What If They Were Competent?

by Mr. Chaos

The Stipulation: One chapter a day. 500 words or less. Every episode of Rugrats. The Challenge: What if the adults on Rugrats were actually good parents? Watched their kids? Thought ahead? DIDN'T think it was fine for babies to nearly die every 5 days? Tommy is about to have a very different life with Stu and Didi actually using their brains.

172. Chuckie Grows

Chuckie Grows

"Pop, you can't keep all these old newspapers in your room!" Stu complained. "Tommy is at the age where he is walking around, getting into things… you don't want them to fall on him, do you?"

"Course I don't!" Lou declared before letting out a sigh. "Perhaps you're right… I have gotten all the tips I need. This year I'm gonna have the biggest crocked neck squash ever for the fair!"

Tommy let out a gasp. "That's it guys! If my grandpa can make a squash grow then we can make ourselves grow! Then we'll be big kids and be able to have fun!"

"I don't know, Tommy," Chuckie whimpered. "Maybe we should just grow up all normals…"

"Come on Chuckie!" Tommy exclaimed. "Think of all the fun stuff we'll be able to do!"

So Tommy and his friends went outside and Tommy got his grandpa to sprinkle water on them from the watering can, making him giggle and dance. And then Phil and Lil threw sand on him… which wasn't as fun as it got in his eyes and mouth but his grandpa watered him again so that was nice.

That night in Tommy's dreams…

"Wow!" Big Tommy exclaimed in delight as he and his friends looked each other over. "I gots hair!" He ran his fingers through his purple locks. "And I can reach the fun toy!" He grabbed the shiny carrot and giggled as he played with it. "Isn't this great guys!"

"Sure is!" Big Phil said.

"Yeah!" Big Lil said.

"It is pretty nice…" Big Chuckie admitted.

"Hey, whatcha doin'?" they heard a voice say.

Tommy looked down. "Oh, hi Baby Angelica! We're big kids now!"

"I saw that!" Baby Angelica said. "That is so amazing, Tommy!"

Tommy woke up the next morning and giggled in delight. "I'm a big kid! I'm a big kid!" He ripped off his diapee and began to bounce up and down on the mattress. "I don't need a diapee anymore! I can eat and drink like a big kid and go on adventures and… and…"

…and he suddenly felt a familiar sensation in his tummy.

"Uh oh," he murmured, a disgusting smell hitting his nose. He looked down and saw the mess he'd made and how it was all over his crib and on his feet… just as his mommy came in.

"Oh… oh Tommy!" She picked him up. "I thought we were done with this naked phase."

The baby sighed. He REALLY hoped he didn't have to wear the snappy shirt again…

~MC~MC~MC~

"…he won't, right?" Melinda asked.

"Nah, I'm in a good mood."