Leah grabs her tummy, groaning softly at the bloated feeling growing within her. She lets out a tiny burp. None of the kids notice, still caught up in their argument. Another burp follows. Then another. Gradually increasing in volume, but completely failing to relieve the pressure in her stomach.
"Is there something wrong, Hailey?" asks the 8-year-old girl. Leah burps in response. "Hmm." The girl's eyes light up. "Oh! I know what to do!" She runs out of the room, leaving Leah alone, continuing to burp incessantly. Quickly, she returns with Mrs. Montague. "It sounds a lot like when you had to help Lizzy burp when she was really little!" the girl says to her mother. Mrs. Montague pats her daughter's hair.
"Good job, Dorothy. You're right. Hailey clearly needs to be burped."
"What?" Leah squeaks between burps. That's all she's able to say before she's lifted into the air. She lets out a squeak of surprise. Then, just like Rita did the day before, Leah is put over Mrs. Montague's shoulder, and her back gently rubbed and patted. The burps escalate in frequency and volume, but now, they're actually making her feel better. After a few minutes, Leah finally lets out an enormous burp, completely dispelling the uncomfortable feeling in her tummy. She sighs in relief.
"Better?" Mrs. Montague asks.
"Yeth," Leah lisps around her pacifier.
"Two is a bit old to still need to be burped, but your aunt did say you've been having some gastrointestinal distress. Which reminds me..." Leah squeaks again as Mrs. Montague sticks her hand down her diaper. "Wet, but not bad enough to need a change." Leah blushes. She didn't realize she wet herself. Mrs. Montague sets her on the floor. "Lizzy, take Hailey to the play room. I'm going to grab some things and join the two of you there."
"I can watch them," Dorothy says.
"I know, but Hailey isn't potty trained, and her aunt says she's been having really bad accidents since her tummy has been upset. I want to get her changed right away if she poops." Mrs. Montague smiles at Leah. "Also, hopefully if I keep a close eye on Hailey, maybe I can tell if she needs to go and get her on the potty before she even realizes."
Leah knows she's reached rock bottom, because she actually hopes that's true. She'd love it if someone could tell she needed to go before she realized, so that she can avoid using her diaper. She would take the indignity of a stranger putting her on a toilet over the grossness of shitting herself.
Lizzy brings Leah through the house, to the play room. Before the two can even pick up a doll or block, Mrs. Montague joins them, holding a book. She sits down in the rocking chair, leaving the two girls to play together. Leah's eyes suddenly land on something next to the rocking chair: a toddler training potty. Hopefully that's not the toilet Mrs. Montague intends for her to use.