Before Laura can attempt any steps of her plan, one of the women picks her up again and brings her over to a group of fellow toddlers.
“All right, Laura, how about you play?” the woman coos, setting her on the floor. Laura looks at her blankly. How is she supposed to play with a bunch of babies? Yes, she’s currently their age, but only physically, not mentally! “Aw, are you shy?”
“What’s wrong?” asks one of the other women.
“I think she’s too shy to play.”
“Well, my little girl is very shy unless she has her binkie,” says the other woman. She pulls a pacifier out of her pocket and pops it into Laura’s mouth. Instincts take over and she begins to suckle on it. The sensation is incredibly calming. She looks back at her new peers. Suddenly, the blocks and dollies they’re playing with seem a lot more interesting.
“You were right!” says the first woman, watching Laura join in on the playing. Happily sucking on her new pacifier, Laura finds herself quickly caught up in the game and enjoying herself greatly. She only snaps out of it when…