The most intelligent person in the room

Chapter 5
Family movie day

Chapter Description: After a first day full of strong emotions, William and his family deserve a day of rest.

William opened his eyes slowly, feeling the sunlight streaming through the window and waking him from his thoughts. The walls were decorated with colorful posters of alphabets, numbers, and children's drawings. The desks were lined up in neat rows, and the children around them were murmuring to each other, waiting for class to begin. William stretched out in his seat, trying to shake off his feeling of lethargy.

He looked around, noticing all the children around him, all around ten years old. Some were playing with pencils and erasers, others were talking quietly, and a few were staring straight ahead, waiting for the teacher to arrive. William felt out of place, and having his daughter sitting in the seat in front of him didn't help him feel welcome either. He decided to act naturally; his next class was supposed to be math, so at least he'd have two hours to lose himself in his thoughts without worrying about not paying attention to a subject he was proficient in.

The sudden sound of footsteps brought him out of his reverie. The teacher had just entered the classroom. She was a woman in her forties, short and stocky, though she radiated warmth with her friendly smile and a colorful dress that seemed designed to capture children's attention. "Good morning, class," she said enthusiastically, placing a stack of books on her desk.

"Good morning, Miss Martinez," the children responded in unison, including William, although his voice didn't convey the same enthusiasm as his other classmates.

The teacher began writing on the board. The problems were simple: Practice addition, subtraction, and multiplication with larger numbers, and if Miss Martinez was feeling daring that day, she would even add decimals to the problems. William, although bored, decided to pay attention. "This is too simplistic," he thought, feeling some of his confidence return. "Talk to me when you get to linear and quadratic equations."

However, as the class progressed, William began to notice something strange. Every time he tried to solve a problem, his small, clumsy hands struggled to write the numbers correctly. His fingers didn't respond as he expected, and his pencils kept slipping. "What's going on?" he thought, feeling frustration beginning to grow inside him.

At one point, the teacher approached his desk and looked at his worksheet. "Bobby, do you need help?" she asked with a friendly smile.

William looked at her, feeling that at this point the name "Bobby" felt more natural than his adult name. "No, I'm fine, Miss Martinez," he replied quickly, trying to sound confident.

The teacher seemed satisfied with the answer and continued down the halls, attentive to the other students. But William was far from well. The formulas in front of him kept changing; the numbers seemed to dance in a chaotic, impossible-to-follow pattern.

The teacher approached the board, ready to re-explain yesterday's topic for those students who were struggling with the subject. Mrs. Martinez began her explanation of the topic on the board: two-digit multiplication problems. Although William knew he should be able to solve these problems without any problems, something didn't add up in his mind. The numbers on the board seemed confusing, as if they were written in a language he couldn't understand. His thoughts blurred, and no matter how hard he tried to focus, the numbers didn't make sense to him.

"Bobby," the teacher's firm voice interrupted his thoughts. William looked up, feeling every eye in the room turn toward him. "You seem to be a little distracted. Why don't you come up to the front and solve this problem for us?"

William's heart stopped for a second. All the children turned their heads toward him. He felt their eyes boring into him like daggers. "Me? Really me?" he thought, annoyed with himself for not having managed to keep a low profile. Gathering some false confidence, he got up from his seat and walked to the blackboard. However, with each step he took toward the front of the classroom, the numbers written on the board became more confusing and unintelligible. When he finally took the piece of chalk Miss Martinez had offered him, his hands were visibly shaking.

"Come on, Bobby," the teacher said with an encouraging smile. "It's just simple multiplication. You can do it."

William picked up the chalk with a trembling hand and stared at the problem on the board: 23 x 14. He knew that, in theory, he should know how to solve it, but his mind wouldn't respond. "What's going on? This is elementary school math! I should be able to do this even in my sleep..." he thought, feeling panic beginning to take hold of him.

The initial silence in the classroom was soon replaced by murmurs. Some classmates began to laugh quietly, others pointed at him, openly mocking him. A boy in the back broke the mood with a piercing laugh: "Look at Bobby! He can't even multiply!" The laughter quickly spread through the room like a piercing echo.

William felt the heat burning in his cheeks, a shame that seemed to envelop him completely. "IT'S NOT TRUE!" he thought, feeling panic washing over him completely. Suddenly, he looked down and realized something that stopped him in his tracks: he was still wearing his Stitch onesie, feet attached and all. The children, noticing, started laughing even louder. "Look at his pajamas! He looks like a baby!" someone shouted from the back of the room.

William looked at his reflection in the window, watching his childish face flush with embarrassment, wondering how he'd gotten into this surreal situation. But before he could even speak, the children's laughter became deafening, and the teacher's expression turned from encouragement to disappointment.

"Bobby, if you can't solve the problem, maybe you're not ready for elementary school," Miss Martinez said, her tone sounding colder than William remembered.

William looked at her, feeling the ground seem to sink beneath his feet. "No, no, that's not true! I'm even overqualified to be here! It's just... I don't understand numbers!" he said nervously, pointing at the board as if that were the most obvious answer to his lack of ability.

But before he could say anything, Miss Martinez bent down and lifted him easily, as if he were a small child. William could feel the non-slip grip on his pajamas no longer touching the floor. Fearful, he instinctively clung to the teacher's neck, feeling her body tense.

"What are you doing? Let me go!" he wanted to scream. But all that came out was a faint, almost childish sound. The teacher held him firmly as she began to examine him with disturbing thoroughness. The buttons on the back of his pajamas began to pop open, something William didn't even remember being there. A flush of heat rose sharply to his face as he realized what was happening.

"Hey! You can't do that!" he thought, feeling panic rising inside him. Miss Martinez held him firmly, keeping William safely positioned, something that clearly demonstrated her experience with unruly children.

Finally, Miss Martinez made a sound of understanding. "Oh, that explains everything," she announced in a tone that sounded almost maternal to the entire room full of expectant children who fell silent for a moment awaiting her response. "Looks like someone needs a diaper change, don't you, Bobby?"

William felt the world stop for a moment. A diaper change? That was impossible! True, he was having trouble telling, but that didn't mean he was at the point where he needed diapers. This caused William to start thrashing, trying to free himself from his teacher's grip, which remained immovable, showing no sign of releasing the boy anytime soon.

The children, who had been silently watching the scene, began to murmur among themselves. Some laughed, others commented on how "cute" and "sweet" Bobby was. William, still in Miss Martinez's arms, felt tears begin to form in his eyes. But before he could protest, the teacher led him to the classroom door, allowing her daughter, along with her fifth-grade classmates, to enter for the last time. They had all gotten up from their seats following their teacher, trying to discover William's fate. Like any child afraid of rules, they all remained in the doorway, craning their heads or trying to get to the front of the group to get a better look.

As Miss Martinez carried William in her arms, the elementary classroom fell behind her. The murmurs and laughter of the other children faded as the teacher walked down the hall, leading William toward the nursery. William, still clinging to Miss Martinez's neck, felt tears running down his cheeks, feeling a wave of resignation run through his body, letting go of his desire to fight and instead wanting to find a safe place to hide and feel in control.

Upon arriving at daycare, Miss Martinez gently placed him on a changing table covered with a soft blanket decorated with cartoon animals. William, overcome with a feeling of helplessness, merely timidly wiped his tears with his hands. With precise and meticulous movements, the teacher unbuttoned his Stitch-print pajamas. It was then that the boy noticed the Elmo-patterned diaper he was wearing, a detail that puzzled him as he didn't remember putting it on in the first place. Noticing his embarrassed expression, Miss Martinez offered him a sympathetic, almost maternal look, as if this were completely normal.

Calmly, the teacher said, holding his tiny belly with one hand to calm him, "Come on, Bobby, this isn't so bad." She carefully slipped a safety strap over his chest, gently adjusting it to keep him steady on the table. She then removed the adhesive tape from the diaper and proceeded to lift the diaper, exposing William, making sure not to make any sudden movements that might frighten him further.

Although William was completely shocked and overwhelmed by the situation, he couldn't help but notice the teacher's careful approach to her task. She took a wet wipe and gently and patiently cleaned every corner before applying a light layer of protective cream to prevent any discomfort. It was a humiliating act for him in many ways; however, he found a certain comfort and warmth in Mrs. Martinez's dedication and tenderness.

Quickly but surely, she slipped a clean diaper under him and adjusted the tapes precisely. Then she zipped the pajamas back up, hiding the diaper under the familiar blue Stitch design. When she finished, she gave him a warm smile that seemed to contain pride and satisfaction. "There, I think my star student is feeling much more comfortable now," she said matter-of-factly as she helped him sit up.

Still lying on the changing table, visibly shaken by what had happened, William could barely process everything that had happened so quickly: leaving the primary classroom, the forced transfer, and the suffocating feeling of losing control over his own destiny. Tears continued to stream down his face as he stammered words he couldn't even articulate clearly.

Miss Martinez sensed his distress without saying a word. She picked him up again, holding him close with obvious tenderness. "Calm down, Bobby, everything's okay," she said softly as she started toward the daycare play area.

William, still in Miss Martinez's arms, couldn't control the torrent of tears streaming down his face. The humiliation of failing to solve a basic math problem, the shame of feeling like a baby, and the helplessness of having no control over what was happening plunged him into an overwhelming state. Time and again, he tried to calm himself by thinking, "I have to fix this... maybe if I convince Tina, she might find Mommy for help." But the tears continued to fall unabated, unable to stop them.

Although William was still crying, something in those words compelled him to pay attention. His teacher's voice became a soothing balm as she calmly enumerated the wonders of his surroundings: "At kindergarten, you won't have to worry about difficult problems like multiplication. Everything here is simple and fun. You'll be able to play games, do crafts, and sing songs. There are no tests, no homework, no pressure... just fun and happy times."

As Miss Martinez spoke, William's tears gradually began to subside. Her warm tone had a calming effect; his sobs turned into small, gasping sighs. Silently, he wondered, "What will happen to the other children?" Although the question remained stuck in his mind, Miss Martinez continued, as if she could read him: "And besides, you will make many friends here. All the children are very affectionate and will be delighted to play with you. You will share toys, build block castles, and run around the yard together. It will be like belonging to one big, happy family."

William felt something inside him begin to loosen; an almost imperceptible sense of relief began to creep in. But despite this, a part of him was still filled with doubt. He wondered, "Does this mean I'm not a big boy anymore? That I'll never be able to do important or scientific things?" This thought left him feeling increasingly confused.

That's when something unexpected happened. Miss Martinez took out a small bottle she was holding and gently brought it to his lips. With natural, fluid movements, she arranged him more comfortably in her arms as she said, "Here you go, Bobby. This will make you feel much better."

Although William tried to resist at first, his body seemed to follow its own instinct; almost without realizing it, his lips closed around the nipple and he began to drink slowly. The sweet, warm liquid slid down his throat, enveloping him in a warm sensation that paralyzed him. The tension in his chest began to ease as the steady rhythm of the bottle lulled him. A faint alarm arose in his mind: "Have I always been this small?" But before he found answers, a soft fog began to envelop his thoughts as his

As he continued to sip from his bottle with small, anxious sips, Miss Martinez's calm voice continued, "You don't need to worry about anything here, Bobby. We'll take care of you. All you have to do is play, laugh, and enjoy yourself. There are no responsibilities or worries to carry. Isn't that wonderful?"

Every word seemed to dismantle the internal walls William was building between himself and this new reality. Conflicting thoughts raced through his mind: "Maybe she's right? Would I be happier here?" he mused, feeling his body finally stop fighting.

Miss Martinez's warm gaze rested upon him with a mixture of compassion and unwavering tenderness; it was as if she knew exactly what was going on inside him. Smiling softly, she added, "It'll be all right, Bobby. You're right where you need to be."

But then something happened. William felt a damp warmth between his legs and immediately understood what had happened: he had wet his diaper while still drinking from the bottle. His first impulse was to set it aside and seek help from his teacher. However, to his surprise, the sensation wasn't as unpleasant as he had imagined. In fact, there was something strangely comforting about it. "Maybe... it's not so bad," he thought as his mind stopped resisting.

As he continued to nurse from the bottle, everything around him began to go dark. Miss Martinez's voice faded, and the images of the nursery blurred until they disappeared completely. William closed his eyes, feeling a warm, pleasant darkness surround him, completely consuming his being.

As he continued to drink from the bottle, the surroundings began to fade. Miss Martinez's voice slowly faded, and the images of the nursery blurred until they disappeared. He closed his eyes, feeling a warm, enveloping darkness that seemed to absorb every part of him.

Suddenly, William woke with a start. His heart pounded in his chest as he looked around, finding himself in his room. Stitch's pajamas still covered his body, and the first rays of sunlight filtered through the window. The birdsong calmed him enough to realize it had all been a dream.

"What a nightmare..." he murmured, a chill running down his spine as he felt himself breaking out in a cold sweat. Yet the shame lingered, as if something from the dream had remained trapped within him. With a deep sigh, he slowly sat up in bed, allowing the weight of reality to settle back on his shoulders to envelop him. And though he tried to ignore it, a small part of him almost longed to return to Miss Martinez's comforting embrace... almost.

That's when he realized it. Something wasn't right. His breathing quickened as he threw back the covers, and there it was: the bed was damp. He looked down in disbelief, feeling the heat rise to his face. "No, it can't be..." he repeated in his mind as panic grew inside him.

With a swift movement, he got out of bed and looked at the damage. Sure enough, the spot where he'd been sleeping peacefully was wet. William felt tears begin to form in his eyes. "No... please... not this too..." he murmured, feeling his feelings consume him completely.

William sat on the edge of the bed, his head in his hands, feeling tears running down his cheeks. The thought of having wet the bed mortified him completely. "It's not me... it's the serum's fault..." he thought over and over, but there was nothing he could do to stop the tears. He knew he wasn't a boy, but his body seemed to be conspiring against him.

At that moment, the bedroom door softly opened, and Sara peeked her head inside. "William, are you okay?" she asked, a worried expression on her face.

William looked up, feeling shame keep him from saying a word. He tried to explain what had happened, but the words seemed to catch in his throat. Finally, he just pointed at the wet sheets as his eyes filled with tears again.

Sara entered the room without hesitation and approached him, placing a sympathetic hand on his shoulder. "Oh, William," she whispered tenderly. "Don't worry about this. Come on, breathe with me like we practiced yesterday, okay?"

He nodded timidly, trying to follow her instructions as Sara gently hugged him for comfort. Little by little, William's breathing became more steady and his tears stopped. His emotions, though intense moments before, began to dissipate thanks to Sara's support.

With renewed calm, William accepted her help to stand. Sara began removing the damp sheets, commenting to herself how helpful it would have been to have put on the old waterproof cover they used when Tina was first potty training. As she carefully gathered the wet sheets, she couldn't help but smile slightly at how vulnerable yet endearing William looked in that moment.

William, for his part, just stood by Sara's side, wiping the last of his tears from his face, as if he were waiting for Sara to tell him what to do next, feeling extremely tired despite having just woken up.

Seeing him, Sara simply took the sheets in one hand and then took William's hand in the other, which William didn't seem to resist. "Come on, honey. It's time for you to take a shower. I'll take care of the rest of the cleaning."

William just nodded. Sara smiled at him as she reached the bathroom door, let go of his hand, and let William enter the bathroom on his own before she headed to the laundry room to take care of the sheets on their double bed.

Meanwhile, out in the hallway, without either of them noticing, Tina had watched everything from her bedroom door. She couldn't believe what she was seeing: her dad acting like a crying baby, while her mom guided him to the bathroom as if he were five years old. She bit her lip to keep from laughing and, without saying anything, went back to her room, carefully closing the door.

After his bath, William dressed in clean clothes, feeling a bit of relief from the warm water. He'd been like that for two days now, transformed into a child again. Saturday had been... well, not so terrible, thanks to Sara, who, just as she'd promised, had helped him avoid any kind of accident. He'd spent most of the day locked in his office, putting off the inevitable: setting up his new room. But now, even though he'd rather continue hiding there, he knew he needed to clear his head.

Tina, for her part, had settled onto the couch as if it were her personal throne, holding her cell phone in one hand and the TV remote in the other. While she was watching some program without paying much attention, she had finished all her homework the day before, so she had decided to just rest today. William went out to the backyard. He took out the soccer ball he had used the day before and began kicking it toward his makeshift goal, trying not to think about anything. At least it was a quiet Sunday; Tina didn't have school, and the backyard was his best option for spending some time alone.

Meanwhile, Sara was in what would soon be William's new room. With quick movements, she changed the sheets, organized the drawers, and left everything ready. She had even placed some children's toys and books on the shelves. She knew he wouldn't be pleased in the slightest, but there was no going back: this room had to look like a real child's.

As they'd agreed, Sara didn't let much time go by without reminding William about the bathroom. "William, don't you need to go?" He thought for a second and shook his head. He knew Sara just wanted to help him, and although he was embarrassed, he was grateful that at least she did it without Tina finding out.

The morning passed slowly, each one doing their own thing. Tina remained sprawled on the couch as if it were her personal territory, her cell phone almost glued to her face. William, meanwhile, remained out on the backyard, kicking the ball around halfheartedly, as if trying to distract himself from his own thoughts. Meanwhile, Sara finished tidying up the guest room—well, now Bobby's room—making sure nothing was missing.

After making sure William's new bed was ready, with a plastic baby cover under the sheets in case he wet the bed again, Sara went down to the kitchen to get a glass of water. As she filled the glass, she looked out the window and saw William lying on the grass in the backyard. He was on his back, staring up at the sky with a clearly dejected expression. The ball he'd been kicking around earlier lay abandoned beside him, as if he'd lost interest in it completely.

Sara sighed, feeling a little sorry. She knew this was all William's fault, but seeing him so dejected broke her heart. "I should do something to cheer him up," she thought, taking a sip of water. "But what?"

She stood in the kitchen for a moment, thinking of ways to cheer William up. She remembered that, when they were in college, William loved going to the movies. It was one of his favorite activities, and they always enjoyed those outings. "Maybe that's what he needs," Sara thought, a smile beginning to form on her face. "A normal day as a family."

With that in mind, Sara walked out into the yard and approached William. "Hi, honey," she said in a soft, loving voice as she sat down on the grass beside him. "How are you feeling?"

William looked at her with those childlike eyes, but with the tired look of an adult. "I don't know, Sara... This is worse than I imagined. If I were a normal kid, maybe I'd even enjoy it. But this... Whatever the serum is doing to me... Sometimes I feel like even my body doesn't obey me."

Sara nodded, trying to understand her husband. "Maybe it's something you'll learn to control in a few days." She paused, looking at him with a warm smile. "But for now, I think we need a break from all this. How about we go to the movies today? The three of us, as a family."

William raised an eyebrow at her. "To the movies?" he asked, his voice sounding equally subdued. "Do you really think that would be a good idea?"

Sara nodded, knowing she couldn't back out. "Yes, I think that would be perfect. We can watch a movie, eat popcorn, and forget about everything for a while." "What do you say?"

William looked at the floor for a moment, as if mulling the idea over in his head, before looking at his wife with a small smile. "Sounds good, Sara. Thanks."

With that, Sara stood up and extended a hand to help William up. "Come on, honey. Let's get ready to go out."

William took her hand and stood up; without waiting, Sara began walking toward the house, holding William's hand, who, not wanting to spoil the atmosphere, simply allowed it.

Upon entering the house, Sara called to Tina, who was on the couch watching television. "Tina, come here for a moment. We have a plan."

Tina looked up from her phone and leaned closer, intrigued. "What's up, Mom?" she asked, her expression curious.

Sara smiled excitedly. "We decided to go to the movies today. The three of us, as a family. What do you think?"

Tina looked at William, who was standing next to Sara, still holding her hand. "Sure, sounds like fun," he said with a smile. "What movie are we going to see?"

Sara looked at William, waiting for his opinion. "How about we pick a movie we can all enjoy?" she asked, trying to include William in the decision.

William nodded. "Yeah, that sounds good. You guys choose. I don't know anything about any movies that might be playing right now." Tina nodded at her father's words and returned to her phone screen to buy the tickets.

With everything ready, the family got ready to leave. Tina seemed to have a diligent and responsible attitude, making sure to help her mother pack everything they might need while William watched them move around the house sitting on the couch. "Here, Mom, you almost forgot your watch; it's already charged." Sara greeted them cheerfully as she secured it back on her wrist. She felt Tina was being more responsible than usual, and that definitely makes her proud.

"Thanks Tina, sometimes I don't know what I'd do without you," Sara replied, placing a soft kiss on her daughter's forehead. "William, do you need anything else before we leave?"

William shook his head, considered taking his phone, but now that Daniel had decided to keep his distance, he saw his phone more as a source of anxiety than a useful tool. "No, I'm fine," he mumbled.

William walked hand in hand with Sara toward the car, feeling fear wash over him. It was the first time he'd left the house looking like that. What if the neighbors recognized him? What if the police recognized him on the street? However, seeing the cheerful and affectionate expression on his wife's face, he simply breathed a sigh of relief. As far as they knew, the police weren't looking for him yet, so there was no point in panicking; he should act calm and not arouse suspicion by acting scared.

Upon reaching the car, William, out of habit, headed toward the passenger door, ready to sit in his usual spot. But before he could open the door, Sara stopped him with a gentle hand on his shoulder. "William, honey, I think it would be best if you sat in the back... just this once," she said, her tone intended to sound casual but masking genuine concern. Secretly, Sara feared that William was too short to be in the front seat, and she didn't want to risk his safety.

William looked at her, a puzzled expression on his face. "Why?" "I always sit in front," he protested, though his voice sounded weaker than he'd intended.

Sara looked at him. "I know, honey, but Tina offered to sit up front and help me with directions."

Tina, who had been silently observing the scene, didn't miss the opportunity. "Yes, Bobby, plus with this app we can see the police presence on the road in real time, so we can avoid them if necessary. Isn't that great?" she said, with a triumphant smile on her face.

William frowned; he wanted to counter by saying he could give directions too, cursing inwardly when he realized he'd decided to leave his phone at home. "But I always sit in front," he insisted, sounding more childish than he intended.

Sara sighed, trying to mediate the small fight that was developing. "William, please, just this once. Tina can sit up front, and you can sit in the back. It's no big deal."

Tina, determined to win this battle, crossed her arms and looked at William with a defiant expression. "Come on, Bobby. I'm the only one who knows how to use the app; besides, wouldn't you rather avoid the police? Be a good boy and go back, okay?" she said softly, her tone sweet and almost condescending.

William looked at her, frowning. He knew he couldn't win this argument, so he finally nodded, resigned. "Fine, I'll sit in the back."

With that, Tina opened the passenger door and sat in with a triumphant smile, while William settled into the back seat and put on his seatbelt. With his arms crossed, he simply melted into his seat, determined to never leave his phone behind again.

Sara, driving, looked at William in the rearview mirror, feeling a little guilty about the situation. "Thanks, William. I know this is hard for you, but I appreciate it."

William didn't respond, he just stared out the window, trying to ignore her.

During the ride, Tina continued to show her responsible side, making sure everyone was comfortable and that nothing was missing. "I already have the tickets. We just have to buy the food when we arrive, and we'll be able to get into the show," she said, in a tone that sounded almost paternal.

"Thanks, honey, that's really helpful," Sara replied, feeling some of the tension in the air begin to dissipate. "Thanks for caring."

From the backseat, William watched the proceedings with obvious discomfort. There was something about Tina's behavior he couldn't quite understand. Her sudden, almost exaggerated willingness to attend to everything disconcerted him; her helpful attitude seemed forced, as if she were looking for something beyond the obvious.

The car pulled into the theater parking lot, and Sara turned off the engine. For a moment, she remained silent, staring at the theater building through the windshield. She knew the idea of this outing was to relax and not think about the serum and its repercussions for a few hours. However, she was also aware that there were certain precautions they needed to take.

Sara turned to the back seat, where William was sitting with his arms crossed, staring out the window with a disgruntled expression. Tina, in the passenger seat, was already ready to leave, an excited smile on her face.

"Guys, before we go out, I need to talk to you," Sara said, her tone serious but caring. "Especially you, William."

William looked at her, raising an eyebrow suspiciously. "What's this about?" he asked, his tone making it clear he wasn't in the mood for conversation.

Sara took a deep breath, knowing he wasn't going to like what she was about to say. "William, in public, from now on, you're going to have to refer to me as 'Mom.' We can't risk you calling me by my name or calling me sweetheart in public; that would only make people suspect something strange. You have to understand that, for now, we must keep up appearances."

"What?! No way!" The thought alone made his skin crawl. Mom? She was his wife!

Sara's gaze reflected a mix of firmness and empathy. I understand how you feel, but right now it's the best thing for everyone. This isn't about what we would like to do; it's what we must do to protect ourselves. I know it's not ideal, but it's essential for this lie to stick.

"No," he declared without hesitation. "I'm not going to call you 'Mom,' not here, not at home, not anywhere." His voice made it clear he was ready to stand his ground. "It's humiliating enough walking around in such childish clothes, without having to call you that in front of others."

Tina, who had been silently observing the conversation, couldn't contain a giggle. "Oh, Bobby, it's not the end of the world," she said, turning with a mischievous smile. "It's just a word."

"Shut up, Tina!" William snapped, his eyes blazing.

Sara intervened. "Tina, please don't provoke him... I know, it's absurd. But imagine if someone heard you calling me by my name... How would you explain that a ten-year-old boy lives with a woman who isn't his mother?"

William clenched his fists. Every word Sara said made sense, but that didn't make it any less humiliating. When had his life turned into this?

Finally, he snorted like an enraged bull. "Okay... Mom," he spat the word out as if it burned his tongue. "But let it be clear, I hate it."

Sara stroked his shoulder, relieved. "I know you do, my love. Thank you."

With that, Sara opened the car door and got out, closely followed by Tina. William stayed in the backseat for a moment longer, feeling like he could add another defeat to the long list he'd created since his robbery. Finally, he got out of the car and joined his family; at least the popcorn would be his consolation.

Upon entering the theater, William tried to maintain a serious demeanor, refusing to accept the experience. While Sara and Tina chatted calmly among themselves, he walked with his arms crossed, frowning like a rebellious teenager feigning disinterest. Little by little, however, the atmosphere began to envelop him: the bright colors of the posters, the aroma of popcorn, and the murmur of the people immersed him in a strange feeling of nostalgia he couldn't explain.

"What movie are we going to see?" William asked as he looked at the movie posters.

"It's a comedy," Tina replied, smiling. "It's about a mad scientist who switches bodies with an alien and must fix it before the mothership destroys Earth."

William made a dismissive gesture. "That sounds silly. Wasn't there a documentary… or some action?"

"Come on, try to relax," Sara chimed in. "You said we could choose the movie."

The scent of melted butter greeted them before they reached the concession stand. William walked a step behind, his hands buried in the pockets of his toddler sweatshirt. The golden popcorn gleamed in the lights like a forbidden treasure. "It's a steal what they're charging for this," he grumbled, though he couldn't tear his eyes away from the crunchy pile.

Sara noticed how William couldn't take his eyes off the popcorn and smiled. "How about we get a combo to share?" she suggested.

"I'll have nachos with cheese, Mom," Tina announced, interrupting the conversation as she pointed at the menu as if she were ordering at a fancy restaurant. "And a giant soda, please."

Sara nodded and returned her attention to William, who was now glaring at Tina after the interruption. To make matters worse, Tina was giving him a mocking smile, amused by his reaction. "And you, William? What would you like?" Sara asked softly.

William broke the intense exchange of glances with Tina. "The... popcorn combo you mentioned is fine," he murmured, almost inaudibly. He knew it wasn't enough.

"Excuse me, honey? I didn't hear you properly," Sara replied, leaning toward him and exaggeratedly bringing her hand to his ear.

Heat immediately rushed to her face. Damn. Here we go again. "The popcorn combo is good... Mom," he answered with effort, each word tearing at his pride.

"A large soda too, right?" Sara added with a knowing wink. The comment barely concealed her tenderness, but it completed the blow to the boy's ego.

Tina just watched with glee at how adorable William was as he shyly called his mother “mama,” “What a well-behaved boy you are, Bobby.” William’s eyes flicked up at her angrily, but that only seemed to amuse her even more.

Sara shot Tina a quick warning glance before turning to the counter clerk. "A combo for two, please," she said in that seasoned mother voice William knew all too well. "With extra butter for my... little prince." The emphasis on the last words was subtle but enough to make William redirect his glare back at Sara, this time with a slight blush as Sara smiled at him.

As Sara paid, William stared at the floor, concentrating on a stain of dried ketchup to avoid eye contact with anyone. "This is humiliating. I'm an award-winning scientist. I've invented drugs for diseases we don't even know about. And now... this." The contradiction hurt more than the fact itself.

Taking advantage of Sara's distraction, Tina leaned towards him and whispered in a mischievous tone: "Are you sure you don't want a toy with your combo, Bobby?"

"Tina," Sara warned without even looking at her, as she handed William the giant soda. "Here you go, honey. Let me know if you need help drinking it... it might be too big for you."

William took the glass in both hands, confirming that the container was far too large for his current proportions, feeling how each of Sara's words made him feel more and more like a child. Too big for me? I've never had a problem with this before! Even worse, he'd probably just be treated like a tantrum-throwing toddler.

They walked toward the movie theater; Tina led the way holding her nachos, while William followed behind, clumsily carrying his giant cup and popcorn. Noticing this, Sara took a step back to stand beside him. "You're doing great," she said softly, accompanying her words with an affectionate pat on the head.

William didn't respond. Every compliment for "behaving" only made the situation more grotesque. However, when she offered him a handful of that extra-buttered popcorn... At least for a moment, between the sweet and salty flavors exploding in his mouth, he thought he might survive this outing after all.

Upon arriving at the theater, Sara showed them their seats. "William, sit here, and Tina, sit here," she said, pointing to each child's respective seats while she sat in the center like any mother who wanted to maintain peace during the movie by keeping her children separated.

William didn't respond, just leaned back in his seat, placing his drink on the armrest and holding the popcorn for himself and Sara. The movie started, and the boy stared up at the screen with a disinterested expression. However, as the movie began, he couldn't help but feel a little drawn to the images on the screen. The bright colors, the laughter of the other viewers, and the enveloping music immersed him in a sense of nostalgia he couldn't explain. For a moment, he forgot his frustration and let himself be carried away by the story. The comical scenes made him smile, though he tried to hide it by keeping a serious expression. "This isn't so bad," he thought, feeling some of the tension in his body begin to disappear.

But as the movie progressed, something began to change. The now half-finished bucket of popcorn sat in his lap, while the giant soda he'd mindlessly sipped throughout the film lay empty beside him, with only a few melted ice cubes clinking at the bottom. The movie was nearing the climax of the second act (the mad scientist about to reclaim his body from the alien) when a familiar pressure began to build in his lower belly. At first, he tried to ignore it, pressing his thighs against the seat. "Only a few more minutes," he thought, concentrating on the screen. But the need became urgent all too quickly, and no matter how tightly he crossed his legs or shifted uncomfortably, he couldn't prevent the first warm burst from soaking his underwear.

The sound of the movie and the laughter of the other viewers seemed to mock him. William felt the heat spread through his pants, soaking them completely, along with his seat. The sensation was uncomfortable, damp, and warm, and he could do nothing to stop it.

Panic paralyzed him for a second. "No, not now, not here." But it was useless. A warm torrent gushed out uncontrollably, soaking first the fabric of his boxers, then his sweatshirt, until it formed a visible puddle on the seat of the theater room. The sensation was horrible—hot, damp at first, then cold and sticky as it cooled, the wet fabric sticking to his thighs—but the worst part was knowing there was nothing he could do to hide it.

But before he could do anything, Sara, sitting next to him, noticed something wasn't right. First, it was the uncomfortable shifting in his seat, then the panicked expression. "William, are you okay?" she asked, her voice filled with concern.

William didn't respond, just lowered his head, feeling tears begin to roll down his cheeks. "No... I'm not okay," he murmured, his voice barely audible over the sound of the film.

Sara looked at him with an expression of understanding and compassion. "Were you in an accident?" she asked, her tone gentle but firm.

William nodded, feeling shame consume him. "Yes," he murmured, unable to meet her gaze. "I'm sorry."

Sara sighed but remained calm. "It's okay, honey. It's not the end of the world. We'll figure this out." Tina, who had been half-dozing in her seat, woke up at her mother's whisper. Her eyes widened as they took in the situation—the puddle, her father's expression, the way his hands were slightly shaking. For a moment, William thought he was in for some teasing, but to his surprise, his daughter just nodded solemnly when Sara passed her some bills.

"Tina, go to the store and buy some clothes for William. Here's some money."

Tina nodded, taking the money and standing up from her chair. "Sure, Mom. I'll go find something comfortable."

As Tina walked away between the rows of seats, Sara leaned toward William, discreetly passing him a jacket to tie around his waist.

"Let's go to the bathroom," she murmured, helping him up carefully so no one else would notice the accident. William moved like an automaton, feeling the cold liquid running down his legs, too ashamed even to cry. "I'm an award-winning scientist," he thought bitterly as they walked down the hallway, avoiding curious glances. "And now I can't even control my own bladder."