Nestled between a pine forest and an inlet from the ocean in Port Jarvis is the Pine View Bed & Breakfast run by Sam and Melissa Short. So picturesque was the setting that Jack Littleman decided to spend a few days there to relax and escape the demands of civilization.
But on the first evening, Jack was offered for dinner a cauliflower/spinach/broccoli casserole. Not liking how it looked or smelled, Jack refused to put any on his plate, to the consternation of the Shorts. "This is my regionally famous dish. You must try some," Melissa protested. Jack still refused any. But Melissa would not take "no" for an answer. Throughout the meal, she insisted that Jack take even a small portion to try it, yet he continued to resist. She finally said, "What do I have to do? Spoon feed you the casserole like a little baby?" Jack replied, "I'd like to see you try."
Around midnight, after Jack went to bed, the feeling he was being lifted from his bed awakened him. As he regained his senses, he was surprised to find himself being carried by Sam. And although Jack had been a strapping 6-footer, he was now small enough fit in only Sam's left arm. And the surprise doubled when he found his boxer shorts had been replaced by a diaper.
Sam returned Jack to the dining room and sat him on his lap like some little baby, which he now admitted he had become. Then Melissa proceeded to push spoon after spoon of her casserole into Jack's mouth. Jack twisted his head to avoid the spoonfuls, until Sam warned that if he didn't start eating and swallowing, Sam would reposition him on his lap and "open a can of whoopass." Jack meekly complied, and soon had a tummy full of the casserole.
"Good boy! You cleaned your plate," Sam told Jack
as Melissa showed him the now empty bowl. Jack pleaded to be returned
to bed, so Sam carried him back upstairs. But Sam passed the second
floor, taking a thinner set of stairs to the third floor attic,
and into a small room containing two cribs. Sam told Jack, "This
is your new brother Paul, and your sisters Kate and Miriam. They
always finish what's on their plates." He tucked Jack in
the crib with Paul. On leaving, Sam turned around and said, "Good
news! Tomorrow, Melissa makes her zucchini/eggplant/cheddar surprise."