Her mom is holding a preschool uniform. Lisa stifles a groan as she realizes that she’s four at best.
“All right, let’s get those dirty clothes off,” Lisa’s mom says. She brings Lisa into the bathroom, where, without bothering to get into a stall for some semblance of privacy, she removes Lisa’s dirty clothes. Now nude, Lisa realizes that her underwear has been replaced with training pants.
“Don’t get confused,” Lisa’s mom says to her as she dresses her daughter. “You might be getting your school clothes on, but you’re not going to school. Not until Monday. Got it?” Lisa nods.
“Mommy, I wanna go home,” she whines loudly. Lisa’s mom smiles and ruffles Lisa’s hair.
“We’re going home right now,” she says. Lisa’s heart soars with hope. Her mom carries her out of the bathroom. “Paige, think you can babysit tomorrow?”
“Sure! Any excuse to spend time with my favorite girl,” Paige coos at Lisa. Lisa manages a weak smile.
“I’ll text you the information. Lisa’s being very good and behaving, even though she’s so tired,” Lisa’s mom says. “She shouldn’t be forced to be out and about for much longer.”
“Got it. Bye, Lisa!”
Lisa’s mom carries her out of the mall and to the car, where Lisa is buckled into a car seat that wasn’t there before. Thankfully, it seems like the watch’s rate has been slowing down; by the time they get home, Lisa can feel that her training pants are thicker (and wet, because she’d only had a brief warning she needed to pee before she actually went). But she hasn’t been reduced to diapers yet.
“Home!” Lisa’s mom says cheerfully. She unbuckles Lisa and brings her inside. Now, all Lisa needs to do is go to her room and get the watch.