Derrick's expression turned inscrutable as he began to re-program the Chronivac.
"Dewwick, what are you doing?" Tanner insisted.
"Just relax," Derrick advised. "Close your eyes and you're going to get a big surprise."
With a wail of "No!" piercing the stillness in the room, Tanner lunged forward but his mind changed, shifting, even as momentum propelled him forward.
Tanner stumbled into his big brother, who reached down with strong arms and scooped him off the floor.
"Bedtime for Tanner," Derrick decide.
"No!" Tanner cried. "Not sleepy."
Noting but ignoring the objection, Derrick carried Tanner to the waiting crib.
The next morning, as expected, Derrick had to change Tanner. He accomplished it speedily and efficiently, but he lost track of his toddler brother for only a few moments as he was taking the wet pull-ups to the laundry hamper.
He finally caught up of Tanner scampering down the hall in his birthday suit. "When did you become such an exhibitionist?" Derrick chided.
Tanner produced a peal of laughter. "What's an exa..." Tanner started, but was defeated by the big, unfamiliar word.
"It just means someone who likes to run around naked," Derrick said.
Tanner giggled. "Me naked!"
"Yes, but I have a fresh pull-up ready for you." Derrick succeeded in wrestling an animated Tanner to the floor and getting the pull-ups onto him.
It was much easier not having to deal with Tanner's constant objections. By making Tanner's mental age equivalent to his physical one, Derrick had rendered his brother much more manageable.
And based on the big smile on the toddler's face, he didn't seem to mind the change.