Little Miss Babysitter

-- 19 --

"A faulty what?"

"Boiler, yes. The charges lay at rest, and you will be compensated for your loss. Again, we apologize for the inconvenience, and all debts will be paid off by our lawyers."

"Wow. Th-thanks?"

Setting the phone back, I stood in my bewilderment. Mom was scrounging around in the cupboards for something or other, completely unaware of the conversation that had just taken place.

"Mom."

"Yes, sweetie?" 

Her head remained buried amongst the packages of dried apricots and bags of flour, so I crossed my arms over my chest, and simply waited.

After a few moments, she turned, cocking an eyebrow. "What?"

"Listen! We don't need to pay for this new kitchen. They said they'd take care of it. Aren't you happy?"

"Well, sure. That's just so that we don't sue them or show up at their house with a bag of bricks. Simple as that." She shrugged, popping a can of Pepsi, and downing most of it in one gulp.

"I see." I crossed my legs on top of the glass counter top, remembering how Nate had done so and I'd almost killed him. Hypocrite, Ela.

I smiled sheepishly at the remembrance, displacing my legs back onto the floor.

I get to see him today.

Due to the storm, I'd assume no schools in the district could possibly be open for a few days. Certainly, not mine. 'Till next Monday, closed for construction. Apparently, all the electricty's cut off. Not something I'd like to investigate.

"Doesn't the kitchen look so good? They overdid themselves." Mom bubbled, her hands rubbing sweat all across the shining hardwood counters and furnished waxed coating, marking it as hers. The obscene actions slightly reminded me of a dog peeing on a chair, saying how he owned that and it therefore belonged to him. "So shiny."

"All right, mother." I laughed, hoisting to my feet. "I have to leave for work in a bit. You think you can drive me?"

"Sure! Just leave me alone with my kitchen for a bit." She ran her fingers delicately across a metal rung used to hold expensive china.

I sighed happily, skipping gleefully up the steps and into my room.

Is it me, or has everything gotten brighter? Don't know.

I rummaged around in my dresser, discouraged to find nothing appropriate for my mood. I want something swingy, something that says 'I didn't try too hard, but I still want to look good.'

I was on the verge of breaking down in tears and giving up, when a wadded up dress at the back of my cabinet hooked my attention.

Wringing it out, I was astonished to see it was a tight, yellow sundress. It looked snug around the waist, and airy around the knees. A rose pattern crawled up the ends, stopping just short of the hips. Perfect.

Who was I to be getting dressed up to go to work? I don't know. Maybe I just wanted to look nice today.

Or.. Look nice for someone...

I slipped it on, and spritzed a few pumps of perfume over my body. It was I scent I got for my 14th birthday that sat on top of my dresser for years, unused and untouched. The dust practically shielded it from everything, to the extent that I couldn't even see the label.

I mosied into the bathroom, a smile gracing my lips and a boy dancing across my mind. I dragged a brush through my hair, liking the way the curls turned out today. Twirling some mascara across my thick set of lashes, they popped out even more so than usual. I liked it. Now I see why the cheerleaders in my school do this all the time.