Babysitting Blues
Chris was walking over to Martin's house. He knocked on the door and Martin answered.
"Salutations Chris, what can I assist you with?" Martin asked.
"Hey, you seen Nick?" Chris asked.
"I can't say that I have," Martin said.
"I called and texted him, no answer," Chris said.
"Did you ask his parents about his disappearance?" Martin asked.
"I doubt he just disappeared, " Chris said, "Let's just go check his house."
"Ok," Martin said. They walked over to Nick's house and slid through the window into his room in the basement.
"Hey Nick!" Chris called. Martin listened closely. Suddenly, they heard a crash from upstairs. Martin jumped slightly.
"Let's check upstairs," Chris said. They walked upstairs into the kitchen and saw a broken cup on the floor. Sheldon and Oliva were sitting in two high chairs, laughing. Nick was cleaning up the cup.
"Oh hi guys!" Nick waved.
"What are you doing?" Martin asked.
"My mom said I'd get 10 dollars if I babysit Sheldon and Oliva for the day," Nick explained.
"Oh," Martin said, "Would you like some assistance?"
"Sure," Nick smiled. Chris frowned. Martin started sweeping up the glass and Nick picked up Sheldon and Oliva.
"They're so cute," Martin said.
"Yeah," Nick said, "And they're only three."
"And a half!" Oliva corrected. Martin smiled. Sheldon laughed and bopped Chris in the nose.
"Hey!" Chris said. Nick giggled.
"Kitty!" Sheldon laughed, reaching for Chris's tail.
"I don't think you should do that," Martin said.
"Hey hey hey, stay away from that!" Chris said, moving his tail away. Martin frowned.
"Dallies!" Oliva said. They went into the living room and Nick gave Oliva her doll. Martin and Chris sat on the couch.
"Who wants to play Prince and Princess?" Nick asked.
"Me!" Olivia said. Sheldon raised his hand.
"Oh oh oh, me!" He said. Chris rolled his eyes. Nick and Martin built two 'thrones' on the couch made out of pillows and blankets.
"Finished," Martin said. Nick lifted Sheldon and Oliva onto the 'thrones.'
"There!" Nick said. Sheldon looked around before digging into his pocket and pulling out a poker card.
"Where dis guy?" He asked, pointing at the joker card. Chris pushed Martin forward. Oliva pointed at Chris.
"Him," She said. Martin chuckled. Nick gave Chris a jester's hat. Chris frowned.
"Yay!" Oliva clapped.
"Not yay," Chris said.
"C'mon, Chris, you're the joker," Nick said.
"That's you, stupid,"Chris said.
"Dis, you," Sheldon said, first pointing at the card, then at Chris.
"See? He wants you," Nick said, pushing Chris forward.
"But I don't want to," Chris whined. Sheldon and Oliva frowned sadly.
"Aw, please Chris?" Nick asked, "If they're not happy I won't get paid!"
"Fine," Chris said. Oliva and Sheldon clapped happily.
"Yay!" They cheered. Chris rolled his eyes.
"Be funny!" Sheldon said. Chris crossed his eyes. Oliva giggled.
"Funny faces!" She said. Martin smiled.
"Another! Another!" Sheldon said. Chris gave Martin a noogie.
"Ow, hey!" Martin said. Oliva and Sheldon laughed. Chris poked Martin in the stomach.
"Here Chris, juggle this!" Nick said, throwing a bunch of stuff for Chris to juggle. Chris juggled. Oliva and Sheldon clapped and laughed. Martin laughed.
"Whee!" Oliva laughed. Nick threw in more things for Chris to juggle, including a recliner, the TV, Martin, and a cactus. Chris kept juggling until the cactus came around and he got pricked. He yelled loudly in pain. Sheldon giggled and jumped off the throne, helping Oliva down. They ran off, laughing.
"Sheldon! Oliva!" Nick yelled, running after them. Martin went with him.
"Where'd they go?" Nick asked, looking around the kitchen.
Sheldon and Oliva were hiding in the cupboard. Oliva giggled and Sheldon put his finger to his mouth. Martin looked for the two. Chris walked in.
"Try to get them to laugh," Martin said.
"How am I supposed to know where they are?" Chris asked.
Oliva giggled again, but quieter.
Chris's ears pricked up and he looked around. Martin shrugged.
"Did...did you guys hear that?" Chris asked.
"Hear what?" Martin asked. Oliva giggled again.
"That," Chris said.
"I don't hear anything," Nick said, then gasped, "My ears are broken!"
"Your ears aren't broken, Nick," Martin said. Chris followed the sound and opened the cupboard where Sheldon and Oliva were hiding.
"Hey!" Chris said as the two ran past him, laughing. Martin went after them.
"Run run, as fast as you can!" Sheldon giggled.
"Come back!" Martin said. Oliva bumped into a small table and knocked over a pot. She fell backwards and rubbed her head before standing back up.
"Hey!" Nick frowned.
"You're in so much trouble," Chris said.
Sheldon and Oliva laughed and jumped onto the couch, making the 'thrones' of pillows and blankets fall down on them. Martin walked over to the 'thrones.' Sheldon and Oliva popped their heads out. Martin stood there, tapping his foot. Sheldon and Oliva ran off and ended up creating a huge mess.
"Ok, time out, now," Martin said, picking up Sheldon and Oliva and setting them on the couch.
"Aw," The two of them frowned.
"Oh no," Nick said, looking at the house, "My mom's gonna kill me."
"We can clean it up," Martin said.
"I got a better idea," Chris said.
Martin and Nick were painting on a big canvas. Martin fixed something that Nick had painted.
"How's it coming?" Chris asked.
"It's ready!" Nick said. The three boys put the canvas in front of the giant mess. It was a clean room with Nick, Martin, Chris, Sheldon, and Oliva in the middle.
"There," Chris said, "Your mom will never know."
