“A year?” Leah repeated in disbelief.
“Yes, one full year,” Tina clarified. “You’re going to be an adult soon, and I want to get all this pranking nonsense out of you once and for all. People will already look down on you for your size, and I don’t want you losing a job over some stupid prank.”
“But, Tina,” Leah complained until her stepmother cleared her throat. “I mean, Mommy, it was just a little joke.”
“There is nothing funny about intentionally pooping your pants in public, young lady,” Tina scolded. “Suppose you were at your employer’s and wanted to make their child laugh, or you wanted to cut the tension at your father’s funeral!”
“I’d probably just break wind,” Leah joked.
“See?” Tina demanded. “You don’t take anything seriously; someday, you’ll thank me for this.”
“Don’t bet on it,” Leah thought to herself. “What about school?”
“I’ll enroll you at my daycare,” Tina explained. “So I can keep an eye on you at all times. Maybe this whole experience will teach you to appreciate the freedom a young woman receives,” Tina dialed a number on her phone. “Yes, I have a job for you. My address is in your records under Tina; there’s a key under the mat, and it’s the door at the end of the second-floor hallway.”
“What are you doing?” Leah inquired.
“You’ll see,” Tina promised.
“Dad will never let you get away with this!”
“Your father and I have been wondering how to handle your unique situation,” Tina explained. “You wear the most mature clothes you can buy and throw tantrums when anyone treats you like anything but a young adult, but you pretend to be a baby for free movie tickets with your friends, and I’ve seen you fool people by pretending to be a toddler.”
“Only a few times,” Leah blushed. “My friends take me to the mall, and we test for sweet guys.”
“Well, your friends will need to find a new icebreaker,” Tina told her stepdaughter as she pushed the cart forward. “Now, let’s get some supplies. Luckily I keep a good amount of stock at home for the daycare in case of shortages.”
“Lucky me,” Leah muttered. Tina continued to walk while putting a few toys and clothes into the cart. However, Leah got suspicious when Tina started looking at decorations for a child’s party. “What are you doing?”
“Your punishment will start tomorrow,” Tina told the small teen. “And we’re going to mark the occasion with a birthday party for my little princess.”
“What?” Leah demanded. “Who are you even going to invite?”