“Haley goes to the same ballet school Kaitlin is enrolled in.”
“Why good?” Laura asks, confused.
“Because I enrolled you in the ballet school, too!”
“But we s’posed be big,” Laura says. Kaitlin sighs.
“The magic thore ith clothed for the reth of the month,” Kaitlin mutters angrily. “We have to thay thith young until then.” To Laura’s surprise, while Kaitlin is visibly frustrated, she herself doesn’t feel upset. In fact, part of her is happy about it. Goofing off all day, with no responsibilities, not even needing to use a toilet, was fun, and the vacation she had desperately needed from work.
“Okay,” Laura chirps cheerfully. She sticks her thumb in her mouth to suck. Anna pulls her thumb out and pops a pacifier in instead. Laura smiles at her, suckling happily on the pacifier.
“Someone is a happy little girl,” Anna coos. Laura giggles. “Well, the daycare workers said you were on your best behavior, and my daughter said Kaitlin was a delight to take care of. Even if she did have an accident and needed a change.” Kaitlin turns red with embarrassment. “I think that means my girls should get a nice treat to celebrate!”
Laura is more than happy to get a treat. It feels like the continuation of the best day she’s had in a long time. But she looks at Kaitlin. Her friend is visibly uncomfortable, upset, trying to hold back tears. Clearly, Kaitlin doesn’t want to get a treat, and just wants to go straight home, but she won’t say anything to keep Laura happy.
Laura sucks on her pacifier, thinking, trying to weigh whether she wants to get a treat or to make Kaitlin happy.