Matt slouched behind the front desk, nervously glancing at the clock as toddlers crawled and toddled around him. His uniform shirt was already stained from an earlier spill, and a stack of diapers waited ominously by the changing station. He forced a smile as Jane, a sharp-eyed coworker, walked past with a baby balanced expertly on her hip.
Matt wiped sweat from his brow, struggling to keep up with the endless cycle of feeding, cleaning, and soothing. His patience wore thin as a particularly mischievous toddler upended a cup of juice onto his shoes. "I thought this would be easier," he muttered, exhaustion lining his face. Jane shot him a disapproving glance.
Matt barely lifted his head from the table, ignoring the silent glares of his coworkers. His hands were idle while others picked up his slack, and resentment simmered in the room. Jane whispered to another employee, her eyes flicking toward Matt with a look of determination. "We can't keep doing his work for him," she murmured.
Matt left his half-eaten sandwich and soda to use the restroom, oblivious to the tension behind him. Jane quickly pulled a small glass vial from her pocket—its label read "Watkins Tonic: Age Regression Formula." She poured a few drops into Matt's drink, her hands steady despite the pounding of her heart. "This will solve everything," she whispered to herself.
Matt returned, finishing his soda with a contented sigh, but soon discomfort twisted his face. He doubled over, clutching his stomach, and stumbled to the back room, collapsing onto a pile of clean linens. Thirty minutes later, Jane found a pile of empty clothes and, nestled inside, a wailing 8-month-old baby with Matt's familiar blue eyes. "Oh my god, it actually worked," she breathed, scooping him up.
Jane laid the tiny, squirming Matt on the changing table, her expression a mix of relief and guilt. "Shh, it's okay. Looks like you're finally doing your share of the work," she whispered, fastening a fresh diaper with a practiced hand. As Matt settled into a hiccuping sob, the other employees peered in, their faces reflecting wonder, surprise, and a touch of satisfaction at the unexpected outcome of their plan.
