Out to lunch

Lauren thought for a moment. Options A and B would probably be something completely and terribly humiliating. So that left one option.

“I choose Option C.” Lauren said, thinking she had chosen wisely. Unknown to her, however, her option was just as humiliating as the others.

“Sounds good to me.” Maria said. She then grabbed Lauren by her hand and dragged her out the door.

“What are you doing?” Lauren asked. “Where are you taking me?!”

“Well, I don’t know about you,” Maria said, “but I missed breakfast today, so I can do with a little lunch. And because I’m such a nice person, I decided to buy you some too.”

“Don’t I need to get dressed first?” Lauren asked, her voice just above a whisper. She didn’t want to be seen like this.

“Nope. I think you look fine as is.” Maria smirked. She then dragged the red faced Lauren down the stairs and out to the parking lot where Maria’s car was. She pushed Lauren into the passengers seat and then got in the car herself. She then started the car and drove off.

Lauren was having a full blown panic attack at this point. She was out in public. Almost naked. In a diaper! She did her best to cover up the best she could.

“I thought I told you to put your arms at your sides.” Maria stated in a firm voice. “Do you want me to give you a sorry bottom?”

“But I-“

“I am giving you ten seconds to drop your arms, or my hand meets that rear.” Maria said ominously. “Ten…nine…eight…”

“Surely you don’t really expect me to-“ Lauren began, but stopped when she saw Maria’s glare.

“Seven…six…five…”

“Alright, fine.” Lauren groaned as she lowered her arms. She then hung her head when she saw Maria smile.

“Good.” Maria stated, “but because you took to long, I’m counting that as your second strike. One more, and you know what happens.”

Lauren sighed as she hung her head, wondering how all this happened. She was just starting to replay today’s events in her head when she felt the car stop.

“We’re here!” Maria said in a sing song voice.

Lauren looked up to see where ‘here' was and gasped in terror; her eyes went wide and her stomach dropped. They were in the parking lot of Charlie’s Diner; the café where Lauren worked!

“No, no, no, no, no, please!” Lauren begged, “Lets go anywhere else. That burger joint across town; that low fat yogurt place with the cardboard toppings; heck, I’ll take Mrs. Henny Penny’s Arcade and Pizza Farm. Just anywhere but here!”

Mrs. Henny Penny’s? Why didn’t I think of that? Oh well. Maria thought. “Nope. This is where I want to go for lunch, and this is where we are going to have lunch.” She then got out of the driver’s seat and walked over to Lauren’s side and opened it. “Now get out so we can go in.”

“Please, Maria. I-“

“Ahem.” Maria said, tapping her foot.

“Please, Ms. Maria.” Lauren corrected herself. “I can’t be seen in there. I work here! I could be recognized!”

“Well you better be careful not to give yourself away.” Maria said, growing impatient. “Now, I’m going to count to ten, and if you’re not out here, that’ll be considered strike three! Ten…”

Lauren was out of the car in a flash and slammed the door shut. Maria smiled as she took the smaller woman’s hand and lead her into her workplace. When they opened the door, they noticed that the dining hall was almost full.

“Hello, welcome to Charlie’s!” the hostess greeted cheerfully. Lauren let out a sigh of relief; it was one of the new girls just starting out. This one had not yet got a chance to meet her yet. “Table for you and your little one?”

Lauren turned beet red at the innocent question. ‘Her little one’? Was she implying that she thought Lauren was Maria’s daughter?! Just how old did this woman think she was?

“Yes please.” Maria said with a giggle.

“Coming right up.” The hostess said. She then lead them to their table. Lauren noticed that it was, of course, in the middle of the hall. She wasn’t even surprised at this point; clearly it was her guardian angel's day off today as well, though she was having the better day off. Lauren went to sit down when the woman came back with…

No. No, no, no, no! This isn’t happening! Lauren thought as she saw what the hostess was wheeling in: a high chair. “I thought that your daughter might need this.” The hostess said. Well, that answered one question.

“Oh, thank you.” Maria said, this time her voice was coated in laughter. “Actually, she’s not my daughter. She’s my friend’s little sister; I’m just babysitting.”

“Oops, sorry.” The hostess giggled, “Anyway, your waitress should be by any minute. Enjoy your meal.”

As she left, Maria turned to Lauren and gestured to the high chair. “Go on. Get in.”

“You want me to sit in that?” Lauren asked. There was no way she would fit; it was made for actual infants in mind.

Maria didn’t answer. At least not with words. Grabbing Lauren by her underarms, Maria lifted the little woman into the air. Lauren let out a short yelp, attracting the attention of some nearby tables. After a few seconds, the people merely went back to eating or talking with one another; some just giggled or cooed at her. Lauren wasn’t sure what to be more upset by: the fact that she was at work, wearing only a diaper. Or the fact that no one responded to seeing her.

Finally, Maria set her down in the high chair. To Lauren’s **** humiliation, she fit perfectly. Well, almost; it was a tight squeeze, but Maria was able to get her diaper clad butt into the chair and snap the tray into place. Lauren struggled to get out, but she was locked in tight. After a minute of trying to fiddle with the locks, Lauren just sighed in defeat.

“Oh, here comes are waitress now.” Maria whispered, pointing behind Lauren. Lauren looked over her shoulder to see…

No. Please, please, please no! Lauren thought hopefully, but her stomach told her it was true. Coming there way was Jenna.

Jenna was Lauren’s work rival; they would often compete for who got the most tips (which Lauren always won) and Lauren would constantly mock her rival. But what drove Jenna to the boiling point was that Lauren got the promotion to assistant manager; the job that Jenna had been trying to get for four years. That, and what Lauren had said to her after getting the promotion: “Sorry, sweetie, but this is a job for a real woman; not a little girl like you.”

The irony of that statement now was not lost on Lauren, and she prayed that Jenna didn’t recognize her as the other woman came closer with a menu in hand.