Can’t Talk

John tried his best to speak, but the unintelligible blabber that came out his mouth was indecipherable to Elizabeth. Elizabeth’s face gained even more worry as great concern washed over her. “Oh please tell me your still in there somewhere. John I need you to nod your head if you can still understand”. Despite nearly crying again, John slowly nodded his head to her. She breathed a slight sigh of relief. “Okay, you’re still in there”. She bent over and grabbed his shirt and began to wrap his body in it. “I need you to stay calm right now as try to figure out what went wrong, just stay calm okay”. John couldn’t do much at the moment as he was wrapped up tightly, but he tried his best.

Still holding him, she carefully moved over to the ingredients, surveying each one of them carefully. Going over to the shelf she noticed the two bottles of near identical liquid, with a small amount taken from one. Gasping a bit, she looked down at John. “John please don’t tell me you used that one?” he nodded apprehensively and then felt her grip around him slightly squeeze. “John that’s the wrong one. Why didn’t you just tell me there were two of those bottles up there”? John wanted to defend himself but again nothing intelligible came from his lips. Elizabeth looked frustrated. “Okay well at least I know what went wrong”. John felt a little relief that she now knew what happened and thought now she could fix it. If that was the case though then why did she still seem so upset? John reached his small hands at her shirt and tugged at it. She looked down at him as he pointed to the cauldron, pantomiming mixing it. She seemed to understand, but noticeably winced. “I’d better explain some things john”. She moved over to the table, pulling up a chair to it and sitting down, instinctively rocking John a bit as she sat there. “John potions are pretty complicated. As you just experienced, a single ingredient can completely change the outcome and I’ve never even made a potion like the one we just made before. Honestly I don’t know if it’s even a 24 potion anymore. What I’m saying is, I’m not quite sure I can reverse it”. John stared at Elizabeth’s eyes unblinking as she looked down into his. Suddenly tears began to well up in his eyes as he uncontrollably began to cry. Elizabeth lifted and held him up against her chest, shushing him while caressing his back. “Hey, hey it’s going be okay, it’s going to be okay. I’m not finished explaining”. She comforted him for several more minutes before he calmed down, leaving him only slightly whimpering. John wondered why he couldn’t control when he cried no matter how hard he tried. Even the littlest things seemed to upset him now. Elizabeth rubbing the back of his head though allowed him to finish listening to her. “I can’t fix it right now, but in 24 hours it might wear off. If not I’ll study every tome and textbook I have or find a more experienced witch to fix this. I’m sure there’s a solution somewhere, I just have to find it”. John felt thoroughly calmed down now and tired as he held on to her as tightly as he could. She looked at him lovingly “I promise I’ll do whatever it takes and in the meantime I’ll take care of you as best as I possibly can”. She then laid him on her leg, tickling his exposed belly causing him to giggle happily. She smiled warmly at him. “This might be tough for a while, but at least you’re so darn cute”. She played with him a few more minutes before ceasing.

“Well time to get to work. You’re a baby for the foreseeable future so I’ve got a lot to do, even if only for the next 24 hours. I’ll have to make the house safer and pick up supplies like baby clothes, formula, and diapers”. John shot her a accusing look over the last few remarks as he attempted to voice his objection. “Oh don’t give me that look. You’re a baby right now and all those things are necessary for taking care of babies. I know it’s rough but will you please help out your temporary mommy and not fuss while I take care of you”.