“I’m telling you, Katy, there’s nothing like it.”

The fair skinned brunette responded to her friend by shaking her head.

“It just seems kind of far fetched, Jess. You’re saying they actually...shrank you?!”

“I know! Isn’t it weird? It’s totally new age, not to mention a really great way to reconnect with your child.”

Jess had just spent the last 10 minutes of their lunch break describing the new experience that she and her 8-year-old son had over the weekend. She visited some new play center where she had apparently been shrunk down to the same size as her son, after which they had engaged in play together on relatively equal terms. And she couldn’t stop talking about it.

“Look,” Jess continued, leaning forward to show Katy her phone’s screen. “They have a video on their website. Check it out.” The woman clicked the play button.

Katy watched as the scene unfolded. She saw two little girls, each probably about 4 or 5 years old, sitting in a play area building a castle out of blocks. One had dark blonde hair tied in pigtails, and the other had light brown hair styled the same way. She could not see either of their faces. A woman entered the scene, approaching the girls.

“Hello Kelsey, are you having a fun time in our playroom?”

The blonde girl in the pink and white striped top turned around and grinned, shouting, “Yes, Miss Nancy!” excitedly. 

The woman smiled. “And what about you, Ms. Summers?”

The other little girl turned around...and that’s when Katy saw that it wasn’t a girl at all; it was an adult; a fully grown woman...just smaller. Specifically, the woman was the same size as the other girl. She was dressed in a rainbow colored shirt with a big star on it, which was visible as she giggled in response to the question, answering, “Yes, Miss Nancy!” in a high pitched voice that was very close to the girl’s.

“Here at the Playdate Factory,” a male announcer’s voice cut in, “We believe that the best way to raise your child is to spend quality time with them. And now, thanks to our groundbreaking treatment, you can bond with your child in the most direct and unique way possible: by getting down to their level, literally, so you can experience play like never before.”

“Well,” the shrunken woman said, suddenly turning to the screen, “At least not within the last 25 years, haha!”

“Yes yes,” the announcer continued with a chuckle. “Visit our website today to book your session at one of our two locations. Life is stressful...make time to play.”

“So, what do you think?” Jess asked, as the video finished.

“I...I dunno Jess,” Katy replied.

“Look…here.” Jess reached into her purse and pulled out business card, sliding it across the table. The words "PLAYDATE FACTORY” were brightly printed on its face.

“They said that card was good for a free consultation. At least call them to learn more about the process. This was really good for Sam and I, and I think it could be really special for Sara.”

Katy took the card from her friend as they both stood up from the table.

“Okay Jess...I’ll think about it.”

---------------------------------------

Katy turned the key in the lock of her door, pushing it open to the quiet house beyond. She trudged in, dropped her keys in the bowl, and kicked off her shoes with a grumble. Closing and locking the door, she walked into the living room just in time for her hired help to descend the stairs.

“Working late again tonight, Ms. Smalls?” the dark-haired, brown-eyed hispanic woman said.

“Yea, Elisa,” Katy replied, almost in a mumble. She had hired the slender, 26-year-old woman as a nanny for her daughter during the day, and she felt bad every time she had to trudge in late from work. She paid her well for it, but it didn’t make Katy feel any better.

A look of concern came to Elisa’s face.

“You don’t look so good, Ms. Smalls, and you’ve been working late so often. Maybe you should consider taking a vacation.”

“Yea, I know Elisa, I really should...if I can find the time.”

Elisa just sighed.

“Okay, well there’s chicken and rice in the kitchen for you and Sara is upstairs playing in her room, waiting for you. It’s almost eight o’ clock, so if you don’t mind, I’m gonna’ go.”

“Yes, of course, sorry Elisa. And thank you so much.”

Elisa smiled.

“Not a problem...it’s what I’m here for. You have a good night.”

After the woman had left, Katy decided to head upstairs and tuck in her daughter before indulging in her late meal. She climbed the stairs and took a right at the landing, which put her directly in front of her daughter’s room. The door was covered in pictures and art that Sara had made under Elisa’s care, the center of which was a particularly glittery unicorn.

“Oh, that’s new,” Katy thought to herself. Or had it been there yesterday? The days were really starting to blend together. Shaking her head, she knocked softly and pushed the door. Sara was sitting on her bed, dressed in her princess pajamas, playing two of her favorite dolls under the light of her lamp. She looked up as the door opened and a huge grin came to her face.

“Mommy!” the four-year-old yelled, leaping from the bed while still holding her dolls. Bounding across the room, she slammed into Katy, her arms wide in a big hug.

“Oof! Haha...big huggie, Sara!”

“Big big biiiiiig huggie!” Sara replied, giggling.

Katy smiled. “Ready for bed?”

The smile melted from Sara’s face. “But Momma...you said you’d play dollies with me tonight. In the dollhouse.”

Katy tried to keep her expression positive as she remembered: she had made that promise this morning during breakfast. But now it was too late for the activity.

“I’m so sorry Sara, but it’s just too late for dollies. Mommy had to work late today.”

Sara frowned. “But mommaaaa...that’s what you said yesterday.”

Katy kneeled down. “I’m sorry, but we’ll play tomorrow? For now, though, I’ll read you any book you like, okay?”

Sara contemplated a moment, then grinned and skipped back over to her bed. Leaving the dolls, she ran over to her bookshelf and grabbed a beautifully colored copy of Rumplestiltskin and brought it to Katy.

“This!”

Katy smiled and led her daughter to the bed, where she began the story. When it was done, she tucked Sara in, giving her a kiss on the forehead. “Good night sweetie.”

“Momma?” Sara said softly just as Katy was getting ready to leave the room.

“Hmm?” Katy replied, turning within the doorway. “Yes?”

“I’m really sorry you have to work so much. Let’s play soon. I love you very, very much.”

Katy stared at her daughter, hearing the words, and suddenly felt a wave of emotion.

“I love you too, Sara...goodnight.”

Walking out of the room, Katy was able to get the door closed just in time before the liquid started to press out of her eyes. She walked down the stairs, sniffling to herself, blinking rapidly to try and stem the flow of tears as she made her way to the kitchen. Passing her purse on the way, she doubled back and rifled through it, producing the business card she’d been given at lunch earlier that day. She gripped it tightly in her hand, giving a little nod before finally dropping her defenses and letting the tears flow.