“Stop rolling them!” Laura complains.
“It’s too dark, I can’t see!” Kaitlin snaps. Her hand brushes up against one of the die, but in her excitement, she accidentally rolls it.
“Fifteen years you have walked this earth. Now this number is but nine. Each roll of the die shall return more of what you have lost.”
“Got it!” Laura says, oblivious to Kaitlin’s new dilemma. She stands up, accidentally kicking Kaitlin’s die, which rolls again.
“Nine years you have walked this earth. Now this number is but five. Each roll of the die shall return more of what you have lost.”
“Laura!” Kaitlin says furiously as she feels herself shrink yet again. She clumsily reaches for the die, grabs it, but fumbles it in her panic.
“Five years you have walked this earth. Now this number is but three. Each roll of the die shall return more of what you have lost.”
“I’ve got it,” Laura says, scooping up Kaitlin’s die and tucking it into her pants pocket. “And I’ve got you, too.” Laura picks Kaitlin up and carries her out of the theater. In the light, she can see just how young Kaitlin has become. “Whoa! How old are you?”
“Two,” Kaitlin mumbles reluctantly.
“Well, good thing I’m old enough to be a babysitter,” Laura says after a moment. “But we both need new clothes. You more than me.” Kaitlin grumbles wordlessly. “Before that, though…” Laura brings Kaitlin into the bathroom, where she removes the only piece of clothing still on Kaitlin, her shirt, and ties it into a makeshift diaper. “There! Just in case.”
“No like,” Kaitlin whines.
“Don’t worry, I’m on it.” Laura carries Kaitlin out of the theater and into the store next door, which has teen clothing.
“No fit!” Kaitlin fusses.
“I’m getting clothes for me first because the store for you is further away,” Laura hisses. She rushes through the store, grabs the first things she doesn’t hate, and buys them. “Okay, fuss bucket, now we’ll get you some stuff. But my arms are getting a bit tired carrying you around…” Laura’s gaze lands on a stroller, one of the kind supplied by the mall.
“What do?” Kaitlin asks.
“You’re going in the stroller,” Laura says, already buckling Kaitlin in. “And you’re going to be quiet about it, okay? We don’t want to attract any attention.” Kaitlin scowls, but resolves to stay quiet. As Laura pushes the stroller through the mall, the repetitive motion soothes Kaitlin, lulling her to sleep.
Laura realizes her friend has fallen asleep when they get to the store. She looks down at the stroller, intending to ask Kaitlin for her opinion.
“Never mind,” Laura says quietly. She pushes the stroller through the store, getting the cheapest things she can find. Even with that, she still cringes when she sees the total at the register. She pushes the stroller to a nearby single-stall bathroom and changes into her new clothes. When she’s done, she sees that Kaitlin is awake.
“I wet,” Kaitlin says unhappily. Laura lifts her from the stroller. Sure enough, the makeshift diaper is soaked.
“Aren’t you glad I did that?” Laura asks, carrying Kaitlin to the changing table. Kaitlin doesn’t say anything. Laura removes the makeshift diaper, throws it out, and wipes Kaitlin down with some baby wipes. “I had to guess for your size, hopefully these fit.” Laura tapes on one of the diapers. It fits perfectly. “And now for the clothes you wanted so badly…” She zips Kaitlin into a soft onesie patterned with snails.
“Now what?” Kaitlin asks. Laura puts her back in the stroller.
“We’re going to go to the magic store.”
“How?”
“You might be a diaper filler now, but I’m still old enough to drive. Barely.” Laura pats Kaitlin’s head. “And if anyone asks, I’m your babysitter.” Kaitlin scowls. “Aw, don’t be so upset. Here, have this. It was in the clearance bin.” Laura pops a pacifier into Kaitlin’s mouth. Kaitlin instinctively suckles on it.
Laura leaves the bathroom, pushing the stroller towards the exit. She notes silently that Kaitlin falls asleep quickly again. When she finally gets to the car, she realizes that Kaitlin will need a car seat, which she doesn’t have.