As far as Toya was concerned, today couldn’t be going worse.
It had started, as every bad day does, with traffic – eight lanes and barely a single space between for what felt like an hour, running him well into an hour late – which, in its own special way, led to more problems. His entire routine had been thrown off, his coworkers had been a little frustrated with his lateness and a client had arrived for a meeting he hadn’t been there for…
…in other words, it’d been one Monday of a Monday. Still, as he put his car in park and peered out through the pouring rain at the bright lights of the grocery store, he was at least relieved the day was almost over. Just a few things to pick up to throw together a quiet dinner, and a better start tomorrow.
Throwing his jacket’s hood up, Toya hurried through the rain, getting soaked in the process – and, slowly, began to gather the list he’d thought up on the way over. A few eggs, assorted greens, broth for soup…
…until, as he arrived at the most important ingredient, a nice beef roast for the oven, currently being lifted from the cooler by a little old gray tabby cat, black raincoat and wide-brimmed hat strikingly forgettable.
Toya, instantly, sighed – loud enough that the old woman looked up, eyes narrowing.
“Somethin’ I can help you with, laddie?”
Toya frowned. “I don’t suppose I could ask to have that.”
The woman blinked. “You’re asking an old woman for her groceries?”
“W-Well, no, I’m… look, it’s been a long day, and I really need that to complete my list.”
“That’s an awfully rude way to go about it.” She countered, clearly annoyed. Toya normally would’ve backed down, but the frustration and exhaustion clearly was boiling over – he snapped.
“I’m surprised someone your age needs that much,” He grumbled under his breath – and, in an instant, the old woman’s demeanour changed.
“I believe it’s high time you learn your manners!” She spat, placing the roast in her cart – and as both paws came up, they crackled like sparks in open air, causing the dog to step back in surprise. “Why don’t we start at the beginning?”
Instantly, Toya felt himself being wrapped like a blanket in some sort of fuzzy magical sensation – and began to dwindle into his clothes, the witch’s magic peeling years away like the rind of an orange! For an instant, his outfit was too big – then snapped back as if catching up, business suit and tie first turning into his usual jeans and shirt from college, then his high school outfit… then younger still, back through his school age wardrobe and younger – until, after a few moments (and a lot of smoke!), the witch was left with a teary eyed toddler holding a big basket of heavy groceries!
“W-Waddaya mean th’ beginnin’!” Toya protested, words unfamiliar and a bit harder than he’d ever remembered them being – but the witch merely laughed, not cackling, but certainly not holding back what she thought, either.
“Oh, you’ll find out, my dear puppy! Learn not to be so barky, next time!”
With that, there was an enormous poof of smoke, and Toya expected her to be gone… but there she was, slowly walking away grumbling to herself about the uppity youth these days and how in her day they’d have been turned into a newt or something.
Toya, for his part, couldn’t believe what happened – and as he tried to take a few steps after her, he realized two things at once.
The first, naturally, being the poofy, cushiony sensation between his legs – one he knew well enough, but certainly h-hadn’t needed in quite a while?
The second, and much more pressing now that his knees had crossed, was that he definitely wasn’t potty trained, and by the look other customers (and an employee or two) were giving him, he was definitely looking the part of little pee-pants toddler.
Toya waddled forward, basket forgotten – he had to find a bathroom, or… or something! He couldn’t wet himself in public like this, that witch had definitely cursed him, or… or something?!
“Oh! Oh, honey, are you lost? Where’s your mommy?”
An employee had come up behind the waddling puppy, grabbing one of his paws and starting to lead him away, up an aisle towards the front – and definitely not towards the hallway labeled “bathroom” – and just at the worst possible time, too!
“B-Bafroom!” Toya half shouted, eyes welling up – but the employee didn’t understand.
The lynx smiled, nodding understandingly. “Oh, she’s in the bathroom? Come on, I’ll take you to the front, we can wait for her there.”
Toya strained, trying to hold it as they walked up the aisle – but it was too much. The stress, the curse… embarrassment washed across his face as his diaper began to grow heavy, saggy, a few of the little stars and moons printed on it disappearing to indicate to anyone who saw it that it was wet – and the employee, still, tugged him onwards.
Through a giggling, staring crowd of customers – of whom the witch wasn’t a member of – to the front, where the employee asked over the intercom if anyone was missing a child.
Flumping down with a particularly noticeable crinkle, Toya crossed his arms – and, wishing as hard as he can, hoped the witch hadn’t been serious about leaving him to it. He’d just… he’d snapped! It was an accident!
It was just then, that there was a small tap on his shoulder – and he looked up into the grinning face of an old gray cat, wide brimmed hat tilted back.
“Lessons learned the hard way are less easily forgotten!” She laughed, giving him a wink. “Chin up, lad. It’s just for the day. Or three. Can’t quite remember, been a long while since I last cast it.”
Toya gulped.
“I-I’m sowwy!”
“Aye, that you are! Think before you bark next time, will you?”
With that, she turned and left – just as the employee returned with a brand new pack of diapers, and… baby… powder…?
Uh-oh.