Plastic

It's Thursday night, typically I have tonight off. but this client was in desperate need of a sitter; something about her sister. I pull up to the house just before 5:00 p.m., and wow. This house is beautiful! It gives off a cottage core vibe, like a witch in the woods kind of feel. There is moss around the windows, not in an unkempt way, more like a deliberately placed kind of way. There is also a medium-sized dream catcher hanging off the awning, it is so pretty. I love it, I could probably live here if I was given the opportunity. I pull my phone off the mount and text Diana: Just pulled up, sorry I'm early! She just sends back a smiley emoji as I step out of the car. I'm not really sure what to expect with this job tonight, I haven't heard much, or really anything about this family, and I asked around. I just have to hope for the best, I could really use the money from this job.

"Lexi! Thank you so much, seriously I don't know what I would have done without you." She runs out the doors with her suitcase in hand and hugs me, tight. "Huck will be back from his trip tomorrow afternoon, I know you said your overnight rates are a little higher but that is no problem" She loads her bags into her trunk, her little green Kia. "No worries Mrs. Diana, I'm just glad I could help. Any updates on your sister?" Diana shakes her head "No, but no news is good news, right?" I give her a sly smile. Poor Anne, she's been struggling with her health for some time now, I guess she took a turn for the worst recently. "And you dear? How are your folks?" She slams the trunk shut and turns to me, "I'm not sure, I haven't spoken to them in some time" I shrug my shoulders, it happens. "Ah, that's too bad! Well, I do need to get going, Quinn is in the living room playing with her dolls, call me if you need anything" she waves and gets into her car. I wave back and walk towards the door, opening it to find hanging lavender in the entryway.

"Quinn? It's Lexi, your babysitter for the night" I walk towards the giggling and see her. A small child with red pigtails and a purple dress. She's got a doll in each hand and has even more on the floor surrounding her, looks like she's putting on a play for them. The way she has them set up it really does look like they're watching her, waiting for her next move.

She looks up at me with the biggest, darkest eyes I have ever seen on a child. She looks porcelain, perfect, and scary. "Oh, hi Lexi. Sorry, just let me finish the story for them, and then I can show you around. We can play in my room!" She smiled wide, her teeth were even perfect! How did Diana get such a child? I didn't even think it was possible. "Do you mind if I look around a bit? It was a long drive and I'd like to stretch my legs" Quinn shooed me off, I guess I made her lose focus or something. Oh well, children will be children.

I walk into the kitchen and see a note on the table, Lexi, use this card if you guys get hungry - there is also some food in the fridge. Help yourself! Diana seemed like such a nice person, I'm surprised I've never babysat for her before. Her kitchen was small, but just enough space for the two of them. There are some plants in the window, they are beautifully taken care of. I go back into the hallway and open the last door I see, this must be Diana's bedroom... It is huge! She has a canopy bed, a ton of throw pillows, and pictures all over the wall.

I sit on the bench in front of the bed and look at the pictures, it is mostly just of her and Quinn. One catches my eye - Quinn in a hospital bed. She looks nothing like how she does now, she looked so frail, so sick, it didn't even look possible that she was alive in this picture. I put my hand on my chest, what has this poor girl gone through? "You aren't supposed to be in here, Mommy will be mad" I jumped, Quinn was standing in the doorway. "Oh my! You scared me, and I'm sorry I was just looking at these pictures. Were you sick?" She just looks up at the picture and grins, "I was, for a really long time! This picture is when I died though. C'mon, let's play!" She grabs my hand and pulls me. Wait, what did she say? When she died? That can't be right, "What do you mean when you died? You couldn't have, you're holding my hand!" she just dragged me up the stairs to her room. It was very similar to her mother's, canopy bed and all. There were far more dolls than I thought were possible to own.