Sam, a young man unusually small for his age—no bigger than a baby—walks up the front path with a suitcase in hand. The bright sky casts warm light on the neat flowerbeds, and the air smells faintly of laundry and fresh grass. Inside, his aunt is busy coaxing her toddler son, Max, toward a brightly colored potty chair.
Sam[/@ch_1] sets down his bag.]
Aunt Linda, cheerful and practical, greets Sam with a hug. Nearby, Max fidgets, looking uncertainly at his potty. "Sam, could you do me a huge favor?" she asks, managing a hopeful smile. "If you wear diapers for a bit, maybe Max will feel less alone and more confident in his potty training." Sam hesitates, glancing at the stack of pastel diapers on the table, but nods reluctantly.
Sam[/@ch_1] finds himself lying on a changing mat, the ceiling spinning with whimsical clouds.]
Aunt Linda deftly tapes a diaper onto Sam, offering constant encouragement to both him and Max. "Sam, you look just like me!" chirps Max, giggling as he watches Sam wriggle uncomfortably. The room is filled with a mixture of embarrassment and laughter, the afternoon sun softening the oddity of the moment.
Sam grows weary, his limbs feeling heavy and unresponsive as he lounges in a crib beside Max. "You’ve been such a help, Sam, but you seem so tired. Why don’t you both nap for a bit?" suggests Aunt Linda, tucking them in. As sleep overtakes him, Sam senses something strange; his fingers curl involuntarily, and his mouth tingles, unfamiliar.
When Sam stirs, panic flares—his body won’t respond as before. His arms flail awkwardly, and his mouth feels gummy and toothless. He tries to call out, but only a muffled whimper escapes. Aunt Linda approaches, her expression shifting from concern to wonder. "Oh, Sam... you really are just like my baby now," she whispers, gently lifting him from the crib.
Sam[/@ch_1], swaddled and helpless, lies in Aunt Linda’s arms as she rocks him in a chair.]
Sam struggles to move, but his body is soft and uncoordinated; he can only gurgle and blink. Aunt Linda soothes him, humming a gentle tune as she offers him warm milk, his only sustenance now. "Don’t worry, little one. I’ll take care of you from now on," she promises, gazing down at her brand new baby, while Max claps and giggles nearby, proud to be the "big boy" at last.
