Chapter 6: “...Try, Try Again”
Three days after their shopping trip with Bernadette and Sonic, Rosemary was once again attempting to get Tails to use the toilet. Tails was still not too fond of the idea, but Rosemary kept trying to encourage him. "It's okay, Miles. There's nothing scary about using the potty."
"I dunno, mommy," Tails said, fearfully.
"It'll be fine," replied Rosemary. "I promise."
"O-okay."
"There's my brave little boy," Rosemary said as she un-taped Tails' diaper and set him on the little toilet seat. Tails once again shifted around on the seat uncomfortably.
"Try to relax, Miles," Rosemary said. "Don't think about it at all."
"Okay. I'll try," Tails said, still uncomfortable on the seat.
20 minutes passed by, but once again, no results. Just a 4 year old, two tailed tot sitting uncomfortably on the seat.
Rosemary sighed at this. "I guess we can try this again later, I suppose," she said as she lifted Tails off the toilet and taped his diaper back up. However, the moment Tails' diaper was taped back on, a hissing noise came from the two-tailed tot's front, which was then followed by him going poopy as well.
"I'm sorry, mommy," Tails said as he began to sniffle again.
"It's okay, Miles," Rosemary said as she carried him to his room. Once there, she laid him on the changing table, took the dirty diaper off of him, and put a fresh diaper on him. "Have you ever felt the urge to go potty at anypoint in time, Miles?" she asked him as she applied the last tape.
"No I haven't, mommy," he answered. "I haven't felt anything that told me I needed to go at all."
"Hmmmmm," Rosemary said while thinking to herself. "I wonder if Miles isn't really ready yet..."
"What was that, mommy?" Tails asked.
"Hmm?" Rosemary said. "Oh, it's nothing, sweetie."
"Okay, mommy," he said as she picked him off of the changing table.
In the living room, Amadeus was watching TV when Rosemary entered with Tails in her arms. She put Tails down on the ground to play with some of the plushies then sat next to Amadeus. "Say Amadeus, can I chat with you about something?" she whispered to him.
"Sure thing," Amadeus replied. "What is it?"
Rosemary then chatted with Amadeus quietly. "Well, you see, I'm starting to wonder if Miles isn't really ready yet."
"Really?" Amadeus said quietly.
"Yeah. No matter how hard we try, he just couldn't go."
"Well, the doctor did say that there was a 50-50 chance that it'll work. And the only thing we could really do is step up his training a bit."
"I know. But he also said that it may take a year or 2 of constant training."
"That's true." Amadeus then thought for a second. "Has he been sitting on the toilet seat uncomfortably every time he sat there?"
"Well now that you've mentioned that, he has indeed been uncomfortable every time we sat him on the toilet. Why?"
Amadeus then whispered something into Rosemary's ear.
"You really think that'll work?" Rosemary said after Amadeus' whisper into her ear.
"It's worth a shot," Amadeus stated. He then stood up off the couch and went to Tails, who was still playing with the plushies. "Wanna go somewhere with mommy and I?" he asked the tot.
"Oh, yes, please, daddy," he said excitedly as he sprung up and cheered upon hearing that. "Where are we going, daddy?"
"You'll see," Amadeus stated. Then he picked up the excited tot, put a shirt and some overalls onto him, and they went out the door and to the vehicle with Rosemary following them there. Amadeus put Tails into his car seat, then he and Rosemary got into the front and drove off.
Soon, the Prowers arrived at Segmart. After finding a parking spot, they went into the store and began shopping. Amadeus grabbed a cart and Rosemary put Tails into the child seat of the cart. Then they went to the baby section. There, Rosemary and Amadeus grabbed some packs of diapers since they were a little low on those, plus some more wipes and powder and baby lotion. But they also grabbed something that got Tails' attention and made him curious about it.
"What's that?" he asked curiously while pointing to what his parents got.
"Something I think you'll like using," answered Rosemary as she put the thing in the cart. Tails still looked at it very curiously and somewhat a little confused. He didn't know it yet, but this was a potty training potty. Amadeus had suggested to Rosemary that they get it for him when he whispered into her ear earlier.
Tails simply shrugged and said, "Okay." Then the family continued shopping. After getting everything they came for and paying for it all, they brought everything back to their vehicle and went home with them.
Once they arrived home, Rosemary got Tails out of the vehicle and carried him while she and Amadeus got the groceries in the house. Once everything was inside, Rosemary set Tails down on the ground, then she got out the potty and explained to him what it was for. "This is a potty, Miles."
"A potty?" Tails asked curiously.
"Yup," she replied as she set the potty down. "It's a special kind of potty."
"Special kind?" the tot asked.
"Yes," Amadeus said. "You see, son, we've noticed that you've been feeling uncomfortable on the big potty, so we decided to get you this potty for you to try out instead."
"Really?" Tails asked, surprised and confused. "But what if I feel uncomfortable on this potty?"
"I'm sure you'll feel comfortable on this one," Rosemary said, assured. "Trust me."
"O...okay then," the tot said shyly as he looked at the potty. He was still unsure about it. After a few moments of looking at it, he sat down on it. "Say," he said, cheering up. "This doesn't feel uncomfortable at all." However, he forgot to take his diaper off when he sat down on it.
"Silly baby," giggled Rosemary. "You forgot to take your diaper off." Tails then looked down at himself and realized this.
"Well, he is getting used to it, honey," Amadeus said. "So mistakes like that are bound to happen."
The tot simply giggled at this. But before he could stand up off the potty and get his diaper taken off, a hissing noise came from the diaper's front. Both his parents sighed at this while he started to tear up again. "I...I'm sorry, mommy." he said as he began to sniffle.
"It's okay, sweetie," Rosemary said. "You're still learning to use it." Then she picked up the tot and carried him to his room. After a few minutes, they returned, with Tails in a fresh diaper. "Feel better, son?" Amadeus asked, upon seeing them.
Tails nodded as Rosemary set him back down. He then started to cry more and hugged his mommy. "What's wrong, Miles?" Rosemary asked the tot.
"I can't do it, mommy!" Tails said between sobs. "I just can't do it! It's too hard!" Then he simply bursted in tears. He was clearly upset. Both Rosemary and Amadeus were very worried. "We should let the doctor know what's going on," Rosemary said as she signaled Amadeus to call for help at once.
"Right," Amadeus replied as he went to the phone. "Maybe he wasn't really ready for potty training."
"Maybe," Rosemary said as she tried her absolute best to calm the upset tot down, but to no avail. The two tailed tot was very unhappy feeling that he had let his parents down. "Miles, it's alright. Everything's going to be alright," Rosemary said to him.
"No, it's not!" Tails said, still very upset. "I let you and daddy down!" Rosemary then picked up the crying tot and cradled him, hoping to calm him down that way.
"Okay. Thanks," Amadeus said while on the phone before hanging it up. He then went back to Rosemary. "The doctor said we could get him in at once."
"That's good," she replied to him while still cradling the very upset tot. "There, there, Miles. Everything is going to be alright." They then went to the vehicle at once. "I'll sit in the back with Miles while you drive," she said to Amadeus as they got in the vehicle. Amadeus nodded, then started the vehicle and drove it to the doctor's office.
They soon arrived there. "Here we are," Amadeus said. Then they got out and went inside the building.
"Mr. and Mrs. Prower," said the doctor, waiting for them. "What seems to be the problem?" Rosemary and Amadeus then told him about the situation. "Hmm, I see. Have you stepped up his training?"
"Well," said Amadeus. "We got him one of those little toilet training potties today."
"Good, good," the doctor said. "What happened after that?"
"Well, Miles forgot to take off his diaper, and after that he had an accident in his diaper again." Rosemary told the doctor.
"What happened after that?" the doctor asked.
"Well, he got very upset," Amadeus said. "We're beginning to think he's not ready yet."
"I see," the doctor said. "Well, like I told you before, Miles only has a 50/50 chance of being potty trained."
"We know," both Rosemary and Amadeus said. "So what can we do now? Miles is still upset."
"Hmm," the doctor thought. "Well, I'd postpone it for a little while until he feels ready again."
"You think so, doc?" asked Amadeus.
"Well, if he's really upset, he's probably not emotionally ready for it yet." the doctor said.
"I see," Amadeus replied. "So how do we calm him down then?"
"Well, I'd try to comfort him or distract him from what happened," the doctor said. "Then I'd wait a few months before trying again."
"Okay then," both parents said. "Thanks, doc."
After leaving the doctor’s office, Rosemary asked, “What do we do now, Amadeus?”
“I know just the thing that will cheer the little guy up: a visit to his cousin Jaden!”
“That’s a great idea, honey!” Rosemary said. “Miles loves playing with his cousin Jaden!”
“Yep, he sure does.” Amadeus said. “Those two have been close ever since they were babies.”
“They sure are.” Rosemary said.
“I’ll give my brother a call when we get home.” Amadeus said.
When they arrived home, Amadeus went to the phone and dialed his brother’s number.
A few moments later, Merlin answered the phone. “Hello?”
“Hey Merlin,” Amadeus said. “It’s me, Amadeus!”
“Hey bro,” Merlin said. “What’s up?”
“We recently tried to potty train Miles…” Amadeus explained.
“Go on.” Merlin said.
“But we weren’t successful…” Amadeus continued. “We think he’s not ready yet, and he’s upset because of what happened…”
“I see.” Merlin said.
“Uh-huh,” Amadeus said. “We were hoping to bring the little guy over for a playdate with Jaden. We thought it would make him feel better.”
“Sure,” Merlin said. “That sounds like a great idea.”
“Great!” Amadeus said. “See you soon bro!” And shortly after they hung up.
“So, what did Merlin say?” Rosemary asked.
“He said yes.” Amadeus said. “We can bring Miles over for a playdate with his cousin Jaden.”
“It will be a good experience for our little boy.” Rosemary agreed.
“Indeed.”
Amadeus then went to get the car ready while Rosemary stayed with Tails.
“Mommy?” Tails asked. “Where is Daddy going?”
“He’s gone to get the car ready sweetie.” Rosemary said.
“Why?” Tails asked. “Where are we going?”
“To see someone special.” Rosemary said.
“Is it Sonic?” Tails asked.
“Nope, guess again.” Rosemary said. “It’s somebody you’re very close to and have known since you were a baby.”
Tails thought for a moment and gasped. “Is it my cousin Jaden?!”
“Yes!” Rosemary said. “We’re taking you to your cousin’s for a playdate!”
This got Tails very excited and he said, “Yippee!”
Rosemary just smiled and ruffled his headfur. ”That’s my Miles…” Tails just giggled at his mother’s comment.
A few moments later, Amadeus came back. “Alright, the car’s all ready!”
“Yay!” Tails said as his father picked him up.
“Let’s get this little guy in his car seat.” Amadeus said, making Tails giggle. Rosemary then picked up the training potty and the family headed out the door.
Then the family began walking to the car and, after placing Tails in his car seat and his training potty next to him, Rosemary and Amadeus got in the car themselves, with Amadeus in the driver’s seat, and the three foxes started on their way towards Merlin’s house.
