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Bonus, Bonus, Bonus!!!

Hey Everyone! While I'm in the process of gradually winding down The Running Shoes, I decided to make another one-off short story in the age regression category. As for the format, I decided to try a first-person narrative for most of the story. The entire story is complete, so I am welcome to all of your feedback!  The summary is below.  So without further ado, here's the story!   Summary: Emmy, an 18-year-old babysitter experiences an unexpected surprise when she decides to try her baby sister Erica’s infant formula.  When her curious experiment becomes a full-on obsession, how does Emmy conceal her newfound obsession with her now powdered pastime?   1. Babysitting Erica Dear Diary, No.  That’s not right. Hi journal!  It’s me!  No!  That still doesn’t work. Well anyway, it’s me.  Emmy Smith.  My parents are having another night out so I’m stuck babysitting my baby sister again.  I mean, come on!  I’m 18 years old and I just graduated a year ago, for crying out loud!  This is not a good time! Well anyway, look out world, because Emmy Smith is going to be the next great influencer.  You can find me on Insta, TikTok, YouTube and all socials (Blue Sky and X)!  Just watch my videos, okay because they’re pretty funny. Well, getting back to tonight.  I am sulking in my room.  Little Erica is having her late afternoon nap and believe me.  She must have it or she’ll be your worst nightmare. And what else?  Erica is almost 10 months old and she just started to walk.  Wait until she learns how to run! Then she’ll be a LOT of fun.  I just want to get to the part where she potty trains since I am TIRED of changing her diapers. I stand up and hear the faint sound of crying coming from the other room.  Really?!  There goes my peace.  Mom could’ve done this but she’s having her fun evening with dad!  Okay fine.  Usually I get a ping on the baby monitoring app, but let’s see what she needs… No sooner than I approach her room, my phone is vibrating.  And there it is!  The ping from the baby monitoring app!  Couldn’t you have told me BEFORE she started crying?  Anyway, let’s see what “wittle Eri” needs… I enter Erica’s room, and I’m immediately overcome with the scent of baby powder.  The white noise machine is still on, and Erica upon seeing me begins to cry even louder. “It’s okay!” I said, in my condescending voice that I do just for my little sister.  “Emmy’s here!  Big sis is ready to wait on you hand and foot!” I effortlessly lift my little sister out of her crib and then…*sniff* *sniff* Oh. My.  Gosh.  What died in there?  The smell gets worse and worse as I try to quiet down my sobbing little sister.  While I stuck Erica’s pacifier in her mouth, she was still wailing.  Hold on, little sis.  It’s fine.  Everything’s fine… I set little Erica down on the changing table while I swear was bought brand new just for her.  I mean, I wish that you could see her nursery!  Since before Kiki was born, my parents succeeded in not only giving my little sister her own nursery, but an opulent chamber fit for a princess.  Seriously.  My room could use a remodel, but they spared no expense for little Erica. Yuck.  When I opened Erica’s diaper, it was nothing but cringe.  Seriously.  How can a 10-month-old produce that much shit?  It’s all over the place, and…get it together Emmy.  I’ll just take a pile of baby wipes and…there.  Don’t reenact what happened the other day, little sis.  The last time that I had to babysit you, I had to change your shitty ass four times!  Seriously!  That was not a good time. About a dozen baby wipes later, I finally get to cleaning the rest of my sister’s bum and princess parts before I powder a new Pampers Size 3 diaper.  As I lay Erica on the diaper, I notice a red spot on her crotch. I guess I’ll have to use the Aquaphor on this.  I apply a generous glob on my hands and rub it in to address my little sister’s diaper rash.  Now, can we get to the part where I finish diapering you? I powder the diaper and then powder my sister’s princess parts.  I fold the diaper between her legs and fasten the tabs snugly around her waist.  There.  Now you’ll be good for a couple hours if I’m lucky. My baby sister can’t talk yet, but she does do a lot of cute babbling.  I think that she’s trying to talk but she can’t really make any words yet.  I snap the crotch buttons on her white onesie with zoo animals on it.  As I pick her up, she fusses, squirming as I carefully place her on the floor. But little Erica wasn’t satisfied with being on the floor.  No.  She presses her hands against the floor, propping herself up on both her legs.  She uses a leg from the nearby changing table to keep her balance and gives me a big smile.  Yay!  My little sister can stand! As much of a pain as it is to watch Erica, I can’t help but love the little girl.  I mean, look at her!  She’s my little sister!  My BABY sister.  And as much of a chore as it is to babysit her, I often find myself getting lost in all the cute moments that she creates for me every day. I begin running the mental checklist through my mind, making sure that Princess Erica gets everything that she needs. And that’s when I heard it. DING DONG! Is it them?  It can’t be. DING!!!!  DONNNNNNG!!! It could.  It definitely could be them. DINGDONG!!!! Okay!  I’m coming! I walk over to the door and open it. And yeah.  It was just as I suspected. My friends Jessica and Kayla are here, but wait until I tell them the unfortunate news.  That it’s not going to be a fun trip to the movies tonight.  Oh no. That’s ‘cause Emmy has babysitting duty tonight.  Jessica.  Kayla.  Look.  I have babysitting duty tonight.  Okay? I wonder how they’ll take it?     2. Girl’s Night…In? I hated to break the news to them.  But I didn’t want to keep them waiting! But there Erica was, crawling into the kitchen since her curiosity knows no bounds.  Hey sis.  My friends are at the door so I’m going to pick you up, okay? DING!!!!! DONG!!!!!! “I’m coming!” I shouted as I carefully cradled my baby sister in my arms. My sister is now comfortably resting in my arms by my chest.  Wow.  I’m surprised at how she’s letting me hold her!  Usually, she’s squirming like crazy.  Hold on, Jessica and Kayla.  I’m coming! I carefully turn the knob with my left hand while firmly wrapping Erica in my other arm. And there both my friends stood.  Kayla had an understanding look while Jessica had her mouth wide open like a goldfish. And what does Jessica say? “Oh.  You’re babysitting?” Jessica said, in a surprised tone that she didn’t need to have since I knew that she was an only child.  Plus, she knew that I have a baby sister so what’s the surprised tone about?  She began to turn away and gesture to Kayla, as if she wanted Kayla to follow her.  “Come on.  Emmy’s babysitting her sister.  We can go to the mall and watch the movie without her.” Kayla jabbed Jessica right in the groin, which made her wince in pain.  “What kind of friend are you, Jess? We’re going to help Emmy babysit Erica tonight, okay?  Shopping and the movie can wait for another night.”  Kayla then smiled at me.  “Besides, I get it, Emmy.  I watch my little brother all the time, which is something that Jessica would never understand…” That’s right, Kayla.  We babysitters understand what it means to watch our younger siblings.  At least I have a friend that gets that!  You Jessica on the other hand better do something to redeem yourself or I’m going to have to ask you to leave.  Kayla and I are in the “Siblings Babysitter’s Club” (NOTE: Not a real club, LOL) and you have no part in it unless you help us watch Erica. Then I saw it.  Jessica, as entitled as she was, let out a deep sigh.  “Okay.  We’ll help you watch Erica, I guess.” “Uh uh,” I told her sharply.  “There’s no guessing in babysitting.  You just do it!  Besides, Erica is SO ADORABLE!  Aren’t you, Eri?” Erica, who knew that she was being talked to, made her cute babbling sounds.  Then, she began squirming uncomfortably in my arm.  “Mama?” I had to sadly break the news to my baby sister.  “Sorry kiddo,” I said in a syrupy sweet voice.  “Mama won’t be home until later.  But come on!  Let’s get you your bottle, okay?” As per the routine for little Erica, she always got her bottle when she woke up from her naps.  Fortunately, my mom already left one bottle in the fridge, giving me clear directions that I would have to make another one to feed to her before her bedtime. I glanced at my friends, and saw this as an opportunity for them to help me.  I slyly glanced at Jessica and smirked.  “Could you please be a good friend and get Erica’s bottle?  It’s in the fridge.” Jessica looked like she was about to lose it.  “Do I have to?  Why does she still drink from a bottle?!  She can walk now, right?” I watched Kayla scowl at Jess.  “Walking doesn’t mean that she graduated from the bottle, Jess.  My little brother Daniel is four and he didn’t stop drinking from the bottle until he was 18 months.  A little late, I know.  They should be ready to be weaned by at least a year.  C’mon Jess.  Do it or Emmy and I will have you change Erica’s diaper, and we’ll make sure that it’s extra messy.” Jessica, looking disgusted at the very idea of changing a diaper, immediately got up.  I guess she decided that getting a baby bottle was less of a pain than changing my little sister’s diaper.  Fair enough, Jess.  I’ll give you a pass.  She marched into the kitchen while I followed Kayla into the living room while carrying Erica in my arms.  This was until Kayla offered to carry Erica the rest of the way, from the entryway all the way to the living room.  Thanks Kayla.  And look at that cute face on Kiki!  I think she likes you! While Kayla and I were comfortably lounging on the couch, Jessica begrudgingly walked into the living room holding the baby bottle that contained little Eri’s after nap snack.  A delicious blend of Similac baby formula mixed with freshly filtered water from our fridge’s tap.  Yum. Wait.  Yum?  While it was a silly thought, I don’t really know what baby formula actually tastes like.  Is it any good?  My little sister seems to like it.  Would I?  But no.  Don’t be silly, Emily Smith.  You are 18 years old.  Eighteen-year-olds don’t drink baby formula.  I mean, there’s a reason why they call it baby formula.  It’s for BABIES. But as I watched Jessica place Erica’s baby bottle on the couch, I couldn’t help but stare at the contents of the bottle.  Sure, I knew that the formula was for my baby sister.  But what does it taste like?  I just couldn’t get that thought out of my head!  Yeah.  It’s silly and stupid but now I couldn’t stop thinking about it. Before I could even think about grabbing the bottle to feed my sister, Kayla grabs the bottle and proceeds to begin feeding Erica.  What a saint!  I didn’t even have to ask Kayla.  She just did it!  Watch and learn, Jessica.  Watch. And learn. Jessica now had a jealous look on her face.  “Let me do it!  I got her the bottle.  Can’t I feed her?” Kayla shook her head.  “Not now, Jess.  You need to be gentle when you’re feeding an infant.  Now what did you say you were going to school for again?”  She made a brief pause which I only knew meant that she already knew the answer.  “Nursing, right?” Jessica nodded.  “Yeah.  So can I get some practice?” Both Kayla and I exchanged glances and grinned.  I then gave Jessica a friendly nudge on the shoulder.  “We’ll give you practice.  You can change Erica’s next diaper.  How about that?” “Eww!” Jessica cried in disgust.  “Can’t I do something else?” “But Jessica!” Kayla argued in a mocking voice.  “Nursing is taking care of someone.  Don’t you want to take care of little Erica?” Jessica sighed.  “Fine.  I just don’t want it to be too yucky.”  Jessica then pouted and looked at Kayla.  “But you’re not studying to be a nurse!  You’re going into child psychology!” I remained silent as I watched my friends bicker about their college studies.  Unlike my friends, I was the black sheep that wasn’t quite in college yet.  Sure, I got my diploma last year but I was not ready to go to college yet.  I mean, I don’t really know what I want to do yet!  So, I decided that I’m just going to be a famous influencer.  And you don’t need a college degree to do that. I heard Erica begin to burp, so I grabbed a burp cloth that was sitting next to her other assorted things at the base of the coffee table.  I flung it at Kayla, who managed to catch the mess that Erica was spitting up just in time.  Yeah.  My little sis always does that with every bottle she drinks.  While it fills her up, she will always spit up a little bit.  The bottle, which was once full of baby formula was now nearly empty and caked with milky residue. The afternoon, which went into the evening, was nothing too exciting.  Yeah.  It was just me, Kayla, and Jessica all taking turns at playing with little Erica in her playpen.  We stacked blocks and colorful rings more times than what I cared to count.  We pushed the colored shapes into their respective holes and watched my sister make her cute smile whether she was successful or not at fitting the shapes properly.  Before dinner, we all took turns walking alongside Erica while she pushed herself in her walker, which looked like a shopping cart. And everyone, Jessica did it.  She actually CHANGED Erica’s diaper!  As much as I wanted it to be a poopy one, she lucked out and got to change a sopping wet one instead.  And if you need to know the details, Jess did this right before Erica began playing with the walker. Kayla ordered a pizza for all of us from Doordash, while Jessica was kind enough to watch Erica while I prepared her nighttime bottle. I was now in the kitchen, with all my essentials to make Erica’s bottle on the kitchen island: New plastic bottle from the drying rack by the sink?  Check.  Similac Infant Baby Formula?  Check. Knowing how messy the powdery baby formula was, I took the bottle and canister of formula over to the sink and sat the bottle inside the sink.  Before I began preparing the formula, I decided to glance at the canister again.  Upon reading it more closely, I was surprised to see that this formula touted theirs to be “Our closest formula to breast milk”.  Really?  To be honest, I can’t actually remember what breast milk actually tastes like.  I think that my mom breastfed me when I was little, but that doesn’t mean that I remember anything about how the milk tasted.  C’mon Emmy.  Focus!  You’re supposed to prepare your baby sister’s nighttime bottle! But…I just couldn’t focus.  You guys, I just can’t.  I just couldn’t adult today.  I swear that my attention span was almost like a child’s.  But there was the canister again.  My focus sharpened as I lifted the lid off of the formula. The canister, I found, was half empty, with a plastic measuring scoop which was supposed to be two ounces of water for every level scoop of powdered formula.  I glanced inside, my eyes intently gazing on the pale-yellow powdery mixture.  I grabbed the scoop and dug it into the powder, leveling the scoop out with my finger before dumping the first scoopful into the empty plastic bottle.  As I proceeded to get the second, third, and fourth scoopfuls into the bottle, it took every ounce of concentration to stop myself from just mindlessly gazing at the powdered formula.  I mean, the burning question was in my mind.  What does it taste like?  Really.  What does my baby sister’s baby formula taste like?  The question was now like a raging forest fire in my mind. Finally, I sat the measuring scoop back into the canister and sealed it with the plastic lid.  I walked over to the fridge and carefully filled the baby bottle to the 8-ounce line.  I then screwed the teated lid on the bottle before placing a domed cap over it.  I then vigorously shook the bottle until all the contents were thoroughly mixed together.  To my surprise, the yellow powder that mixed with the water made the milk white.  Yeah.  This is something that I don’t really pay attention to, but you have been following this story so far, I can’t stop thinking about the formula!  Does my sister even like it or is it just something that she has no choice but to consume? I walk out of the kitchen, holding the bottle while what I now felt was the weirdest urge.  I wanted to drink my sister’s bottle so bad to see how it tastes!  Get it together, Emmy!  You are going to feed it to Erica, okay? I anxiously stared at the baby bottle while my sister was nestled in my lap, steadily sucking the contents down.  Sure, I wanted to know how the formula tastes, but I now had a look of jealousy on my face.  My sister looked like she was enjoying the formula while I watched her drink it.  How is it suddenly feeling like torture now?  Every second that I watched my sister drink her bedtime meal was…agony now?  (She already had her strained peas and peach cobbler earlier for dinner.) Finally, relief.  The bottle was empty so my anxiety subsided. Kayla gave me a weird look and nudged me.  “What’s wrong, Emmy?” I ignored Kayla’s question and glanced at the empty bottle.  “I need take care of Kiki’s empty bottle.  And we need to get my sister ready for bed!” Kayla nodded.  “Okay.  We can do that.  But let’s hurry.  We’re all hungry.” Phew!  She bought it.  Good save! Oh yeah.  While I was feeding Erica her bottle, the pizza came and we have been keeping it warm in the oven (Thanks Kayla for turning the oven on!).  I’m kind of hangry myself so I think it’s time that I get my sister ready for bed. I rinse the milky residue out of the bottle and teat and set it in the sink. The three of us wasted no time in getting my cute little sister ready for bed.  I drew the bath to a reasonably warm temperature, as it can’t be too hot because of my baby sister’s sensitive skin.  Jessica was very helpful, but I could only guess that it was because of how seriously she was taking her duties since she wanted to be a nurse.  I think it was more of that motivating her than actually caring about Erica like me and Kayla did.  That, and she looked hangry like me and Kayla. And wow.  Jessica is once again proving herself to me and Kayla by putting Erica in her nighttime diaper.  Her process was a little more refined from the last time that she changed her.  This has me thinking “Hmm…Maybe Jess has what it takes to be a nurse after all.  Maybe it had more to do with her father being a doctor and her wanting to be a nurse like her mother. Kayla dressed Erica in her clothes for bedtime.  She opted for a pink onesie, since this would be much easier to change her diaper than a footed sleeper.  She placed her in a mint green sleep sack. I had the liberty of tucking in my sister.  I carried my sister to her crib and placed her inside it.  I took her clear pink see-through pacifier and placed it in her mouth before giving her a soft pat on the head.  “Good night, baby sis.” After that, I glanced at my two friends as a pang of hunger hit all of us in the stomach. It was now time for pizza and some much-needed girl time.     3. Pizza and the Formula Dare Aw, relief.  The three of us all smiled as we managed to devour an entire Supreme pizza between the three of us. We all licked our fingers as we finished every last stray topping that fell on our paper plates as we were all comfortably sprawled across the couch.  Kayla and Jessica were the hungriest, so they each ate three slices.  I had just two, which was enough to satisfy my hunger.  I was especially pleased to find that one of my supreme slices had a little more sausage than mushrooms, green peppers, and onions. Kayla gave me a suspicious look again.  “Spill it, Emmy.  You were very nervous when you were feeding your sister earlier.  What’s wrong?” Jessica smiled.  “You can tell us, Em.  The little one’s in bed and it’s just us now.” I sighed, as I really didn’t think that it was something that my friends needed to know about.  But they’re my friends so I guess I better spill it.  “Um…” I stammered.  “I know that this is stupid and silly, but have you ever wondered what baby formula tastes like?” Jessica smirked.  “Really Em?” Kayla shrugged her shoulders.  “Let me guess.  You wanted to try your little sister’s baby formula?  Emmy, it’s for Erica!  We have our own food!  That’s hers.” “I know,” I told them, my face turning a shade of red.  “But haven’t you ever wondered what it tastes like?” Kayla shook her head.  “It probably just tastes like powdered milk, with vitamins and probiotics.” Jessica could not help but smirk.  “No Kayla.  I think that she’s on to something.  Hey Em.  Do you want some baby formula?  I think that you should try it!” “No Jess!” Kayla argued.  “That’s not Emmy’s!  It’s for Erica!” “Not anymore!” Jessica argued with a big smirk on her face.  “Erica is sleeping so it’s Emmy’s now.  Besides, I have an AWESOME idea for the best TikTok ever!  And guess what?  I’ll be preparing Emmy’s baa baa.  Wouldn’t you want that, Emmy?” My face turned red as Jessica gave me a mischievous glance.  She can’t be serious!  That is my sister’s baby formula!  I mean, I wanted to try it but this is totally embarrassing!  I mean, do I have to?  Right in front of my friends? But then I thought of Jessica’s idea with the TikTok.  If me and Jessica do this right, This TikTok could go totally viral and I will be famous!  Sure, it’s a silly video of me drinking from a baby bottle, but I’ll be posting a bunch of other random shit that everyone will just want to watch after this one!  This will launch my influencer career!  I finally gave Jessica a nod of approval.  Sure.  I’ll do it, Jess.  I’ll do it for the TikTok.  I’ll do it for the views!  I’ll do it for the fame.  And most of all, I’ll do it just so I can know what that formula tastes like! As per my directions, I instructed Jessica to fill the bottle with four level scoops of Similac 360 Total Care, making sure that she filled the water to the 8-ounce line. After that, Jessica screwed on the teated lid and popped the domed cap on, before she began shaking away. “Shake it!” Jessica sang.  “Shake it like a Polaroid picture!  Whoo!!!” Jessica went all out, having fun with shaking the bottle that she was going to give me. And to be honest, I actually felt excited.  Despite the embarrassment that I would have to endure with my friends watching me drink the formula, I would at least know once and for all what it tasted like. Kayla didn’t want anything to do with what me and Jessica were doing, so she frowned at us.  “Jess,” she sighed.  “You know that’s Erica’s.  Her formula.  And you’re going to make a stupid TikTok with that?” But Jessica was quick to shut her down.  “So?” Jessica countered.  “Emmy’s going to be a famous influencer, and then she can buy her own formula!  Yeah!  We’re just going to be making these videos.  It’s going to be awesome!” We walked away from Kayla and Jessica reminded me that we needed a script before we started recording the TikTok.  The plan would be as follows.  Jessica would hand me the bottle and I would start drinking it.  I would then begin acting silly and make baby sounds.  Maybe a few goo’s and gaa’s and that would be it. Jessica held out my phone and we began recording the TikTok.  I was very nervous, but I focused on my mission. Jessica gave me a big teasing smile.  “Does baby Emmy want her baa baa?” In humoring the act, I nodded.  “Yeah!  I want baa baa now!” And just like that, I swiped the baby bottle from Jessica and began sucking the teat of the bottle.  But something was wrong.  No milk was coming out!  How did Erica do this?  She made it look so easy! Finally, after what felt like a couple of minutes, I managed to get the first few drops out.  And…wow.  That baby formula tasted so sweet.  Yes.  Very sweet.  Like a powdered milk, but WOW was it good.  As more drops came out of the bottle and into my mouth, I carefully sucked at the right point of the bottle and found a lot more of the milk coming out now.  Bingo!  I found the easy way to suck out the milk. To ham things up, I stopped drinking and glanced at the camera.  “Goo goo!” I said, giving my best baby impression.  “Gaa gaa!  I dwink more!”  And with that, I sucked down the rest of the milk in the bottle like a pro.  And wow.  That sweet aftertaste.  Is this really what breast milk actually tastes like?  It’s really anyone’s guess but I’m just going to call this a W for today. Jessica stopped recording and began to snicker.  “You were wonderful, baby Emmy.” She teased, playfully shoving me in the side. Kayla and Jessica stayed for a little longer before they decided to leave. This left me with the cleanup.  It wasn’t much that I had to take care of.  All I had to do was rinse out the baby bottle and quickly wash it, so that mom wouldn’t suspect anything.  There.  Bottle is rinsed.  Bottle is washed.  And bottle is rinsed again.  I sat the bottle in the drying rack, but then noticed the canister of baby formula that was just sitting there.  Should I have some more?  Because I’m really starting to crave this stuff now! Well, mom and dad told me that they would be staying out late, so why not?  Being very tired, I decided to make my own “nighttime bottle”.  I took one of my 24-ounce stainless steel water bottles and scooped 12 scoopfuls of baby formula (one for every two ounces) and filled my water bottle to the brim with water.  I then tightly sealed the water bottle and began shaking it like crazy.  There.  Now I have 24 ounces of delicious goodness that I can enjoy before bed. I carefully sealed the baby formula and placed it back where I originally found it. I do my usual night routine and remove all my makeup before taking a cozy shower.  I brush my teeth, floss, and gargle my mouthwash.  I then put on another bra before changing into a white nightgown. And how could we forget our water bottle filled with baby formula?  What a treat.  I unscrew the small opening to my water bottle and begin drinking the sweet formula, which surprisingly tasted even better than the first time.  Yes.  Very sweet.  It’s a whole lot.  Almost done.  Wow.  I can’t believe I’m drinking the whole thing.  *BURP* Okay.  It’s gone.  Man was…that…good…………………. I don’t know how quick it happened, but right after that, I fell fast asleep.     4. The Wrong Side of the Bed Ugh.  I don’t know what happened, but something kept waking me up several times during the night.  CRUNCH!  CREAK! CRRRRRRUNNNNNCH!  OW!  What just happened?  Whatever happened, I’m very tired so I’m going back to sleep.  I fell asleep, the aftertaste of the baby formula still in my mouth. CRUNCH!  CREAK!  CRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRUNNNNCH! Again?  I swear that this has happened at least five times or more.  And…whoa.  Did I just lose weight?  No.  Because my nightgown…What the…..! I sit up in my bed to find almost everything that I was wearing falling off of me.  My bra didn’t fit me anymore.  My panties were now enormous and now I’m swimming in my nightgown! Totally shocked, I undress and enter my ensuite bathroom in my birthday suit. The first thing that I did was step on the scale and…Oh.  My.  Gosh. 73.6 POUNDS?!!!  I lost almost 50 pounds overnight! I run over to the mirror by the sink and I swear that I saw a middle school version of me staring back at me.  WHAT?!  HOW?  All I did was drink some baby form….u….la.  No. I was now in a complete state of denial.  No no no no no no no no no!  Really?  All I did was drink my baby sister’s baby formula and now I’m a middle schooler again?  No!  I’m going to be a famous influencer! Well, on the off chance that the baby formula did push me closer to babyhood, I am NOT having any more of that stupid formula, no matter how good it tastes! I glanced at my alarm clock, which read 8:22 AM.  Well, it’s Friday so it’s time to get up.  But how is my mom going to see me like this?  None of my clothes fit me anymore.  Not even my panties! I pull my now oversized nightgown back on and began walking outside my room, dragging it as I went. And really?  My timing could not have been any more perfect, because there mom stood, as if she was about to open my door. “Honey!” My mom told me.  “I was just about to….Oh.  Hmm….It looks like someone was naughty last night.” After that, mom gave me this smile that really started to creep me out.  What?  So, she’s not shocked that I’m this young now? My mom then glanced at me normally like nothing weird was going on.  “It’s okay.  You did a bad thing, but now you’re going to have to own up to your mistake.  Now those clothes are way too big on you, sweetie.  It’s a good thing that your mom still has your older clothes!” That’s when I remembered just how much of a packrat that my mom was.  And yeah.  Most of my older clothes she actually kept.  How convenient! My mom left the hallway for a little bit and came back with a measuring tape.  She measured me and nodded.  “Yup.  You’re a size 10.” My mom left to go down to the basement to find my older clothes. I couldn’t believe it.  Overnight, I went down 8 whole sizes!  Yup.  If it’s that stupid formula, I’m never having any of it again.  Maybe if I’m lucky, it will wear off and I will grow back to normal? A few minutes later, my mom came back carrying a large plastic tote.  She opened it and the very first shirt was a Lavender Hello Kitty graphic tee.  Really?  Sure, I was into Hello Kitty in middle school but I’m WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY past that phase. I shook my head.  “No mom!  I don’t like Hello Kitty!” My mom gave me a stern look.  “It doesn’t matter, sweetie.  You made a mistake, dear and now you have to own up to that mistake.  Okay?  Now you liked Hello Kitty when you were 12 and see?  It fits you perfectly!  Now there should be a few skirts, underwear, and socks in there.  I have another tote with pajamas, okay?” I started to cry.  This was a nightmare of my own making and I just wanted to wake up from it.  Six years lost in just one night?  It was official.  I have now lost my adulthood and this was more than what I could take. “Sweetie,” My mom said with a sigh.  “Crying is not going to make it better.  Now if you would’ve been a good girl, you would never have to worry about this.  But it’s okay.  Mommy will make it work.  Okay?  Get a shower. We made a nice breakfast for you.  Erica is even already downstairs so you’re the last one up.  Now be a good girl for mommy, okay?” My mom left to get the other tote and I sullenly walked to my room, carrying the heavy tote filled with my old clothes. After picking a off-white skirt with colored stripe patterns, a cupped bra, a pair of pink underwear, the lavender Hello Kitty graphic tee, and a pair of white socks, I sulked all the way to the shower. But as I washed my sorrows down the drain in the shower, a feeling of terror came over me.  How was it that my mom wasn’t even bothered at me being younger?  She told me that “someone was naughty last night” and I knew that someone was me.  Does she know what the formula can do already?  And how is it that this particular baby formula makes me younger?  Did mom do something that altered the formula?  Then that means, my baby sister….Erica! I was dumbfounded.  Could it be possible that my little sister used to actually be older than me?  All this time, I thought that I was just being a good sister, feeding my sister her formula.  But afterall, she’s not even a year old yet.  But who knows what could’ve happened before then?  Something is not adding up… Despite me being a preteen again, I still felt like an adult inside.  And that was the most frustrating part. I comb my hair and put on all my clothes.  With it only being June, I knew that my future was ruined.  How was I going to be a famous influencer now? I exited the shower and entered my room, to find my mom yanking out all my old adult clothes that don’t fit me anymore.  This was heartbreaking to see the clothes that used to fit me yesterday were now being packed into a tote and hauled away.  All because I drank some baby formula.  Just how stupid could I be?  But that’s the stupid part!  Baby formula is not supposed to literally turn you into a baby!  This was the stuff of science fiction, and the scariest part was that it was happening to me for real. I glanced at my mom, trying to look like an adult.  “Mom?” I asked her.  “Can I be a famous influencer?  Because I know I haven’t gone to college yet…” Mom gave me a smug smile.  “Sweetie, you haven’t even completed the seventh grade yet.” I scowled.  “But mom!” I protested.  “I have a high school diploma and you know it!” My mom nodded.  “You do, sweetie.  But you were a naughty girl, and now you have to repeat the seventh grade.  And yes.  You will have to earn your diploma again.  That’s your punishment for being such a naughty girl.  But don’t worry, dear.  We will work through this.  Okay?” I gave my mom a clever smile.  “Was Erica a naughty girl?” At this, my mom gasped.  “Erica is a good girl, honey!  Erica doesn’t know what is good or bad yet, so mommy has to decide for her.  And honey, Erica is a good girl.  It is you who are naughty.  Now, we’re going to enroll you in middle school next week.  You will start in the fall.  You are going to be a good girl for mommy, okay?” I had no choice but to comply at this point. “Yes mom,” I said reluctantly. Breakfast was filled with the usual fare that we had in the morning.  Bacon, sausage, eggs, and toast.  I was so late that my baby sister was not even at her highchair.  I was the only one at the kitchen table, eating my breakfast. Both my parents started their work.  And to fill you all in, both my parents work from home, so they have a lot of flexibility in being able to take care of Erica. During the day, I checked my TikTok and to my surprise, the TikTok I made last night with Jessica had more than 215,000 views.  Yup.  The video is on its way to becoming viral.  But I’m not an adult anymore so how’s that going to even matter?  I’m now a middle schooler that according to mom, I have to repeat middle school and high school again. Well, if I don’t have any more of that stupid formula, I won’t have to worry about getting any younger so maybe I can get older?  I’m kind of hoping that it will wear off and I can get older right away. The rest of the day was boring.  And now… KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK! Oh.  I think that my mom is knocking.  What does she want? My mom smiled and glanced at my dad, who was next to her. “Sweetie?” My mom said with a grin.  “I know that you don’t look the part anymore, but could you please babysit Erica again?  Daddy and I are going out again and we won’t be back until very late.  Besides dear.  Twelve is the appropriate age to start babysitting.  If you need help, just call the neighbor next door.” My mom then gave me a stern look.  “Now you were a very naughty girl last night, so here’s your chance to be a good girl, okay?  Mommy has more formula for Erica.  It’s a brand new one since mommy made a new bottle from the last of the old canister.  It’s already open since I poured the last of the old formula into the new one.  Make sure that Erica gets her nighttime bottle before bed.  And no drinking the formula this time, honey.  Mommy doesn’t want you to be naughty.  Be a good girl for mommy, okay?” I nodded, knowing very well that I wasn’t going to have any of that stupid formula this time.  Sure, it tasted good but if it’s going to make me a baby, then I never want to have any of it again. About a half hour after my mom and dad left, Erica to my surprise was still sleeping. DING!!!!!! DONG!!!!! It’s them.  My friends again.  Kayla and Jessica.  I am so dead.  What are my friends going to do when they find out that their best friend is now a preteen again? I groaned and closed my eyes, praying that the doorbell was only my imagination.     5. Babysitting Blunder DING!!!!!  DONG!!!!!!!! Nope.  I am not dreaming.  That damn doorbell is still ringing!  And wow.  I am so surprised that Erica is still sleeping!  Usually, she would be up from her nap by now.  But the biggest problem with me being a preteen now is being shorter.  According to mom’s measurements, I am 8 inches shorter than I was yesterday! And now, I have to answer the door looking like a preteen instead of an adult woman.  Well, here we go!  I wonder what Kayla and Jessica will say? I let out a deep sigh and open the door. The first thing that Jessica does is frown.  “Um…” she said, pointing at me.  “Where’s Emmy?  I didn’t know she had a third sister…” Kayla sighed and then glanced at me, her face as pale as a ghost.  “Um, Jess?  I think that is Emmy.  Is it you, Emmy?  You look a lot like you did when we used to go to middle school.” It had to have been the way that Kayla said it, but I couldn’t hold back the tears anymore.  I weeped and turned my face to the floor.  “Go away,” I told them.  “I am babysitting my sister and I don’t want anyone to bother me.” But unlike Kayla, Jessica just smiled when she looked at me.  “If it really is you, Em, then you really need us to help you watch your sister tonight.  But first, let’s get something to drink, okay?” Jessica’s eyes shifted towards the kitchen, which made Kayla frown. “What are you doing, Jess?”  Kayla asked her. Jessica paced quickly towards the kitchen.  “Oh, I’m just getting Emmy a little drink, okay?” Kayla began to advance towards Jessica.  “No, you’re not.  You just want to give her more of Erica’s baby formula, right?” But Jessica ignored her question, outdistancing Kayla through the kitchen all the way to the fridge.  She opened it to find a baby bottle filled with formula already in there.  “Oh.  What do you know?  I don’t have to make one!  Come here, baby Emmy…” I didn’t like where this was going at all, so I walked over behind Kayla. Jessica glared at me when she saw that I wasn’t following her directions.  “Fine.  If you’re not going to come to me, then I’ll do it myself!”  Jessica hurried towards me, holding the baby bottle in her hands. No.  You are not doing this!  I successfully evaded Jessica and doubled back into the kitchen again. Jessica then grinned, holding the baby bottle filled with formula in front of my face.  “Come on, Emmy.  I know you like it.  It’s so good.  And don’t worry.  I will help you this time.” Stop.  Just stop.  My will power was failing me as Jessica removed the cap of the baby bottle and began pushing the nipple towards my mouth.  It is good.  Yeah. I found myself doing the thing that I would never expect to do.  I let Jessica feed me the bottle, as she calmly led me to the living room. “There.” Jessica cooed as she pointed to a spot on the couch where I sat.  I kept drinking the baby bottle while she held it in her hands.  Why did you have to do this, Jess?  You’re going to get me into trouble! But before I knew it, I let out a soft burp as I realized that the bottle was completely empty.  I then glared at my best friend, who for some reason thought that it was a good idea to play house.  “Jess!” I shouted.  “My mom specifically told me not to have any of Erica’s formula!  You then go and feed all of it to me!  What kind of friend are you?  Get out of here!  Get out!” Jessica nodded.  “But I fed it to you, Em.  You didn’t get it yourself.  You don’t have to worry.  It’ll be fine.” Suddenly, a loud wail could be heard in the distance. “Good going, Jess.” Kayla scowled.  “Now can you please make a bottle for Erica while me and Emmy get her up?” Jessica nodded.  “Gladly.  I’ll have another one made in just a couple of minutes!” Jessica volunteering to make the bottle did nothing to undo what she had already done.  She had broken one of my mom’s rules.  And the worst part about it is that I’m going to be the one who will get in trouble while Jessica will get out of it scot-free.  Some friend you are! Kayla and I were in Erica’s bedroom, where my baby sister was still wailing.  I secretly felt glad that Kayla was helping me with her, as the stress of me being a preteen again didn’t do anything to help the situation.  Sure, I was tall enough to reach over the crib, but I let Kayla take care of this instead. And my am I glad that I did!  It didn’t take long for both Kayla and I to smell what we knew would be a very poopy diaper.  I grimaced at Kayla, who responded with a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry, Emmy.” Kayla told me.  “I got this.  I have changed Daniel’s poopy diapers many times.  He’s mostly trained now and he only needs to wear Pull-Up’s to bed.” I nodded and calmly watched Kayla do her thing after she laid Erica on the changing table.  Not only did she end up using fewer wipes than me, she took less time to change her!  Wow.  Kayla, can you come over and help me babysit Erica more often? Kayla carried Erica out of the room and I followed her.  And by the time that we both entered the living room, Jessica was sitting there, holding a freshly made baby bottle filled with baby formula. Kayla pointed to the bottle.  “Let me feed her.” But Jessica shook her head.  “I can do it!” Kayla sighed.  “Okay, but feed Erica this time!” Jessica nodded.  “Of course!  Into my lap, Kiki.” Erica squirmed forward towards Jessica when she saw her holding a baby bottle. Jessica calmly situated Erica into her lap.  “There you go…” Kayla carefully watched Jessica while she fed Erica.  As for me, I watched from a distance.  I didn’t want Jessica to get any other ideas for the rest of the day. After Jessica was finished feeding Erica, she sat her in Kayla’s lap while she went to the kitchen to wash out the baby bottle. I thought I was out of the park when Kayla quickly sat my baby sister in my lap. “Ugh…” Kayla said, groaning.  “I really have to crap!  Can you please watch your sister?  I’ll be right back!” And off Kayla went, running to the nearest bathroom to answer her call of duty. Jessica came back into the living room and carried Erica to her playpen.  “We’re going to play with some toys now!” As I started to stack blocks with Erica, Jessica ran off for some reason. I was right in the middle of stacking colorful rings with my sister when Jessica decided to jump scare me. “Emmy!” I turned around in a gasp to find Jessica holding another baby bottle filled with baby formula. “It’s your turn,” Jessica told me.  “Erica got hers so now you’re getting yours!” I backed away, knowing that Jessica was trying to bait me into drinking more of my sister’s formula.  “Are you serious?!” I shouted.  “You’re going to get me in trouble!  No!” All Jessica could do was smirk.  “Yes.  You’re going to be a good girl like your sister, okay?” And before I could even react, Jessica had another baby bottle nipple shoved right in my mouth. “Drink.”  Jessica ordered. And for some stupid reason, I did just as I was told.  I drank the baby bottle while I watched my best friend smile at me. “There you go, baby Emmy.” Jessica cooed.   “You like that, don’t you?  It’s so good, isn’t it?” And just like that, I couldn’t believe it.  Another baby bottle was empty. “Oh, good girl!”  Jessica praised.  “You finished the whole thing!  I got one more for later.  I made three of them while you and Kayla were tending to Erica.  Now go play with your sister!” Jessica went and took care of the baby bottle while I played with Erica.  Jessica joined in on the playtime.  A few minutes later, Kayla returned and joined in as well. Kayla ordered Chinese for dinner and we spent most of our time engaging with my little sister. After dinner, Kayla fed Erica her nighttime bottle and we got Erica ready for bed.  After giving her a bath, brushing her teeth, diapering her, and putting on a footed sleeper, Kayla did the honors, placing her in her sleepsack and putting her in her crib. After we all left Erica’s room, Kayla’s phone vibrated. Kayla had to take a very important phone call, so she stepped out of the room for a few minutes. After Kayla hung up, she gasped. “I need to get home.” Kayla told us.  “My uncle is in the hospital and my mom wants me to watch Daniel.” This was fine, since both Kayla and Jessica each had their own cars. Jessica gasped.  “Hope your uncle’s okay!  Get home and take care of your brother!” “Thanks.” Kayla told Jessica.  “Bye!” The situation was so urgent that Kayla did not even think to instruct or warn Jessica not to feed me anymore baby formula. So there I was.  Alone with Jessica. Jessica glanced at me with a grin.  “I think that baby Emmy needs her nighttime bottle!” I shook my head.  “No!  You are not going to do it!” Jessica shook her head.  “Oh.  That’s not being a good girl, is it?  Get in your jammies.” Well, it was bedtime and I was tired of this Hello Kitty shirt so I scurried upstairs to change into my pajamas.  Since my mom took the liberty of replacing all my clothes, I found a set that looked okay.  It was a white and pink striped two-piece tank top and shorts pajama set.  And the size was…a 12 slim.  Okay.  I’m not quite used to tween sizes but okay. Now in my pajamas, I decided to brush my teeth. Right after I finished, I found Jessica standing in the hallway, holding a baby bottle filled with baby formula. “Ready Emmy?” I sighed.  No, I’m not ready. Yet I advanced towards her anyway. Jessica smiled.  “Good girl.  Into your bedroom.” I did as I was told and I sat on my bed.  Jessica sat beside me, lifting the cap off of the baby bottle and bringing the nipple to my mouth. “Drink Emmy…” Jessica ordered. I began drinking, this time without hesitation.  After a couple of burps, I got very tired.  I could faintly see Jessica tucking me in and blowing me a forehead kiss. “Sweet dreams, baby Emmy.” Was the last thing that I heard before I was fast asleep.     6. Bad Girl! CRRRRRRRRUNNNNNCH!!!!!!  CRRREAK!  CRUNCH!!!  Ow!  It’s happening again!  To fill you in on what the pain felt like, I can only describe it as something similar to growing pains, only I was feeling this pain in my bones.   And it’s not that my bones were growing.  No.  They were trying to push themselves together, or something.  Whatever it was, I could feel the pain in my entire body.  And just the bones, but my skin and various organs trying to combine together. I wince in pain as the painful experience continued.  Finally, I went back to sleep. The crunching and creaking happened a few more times.  This next round was particularly painful. CRUNCH!!!! CRRRRRRRRRRRREAK!  CRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRUNCH!  OH!  OW!!!! My face was now flush red with tears as I cried in pain. But with the pain beginning to subside, I immediately felt my body to see what was different.  But then I felt something…wet?  Huh?  No!   I didn’t just wet the bed! I once again found my pajamas draping over me.  Both straps of my pajama tank top drooped past my shoulders and the waistline of the pajama shorts felt way too big. And…Yup.  Basically all of my pajama shorts were sopping wet with pee and so was my underwear, which was once again way too big on me. I got out of bed to notice the large wet spot that was right in the center of the fitted sheet that covered the mattress.  Like yesterday, I walked into my bathroom completely naked and decided to weigh myself again.  How much smaller did I get today? And my weight was…drumroll please….46.5 pounds.  That’s almost another 30 pounds overnight!  That’s 70 pounds in two days! And when I glanced in the mirror, I saw this little girl!  And yeah.  There was no trace of puberty on my body anymore, but I knew that I had to be older than a preschooler… “This is stupid!” I said out loud, completely shocked that my voice now sounds like a little girl.  I mean, it didn’t even sound like I was talking!  It sounded like some second grader was repeating the very words that I dictated to her. I then tasted it.  I still had the aftertaste of the baby formula from last night.  Jessica!  Why did you do this to me?  You made me drink even more of that stupid formula and now I’m just a kid!  You ruined my life!  I was supposed to start my career, but now my mom will probably make me return to elementary school in the fall. I could hear the creak of the door open to my room, with my mom calling my name. “Emmy!  It’s time to…Oh dear sweetie!  Did you wet the bed?” As much as I didn’t want to show my face to my mom, I slowly exited the bathroom, not even thinking about my nudity. My mom studied me and gave me a matter-of-fact nod.  “Emmy, it looks like you were naughty last night.  How many times do I have to tell you?” I sighed, knowing that whatever I told mom, she would not believe me. “Um…” I stammered in my now younger voice.  “My friend…Jessica…she fed me the formula…” My mom stared at me in anger.  “Bad girl!  That is a lie, sweetie!  Don’t you DARE lie to mommy!  Now tell mommy that you took the formula and drank it or you’re going to be in a lot more trouble.” I sighed, as I knew that I would be lying in admitting to my mom something that I didn’t do.  My eyes filled with tears.  “I….I took the formula and drank it mommy….” My mom just looked at me with a disappointed sigh.  “Good.  See how good it is to tell the truth?  Now, what’s done is done, dear.  But don’t worry.  Mommy will make it work, okay?  Now stand still.  Mommy needs to measure you again.” I sighed, and let my mother measure me from head to toe. “45 inches,” My mom told me.  “That’s another foot.  That would put you in…a size 5 child.  Stay there.” I didn’t want to test my mom’s patience, so I just sat there and twiddled my thumbs. To kill some time while my mom was in the basement, looking for my smaller clothes, I took my smart phone from my dresser and opened up TikTok.  And there it was.  The TikTok that I made with Jessica now had 4.2 million views.  Well, it’s too bad that I can’t be an influencer!  With me not even looking 10 years old yet, there would be no way that anyone would believe me if I told them that I am an adult.  As I glanced at the TikTok, I scorned the older and original version of myself, who was happily sucking away at a baby bottle and making pretend baby sounds.  You idiot!  If only you knew that you were going to be a preteen the next day! I closed TikTok and sat the phone on the dresser before the sound of footsteps filled the hallway.  I am guessing that my dad was watching Erica, as my mom wouldn’t leave her unattended. My mom came back with a large tote that held even more clothes since they were smaller. “Let’s see,” my mom told me.  “You were twelve yesterday and now you’re eight, today.  How many times are you going to punish yourself, Emmy?  If you were a good girl, you wouldn’t have to be going through any of this.  Now since you’ve been naughty, mommy is going to give you a shower.  Be a good girl and mommy will let you take a shower on your own.  Now, get in the shower, Emmy.” Over the next 10-15 minutes, I let my mother bathe me.  It felt humiliating having her doing something that I knew I was perfectly capable of doing myself.  All because Jessica kept feeding me bottle after bottle last night.  Seriously.  I think that something is wrong with Jessica. Despite my mom going through the trouble of getting all my new clothes from the basement, I had no say in what I was going to wear.  For underwear, my mom chose…please no.  Twilight Sparkle undies from My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic.  C’mon!  I liked that show when I was six years old!  Why mom? I sighed.  “Mom, I don’t want that underwear.” My mom shook her head.  “Emmy, when you were eight, you LOVED My Little Pony.  Now be a good girl and step in.” I sighed, stepping into my totally childish undies. Next, my mom put me in a cute lavender dress.  Really.  I looked more like a first grader than a third grader.  I think that it had to do with my growth spurt that I didn’t have until I was ten.  Before that, I was slightly behind in my development. Upon coming down the stairs, my father was at the bottom, looking me over from head to toe. He then glanced at my mom.  “I take it that she was naughty last night?” My mom nodded.  “She was.  But we’re going to put it past us, okay?  Now I picked out this cute lavender dress for Emmy.  Doesn’t she look adorable?” My dad nodded.  “Very much so.  What a shame.  It looks like she’s going to be in the third grade this fall, right?” My mom nodded.  “She is.  Since Emmy was a bad girl and didn’t want to be an adult, she can just repeat her schooling until she graduates again.” My dad nodded, as if he was perfectly fine with whatever my mom said.  “Sounds like a plan.  Emmy, be a good girl for us.  Okay?” I quietly scowled under my breath.  Jessica was the bad girl.  Not me!  What did I tell you?  She got me into trouble and now things keep going from bad to worse for me. For breakfast, I was glad that my mom actually let me feed myself.  I had the usual spread of bacon, sausage, eggs, and toast and drank my apple juice. While I ate, my mom took care of my bedding.  And since it was Saturday, my parents were not working. So we all went for a walk outside to a park that was near our house.  My mom was pushing Erica in the stroller while I walked beside her, with my dad walking on the other side of the stroller. Despite all the trouble that I experienced, I do have to admit that the walk outside felt good.  It was a wonderful break from being trapped inside the house.  The last time I was out was around a week ago, when I went to the mall with my friends.  *sigh* Those were the days. After the walk, my mom told me to go and play with my toys.  When I went up to my room, I found that my mom had replaced my toys with more age-appropriate ones for an eight-year-old. And worst of all, my smart phone was gone!  Did my mom take it? Feeling very frustrated, I left my room and entered my bedroom to find my mom talking to someone on her cellphone. “Hold on,” My mom told the person she was talking to.  She glanced at me and smiled.  “Yes sweetie?” “Mom, where’s my cell phone?” I demanded.  “Did you take it?” My mom nodded.  “Sweetie, you are not old enough for a cell phone yet.” I pouted.  “But I was old enough for one yesterday!” My mom sighed.  “You were, dear.  But honey, you did that to yourself.  Eight years old is too young for a cell phone.  We’ll talk about it when you’re in middle school, okay?” “It’s not fair!” I shouted.  “I have to wait until I’m 11 to get my phone back?!” My mom nodded.  “Sass at me again and we’re going to make it 12.  Now sweetie, you were a bad girl, and bad girls get punished.  Okay?  Now I already see that what you’re dealing with is punishment enough, so let’s put it past us.  Now let me finish this phone call.  Daddy and I are going out and I’m lining up a babysitter for you and Erica tonight.” I gave my mom the pouty face again.  “A babysitter?  Mom!  I can babysit Erica!” My mom laughed.  “You are eight, sweetie.  Yes, you used to be older but you lost those privileges.  You were naughty so just be a good girl for me, okay?  Accept your punishment like a good girl and let mommy finish lining up this babysitter for you, okay?  From what she told me, you’re going to have a very good sitter tonight!” I sighed, but felt a little relief when I thought about the positives.  Kayla has to watch Daniel because of her sick uncle in the hospital.  And Jessica can’t come over if the babysitter is watching me.  So yeah.  At least I won’t have to worry about watching my baby sister tonight.  Fine.  I’ll be a good girl, mom. “Okay.” I told her with a sigh, knowing that I’m not going to get my cell phone back. I returned to my room and played with my new age-appropriate toys, which consisted of the Barbies and Disney Frozen dolls that I had when I used to be eight.  The whole gang was there, with Anna, Elsa, Hans, Kristoff, and even Olaf.  Yeah, that was a fun movie but it felt very weird playing with dolls again. What surprised me was how lost I got in playing with my dolls.  Before I knew it, I heard my mom shouting. “Emmy!  Daddy and I are leaving now!  The babysitter is here now!  Why don’t you come out and greet her?” I nodded, and smiled thinking about how fun the babysitter was going to be.  Afterall, my mom said that she was going to be very good.  Okay.  I’m coming down. I walk down the stairs and…my heart stopped when I saw the babysitter that was standing by the door. It was…Jessica.  No.  Mom!  Not her!  Please, not her! But there Jessica was, smiling when she saw me standing there, now towering over me.  The tip of my head now grazed Jessica’s bust. “Jessica is going to be your babysitter tonight,” My mom told me.  “She will be watching you and Erica.  Be a good girl and help her with Erica, okay?” “Also,” My mom continued.  “Sweetie, I am going to tell you what I already told Jessica.  No formula.  It’s for Erica only, okay?  Now don’t even try to find the formula as it’s not in the kitchen anymore.  You were a naughty girl so mommy had to hide it.  Be good for Jessica and have fun, okay?” Yeah.  Fun.  Fun with that psychopath?  Please mom.  Don’t leave me with her! “Okay,” I said in a soft and sullen voice. And before I could even protest, my mom and dad were out the door. I glanced at Jessica in her white classic top and red skirt.  Her smile was growing and my anxiety grew with it.  This was not a good time.  And I just knew that tonight was going to be a total nightmare.     7. Babysitter Nightmare Seriously.  Jess.  What the hell is wrong with you?  Jessica is now looking at me with a look of complete satisfaction. Jessica then glanced me over from head to toe.  “Wow.  Quite the reverse growth spurt, kiddo!  Or is it a shrink spurt?  So now I know it’s that baby formula that’s doing this to you.” I nodded at her with my arms crossed, looking annoyed.  “Duh.  And you heard it yourself.  My mom doesn’t want me having any of that baby formula.  It’s for Erica.” Jessica smirked and shook her head.  “It’s for you, baby.  Now that I know that it’s the formula, I want to see just how much I can give you before you’re a cute wittle baby!” No! I backed away from her, looking frightened  “N-n-n-no…” I told her in a frightened stammer. But Jessica wrinkled her nose and slightly bit down on her lip.  “You will listen to me, little girl.  Your mommy is not here so I am in charge.  And since I am in charge, you are going to have some more formula, okay?  Erica is taking her nap so you’re going first.” Jessica now looked even taller than before, even though nothing had changed.  “Be a good girl for me and wait for your baa baa, okay?” The moment that Jessica left the room, I used this opportunity to try and hide.  Now granted, this is not going to accomplish anything.  I just want to be away from my crazy friend turned babysitter.  I quickly entered a nearby coat closet and closed the door behind me. A few seconds later, the door opened. Jessica was standing there, holding a baby bottle filled with milk. “Playing hide and seek?” Jessica teased.  “That wasn’t a very good hiding place, because I found you!  Now Emmy, get on the couch so I can feed you your milky. And if I don’t? I began to glance away but found the nipple being pushed in my face.  Jessica had the bottle tilted down into my mouth and I began sucking, gulping the contents down quickly. As I was doing this, Jessica led me to the couch and sat me down.  “Good girl.” The milk felt even more filling than yesterday, since I had a much smaller body, meaning a smaller stomach.  It was good.  It was delicious.  This was pathetic.  I was a helpless slave and I could do nothing to break free from Jessica’s control on me.  If I even tried to argue with her.  Jessica would begin feeding me anyway.  There was no way to win against her.  Especially since I was now a decade younger than my original age.  And who knows how much younger I’m going to be tomorrow with all the bottles that she is going to force feed me. I just barely finished the bottle when I could hear the sound of loud wailing. Jessica smiled.  “Don’t worry, Em.  There’s already another one for your sister.  I made sure that there was two this time.  Now your mommy told you to be a good girl, so help me with your sister, okay?” I nodded, still unable to get over the cringe that was my friend now being my babysitter.  Jessica was no longer treating me like the friend that I was.  To her, I was now a little kid.  It’s not fair!  What did I do to deserve this? But my answer was between my teeth and still on my lips.  The aftertaste of the baby formula that I should’ve never tried in the first place.  Had Jessica never dared me to try to formula, I would’ve never gone down this crazy rabbit hole of going from adult to child in mere days.  My mom was right.  I was a naughty girl.  I was a bad girl.  I totally deserved all of this because the curiosity of trying my sister’s baby formula got the best of me. Jessica gave me a gentle jab, snapping me out of my reverie as we approached my baby sister’s room.  The wail seemed to have grown louder as we entered. Jessica wasted no time in hoisting my sister out of the crib and laying her on the changing table.  And from what I saw, her treatment of Erica was no different than her treatment of me.  My theory is that Jessica sees every child the same.  It makes me wonder just how much she made off of babysitting so far this summer.  What’s weird is that she wasn’t much into this until Kayla and I encouraged her.  But wow.  Her transformation to super-babysitter is night and day. “Wipes Emmy.” Jessica ordered.  “I need more wipes for your sis.  There we go!” I continued to provide Jessica with everything that she needed to quickly change my sister’s diaper.  And  no surprise, it was another really poopy one.  Regardless of this, I did not see Jessica flinch at all.  She only teased at just how messy it was. After my sister was changed into a new diaper, Jessica carried Erica into her arms and I followed them both downstairs to the living room. I sat with my little sister while Jessica retrieved her baby bottle out of the fridge.  It was my sister’s turn, so I watched Jessica feed my sister. Jessica even had a burp cloth next to her so when my sister spit up, she masterfully caught the spit up. After my sister was fed, Jessica led both of us to Erica’s playpen.  “Start playing with your sis,” Jessica instructed me. I did as I was told, and helped Erica stack blocks and colored rings. What seemed like 10 minutes later, Jessica came back to the living room and led Erica to her grocery cart walker.  So I walked beside my sister while she walked. Jessica then turned on the TV and selected a Cocomelon video for Erica to watch. I watched the video with my sister.  I was distracted until I felt the nudge of a bottle next to me. “It’s your turn,” Jessica whispered, as she tilted the bottle so that the nipple rested in my mouth.  I helplessly sucked away at the sweet milk, enjoying all the sweet notes that flowed over my tongue and down my throat. When my bottle was empty, she took it and went to the kitchen to wash it.  I’m guessing that she knew my sister’s feeding schedule and didn’t want to disrupt it with another bottle. After Cocomelon, my sister and I played with Jessica joining in. For me, the biggest disappointment was dinner.  My mother had for me a nice TV dinner with chicken nuggets, fries, corn, and a brownie.  It was supposed to be for me, but Jessica ate my TV dinner instead.  My dinner instead was another bottle of baby formula.  Yes, it was delicious and sweet, but I was kind of craving those chicken nuggets and fries.  Alright? But what a clever coverup.  Jess, my babysitter knew that my mom wanted me to eat my TV dinner, so she eats it instead so she could break more of my mom’s rules and have me get blamed again for it.  Urgh!  I just wish that my mom could believe me!  But who’s going to believe a child?  It’s not fair! Jessica wastes no time in quickly getting my baby sister ready for bed.  Since my sister had another poopy diaper, Jessica had to spray my sister clean before she started her bath.  From there, she followed the usual routine, using that opportunity to start getting me ready for bed.  She had me brush my teeth while she brushed my sister’s. After she diapers my sister, puts her in a cute star and moon onesie, puts her in her sleepsack, and places her in her crib, she glances at me with a smile. “In your room,” Jessica ordered.  “Change into your jammies.  I’ll get your babas.  Okay baby Emmy?” Now somehow used to that nickname, I sighed.  “Okay.” I said in a flat obedient tone. While Jessica left, I checked to see what pajamas I wore when I was eight.  I found a short sleeved pink set, with a button down top with matching bottoms. After I finished getting into my PJ’s, I plopped myself onto the bed, waiting for my deranged friend to feed me my nighttime bottle. The door gently opened, with Jessica holding not one, but TWO baby bottles. Jessica noticed that I was already laying on my bed, so she nodded once again smirking with her smile. “I wonder if this will be enough?” Jessica said looking at me.  “Emmy baby, I am going to turn you into a baby so I’m hoping that two bottles is enough to do that.” I pouted.  “Why?  Mom already said not to give me any—” “Your mommy’s not here,” Jessica told me, with a victorious smile.  “And when your mommy’s not here, I’m in charge.  When she finds out, and she will tomorrow, I will just tell her that you snuck into her room when you were playing hide and seek and found her baby formula.  You mixed it with water and drank it.  She’s not going to believe anything you tell her.  You’re just a little girl.” “That’s not fair!” I shouted.  “Why are you getting me in trouble?” Jessica smiled.  “Because I can.  Look at you, Emmy.  You’re just a little girl now.  And pretty soon, I’m going to be your regular babysitter.  Isn’t that going to be fun, Baby Emmy?  Now, are you ready for your baba?” “No I’m n….” My words were cut short with the nipple being tilted into my mouth.  I began to drink the bottle like a good little girl and smiled, enjoying the sweet notes that were in the formula. “Good girl,” Jessica whispered.  “Just think about it, Emmy.  You are going to be my baby every time I babysit you.  Are you enjoying that?” I nodded, with a few tears rolling down my eyes.  “But mom said,” I protested. “Look at me, Emmy.” Jessica told me.  “I AM your mommy!  As long as your mommy and daddy are away for the evening, I am your mommy, and you have to do what mommy says.  You don’t want to be a naughty girl, do you Emmy?” I shook my head, knowing that I was fighting a losing battle. “Good,” Jessica said, realizing that the bottle I was drinking was now empty.  “Now are you ready for seconds?  I know that the baby formula is making you younger, and I’m going to make sure that you’re a baby the next time that I babysit you.  And guess what?  You won’t be able to talk back!  All you’ll be able to do is cry!  But it’s going to be okay, because I’m going to take care of you.” Yup.  I don’t know what snapped in Jessica’s brain but she has totally gone off the deep end. “You’re fucking crazy!” I shouted. Jessica gasped, and set aside the full bottle.  “Where did you learn that naughty word?  Say it again, Emmy, and I will stick a bar of soap in your mouth.” I knew not to test my friend’s patience at this point so I remained silent. Jessica then patted me on the head.  “Are you ready for the second one, Emmy baby?  Here.  Let me help you.” I helplessly sucked down the second bottle, causing Jessica to smile. “Very soon, Emmy,” Jessica told me.  “Very soon, you will be like Erica.  Won’t it be cute?  You’ll both be twinzies!” I started to get tired as I drank the second bottle, feeling very full, even though there was still a quarter left.  I burped a few times and looked up at Jessica. “You’re almost there,” Jessica calmly coaxed.  “Just a few more.  Do it for Jessy!” I continued burping as I tried to get the last few gulps down.  I think I did it, as I heard Jessica say right into my ear.  “Good girl.” My eyes flickered as I let out a few deep yawns.  Then I felt Jessica tucking me into my bed. Then the lights went out. And then, I fell…a…sleep…..     8. A Nightmare Come True Once again, I felt the unbearable pain of my bones in my body.  Whatever they were doing, they were retracting down, like they were shrinking.  I felt like everything inside me followed suit, as my skin tightly receded with my shrinking bones. CRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRUNCH!!!  CREAK!  CRUNCH!  Ow!  OWWWW!  My face reddened with tears and I cried in pain again, as my body was violently forcing every cell in it to shrink.  To divide.  To disappear.  To vanish.  It was like the antibodies inside of me were treating my excess cells like a virus.  And as a result, I knew that it was rewinding my physical age. This painful experience happened at least three more times before it finally stopped.  When it did, I sat up to realize that I wet my bed once again! And it was no surprise to me that my clothing was once again too big on me.  My Twilight Sparkle undies were soaked in pee, along with a good portion of my pajama bottoms around the crotch and butt. My pee-soaked pajamas seemed to stick to me as I tried to wiggle myself out of my bed.  The bottoms finally fell off, along with my oversized undies. My oversized pajama tops, however, sagged around my shoulders.  Frustrated with this, I unbuttoned them and threw them off. Having studied my fitted sheets, I discovered that I did not just wet the bed.  I flooded it.  The wet spot covered an isolated portion of the bed with everything else being dry.  Sighing, I walked over to the door to my bathroom. And wow.  My head was now level with the door knob.  Well, at least I can still walk easily.  I open the door to my ensuite bathroom to make a rather frustrating revelation:  I’m so short now that I can’t even see myself in the mirror now!  Do I have a step stool in here?  I glance around and scowl.  Of course I don’t! Instead, I decided to go over to the scale to weigh myself.  Let’s see.  My weight for today is…33.3 pounds.  That’s another 13 pounds overnight!  So yeah.  More than 80 pounds in three days?  Oh, please let this be a nightmare!  I’ve heard of weird science fiction stuff, but I never thought that it could happen in real life. Frustrated, I press both hands on the counter and hoist myself up just enough to see my face.  And WHAT?  That is NOT my face.  That looks like the face of a preschooler! “NO!” I shouted, my voice sounding even more high pitched than yesterday.  “That stupid Jessica!  Why does this have to happen to me?  It’s not fair!” I pouted and sulked all the way back to my room.  My alarm clock read 6:22 AM, so it was not time for me to get up yet. But what am I going to do?  My bedding is soaked and my mom is not even up yet.  I decided to get another set of pajamas, even though they were too big on me.  Fortunately, all of my drawers were still reachable, so I grabbed a oversized pair of My Little Pony: Friendship is magic undies and stepped into them.  I did the same with an orange pajama set that looked similar to my pink set.  I found the dry part of my bed and rolled over to that area, piling the covers on top of me before I fell back asleep.  And with this being a queen bed, it now felt enormous.  Oh, please don’t let there be any more pain in my bones! While there wasn’t any pain in the bones, I did feel a tap on my shoulder. I yawned and glanced at the clock, which was now 8:03 AM.  My mom was staring at me, not looking pleased. “Emmy Emmy Emmy…” My mom said with a sigh.  “Didn’t I tell you to be a good girl last night?  Look at you!  You were a naughty girl last night.”  Mom then pulled back the covers to see the enormous wet spot isolated over just a portion of the fitted sheet area.  “And you wet the bed again!  Stand still, Emmy.  Let’s see how old you are today.  Don’t move.  Mommy’s going to run and get the tape measure.” I nodded, feeling very uncomfortable in my oversized pajamas. Moments later, my mom was back with the tape measure.  She undressed me down to my birthday suit and measured me from head to toe. “37 inches,” My mom said, nodding.  “That’s a 3T honey.  And mommy knows that you wore 3T’s a lot when you were four.” I gasped.  3T?  That’s toddler clothing!  There is NO WAY that my mom is going to put me in baby clothes!  “No!” I protested.  “3T is for babies!” My mom just smirked.  “You did it to yourself, honey.  If you would’ve been a good girl last night, you wouldn’t have to wear your four year old clothing again.  Now I know that the damage has been done, but we’re going to work around this, okay?” “But it’s for babies…” I said, with a few tears starting to form in my eyes. But to this, my mom matter-of-factly nodded.  “And for you, sweetie, that suits you.  You’re on your way to becoming a baby because you can’t be a good girl so you’re back in your toddler clothes.  Take the punishment like a big girl.  So Emmy.  Did you go into my room and take my formula last night?  Admit it, dear.” I knew that I was trapped, so I told my mom her version of the truth. “Yes,” I sadly admitted, knowing that it was a lie.  “I went into your room and took your formula.” My mom sighed and nodded.  “You’re a bad girl, Emmy.  Can you stop being bad?  Mommy wants you to be good!  Get in the bathroom.  I’m going to get your clothes and then give you a shower.” I nodded and sadly walked to the bathroom, still feeling the slight taste of baby formula in my mouth.  As I stood there, I began to wonder.  My mom only wants Erica to have the baby formula, but she doesn’t want me to have it.  How is it okay for Erica and not okay for me?  Erica doesn’t look any younger and she’s been fed the same amount of formula.  Is there a limit to how young you can get?  Or are the doses carefully measured for my little sister so that she doesn’t get any younger?  All I’m doing is assuming right now, as I had no evidence to suggest any connection with my sister and the formula.  But I knew that the formula was affecting me.  It just had to be. My mom entered the bathroom holding a set of clothes that she had already picked out for me. “Hope you like Disney Princesses,” My mom told me.  “All of your underwear has them.  And look!  I picked out Cinderella for you!” I glanced at the faded light blue underwear featuring a Cinderella print over the faded light blue cotton, with a light blue waistband and light blue around the leg openings.  Yeah.  That’s definitely baby underwear. I gave my mom a hopeful glance.  “I’m four again,” I told her.  “So can I dress myself?” My mom shook her head.  “You were a naughty girl, so mommy is going to dress you.  Look what else I got!  A cute light blue tank dress with colorful patterns!” I sighed looking at the dress, glancing at the colorful patterns sprinkled all over it that reminded me of balloons.  I stuck my tongue out at it in disapproval.  “Mom!  I am not a little girl!  I am a teenager!” My mom hoisted me up in her arm so that I could see myself in the mirror.  “Look at the mirror, honey.  Does that look like a teenager?  You have been a very bad girl, so you have to deal with your punishment, okay?  Mommy’s got a fun day planned for you and Erica.  We also need to go to the store to get you some things.” My heart sank.  “What things?” My mom glanced towards the bathroom door.  “For one thing, sweetie, you wet the bed last night.  I don’t want to destroy that mattress so it’s getting a plastic cover.  Also, when you were four, you wet the bed a lot, so mommy’s going to get you some nighttime Pull-Up’s.” “No!” I shouted.  “No nighttime Pull-Up’s!” My mommy gave me a stern look.  “Emmy, you are going to wet the bed again if you don’t wear them.  Oh, don’t start crying again.  You didn’t want to be a good girl.  You didn’t want to be a grown up, Emmy.  Because of that, this is what you get.  You’re four again and you’re going to sleep in the Pull-Ups tonight.” My sobbing turned into quiet weeping, as I realized that this was a nightmare that I was not going to wake up from.  Yeah.  It was a nightmare come true with no escape from it. My mom gave me a shower, while the water and tears went down the drain. After the shower, my mom bunched my brown hair and tied them into two pigtails.  Great.  Now I look even more like a little girl. Like yesterday, my dad gave me his inspection, clearly knowing that I was naughty again.  The usual breakfast followed,  and afterward my mom asked me to play with Erica in her playpen after I ate and drank my apple juice. As I was playing with Erica, I could overhear my mom talking to Jessica on speakerphone. “Jessica?” My mom said, as she briefly glanced at me.  “Emmy told me that she went into my room and took the formula.  Is that what happened?” “Yes, Mrs. Smith!  Emmy and I were playing a game of hide and seek and Emmy decided to hide in your bedroom.  When I found her, she had the lid of the formula open and she was drinking the formula from your rinse cup that she took from the bathroom.  I don’t know how much of it she drank, but I stopped her right away.” That wasn’t true!  Jessica is flat out lying to my mom right now! My mom sighed.  “Well, thanks for letting me know.  I don’t know what has gotten into Emmy, but she has been a bad girl lately.  While you’re still on the phone, how would you like to babysit her again tonight?  Keep your eyes on her, as she might try to do the same thing again.” “I will, Mrs.  Smith.  I will make sure that Emmy is a good girl this time.” “Thank you, Jessica.  You are a wonderful babysitter, and I look forward to you watching Emmy and Erica again tonight.  See you at 4:00!  Bye!” The moment that my mom hung up, I stood up in anger.  “Mom!  Jessica is lying!  I did not do that!” But my mom shook her head.  “You already admitted to me that you took your sister’s formula, hun.  Now why are you trying to lie to me that you didn’t?  Jessica is going to watch you carefully tonight so that you don’t take Erica’s formula again.  Be a good girl for Jessica, okay?” Dad had some extra work to do at home, so I went to the store with mom and Erica.  Because I was so much smaller now, my mom had to reinstall my car seat that I haven’t used since I was five and a half.  This made me feel even more like a baby, since I couldn’t use a normal seat belt. Once at the store, I walked beside my mom, while she pushed Erica in the shopping cart.  At the store, my mom bought some more food and the things that she needed for me.  A waterproof mattress cover and the nighttime Pull-Ups. My heart sank when I watched my mom set the 3T-4T box of Pull-Ups Nightime in the cart.  And yeah.  Sadly enough, I did wet the bed a lot when I was four years old.  And now that I’m four again, I’m reliving that nightmare, as things are not getting any better. Once back at home, my mom had my bedding all washed and dried again.  While I played with Erica, she put on the waterproof mattress cover and put all my bedding back on.  With my bed having a queen mattress, it felt enormous to me. After playing with Erica for a little longer, the time came for her afternoon nap.  My mom took care of her, while she told me to play with my dolls in my room.  What other choice did I have?  I kept myself busy with the Barbies and Disney Frozen dolls that I played with yesterday. I got lost in playing once again when I heard it. DING!!!! DONG!!!! “Emmy!  Jessica is here!  Come downstairs, honey.” Great.  My former friend turned crazy babysitter is here.  And after what happened yesterday, I am so over it.  I pinched both sides of my cheeks with my fingers, hoping that it would be enough for me to wake up.     9. The Nightmare Continues My mom had both me and Jessica sit next to each other on the living room floor while she went over all the rules. “Emmy,” My mom told me.  “Absolutely NO DRINKING ERICA’S FORMULA!  And Jessica?  Keep a careful eye on Emmy tonight.   Do not let her out of your sight, so try a different game besides hide and seek.  I have another TV dinner for Emmy so just give her that.  Feed Erica her baby food.  Feed her a bottle after her nap and another one before bedtime.  While you don’t have to give Erica a bath, I appreciate you keeping her clean.  That’s it.  Have fun and keep Emmy out of trouble!” My mom then looked at me.  “Do you understand, Emmy?  Be a good girl for mommy, okay?  Listen to Jessica, as she’s a very good babysitter.  Okay.  Love you!  And Jessica?  When Erica wakes up from her nap, you know what to do!” Jessica nodded.  “I do, Mrs. Smith!” My dad smiled.  “Time for another fun evening.  Let’s go, Eve!” My mom gave me one more hug before they both left the house. Moments later, both I and Jessica stood up. Since I shrank another 8 inches from yesterday, the tip of my head now went up to Jessica’s stomach.  She was taller than ever, and I could feel in my gut that this wasn’t going to be good. Jessica scowled when she glanced at me.  “It wasn’t enough!  How much formula is it going to take?  We’ll find out, Emmy, as I’m really starting to get into this babysitting thing.  I am watching infants next week, so I’m already prepared.  And that means I’m also prepared for you.” Jessica unzipped what I guessed looked like a diaper bag which was next to her purse.  A few empty baby bottles spilled out of it. “Go and play,” Jessica ordered.  “I’m going to make you lots of babas.”  I glanced at the five empty bottles that were scattered on the living room floor as a feeling of dread came over me.  “And I’m not going to drink them,” I told her in a sassy voice.  “You’re not listening to mom.  They’re Erica’s!  They’re not for me!” “They are for you, baby,” Jessica argued.  “Now be a good girl for me and play.  I will have your milkys ready for you soon.” “You’re not going to make me!” I shouted. Jessica, who loomed over me, smiled.  “Oh.  I don’t have to make you, Emmy.  You will drink them.  You always do.” And before I could argue anymore, Jessica disappeared into the kitchen, holding the five empty bottles. I pretended to play with my sister’s toys in her playpen.  I could still feel the pinch marks on my face and was sad that I didn’t wake up. Minutes later, Jessica caught me by surprise, as she lifted me up into her arms.  She took me over to the couch and sat me in her lap.  She had one of her baby bottles filled with my sister’s formula and removed the domed cap, pushing it towards my mouth, which I had closed. “Emmy,” Jessica said, looking disappointed.  “Open your mouth.  Be a good girl!”  She pushed the nipple forward, which forced my mouth open. “Nghnn.” I said, my mouth full with the plastic nipple.  “Ahnnn whnnn nhnn dhnnn…” But my mouth was already closed around the nipple as I began to drink the bottle.  Why am I doing this?  I was comfortably rested on Jessica’s lap while I mindlessly sucked the formula down, like I had no other choice.  Yeah.  It was good.  It was…sweet.  Why should I even try to fight it anymore? “I will not drink the formula…” I said, after letting out a loud burp. “You won’t?” Jesssica said in a teasing voice.  “You just finished a bottle, Emmy.  And don’t worry.  There’s more.  I have four more bottles with your name on them.” “No…” I said weakly.  “I will not….” And yeah.  I didn’t even bother to fight Jessica for the rest of the night.  I was a good girl and I drank every one of the bottles she gave me.  When I was halfway through the second bottle, I actually liked it.  I smiled, enjoying every last drop of the delicious formula. And why did I ever think that Jessica was doing me a disservice?  She was giving me the one thing that my mom said that I could never have.  I think I snapped, as I showed no resistance sitting in Jessica’s lap and enjoying another bottle.  It was good!  And I looked forward to the last three bottles for the night. You guys, I was completely wrong about Jessica.  How was it that she was messing up my life?  She was only making it better as that sweet formula is so good.  *burp* Excuse me… I was surprised at how late Erica slept, as she woke up from her nap a half hour later than usual.  It was the usual poopy diaper.  While I expected Jessica to ask me to help her, she didn’t this time.  She handled everything like a pro.  And with two bottles already down me, I was anxiously waiting for the third one.  All this time I was in denial, trying to resist the formula that I craved.  But Jessica will get it for me.  I know she will. I rushed off to the bathroom with Jessica rushing behind me. “Where are you going, baby Emmy?”  Jessica asked me. “To the bathroom,” I told her, pressing my hands on my crotch.  “I really have to pee.” “Go ahead,” Jessica told me.  “Use the potty like a big girl!” I nodded, hurriedly closing the door and rushing to the toilet.  But the toilet was so big that I had to climb on top of it this time.  I lifted up my dress and pulled my Cinderella underwear down, carefully stretching my legs on either side of the bowl, steading myself with both hands so that I wouldn’t fall through the seat.  I heard the loud whistle of pee splashing against the inside of the porcelain bowl.  Whew.   That was close.  I was awkwardly posed on the toilet, trying to keep my legs stretched wide enough so that I wouldn’t fall through the seat.  If I were any smaller, this just wouldn’t work. After I finished peeing and performing my acrobatics on the toilet, I carefully shuffled both legs forward to get off the seat.  I used some toilet paper and wiped before throwing both squares in and flushing. I now had another problem.  How was I going to wash my hands? Frustrated with this predicament, I hoisted myself onto the counter and squirted a couple of globs of liquid soap in my hands before turning the sink on and washing them.  OW!  Too hot!  I adjusted the temperature, making the water cold enough to not burn my hands. When I was done, I just shook my hands dry, as I didn’t want to even bother with the hand towel that was out of reach. When I returned to the living room, I saw it.  Jessica was sitting there, with another bottle ready for me.  See?  Jessica delivers. I climb onto the couch and into Jessica’s lap as she fed me my third bottle. Jessica smiled as I drank down the bottle that she was holding.  “I already gave Erica her bottle.  She’s watching some Cocomelon so I can focus on feeding you.  There we go.  Good girl.” When dinner time came around, I didn’t even care that Jessica ate my TV dinner this time.  That’s because Jessica gave me something better.  Another bottle of baby formula, just for me.  And it was so good.  Thank you, Jessica! After Jessica gave Erica her bath, she got her ready for bed, following the same routine. This time, I knew to brush my teeth while Jessica brushed my little sister’s. But before I left the bathroom that time, Jessica pointed to the scale. “Emmy?  Could you please step on the scale for me?  There.  It’s on.” I stepped on the scale, confused why Jessica needed to know my weight. Jessica studied the numbers as they appeared.  “33.7 pounds.  Thanks Emmy!” I got off the scale but froze when Jessica gave me further directions. “Go to your room.  I am going to finish getting your sister ready for bed and I’ll be there in a little bit.” I did as I was told, knowing that Jessica was going to reward me with two more bottles.  Why did I ever resist this?  Afterall, I wanted to know what the baby formula tasted like.  A bad girl?  No mom.  I am being a very good girl in doing every single thing that Jessica is telling me to do. I was about to take my Disney Cinderella underwear off, when Jessica entered the room.  Wow.  That was fast!  I didn’t even get into my pajamas yet! Jessica was holding a plastic sack, with the two baby bottles in her other hand. Upon inspecting the sack, I noticed that it was a sack of Size 5 Huggies Overnites Diapers.  What?  I don’t wanna wear those!  I didn’t even want to wear the nighttime Pull-Ups! “Why do you have diapers?” I asked her.  “Mom got me the nighttime Pull-Ups.” Jessica nodded.  “I know she did, Emmy.  But you’re a baby.  And babies wear diapers.  Up you go.  We’re going to borrow your sister’s changing table for this.” Jessica carried me in her arms as I began to pout. “No!” I cried.  “I am not a baby!  I don’t wanna wear those stupid diapers!  C’mon Jess.  You remember me?  I’m a teenager!  I’m 18 years old!” But Jessica gave me a smirk, clearly indicating that she had the upper hand.  “No you’re not, Em.” Jessica said firmly.  “You are a baby.  What did that tag say on your dress?  3T?  Yup.  You’re a baby, Emmy.  Plus, if you are a good girl, I will give you both of your bottles.  How does that sound, Emmy baby?” My desire for those bottles far outweighed the humiliation and embarrassment of having to wear diapers again. “Okay,” I told her.  “I’ll wear them.” “Good girl.”  Jessica quietly entered my sister’s room and laid me on the changing table.  She removed my underwear and tore the plastic off the sack, grabbing a fresh nighttime diaper. My face immediately blushed when I saw the diaper.  I blushed even more when I saw myself laying on top of the open diaper.  Then, my last bit of resistance kicked in. “But Jess” I argued.  “Diapers are for babies!  I am not a baby!” But Jessica ignored me as she folded the diaper between my legs and fastened both tapes, which sealed me into complete comfort.  Fine.  I guess this diaper isn’t so bad if I’m going to be able to have some more formula. Jessica quietly carried me out of the room in just my diaper and laid me on the floor in my room.  She found a set of pink footed pajamas with a white unicorn on it and zipped me into them, securing the safety flap over the zipper.  After that, she carried me to my bed and sat on it, while I rested in her lap. As I enjoyed the comfort of my best friend, Jessica got out her cell phone and opened the TikTok app.  She loaded the TikTok that I made with her the first night this started.  There I was, my 18-year-old self, drinking a baby bottle that Jessica handed to me.  I made stupid baby sounds and smiled at the camera.  Watching this really made me miss being an adult. “You see that, Emmy?” Jessica said, pointing to the TikTok.  It just hit more than 20 million views!   It’s gone viral!” Great.  I made a viral video, but the ironic part is that I’m nowhere near the age of an adult anymore.  So much for becoming a famous influencer… Seeing that video was more than I could bear, and I began to cry in Jessica’s lap.  “I wanna be an adult again!” I wailed.  “I wanna be a famous influencer… *sniff* *sniff* *sniff* *sob* My sobbing was quickly silenced when Jessica stuck the baby bottle in my mouth.  I instinctually began to suck on it, enjoying the comfort and sweetness of that milk that went down my throat. The bottle was empty earlier than I wanted it to be, and I cried again.  This time, it was because I wanted another bottle and I wanted it NOW. But my gratification was immediately satisfied as I felt the nipple of the other bottle being placed around my mouth.  I sucked down the bottle, very thankful that Jessica was able to satisfy my need for my sister’s formula. Jessica smiled as I sucked away at the bottle.  “Emmy baby, you’re making my lap warm.  It’s a good thing that you’re in a thick diaper…” Jessica’s statement surprised me, as I was so relaxed that I didn’t even know that I was peeing.  Well, I guess that I’m glad that I’m in something that is better than a nighttime Pull-Up. My stomach felt bloated by the time that I finished the second bottle.  And my eyelids were very heavy.  So heavy that I almost didn’t hear Jessica saying good night to me and kissing me on the forehead before turning out the light. I let out another burp, feeling the taste of baby formula fresh in my mouth.  Yeah, the nightmare was continuing, but what can I do?  Afterall, Jessica was actually the good girl.  I was wrong.  I closed my eyes, ready to be the bad girl again.     10. Toddler Terrors I howled in pain, my eyes flush with tears as I felt my body beginning to painfully rearrange itself again. CRRRRRRRRUNCH!!!  CREAAAAAAAK!  CRRUNCH!  I bawled in my bed, enduring the inevitable transformation that I was experiencing. To my relief, this painful crunching of my bones only happened one other time before I woke up. I glanced at the alarm clock.  4:22 AM.  It was still dark out, and the last of the bone pains were gone. But as I sat up, there was a wet spot in my footed sleeper.  And…That’s weird.  My footed sleeper felt just a little bit too big. I rolled out of bed, frightened by just how far I fell from just getting out of my bed.  As I stood up, I could feel my bulging diaper begin to sag down my waist.  And yeah.  My diaper is now too big on me.  Just a little bit too big. I paced forward towards my bathroom, feeling my diaper sag heavily around my crotch before I felt like my diaper almost sagged off of me.  The only thing holding it in place was my footed sleeper. Due to the bulk of my soggy diaper, I waddled towards the bathroom door, which was fortunately open just a crack.  I pushed it open to go and weigh myself. I waddle over to the scale and step on it.  To my shock my weight for today was….28.9 pounds.  I couldn’t believe it.  Despite me putting my full weight on the scale, it’s telling me that I weigh less than 30 pounds.   I didn’t even want to try to hoist myself onto the counter.  First of all, it was dark in the bathroom and I could only see my weight on the scale because it lit up.  The other problem was that the light switch was way too high for me to reach now. Instead, I walked back to my bed in frustration. “Cahtawiteon!” I said, gasping when I realized that I couldn’t say the sentence properly. Let’s see.  I was four years old yesterday.  Just how much younger could I be today?” “Agobaatobed.” I said out loud, my entire sentence all jumbled together in one word. When I returned to my bed, I realized the tip of my head just barely grazed over the top of it. I lunge at the bed and press my hands against the side, launching myself onto the enormous bed.  I crawled across the expanse over to the pillow, where I crawled underneath the covers, feeling the squish of my heavily sagging diaper before I fell asleep. I was jolted awake by my mom, picking me up out of bed. “Oh, you were a naughty girl again!” My mom said, looking very disappointed again. But I shook my head in protest.  “Nu!  Ahgoogul!” My mom, understanding my slurred words, shook her head.   “No Emmy.  You are a very bad girl.  You had more of that formula last night, didn’t you?” “Nuuuuuuu!” I said, realizing that I meant to say “I did”. My mom was also holding the measuring tape this time, and she shook her head.  “Emmy honey, Jessica told me the whole story last night.  While she was preparing your sister’s nighttime bottle, you grabbed an empty bottle and ran off with the formula.  You then got onto the sink in the bathroom and began mixing the formula with water.  When Jessica found you, you were sucking on a baby bottle and it was already empty.  Bad Emmy!  You are a bad girl!” “Ahnahbaagul!” I protested, with tears rolling down my eyes. My mom was now holding her hand next to my soggy diapered butt (that was covered by a slightly too big footed sleeper), ready to strike.  “Emily Elizabeth Smith, tell mommy that you’re a bad girl or you’re going to get a spanking!” The feeling of terror of being spanked was far too much for me, so I relented and told my mom her version (or Jessica’s version) of the truth.  “Ahbaagul!” I sobbed loudly.  “Ahbaagul!  Ahbaagul!  Donspame mama.  Pease mama.   Pease!”  Really, I meant to say mom, but saying “mama” felt almost automatic and easier to say in my mouth. My mom nodded.  “You are a bad girl, Emmy.  Now why are you a bad girl?  Tell mommy.” “Ahtakfoamwah.  Ahdwinkfoamwah.  Ahbahgul mama….” Yes, I knew that it was all lies.  I knew that Jessica actually fed me the formula.  But my mom would never believe me, so I had to tell her a different version of the truth.  The truth that Jessica told her instead. My mom then began patting me softly on the back.  “You’re soaked, Emmy.  It’s because you were naughty.  But let’s not worry about that.  We’re going to work through it, okay?” My mom swiftly unzipped my footed sleeper to find the soggy diaper which was just about to fall off me.  She undid it and wadded it into a ball.  “Jessica already told me about putting you in a diaper.  It’s okay, honey.” My mom then carried me in my birthday suit to my ensuite bathroom, where she had me stand on the scale again. “Mama,” I said pointing at the scale.  “Ahwadsafahweddie!” My mom nodded, looking surprised.  “You did?  Well, mommy’s going to weigh you again because you probably still had your pajamas and diaper on.  Step on the scale, Emmy.” I stepped on the scale as my mother told me and I saw that the number was a little different. “27.4 pounds.” My mom said, nodding.  My mom then got the measuring tape and had me stand against the wall, while she measured me from head to toe. “33 inches,” My mom said, giving me a decisive nod.  “That’s 18–24-months clothing.  You’re back in the terrible twos, Emmers. “Tawbultoos?” I said in my frustrating two-year-old voice. My mom sighed.  “It will have to be 18–24-months clothing since you were still in diapers at two.  Emmy, you were not even ready to potty train until you were almost three!  But there’s one problem.  I don’t have any diapers for you.  Now it’s going to be a little tight, but I think that you can fit in one of your sister’s diapers.” I gasped.  I couldn’t believe it but I was actually small enough to fit in my sister’s diapers.  It wasn’t too long that I was changing her diapers and now they barely fit me? My mom gave me a bath like she did with my sister and got out some bath toys. “Be a good girl and play with your bath toys,” my mom told me.  “I’m getting your two-year-old clothes from downstairs.” I nodded and began to play with my toys.  Almost immediately, I felt a warm spot where I was playing.  I spread the suds around my face and move the little tug boat around in the warm and sudsy water. I got lost in my playtime again.  I don’t know what it is about the toys, but I feel a lot more happy with playing with them now.  They used to bore me but now I can’t stop putting them down.  It took a tap on the back of my neck from my mom to rouse me from the fun adventure that I was having with the tugboats. My mom was holding out some kind of pink dress. “It’s a pink floral flutter sunsuit,” My mom told me.  “24 months, so it should fit you perfectly.  And look Emmy!  There are snap buttons around the crotch so mommy can change you easily!” My mom dried me off from my bath and wrapped me in a towel.  She then carried me into Erica’s room and laid me on the changing table.  And now, my mom is going to change my diapers again.  Well, she already does it a lot with my sister so she’s probably very good at it. My mom laid me on a powdered size three Pampers Baby Dry and powdered me before folding the diaper between my legs.  After she fastened both tapes…Yeah.  I could definitely feel that the diaper barely fit me. “Ihtot mama!” I complained, pressing my hands around my waist. My mom sighed.  “I know it’s tight, Emmy but we’re going right to the store to get you some Size 4’s.  Those will fit you perfectly.  Now, let mommy put on your sunsuit!” My mom put the sunsuit on me and snapped the crotch buttons over my diaper.  The diaper felt tight, so I hope that my mom would get me the diapers soon. My mom prepared a Ziploc Bag full of Cherrio’s and yogurt bites and put them in what looked like a diaper bag.  She filled two sippy cups with juice and added them to the diaper bag.  She told my dad to watch Erica and that we were going to the store to buy me some diapers. When my dad saw how young I was, he nodded. He then gasped.  “Wait!  Eve!  Is Emmy not wearing any diapers?” My mom nervously laughed. “She’s wearing one of Erica’s.  It’s very tight on her so we need to be quick.” My mom sat me in my car seat and smiled.  “I found your old diaper bag so we’re going to use it again.  Now Emmy.  Can you be a good girl for mommy today?” “Ahbegoogul.”  I said, repeating the words the best that I knew how.  “Ahbegoogul fomommy!” It didn’t take long for us to get to a store. My mom found a shopping cart in one of the corrals and wheeled it over outside the minivan.  She unbuckled my car seat and carried me a short distance until she sat me in the child seat of the shopping cart.  She buckled me in, handed me a sippy cup filled with apple juice, and pushed the cart into the store.  This felt strange, as I couldn’t remember the last time I sat in the seat of a shopping cart. It didn’t take my mom too long to find the diaper aisle, where she plopped two massively large boxes of Size 4 Pampers diapers in the cart.  Thankfully, I could still read.  So it looked like one was baby dry and the other one was Swaddlers Overnights.  My mom also piled a large box of baby wipes in the cart, along with a couple of tubes of Aquaphor, some butt paste, and three very large containers of baby powder.  She also added a couple of containers of baby lotion for bedtime. As my mom was checking out, I saw droplets of pee dripping between my legs and onto the shopping cart. My mom immediately noticed this and gasped.  “Oh no…” The moment that my mom checked everything out, she ran with the shopping cart and took it into a family restroom, which was thankfully vacant. My mom folds out the oval changing table in the wall, hoists me out of the shopping cart and sets me right on the changing table.   She unsnaps the crotch buttons and opens my diaper quickly.  She had to open one of the boxes of diapers and tear open one of the white plastic sleeves to get out a new Size 4 Baby Dry. She opens the box of wipes and takes out a smaller pack.  She opens the pack and begins to quickly wipe me down.  She opens up the powder and powders the new diaper.  She quickly sits me on it and powders me before folding the diaper between my legs and quickly fastening it.  She then snaps the crotch buttons back up.  I immediately notice the difference in how much better the diaper fits me.  I smile and glance at my mom.  “Fanku mama!” My mom nodded and tossed the soaked Size 3 diaper in the trash.  “You’re welcome Emmy.  Now that was a little rough, but you made it rough, dear.  Remember, you were not a good girl so mommy had to get you diapers at the last minute.” I nodded, and looked at my mom, longing for my adulthood again.  “Cannabe bihgulghen?” My mom nodded.  “If you are a good girl, then you will be a big girl again.  But I can’t stress it enough, Emmy.  No more formula.  It’s for your little sister Erica, okay?  Now can you be a good girl?  If you can, then you’ll be a big girl again.” “Ahbeebihgul!” I shouted. The trip home felt a lot more pleasant, since I was in a diaper that actually fit me this time. To spare you the boredom, my Monday was like any other day.  One key difference was that I didn’t have my Barbie dolls anymore since my mom wanted me to play with something more age appropriate.  Since I was only two, I played with a lot of Lego Duplo blocks and made all kinds of creations. Oh yeah.  And my mom, due to my most recent regression, enrolled me in a daycare that I would be attending in the fall.  It would be the same daycare as Erica, so I would see her all the time. And after lunch that day, I felt very tired.  And when I woke up, I found myself laying in my bed.  I did not know how I got there.  Did my mom carry me there?  With that, I guess I need afternoon naps now. I also pooped after my nap so my mom changed me again.  It wouldn’t be my only time, as I would be pooping three more times before bed.  My mom, completely used to doing this with my sister, didn’t mind at all.  So is this what it’s like?  It felt very weird to be on the receiving end of the diaper changes, as I could very clearly remember changing my sister all the time. My bedtime was disappointing, as my mom gave me milk that tasted nothing like my sister’s baby formula.  It didn’t have the same sweet taste that I was used to.  It made being a two-year-old even more of a chore now. The rest of the week dragged on, with me growing more and more disappointed with each day.  I missed the taste of the baby formula and I wanted it so bad now.  I’m guessing that this is what a withdrawal feels like.  It was the worst feeling in the world, as I so badly wanted to have some baby formula again.  Now my mommy kept calling me a good girl for not having the formula, but that didn’t matter.  I wanted to be a bad girl so I could have more.  I wanted to be a naughty girl and drink all the baby formula that I wanted.  Jessica let me do that, so I really miss her. What day was it again?  Monday happened, and so did Tuesday, and Wednesday. While I was playing with my Lego Duplos before bedtime on Thursday, my mom did the usual routine in getting me ready for bed.  This time, she gave me and Erica a bath at the same time.  My mom brushed both our teeth and got us both into our nighttime diapers.  She put us both in our footed sleepers and then my mom carried me…Wait mom.  You’re going the wrong way!  Why are you carrying me to my sister’s room? My question was answered when I saw not one, but two cribs sitting in my sister’s room.  Why? Why is my mom having me sleep in a crib now? “Nahkib mama!” I said in a pouty voice.  “Nahkib!  Bihgulbed!  Bihgulbed!” But my mom shook her head.  “Emmy, that bed in your bedroom is way too big for you.  Now daddy and I are trying to find you a smaller bed that’s just right for you.  For now, we have your old crib set up in your sister’s room.  Plus, you’re a roller Emmy, and we don’t want you to roll out of your queen bed and get hurt.” Before I had any other objections, my mom lifted me up into my crib and tucked me in.  Well, it’s official.  I’m now sleeping in a baby crib again.  All because I wanted to try some baby formula?  This is why all of this has happened to me.  Whatever.  I’m a bad girl. What was worst was that I had that same boring milk as the past two nights.  While I was weirdly getting used to my diaper being changed, I was not used to going without my formula.  It just wasn’t the same. Thursday came and went.  Still no formula.  I was getting more and more frustrated. And then Friday came around.  Mom and dad looked like they were packing for some big trip. “Wehgoin mama?” I asked her in my innocent sounding toddler voice. My mom smiled.  “Me and daddy are going to our lakeside cottage for the weekend.  For you and Erica, I was able to get Jessica to watch you two again.  She’s coming over in a couple of hours.” I nodded, and returned to playing with my Lego Duplo blocks, which was my new addiction.  I mean, it surprised me just how easy it was for me to become fascinated with something.  Could it be this smaller body and fresher brain that I have to work with?  I do admit that my now shorter attention span does get frustrating at times. I lost track of time as I continued playing with my Lego Duplo blocks, deciding to make something special for my mom. DING!!!!!! DONG!!!!!! The way that door bell rang just jogged my memory so clearly. The babysitter was here.  It was…Jessica. I smiled, and I can’t believe that I am saying this.  Jessica was finally here and I just couldn’t wait to see her.     11. Babysitting…Me? The door opened and my mom kindly let Jessica in. Jessica stood there, holding a very bulky diaper bag, which I guessed had extra diapers for me and Erica. My mom spent the next 45 minutes discussing every single rule to Jessica.  Fortunately, Jessica came right after my mom put Erica down for a nap, so she wasn’t interrupted once. My mom then turned to me.  “Emmy?  Listen to mommy.  Mommy doesn’t want you having any of Erica’s formula.  Now there’s milk for you to drink so have that instead.  Now you’ve been a good girl this week so mommy wants you to continue to be on your best behavior.  Now I know that you don’t like your crib but daddy and I will get you a smaller bed after this weekend.  Be a good girl, and daddy and I will get you a very nice bed.  Okay?” “Ahbeegudgul!” I said in another one of my one word sentences. Mom and dad both hug me and I’m guessing that they already hugged my sister before they gave her a nap. Both my mom and dad left, leaving me with Jessica, who I felt very happy to see for some reason. As I walked up to Jessica, I realized that the tip of my head was now up to her waist.  Jessica was taller than ever, because I was just a little bit smaller than last time. Jessica scooped me up and gave me a giddy smile.  “I missed you, Em.  I really did.  And do you know what?  It’s very cute hearing you talk now.  Now I babysat three different houses over the past four days.  One family for Monday and Tuesday.  The second family was Wednesday and the third family was yesterday.  Guess what, Em?  The first family that I watched had a nine-month-old boy, and the family had the same Similac 360 Total Care baby formula as this house did.  And do you want to know the difference?  The baby formula did nothing to the nine-month-old.   And on Thursday, a three year old  wanted to try her younger brother’s baby formula.  Sound familiar?  Well, I already took a dry measure of the baby formula from the first house and let little Andrea try it, just to see if she would like it.  She had the whole thing and since I had to spend the night with the kids, I found Andrea to be the same age.” “So Emmy, I know that it just can’t be the formula.  All I can guess is that your mom has done something to the mixture.  Now can I make you a baby this time?  I wonder how much formula I have to give you?” I began to happily skip up and down, as I desperately wanted the formula so bad.  I missed it, and I just knew that Jessica was going to come through for me. “Foamwah!” I shouted.  “Foamwah!  Foamwah!” “How cute!” Jessica said with a smile.  “Don’t worry, baby Emmy.  Jess here has plenty of baby bottles, so you’re going to have a lot of formula to drink this weekend…” I joyfully smiled as I went right to work on building something special for Jessica.  It was going to be for mom, but I had to change it since they were gone for the weekend. I was almost done with my Lego Duplo blocks when Jessica caught me by surprise again.  She scooped me up, sat on the couch, and sat me in her lap.  She immediately gave me the baby bottle and I desperately began to suck on it.  Oh.  How I missed it!  That’s the flavor that I missed.  The sweet notes running all over my tongue and down my throat.  It was much better than that boring milk that my mom gave me.  “Good girl,” Jessica praised as she watched me gulp down my first bottle.  “Are you ready for the second one?” I nodded, and found another nipple around my mouth.  I began the next bottle and smiled.  Yes, I lost it.  Yes, I lost everything.  But for the formula, it was worth it.  I will be a naughty girl if I can have another bottle.  Yes mom, you told me not to have it, but it’s okay.  Jessica is feeding it to me and you put her in charge, right? I burped loudly as I finished the second bottle. After that, Jessica watched me play with my Lego Duplos. “Whacha making, Emmy?” Jessica said with a smile. “Sahfin fohyu!” I said, in a shy and reserved voice. “For me?” Jessica said smiling.  “Well, I’m going to let you work on that and I’m going to check on your sister, okay?” “Otay!” I lost track of time.  I finished making my special Duplo figure for Jessica and moved on to my next project.  In fact, my attention span wasn’t enough to finish another one. I was nudged by another bottle in my face. I was now in Jessica’s lap again, enjoying another bottle of baby formula.  I never thought that my best friend would end up being my babysitter.  But she was good.  She always knew what I needed and unlike mom, she always gave me the formula. Jessica then changed both me and my sister before getting dinner ready.  What made it funny was that both me and my sister both had poopy diapers for her to change.  Jessica didn’t mind at all but found it funny herself. And what I meant by getting dinner ready, Jessica cooked my dinner, but ate it herself.  I enjoyed another bottle filled with baby formula.  And then, before she got both me and Erica ready for our baths, I enjoyed another bottle. But then I saw Jessica’s other hand and found that she was also feeding my sister a bottle at the same time as me.  It felt weird, but I was very close to being like my little sister. After that, Jessica gave both me and Erica a bath.  My sister splashed me a lot and I splashed her back.  This made her giggle and I giggled with her. After that, Jessica brushed our teeth, put both of us in our nighttime diapers, snapped us both into our onesies, and put each of us in our cribs. I was just about to fall asleep when Jessica lifted me out of my crib.  She was holding a baby bottle filled with my sister’s baby formula.  She quietly took me into my old room, which still had my queen size bed set up.  My eyes flickered as I sat in Jessica’s lap on the bed, sucking on a new baby bottle and smiling. “Good girl.” Jessica praised, as she watched me drink down the milk.  “Very soon, baby Emmy.  Very soon.  You will be a baby.  You will be…my baby.  My baby to watch whenever I babysit.” I didn’t even realize that I was drinking my second bottle when I was starting to burp.  Jessica also told me how warm her lap felt again, or something like that.  I think I managed to drink the last of it, as I heard the words “Good girl” before I fell asleep in Jessica’s lap. CRACK!!!! CRRRREAK!  CRACK!!  Owwwwww!  I woke up, wailing loudly this time. This also woke Erica up, who was also wailing with me. I hoped that the pain in my bones was the last pain that I felt. Jessica came running inside, in just a white nightgown.  “Kiki!  Emmy!  What’s wrong?” As I glanced at the crib, I could already tell what was wrong.  Well, first of all, my onesie is a little too big.  And while my diaper still fits, I’m very wet. Jessica placed a pacifier in my sister’s mouth and started with me.  She lifted me out of the crib and immediately checked my diaper.  “You’re about to leak, and…that’s strange.  Your Onesie looks a little big on you, kiddo!” Ya think?  Jess, my mom is a packrat and has more of my baby clothes downstairs. “Stawrs.” I said, pointing down.  “Staaawrs…” Jessica looked confused.  “Stars?  Yes Emmy.  There are stars in the sky.  But you’re pointing down….” “Staaaawrs.” I repeated, hoping that Jessica would understand what I’m saying. Jessica gasped.  “Stairs?  Do you want me to go downstairs? Are there clothes down there?” “Yaa!” I shouted, giving her a cute smile. “Okay,” Jessica told me.  “But first, I’m going to take care of your sister quickly.  On second thought, why don’t I get you into a new diaper first?” Jessica removed my saturated diaper, cleaned me with wipes, powdered me, and changed me into another nighttime diaper.  She then sat me down in nothing but my diaper while she tended to Erica. It didn’t take Jessica very long to take care of Erica.  She changed her into a new diaper, rocked Erica back and forth, and she was back to sleep once again. Jessica then pointed outside my room after she placed Erica back in her crib.  “Baby Emmy, go to your old room.  I will be back with your clothes.” I shook my head.  “Mehdah!  Mehdah!” Sighing in my mind, I placed one hand at my head and the other at my feet. Jessica looked at me, studying where my hands were.  “Are you trying to say measure, Emmy?  That would make more sense so I can get the right size.  Does your mommy or daddy have a tape measure?” “Behdoom!” I said. “Bedroom!” Jessica gasped.  “Okay.  I’ll get the tape measure and measure you.  And how about we go into their bathroom to weigh you as well?  Because you do look a little younger, Emmy baby…” Jessica carried me all the way to my mom and dad’s room and got the tape measure.  “Stand against the wall,” she ordered. I stood against the wall, while Jessica measured me from head to toe. “You are…” Jessica read.  “30.5 inches.  Now step on the scale in the bathroom.” We entered the bathroom and I stood on the scale, while Jessica glanced at the numbers. “23.7 pounds.” Jessica read.  “Okay Emmy.  Now let me look these numbers up on my phone.  I’m gonna google it. Jessica got her phone and googled the numbers. “It’s saying 18 months, Em.” Jessica told me.  “I’m going to find your 18-months clothing downstairs.  Wait in your old room.  Okay?” I still had the mind of an adult, so I nodded and followed directions.  I entered my old bedroom, which still had the door open a crack. I walked over to my bed, which seemed to be even higher than before.  I looked around to find that Jessica was using my old room to spend the weekend in since I was sleeping in my own crib in Erica’s room.  I somehow managed to climb onto the enormous bed.  My diaper crinkled as I landed on top of the comforter, which I was surprised that Jessica kept very well made, despite her sleeping in it. I was half asleep when I heard the sound of the door creaking open. Jessica laughed.  “Did you know that your mom has a tote for each month?  24 months, 18 months, 12 months, 6 months, 0-6 months.  Wow.  Doesn’t she ever throw anything away?  Well, it’s good that she doesn’t because I found your 18-month clothing.  It should fit you perfect, Emmy baby.” Jessica found an almost identical onesie that was 18 months and snapped me into it.  Yeah.  This fits a lot better. Jessica then laid me back on the queen size bed and smiled.  “Wow.  So even after all that formula I gave you, you only went down six months?  Well, you’re just about there.  I’ll be right back, baby Emmy.” I nodded, and found myself nodding off a little bit.  I woke up being plopped into Jessica’s lap, with another baby bottle being stuck in my mouth.  Thanks Jess.  I needed this. I couldn’t even remember drinking the whole bottle, but I fell asleep before I could even finish it.  Then I heard a whisper. “Wow.  I can’t believe that baby Emmy finished drinking that bottle in her sleep.” Really?  Now that Jessica mentioned it, I think I was only half awake when I finished drinking that bottle.  I was in my crib again and I squinted my eyes shut. I woke up being hoisted up by Jessica.  To my relief, there was no other bone pain for the rest of the night. The first thing that Jessica did was measure me only to find that I had the same measurements as last night. During the very next day, Jessica did a good job taking care of me and Erica.  She changed both our diapers in the morning and fed me my morning bottle of baby formula.  She did the same with Erica, feeding us our own bottles at the same time (only Erica had my mom’s bottles and my bottles were Jessica’s very own supply, except for the formula). And yeah.  I wish that I could tell you anything more exciting that happened that day.  It was all routine. Jessica regularly fed me my bottles and, oh yeah.  After lunch Jessica put both me and Erica in our cribs and we took our naps.  I needed mine badly since I found myself getting very tired after lunch.  And after our naps, Jessica changed our diapers and fed both me and Erica our bottles (I loved this part). During the afternoon, I played with my Lego Duplos only to find myself getting a little bored with them.  I started to find the toys that Erica was playing with a lot more fun, so I joined her in stacking blocks and colorful rings. Jessica even put on a Cocomelon video for me and Erica, which I started to like a lot. A little later in the afternoon, Erica needed her nap, so Jessica took her upstairs and placed her in her crib. I knew exactly what Jessica was going to do when she came back downstairs so I sat in the couch, ready for Jessica. Jessica went to the kitchen and came back with another baby bottle filled with baby formula.  She sat on the couch and sat me in her lap.  She tilted the bottle into my mouth and I drank down the sweet formula. I then went back to playing with Erica’s toys, which were becoming my toys more and more by the hour. And I couldn’t believe it.  It was already dinnertime again.  Jessica changed both me and Erica before dinner and then it was dinnertime for me.  I drank another bottle of formula, while Jessica ate my dinner that I was supposed to have.  I didn’t mind, as I found the formula to be more appetizing. And before bathtime, Jessica was duel feeding.  She fed me with one bottle in her one hand while she fed Erica with another bottle in the other hand. And wow.  Bathtime was fun.  Both me and Erica kept splashing each other, which Jessica had to stop us from doing.  I’m sorry Jess, but it was just too much fun!  Jessica brushed our teeth, put us into our nighttime diapers and snapped us into our onesies.  While Jessica placed Erica into her crib, she carried me to my old bedroom. Jessica plopped me on my bed and smiled.  “We’re almost there, baby Emmy.  I don’t know how much younger you are going to get, but you’re very close to becoming a baby.  Very close to becoming…my baby Emmy.  Don’t you just want to be my baby forever?” I gasped.  Forever?  That is, never ever reach adulthood again?  I don’t think I like the sound of that.  “Nahhh…” I said, with a few tears rolling out of my eyes. “Let it all out, baby Emmy.” Jessica told me.  “Because that’s what babies do.  They cry.  And that’s all you’ll be able to do soon.  But don’t you worry, Emmy.  I will take care of you!  Now I will be back with your nighttime baba.” “Don….” I said, with a desperate look on my face.  As much as I enjoyed the formula, I didn’t want to be a baby forever.  No.  That was never what I wanted. I don’t know what it was, but I felt tired again.  But before I knew it, I was sitting in Jessica’s lap again. “Drink up, Emmy.” Jessica said, tilting the bottle towards my mouth. “Nahhh…” I said, now starting to sob. “Oh, my little baby!” Jessica smiled.  “You are going to be okay.  Here.  It’s going to be okay.” If I was anymore alert, I would push the bottle away.  But instead, I found the nipple around my mouth and I began to suck on it again. “Good girl,” Jessica whispered, her voice sounding syrupy sweet.  “Drink every last drop.  You don’t have much longer to go, Emmy.  You will be my baby forever…” Jessica opened her TikTok app again and smiled.  “50 million, Em.  Too bad you can’t be an influencer anymore, huh?  It’s okay.  Because you get to be my baby.  Sweet dreams, baby Emmy…” Like last night, I was half asleep when I finished the last bit of the bottle. I was now in my crib again, where Jessica gave me a soft kiss on the forehead. “Good night, Emmy baby.” I closed my eyes and entered a very peaceful sleep. CRRRRRRUNCH!!!!!!!!  CREAK!  CRRRUNCH!!! This time, I immediately wailed upon feeling that pain in my bones. This also woke Erica up. In seconds, Jessica ran in wearing a pink nightgown. She popped a pacifier in Erica’s mouth and then carefully studied me. Jessica gasped.  “It finally happened!  I can see it!  Your face looks so CUTE!” I glanced at Jessica and began to make some babbling sounds.  Did she get any of that?  Oh no!  I can’t talk anymore! Jessica lifted me up out of my crib and smiled.  “Oh, you feel a lot lighter, Emmy baby.  But let’s measure you after I get your sister back to sleep.” Jessica did her routine with Erica and quickly got her back to sleep. I was trying to stand up, but I found my legs wobbling and I couldn’t always keep my balance. “IIhbllbllb…” I babbled. “Uh oh!” Jessica said as she saw me lose my balance.  “Here, baby Emmy.  Let’s get you to your old room and I will measure you.” Even though it was almost morning, I was still drowsy as Jessica carried me to my old room. Jessica then glanced at the wall.  “Emmy, I want you to stand.” I tried standing, but my legs wobbled too violently, which made me lose my balance again.  “Urlllh.” I grunted. Jessica nodded.  “Oh.  That’s right.  You haven’t even learned to walk yet.  Here.  Lay down and I’ll measure you.” I laid down and Jessica measured me from head to toe.  “Wow Em.  4 more inches in one day.  You are 26.5 inches.  Now I’m going to help you stand so we can get your weight.” Jessica steadied my legs while I stood on the scale. “19.7 pounds.” Jessica gasped.  “I just weighed Erica the other day, and she’s a little more than 20 pounds.  I think you’re the same age, Em.  So guess what.  TWINZIES!!!!” Great.  Now that I’m the same age as my sister, I have to share all her clothes now? Jessica glanced at my diaper, which looked a little too big and shook her head.  “And you know what baby Emmy?  That also means that your Size 4’s are too big on you.  Your sister’s size 3’s should fit you perfect now!” Interesting.  I can remember those same diapers being too tight on me.  And now they’re going to fit perfect.  My, how the tides have changed. The day was pretty much a blur, but Jessica still had us until the evening when my parents would be coming back. One thing that I noticed right away was how much she dialed back my bottle-feeding schedule.  I am guessing that she let off on this since I guess I’m finally “her baby”.  I don’t know if I like the sound of that, as I would like to be an adult again.  Could mom help me with this? Throughout that whole day, my feeding schedule matched my sister Erica’s to a tee.  Jessica made sure that everything was synchronized.  She changed our diapers at the same time.  We took our naps at the same time.  And *yawn*  Yeah.  I even needed that afternoon nap that my sister always took. As Jessica took me upstairs for my afternoon nap, she smiled at me. “So isn’t it great, my baby?” Jessica said with a smirk. “We can have fun like this again and again and you will be my baby forever!” At this, I began to wail.  NO!  I don’t want to be a baby forever!  I don’t want to be YOUR baby forever! But Jessica just smiled at me again.  “Oh, wittle Emmy is cranky because she needs her nap!  Get your nap, baby Emmy.  You will feel better when you get up.  Sweet dreams.” And with that, Jessica gave me a kiss on my forehead before I fell asleep, as my diaper started to get warm. I was now feeling well rested again, but I was now sitting in my mother’s lap, with Jessica sitting right next to me. My mom once again sighed when she stared at me.  “Emmy, you were a bad girl again.” Jessica sighed.  “Emmy was.  The little rascal ran off with the formula while I was in the middle of making Erica’s bottle!” I glared at Jessica.  That’s not true!  You fed it to me! “Blllbblllbababehbehbeh…” I babbled, trying to tell my mom the truth. My mom sighed.  “Emmy, you should not have run off with your sister’s formula.  Just look at you!  You can’t even speak a word!” “Mama!” I shouted, which was the only word that I could intelligibly say.  “Mamamamamamamamama…” My mom gently patted me on the back.  “You did this to yourself, Emmy.  Mommy still loves you.  Mommy is still going to take care of you, okay?  Now you are a bad girl, and you have to pay for all your mistakes.” Jessica nodded.  “Yeah.  She will, Mrs. Smith.  That Emily’s always getting into trouble and now she’s a helpless baby!” My mom nodded.  “Yes she is.  But I can take it from here if you want to go home.  Your babysitting pay is in the envelope.  Thank you for watching her.  You are a good babysitter.” Jessica nodded.  “Thanks Mrs. Smith.  Bye Emmy!  I’ll see you hopefully soon!” Jessica left, leaving me with mom, dad, and my sister Erica, who was playing in her playpen. My mom sighed.  “Emmy, what am I going to do with you?  You were a bad girl.  But don’t worry.  Mommy’s going to make it work.” I joined my sister and played with her. Just before bath time, my mom began to feed my sister her baby bottle filled with her formula.  I began to whimper, as I really wanted to have that formula.  I craved it, and now that Jessica is gone, my mom was going to give me my stupid milk. But then, when my sister was done, I crawled back towards the playpen. “Emmy, don’t you want yours?” I gasped.  What?  My mom is actually going to give me the formula now? My mom sat me in her lap and she stuck the baby bottle in my mouth.  I began to drink the bottle down, enjoying that sweet baby formula. “You were a bad girl, Emmy.” My mom told me.  “So, guess what?  Since you like that formula so much, I’m going to start feeding it to you like I’m feeding it to Erica.  And when Jessica comes over again, she will need to follow the same schedule with you.” I wish that mom could see the laughter in my mind.  That’s what Jessica has been doing the whole time!  I’m sure that Jessica won’t have a problem with that rule! I joyfully continued drinking the baby formula, enjoying it down to the very last drop.   Epilogue It was a rather quiet Monday afternoon when Eve Smith decided to take her daughters out for a peaceful stroll in the park.  Afterall, she just bought a brand new Graco double stroller and she found the occasion right to test the stroller out.  To let her daughters sleep while she calmly pushed the stroller through the sun dappled path lined with trees and various flowers in bloom. Eve smiled when she thought of her husband Adam, who was hard at work on another invention.  Afterall, they have found success in various different experiments throughout the years. Eve found a park bench and sat down to rest her feet.  She was glad that she made the trek out to the park, as she needed the exercise, and her girls needed the rest.  Afterall, this stroll was during their naptime so it was perfect. A young woman pushing a single stroller approached Eve, gasping when she saw the double stroller. “Taking your little ones outside?” The woman asked eve.  “I’m Katie, and I’m taking Sharon outside to get some fresh air.” Eve nodded.  “Yes.  Fresh air is good for them.  Your Sharon.  How old is she?” Katie smiled.  “Sharon is almost 18 months.  How about your little ones?” Eve smiled.  “Oh.  Them.  The one in the front is Erica.  The one further back is Emmy.  They’re both 10 months old and they’re twins.” What Eve didn’t realize was that a little face gave her a look of resentment. What Eve also didn’t realize was that Emmy was actually awake and she was hearing the entire conversation.  And if Emmy was still capable of speech, she would’ve shouted with “Mom, how could you!  That’s a lie!”  But all Emmy could do was project her anger at her mother while she pretended to sleep.  Emmy knew that her sister was sleeping for real and that her behavior was more typical of an actual 10-month-old.  Emmy on the other hand, felt like an adult trapped in an infant’s body.  An infant that just couldn’t walk yet. “Twins?” Katie gasped.  “Amazing.  Well, Eve, I need to keep going.  I hope our paths cross again.” Eve nodded, while Katie passed her, wheeling Sharon in her stroller. When Katie was out of sight, Eve glanced at the stroller.  She especially glanced at Emmy, who she hoped was sleeping.  “I hope that both you girls are having a good sleep.” Emmy used this opportunity to squint her eyes open. Eve smiled as she saw her daughter open her eyes, which she hoped was from a restful nap.  “Well Emmy, whether you are asleep or not, I wanted to say again that you were a naughty girl.  And Emmy, you were not the only naughty one.  Erica too was naughty.  And guess what?  You both used to have a brother!  Erica was supposed to watch Ethan, but she did a very naughty thing.  Do you know what, Emmy?  Erica was like you.  She loved the formula.  She couldn’t get enough of it.  But it was only supposed to be for Ethan.  I wanted Ethan to always be my little boy.  Emmy, Erica too was a teenager.  She was supposed to watch Ethan.  I leave her with Ethan all weekend and what happens?  I find Erica as just a five-year-old and Ethan?  What happened to him?  Ethan was a newborn and was dead.  Erica gave Ethan too much of the formula.  He was supposed to remain an infant, but she made a mistake. And where do you enter the picture?  When I was pregnant with you, I decided that as a punishment, Erica was going to be my replacement for Ethan.  She would always be my little girl.  And Emmy, I really wanted you to grow up and take care of Erica with me.  But what do you do?  You make the same mistake as Erica.  You crave the formula and keep having more and more of it.  And now, Emmy, you have also reaped your punishment.  I have decided that you two will always be my little girls.  Be good girls and keep drinking the formula.  And I will keep taking care of you.” At this point, Emmy wished that she could speak, but all she could do was wail. Eve sighed, and began to rock Emmy back and forth.  “Emmy, it’s going to be okay.  Just like it was with Erica, it will be okay with you too.  Both of you girls were very naughty.  But it’s okay!  Mommy will make it work, okay?” Eve then got out Emmy’s phone and loaded TikTok.  “Emmy, you are a naughty girl.  Why did you make this?  There’s a TikTok of you grabbing a bottle from Jessica and drinking it.  There’s over 70 million views!  But guess what?  Mommy’s going to delete that naughty thing!” And just like that, Eve deleted the viral TikTok that Emmy and Jessica made. Gone was the TikTok where Emmy tried the formula for the first time.  Gone was the laughter and funny antics. But one thing was clear to Emmy.  What wasn’t gone was the reality that Emmy was now an infant with her sister.  Emmy wished that she could just erase everything that she did like her mother did with the TikTok.  Then everything would be better.  Then, if Emmy would’ve been a good girl, she would’ve been able to keep her adulthood.  But all that was lost now. “It’s okay, Emmers.” Eve reassured her baby daughter.  “It’s all deleted so mommy made it better.  What’s done is done, Emmy.  Just like it is with Erica.  You will always be my little girls and mommy is going to keep you happy.  Just keep drinking the formula, will you, my dearies?” Eve placed Emmy back in her stroller and left the park bench.  She left the park, ready to continue to care for the two daughters that she loved.

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