Leah’s worried that even if she goes to kindergarten or preschool, someone will still see her in the hall and recognize her. Her only options are to skip school or go to the daycare. She’s tempted to skip school altogether, but someone would call the police if they saw her, a “little girl” in training pants, walking around unattended.
Her decision made, Leah crosses the street to Sunny Hills Daycare and walks inside. The receptionist looks up and smiles at her.
“Hello, what’s your name?” she asks.
“Haiwey,” Leah says, using her middle name and adopting a childish lisp.
“Hailey…” The receptionist types something into her computer. “Are you new?” Leah nods. “Okay. Where’s your mommy or daddy?”
“Work.”
“Hmm. Well, maybe you can help me fill out the form.” The receptionist begins typing. “Do you know how old you are?”
“Two,” Leah says without thinking.
“Got it.” The receptionist asks a few more questions, most of which Leah answers. “Riley?” A daycare worker appears. “This is Hailey. She’s new, and belongs in the baby room. Could you get her in her uniform and diaper?”
“Sure thing!” Riley chirps.
“No diapy!” Leah says quickly. “Pull-ups!”
“Sorry, Hailey, but anyone two or under goes in the baby room. And all kiddies in the baby room need to wear diapers,” the receptionist says. Riley picks Leah up and carries her into the main area of the daycare. The “baby room” isn’t an actual room. It’s just a portion of the main area that has been blocked off for the youngest daycare attendees. As Riley lays her on a changing table and begins the process of replacing her training pants with a diaper, Leah looks over at the other part of the main area.
Toddlers stumble around, some with diaper bulges and others with training pants bulges. Leah sighs heavily. She should have claimed she was older. Then she could have avoided being downgraded yet again.
Once Leah has been put in a thick, fluffy diaper and the daycare uniform, Riley sets her on the ground, instructing her to play until snack time. Leah gets to her feet unsteadily. The diaper is so thick, it pushes her legs apart, making standing and walking difficult.