𝐒𝐎𝐔𝐓𝐇𝐒𝐈𝐃𝐄 𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐒𝐇|𝐒𝐇𝐀𝐌𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐒𝐒

𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐧𝐞

The day had been going on slowly, and neither Fiona or Joey could convince Debbie to lay off daycare. She was adamant on taking care of the toddlers, claiming how they needed her and didn't know what to do if she wasn't around to help. It was an argument that Joey shut down quickly, for each of those toddlers had parents at home who worked and took care of their children. Because nothing was working, Fiona and Joey had taken it upon themselves to bring Debbie outside, hoping to eventually convince her how daycare wasn't doing anything but harming her.

"What if Maeve and I took over for the day?" Joey suggested, biting on her ice cream sandwich and wiping at the corner of her lip. "I mean, the both of us have our experience with babies."

"What experience does Maeve have with babies?" Debbie scoffed, shaking her head like she had been doing for the last hour each time Fiona attempted to talk to her.

"She used to babysit to make money for Mickeys bail, remember? It didn't work, but she did work with babies so that's a plus."

"True," Fiona nodded, backing up her younger sister. "I should give up some shifts and help more with daycare."

"Your tips are the only thing that's gonna get us through winter." Debbie argued.

"You should not be carrying this much."

"It's only for two more weeks."

"Two weeks?"

"School starts."

"Of course you would be counting down," Joey muttered, running a hand through her hair. "Deb, come on. You're eleven. You need to start acting like it."

"When you were eleven you were out protesting for LGBTQ rights."

"Of course I was. But I still knew when it was time to be a kid, Debbie. I mean, did you not hear my Taylor Swift karaoke blasting throughout the house?"

"Trust me, we all heard your Taylor Swift karaoke." Fiona joked, Joey nudging her side a few seconds later.

"Want me to start collecting stickers and lip gloss?" Debbie added.

"Yeah, maybe hang out at the park sometime."

"Loitering."

"How about you invite some friends over and relax in the pool?"

"No lifeguard. Liability."

"They come over, hang out in the pool, and sleep over. It'll be like a birthday-party sleepover-party."

"My birthday is not until October."

Joey froze in her tracks, bending down to Debbie's level and grabbing a hold of her shoulders. Her face was contorted in frustration and worry, causing Debbie to frown deeply.

"Debs," Joey softly spoke. "It's somebody's birthday somewhere, so we'll celebrate that. Make a guest list. It'll be fun."

Debbie wasn't budging so Fiona jumped in. "Make your list or I will."

Everything seemed to have moved in slow motion after that. A milkshake was flying through thin air, hitting Fiona a few moments later. Joey grabbed the back of Debbie's shirt, pulling her back to avoid the cold drink hitting them next.

"Slut!" Lucy-Joe, Craig Heisners wife yelled before driving off. Joey picked up the discarded cup on the ground, throwing it at the car. It didn't work, but it was the thought that counted.

"Did you know he was married?" Debbie questioned once everything was over.

"At least it's chocolate," Fiona shrugged, trying to play the situation off. "Come on."