Mitchell's Ultimate Upgrade

The fluorescent lights of Baby Depot hummed overhead as two-year-old Mitchell surveyed his kingdom—or at least, the diaper disposal aisle of it.

"Liam," Mitchell tugged his caretaker's sleeve with sticky fingers. "That one."

Liam followed the toddler's determined point to the display model: the Pamper Pail 3000, all brushed chrome and touch-sensitive panels. The thing looked like it belonged on a spaceship, not in a nursery.

"Mitch, buddy, that's two hundred bucks. For a diaper pail."

"Mine." Mitchell's jaw set in that particular way that meant negotiation was off the table.

Liam crouched down to Mitchell's eye level. "You really want this one? The fancy one with all the lights and sensors?"

Mitchell nodded, then wrapped his arms around Liam's neck—the toddler's secret weapon.

"Alright, alright," Liam laughed, hefting the box under one arm and Mitchell under the other. "We're getting you the absolute top-tier model. But you're explaining this to your parents."

Back home, Mitchell sat cross-legged on his nursery floor, mesmerized as Liam assembled the gleaming device. When the motion sensor activated and the lid whispered open on its own, Mitchell gasped.

"Magic," he whispered.

"Technology, little man. But yeah, pretty much magic."

Mitchell patted the smooth surface possessively. His pail. His choice. His room was finally complete.