The Sanctity of Knowledge

Chapter 14
Chapter 14

“ME NO WAN NAP! NO WAN NAP! WAAAAAHHHHAHAHAHAHA!”

Alexa was screaming at the top of her lungs, laying on her stomach, kicking her legs and pounding her fists against her sleep mat.  Kelly stood and stared pensively, knowing what she was about to do but terrified to do it. 

“Kelly, put Kaylen down for her nap.  I’ll calm Alexa down” her coworker offered.

“No!” Kelly exclaimed, her body visibly tensing.  “I mean, no, it’s ok.  I’ll take care of Alexa.” 

“Geez, Kelly….a bit too much espresso?  Fine….I’ll handle Kaylen” the woman said, handing the little girl a stuffed animal and clipping a pacifier to her t-shirt.

“I’m going to take Alexa outside for a walk.  These kids will never get to sleep with her screaming” Kelly said as she bent down to pick up the screaming toddler. 

“Shhh, shhhhhh, it’s ok, baby girl.  Miss Kelly is going to take you outside for a little walk, ok?” she said soothingly, doing her best to control the trembling of her hands.  Alexa continued to scream as Kelly carried her out the door and towards the exit leading to the playground. 

Halfway down the hallway, Alexa ceased her crying and whispered into Kelly’s ear.  “Good job.  Now, take us somewhere nice and quiet” she ordered.

A chill once again ran down Kelly’s spine.  Hearing a toddler speak as clearly and articulately as an adult was creepily uncanny.  “What the hell is going on?!” she asked in a semi-hushed voice.  “How are you talking to me like this?!”

“I told you, I’ll explain everything!  Just get us somewhere away from people!” Alexa snapped back in a harsh whisper.

“This is insane, this is insane!  I do NOT get paid enough for this!” the daycare worker said through clenched teeth.

Once outside, Kelly looked around the playground, cautiously checking to make sure they had privacy.  Once the coast was clear, she carried Alexa to a nearby bench and sat down with her on her lap. 

“Well?  I did what you asked” she said, her voice quavering from fear.  “Are you going to help convince me that I haven’t completely lost my mind?”

“You aren’t going crazy, Kelly.”  Alexa assured.  “What I’m about to tell you is going to sound crazy, though. You’re just going to have to believe me, ok?  Can you promise me that?”

Kelly stared up at the afternoon sky.  “No, Alexa.  I can’t promise you that.  I’ll try my best, though.”

Alexa nodded her head in understanding.  “Well, here goes nothing….”

Alexa proceeded to tell Kelly about everything that had transpired in the past month.  The process of her regression, the divine altering of reality, the existence of a world of Gods and Goddesses and the plight she found herself in as Athena’s captive.  She also spoke of her meeting with Metis and why she’d decided to reveal herself to Kelly.  Kelly remained silent throughout, occasionally shaking her head to signal her incredulity at what she was hearing. 

After Alexa finished her story, she looked at the daycare worker pensively.  She had gambled by revealing herself and now she’d find out if it paid off.  Would she have a new ally, as she had with Metis, or would Kelly simply take her to the nearest police station and wash her hands of the affair?  The woman gazed off into space for what seemed like an eternity, seemingly in deep contemplation.  Eventually, though, her look of disbelief slowly melted into one of acceptance.

“So,” she began, turning to face Alexa.  “I really, really want to tell myself that none of this is real.  Then again, I’m talking to a toddler who speaks and communicates like an educated, grown woman.  I can’t ignore that, obviously.  I’ll also admit that I’m scared out of my mind.  Now that I know about what’s happened to you, am in danger?  Am I going to be the next one who gets turned back into a baby?” she asked nervously, tapping her nails on the bench’s wooden surface.

“Athena won’t find out, I promise” Alexa assured, putting her hand on top of Kelly’s knee.  “Metis and I are going to stop her from doing this to anyone ever again.  I might need your help, though Kelly.  Can I count on you if the time comes?”

Kelly took a deep breath, then exhaled.  “I’m so sorry, Alexa.  I can’t imagine what this past month must have been like for you.  I saw your face when you were on the changing table at the grocery store that day.  I just knew……” she paused as tears began to well in her eyes.  “I just knew something was wrong.  It was your eyes.  You looked like you were hurting so much inside, you looked so…..sad.” 

Alexa began to tear up as well, deeply touched by Kelly’s concern and care for her.  She fought to maintain her composure as Kelly dabbed her eyes with her apron.

“It’s going to be ok, Alexa.  I’m going to help you.  I’m going to help you in any way that I can.  Fuck this ‘Goddess’ and everything she stands for.  If you and Metis are going to try and put an end to her bullshit, count me in as well.”

Alexa returned a warm smile of gratitude.  “Thank you, Kelly.  I can’t tell you how much this means to me.”

“This Metis woman, do you think you can trust her?” Kelly asked.

“I think I can.  I mean, what choice do I have?” Alexa explained.  “She’s not an evil bitch like her daughter, at least.”

“But why did she come to you to help her?  I mean, you’re just a toddler and…….”

Alexa shot Kelly an indignant look, crossing her arms and scowling.  Kelly immediately realized the insensitivity of her remark.

“Ugh, sorry!  You know what I mean, though!”

“I know, I know.  I thought about that too” Alexa admitted.  “I think it’s because she knows I have everything to gain and nothing to lose by helping her.  I’m also not from her world.  I’m a mortal, an outsider.  I get the impression that nobody in her world knows she escaped from Zeus.  Zeus himself might not know.  It seems that she wants that kept a secret, for now at least.  In that sense, I’m probably her safest option.”

Kelly nodded her head.  “And Kaylen, Elizabeth and Jessica?”

“They’re still fully under the curse” Alexa explained.  That’s why they still think and act like babies.  I’m going to figure out a way to help them, too.  I have to.” Alexa said resolutely.

“So, what do we do in the meantime?” Kelly asked.

“Apart from staying quiet about this, nothing.  I just have to wait for Metis to return.  As soon as I know what she has planned, I’ll fill you in.  For now, we just act as if everything is business as usual.”

Just then, an alarm went off on Kelly’s smartphone.  “Crap, naptime is over.  I have to get you back to daycare.  I’ll tell them that you fell asleep and I didn’t want to risk taking you back and waking you.” 

“That works” Alexa agreed as Kelly carried her towards the entrance to the building.  “Oh, I’ve got a pretty wet diaper, by the way.  I definitely need to be changed” she casually noted. 

“No problem, I figured you’d be wet by now.  I’ll change you when we get back” Kelly replied.  Then, she started to chuckle.

“What’s so funny?” Alexa asked.

“I just imagined what it would be like if all the toddlers at daycare could speak and think like you.  I don’t know if that would make my job easier or harder.  By the way, since you’re in the best position to know, who really makes the best diaper?” Kelly said, teasingly.

“Well, I can’t speak for all babies, but I’m a Pampers girl myself” Alexa replied without missing a beat.  The two began to giggle, each feeling a sense that the awkwardness of the situation had been diminished by the fact that they could laugh about it together.  They very much felt like two friends, sharing a laugh.

Once they got near the door to the daycare, Alexa took a deep breath.  “Ok, Kelly.  I’m going back into Toddler Mode.  Put me back with the girls after you change me, please.  Oh, can you be a little less stingy with the powder this time?” Alexa said, smirking.  “You’re usually pretty solid with your powder game, but you’ve been a little off today.”

Kelly gave Alexa a playful “are you kidding me?” look, rolling her eyes.  “Yea, sorry, I know.  Between learning that Gods and Goddesses are real and finding out that the toddler whose butt I’ve been wiping for the past month is actually an adult woman, I’ve had a lot on my mind.  I’ll do my best, though.  Oh, and I totally won’t wait to change Kaylen’s dirty diaper the next time she wants to play with you.  Any other constructive criticism you’d like to offer?”

“I think I’m going to shut up now” Alexa offered meekly.  With that, Kelly opened the door to the daycare and brought Alexa inside to change her.