Total pages in book: 36
Estimated words: 34052 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 170(@200wpm)___ 136(@250wpm)___ 114(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 34052 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 170(@200wpm)___ 136(@250wpm)___ 114(@300wpm)
But this is a vacation. I haven’t been on a vacation since I was a young girl. My parents never thought it would be worth it. I always have too many triggers to travel. That also means they never get to travel either.
Now that I’ve moved in with Chase and they have come to trust that I don’t need them close by on a moment’s notice, they’ve started venturing out. I’m so glad for them, and I know they’re excited for me to take this trip also.
I couldn’t do this with any other person or alone. I can only do it because Daddy is so astute that I never have to worry. He takes care of everything.
“You okay, princess?” he asks.
I realize most of the people have left the upper deck. I’ve been hugging his chest and leaning into him hard while my mind wandered for several minutes.
He’s rubbing my back. Not rushing me. Which makes me love him even more.
Finally, I push off and stand on my own. I take a deep breath. “I’m ready.”
He’s so tall that when he’s sitting and I’m standing, we’re eye to eye. He leans forward and kisses me. “I’ve got you, princess.”
“I know, Daddy.” I smile big. I should have enormous anxiety about this. Normally I would, but he chases it away in every situation we’re ever in. He’s magic.
Daddy leads me down to the main level of the ferry and hangs back, holding my hand, waiting for everyone else to get off. He knows I don’t like to be touched by other people.
When the coast is clear, he sets a hand on the small of my back and leads me off.
I stay by his side as he collects his suitcase and shrugs my diaper bag up onto his shoulder. He leads me to a parking lot filled with golf carts next.
I giggle. “They’re so cute, Daddy. I’ve never been on a golf cart.”
He grins as he sets his suitcase on the back rack before opening the diaper bag. “You’re going to have so many firsts this week, Baby girl. I can’t wait to share them with you.”
He pulls out a set of pads, and I watch as he attaches them to the harness of the car seat. He has pads like this for every kind of restraint system so that the edges of the nylon straps won’t irritate my skin—or more specifically my mind.
Finally, he swings me up into the seat and fastens me in tight. “How’s that, Baby girl? Anything rubbing in the wrong place?”
I shake my head. “It’s good.” He made sure all five points of the harness are against my shirt and my diaper, not my skin.
He climbs into the driver’s seat in front of me, and we take off.
My eyes are wide as we pass the beach and enter the main part of town. Even though I’ve heard a lot about this island, nothing can prepare a person for seeing it in real life.
It’s like we’ve entered another dimension. The sidewalks are filled with Littles and their caregivers. No one not in the lifestyle lives on the island, though there are some caregivers who don’t yet have a Little of their own.
All the businesses on Main Street are perfectly normal. Half the adult patrons are in diapers. At least I don’t need to worry about fitting in. Even though I knew intellectually everyone would be dressed as I am, it was impossible to believe until I’m seeing it firsthand.
I try not to think about our destination until Daddy pulls the golf cart to a stop and I glance up to see the “clinic” sign. There’s no avoiding this.
After Daddy unfastens me from the harness, he lifts me up and lowers me to my feet. “We need to stop next door first and check in with the orientation center.”
He holds my hand as we enter the building. The only person inside is a woman behind the desk who smiles at us sweetly. “Hi. You must be Chase and Josie.”
She reaches out to shake Daddy’s hand while I hide mostly behind his back because her shirt is bright red and it’s hurting my eyes. I’m so weird about the color red. I try to control my reaction to it. I know other people don’t react to colors, but Melissa says it’s not that unusual. She insists it’s reasonable for me to see red as anger and pain and shouting. It causes me anxiety.
Melissa says most people have reactions to some or all colors. It’s just that most people don’t realize it and don’t react as violently as I do.
Daddy turns partly around, leans down, puts his lips on my ear, and whispers, “Close your eyes, Baby girl. I’ll be quick.”
I do as I’m told, hoping this woman won’t be offended. Offending people is a constant concern of mine. I’m aware of it, but I can’t stop it.