Leah’s playing her favorite app game when she feels something splatter all over her clothes. She lets out a gasp.
“Oh, no!” Leah looks over. It’s one of Tina’s coworkers, Linda, holding a baby with vomit dribbling down its chin. “Leah, I’m so sorry! I was trying to get little Derek here to the bathroom in time, but-” Leah looks at her clothes. They’ve been splattered with baby vomit. Her stomach churns. She barely manages to fight back throwing up herself.
“It’s not your fault,” she says reluctantly.
“Still. I’m sorry. And you can’t stay in those dirty clothes. Come with me.” Linda hands the baby over to a different daycare worker, then leads her to the bathroom. “You can wipe yourself down while I find something else for you to wear.”
“Thanks, Linda,” Leah says. Linda manages a small smile, then closes the bathroom door. Leah does her best to wipe off the baby vomit with the baby wipes in the bathroom. Just as she’s gotten as clean as she can, there’s a knock on the bathroom door. Leah opens it. It’s Linda.
“Here. These are all I could find, sorry,” Linda says, handing some clothes over. “Once you’ve changed, come find me and I’ll get you set up somewhere you won’t be mistaken for one of the attendees.” Leah takes the clothes, a bit confused as to why she would be mistaken for a daycare attendee. But she’s eager to get in clean clothes, so nods and closes the door again.
The clothes Leah was given consist of a cute, white sundress with pink hearts all over it, a pair of white tights, and even a pair of matching pink mary janes. It’s a bit childish for Leah’s taste, but better than baby vomit, so she gets dressed. When she sees her reflection in the bathroom mirror, she understands Linda’s concern. Clearly, she had been given clothes for a toddler. She looks exactly like some of the tots in the daycare.
“This is still better,” she mumbles to herself. “At least the outfit didn’t include pull-ups.” Or, heaven forbid, a diaper. Leah opens the bathroom door and heads out to find Linda.