The Bully and the Babysitter

2

Josh

I head home frustrated with myself. The radio in my car is muted, it's just my thoughts and myself. Well, that is until I see Makayla walking home, in the rain. Hesitantly I stop.

"Makayla!" I call to her.

She jumps and turns toward me, "Leave me alone."

"Please let me give you a ride."

"No thanks. I'm almost home anyway."

I groan and roll the window back up and drive home.

'I try to be nice to the bitch and she ignores me. I let my guard down and she rejects me. Why can't I win? Why? Why does God hate me? For fucks sake!'

I slam my hands against the steering wheel as I sit in a driveway. Looking around trying to figure out where I am, then it hits me, I'm in my driveway. Groaning I cut the engine of and go inside, almost instantly I'm met with my little sister tangled around my legs.  She runs energetically through the house grabbing a shitty drawing from the dinner room table. As if I care.

"I made it for you," she says smiling.

"Well I love it," I take it from her hands and put it on the refrigerator.

My mom stands in the kitchen. She's cutting food into smaller bites for my sister. I grab one of the line grapes from the counter and pop it into my mouth.

"Hi ma," I say mouth full.

"Hi Joshua Michael, get out of my kitchen with that backpack. You know the rules."

I quickly set my bag on the edge of the staircase.

"Why are you cutting Paisley's snacks up now? She doesn't go to the sitter until like next week."

"For your information, I'm going on a date with my new beau so we got a babysitter for her so you don't have to."

"Thank the lord!"

Her boyfriend comes in wrapped in his robe still. That's my cue to leave. I grab a handful of grapes and leave.

I go upstairs into the open floor which is now my bedroom, mancave, and personal space. Nobody comes up here except me, well and some girls I invite over, and the broskis, and my mom on occasion. Today it's just me, myself, and I.

Makayla

After Josh drives off, I stop and think for a minute. A few of Josh's friends drive passed and splash me. Frustrated, I stomp home. I change my clothes and call a cab, in order to make it to the house where I need to babysit. The cab arrives and I run out this time carrying an umbrella. I tell the man the address and he drives me to a familiar looking house. Butterflies are flittering in my stomach. I pay the driver and climb out. I knock on the door and a woman opens the door.

"Paisley! Ms.Makayla is here."

The little girl comes running to the door.

"The instructions for what to do with her are on the counter. Our son is up in his room doing whatever he does nowadays, so don't worry about him for dinner."

I nod and walk in. Paisley grabs my hand.

"Let's color!" She yells.

"Okay." I say softly.

She runs and grabs her coloring book and some markers and crayons. She comes back in with multiple books and two cases of crayons and markers. Paisley climbs into the chair and I sit beside her. We both start coloring.

"I'm hungry," she says.

I get her a snack from the kitchen. Her brother comes down the stairs. I look up at the boy and gasp.