Yesterday Kristy and I went to Dawn's house to help her with some babysitting tips. It actually went better than I thought, they got along pretty well.
Today I was going with Dawn to help babysit the Barretts. We got there and as usual, it was a disaster in their house.
Natalie- hi Dawn! You brought Lilli
Lilliana- hi Natalie
Natalie- hiiii, I need some help with my lines for my audition, can you girls help?
Lilliana- uh, I guess...
We sat down and she started rehearsing lines. She had us record it too so she could send it in for an audition.
Natalie- *crying* I'm so sorry. I know it hasn't been easy. But if you could see inside my heart, you would see... oh shoot. Line!
Dawn- uhh. You would see how much I need this kidney, Dr. Baltchton
Natalie- why do I keep tripping on that line
Buddy- can I go play with David Michael?
Natalie- you're grounded for flooding my bathroom
Buddy- I was being Aquaman!
Buddy stormed off in his scuba gear. I sighed and shook my head at the boy.
Dawn- Natalie, uh, I've been meaning to talk to you-
Natalie- he's just like his father. He wants what he wants when he wants it.
Lilliana- yeah, but-
Natalie- so then you give it, and then you give up on yourself
I look at Dawn and she looks at me. I mouth 'uh oh' to her and she nods.
Natalie- and then one day, you're alone. Starting over, one yogurt commercial audition at a time. But I have to make it work. I have to proof to my kids that I can make something of myself
Dawn- of course you do...
Natalie- guys... you're the best. I'll be back after my cryogenic freeze facial
I raise my eyebrow in confusion. Didn't she say-
Dawn- wait, I thought you had an audition
Natalie- Monday! I have to look my best. Too da loo!
She walked out the front door. I sighed and walked over to the baby.
Dawn- hey Buddy! Wanna have a great British snack off?
There was no answer. I looked at Dawn in confusion. She shrugged and called for Buddy again.
Dawn- Buddy! Buddy?
We walk towards the kitchen to where Buddy stormed off after he was told no when he asked to go play with David Michael. Then we stopped... the back door was open. Dawn leaned her head out.
Dawn- Buddy!
Lilliana- Buddy! Where did he go?
Dawn- I don't know. Think, think.
She told herself. She grabbed her phone.
Dawn- he said he wanted to go play with David Michael, so he must have gone there
I nod my head. She calls Kristy and we wait for her to answer the phone. She answer it and looks at us.
Kristy- speaking
Dawn- is Buddy Barrett at your house?
Kristy- aren't you watching him?
Lilliana- he left the back door open and he's not here, he said he wanted to go to your house
Her face dropped and she looked at us.
Kristy- I'm on my way
She hung up the phone and Dawn and I frantically looked through the house to make sure he wasn't hiding somewhere.
Kristy got here and we tried calling Natalie, but her phone was off, so we called the school directory to see if we could get his fathers number or any other family member. We called everywhere we thought he could be but he was nowhere. Our last option was to call the cops... he could have been taken or maybe even ran away. Kristy called the police and Dawn called her mom.
The police got here and they asked us some questions. Like the last time we saw him, what he looked like, what he was wearing. They also asked for Natalie's number, and if we had called any other places where he could have possibly been.
Kristy talked to the police while Dawn, Sharon and I sat down on the couch. I called Sam and told him what was going on, and I made sure he kept his eye out just in case Buddy ended up there.
Lilliana- anything?
Sam- no. He couldn't have gone far
Lilliana- yeah, but he could have been taken, he could seriously hurt-
The front door opened and a man walked in.
The man- hello? What's goin on?
Police- sir, I'm gonna have to ask you to identify yourself
Suzi got up from the couch and ran up to the man.
Suzi- daddy, I love you!
The man- oh, I love you too munchkin!
I looked at the girls and they looked at me. Then we heard walking so we looked towards the door. It was Buddy
Buddy- Dawn, Lilli, you should have seen me today at swim class, I held my breath for one whole lap
We all sighed in relief and Dawn and I hugged Buddy.
The man- I'm Hamilton Barrett, I'm Buddy's father. I picked Buddy up a couple hours ago for swim lessons like I always do, didn't Natalie tell you?
Lilliana- uhh. N-no she didn't she must have-
Hamilton- forgotten, yeah that's not surprising. Buddy was outside, I thought he was waiting for me. She does that sometimes so we don't have to see each other. I didn't know she had a sitter today, I'm so sorry girls, you must have had quite a scare
Marnie started crying.
Lilliana- that's Marnie, I'll-
Hamilton- I'll grab her
Police- sir we just have a few more questions, and we should probably talk to your ex wife
Hamilton- of course, whatever you need. I'll be right back. Alright, let's go check on your sister
Suzi- check on my sister
I forgot I was on the phone with Sam, so I let him know the everything was ok, and that I'd see him later. I hung up the phone and looked at Kristy. She looked... sad... She walked towards the kitchen and stood by the counter.
Dawn- can you believe this? Natalie not telling me about his dad taking him swimming. So I was supposed to hand over a kid to a strange man, while she's having her face frozen off or something?!
Kristy grabbed a bag of Doritos that was sitting on the counter and she started smashing them. I was shocked.
Lilliana- Kristy?
She wouldn't stop. I couldn't think of anything to do to help, but then Dawn screamed. Kristy and I jumped and we looked at her.
Dawn- I-I'm sorry I wanted you to calm down and tell me what was wrong, like David Michael and the bread
Kristy- his dad... he was with his dad the whole time! Everyone's dad is so desperate to hang out with them. Mr.Barrett takes Buddy to swimming, Lilli, you can talk to your dad about all your mom problems, and Dawn's dad he FaceTimes you constantly, but my dad! He left me. I don't know where he is. He hasn't called me in a year and a half!
My eyes widened... I never knew that...
Lilliana- really?...
Kristy- really.
Lilliana- *mumble* Sam never told me that
She turned around and cried. Dawn walked up to her and placed a hand on her shoulder.
Dawn- Kristy look at me. You have many people who want to be in your life. Your mom, your brothers, Lilli and Olivia, the club, Mary Anne
Kristy- my mom has Watson, Sam has Lilli, Charlie has Olivia, Mary Anne has you
Lilliana- that doesn't mean we don't love any less. Just because I have something going on with your brother, doesn't change the fact that we all love you.
Dawn- we're still your friends and family... and so are we
Kristy- but- I've been so mean to you both! Dawn I gave you such a hard time and Lilli, I told everyone that you were anorexic when you trusted me!
Lilliana- it's ok...
Dawn- we're both strong women with big personalities. And you can't let anyone into the BSC
Kristy- *laugh* I should probably let you in
Dawn- no more probation
Kristy- you'll need a title. Lilli needs one too. Dawn can be alternate officer, it means you'll do it all, because you can. And Lilli... you'll be our flower girl, the wow factor
We all laugh. Kristy turns back to look at the mess she made.
Kristy- I should probably clean this up
Lilliana- oh, Natalie won't even notice
She laughs and looks at us.
Kristy- thank you...
Dawn- you're welcome
Lilliana- like I told your brother, it's what friends are for
We all have a group hug while we all cry.
Now time to talk to Sam...