Kaitlin sets Laura back down on the ground. Laura quickly moves over to the table that Kaitlin set the dice on to pick them back up. However, she’s still flustered by Kaitlin’s teasing and when she goes to grab the case still containing her die, accidentally knocks it off. She lets out a small squeak of fright as the die rolls in midair and lands on the ground.
“Four years you have walked this Earth. Now this number is but two. Each roll of the dice returns more of what you have lost.”
“Oh, no,” Kaitlin says and swears softly as she watches Laura shrink in front of her. The clothes that fit her a mere moment ago are now much too large, and she’s no longer in the age range of training pants. She’s young enough to need diapers. Laura lets out a sob.
“No mean to!” she wails. Her speaking ability seems to have decreased to match her current age. Kaitlin quickly scoops up both the dice and places them in the case, then in her pocket for safekeeping. She crouches in front of Laura.
“Okay, calm down,” she says firmly. “Sit right here, I’ll get you something else to wear, then we can leave. Got it?” Laura nods tearfully and obediently sits on a nearby toddler chair. She watches Kaitlin rummage through some various drawers for a few minutes before returning with two articles of clothing: a frilly pink dress and a diaper.
“No diaper!” Laura protests. Kaitlin crosses her arms.
“There’s nothing else that’ll fit you right now. Unless you want to go commando?” she asks. Scowling, Laura allows Kaitlin to diaper her and then slip the dress over her head. To her dissatisfaction, she realizes that the dress is so short it doesn’t fully cover her diaper. “All right, tiny Laura, let’s go.”
Kaitlin carries Laura out to her car. To her surprise, Laura sees a car seat in the back.
“Why have car seat?” she asks. Kaitlin buckles her in.
“I took care of my niece last weekend and kept putting off taking it out of the car. Right now, though, that’s a good thing.” Kaitlin closes the door and gets into the driver’s seat, then pulls out of the parking lot. “I also still have a lot of the other things from taking car of my niece at my house, so we’ll be heading there, instead of your place.”