~deepika.~ (REGRETAVATOR STORY)

45

Back at the Collymore residence, the Collymores had dinner. Pilby is on the north side, Pest was on the south side, Albert is on east side, and Craig is on the west side.

Pilby: (holding up a bowl of mashed potatoes) "More potatoes Pest?"

Pest: (puts a hand up) "No thanks." (Puts hand down) "Mmmm... I've got plenty."

Pest wiped his mouth with a napkin.

Pilby jabbed the fork on some asparagus.

Pilby: "The babysitter should be here any minute now."

Pest looks at Pilby.

Pest: "When does the P-T-S start?"

Pilby: "Umm..." (they look at their watch) "We still got about a half an hour."

Craig is being like every other kid does: playing with their food.

Albert took a small piece of his steak and ate it. Pest looked at him.

Pest: "So... how did school go today?" (Looks at his plate)

Albert: "Okay."

Pest looked at him again.

Pest: "Was Poob there?"

Albert: (Looks at Pest) "No."

Albert then ate some of his mashed potatoes.

Pilby: "Aw. I sure hope you kids don't catch whatever they got."

Then Craig decided this: he imitated throwing up. This caught Pilby's attention.

Craig: (Pretending to throw up) "Blegh... blegh... blegh...Bbbbleeegggghhhhh!"

Albert laughed at Craig, he founded it funny. Pest also looked at Craig.

Pilby: (clearly not amused) "Very funny Craig...and now you are excused and go right right to bed."

Craig: "But daaaad...!"

Pilby placed their napkin on the table.

And then the telephone rang.

Pilby when to the phone and picked it up while Craig took the spoon from the bowl and scooped up mashed potatoes.

Pilby: (answering the phone) "Hello? Hi there! Is there a problem?"

Pest looked at Pilby, as Craig puts more mashed potatoes on his plate.

Pilby: "Ah! Well thank you for giving me so much notice."

Craig kept putting more mashed potatoes on his plate.

Pilby: "Uh-huh. Yeah I'm sure I'm sorry too."

Pilby: (continued, on phone) "Well maybe you could've thought of that before."

Pilby: "Mm. Buh-bye."

Pilby hangs up the phone, then turns to Pest.

Pilby: "Pest you're going to have to go by yourself tonight."

Pest: "Isn't there someone else you can get?"

Pilby: (sits down) "No not at this late hour..." (they sigh as they look at Craig's plate, now full of mashed potatoes) "Oh...come on, you're going to take a bath."

Craig: "But daaad! Nooooo!"

Pest watched as Pilby took Craig out of the room.
A little fun fact about Craig: he owns a tamagotchi. They are digital pets that were created in Japan in 1996.
Craig liked interacting with the tamagotchi.

Back to the story, Pest watched as Pilby took Craig upstairs, but Craig resists. Albert is still focused on his plate, he ate a thin layer of his mashed potatoes. Pest could still hear Pilby and Craig struggle.

Albert: (looks at Pest) "Dad?"

Pest looked at Albert.

Albert: "I-If you and dad died in plane crash, would it be all right if I took over?"

Pest was unsure if he could let Albert take over when he and Pilby died.

Pest: "Well... probably one of  your aunts will help out." 

Albert: "So... you don't think I'm old enough to take care of myself, Craig, and Mozelle?"

Pest: "Um... No."

Pest ate a small piece of steak and then looks at Albert when he says this:

Albert: "Lampert Howard's parents are away in Europe for a few days and Lampert gets to stay home alone by himself without having a babysitter."

Albert: (continued) "Why do I need a babysitter?"

Pest: "Well," (pauses for a moment) "If you want to change Mozelle's diapers..."

Keep in mind: Mozelle is an infant in this story.

Albert: "Well... if I didn't have any little brother or sister... would you let me stay alone by myself for a few days?"

Pest: "...Your dad and I are not Mr. and Mrs. Howard. We'll worry. So, no."

Albert: "What if I was thirteen?"

Pest: "...No."

Albert: "...Fourteen?"

Pest looked at Albert... why did he want to stay at home all by himself?

Pest: "At thirteen... I think you'll be okay."

Albert: "Can you promise?"

Pest drinks some water from a glass cup and then he puts the cup down.

Pest: "As long as you don't still look like you're twelve."

Albert: "I won't."

Albert had a brief smile.

Pest: (holding the glass of water) "Okay... thirteen then."

Albert nodded.