Professor Henderson looked down at the overly reduced Hailey with a visible annoyed expression while consulting a form, "Ok miss Hailey Robinson it looks like the process was successful. Congrats you are a healthy 14 month old baby ready to begin your undoubtedly enlightening experience at Riverside Daycare."
Hailey found she couldn't understand a lot of those words, but knew that wasn't right. She was sposed to be bigger like the others in the room. The sparkly boom must have caused the grown up to forget.
As she's picked up by Henderson, Hailey tried to explain the issue, "Pwof me no spose be dis..."
But if the woman was ever listening she stopped as she let out a disgusted groan, "Of course you've already used the diaper. Waiting until you've been handed off would have been too much to expect from someone who thought Havenrock was a place to learn how to manage kids who can't even talk or walk well."
"Pwof me no wan..." Hailey desperately tried to articulate, finding her words less intelligible and harder to formulate than before.
But it was no use, Henderson pulled an object out of the bag she was handed and stuck in in Hailey's mouth. As Hailey instinctively began sucking on it, the Professor continued her complaints, "I have no desire to listen to a bunch of babbling. I'm only suppose to deal with the teenage students who at least still know how to whine less annoyingly."
Hailey found she lacked the willingness to remove the pacifier as it's presence immediately started reducing her agitation. Even knowing if she didn't she might not have the chance to try to explain the truth again. So, Henderson carried her to a table where, with continued complaints, gave Hailey a diaper change in front of all of her now teenage classmates. While some of them snicker, as they of course know how old Hailey really is, Hailey didn't take any issue with this part. After being freshly cleaned and diapered, in fact she felt much better.
A staff member then brought Henderson a carseat carrier which Hailey was then buckled into beneath a soft, warm blankie. Henderson then leads the students back to the lobby where the rest of the groups have gathered. While the teenagers are sent to gather by the doors with the rest of the newly minted kids, Henderson carries Hailey with her to the front desk where the other professors are speaking to the staff.
"I apologize for the delay. This one couldn't wait to use her diaper."
The other three laugh, and the head of the preschool segment, Professor Jim O’Shaughnessy, responded, "I still don't know why they put her under you Judith and not me. I'm used to my students occasionally not making use of toilets."
Judith Henderson sighed, "I doubt it's only going to be occasionally with Hailey, but the Dean is convinced as the most experienced member of the program I am the best to determine how to evaluate Daycare Specialists. God knows how I'm going to do that."
"Maybe give her top marks if she drinks her baba without spitting up or she walks across a room without help," the elementary school segment head, Theresa Freeman, joked.
Hailey tried to keep up as the conversation continued, but found it increasingly difficult to do so. But she didn't need to know all the words to know they were joking about her. Annoyance only made her suck on the pacifier more intensely. Growing aware of its presence once again did make her realize taking it out now might be her best chance to get someone to listen to her before they left. It was so nice to suck on it though and being buckled under this blankie made her feel so comfortable and sleepy.