Cold All the Way Through, But Warming

Babysitting

It turned out that I didn't have much time to prepare for my guests, for all of a sudden the three children were dropped off by a family friend, and Rigel was romping through the house with Nana. The two boys stared at me while Mavis babbled in the chair she had been sat in. I gave them a smile, "Aren't you excited for your new sibling?"

"I want a brother." Roger shifted the small bag he was carrying. "Where are we sleeping?"

"Upstairs," I pointed to the staircase. "There's a cot in the office, I thought you two could share it?"

"We're not sleeping in your room?" Trevor turned to me, his lip wobbling. "Where's Mavis going?"

"I thought Mavis could stay with me, in my bed." I looked from Roger to Trevor, seeing both of them making the same face. "You don't like that?"

"We want to be in your room," Roger jutted out his lower lip. "All of us together."

"Do you sleep with your mother?" I raised an eyebrow.

Trevor shook his head, "No, but-"

"But Trevor gets nightmares when Mother has a baby." Roger elbowed him, "He doesn't want to be alone."

That comment led to a round of arguing and shoves that I could barely follow, until finally I stamped my foot and drew them away from each other. "Fine, you all can sleep in my room," The two boys immediately looked triumphant, but their faces fell as I finished. "But you'll need to move the cot yourselves."

The two of them trudged off, and I collected Mavis into my arms. Almost two years old, she was getting big, but she still giggled when I tickled her belly. A meaty hand was slapped on my cheek, "Anna!"

"Yes, you silly girl." I chuckled, not only at that but at the sound of clattering and whispered curses coming down the stairs. I glanced to the clock, "You'd better hurry boys, I have to go into the offices today and I do not trust the three of you alone here."

It was at least an hour before they came downstairs to insist that I needed to see what they had done. What I found was a bit of a mess, the sewing machine had been moved, the cot was wedged so that I would have to step over it to get to the wardrobe, and their bags had been piled on my bed. Roger looked at me, "Is this okay?"

"It will do." I ruffled his hair, "Now, let your aunt drive you down to the docks. I'm trusting you two with your sister." That set off another argument, for one of them wanted to ride beside me which they couldn't do if they were holding their sister. I gained a newfound respect for Sylvie listening to them, finally getting them to agree to switch who rode next to me on the drive home.

Roger got to be the first to ride next to me, and I spent most of the time answering his endless questions and batting his hand away from the horn. I glanced to him, "You're usually not like this when your father is around, or Will for that matter."

He shrugged, watching as I maneuvered us through a gap and got up to the docks. "Usually Papa answers all my questions, Uncle Will too. They told us not to bother the ladies with them."

I sighed, shaking my head as I got out to open the doors for everyone. "Remind me to thank your father for that." I hefted Mavis into my arms, "Now, boys, I want you to stay close to me."

They both proved game, trotting alongside me. Trevor gave my skirt a tug, "Are we going on a ship again?"

"Maybe," I shrugged, shifting Mavis as she tried to grab at my hat. "But I'm needed in the offices first." To say the children drew attention as we walked in was an understatement, but it didn't seem like that was the only excitement of the day. Clerks and secretaries eyed me like I was going to bite them, a quick look and then hustling off to get away. I made sure the boys stayed close as climbed upstairs, met by Mr. Welton on the landing.