I don't own the thunderbirds or any of the recognisable characters from the series. Anyone you don't is mine all mine.

Thanks to Zeilfanaat and White Rose for reviewing.

These Are The Times

Chapter 10

The Art of Dealing With People

Twenty minutes in. Alyssa had gone to lie down. The drugs are really taking it out of her. And the Sanson children or 'The Devils Incarnate' were tugging on trouser legs to go trick or treating in between explaining why Lyssie (What they called her) was in her room and needed quiet. She certainly has a way with little ones.

Erin managed to shut them up for a while at the expense of our ice cream supply and some loud sugar fuelled TV program. The movies I rented were piled neatly on a high out of reach shelf.

John shoved a plate load of macaroni cheese my way, a second for Erin and took a plate to Alyssa's room. I ate quickly; I really didn't want to share at this moment in time. On Halloween by boss gets really itchy about eggs and toilet paper and won't sell it to anyone under twenty-one without a note from their parents. I missed lunch to do inventory; some frozen meals hadn't been delivered so I think I've earned this.

At least theres still some toffee honeycomb in the freezer.

Peace.

Not good it can't last.

The phone started ringing.

All of a sudden everything changed. John, Erin and I all dived for the cordless object just as one of the Sanson boys did. There was nearly a collision, Erin lifting it out of the way just in time before the bodies fell in a mess.

"Hello?" A tense pause. We had recently begun screening phone calls at John's request. All he would say was family stuff. We'd probably just have to wait it out. "It's yer brother T"

John gave a massive sigh of relief

I took the phone "Hey Rich". It was nice to get a phone call. Rich is thirty and a member of the corporate ladder. Recently engaged I was looking forward to the summer wedding in Texas, I was to be best man. (At least he doesn't have to cook-Alyssa) "Wassup?"

"You're gonna be an uncle bro"

"Jennie's pregers? Congratulations man. How far?"

"Three months, we've known for a while but we wanted to wait before we told anyone."

"That's great, what did mum say."

"She's overjoyed, so's dad. Just been on the phone to them. Alice is excited to. She's happy theres finally gonna be someone younger than her."

"She'll always be our baby sis". Alice, my baby sister is aged seventeen and wants to be a translator."

"Anyways love to chat some more bro but I've gotta get on the phone to aunts and uncles."

"Best of luck mate watch out for Uncle George, seeya whenever"

"Take care bro"

"Later" We hung up at almost the same time. I took the phone with me and put it on the counter. I looked at my plate.

Wiped clean.

"Goddamit"

Them twins really know how to take the biscuit. If it were down to me those little hellions won't be getting any candy tonight.

"What now" John sounded miserable, looks like he lost some of his as well. The brats looked pleased and like they wanted to do … something but didn't know quite what. The ice cream and TV show must have ended.

"Where's Lyssie, I like Lyssie I wanna play with Lyssie" Not again be quiet Lilly. Seeing her twin pipe up Lucy joined in

"Me too. I wanna play with Lyssie, can Lyssie take us trick or treating. Can Lyssie play games huh, huh, huh?"

It's like a pebble before the landslide.

Jack and James added their ten peneth and pretty soon the neighbours would be complaining.

Punk, punk, punk.

I took to the door whilst Erin and John tried to placate them with paper and pencils.

"Why don't you draw some pictures to help Lyssie feel better?" It might just work.

I already had a pretty good guess at who was knocking.

"Hello Edgar" Owner of 3C Edgar was a behemoth of a man who ran a hotdog stand around the city. He was bitter at young'uns like us of 3A for whatever reason. I didn't really like him either.

"Can you keep the racket down? Unlike some I've had a long day at work and want to relax"

This happened every time the twins were being babysat here.

"We're trying they're little kids Edgar" Even if they were annoying I prefer them over Edgar and wasn't going to voice my opinion to him.

"I was a little kid once, never made any noise. Tell that British broad to keep them quiet." Alyssa was known throughout the building as being one of the few who could calm the Sanson four down and keep them calm. It was also the reason Grace and Rick went through babysitters so fast. Word spreads few bad experiences with one babysitter and no-one will look after yer kids.

Bless her tiny black heart Lucy looked up from her sheet and yelled "Lyssie not well, she's lying down" Edgar looked in contempt before looking back at me.

"Well tell the British broad to get up and do something for the good of the building I don't care if she's on her deathbed. Tell her to get up and keep them kids on low. I didn't know that colouring in was such a noisy activity."

"Yes Edgar" No Edgar, I won't if Alyssa wants to get up she can but I'm not going to force her just to appease a two ton middle aged jackass.

I shut the door before my mouth could say that though.

Besides they have to take a breather sometime. Don't they? They noise had gone down more likely due to our neighbour than anything us three could do. Whilst Erin and John supervised the drawing I in ten minutes put away my toffee honeycomb ice cream. (There was like a quarter pot left). And washed up. Leaving smashables around, big no-no.

I went to get the plate from Alyssa's and Erin's room. It was half eaten on the side. Alyssa was finished; the position of her cutlery said so and looked to be dozing. After I finished cleaning up and joined John and Erin. The kids drawing were simple and messy. Nothing certain had been done. I gently smiled at Erin and John and looked on. The night ain't over yet.