Molly looked at the bowl. Just three more spoonfuls and she would be done? That sounded like a compromise she could probably manage. Hesitantly she opened her mouth a little bit and smiling at her success the worker ploughed a spoonful into Molly’s mouth. Molly quickly swallowed trying not to taste the baby food. The carer spooned in another mouthful almost immediately and Molly struggled at the sudden barrage of food. She swallowed it down. The third spoonful was at her lips just as quick and Molly turned her face away needing a moment just to catch her breath but the worker swerved the spoon round to keep it at exactly the same place pressed up against Molly’s lips dripping some of the goop down her chin. Giving an inward sigh Molly opened up her mouth and the final spoonful went in. She gulped it down and breathed a sigh of relief that was promptly cut off by a fourth spoonful. It had been so unexpected that Molly swallowed it.

She glared at the carer for betraying her trust, but the carer smiled kindly at her.
“Look Molly, almost done. Who’s a clever girl.” The daycare assistant showed Molly the bowl that was almost empty.

“Two more spoonfuls and it’ll all be gone, you might as well finish it” The carer said and Molly resigned herself to the fact that she had been tricked after all. She looked at Sarah who was sitting swinging her legs with her mouth open wide, her face covered in baby food. Jennifer too was in a similar state but had been given a spoon so was attempting to feed herself, rather unsuccessfully as it seemed to be everywhere accept her mouth.
With impatience Molly opened her mouth and let the carer feed her the last two spoonfuls. The carer then took the empty bowl away and came back with a bottle of baby formula which she placed on the feeding tray.

“Good girl Molly. I’m proud of you” The worker said as Molly grabbed up the baby bottle and started guzzling more to take away the taste of the baby food than anything else. She discovered to her relief that baby formula didn’t taste half as bad as baby food and was thankful for the drink to wash the meal down with. She drank it down in record timing and about two gulps from finishing it she suddenly got a large pain in her chest. She half yelped half hiccuped at the pain and her carer simply shook her head.

“Oh Molly you little guzzle guts.” The carer stood and grabbed a cloth which she draped over her shoulder, then unsnapping the feeding tray from the high chair she lifted Molly clear and placed the teenager over her shoulder. Supporting her by her butt with one arm the carers free hand gently patted and rubbed Molly’s back whilst the carer bounced her up ad down slightly.

“There, there, it’ll be all okay, you just have a little bit of wind.” Molly didn’t care what it was just just wanted the uncomfortable feeling to stop.

The patting and bouncing continued until suddenly Molly burped and spat up some of the formula down the carer’s back, which had been cleverly covered by the cloth draped there. Molly looked at the mess. She had just spat up! Like a real baby? She did feel better, the uncomfortable feeling was gone, but she felt a bit humiliated by what she had just done.

The worker cooed praise at Molly. “Well done sweetie. I bet that feels better doesn’t it!” The carer eased Molly back into her high chair and fixed the feeding tray back in place giving Molly the almost finished bottle of formula.