Just down the block is a daycare that she should be able to sneak into. She might even get a proper diaper change. Jacob isn’t that confident in her ability to change her own diaper. As she’s mentally trying to figure out how to get to the daycare without attracting attention as an unattended toddler, she spots a group of toddlers walking by.
Quickly and quietly, she seamlessly joins the group. To her relief, she has joined a group for the daycare. They walk into the building. Daycare workers start to check diapers.
“Oh, we’ve got a stinker over here!” says the worker who checks Jacob’s diaper. She smiles at Jacob. “What’s your name, sweetie?” Jacob freezes. Her eyes land on a princess poster on the wall. She blurts out the first name that comes to mind.
“Awiel.”
“Ariel? Oh, how pretty! Well, Ariel, I’m going to give you a diaper change before naptime.” The worker picks Jacob – or rather, Ariel – up and carries her into a different room. “Hmm, you’re pretty big for your age,” the worker remarks. She frowns. “I’ll double-check, but I think we’re out of the diapers in your size.” The worker sets Ariel on the floor and goes to a different room.
Before Ariel has much time to panic, the worker comes back.
“Sorry, sweetie, but we need to restock in your diaper size.” She picks Ariel up and sets her on the changing table. “You’ll have to make do with a size down. It might be a bit snug, but it should fit.” The worker proceeds to change Ariel out of the messy diaper, wipe her down, and then tape the new diaper on. Like she warned, the diaper is snug. But only briefly.
Ariel stifles a sigh as she feels herself shrink slightly to better fit the diaper. Hopefully, she didn’t lose too much time.
“Huh, I guess I was wrong about your size,” the worker remarks. Judging by the worker not noticing Ariel’s shrinking, she’s pretty close to the same age as she was before. “Well, time for naps!” The worker brings Ariel to a different room filled with cribs. She gently places Ariel inside one of the cribs. “Sleep well, Ariel.”
The daycare worker leaves. Ariel is in a crib in the darkened room, the only one not asleep yet. She looks around and tries to decide her next course of action.