Cheating the Cycle of Life- A Padded Pony Collab

“Dè, just hold still, baby. Let daddy get you all cleaned up.” Appiano said to Flameboy Shy, as he untaped the wet diaper. Since there was no bathroom on the bus, Appiano placed the soaked undergarment into a plastic bag marked "Rifiuti". Then he took some wipes, and carefully cleaned his little one’s rear.

Flameboy Shy just blushed, and suckled on his pacifier. It certainly felt weird to have his diaper be changed by someone other than himself, his parents, or the vice principal of his school. But this is what he wanted, for someone to take care of him and baby him. And if Appiano was willing to fulfill that role, Flameboy wasn’t going to complain. At least his daddy had the decency to change him on an empty bus.

In only a matter of seconds, Appiano completed the changing job by taping a new diaper to Flameboy Shy’s butt, and sprinkling in a generous amount of baby powder.

Just as Appiano helped Flameboy Shy to stand, a message played over the bus’ intercom in Italian.

“Prossima fermata: Piombino Località Asca. Quindi minuti di viaggio stimati.” the intercom announced.

“What did they just say?” Flameboy Shy asked his ‘daddy’.

“Dè, they said ‘we will be arriving in Piombino in fifteen minutes’,” Appiano replied, offering a translation. “Which means we have time for me to show you some of the sights to take in, as we pass them by. You’ll find that this nation of mine is filled with beautiful landscapes and historical buildings.”

The fifteen minutes on the bus ride passed quickly for Appiano and Flameboy, and almost before they realized it, the bus came to a stop.

“S'è giunti a destinazione. Buona giornata.” the intercom said in an informative tone. Appiano helped Flameboy grab his luggage, and then the two of them stepped off the bus.

“Dè, come on, my home is just a short walk from here.” Appiano instructed, taking Flameboy Shy by the hand, and guiding him along the stone walkway.

Appiano’s house was visually stunning, at least to Flameboy Shy. He recognized the marble exterior from pictures of similarly constructed buildings back in his home country, but he had never seen a building made out of the stone before.

A red brick rooftop neatly complimented the picturesque hillside that dotted the landscape behind the house. And the door was a brightly painted olive green in color.

“Do your folks know about your agreeing to look after me?” Flameboy Shy asked nervously, as he entered Appiano’s house.

“Do not worry, bambino mio. My parents are out of town attending an important business conference. I stayed behind, because they say I am not old enough to concern myself with such matters,” Appiano explained “Now then, would you like to see your sleeping quarters that your daddy has prepared for you?”

Flameboy Shy felt his heart race. Could it be that Appiano hadn’t been pulling his leg all those months ago, when he promised Flameboy Shy a crib?

Following Appiano as fast as he could without getting ahead, Flameboy Shy made his way through the house of marble walls and tiled floors, until at last a room at the end of a long hallway stood before him.

Upon opening the door, Flameboy was greeted with a sight that made his eyes grow wide in surprise and excitement.

There was indeed a crib, modified to fit Flameboy’s size perfectly. It had the most adorable light blue bedsheets and matching pillows, and there was even a rattle next to the crib.

But the crib was not the only thing in the room that commanded attention. There was also a padded floor section that was entitled Scatola della Fanciullezza’ (which Flameboy assumed meant playpen in Italian), and a giant changing table stocked with supplies and pajamas that were babyish in design. And there was room for Flameboy to store his diapers.

“How did you get all of this?” Flameboy Shy asked Appiano.

“Dè, there is a babycare store a short drive away from where I live. One of the clerks that works there is a good friend of mine. He helped me to get everything organized in advance,” Appiano explained “He even gave me some free baby food.”

“Oh thank you, thank you so much!” Flameboy said happily, as he hugged his Italian daddy. He knew for sure he was going to enjoy his vacation.