There’s a lull in the background music playing over the intercom, which is how Tina is able to hear a soft hiss come from the stroller.
“What the-” Leah says, panicked. Tina nods silently as she looks at rows of canned vegetables. The formula is supposed to make babies pee. Clearly, that works. But it’s supposed to do another thing. She waits.
Just as Leah’s settled back down, there’s a loud fart, immediately followed by a wail of frustration. Tina doesn’t need the accompanying putrid smell to confirm what has happened. The formula does what it claims to do. It makes babies both pee and poop.
“Are you all right?” Tina asks Leah. Leah is in a full breakdown, screaming and sobbing at the top of her lungs, tears streaming down her face. People begin to stare. “Here, Aspen.” Tina puts Leah’s pacifier into her mouth. Leah suckles on it instinctively. After a few moments, she begins to calm down. “Let’s get you changed, okay, honey?”
Tina pushes the stroller back to the bathrooms. She brings Leah inside. The diaper change is very quick, as she doesn’t want anyone to walk in, see Leah’s privates on display, and find out Leah’s really a girl. After all, Leah was determined to have that boy disguise.
“That was one of the smelliest diapers I’ve ever smelled,” Tina comments as she tapes the fresh diaper on. Leah blushes. “But you’re all clean now!” Leah takes out the pacifier.
“Yeah…but I don’t know what happened. I peed myself and pooped myself, without any warning at all!” Leah says. “Was there something in that formula?” Tina thinks for a moment. If she tells the truth, then Leah will be upset Tina didn’t warn her ahead of time. But if she lies, Leah will think she’s lost her potty training.