The Burning Question

We've had an ongoing issue with Will's diet. He does not get enough fruit, vegetables, or grains and so suffers from reoccurring stomach aches. Two weeks ago, Will almost cried with cramps located in his lower back. I expected it was his kidneys and asked if he'd experienced any burning when peeing.

"Sometimes," Will responds. "But I just dip my penis in water and it feels better."

My first fear was that the willy-dipping had taken place in the sink, where I often brush my teeth. But, I realized he was to short to reach that high - and I'd removed the steps in the bathroom over a year ago.

Then I got all involved in making Will feel better and the question of where exactly he dipped his penis was forgotten. I bought cranberry juice and forced water down him. In a few days things were back to normal.

Tonight, Will comes out of the bathroom and tells me it burned again when he went pee.

As I had shared my moment of fear with Steve weeks earlier, and we'd laughed about it, I looked at my spouse and smiled. "Will dips his penis in water so it feels better," I reminded Steve. Then I asked Will, "Do you need me to get you a wet rag to wash off?"

"No," he tells me calmly, "I filled a glass and dipped my penis in it. It feels better now."

The only glasses in the bathroom are the small paper ones we use when we brush our teeth - the same ones that are often spread all over the bathroom cabinet and I have to re-stack. "Do you throw the cups away after you put your penis in them?" I ask with trepidation.

"Sometimes."