It's a Nightmare

Chapter One

Riley

What had just happened?

I was just bringing Lucas the history homework for today. He wasn't in class. And now...I had a baby in my arms?

I silently walked back to the car, gently rocking the baby. Calming him down. He fell back asleep quickly.

"Riley Diana Matthews! Where in the world did that baby come from?" My mom shouted as soon as I opened the door.

The baby started to cry as soon as my mom had started to yell, even though he had just fallen asleep like two seconds ago.

"Mom," I hissed. "Can you please be a little quieter? The baby is trying to sleep."

Moms mouth dropped open. She snatched the baby from me quicker then a panther snatches its prey. She started rocking the baby, trying to get him to calm down. When he eventually did, she handed him back to me. She was so much better at this than I was.

"You didn't answer my question." Mom started driving back to our house. "Why do you have a baby? Weren't you just going to give your classmate his homework?"

I thought back to the conversation Lucas' dad and I had had.

"I went up to the door with the worksheets. His dad opened the door and asked me why I was there. I told him that I was here to drop off homework. He the asked me if I'd be interested in helping him out. I said sure, because I like helping people. He then told me that he was having financial issues and he couldn't afford both of the children. He asked me if I could take his youngest son, just for a little while. I said okay. And...well..." I gestured to the baby. "I now have a baby."

Mom was silent. Processing my words. Then she took a deep breath.

"Okay Riley, here's what's going to happen." Mom said. "I'm going to go to the storage room and get your old baby supplies. I'll set everything up in your room. You can take care of him. But you are in charge of him. Feeding, bathing, changing. Of course your dad and I will help, but you are the main caregiver. Understand?"

"Okay." I replied.

Mom started to head to the door, then stopped.

"By the way Riley. What's his name?"

"I don't know mom. Lucas didn't tell me his name and I haven't really thought about it. He kind of looks like an..."

I paused for a moment; who did he look like? Adam? No, too basic. Frederick? No, I didn't like that name. Zachary? Yeah, that was a good name, but maybe not as a first name. A middle name maybe? But what could be a first name? Colton? Derek? Nathan? Hayden? Bailey? Dylan? Bradley? Isaac? Yes Isaac. Isaac Zachary Matthews. That sounded good together.

"An Isaac. Isaac Zachary Matthews."

"I like it." Mom smiled, before going to grab the stuff for Isaac Zachary Matthews.