Reflections of Dawn

Babysitting

"Look, can you please sit down and behave for once in your life!"

"Look, can you please sit down and behave for once in your life!"

Julianna gave Cody an irritated glare. "Cody, we're not playing that game."
"Cody, we're not playing that game." Cody grinned cheekily, swinging on the back of the sofa. Julianna scowled. "Cody, stop copying me and leave the furniture alone."
"Stop copying me and leave the furniture 'lone."
"I'm not joking!"
"I'm not joking!"

Julianna groaned and dropped onto the sofa. "Look. If your grandparents come in and see you misbehaving, they're going to kill me. And you. And then me again."
Cody paused, mouth open and an expression like he was thinking through what she'd just said. Julianna dared to believe she'd finally got through to him. "See? So you're going to behave now, aren't you?"
"If your grandparents come in and see you misbehaving, they're going to kill me. And you. And then me again. See? So you're going to behave now, aren't you?"

Julianna put her head in her hands. "Damn it."
"Damn it!"
"No, Cody, don't say that!"
"Damn it!"
"Go back to repeating or something!"
"Damn it!"

"Yup, they're going to kill me. Oh, crap."
"Crap!"
"Oh, fu...dge it!"

An hour or so later, Julianna knocked on Rachel's door. "Hello! Cody wanted to visit his sister, and I was wondering if, since I have a lot of stuff to do, could you maybe babysit him until this evening? Thanks!"
Rachel raised an eyebrow. "What kind of things are you busy with?"
"Oh, you know... things. Training and stuff."
"Can't you train him or something? Isn't that what you're supposed to be doing?"
Julianna shook her head. "Well, technically, yes, but... he's also seven and really annoying."

Cody grinned. "Crap!"
"And have fun together! Bye!"