Rubble’s Dilemma
It was a warm August evening in the seaside town of Adventure Bay. Another beautiful summer day had come and gone with a day’s worth of activities carried out, and now most everyone was tucked away in their homes carrying on with their nightly routines. Such was the case in one household in a quaint residential section of the town. This was the residency of a bulldog family of three: father Duncan, mother Sandy, and their 9-year-old little boy, Rubble. Duncan and Sandy both worked in construction, which required a good deal of attention. But this didn’t bother Rubble; he knew that if both of them had to work for the day, he could spend the day at one of his friends’ houses, which he enjoyed greatly. The bulldog puppy was part of a club of town pups known as the PAW Patrol, and spending time with them was one of his most favorite things to do. He was the sixth pup to be invited to the group, which currently boasted twelve members. He was also the youngest, but he quickly made his presence known by acting as tough a pup as he could, even though he was really one of the kindest, most gentle pups they’d ever known. They quickly took a shine to him and made him feel welcome in their family, thinking of him as their little brother. Likewise, he looked up to and treasured them in turn; they were his best friends and he loved each of them very much.
Amazingly, in contrast to what commonly happens in large families, the bonds that kept them all together only got stronger as they added more and more members to their group. The newer members never caused any problems amongst them; any pup who shared their views on being good and helping people was more than welcome and a friend to them, and in some cases, even more than a friend. These were the thoughts that were subtly stirring in the back of Rubble’s head as he was going about his nighttime routine. The pup was currently having his bubble bath, playing with his bath toys and babbling softly in his play space while he enjoyed the warm bath water. Sandy supervised and helped him get clean in spots he couldn’t reach well, like his back, smiling at her little boy’s playfulness. Duncan and Sandy loved Rubble very much, and since he was an only child, they would occasionally spoil and baby him. Rubble didn’t mind this, as he often enjoyed it as much as they did.
And yet…there was one part of this nightly routine that Rubble didn't really enjoy. You see, despite having mastered potty learning when he was six years old, poor Rubble had a tendency to lose control of his body’s necessities while asleep. This would lead to him waking up in a puddle of his own making. Thus, he had to wear nighttime diapers to bed in order to protect his blanket and sheets. His parents, of course, didn't blame him for this; they knew that this wasn't what Rubble wanted, and were supportive of him in every way they could be. All the same, it never got any easier for Rubble to deal with.
“Mama…” He said, as she finished washing his headfur, “Do you and Papa ever wish that I wasn't a bedwetter?”
Sandy looked at him, a little confused, and said, “Why, Rubble, whatever do you mean by that?”
“Well…” said Rubble, “I'm almost ten years old now…and I still have to wear diapers to bed. I don't mean for it to happen; it just…keeps happening. I’m sorry, Mama.” Sandy responded by leaning in and giving her son a hug.
“Oh my little Rubble…” She said, “You're a perfectly wonderful child, and that's all that matters. The fact that you…still need protection at night isn’t even a factor for your Papa and me.” She shrugged and said, “I mean…yes, it took some getting used to, but it doesn't change who you are, Son. You are a very good boy; and your father and I both love you very much.” Smiling, the female Bulldog kissed her son on his forehead, prompting the pup to giggle. She then pulled the plug and said, “C'mon now, Son, let’s get you dried off and into your Apollo Paw-ups.”
“Okay, Mama.” said Rubble; standing up and shaking off before stepping out of the bathtub. Ever since his very early days, Rubble had been obsessed with that heroic cartoon Bull Terrier, Apollo the Super Pup. Rubble had first seen the cartoon when he was only two years old; something about it was like a magnet to the toddler puppy. It just drew him in and quickly became his favorite thing to watch. Something that nearly always calmed him down and lifted his spirits whenever he was upset about something. As such, over the course of seven years, the pup had acquired lots of Apollo stuff to the point that nearly ninety percent of everything he owned was Apollo themed in some way. Toys, books, backpack, lunch box, clothes, bedding; you name it, and he probably had it. Apollo was Rubble’s idol, he aspired to be just like him each and every day.
This, however, was hard to do when it came to his bedwetting; at least at first. When Rubble had finished his daytime potty training, he was still small enough to continue wearing the nighttime variation of the training pants he wore for his training: Paw-Ups potty training pants, by the popular diaper brand, Ruffies. It was still a little embarrassing for him to have to continue wearing the diaper pants that had rather babyish designs on them. This didn’t last long, though, as he finally outgrew them when he was around seven and a half. Having picked up on his displeasure of wearing “baby pants”, Duncan and Sandy went in the opposite direction when they went to get him some new protection. This came in the form of a generic bedwetting underwear that was all white with no designs; merely a wetness indicator line on the front. Save for the indicator, they pretty much looked like tighty-whities, so Rubble didn’t have as much objection to wearing them. Unfortunately, since they were on the same level as medical diapers and pull-ups, they tended to leak whenever the pup had a heavy wet night. These leaky nights brought major frustration to Rubble, even though Duncan and Sandy never scolded him or made him feel bad for it; their hearts ached at seeing Rubble so upset about the situation. So for a while, Rubble absolutely dreaded bedtime.
Then, just a few weeks ago, a saving grace came to the little bulldog. Ruffies had just come out with a bigger size nighttime diaper, PupNites; nighttime underpants for big pups. The idea was that these new night diapers would serve as a crossover between their standard potty-training pants and generic bedwetting pants, but with added absorbency layers. There was no longer a suspended wetness liner, the “learning designs” were swapped for a discreet indicator line, and the velcro easy-open sides were kept. But the best part? They were Apollo the Super Pup themed! The family had come across them when they were doing some shopping one day, and Rubble was immediately captivated by the idea of getting them. Sure, they were juvenile looking, being made by the same brand as the potty-training pants he wore. Not to mention the packaging design; a terrier boy who was lying in bed with a plushie dressed in a pajama shirt and a pair of the pull-ups with a huge grin on his face. But they were Apollo themed! His diapers had never been Apollo themed before, so maybe these could make him feel better about his situation. Duncan and Sandy smiled at Rubble’s initiative, and they purchased a pack for him without hesitation. And for the first time in over 3 years, Rubble actually looked forward to going to bed that night so he could try them. When Sandy slipped his first pair on him, he was immediately taken aback by how soft and comfortable they felt; they cradled his sensitive area, comfortably, and felt like a pillow on his bottom. Looking in the mirror, he couldn’t help but smile some, as they really did look like his daytime underpants. And when he woke up the following morning, he was super happy to see that despite having a heavier night, the PupNite had contained everything and didn’t leak.
Since then, there had been nothing but dry and happy well-slept nights. Even when Rubble had had an upset tummy one night and accidentally messed his PupNite while asleep, they had contained all the mess with no blowout. These were by far the best nighttime diapers he’d ever tried. They gave Duncan and Sandy peace of mind as well, with no worries about any more wet beds or PJs. And Rubble felt safe and secure while wearing them; it was as if Apollo himself was there watching over him and protecting him from a wet bed. So, as he stood there getting dried off by Sandy, he couldn’t help but smile, reassuringly, as he looked at the bathroom counter and saw one of his new big pup PupNites sitting there.
In a matter of minutes, Sandy had Rubble's PupNites on and securely fastened. She smiled as Rubble looked, happily, at the picture of Apollo on the front and gave it a pat.
“Okay, Son;” she said, “Go ahead and brush your teeth. Your father will be in soon to tuck you in.”
“Okay, Mama!” said Rubble. Once Sandy had left the bathroom, he ran his toothbrush under some hot water, applied some toothpaste, and began brushing. It took about two minutes for the job to be done; Rubble taking extra special care to brush his prominent lower teeth that stuck out even when he closed his mouth. It was just another thing common among Bulldogs, and Rubble had come to accept that. He rinsed his toothbrush, placed it in the holder, and turned out the bathroom light. He then walked across the hall to his bedroom, where he slid on a clean pair of pajama pants and an Apollo The Super Pup T-shirt. He was now ready for bed.
“Rubble...?” a deep voice asked from outside the door, "May I come in, Son?”
“Yes, Papa!” Rubble said. The door opened, and Rubble's father, Duncan, strode into the room. He was a big hulking English Bulldog; with prominent jowls, huge arms, and large bottom canine teeth. But despite all that, he was wearing a warm smile. “I'm all ready for bed!” said Rubble.
“Wonderful;” said Duncan, “You want me to read to you tonight?”
“Oh yes please!” said Rubble. He eagerly climbed into bed while his father went to the bookcase to select some bedtime material. Despite his hulking appearance, Duncan had a heart like a marshmallow, and would happily become a gentle teddy bear for his son; or any of his friends.
“Hmmm…” he mused, “How about… this one?” He pulled out a book that had a pair of strange cat-like creatures sneaking across a rooftop on the cover.
“Oh…” said Rubble, “I don't think I've ever heard that one before.”
“Shall we give it a try?” asked Duncan. Rubble nodded. “Alrighty, then!” said Duncan. He sat down on the small chair next to Rubble's bed, opened the book, and began to read. Feeling clean and refreshed from his bath, and safe and protected with his PupNites on, Rubble happily snuggled down in his bed under his Apollo blanket and cuddled with his favorite Apollo plushie. He smiled, peacefully as he listened to Duncan read the story; the older bulldog had a very soothing reading voice that could easily lull Rubble or any of the other pups to sleep. Sure enough, when Duncan was finished reading, Rubble was nearly asleep. Noticing this, Duncan smiled and gave Rubble a tiny kiss on his forehead. “G’night, Buddy;” he said, “Sweet dreams...” And he exited the room; turning out the light and leaving the door open just a crack.
“Mhmm… Night-night Papa.” Rubble cooed softly as he nestled down in his bed and got nice and relaxed. He looked out the window at the stars for a moment, then looked down at Apollo and smiled. “Night-night, Apollo… Keep me safe and dry tonight.” He whispered and gave him a soft kiss. Now, Rubble was feeling properly tired; Summer vacation was in full swing, and he was having the time of his life. Cuddling Apollo close to him, he felt his eyelids getting heavier and heavier, until he finally relaxed and fell asleep. Once again, all would be quiet and calm for the Bulldog pup tonight; save for a faint hissing sound that would occur in his diaper during the night.
*****
Morning came nine hours later. Rubble's eyes fluttered open, and he winced as the sunlight hit his eyes. It took him a moment to readjust to the light, but he was soon awake. Instinctively, he reached down to check his PupNite. His face fell as he realized that the padding was, in fact, a bit soggy. Still, this was far from the worst nighttime accident he had ever had; and more to the point, his sheets and blanket were still dry. Shrugging it off, Rubble climbed out of bed and stretched his arms over his head. He then picked up his Apollo plushie and said,
“Sorry, Apollo. I hope I didn't get you too wet.” Apollo said nothing, but Rubble sensed that he didn't mind at all. “Well…” said Rubble, “At least I'm not the only one that this happens to.” It was true; one of the PAW Patrol members, a Chihuahua named Tracker, had it just as bad as Rubble. In fact, he had it even worse. Not only was he prone to wetting at night, but there would even be some cases where he ended up wetting himself in the daytime. Rubble, on the other paw, hadn't had a daytime accident since he had been seven; and he would most often be the one to comfort and reassure Tracker whenever an ‘incident’ occurred. “Oh well;” said Rubble, “I guess I better get in the shower. Don't want to go to breakfast all soggy.” Rubble left Apollo on the bed and headed for the bathroom. As he crossed the hall, he could hear his mother and father in the kitchen; and the frying pan sizzling away. Rubble smiled as the smell hit his nose; he loved to eat, and his parents cooked some of the best stuff ever. His spirits already lifted for the day, he entered his bathroom, closed the door, and stripped of his PJs. He then opened the sides of the PupNite and took it off; taking a moment to look it over and seeing the indicator line had faded to blue, and the inside was pretty yellow and soggy. “Thanks again Apollo, you’re the best.” he said as he dropped the wet diaper in the trash can and started up the shower, “See you again tonight.” He then commenced with his morning clean. Rubble absolutely loved to bathe; bubble baths were his favorite, but the shower would do in a pinch. The Bulldog pup smiled as he lathered himself up with soap and sang the Pup-Pup Boogie theme song as he washed himself top to toes. When he was done, he dried himself off, hung up his towel, and went back into his room to get dressed. He decided to wear a pair of Apollo underpants, a pair of blue jeans, and a yellow t-shirt. Yellow just seemed to be his signature color; he certainly never questioned it.
After getting dressed, Rubble sashayed into the kitchen.
“Morning, Mama!” he said, “Morning, Papa!” Duncan and Sandy smiled and chuckled to themselves when their son entered the kitchen and greeted them. They had heard him washing up and singing; they loved hearing him sing, and he actually had a great voice.
“Morning, Son!” said Duncan, “I hope you're in the mood for pancakes and bacon!”
“Oh yes!” said Rubble, “Thank you, Papa!” He went over to the table, where Sandy was reading an article in a magazine. “Wat’cha reading, Mama?” he asked. Before Sandy could answer, Rubble caught a glimpse of the article she was reading. “Hey…” he said, “Is that… the Ruffies logo?”
“Morning, Baby; sounds like you’re having a good morning so far.” Sandy replied as she leaned over and gave him a morning hug and kiss. “And yes, it was, as a matter of fact. Seems like those new PupNites you’ve been wearing have been getting some great reviews from other families who need them.” She nodded as she showed him the article. Rubble smiled as he saw the glowing reviews. It was nice to know he wasn't the only one going through nighttime wetting problems. “But there is something really interesting here.” said Sandy, “Apparently the company is going to be printing some new packaging for their product lines; and… they're going to need some new models to show them off."
“Really?” Rubble asked, with a curious head tilt.
“Yep, and that’s not all.” Duncan added, “With all the initial positive reception, they even want to do a commercial for them, and they’re looking for a kiddo to star in it.”
“Really?” asked Rubble.
“Yes, indeed;” said Sandy, “And it says that the actors featured on Ruffies products will receive a percentage in profits for all the sold products with their picture on it. Plus, actors in the commercial will receive an up-front payment of five hundred dollars, plus interest on future sales.”
“Wow…” said Rubble, “I guess they must be confident in their products. Who do you think is going to end up doing the commercial?” Duncan and Sandy looked at each other, and Duncan said,
“Well, Son; since you seem to have taken to your PupNites so well, how would you like to audition for the commercial?”
“What...?” asked Rubble, “Me...? Star in a PupNites commercial?”
“I think it would be a great learning experience;” said Sandy, “I'm sure they would greatly appreciate the positive feedback to promote their products.” She smiled and said, “And the money certainly wouldn't hurt, either!”
“You could invest in something with it;” said Duncan, as he tipped the pancakes onto a plate for Rubble and added some bacon and syrup, “Or… buy that new Apollo skateboard you've been saving for.” Rubble went quiet at hearing this. It was true that there was some stuff that he’d been saving his allowance and birthday money for, and the money from this would definitely make that go faster. And yes, it would be a new experience for him, and he was always open to trying new things. But… this would be for his night diapers! Was that really something he’d want to be part of his portfolio? What would people think? Oh… the kids at school; when they found out about this, what would they think? The strange looks, the potential bullying; surely, he’d be treated differently after doing this. Not to mention his friends! His fellow PAW Patrol buddies! What would they say about this? What…what would Ella think?
Ella was a ten-year-old golden retriever pup who was the girl in a set of twins with her brother, Tuck; they had joined up with the PAW Patrol only a year ago. See, another way that Rubble had made his presence known in the PAW Patrol was through his remarkable strength. Being a bulldog, the pup had naturally pudgy build that made him a bit short for his age and gave him a bit of a baby face. But the pup had surprised and impressed everyone by performing incredible feats of strength. This had earned him the spot of the strongest pup amongst them, and it was something he took a lot of pride in. But when Ella came along, they were shocked to discover that she could pull off the same incredible feats of strength; some even stronger. Rubble was stunned, but instead of being jealous for it like many thought he would, it was actually really attractive for him. He, of course, didn’t know how to say this at first; never having had much experience with love and attractiveness before. This resulted in him not talking to Ella very much; which led her to believe that he resented her. But eventually, he’d found the right words to say and the two had grown very close to each other. Even with how much they’d shared though, he was still trying to think of ways to keep impressing her and make her feel special; he wanted her to know just how much he cared for her and loved her.
Every part of him was screaming that this could be a bad idea and to not even consider it. And yet…he found that he couldn’t say no, either. Truthfully, though it was a little difficult and embarrassing to admit, he really, really did like his PupNites. Sure they were a diaper, but they weren’t like any diaper he’d worn before, and it wasn’t just because they had Apollo on them (even though that was a big part of it). They were nice and discreet, very comfortable on him, and super soft. He loved wearing them, and it would be a great thing for him to show other kids who were going through bedwetting just how much he trusted them. Plus, surely his friends would understand his motivation for doing this. They all prided themselves in being able to help others, so that’s exactly would he’d be doing. They couldn’t think badly of him for it… right? Oh poor Rubble, he now felt at war with himself, trapped in his own conflicting thoughts and feelings. Rubble finally snapped back to reality as he smelled the delicious smell of maple syrup dripping onto his bacon. He looked up at his parents and said,
“Um...well...I guess I could give it a try.”
“If that's what you want, Son;” said Duncan, "Then your mother and I are behind it one hundred percent!”
“It just so happens there's going to be an audition here, in Adventure Bay.” said Sandy. “We can go there, see if you want to do it, and if not, we'll go get some lunch and come home. Sound good?”
“Uh...sure!” said Rubble, “Sounds like a plan to me!” And, not wasting another moment, he dug into his pancakes and bacon. “Does it say what the commercial will be like or what I’ll have to do for it?” Rubble asked as he ate. Sandy checked the article again.
“Hm…Nope;” she said, “Just says they're looking for a kid who embodies the spirit of childhood.”
“Oh…well, I'd certainly like to think that I do.” Rubble replied.
“Sounds good then;” said Sandy, “It says here the auditions will be at eleven-thirty today at the community center.”
“Then I guess we know what we're doing today!” said Rubble; and he decided to finish his breakfast and make his decision once he saw what it was like.
*****
Later that afternoon, Rubble and Sandy were at the community center. A big casting center was set up near the edge of the lobby, and there were a few kids of varying species and ages in line for the auditions. And, as always, Mayor Elizabeth Goodway was in the midst of it, trying to score some free publicity.
“I don't believe that woman…” Sandy grumbled, “She'd try to promote herself if the school burnt down.” Rubble just nodded, and scanned the crowd, looking out for anyone he knew. The pup tried to keep a low profile in case anyone else from the school was there; if he did end up being the one chosen, he’d rather reveal it on his terms than on anyone else’s. After a twenty-minute wait, Rubble was next in line. He looked up at his mother, who smiled at him. Somehow, this seemed to give Rubble the courage he needed. He walked in through the door and sat down on the bench. In came a male Rottweiler, who eyed the young pup and said,
“May I have your name, please?”
“Rubble, Sir.” said Rubble.
“Excellent;” said the Rottweiler, “Just call me Steve.” He took his hands and formed a finger frame before picturing Rubble through it. “Hmmm…Yes…” he said, “Good posture, sunny disposition; good, good…” He wrote some things down on his clipboard, then said, “And you use some of our Ruffies products, do you?” Rubble tried not to display any nerves as Steve did an initial gauge of him, which got easier with each positive quip he received.
“Yes sir. I was in Ruffies diapers as a baby, and then I wore Paw-Ups for potty training. Now I wear PupNites for…my bedwetting. Oh, and uh…I sometimes use the Clean-n-Go wipes when going potty or changing myself.” Rubble replied, blushing slightly.
“Very good…” said Steve, writing on his clipboard again. He perused over his notes, then took another look at Rubble. “Hmmm…” he mused, “Let me see…good posture, sunny disposition, honest, has good opinion of Ruffies. Let's see, and… EUREKA!!” Steve suddenly shouted, making Rubble jump, “You're perfect!” Steve said, excitedly, “You're just the one we need to show the world that Ruffies products can be trusted by all kids, little or big!”
“W-wait…W-what…? M-Me…?” Rubble squeaked out, convinced he hadn’t heard the Rottweiler right, “B-But all these other kids that came…you…you really think I’m the-the one…? More than any of them…?”
“Oh absolutely, Rubble!” said Steve, “But don't you worry; some others will have a chance to tell their own story too. After all, we make a wide variety of products; and lots of different kids might use them for lots of different reasons.” He paused, then said, "But look at me blabbering on like this; time is money, after all.” He turned around and bellowed, “JOEY!! HERE! NOW!” A male Manx cat came rushing into the booth; identifiable by his lack of a tail.
“What's up, Boss?” Asked the cat.
“We have our spokesperson for our PupNites!” said Steve, “Take him and his mom back to the set; it's magic time!”
“Sure thing, Boss!” said Joey. He turned to Rubble and said, “C'mon, Kid! This is gonna be huge!” He took Rubble's hand and led him out of the casting booth. The astonished Bulldog pup could only ask himself,
‘What just happened!?!’ Fortunately, he then saw his mother coming to join them; and a good thing too. Poor Rubble was in a completely stupefied state as he was led from the office over to the studio where they would be shooting the commercial. There was a lot of action going on in said studio; workers were bustling around making sure everything was set, technicians were testing lighting, cameras and audio, and the dressing room for the lucky kiddo was receiving the finishing touches. Rubble could only look around in awe at all that was happening, still in disbelief that he’d be the one doing this.
“Oh!...Congratulations, Rubble!” Sandy gushed, “You're the one! I’m so proud of you!” She knelt down and gave Rubble a hug. Clearly, she understood how overwhelmed he was feeling.
“Oh, heh, th-thanks, Mama.” Rubble replied; a bit flustered as he hugged her back, nuzzling her a little for comfort.
“Okay, People! Look alive here!” said Joey, “We’re wheels up in fifteen minutes!” He turned to Rubble and said, “You and your mom can head into the dressing room and suit up. We've got a few selections for you to choose from; Apollo the Super Pup, Cats, The Lion Guard…”
“Uh, Apollo works best for me.” said Rubble.
“Suit yourself!" said Joey, before turning and yelling, “NO, you idiot! Don’t put the lamp table between the bed and the wall!” Rubble didn't know what else to say, so he entered the dressing room, with his mother in tow. He turned his attention to the wide selection of PupNites on the shelf and grabbed a pack of Apollo ones in his size and looked at it for a moment. Sure enough, there was the smiling face of Apollo the Super Pup. Once again, he felt as though Apollo himself was looking after him.
“Oh Apollo…” he whispered, forgetting for a moment that his mother was there, “I really hope I’m doing the right thing here. Keep me safe and protected, like you always do…” Sandy’s soft chuckling made him suddenly snap back to reality. He blushed, deeply, and covered his face in embarrassment. This made Sandy’s heart melt and she immediately went to comfort him.
“Oh baby, it’s ok. Mama’s here.” She cooed as she hugged him and rubbed his back. “It’s alright, you don’t need to be embarrassed. I just think that was very cute, and you are right. You are doing the right thing, and Apollo will look after you. Just like me and Papa do.” She assured him. “Now let’s get you all ready for your big moment.”
“Mhmm…okay Mama…” Rubble replied, with a soft smile, “Thank you for not making fun of me or thinking I’m a baby.”
“Aw, you're welcome, Sweetie.” Said Sandy as she took off his shoes and shirt, “I’d never make fun of you for being you and doing what makes you feel good. You’ll always be my baby, but you are a big boy too; don’t let anyone tell you different.” Sandy then pulled his pants down, followed by his briefs, leaving him momentarily nude. It was a little embarrassing whenever his parents dressed or undressed him, but her promise reassured him, so he kept still as Sandy took a fresh PupNite from the pack and slid it onto him and secured the sides. Finally she took the Apollo PJ shirt that had been provided and put it on him. It was worth noting that there were no pants, as they needed to have the PupNite displayed to show off the features. Having been dressed, Rubble took a moment to admire himself in the mirror. He couldn't help but giggle as the PupNites crinkled just a bit as he checked them from multiple angles. Finally, he worked up his courage, turned to his mother and said,
“Okay, Mama; I'm ready.” Sandy took his hand and led him out of the dressing room. Once back in the studio, he was led over to a small set that was done up like a bedroom. All the workers smiled and gave him a thumbs up when he came out with Sandy in his shirt and PupNites. “So, uh... what am I supposed to do?” He asked.
"We’re going to do an opening monolog of you sitting on the bed and telling the people what you think of Ruffies PupNites;” said the goat director, “Let them know why you use them and what you think of them. Then, we’ll do another shot of you pulling up the covers in bed; saying how they help you sleep tight. Think you can do that?”
“I think I can.” said Rubble. He sat down on the bed and waited as the camera people set up their cameras to capture him form multiple angles. It was a little surreal having so many people see him in his nighttime diaper; but seeing them being so kind and encouraging made him better and more confident about it all. So he took a deep breath as the countdown started and gathered every ounce of courage he could find, then looked where he needed to and gave a relaxed smile.
“Quiet on the set!” The director shouted, “Quiet now! Okay, let’s go with take one!”
“Camera rolling…speed!”
“Marker…”
“And…Action…!” The lights came up, and Rubble began to speak.
“My name is Rubble. I’m 9 years old, and I wet the bed.” He started, receiving an encouraging nod from the director. “I’ve been wetting the bed since I was potty trained, and I’ve tried other nighttime pants for it. But they all leak or feel uncomfortable or look like a baby diaper. That’s why I now wear PupNites, by Ruffies.” He continued as he looked down and got up a little to show them off to the camera. “I love wearing PupNites! What do I love about them? Well, everything! They’re super soft and feel very comfy on me, just like my regular underpants. They’re super absorbent with secure double leak guards, so there’s no leaks no matter how much I pee, He-he! They also open easily at the sides so I can take them off, easily, in the morning; but they also can be pulled on and off like underwear, so I can still go to the potty when I need to. And the best part? They have super cool big kid designs on them, like Apollo the Super Pup!”
As Rubble described each feature, he would shift positions so he could show them off; running a paw along the front and back of the PupNites to show off the soft undie-like fabric, lifting a leg to show off the absorbent core and the dual leak guards on the leg band, opening one of the sides and resealing it to show them off, tugging them down a little and back on to show how underpants-like they were, and the doing a spin to show all of the cool Apollo designs on the front and back. Everyone chuckled softly as Rubble briefly shook his pudgy padded bottom.
“PupNites are the best;” he said, “Because even if I can’t wake up at night to go potty, I know that Apollo will help keep me clean and dry, and I won’t have to worry about leaking and waking up in a wet bed. And I think every big kid who wets the bed or has accidents like me should wear them; they’re the best!” At this point, Rubble climbed into the bed and pulled the covers up as he laid down. “So if you’re wetting the bed too, use PupNites, so you can sleep safe and sound and wake up feeling well rested, just like me.” He smiled as he grabbed the accompanying Apollo plushie from nearby and closed his eyes.
“And…Cut…!” Said the director. A second later, the whole crew applauded. “Wonderful!” said the director, “Amazing! This will make an excellent PupNites commercial! You, my boy, are a natural-born talent!”
“Oh Rubble!...” said Sandy, “I’m so proud of you!” Rubble smiled as he got out of bed and went over to hug his mom. Somehow, his apprehension was gone; he just felt like everything was okay. He looked down at his shirt and said,
“Thanks, Apollo…” The more the crew expressed their support and appreciation for everything he was doing and told him what a good job he was doing, the more Rubble relaxed and felt at ease and happy about doing it. They had a little play area set up with toys to keep Rubble entertained while they set up everything for the packaging shoot, along with an assistant to provide a snack and drink; all of which Rubble appreciated. Workers that passed by would repeatedly tell Sandy how awesome Rubble was and how cute he looked as he played in his PupNites, and this made her gush with such pride.
When the time for the shoot came, Rubble felt so relaxed at this point that he actually had a lot of fun with it. This, of course, worked in the crew’s favor; and they had him strike a variety of poses, so they could show from different angles how well the PupNites stayed on and moved with him. They did some with different props they had like a plushie and a costume. At one point, they had Rubble do the classic Paw-Ups pose of pulling the waistband of his PupNite up, which exposed a bit of his tummy and bellybutton and made him look super adorable. At another point they did a shot with his back to them looking back at the camera. On a whim, the playful pup bent over and looked through his legs at them with a playful grin. “Peekaboo, He-he-he!” He giggled, with his padded bottom on full display, which earned another round of laughs. Rubble was now having so much fun he was almost sad to leave. He made sure to go around and shake hands and give a hug to all of the crew as they wrapped things up, which they returned and gave him lots of praise for his performance and bravery; telling him he served as an inspiration to big kids everywhere. Finally, it was all over; and Steve came in to express his appreciation.
“Thank you so much, Rubble;” The Rottweiler said, “I think you did a splendid job today. Between you and the others, we're going to have an excellent presence on the market.” He scratched his head and said, “Uh…what else…? I'm forgetting something… oh yeah!” He reached into his pocket and fished out a small envelope. “Here you go, Champ!” He said, “Five hundred for the commercial, an extra two hundred for the pictures, and a lollipop for a job well done!” Rubble didn't know what to say; utterly shocked by the super generous reward. Sandy leaned in and said,
“I guess you won't have to worry about saving for your new skateboard, Kiddo!” Finally, Rubble found his voice.
“Whoa…!” he exclaimed, “This…This is more money than I’ve ever seen in my life! I…Oh thank you so much, Mr. Steve…!” He gave the Rottweiler a super big hug, “Oh…and thank you for the lollipop too.” Steve simply smiled and hugged Rubble back. This made him beam proudly. Truth be told, Rubble actually felt quite pleased with everything he had done; and soon forgot all about the worries that had crossed his mind. Little did he know, these worries would soon be put to the test.
*****
About a week went by; and in that time, Rubble's nighttime wetting actually started to decrease. Perhaps it was his confidence or some other cosmic force; but whatever it was, he certainly wasn’t complaining. Anyway, on this particular day, both Sandy and Duncan were needed for an important project at the wharf, so Rubble was spending the day at Zuma’s house. As it happened, both of Marshall’s parents (both of them firefighters) were on call, so he was there as well.
“That new skateboawd you got is totally pawsome, Dude!” Zuma, the Chocolate Labrador, complimented.
“Yeah!” said Marshall the Dalmatian, “You're so lucky you got it this early.”
“Thanks, Pups;” said Rubble, “It's so nice to show my support for Apollo this way.”
“Anyway,” said Zuma, “My Gwandpa is wowking on his model boat, and Gwandma's making cookies. Wanna come in and watch some TV?”
“Sure!” said Rubble, eagerly, “We’ve been playing for a while, so I could do with a break and a drink.”
“Sounds good to me, Dude.” said Zuma. The boys went inside, sat down on the sofa, and turned on the TV. Zuma's favorite cartoon was on, but unfortunately, it was time for a commercial break.
“Wow…” said Marshall, "I don't think anyone's been that determined to sell coffee.”
"Totally…” said Zuma. Just then, the commercial changed, and Marshall and Zuma's eyes went wide.
“Howling hydrants…” Marshall exclaimed, “That's Rubble!”
“No way…!” said Zuma, “Wubble! You're on TV, Dude! Uh… Wubble…?” The poor Bulldog pup had become stiff with shock. He was now watching the PupNites commercial that he had helped to make! And two of his best friends were watching it too! He felt his face flush and go deep red as the commercial played out, noting how the crew had edited it to look super childish and cute. And how he looked super childish and cute showing off his PupNites to the camera. He covered his face and felt like he wanted to disappear from the world as the ending played.
“For all big pups who want to sleep tight, there’s PupNites, by Ruffies. Sweet dreams, kiddo!” The narrator said before it cut to the next commercial. Rubble couldn’t say anything as he kept his face hidden from his friends.
“Whoa…” said Zuma, “That was…”
“Pawsome!” said Marshall, “I didn't even know they came out with a new sleep diaper! We should get some for Sarge!” Sarge was Marshall's five-year-old little brother. He was still in the potty learning process, and accidents were a common occurrence with him.
“Mawshall…!” Zuma gently admonished, “Not the time…!”
“Oh…” said Marshall, noticing that Rubble was burying his face in his hands, “Uh…It’s…It's okay, Rubble…” he said, “You… did a really great job in the commercial…!”
“Go ahead… laugh at me…” Rubble whimpered and sniffled from behind his hands, starting to sob softly, “Make fun of me…I can take it…” Rubble was surprised that instead of laughing, Marshall and Zuma both gave him a hug.
“We would nevew laugh at you, Dude;” said Zuma, "I mean…not for something like this.”
“Yeah;” said Marshall, “You needing nighttime protection, well…that’s not a choice you made, it just…happened.”
"And you’we definitely not the only pup on the planet who needs it;” said Zuma, “I mean…look at Twacker, and Sawge, and to some extent, even Liberty.”
“And you know us, buddy;” said Marshall, "We're all in the PAW Patrol. We'll always have your back no matter what.” Rubble gathered the courage to look up at Marshall and Zuma and saw that they were being completely sincere in what they were saying. He started to hug them back and cuddled with them for comfort. “Besides;” said Marshall, the only thing you really need to worry about is if Sweetie or one of the Ruff-Ruff Pack sees this. Oh, can you imagine the-OW…!” The Dalmatian received a slap to the face from Zuma. “Yep…” said Marshall, rubbing his cheek, "I deserved that…” Whatever comfort Rubble had gained got shattered again when Marshall mentioned their bullies.
“Oh they’ll see it; they’ll see it for sure.” He whimpered as he teared up again, “And they’ll torture me with it every time we see them.”
“Yeah…” groaned Zuma, “Which…kinda puts all of us in a bind. I mean… it's not like they’ve leawned their lessons the last fifty times we exposed them as jewks…” The boys sat in silence; save for the occasional sniff from Rubble. Just then, Marshall gasped.
“All of us…?” He asked, “Zuma! You're a genius!”
“I am…?” The Chocolate Lab looked up in confusion.
“Yeah…!” said Marshall, “I think I know how to make it so the bullies can't gang up on any one of us. But we're gonna need the whole pack for this one.”
“The whole pack…?” asked Zuma, “Why would we…?” He stopped, mid-sentence, and said, “Oh no! No, no, no, no, no!! There is no way in kelp that I am going to…!”
“Zuma…” said Marshall, “Would you rather see our friend have to deal with that social scar for the rest of his puppyhood?” Zuma looked over at Rubble, who was trying not to cry. At the sight of this, the Chocolate Lab turned back to the Dalmatian and said,
“I'm in, Dude.”
“Rubble…” said Marshall, “How long did those Ruffies guys say they were gonna be in town?”
“Mhmff, um… I think they’re gonna be around for a bit. They mentioned that they had to do some shoots and commercials for a couple other products…why?” Rubble asked as he tilted his head in confusion.
“Oh, you'll see.” said Marshall, “I think I have a way to help you and help them at the same time.”
*****
Of course, that was all Marshall had told Rubble. For some reason or other, he wanted his plan to be a complete surprise. All the same, Rubble stayed inside for the next three days; not wanting to show his face in public. All the confidence he’d built up had shattered in that day, and he’d woken up with super soggy PupNites for the past four mornings. Duncan and Sandy tried all they could to help him feel better, but nothing really helped, so they left him be for most of the days. On the fourth day, he got a call from Marshall, asking him to come to the Adventure Bay community center. Rubble was very skeptical when he got Marshall’s call, as the community center was one of the most prominent parts of the town and he’d surely be seen by a lot of people. But his buddies had all made a great effort so far to check in with him and help him feel better, so he supposed the least he could do was see what they were up to. With a sigh, he left his room and went to see his mom.
“Mama, can you drive me to the community center, please?” he asked, quietly, “Marshall wants me to meet him there.”
“Well…If it might help you feel better, Son, I'd be happy to.” said Sandy. She tried not to show it, but she was hurting. It pained her to see her son feeling so miserable. Granted, he had been genuinely happy and confident after shooting the commercial; but after it had aired, he’d been all despondent. Not that she could blame him, of course; after all, she had done some things in her youth that she had ultimately regretted. Well…perhaps hanging out with his friends would offer him some comfort. After a five-minute drive, Rubble and Sandy arrived at the community center. Rubble looked out the window to see…Was that Chase’s mother’s car? And Rocky’s dad’s van? And the beat-up old station wagon that Tuck and Ella’s dad drove?
“Mama…” he said, quietly, “What’s going on here…?”
“Well…” said Sandy, “It looks like a lot of your friends are here today. Either it’s just some get-together, or they’ve got something planned.” Rubble wasn't sure what to think; but he followed his mother inside. In the lobby, he was even more surprised to see…
“Mr. Steve…?” he asked.
“Rubble!...” the big Rottweiler said, “There you are! It's so good to see you here!” He came over, knelt down, and said, “Your friend, Marshall, told me about what happened when we premiered the commercial. I…Must apologize for that. Maybe we could have made it a little more…macho.”
“No, Sir…” said Rubble, sniffling a little, “It isn’t your fault.”
“Hey, hey…” said Steve softly, gently lifting Rubble’s chin, “Turn that frown upside down; your friends have a surprise for you!”
“A surprise…?” asked Rubble, “I don’t know.”
“Trust me;” said Steve, “I think you’ll love it.” He led Rubble and his mother out of the lobby and back to where Rubble remembered the sets had been set up. In the distance, he could hear all kinds of chatter going on. Finally. he was able to make out the voices of Marshall and Zuma. But then, he could have sworn he heard Chase… and Skye… and Rocky… What the heck was going on here? Finally, they entered the back room to see… All of the PAW Patrol pups, even their newest members, here! Rubble’s jaw practically hit the ground when he saw that all of them; Chase, Skye, Marshall, Zuma, Rocky, Everest, Tracker, Tuck, Liberty, and Rex; were all wearing various styles of Ruffies products! Looking closer, he noticed that Tracker, Liberty, and Rex were all wearing Ruffies Little Scampers diapers; Rocky, Zuma, and Tuck were wearing Paw-Ups trainers of various designs; and Chase, Skye, Marshall, and Everest were wearing PupNites, also of various designs. The only one missing was…
“Hi, Rubble!” said an excited voice. The Bulldog turned around to see…Ella! There she was, wearing a light blue T-shirt and…a pair of Paw-Ups training pants with some kind of tugboat on the front!
“Wha…W-What, What is this…? What are you all doing?” He finally managed to squeak out in shock.
“We're here to show that it’s okay to be a big little pup!” said Liberty, the Dachshund.
“It was Marshall's idea.” said Chase, the German Shepherd.
“And he’s going to be doing my chores for a week for this!” grumbled Rocky, the mutt. Ella set her hand on Rubble's shoulder.
“I saw the PupNites commercial with you in it, Rubble;” she said, “I thought you looked really cute.”
“You did…?” asked Rubble.
“I sure did;” said Ella, “Plus, I didn’t know you were an Apollo the Super Pup fan! I LOVE Apollo! He's such an awesome hero.”
“Oh, really…?” asked Rubble, “Well, uh…Yeah! He is, isn’t he?”
“Okay, Pups!” said Steve, “Sorry to break up the party here, but we’ve got a schedule to keep. We’re going to be shooting a new commercial; Ruffies products: Officially endorsed by the PAW Patrol!”
“You mean…we’re all gonna be in a commercial?” asked Rubble.
“You bet, Rubble!” said Chase, “We can promote Ruffies and spread our club’s message of acceptance, inclusion, and good character!”
“You were one of my biggest supporters when you all found out about my issues, Rubble.” said Tracker, the Chihuahua, with a smile, “So when I saw the commercial and heard about what you were feeling, I saw this as a way to thank you for all of your support, and give me a chance to support you, Amigo.”
“Yeah, you’re a treasured part of our group Rubble.” Everest, the Husky, added, “We love you and all that you’re doing, and we’ll always be there for you.” Everest added.
“Oh…oh you guys…you all did this…for me?...Oh…oh buddies!!” Rubble exclaimed as happy tears welled up in his eyes, which made them all come over for a group hug. “Thank you… Thank you all so much!” the Bulldog pup gushed, “You’re the bestest friends in the whole world! I love you all so much!” The pups awwed at this and gave him hugs and soft kisses on his cheeks. Steve was silent during the whole exchange, but he was deeply moved by it all and smiled warmly at how close and loving they all were with each other. He also knew that this closeness would be gold for the group commercial, showing kids of all ages that could still be little while still being big. This commercial would surely be the cutest of all.
“Okay then, Rubble;” said Steve, "Apollo PupNites as before, then?”
“Yes, please!” said Rubble excitedly.
“You got it!” said Steve. In a matter of minutes, Rubble was suited back up in his Apollo PupNite and pajama shirt. Steve then went over the plan one more time; some of the pups would tell their own stories of wetting troubles, while others would talk about the merits of Ruffies products. Then, near the end, they would come together and remind the audience of the importance of inclusion, teamwork, and treating everyone as equals. “Is everybody ready?...” asked Steve. Most of the pups gave an enthusiastic reply, while Rocky and Liberty just mumbled in agreement. “Quiet on the set!” Steve barked, “We're about to roll! Lighting, Check!”
“Camera rolling…Speed!”
“Marker…”
“And…Action!” The lights first came up on Chase, who said,
"There’s a common misconception that diapers and other forms of protection are only for babies or those who haven’t mastered potty learning." He then presented his PupNite and said, “But we’re here to tell you that Ruffies products are for everyone, big or small.”
“I have trouble knowing when I need to go;” said Tracker, as the lights came up on him, “And that would often lead to some very embarrassing accidents.” He smiled and said, "But with Ruffies Little Scampers, I can go about my day with the comfort and the knowledge that any unfortunate leaks won't soak through.” Next, the light came up on Zuma.
“I lost my pawents when I was seven yeaws old;” he said, “And fow a while after, I stawted having accidents again.” He then revealed what he was wearing on his bottom and said, “I suwe wish I’d had Ruffies Paw-Ups. All the pwotection of a diapew, all the discwetion of underweaw.” Next up was Marshall, who said,
“My little brother is in the end stages of potty learning and learning to stay dry at night and during naps. He’s five years old, but awesome Ruffies products like Paw-Ups and PupNites will keep him protected no matter how long it takes, day or night. All pups learn to stay dry in their own time.” Next was Rex, the Bernese Mountain Dog. He was sat in his wheelchair, but his Little Scampers were still plainly visible.
“I was in a really bad accident that cost me the use of my legs and rendered me partially incontinent.” He said, “As such, it’s not easy for me to make it to the bathroom when I need to go, especially at night. That’s why I wear Little Scampers; their amazing Ruffies protection prevents any embarrassing leaks or blowouts. So even though I’ll be in a wheelchair for the rest of my life, I don’t let it slow me down, thanks to Little Scampers.” Next up was Rocky, who was trying not to blush too hard.
“I uh…mastered potty learning when I was three years old, and I haven’t had a nighttime accident since I was five.” He said, proudly, “But…I do like to tinker and experiment with reusable things, and sometimes…I’ll be so focused on whatever I’m building that I’ll forget or ignore that I need to go to the bathroom, and…I’ll end up having an accident…But accidents can happen to anyone, no matter how big or little you are, and that’s why there’s Paw-Ups training pants. The suspended learning liner reminds you to go to the potty the moment you need to, and the special designs on the front help you learn to stay dry. But their incredible protection helps keep you covered if you don’t make it, and the Velcro sides make for easy changes.” Rocky’s cheeks were red, nearly the whole time he did his bit and showed off his Paw-Ups. Skye spoke up next.
“I had a pretty rough early childhood;” she said, “I was under a lot of pressure from my mom, and she tried to rush the potty learning process. This, unironically, led to more unfortunate accidents, especially at night. But PupNites allow your little one to learn at their own speed; and keep them comfy and secure day or night.”
“Paw-Ups training pants are made with the express purpose of instilling confidence;” said Tuck, “Be it for boys…”
“Or girls!” Ella cut in, “Ruffies Paw-Ups help keep you clean and dry and inspire you to grow and learn.”
“There are all kinds of kids out there;” said Everest, playfully displaying her PupNites, “And all of them grow and learn at their own speed. Some master potty learning sooner than others; but that doesn’t mean the ones who learn slower are any less like you and me.”
“Boys or girls,” said Liberty, showing off her Little Scampers diaper, “Big or small, we’re all different and yet the same.” Finally, it came time for Rubble’s big moment. The light came up on the Bulldog pup, who took a deep breath and said,
“Hi there, it’s me, Rubble. Me and my buddies here, we’re the PAW Patrol; a group of pups dedicated to helping others and spreading the positivity of diversity and inclusion. When I was here before telling you about my PupNites, truthfully, I was really scared about what other kids would think of me when they saw it; especially the ones who like to bully us. But my buddies reminded me that that’s just part of who I am. It’s not something I chose, and it’s not something I can control, so I shouldn’t be ashamed of it. They’ve been super supportive of me throughout this whole process, and now they’re here today sharing their own stories and spreading the truths of equality and appreciation through Ruffies products.”
“And it’s true. Everyone is unique in their own way and has their own characteristics and challenges that make them who they are; especially when it comes to potty learning, heh. But the one fact that should unite us all is the fact that we’re all kids. We’re in this world to learn, grow, and enjoy just being ourselves. We shouldn’t look down on others for seeming smaller than us, or making others feel ashamed for who they are. We’re all big and little in our own way, and I’m proud of that. So until the time comes that I learn to stay dry at night, I’m proud to wear my PupNites. I love my PupNites, I’m a little big kid, and I’m not ashamed!” Rubble declared as he showed his PupNites off and struck a cute, powerful pose in them. All of the PAW Patrol pups came together around Rubble. Once everyone was there, Rubble said, “And remember; You too can be a member of the PAW Patrol. All you need to do is show good character, help others, and be the best that you can be!”
“And…Cut!” said the director. Steve was almost in tears; he had never seen anything so wholesome.
“That was…beautiful…” he said, “You kids will go down in history!”
“Lucky us…” muttered Rocky.
“Hey, at least this was temporary for you, this is my reality. Same for Tracker.” Rex said, curtly, to Rocky, with a gaze silently warning him to watch his tone. Rocky quickly remembered himself and bit his tongue.
“You’re right…I’m sorry…” he said, “I guess it’s worth it if we get to help this generation of kids as well as the future ones.”
“That’s the spiwit, Dude!” said Zuma, “It’s all wowth it if we can help othew kids to be who they awe.”
“Don’t worry, Pups;” said Marshall, “Fads come and go. I’m sure this whole thing won’t last forever.”
“Maybe;” said Chase, “But for me…I'm just happy to help my little brother know he's never alone.” He gave the Bulldog pup a big, brotherly hug.
“Si, but I also think this was a great thing for us to do. Spreading a powerful message like this was muy bonita. And even more so since I got to help out a dear amigo the same way he helped me.” Tracker said as he smiled at Rubble being hugged by Chase.
“Awww, Chase…thank you so much…” Rubble squeaked, happily as he hugged him back and nuzzled him, lovingly, tucking his head under Chase’s chin, “You’re the best big brother a little big kid could have.” He then realized Ella was right behind him.
“Rubble;” said Ella, “I seriously want to thank you for getting me in on this. I…don’t plan on wearing these things, myself, but it makes me feel good to know that I’m doing something to help other kids who are going through something like that feel less ashamed. And… the way you came up and spoke like that; that was so brave of you. You have to be one of the bravest, most amazing pups I’ve ever known.”
“Aw Ella…” said Rubble, “Well, technically it was Marshall’s idea, but…thank you for saying that. That means so much that you’d think that about me…and you are too. What you and the others did took a huge amount of courage, and I don’t think I would’ve been able to do it without you all…especially you.” The young Bulldog gulped, but smiled and said, “You mean the world to me, Ella, and it makes me so happy and relieved to know that you don’t think any less of me for my PupNites, and what I like, and well…who I am.” Tuck just smiled at the exchange between Rubble and his twin sister. He turned to Chase and said,
“She couldn't have chosen anyone better.” Chase just smiled, knowingly.
“Hey, Guys…” said Everest, “Do you think we'll become famous after this?”
“I certainly wouldn't doubt it;” said Steve, “Who knows? Maybe someday you kids’ll have…your own cartoon show!” The PAW Patrol all looked at each other; then looked back at Steve like he was nuts.
“Nah…” said Marshall.
“Not likely…” said Liberty.
“No way…” said Skye.
“Can’t see it happening…” said Zuma. Rubble just chuckled to himself.
*****
Once everything had been wrapped up, the PAW Patrol pups changed back into their normal clothes and went home. On the way, Rubble couldn't help but reflect on how lucky he was to have such wonderful friends. And he would do the same for any of them in a heartbeat. Upon getting back to the house, he found his father waiting for them.
“Hey…!” said Duncan, excitedly, “There’s my little big man!” He came out, picked up Rubble in his arms, and swung him around.
“Eeee! He-he-he-he-he!” Rubble squealed, happily. Once he had come to rest, Duncan looked him in the eyes and said,
“I’m so proud of you, Son. I just…cannot express just how wonderfully proud I am of you.”
“We both are, Rubble;” said Sandy, “Bedwetter or not, you’re still a wonderful pup and we love you very, very much.” Rubble shed a single happy tear as his parents hugged him.
“Awww…He-he-he…” Rubble giggled, “Well, I had the best mama and papa in the whole world to help me and teach me to be a wonderful pup.” He said, “I love you both so much too!” He beamed as he snuggled up in Duncan’s arms and kissed his nose.
“Awww…” said Duncan, “Well, I hope you’re hungry, Son. Mama’s made her special chilli for dinner!”
“Oh! That reminds me;” said Sandy, “We have something to tell you, Rubble. See, your papa and I have heard there’s going to be this…interesting musical held in Silver City in about three weeks. And we were planning on going out there to see it.”
“A musical…?” asked Rubble, “Like…a play?”
“Yes;” said Sandy, “Like a play, and with lots of music and dancing. But, um, it may be a little long and boring for someone of your age to sit through. And…pretty much all of your friends’ parents want to go and see it too.”
“So if you don't wanna make the trip;” said Duncan, “Miss Delores is offering that any pup who doesn’t want to come can stay at her place overnight. What do you say, Kiddo?”
“Ooooh! A group sleepover at Miss Delores’s house?” Rubble asked, “That sounds like a blast!” Delores was Liberty’s adopted mother. She lived in a ranch house just outside of Adventure Bay, and always came up with the most fun things to do whenever any of the PAW Patrol came over for a visit. “Can I go to the sleepover, Papa?” he asked, “Can I, please?”
“Of course you can, Kiddo!” said Duncan, laughing, heartily, “You know something, Rubble? You have a lot of amazing friends; and it’s so nice that the twelve of you make such an amazing team.”
“Yeah…” said Rubble, “That’s us! We’re the PAW Patrol!” And with that, the Bulldog family went inside to sit down to a hearty meal. Rubble now felt at ease with himself; needing PupNites or not, he was proud of who he was, and he would never let anyone make him feel ashamed of himself again. All the same, he couldn’t help but wonder what surprises would be in store at the sleepover in three weeks’ time. Most likely nothing too outlandish, but fun just the same.
Pa-Pa-Pa-Pa-Pa PAW Patrol!
