"What a nice man, he gave you such a pretty balloon, baby," the woman
coos. Still holding you awkwardly to keep your stinking diaper at
arm's length, she searches the area for a sign. She grins, "Aha, the
baby changing station."
You roll your eyes, not that anyone's likely to notice.
As you sets you down on the baby changing table, you notice that the
balloon seems to be sagging. For a new helium filled balloon, it's
not very airworthy. Obviously, they use cheap helium tanks.
Then you notice that the string around your wrist seems to be getting
tighter. The woman removes your diaper, and wipes you clean with paper
towels.
"Good grief, I forgot his diapers!" she exclaims.
"There are some in the vending machine," a woman says pointing, as she
reads the latest tabloid paper.
"You stay here, baby," she orders. "Would you watch him for a moment?"
she asks the woman reading the Globe Examiner.
"Sure, hon," she says without looking up.
"Rubber Baby Changlings" is the headline, and the photo looks like a
baby shaped balloon.
You glance over at the balloon, and it sure does look baby-shaped. You
shake your head, you must be imagining. The string is tied to the
balloon baby's wrist. You glance down at your own wrist and are
horrified to see that your arm ends in a tight knotted string, and
where your hand should be is a flesh colored bit of rubber looking
very much like the mouthpiece of a balloon.
You notice that you're feeling rather bloated, and at the same time
lighter. The balloon settles on the table next to you. You open your
mouth to cry for help, but instead of a wail you emit a raspberry like
hiss of a leaking balloon.
Without looking up the woman waves her hand in front of her face and
remarks, "Gassy little twerp. Your mum must be feeding you lots of
strained broccoli."
To your horror, your naked bum has just floated off the table about an
inch. The woman is still futzing with the vending machine, and your
babysitter hasn't got a clue. To your horror, the balloon that's
stolen your immature identity is starting to move and coo. You feel
your body's shape changing. Your mind screams please see me. Please
turn around. Please look.
There's the sound of the vending machine mechanism working, and the
clink of changing being dispensed. Then the woman turns, but it's too
late. She only sees the new baby and his balloon (you).