As quietly as he could, Marshall turned around and headed in the original direction he had suspected Rusty would be. Somehow, he managed to sneak away without catching notice of the intimidating figures that had been talking about him. Well, talking about Marcia. He wasn’t sure if he would be recognized by either the “man” nor the robed figure, since he was now a he and appeared to have the abilities of an actual toddler. But he didn’t want to risk it.
Marshall’s bag felt heavier by the second. Deciding to go for speed rather than items that, at this age, he might not be able to even use, he dropped his bag off at the nursery, then continued his search for Rusty. With every step, he became more and more tired, more and more scared, and his soaked diaper more and more uncomfortable. Finally, he sensed a human around a corner.
Marshall poked his head around this corner. To his immense relief, it was Rusty! Marshall hurried over as quickly as his uncoordinated toddler legs and diaper would allow him to. He tugged on Rusty’s pant leg. Rusty looked down.
“Oh, hey buddy!” Rusty picked Marshall up. “What are you doing wandering around? Christine didn’t say anything about there being a kid here.”
“I not a kid,” Marshall said firmly. “It me. Mawtha.”
“Marcia?” Rusty stared at him. “What happened to you?” Marshall sighed.
“Wong thowy.”
“I bet.” Rusty squeezed Marshall’s diaper. “Uh. Do you need a change?” Marshall flushed, embarrassed, but nodded nonetheless. “All right. Do you know where there are things I could use to change you?”
“Yeth.”
“Do you want me to put you down and I’ll follow you, or should you just point?”
“Point. I not walk fath.”
“Fair enough,” Rusty said. With Marshall’s instructions, they got back to the nursery quickly. Rusty grabbed a diaper and wipes and brought Marshall over to the changing table in the room. “Sorry for this.”
“No thowwy,” Marshall said impatiently. “Change now. No want daipew wath.”
“Yeah, I wouldn’t want diaper rash, either.” Rusty undressed Marshall and opened his diaper. “Uh. Do you have something to tell me?”
“Cuthed cwove,” Marshall sighed. “Caw me Mawthall.”
“Marshall. Will do.” Quickly and efficiently, Rusty wiped Marshall down and put him into a fresh diaper, then redressed him. “Better?” he asked. Marshall sat upright and sighed in relief.
“Much.”