Wait, what is she doing? She’s already three. She can’t afford to lose any more years. Laura quickly puts the die back and locks the safe. She can just use scissors, right? Laura gets to her feet and toddles around the house, looking for a pair of scissors. Finally, she spots some. With the same clumsiness she’s had since turning three, she cuts the straps of the life jacket. It falls to the ground. Laura sighs with relief. Now, she can finally change herself.
Laura grabs one of the diapers she stole, goes to Alexis’ room, and changes herself. The feeling of her clean, dry diaper is so pleasant after removing the soiled swim diaper, she decides not to put anything else on. But the struggle she had at the pool has made her realize that being on her own until the magic shop reopens might not be as feasible as she thought. She grabs her pacifier from her bag, pops it into her mouth, and sits on the floor to think.