Kaitlin reluctantly remains in the main area of the daycare, watching Laura get taken away from her. She looks around. There’s a free corner, so she heads over there to sit. After a few minutes, a boy a bit older than her, probably old enough to be in kindergarten or even first grade, comes over. He crosses his arms.
“That’s my spot,” he informs her. Kaitlin crosses her arms as well.
“Don’t thee your name on it,” she retorts. The boy grunts and sits next to her grumpily. “Whath your name?”
“Chad.” Chad scowls. “Stupid Jacob dropped me off here.” Kaitlin thinks she knows who Chad is talking about. Jacob is a coworker she’s had a crush on for a long time. “I don’t even work here,” Chad complains. Kaitlin frowns at that.
“You’re a kid,” she points out. Chad grunts. “Why would you work here?”
“It’s not like anyone would believe you if you told them,” Chad mumbles. “I might as well tell you. I’m really a grown-ass adult.” Kaitlin’s eyes widened.
“You didn’t happen to roll thome dithe, did you?” she asks slowly. Chad looks over at her in surprise. “Thath why I’m a kid.”
“You…” Chad beams. “Mason and I aren’t the only ones!”
“Mathon?”
“Yeah. He, Jacob, and I are buddies. But Mason and I were the ones that got caught up rolling the dice, and now Mason is back in diapers, I’m in training pants, and we’re both here until Jacob gets done with work and can take us to the magic store.”
“Laura and I have the thame problem!” Kaitlin says joyously. “Anna workth here. The found uth and made uth come here while the workth.”
“Hey, maybe we could all go to the magic store together after work ends,” Chad suggests. Kaitlin grins.
“That thoundth great!”
Having made a friend in a fellow regressed person, the day passes by peacefully for Kaitlin. She and Chad stick together during all the activities, from snack time to nap time. Finally, the end of the workday comes. Adults begin to trickle in the daycare to pick up their children. Chad and Kaitlin watch, waiting for their current guardians to arrive.