The Last Babysitter | Requiem

Unchained Melody, Little Bastards, and Disaster Looming

Birds sang in the weeping willows. Ella liked to close her eyes and listen to them. The cadence, the happiness laced within every whistle; it reminded her that there was more to this world. It made her feel like as if magic was out there, somewhere to be found.

Their simple yet beautifully elegant songs were perfectly innocent. Magic must be real for something like that to exist in this fucked up world.

As always, some fucking kid scared the birds away with his loud ass mouth. Ella opened her eyes and watched the birds fly away. It must have been hundreds singing their little hearts out and then they get scared away by some little bastard.

Ella smiled at the boy. His mother had one of those child leashes attached to the little shit. Mom was oblivious, of course. She was too busy checking something on her phone.

Ella leaned in close to get the kids attention and smiled. "You're a little fuck head, you know that?" Ella checked her phone. Dammit. Ten after three. She stuffed the phone into the diaper bag and stood up, hanging the bag off her shoulder.

Another child came out of nowhere and ran into Ella. "Are you okay, sweetie?"

"Sorry," the girl said, then ran away.

Ella stood up and began looking for Georgia. She spotted her charge playing on the monkey bars on the other side of the park.

"Georgia! Come on, sweetie! We have to go!"

A few short moments later, Georgia had arrived at Ella's side after sprinting all the way across the field.

"Do we have to go?" Georgia guzzled the bottle of water Ella handed to her.

"You have your ballet recital, remember?"

"Dammit."

Ella kneeled and looked at Georgia intensely. "That's a bad word, Georgia. Why on Earth would you say that?"

"Because, I'm mad."

"I understand that, but you're only a child. And you're much too pretty to say such a word. I'll make a deal with you. I won't tell your mother as long as you promise to not say it again."

"Fine. I promise."

"Now come along. We're running late."

"But what CAN I say when I get mad?" Georgia hopped and skipped as they walked out of the park.

"You can say...fuck."

Georgia gasped. "That's a worse bad word! You can't say that!"

"My goodness." Ella smiled. "I misspoke. I meant to say fudge. When you get mad, just say fudge."

Ten-minutes later, Ella and Georgia arrived at her home, a brownstone among many. Ella unlocked the door, and they walked inside. Georgia's father, Elliot Hennigan, met them at the entrance.

"Hurry upstairs and change for your recital." Mr. Hennigan said. "Mommy's meeting us there."

Georgia said bye to Ella then raced upstairs.

"I apologize for being late." Ella said. "It was just so busy, and chaotic."

"I bet so. That's why I hate Ashbury. Seems like everyone and their brother brings their kids there to play. You look a little flushed. How about some water?"

"I should get going, actually. I'm expected at the Garfield's."

"Look at you! You're all out of breathe. I must insist."

Ella glanced at her phone. Three thirty-five. She had to be at the Garfield's by four. A twelve minute walk would land her arrival time at three forty-two. Add five minutes for this, makes it three forty-seven.

"Okay, sure."

Ella followed Mr. Hennigan into the kitchen where he took a cold bottle of water from the refrigerator, removed the cap, and gave it to her. She sipped, noticing the way he was looking at her.

"Do you have any idea how sexy you look in that little dress of yours? I know, I know. I can see the look you're giving me. The last time I said something like that, you told me to stop. And then the time before that...and before that." Mr. Hennigan chuckled. "I think by now we both know that I won't stop—because I can't. You're just...too sexy."

"Thank you for the water, but I really need to go."

Mr. Hennigan sighed, taking the bottle of water and placing it on the counter. When Ella walked away, he grabbed her by her arm.