Mating Season

Babysitting

I opened my eyes to Pa standing over me, I jumped.

"Hi, Pa." I said, and got out of bed. "Rosetta, Ma and I are heading in town to the doctors, Jack, Matthew, Thomas, Peter, Stephen, and Gabriel will be on the farm. You are in charge of Benjamin, Clayton, Gordon, Henry, and Stanley." Pa told me.

I nodded as Pa left my room, I looked at all of the boys' unmade beds. I got up and made my bed before leaving my room.

I heard the screen door slam shut and I walked out of my room, closing the door behind me. It was bright in the house, that meant a sunny day outside.

I went to Stanley's room and got him from his crib, I held him in my arms and carried him downstairs.

Benjamin was sitting on the couch playing with his wooden cars that jack made him for Christmas last year.

"Rosie!" Benjamin yelled, I smiled at him, "hi Ben. I'm going to make you some breakfast." I said, walking to the kitchen, still holding Stanley.

I set Stanley on the couch next to Benjamin as a I made breakfast, oatmeal and milk. As soon as it was done I hollered for the 3 other boys who were somewhere in the house, "Clayton! Gordon! Henry! Breakfast!" I called out.

The three boys ran down the stairs and sat at the table, i placed a steaming hot bowl in front of them and a glass of milk. Benjamin got off the couch and joined them.

Clayton was the oldest out of the 4 youngest boys, he was 5 and was the leader, as they would say.

I grabbed the handmade bottle from the cupboard for Stanley and filled it with the milk for him.

I sat on the couch, putting the nipple of the bottle in Stanley's mouth. His eyes were wide open and he looked around as he drank his milk.

Gordon was the first one done, of course he announced it. "I'm done!" I shook my head, "just leave it there." I spoke.

Once Stanley finished I went upstairs to lay him in his room.

The four other boys played outside as I cleaned the kitchen and dishes.

I wish I was a boy, they got to play outside and do fun things and where pants. While I had to stay inside and clean, and where dresses.

Ma and pa got home around lunch time, just in time for ma to prepare a nice lunch for the boys and I.

I helped ma set the table and make the sandwiches for the boys. Once Stanley's cries interrupted our cooking, I rushed upstairs to tend to his needs.

I carried him down to ma and she took him for me, leaving me to finish making the sandwiches.

Once the last sandwich was done and on the plate I set it on the table, I walked on the front porch and rang the bell that signaled it was time for lunch.

All the boys poured into the house and took there seats at the table. I sat next to Thomas and Benjamin.

I picked up my sandwich and took a huge bite out of it. Pa sat at the end of the table and ma sat in the parlor with Stanley.

Once everyone was finished they all went outside, including the little boys. I stacked all the plates together and carried them to the kitchen, I set them in the tub and went back for the glasses.

I scrubbed at the food stuck to the plate since Clayton likes to press his soggy bread into his plate.

Ma soon came in to help me with the dishes.

Life around here wasn't easy for the boys or girls. Ma was 4 months pregnant and I was only 7. But I had to do what I needed to.

It was finally dinner time, me and ma cooked vegetable soup for dinner and bread with butter.

We placed the bowls with the plates at each spot on the table and I filled the cups with water from the pump outside.

I set the glasses in the table and went to wash my hands.

"Go ring the bell, Rosie." Ma told me. I nodded and walked the porch, grabbing the string and shaking it. As the bell rung all the boys came running in.

They all took there seats as me and ma passed out napkins to everyone.

Finally me and ma took our spots at the table and dug into the food we prepared.

All the boys devoured the food, and soon it was bath time.

Ma cleaned the dishes as I bathed the little boys. Clayton, Benjamin, Gordon, And Henry sat in the tub as I rinsed the suds out of their hair. They splashed each other until it was time to get out.

They each wrapped themselves in a towel and went to their rooms to change. Next to bathe was me, Matthew, Stephen, and Peter, we were all below the age of 13 so we all bathed together.

Once we were done we wrapped our bodies in towels and walked to our rooms. Stephen, Peter, And I shared a room so we all dressed in our night clothes.

I put on my night gown and went downstairs to ma. "Night ma," I said as she kissed my forehead. "Night pa." I said, as he hugged me.

I went to my room where Peter, Stephen, and Thomas were already in bed. "Night guys." I said.

My eyes closed quickly and I fell asleep.