Their names were Donovan and Becca, Donovan being the older one. I had met them before, at a few reunions when I was younger, but it has been awhile since I've seen them. What a horrible situation to bring people together, I thought glumly. Donovan was turning 13 in just a week.
Those poor kids, I thought, watching as they stood silently by Alicia. She was being strong for them, but I knew how much her sister's death crushed her. Uncle Grim was not there – he knew that if he attended, the media would come and he didn't want to subject Alicia's family to that. Mom and I came because we were able to loose the paparazzi the easiest.
I turned to her and gave her a hug, surprising her.
"I don't know what I'd do if I lost you." I murmured, squeezing her tight.
"I don't know what I'd do if I lost you." She replied, hugging me back. I released her and took a deep breath. It was time for the burial.
It was not a good day.
A few weeks later, I got a call from Alicia, asking if I could babysit for a few days. She had to fly to Tennessee where her sister lived, to take care of some business that came up and Uncle Grim was helping my parents and Johnny with a troublesome volcano that was threatening to destroy the island it was on. Of course, I didn't mind. But after replacing the phone, I started to worry. I have never babysat before. And with everything that happened? I shrugged. At least around the kids, I wouldn't have to worry about surviving a shoot out or anything.
"You remember your cousin Jenny?" Donovan nodded hesitantly and Becca just kinda gave one quick jerk of her head. "I know you will be fine with her, she will walk you to school and pick you up afterwards. Then afterwards, maybe take you to the park?" I nodded. Whatever would keep them happy. Donovan shrugged and Becca said nothing, but she clung to Alicia like her life depended on it.
"Don't go," I heard her whisper. Alicia bend down and whispered something in her ear.
"Ok?" Alicia asked her and Becca nodded. Alicia hugged her and then turned to Donovan.
"See you later, Aunt Alicia." He murmured before she could do anything. I frowned. Alicia hesitated and then turned to me and gave me a hug.
"Thank you," She whispered in my ear. I just smiled and watched as she left.
"So, you guys ate and its only 7. What do you want to do?" I asked, perhaps a little to cheerily.
"I have to do a workbook page." Becca said in a small voice.
"I'll watch TV." Donovan said, already heading for the living room.
"Ok…do you want me to help you with your homework, Becca?" She nodded and led me to the kitchen table, where her workbook was already laid out. I looked over her shoulder as she sat down.
"Ha!" She looked at me questioningly. I pointed to her book. "Multiplying. I remember those days. Now its all variables and logarithmic equations and…" I trailed off as I saw her face. "Never mind. So what should I do?" She pointed to the stopwatch.
"Use that to time me. Its how many I can get done and right in a minute." I nodded, grabbing the stopwatch.
"Ready? Go," I pushed the button. As Becca wrote frantically, I glanced over in Donovan's direction.
"So Donovan…Do you have a nickname like Becca?" He glanced at me and then back at the TV as he clicked through the channels.
"No."
"Oh." I didn't really know what to say. Then the station stopped at a news channel. Guess who was on TV.
"Wait, pause there." I asked. It looked like the volcano did erupt, but most of the flow was diverted into the ocean on the non inhabited side, thanks to the Fantastic Four. A live feed came in. Mom and Dad were talking to some of the emergency units and Johnny was, of course, giving the newswoman an exclusive on how they saved the island. Then the camera showed Ben, who was helping the rescue crews clear some of the structural damage.
I was startled as Donovan suddenly changed the channel.
"Hey…" I started.
"He is nothing like my dad. My dad came to the funeral." I frowned.
"He didn't come because he didn't want the media to upset your family. And this was quite a time for your dad to show up – " I froze. Not appropriate to say to children under the age of 15. Donovan gave me a deadly glare and then left he living room. I looked over at Becca, who had heard the whole thing, workbook forgotten. I sighed and looked at the stopwatch.
"Time." I said quietly.