The horrors of babysitting
"Kristy, darling, have you seen you brother?" I ask as I lift the tyke out of the laundry basket filled of Cocoa Puffs. She shakes her head, blonde curls whipping my face.
"No." She says, staring up at me with wide, brown eyes. "He said he was going to the bafroom but that was a hour ago." I sigh and set her down on the couch but she instantly climbs down and chases after the cat. I pretend I don't care and march on upstairs too the bathroom. I press my ear to the door, and when I don't hear anything I knock rather loudly.
"Matt?" I ask. "Are you in there?" No reply. I press my ear to the door and hear a small noise. "Mathew if you do not answer me this minute I am coming in." Nothing. I narrow my eyes and turn the door knob, pushing the door open with more force than neccesary. Matt's eyes widen at the same time mine do. He's standing at the sink, towel around his bare shoulders. In one hand he holds a comb, in the other a pink tube of some sort. There was a pink glob waiting atop the comb. "What. Are. You. Doing?" I tried not to grit my teeth, I really did, but failed miserably.
"Uhh... nothing?" He shrugs and quickly drops the styling tools into the sink. I narrow my eyes at him and pluck the pink tube from the sink. I read the label, Long Lasting Hair Dye. I glare at Matt, walk out the door and back downstairs, and drop the pink tube into the trash. 'Why, why would a twelve-year-old boy want to dye his hair pink?' I ask myself with a shake of my head. I start to sigh, but am interrupted when the baby monitor clipped to my belt erupts with the sounds of a crying baby. I quickly sweep into the nursery by the master bedroom, and pick up the crying nine month year old baby girl. I hold her in a comfortable position in my arms and soothe her by gently patting her back while searching for her pacifier. I find it amongst her blanket and hold to her mouth. She accepts it gratefully. I bounce her softly for a few moments, and when I check on her she is fast asleep. I smile at her adorable, innocent, face and lay her on her back in her crib. I watch her for a minute before closing the door quietly behind me as I go to search for Kristy.
I find her in the half-bath, trying to put the cat in the toilet. I quickly come to the cat's rescue, freeing the feline from Kristy's grasp and setting her free outside the bathroom. The little girl sits on the floor in front of the sink, looking up at me with sad deyes and a pouty lip.
"You let her get away" She says in a small voice and snifffs twice for effect.
"But honey, Ginger doesn't want to take a bath in the toilet." I say gently, looking down at her with an apologizing look. She nods and sniffs twice more before reaching up for me. I smile slightly and pick her up, her wrapping her arms around my neck. I sigh for the millionth time tonight and can't help but think, surely these children will be the death of me.
