Sugar Rush

Knock Knock

*knock knock*

Joe was happily listening to music in his bed when he noticed the sound of knocking.

"Oh hey! that must be them!" The recent high-school graduate stood up and made his way downstairs.

Standing just outside the front door was his aunt and his five year old cousin Zack. The young boy's face beamed as their eyes connected.

"HI JOE!" Zack greeted excitedly.

"Hey big man, how've you been??" Joe squatted down and lifted his hand for a hive-five, to which the boy was happy to reciprocate.

"I can already tell you two are gonna have lots of fun today!" Joe's aunt laughed as she watched the adorable interaction.

"Of course! Jack is the coolest kid I know!" Joe praised, making Jack's face to redden with embarrassment.

"So you're sure you're okay with watching him?" Joe's aunt asked with lingering hesitance. Her usual babysitter couldn't make it, and she had an important business event she needed to attend.

"OOOH come on~, I love spending time with this little dude~" Joe responded brightly.

"Thank you so much~" The aunt keeled down and kissed her son on the forehead. I'll be back to pick you up in two days okay sweetie? Behave and listen to whatever your cousin tells you, alright?"

"Yes mommy~" Zack replied.

"Alright then, see you soon!!"

Both Zack and Joe waved goodbye as she got into her car and drove away.

"Hope you're excited, because I've got a WHOOOOLE bunch of stuff planned for us this weekened!" Joe ruffled the young boy's hair as they walked into the house, closing the door behind them.

Overall, Jack was very well mannered for his age, just a bit oblivious and troublesome at times. Throughout the many previous times he babysat Jack, Joe would occasionally need to pull the boy out of some sort of danger: Such as the time he caught him playing around with the stove, or once when he was trying to stick things in an outlet, or even just pouring lemonade on his houseplants; Typical Jack stuff. Thankfully, Joe was usually always able to intervene before anything bad could actually occur.

The day proceeded wonderfully. Joe made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for lunch before joining Jack to watch some cartoons. Later the two went to the park to play on the playground until they eventually tired themselves out. Finally, on the way home, they picked up ice cream cones as they watched the sunset.

"So, are you having fun so far?" Joe asked Zack as they both walked up Joe's driveway.

Zack was busy licking away at his remaining ice cream which had begun to dribble down onto his hand.

"MM hmm!" He nodded happily.

The two walked into the house just as Zack finished chomping away the last piece of cone.

------

After settling in for a bit, Joe gave Zack a bath and had him get his pajamas on.

Joe sighed with exhaustion as he laid back onto his couch. He didn't realize that the day he had planned was going to be so tiring.

"Huh, I guess I'm getting old" he laughed to himself.

"HEY JOE! LETS PLAY THE MONSTER GAME LIKE THE LAST TIME I WAS HERE!!!!" The energetic five year old suddenly leapt up onto his weary babysitter's lap.

"Oh no..." Joe mumbled, only now realizing that the boy was still hyper from the ice cream he had eaten.

"N-naah, maybe tomorrow bud. I'm too tired for the monster game right now, plus it's getting a bit late bud."