What Doesn't Kill You

Chapter Two

"Mikey!!! Give me back my dowwy!!" Little Leila yelled.

"No!" Michael taunted.

"Aunty Ryn!!"

"Michael," I scolded.

"But Aunt Ryn," Michael whined.

"Michael give her back her doll," I tried again to get them to stop fighting so I could finish my homework. Like every other Thursday after school I was put in charge of my niece and nephew so that Rachel and Kirsten could go grocery shopping.

At the moment the toddlers and I were in the living room, I was trying to finish homework but it was hard when the adorable terrors kept fighting.

"Fine," Michael conceded giving Leila back her doll, "but can we watch Mickey?"

Leila gasped and immediately forgot her doll she waddled over to me on her adorable little legs with her blonde pig tails bouncing and started pulling on my pants.

"Pwease, Aunty Ryn, pwease," she pleaded with me like her life depended on it.

"Of course," I smiled down at them.

Leila let out a little cheer and started climbing up next to me. I gathered up all of my homework and trades it out for the remote on the coffee table. I turned on Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and snuggled up to my (sometimes) sweet niece and nephew.

"Aunty Ryn?" Leila inquired of me.

"Yes sweetheart?"

"You the best aunt ever!" She exclaimed.

"Oh really?" I laughed.

"Yeah, Aunt Ryn. You're pretty and nice," Michael said not breaking his eye contact with the TV.

"And you pway with us and tell funny jokes. And you really smart!" Leila added.

"Are y'all telling me this because I let you watch Mickey?" I asked.

"Yes and I wove you!" Leila yelled.

"Really? How much do you love me?" I urged.

She hopped up, held her arms out wide, and yelled, "THIS MUCH!!"

"That much?" I gasped.

She grinned and nodded.

"Well you know what?" I grabbed her under her arms, "I love you to the moon and back," and threw her up into the air and caught her.

"Again! Again!" She giggled.

"Again?" I sighed playfully. She nodded vigorously and pleaded with her chocolate eyes.

"I want a turn! I love you too!" Michael stomped his foot.

I threw Leila one more time then turned to Michael.

"Do you want a turn, Michael?"

He grinned and nodded, his chocolate curls going everywhere. I set Leila down and picked up my nephew, throwing him high into the air. I caught him on his way down and started bouncing him in my arms.

"Oh boy," I groaned, "you're getting heavy."

"Yup!" He shouted, "I'm a big boy!"

"Yes! You are my little man," Jason said from the living room entrance.

"Hey bro," I smiled at my brother.

"Hey, kiddos, there's yogurt and m&ms on your table go ahead and get your snacks," Jason told them.

I set down Michael and watched as the toddlers cheered and ran towards their snacks.

I started gathering up my homework to take up to my room.