“Are you feeling okay Rachel? Does your tummy ache? Do you have an owie?” she prodded in a sing-song voice.
“No!” Rachel snapped back. “Just leave me alone!”
“Now Rachel, we don’t talk to grown-ups like that. Be a good girl and use your inside voice.”
Rachel seethed but kept her mouth shut.
“Hmm, well, you’ll be feeling better soon honey. We’re going to have some real fun now,” she promised.
While Rachel sat fuming Pam and another carer fetched a large rolled-up sheet. They spread it across the carpet in the middle of the room until it covered half the space. The other carer than brought in a bundle of white garments. The duo watched as Pam and the other woman began slipping smocks over children’s heads, covering up their clothing. Baggy arm-holes left their hands free. Rachel watched Brian accept his smock willingly and decided not to put up a fight as Pam threaded the girl’s arms through the appropriate holes. She even bit her lip and stayed silent as the woman slipped her socks off so the “pretty princess” socks wouldn’t get messy.
