Leah turns a corner and spots Tina. Before she can go over to her stepmom, she suddenly realizes that Tina will ask why Leah is now dressed like a little girl. Hurriedly, Leah ducks into a different aisle. She takes out her phone and texts Tina, claiming she’s going home early because she feels sick. It’s not too far from the truth. Tina texts back, promising to bring home soup.
With that problem taken care of, Leah quietly slips out of the store, managing to avoid attracting any attention. However, she begins to question her decision when she goes over her transportation options.
She appears to be a very young child, young enough that she won’t be allowed unsupervised on the bus. If she tries to take the bus, the authorities will be called. The same issue comes up if Leah calls a cab. No one would pick up an unattended very young girl.
If she wants to go home without Tina seeing her like this, she’ll need to walk. But it’s a rather long walk, particularly with her short legs. To make matters worse, the longer she walks, the more likely someone will call the authorities about an unattended child her apparent age.
It comes down to which option Leah thinks poses the least risk. Of course, she could also just go back inside and tell Tina the truth, thereby avoiding the risk of being picked up by the police. But she would still be risking something – humiliation.