Leah can’t skip school dressed like this. Unattended children attract attention. But she refuses to go to her regular classes wearing training pants. She considers the daycare, but ultimately decides against it. Tina might drive her up the wall, but she still won’t go to a competing business. And since Leah knows that kindergarteners don’t usually wear training pants during the day, that leaves preschool.
Steeling her resolve, Leah goes into the school. Where she would normally go straight, she turns, heading for the preschool classroom. The door is open when she arrives and the teacher waiting outside for students.
“Hello!” the teacher says cheerfully. He smiles at Leah. “Are you in my class?” Leah nods. “You must be new!” Leah nods again. “What’s your name?”
“Haiwey,” Leah says, using her middle name and giving herself a youthful lisp.
“It’s great to have you, Hailey! Go on in and start playing!” the teacher says. Leah beams at him and steps into the classroom. She looks around. Her eyes land on a poster clearly not meant for the children. It’s a list of reminders for the teacher and chaperones. The very first line says that training pants are required for all preschoolers while awake, and during naps, all preschoolers must wear diapers.
That instruction alone makes Leah reconsider her decision, but it’s too late. The bell rings, the teacher steps inside, and the door closes.
The preschool class isn’t structured like a regular class. Instead of something happening immediately, the preschoolers are allowed to continue playing for an hour, at which point, they have the first activity. Leah joins a group of preschoolers playing with building blocks. To her surprise, she enjoys it greatly and even gets caught up in it. The time flies by, and before she knows it, it’s time for…