Tailspin Anthology

Babysitting

Christian tries to babysit his nieces and nephews.

"Thank you so much." Jessie told Christian as he entered her two-story home. "Mom and dad are out of town. Troy caught a cold from the kids. And the others either had to work or had plans that they couldn't cancel. And we'd take the kids with us but."

Christian waved at Bryan sitting on the couch with a big nail that impaled his hand. "You guys go ahead. I'll keep an eye on them."

Bryan furrowed his brow at him. "Are you sure you can handle them by yourself?"

"I've babysat before." Christian told them. "And I dealt with kids while in foster care, so I am positive that we'll get along just fine."

Jessie and Bryan glanced at each other. "If you are sure." Jessie said before whistling. "Kids!" A stampede of feet rushed down the steps. "Mommy and Daddy are going to the doctor. Uncle Christian is going to keep an eye on you. I expect you all to be on your best behavior."

"Yes ma'am." They chorused.

Jessie smiled at them before staring at Christian. "Dinner has already been served. So you just need to make sure they get their homework done and watch a little TV. We should be back before bedtime. But in case we aren't, help them get ready before tucking them into bed."

"Got it."

Jessie helped Bryan up and covered her husband's hand with a washcloth. "We'll be back as soon as we can." She said as they walked past everyone and headed out.

It was silent for a moment before Christian clapped his hands together. "Alright. Shall we get your homework done, so we could?" Christian screamed when the children jumped him.

A few minutes later, Christian found himself tied up with a jump rope while his nieces and nephews ran around screaming like banshees. "Kids! Kids!" They ignored him as they began making messes. "No! No! No! Your father will kill me!"

"Why not our mom?" One of his nieces asked him.

"I'm pretty sure your dad will get to me first. Now, how about untying me, and I'm sure we can work something out." Christian offered, but his niece covered his head with a reusable shopping bag and joined her siblings.

"I'm toast." Christian mumbled as he struggled to stand and shake the bag off. He shook the bag off when his cell phone began to ring. Luckily he could reach his phone, answer it, and bent down to put it to his ear. "Hello? Jason! Of course everything's fine. The ruckus? Just kids being kids. No, you don't have to drop everything and come over. Have some faith in me. See you at home. Bye." He hung up and struggled to put his phone back. "Okay. I can do this." He gritted his teeth as he slunk to the kitchen sink to see if he could cut the rope against the pointy part of the countertop. Christian couldn't stand but was able to stretch enough to cut his legs loose to where he could stand and work on his upper body.

When he was free, Christian ran into the living room where the kids were destroying it. "Kids!" They ran upon hearing him. "Come back!" He pleaded as he rushed after them. He tripped on a toy and fell. "Ow."

Twenty minutes later, Jason let himself inside Jessie and Bryan's house to hear laughter. He peeked in to see Christian sprawled on the floor with his eyes going crisscross as the kids drew all over his face. He entered hands on hips and all went dead silent.

Sometime later, Jason is treating a sulking Christian as the kids do homework after cleaning the house. "Why do they listen to you?" Christian asked him.

"They know who to mess with. And I'm not one of them."

"I don't understand." Christian said. "I've babysat this many kids before. So why?"

Jason put his hand on Christian's shoulder. "It's been a while since you babysat." He told him. "You just need to get back into the swing of things." Christian gave him a look. "Don't look at me like that or I am leaving you to fend for yourself." Christian drooped. "Good. Now, find something for us all to watch while I check on everyone's school work." Christian retreated as his nieces and nephews begrudgingly showed Jason their papers.

A couple of hours later, "We're back!" Jessie announced as she and Bryan entered their home. They walked down the foyer and smiled when they looked into the living room. Christian is snoring on the couch with his head draped on Jason's shoulder in-between Jason and the kids.

"Hey." Jason greeted them when he eyed them. "How's your hand?"

"Sore but taken care of." Bryan said.

"I thought you were working." Jessie told Jason.

"I finished early." Jason said. "So I thought I'd join everyone."

"How sweet." Jessie smiled at her kids. "Let's get you all to bed." They scrambled and rushed out. "I'll be back." She said as she followed her kids upstairs.

Bryan chuckled. "I've never seen them go to bed so quickly." He eyed Christian. "I take it they gave him a hard time."

"He thought he could watch them alone but needed some help."

"We appreciate him stepping in and trying." Bryan said. "And thanks for helping him with them."

Jason glanced at Christian. "Anything for family."

Bryan smiled as Jessie returned. "The kids are tucked in."

Jason nudged Christian. "Wake up."

"I'm up." Christian mumbled.

"We know you're not."

"We?"

"Jessie and Bryan are back."

"That's nice." Christian's eyes snapped open. "Sis! Bryan!"

"We see the kids tired you out." Jessie told him.

Tears are forming in Christian's eyes. "I'm sorry. I tried but I failed."

Jessie bent down and smiled. "You did fine." She pulled him in for a hug. "Thank you."

"I, uh."

"Don't hurt yourself." Jason told Christian. "Now, let's head home."

Christian nodded and he and Jessie pulled apart and he stood. As they were walking out, "Please come over for dinner this weekend as our way of thanking you." Bryan offered.

"Sure." Jason replied and glanced at a groggy Christian. "Let's get you to bed as well." Christian allowed him to guide him out as Jessie and Bryan bid them goodnight.