I would like to dedicate this to CassandraHolly, kbeto, lozzigurl and Danny's Stargirl, all of whom have given me advice and through their own works helped me shape mine. This was also written because the forums informed me that there was a distinct lack of kid!McFly. Also, as for the truth or dare scene – we all know that that game is basically 'Do some stupid half-naked act or tell us who you like' anyway!
"I don't know. I mean, I've already agreed to look after three other boys, who are ten or nine. Would a seven year old really be okay with kids quite a bit older?"
Cassie was eighteen, and for a summer job had started childminding. She had done well on her GCSEs, but failed her A Levels and had no prospect of University. She didn't want to go anyway. She'd been working since she was sixteen, and in her own flat, she guessed that childminding would be easy money. She smiled when she heard the prospective kid holler down the phone,
"Tell her I'm nearly eight, mummy!"
"Kids are surprisingly welcoming. Please, Cassie – I can't find anyone else at such short notice."
"Okay..." Cassie rattled her address off down the phone, a relatively small flat that she was incredibly proud of.
"Thank you so much! I'll see you tomorrow when I drop Dougs off!"
Cassie looked down at her specially-purchased childminding notepad. During the day for the next week, she was looking after four boys. Tom, who was ten and apparently 'quite sensitive', Danny at nine who was up in London with his mother who was doing business and couldn't look after him, Harry at nine who was a handful and was usually packed off to boarding school and now Dougie at seven, who she knew nothing about.
Tom arrived first, with his mum.
"Sorry that I've got to dash, but I'm taking his little sister to an audition for an advert today. See you later, Tom!"
Cassie smiled down at Tom, who grinned back. His hair was blonde and fluffy, and he was rather adorable.
"Hey, Tom. Some other kids are arriving in a little while – for now, what's your favourite film? I'm sure I can find it in my collection!"
Tom appeared thoughtful for a few seconds before replying, "Back to the Future, but I also love Star Wars. Marty McFly and Luke Skywalker should have their own movie together!"
"I've got both! Which would you prefer?"
Sighing, Tom replied, "Just my luck, usually people don't have either! Hmm...Back to the Future, please!"
Cassie slotted the DVD in and let Tom jiggle into a comfortable position one of the rickety armchairs (she might be able to afford the rent, but she couldn't afford new furniture – charity shop chic was much her style), before sitting down in another.
They were a good hour into the film when the door knocked again. Cassie went to answer it, and found a (very excited) Danny outside of the door, blabbering away in a strong Bolton accent to his mum.
"Thank you SO much for taking Danny! See you later, sweetheart – have fun!"
Danny followed Cassie in.
"Danny, this is Tom. We're just watching a film while we wait for the others to arrive. Do you like Back To The Future?"
"Never seen it. Hi Tom!"
"We should probably change the film then, seeing as we're a good way in. Tom, you don't mind, do you?"
Tom looked up at her with puppy-dog eyes that could melt butter. "Can't we put it back to the beginning instead of changing it? Then Danny can see it as well!"
Danny smiled at Tom, who smiled back. Cassie noted the smiles – at least they don't hate each other, she thought.
In half an hour, Dougie and Harry both arrived. Dougie was last, and was rather tiny – he looked more five coming on six than seven coming on eight.
"Dougie, this is Harry, Danny and Tom."
He looked at the other three older boys silently, eyes wide. A thumb slid into his mouth and he sucked it forlornly.
"Ha! He's sucking his thumb – only babies suck their thumb!" exclaimed Harry.
"Harry, say sorry now!" exclaimed Cassie.
He looked stubbornly from Dougie, who looked like he was going to cry, and the rather scary looking Cassie, before mumbling,
"Sorry."
"Now, I'm going to get changed then we're all going to go to the park. Behave for five minutes, okay guys?"
Cassie was barely changed when she heard it – squeals and thumps, followed by hushing from what was plainly a very anxious Tom. Thoughts of murder filled her head, and she dashed out in a blind panic – only to peal back with laughter. Her living room was completely destroyed, and the four boys were jumping from surface to surface. Harry was sat on the floor, looking grumpy. Mustering up what little sternness she had, she said,
"What's going on?"
"The floor is made of lava and Harry fell in!" Dougie replied, leaping adventurously from one armchair right the way across to the pillow that was furthest away. The pillow slid and he landed with a bump on the floor.
"I guess I fell in as well."
Cassie smiled. A week with these lot and I'll go mad.
The walk to the park was interesting to say the least. A mad game of tag started on the pavement, with them running about like crazy people – only to be promptly ended when Danny ran smack bang into an old lady who gave Cassie a very snotty look.
"Old baggage." Cassie muttered as she walked away – not quite realising that all four kids were right in front of her again, as quiet as mice.
"How can a person be a bag?" Dougie asked.
"It's just a phrase."
"But it doesn't make any sense!"
"She's calling her an old fart, basically, Dougie." Harry told Dougie.
"Harry!" Cassie gasped.
"But how can a person be a fart? A fart is something that comes out of your bum!" (is it necessary to say who said this one?).
"An old bitch, then."
"HARRY!"
"What?"
"Don't say things like that!"
"You did!"
"Yeah...but...I'm allowed! I'm an adult!"
"You only look a little bit older than my sister Catherine, and she's not allowed to say that!"
"So why did you say it?"
"Because...because you did!"
"Dude, seriously don't say things like that. Your mums might get cross at me."
Dougie laughed. "Old baggage, old baggage, old baggage, old baggage, old baggage!" he chanted, skipping ahead.
Cassie sighed, mentally reprimanding herself for what she was about to say and how alike her mother she was going to sound, and insulting the old cow to start with.
"Dougie, if you carry on saying that none of us will go to the park and we'll just go back to my flat."
Dougie immediately shut up, and sidled up to Harry, who grabbed his hand. After a few moments, a very quiet,
"Sorry." escaped Dougie's lips. Cassie smiled.
"Truth or dare?" Harry asked Tom. They were at the park and were sat on top of the metal frame for the slide, where there were a couple of little benches.
"Dare!"
"I dare you to get your bum out and wave it over to where Cassie is."
The other three gasped and giggled at Harry's suggestion. "I can't do that! I'm not a five year old!" Tom insisted.
"You've got to, you picked dare!"
Very quietly, Danny, Dougie and Harry started up a chant of, "Do it Do it Do it!"
Tom sighed. "Okay, but if I get in trouble for this I'm going to punch you all."
Glancing around and over at Cassie (who was listening to music and definitely not concentrating on them four), he very quickly whipped his trousers down and mooned his childminder. After a second, he covered himself again, laughing. The others laughed as well.
"Right then – Danny, truth or dare?" Tom asked.
"Dare, mate."
"I dare you to go down the slide in only your boxers."
Danny grinned, a smile splitting his tiny freckled face. "Easy!"
He dragged his jeans and T-shirt off in a matter of seconds, and was down the slide and back up the rope ladder before anyone had a chance to see. When he returned, however, his clothes were 'gone'.
"What have you done with my clothes?" he asked, glancing around wildly. Dougie gave a tiny giggle – which immediately set the other three off into heavy laughter.
"We threw them down over the side!" Dougie exploded into giggles. Danny laughed as well, and slid down the fireman's pole – only to find his clothes sat in a puddle of mud. A few choice words escaped his lips – words that Cassie or his mother would have blanched at – before grabbing them and sneaking back up. He was in them in a matter of seconds, and dismayed to find that they were absolutely filthy.
Cassie unplugged an ear and heard raucous giggles. Maybe this won't be so bad after all.