"Bad news!" the chief engineer told financial vice president Noreen. "Research finds that some of our model C148 infant car seats may have a defective part that in a fast stop could give way, causing the seat to come loose from its installation and possibly hurt the baby sitting in it. I suggest were order a total recall," he noted. "What? That would cost money and hurt our bottom line. These seats are all over five years old. The owners got their money's worth. Announce the problem, but only offer a 20-percent rebate on a new seat to those turning in the old ones. We'll turn this lemon into the lemonade of increased sales," Noreen replied.

"But won't people continue to use the old seats, rather than pay for even a discounted replacement?" the engineer said with alarm. "If they know of the defect but continue to use those seats, its their decision," Noreen grumped back.

"Aren't you worried about the company's good name? Aren't you worried that the fates may frown on you for this?" said the engineer. "I create my own fate. And I'm not using the seats," said Noreen.

But as Noreen left her office that evening, a strange feeling came over her. She felt cold, then ticklish. Her vision seemed to warp, making her surroundings look larger, then morph into a new scene. Then her legs became wobbly. Stumbling along, Noreen soon lost her balance and thudded fanny first to the floor.

Looking around, Noreen noticed that she seemed to be in a bedroom. One with a large crib she had to look up at. Then checking herself, Noreen was astonished. "I wasn't wearing these clothes minutes ago. Snaps? Like on young child clothes," Noreen gasped. Checking further, he found she now had a flat but pudgy chest, very short legs, and a diaper. "I can't be a baby again. Am I hallucinating?" she asked herself. The silence was then broken by a loud woman's voice. "Time to go bye bye, Noreen," said the woman, who scooped up baby Noreen and carried her out.

The woman opened the rear door of a Ford auto and placed Noreen in an infant car seat. It looked very familiar to Noreen. A quick check indicated it was her company's model C148. "No! Not in one of these seats. This might be one with the defect," Noreen tried to say, but the woman only heard babbling. "No, No, Noreen. You can't ride up front with Mommy," the woman said as she completed belting Noreen in. Pulling at the belts, Noreen was unable to free herself. She just kept repeating, "Please, Mommy. Don't drive fast. Drive safely! For my sake!"

Noreen's new Mommy was a safe driver, never exceeding speed limits. As a result, her car regularly exceeded 38 miles per gallon. But this didn't placate Noreen. The fates did punish her, putting her in the position of having to use a product she ordered not recalled. But her Mommy liked to drive her everywhere, resulting in a very nervous Noreen getting only 20 miles per diaper!

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