Chapter 13: a day at the mall

As they ate breakfast, Jake’s mom smiled at the boys. “I was thinking of taking you two to the mall today. I read that one of the new stores has an escape room that’s supposed to be really fun. Then we can grab lunch and see a movie.”

Jake and Alex exchanged excited glances. “That sounds awesome!” Jake said.

“There’s just one thing,” Mrs. Faulkner added. “I’d like you boys to wear your diapers while we’re out today. The escape room takes two hours, and once you’re in, you can’t leave until you escape or run out of time.”

Jake and Alex exchanged glances. It wasn’t the first time Jake’s mom had made a request like this, but now that Jake was in actual diapers instead of Goodnites, it felt a little different.

"Uh… yeah, I guess that makes sense," Jake muttered, rubbing the back of his neck.

Alex, already used to it, just nodded. "Yeah, I don’t mind. I’d rather not have to worry about needing to go in the middle of the game."

Jake’s mom smiled. "Good. It’s just to be safe. You two go get ready, and we’ll head out in a bit."

The boys went upstairs, and Alex quickly got changed with the help of jake. Jake hesitated for a moment, staring at the diaper his mom had gotten him. With a sigh, he unfolded it and tried his best to tape it up properly this time.

Alex stopped him and said, “Dude, remember what your mom said earlier? If you need help, ask. And I told you last night—these things are tricky by yourself.”

Jake hesitated, then nodded. He knew Alex was right—the tapes were tricky, and after last night’s mishap, he didn’t want a repeat.

“…Yeah, alright,” Jake admitted. “I guess I could use a little help.”

Alex nodded. “No big deal, dude. I’ve been dealing with these for a while.”

Jake sighed and lay back on his bed while Alex adjusted the tapes properly, making sure they were snug but not too tight. “There, that should hold up way better,” Alex said, stepping back. Jake sat up, moving around a little to test it. It definitely felt more secure than when he had done it himself. “Thanks, man,” he said, feeling a little less embarrassed now.

“No problem,” Alex said with a grin. “Told you, it’s just part of the routine for me.”

When they were both dressed, they grabbed their jackets and headed downstairs. Mrs. Faulkner was waiting by the door. "Alright, let’s get going!" They hopped in the car and drove to the mall.

The drive to the mall was filled with excited chatter about the escape room and what kind of puzzles they might face. Despite the awkward start to the morning, both boys were looking forward to the challenge ahead.

When they arrived at the mall, Jake’s mom led them toward the escape room venue. The lobby had a dark, eerie aesthetic, fitting for the murder mystery theme. Posters of past groups who had successfully escaped lined the walls, along with a leaderboard, for the fastest times.

A staff member greeted them. “Welcome to Locked In: Murder Manor! This is a seven-room escape experience where you’ll need to solve puzzles to unlock each door and piece together the mystery before time runs out.You'll have two hours—think you’re up for it?”

“Oh, we got this,” Jake said confidently.

“Alright! The game starts when you enter the first room. Good luck!”

The door clicked open, and they stepped inside. The first room was set up like an old study, dimly lit with an antique desk, bookshelves, and a flickering chandelier. On the desk lay a letter detailing the backstory—a wealthy aristocrat had been murdered, and they had to figure out who did it and why.

Alex immediately started searching through books while Jake checked the drawers. “There’s gotta be a key or code somewhere,” Alex muttered.

After a few minutes of searching, Jake found a hidden compartment in the desk containing a cipher wheel. “I think this deciphers something,” he said, handing it to Alex.

They worked together to decode a message hidden in a book title, which led them to a lock combination on a bookshelf. As soon as they entered it, a secret door swung open, leading them into the next room—a candlelit dining hall with a long, elaborate table set for a meal that was never eaten.

“Okay, this is kinda creepy,” Alex admitted, eyeing the eerie mannequins seated at the table.

They pressed on, solving riddles, arranging clues, and unlocking doors one by one. Each room got progressively harder, but they were having a blast, fully immersed in the mystery.

By the time they reached the final room—the crime scene—they only had fifteen minutes left. It was a grand bedroom with clues scattered across the floor. “Alright, we need to figure out who the murderer is!”

They pieced together the final set of clues, identifying the culprit as the butler. As soon as they entered the answer into the final keypad, the exit door clicked open, and victory music played.

“Congratulations! You solved the mystery with six minutes to spare!” the staff member cheered as they stepped out.

Jake and Alex high-fived. “That was awesome!” Alex grinned.

As the staff entered their completion time into the leaderboard, a loud siren suddenly blared through the lobby. Jake and Alex jumped, startled, before realizing it wasn’t part of the escape room.

“Whoa, what’s going on?” Alex asked.

The staff member grinned. “Congratulations, guys! Not only did you set the fastest time for this escape room, but you’re also the 100th group to escape successfully! That means you win a special prize!”

Jake’s eyes widened. “Wait, seriously? That’s awesome!”

Another staff member brought out a prize bag for each of them. “Inside, you’ll find free escape room passes for their next visit and a voucher for a free meal at the food court. You will also receive locked in escaperoom t-shirts.

“This is so cool!” Alex said

The staff then guided them to the leaderboard, where their names were added at the top with a bold Fastest Time Record tag. They posed for a picture, which was printed and placed on the wall alongside the other groups who had conquered the challenge.

Jake’s mom smiled. “Well, I’d say that was definitely worth the trip.”

Jake’s mom chuckled. “Glad you boys had fun.

“Totally,” Jake agreed. “Now, let’s go use these free food vouchers—I’m starving!”

As they entered the food court, they were amazed by the sheer number of choices available. There were pizza stands with bubbling cheese-covered slices, a Chinese food vendor serving up steaming plates of noodles and dumplings, a taco stand offering everything from classic beef tacos to spicy street-style options, and even a stall dedicated entirely to ice rolls—delicate, handcrafted rolled ice cream topped with all sorts of delicious toppings.

“Dude, how are we supposed to pick just one thing?” Alex asked, his eyes scanning all the food options.

Jake grinned. “Maybe we don’t have to. We could each get something different and share?”

Jake’s mom chuckled. “That’s actually a great idea. That way, you get to try a little bit of everything.”

With that, they split up, each heading to a different vendor. Jake went for a plate of orange chicken and fried rice, Alex grabbed a couple of loaded tacos, and Mrs. Faulkner ordered a large pizza to share. After grabbing their food, they met back at a table in the center of the food court, ready to feast.

As they dug in, Alex pointed toward the ice roll stand. “No matter how full we get, we’re getting that for dessert.”

Jake nodded with a mouthful of food. “Absolutely.”

Jake and Alex exchanged excited looks as they stepped up to the counter.

As they approached the stand, they saw a man dressed in an old-timey ice cream vendor outfit standing behind a refrigerated table with various milks and candies. The man, dressed in an old-timey ice cream vendor outfit, adjusted his hat and gestured toward the refrigerated table in front of him.

"You boys ever had ice rolls before?" he asked with a friendly smile.

Alex shook his head. "Nope, but it looks cool. Where’s the ice cream, though?"

The man chuckled. "I make it from scratch, right here in front of you. This table is a freezing surface. I pour the liquid base onto it, mix in your chosen ingredients, and then roll it up with these spatulas. You just tell me what you want, and I’ll create it for you."

Jake’s eyes lit up. "Wait, so we can pick any flavors?"

"That’s right," the vendor said, waving a hand over the various bottles of flavored milk and trays of toppings. "And don’t worry, I’ve got lactose-free options for anyone who needs ‘em."

Alex scanned the selection, then grinned. "Okay, I’ll go with cookies and cream, but can you add some caramel drizzle?"

"Coming right up," the vendor said as he grabbed a bottle of vanilla base and poured it onto the freezing surface. He then crushed up a handful of Oreo cookies and mixed them in with swift, expert movements.

Jake, eager to make his own choice, chimed in. "I’ll do strawberry cheesecake, with extra graham cracker crumbs on top!"

"Excellent choice!" The vendor grabbed the strawberry-flavored base and began working.

The boys watched in amazement as he spread the mixture thin, let it freeze, then carefully scraped it into perfect rolls. He placed the rolls into cups, added the toppings, and handed them over with a flourish.

"Enjoy, gentlemen!"

Jake and Alex took their first bites and immediately grinned at each other.

"Dude, this is amazing," Alex said, savoring the creamy, crunchy combination.

Jake nodded. "We’re definitely coming back here next time."

Mrs. Faulkner smiled as she watched them enjoy their treat. "Well, I’d say this mall trip was a success."

The boys couldn’t argue with that. With their escape room victory, a delicious meal, and now one of the best desserts they’d ever had, the day had turned out to be one of their best yet.

The vendor says anything for you, mamm

Mrs. Faulkner smiled at the vendor and glanced at the menu. “Oh, why not? I’ll take a coffee and caramel roll.”

The vendor nodded. “Excellent choice, ma’am! One coffee caramel ice roll is coming right up.”

Jake and Alex watched as he poured a creamy coffee-flavored base onto the freezing surface, skillfully swirling in caramel syrup before spreading it thin. With practiced precision, he scraped the frozen mixture into perfect rolls and placed them neatly in a cup. He topped it off with whipped cream and an extra drizzle of caramel before handing it over.

“Here you go, ma’am. Enjoy!”

Mrs. Faulkner took a bite and smiled. “Oh wow, this is really good! No wonder you boys were so excited.”

The vendor chuckled. “Glad you like it! Ice rolls are a little different from your usual ice cream, but I like to think they’re worth the wait.”

Jake grinned. “Definitely worth it!”

Alex sighed happily. “Yeah, but this was awesome. Best mall trip ever.”

Jake nodded in agreement. “For sure. And next time, I’m trying the chocolate peanut butter one.”

The vendor laughed. “I’ll be here when you do!”

As they finished their treats, Mrs. Faulkner checked the time and gestured toward the mall’s theater.

Mrs. Faulkner looked at the theater listings and turned to the boys. “Alright, we’ve got just enough time to catch a movie before heading home. What do you two want to watch? There’s Sonic 3, the Minecraft Movie, and a few others.”

Jake and Alex exchanged a look, both grinning. They quickly decided on the Minecraft movie. “The Minecraft Movie sounds awesome,” Jake said. “We just spent all morning building stuff in our world, so why not?”

Alex nodded eagerly. “Yeah! Plus, I wanna see how they turn it into an actual story.”

Mrs. Faulkner smiled. “Alright then, Minecraft Movie, it is.”

She led the boys to the ticket counter, where she purchased their seats along with a large popcorn and drinks to share. Once inside the theater, they settled into their seats just as the lights dimmed.

As the previews started rolling, Jake leaned over to Alex. “Think they’ll actually stick to the game, or are they gonna make up some weird plot?”

Alex shrugged. “As long as there are creepers and cool builds, I’m happy.”

The movie began, immersing them in a blocky world of adventure, survival, and crafting—just like their own late-night gaming sessions. The boys whispered excitedly during epic scenes, reacting to every battle and creative build like they were playing themselves.

As the movie played, both boys’ stomachs started to churn and cramp. Remembering how much they had eaten and drank, the sheer amount of food they had eaten throughout the day—pizza, wings, ice cream, and soda—was catching up to them. Jake felt his stomach gurgle uncomfortably, and when he glanced over, he saw Alex gripping his belly, looking just as uneasy.

Jake leaned in slightly and whispered, “Dude… I think I gotta go.”

Alex grimaced. “Same… but I don’t wanna miss anything.”

They both sat there, debating their options. The movie was in an intense part, and neither of them wanted to get up and miss it. Then they remembered what Mrs. Faulkner had told them earlier—that they were wearing for a reason.

Jake hesitated for a moment before finally relaxing, feeling his body take over. He let out a slow breath, trying to stay focused on the screen as warmth spread through his diaper. A few seconds later, he heard Alex sigh quietly beside him, clearly making the same decision.

Hesitantly, they each lifted themselves slightly off their seats, letting go completely. The warmth spread, followed by a mushy sensation as they slowly sat back down, feeling it squish against them.

Jake swallowed hard, trying to focus on the screen, while Alex shifted slightly, adjusting to the feeling. Neither said a word, both pretending like nothing had happened. The movie was their only distraction now, and they were determined to enjoy it, no matter what.

They exchanged an awkward glance but then quickly looked back at the movie, neither wanting to acknowledge what had just happened. They’d deal with it later. Right now, it was all about enjoying the film.

As the movie ended and they exited the theater. “That was actually really good,” Alex said as they stepped out of the theater.

“Yeah! Way better than I thought it’d be,” Jake agreed.

Mrs. Faulkner chuckled. “Glad you boys enjoyed it. Now, let’s get home before it gets too late.”

Jake’s mom noticed the boys walking strangely. She raised an eyebrow, looking between them.

"Alright," she said, crossing her arms. "What's going on with you two?"

Jake and Alex exchanged a nervous glance before Jake hesitated and mumbled, "Uh… nothing."

Mrs. Faulkner sighed, already suspecting the truth. She leaned in and whispered, "Do you both… need a change?"

Alex's face turned red as he nodded slightly. Jake looked down, rubbing the back of his neck.

Shaking her head with a small chuckle, Mrs. Faulkner said, "Alright, let's get you both sorted before we head home." She gestured for them to follow her toward the nearest family restroom.

Jake and Alex shuffled behind her, relieved that she wasn't mad—just understanding, as always.

As they entered the family restroom, Jake's mom locked the door and dug into purse and pulled out 2 diapers a pack of wipes a bottle of baby powder

“Alright, who’s first?” she asked.

Jake and Alex exchanged glances, both hesitant. After a moment, Alex sighed and stepped forward.

"I guess I'll go first," he mumbled, still a little embarrassed.Mrs. Faulkner smiled reassuringly. "Alright, hon, let's get you cleaned up." she then gestured him to get up on the changing table.

Jake turned away, trying to give Alex some privacy while Mrs. Faulkner helped him. The sound of wipes and powder filled the restroom as she quickly and efficiently changed Alex into a fresh diaper.

"All done," she said, giving Alex a pat on the shoulder.

Jake sighed, knowing it was his turn now. He hesitated but then stepped forward. "Alright… I guess it's me now."

Mrs. Faulkner gave him the same reassuring smile. "Nothing to be embarrassed about, sweetie."

Jake laid down, letting his mom take care of it. As she wiped him clean and powdered him up, he couldn’t help but glance at Alex, who gave him a small, knowing smirk.

Jake sighed, knowing it was his turn now. He hesitated but then stepped forward. "Alright… I guess it's me now."

Mrs. Faulkner gave him the same reassuring smile. "Nothing to be embarrassed about, sweetie."

Jake laid down, letting his mom take care of it. As she wiped him clean and powdered him up, he couldn’t help but glance at Alex, who gave him a small, knowing smirk.

Once they were both changed and comfortable, Mrs. Faulkner packed up her things and unlocked the door. "Alright, boys. Now that you're both fresh and clean, let’s head home."

Jake and Alex both nodded, feeling much better as they followed her out of the restroom and back into the mall.

they got back in the car. As they buckled up in the car, Mrs. Faulkner glanced at them through the rearview mirror with a small smile.

"I'm really glad you boys had fun today," she said, starting the car. "And I'm also happy I had you wear those diapers. But please, don't try to lie to me next time."

Jake and Alex exchanged guilty looks before Jake finally spoke up. "Sorry, Mom… we just didn’t want to make a big deal out of it."

Alex nodded. "Yeah, we figured we could handle it ourselves, but… well, you noticed anyway."

Mrs. Faulkner chuckled. "Moms always notice, boys. Just remember, I’m here to help. No shame, no judgment, okay?"

Both boys nodded, relieved that she wasn’t mad.

Both boys nodded sheepishly, but they couldn’t deny it had been one of the best days ever.

"Good," she said. "Now, how about we stop by the drive-thru for some milkshakes on the way home?"

Their faces lit up, and in unison, they both cheered, "Yes!"

With that, Mrs. Faulkner laughed and pulled out of the parking lot, driving them home after a long but fun day.

When they arrived home, Jake’s mom checked the time and sighed. “Wow, it’s already midnight. Alright, boys—shower, brush your teeth, and then get ready for bed.”

Jake stretched and yawned. “Yeah, I’m beat.”

Alex nodded. “Me too. That escape room took a lot out of me.”

Mrs. Faulkner chuckled. “Well, you two earned a good night’s rest.” She turned to Alex. “I put your pajamas on Jake’s bed earlier, and Jake, you know where yours are.”

Both boys headed upstairs, grabbing their clothes along the way. Jake took the bathroom first, while Alex waited in Jake’s room, scrolling on his phone. When Jake came out, towel-drying his hair, Alex got up and took his turn.

By the time they were both ready for bed, Mrs. Faulkner knocked lightly on the door. “All set?”

Jake and Alex nodded.

She stepped inside, holding up two diapers. “Alright, lay down, and let’s get this done quickly.”

The boys, now used to the routine, complied without hesitation. Mrs. Faulkner made sure they were both snugly taped up before giving them each a pat on the leg. “Alright, all set. Sleep well, boys.”

She turned off the light and shut the door, leaving them in the soft glow of Jake’s bedside lamp.

Jake yawned, stretching under the covers. “Today was fun.”

Alex smiled. “Yeah. It's definitely one of the best days I’ve had in a long time.”

Jake smirked. “Even with the, uh… movie incident?”

Alex groaned. “Don’t remind me.”

They both laughed before settling in.

“Night, dude,” Jake murmured.

“Night,” Alex replied.

Within minutes, the room was quiet, the only sound being their steady breathing as they drifted off to sleep.