulse. She felt Arthur's strength, his stubbly hair, his polo & cardigan, his own warmth. It felt just as good as cuddling Chester. They both smelled her Pampers' perfume wafting up...and they both truly understood the meaning of each others' trust.

"Arthur, thank you. I love you so very much."

"I love you, too, Sue Ellen. I always have. From the very first time I saw you."

Sue Ellen gently kissed Arthur again. And went back in for another snug embrace.

The moment was broken by the sound of a soft, drizzling noise. Water? Whatever it was, it was hitting below. Sue Ellen felt droplets hit her ankles, warm droplets. She and Arthur, still embraced, knew what was going on.

"Oh, NO!!!"

Chapter 6
"At least my diaper was still on the floor between my feet!" Sue Ellen desperately tried to reassure Arthur. He understood but this was just downright awkward. "It caught most all of it. But I swear, I didn't feel it happening at all! What is wrong with me???"

Arthur sighed resignedly, smiled, still with love in his eyes for her. "I'll go get the pine cleaner spray and paper towels." And second later, he was back. Sue Ellen took care of her mess, wrapped & taped up the diaper and threw it in the trash. Arthur's parents would just assume it was one of Baby Kate's diapers.

"I should've kept my diaper on."

"Don't worry. How were you to know?"

Silence for but a moment. Then Sue Ellen had an idea: "Can I borrow your phone? I need to call Jenna."

"Sure, why?" queried Arthur.

"It's a bit personal" she replied.

Sue Ellen picked up the phone, dialed. It answered: "Hello, Jenna? Sue Ellen. Can you get on over to Arthur's, please? Quickly? And can you bring over one of those you-know-whats? Okay, thank you!" And she hung up.

Minutes later, Jenna arrived with a paper bag in her hand and stepped inside. "Arthur," Sue Ellen asked, "can Jenna and I go talk for a bit? It's girl stuff."

Arthur heaved a sigh. "Okay, I'll go upstairs and check on Baby Kate."

The pull-up Jenna brought over for Sue Ellen fit perfectly. It would assure there were no further accidents; Sue Ellen was urinary incontinent; the other one was unknown but there was no use taking chances. This would do. The secret would remain in the sisterhood as revealed at one of Muffy's girl-sleepovers. Jenna shot Sue Ellen a smile, a wink, said good-bye and was gone.

"It's okay now, Arthur! Jenna's gone, girl time is over!" Sue Ellen called upstairs. She could hear Baby Kate cry as Arthur plodded down the steps with a wadded-up diaper. Arthur looked so domestic, so cute. Sue Ellen giggled a little in her own pull-up.

"Kate's up and needs a bottle. This is her fourth diaper today!"

"What about the last one?"

"You don't wanna know." Sue Ellen held her response, a giggle, not knowing if that was her next event. She and Arthur walked to the kitchen, where Arthur got rid of the diaper and washed his hands. More than ever before, Sue Ellen wanted to hold, kiss Arthur again as he got an empty bottle down, filled it with milk, warmed it up...and stopped.

"Can I make you one?" he offered in jest.

"AR-THUR!!!"

"Okay, okay!" he quickly responded. "I learned my lesson! Whoo!" And with bottle in-hand, he walked up to Sue Ellen, gave her a quick kiss on her cheek and said "Now that I know how much I really love you, I could never do that to you". Sue Ellen smiled ever-so-sweetly, ever-so-adoringly. And she grabbed Chester and followed Arthur up to Baby Kate's and D.W.'s bedroom to feed Kate.

Gingerly but with effort, considering Kate's size compared to Arthur's age, Arthur got Baby Kate out of her crib, sat in a rocking chair, sat her up the best he could and gave her a bottle, which Kate gratefully, eagerly, hungrily took.

As Kate drank, Arthur rocked and talked: "I know what you're thinking, Sue Ellen: you've been wondering what it's like having a little brother or a sister. It's no picnic, especially with D.W..." to which Sue Ellen all-too-knowingly giggled about, "...but it's not all that bad. It may just very well happen to you. You could get a brother or sister. Time will tell..."

Arthur continued to rock and feed Kate. And in a sudden burst of deeply-buried, primal, maternal instinct, Sue Ellen was overcome, wandered over to Arthur...and kissed him on the top of his head as he fed Kate. The bottle went dry with the noise of air being sucked; Kate began to cry.

Astonished, Arthur looked at Baby Kate: "Again??? You must be going through a growth spurt. Now I know why you're racing through diapers!" Sue Ellen giggled yet again.

"Can you hold Kate while I make up another bottle?" Sue Ellen nodded, traded places with Arthur. He went back down for another bottle, she cradled Kate as Kate cried out. Sue Ellen gave Chester to Kate, gave her a smooch on the forehead; Kate's cries subsided a little. A little...

Before long, Arthur returned with another full bottle. To his surprise, Kate wouldn't take it so he set it on the table next to the chair. Kate fell back to sleep again...and not wanting to spoil or question a miracle, Arthur & Sue Ellen ever-so-gently set Kate back in her crib, innocently sleeping.

Sue Ellen looked at Arthur as he stood over Kate, looking at her happily. She set Chester down by the bottle.

"You. Come here."

Arthur turned to Sue Ellen, looked at her.

"I said 'come...here'!" and she grabbed his yellow cardigan collar, yanked him over to her, embraced Arthur and kissed him. Softly, sweetly. She felt so happy...and he once again melted in her arms.

It was such a happy moment. And the moment lingered. Sue Ellen felt her breathing getting a little bit labored, ragged. She felt so much love for Arthur...Arthur felt it, too, and began breathing a little more ragged, as well.

No sooner had it started when they both stopped suddenly by the noise of yelling outside. Sue Ellen identified it readily: it was her parents, loudly yelling her name, calling for her, approaching Arthur's house.

Arthur felt Sue Ellen go from love to tension in an instant. And to top it all off, Arthur's parents' cars drove up. The hullaballoo just increased exponentially...and if Arthur knew D.W., it'd be the crime of the century, replete with tabloid coverage and her holier-than-thou attitude. Total cataclysm.

Sue Ellen was more-panicked than Arthur. It was clearly evident on her face. He'd never seen Sue Ellen in a full-blown panic; she always had the answers, the confidence, knew what to do. Sue Ellen was the most amazing girl Arthur had ever met. And now, Arthur's parents joined in the noise, calling both her and Arthur.

Then Baby Kate awoke, crying again...nay, howling. The front door opened downstairs, the noise got louder.

"What do we do???", demanded Arthur.

Suddenly, Sue Ellen had an idea: "Quick! Sit in your rocking chair!"

"How is that going to fix any--"

"Just do it!!! Please!!!" And Arthur obliged. Sue Ellen grabbed her bear Chester, hopped onto Arthur's lap, laid back into his arm, clutching Chester, much to his bewilderment.

"Grab Kate's bottle. Feed me!"

"Now this is jus--"

"Do it, Arthur! Now!!!"

"But I don't under--"

"GRRRR!!!" And Sue Ellen grabbed the bottle herself, slapped it in Arthur's hand, brought his bottled hand to her mouth, latched onto the nipple and began sucking down warm milk so fast, the stream of milk was hitting the back of her throat with force. Arthur got the hint, somehow...

"Arthur!!! Sue Ellen!!! Where are you?!?!"

Arthur rocked them both, kissed Sue Ellen's forehead and lovingly said "Sweet Dreams, baby..." as a distant, pulsing electronic noise grew louder, louder...then a spreading, increasingly-bright-white, flooding light...

Chapter 7
The white light lessened its intensity, grew dimmer. The noise grew louder. Sue Ellen regained composure...and found herself laying on her bed, clutching Chester.

She looked around: no bars around her, a relief. Then a quick panic: she hiked up her dress to her navel...

No diaper. No pull-up. Just teal spanky-pants. And her navel. Back down went the dress; a girl must keep her dignity at all times. She smiled...looked around. It was all a dream...

But the noise--the alarm--was still going. 5 pm, one more hour until Francine's party. Sue Ellen got up, kissed Chester, placed him back on the bed and got ready for the party. She looked so adorable in her yellow blouse, her red corduroy suspender-skirt, cream socks and brown shoes. The ensemble was just for special occasions.

"Sue Ellen! Arthur's here to escort you to the party!" It was Sarah, her mom.

"Coming!"

And Sue Ellen went over to her bed, picked up Chester, hugged him so tightly, thankful they shared so much together. Including dreams. She tenderly laid him back on the bed and was out her bedroom door like a shot.

She made it to the living room where Arthur stood, looking quite dapper: her dad was on the couch, laying down from another backache. "Hi, Sue Ellen!", said Arthur, smiling. Sarah smiled, knowing Sue Ellen was in good hands. She wished them both a good time at the party and excused herself to tend to Bob's aching back.

Sue Ellen and Arthur both trotted down the front steps, headed to Francine's, and stopped for a moment on the walkway. "Thanks for stopping by to escort me, Arthur."

"My pleasure!" beamed Arthur. He was proud to have Sue Ellen as a friend. She was so many good things a person could be. And he'd never take her for granted or demean her again. Their friendship was hard-won, stood the trial by fire.

"Don't worry," Arthur said in a by-the-way manner, "I won't tell anyone about our secret".

Sue Ellen stopped, froze a little. Her eyes betrayed it. "'Secret'???"

"Tenzing coming over from Tibet!", Arthur explained. "I'll let you do the talking when you're ready."

Sue Ellen relaxed, then tested Arthur, to make sure it wasn't still a dream, teasing him: "Hmmm, an-y oth-er se-crets?"

Arthur smiled. Sue Ellen now knew that she was wide-awake.

Arthur whispered, "It's safe with me. Very safe". And he winked. Sue Ellen shuddered again. Was it all really a dream?

Then, with his right arm at his side, he opened up his elbow. Sue Ellen slipped her left forearm through, smiled and they slowly walked down the walkway, merged onto the sidewalk. Sue Ellen laid her head on Arthur's shoulder, in bliss...

Watching from the living room window, Sarah spied...and smiled.

The End

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Author: BobbiSueEllen
Timestamp: Aug 1, 2021 at 3:52 AM
Content: Aw, thank you! I make a mean chef's salad, too!

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Author: BobbiSueEllen
Timestamp: Aug 3, 2021 at 1:15 AM
Content:

kerry said:

Nicely done. I don't think it was particularly true to the stated age of the characters (eight) though. At that age, kids aren't really differentiated into groups like "all-star athletic girl," etc. They also don't fall in love, at least not so maturely. And they definitely are not left at home with a baby sister (unless the parents want a house call from CPS). What would be wrong with making them, say, thirteen? Also, one character mentions droopy antlers, but this in no other way seems to be a furry story, so what gives?

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There has been at least one Arthur episode where Arthur and D.W. were left home alone with Baby Kate...with the predictable diaper-change catastrophe, among other minor catastrophes. As for the "falling in love", coupled with the previous matter, it was a dream sequence...I think it could be a state-of-mind thing, even at 8, as it was with myself and many in my grade then, even if it's only "puppy love"; in fact, DeviantArtists have already (in their own worlds) sexually paired many Arthur characters together, such as Prunella & Marina, George & Carl and Sue Ellen & Fern.

For the true-to-age and thirteen parts: Marc Brown seems to have all the kids rather intellectually-advanced for their age group...one would think they were sophomores! Real-life eight-year-olds aren't that well-versed or acute about social awareness...perhaps Brown's goal was to bridge the watchability gap between kids and adults. And, finally...George and his droopy antlers: in the show, George Lundgren is a moose whose antlers seem to not conform with Nature's pattern: their nubs point downward.

Arthur is, on the whole, quite furry but I have yet to see that word used by the creator, fans or critics.

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Author: BobbiSueEllen
Timestamp: Aug 3, 2021 at 7:59 AM
Content: Done.