Daily Free-Write July 29, 2021: Alternative Education Pt. 3

Daily Free-Write July 3, 2021 "Alternative Education Pt. 2"

Part 1 Part 2 

By the time we stepped out into the main cabin again, the airplane was filled with a chorus of moans, groans, and wails as all the Fresh Start passengers struggled - and failed - to get out of their restraints in time. It was fortunate that every one of them had been made to sit on an absorbent pad 'just in case', and it looked to me like the 'just in case' was more like an inevitability. Amanda stepped out of the lavatory opposite mine and gave me a sidelong glance as she perceived what was happening.

"I don't think these 'accidents' were accidents, Zack."

"I know," I said back, in a low voice. Why were we being so cagey? I didn't know but something told me there was more going on here than met the eye. We cautiously made our way back to the aisle, trying not to make eye contact with the other passengers as they squirmed and whined. It was hard not to look at their crotches, though. The wetness that told everyone they had a big embarrassing accident was so easy to see, especially when their special restraint harnesses kept those legs open for easy inspection.

We managed to hurry back to our seats and strap ourselves in before any 'official' looking people noticed out accents. Our two Fresh Start attendants were going up and down the aisled happily checking off the names on their clipboards of everyone who had had an accident, but when the one on our side got to our seats, he frowned.

"Hey there, little troopers. Did you have an accident too? You don't look very wet..."

"Gosh no, why would I have an accident?" I asked innocently.

"Oh, no reason," he said, smiling again. "I was just coming around to see who needed a potty break, but it seems like I was too late for most. ...Do you need a potty break?"

"Nope! I'm just fine."

He looked between the two of us and saw that neither of us was showing any sign of urgency or discomfort. He pressed on.

"...You... didn't skip your in flight beverage, did you? Most people usually have to go by now and we don't want anyone getting dehydrated..."

"Oh no, I drank mine all up. See?" I showed him the empty juice box.

"Yeah, me too," said Amanda, holding up her own. "Hey, I think the person behind us needs to be let out."

"Huh? Oh! Yeah," said the attendant, looking momentarily thrown off. "Alright, you two. If you need out, I'll be back later to check on everyone again." He moved along behind us and i heard the desperate sound of someone bragging him to let them out, and then crying as he wasn't able to do it quickly enough.

"There, there," came Mikey's voice. "Accidents happen. We'll just mark you down for potty training level. As long as this is all that happens, you'll stay there for now. Oh, you can just stay there  for now. The pad will soak everything up."

Amanda and I looked at each other and raised our eyebrows. "Looks like he expected us to have one too," Amanda whispered. I nodded. It certainly didn't seem like an accident at all.

Soon, I was grabbing my headphones and getting ready to slip into a stupor watching more mindless entertainment to take my mind off the interminable plane ride and all the noises of discomfort around me, but I noticed something strange. All the programming had changed to only kids' programming. I didn't' really mind, since it wasn't any worse than the pablum that was available before.

"Hey Amanda, check this out," I said, pointing toward the screen. "it's all kids' programming. Weird, huh?"

"That stuff'll rot your brain," she said, her nose remaining firmly buried in her book.

"Eh, that's what we're here for, right?" I asked. She didn't respond beyond the edges  of her mouth curling up a little. I shrugged and popped the headphones back in to watch the cartoons. It was funny, I didn't really recognize them. Some show called the diaper pals was on and I had never heard of it. According to the logo it was funded by Fresh Start, though. I watched the first few minutes of the show, which was some silly plot about these animal critters getting on the plane to start their new lives at the adult daycare. That's about all I could remember before I totally zonked out.

When I came to, I had to go bad. And this time, it wasn't to pee.

"Amanda? Amanda! I have to go. Please... a little hocus pocus would be great right now." Amanda's eyes peeked out over her book when she looked at me.

"Huh? Oh! Sure, here ya go," she said, waving a hand over my belt. "Actually, I might as well too. I get so lost in these things."

The two of us hopped out of our seats and stepped into the aisle to make another trip to the lavatory when suddenly a voice rang out behind us.

"Hey! What do you think you're doing?"