Irresistible Compulsions

||Ch. Seven|| "Sounds legit right?"

Morning shift's a bitch.
Surprise, surprise, we were short staffed again.

Trying to get ten people with Alzheimers showered and dressed before breakfast in the span of an hour and a half is a mission to say the least. The fact that half my residents have caught the flu didn't exactly help.

It's just past 2pm and I'm finally free, clocked out and sitting in my car trying to massage away the throbbing in my temples. I've spent the past couple hours with a pounding headache that feels like my brain is sloshing around inside my skull.

Groaning as I start the car, I internally pray that I'm not catching a cold when I realise swallowing is becoming increasingly uncomfortable. My saliva feels sharp as I gulp.

The buzz of my phone plays over my car speakers, interrupting All Star by Smash Mouth.

In the process of reversing out of the car park, I grab my phone, cringing at the sight.

I completely forgot.
I'd promised babysit Scout this evening

Scout's mum lives a few houses down from me. She's a single mum working full time who's recently decided to start online dating. Scout's precious. She's definitely not someone to be around if you want to avoid catching baby fever.

Kate's asked me to baby sit for her a fair few times over the years. At first it was a way of earning some extra cash after school but once I started nursing I offered to give her a hand free of charge. Truth is I loved hanging out with the little rugrat. Plus I felt for Kate.

Today on the other hand, I'm not exactly jumping with joy at the idea of entertaining a five year old. I'd planned on popping a couple paracetamol tablets and curling up into a ball on the couch.

Deciding I don't have the heart to cancel on Kate and ruin her first night of tryna jump back on the horse, I toss my phone onto the passenger's seat and mentally prepare myself for the long afternoon ahead.

••• ••• •••

Kate dropped Scout off about an hour ago.
After making her a snack platter we'd sprawled out on the loungeroom floor where we're now colouring in with Finding Nemo playing in the background.

The paracetamol may have helped my headache but has done nothing for my sore throat and the blocked nose I'm developing.

"So how was school?"

"Goooood!" She giggles out the next part. "Tommy held my hand today when we went down the slide."

I can't help the proud smile from appearing.

"Uh huh and who's this Tommy boy hmm?"

She perks up, looking giddy as she explains.

"He's a boy I my class..." "He's really funny."

"Oh my goodness! You've got a crush on a boy!" I tease through a laugh which causes her cheeks to turn red as she sits up right, stopping her colouring.

I reach forward, scooping her into my arms and tickling her as she tries to escape, giggling breathlessly.

"What's going on in here?"

Scout and I freeze, our heads shooting up towards the door.

Dylan's leaning against the doorway, arms crossed with an amused smile playing at his lips.

Scout, never being one to shy away, jumps to her feet and skips over to him.

"My name's Scout!"
To my utter shock, she grabs hold of the hem of her skirt and curtseys.