Adventures in Babysitting
I've been watching the news for reports of more monster attacks. There was an incident at the Cherry Blossom Festival a few days ago. Some teachers and a number of students were hospitalized. Some are kids I know that hang out at the arcade. The Scout gang had a rough time before defeating it. Why do I care? I care because someone has invaded my city and is hurting people I know,. and I can't do anything about it. That's what hurts the most. I've spent most of my life holding back, not getting involved, and now that I want to do something, there isn't anything I can do. The only ones who can do something are a bunch of magic girls. Well, good luck, girls. You need it.
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Lately, whoever is controlling these monsters has been targeting kindergartners. How low can they go? Vultures, vampires, why don't they pick on someone their own size, someone who can at least run away? I hope the Scouts can stop the next attack.
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All right, Dare, you had to open your big mouth and now look where you are! Let me write this down, so I can remember exactly how I got into this. I was just returning from classes, when I heard screaming. I ran and found it was Amy and Serena. There had been another monster attack, this time at a nursery school! There must have been twenty babies and their attendants lying there, pale and lifeless. I kept my cool, and called to report the emergency. We went to the hospital to give them any information we could. There was one baby that was well, his mother had protected him and she was very weak. Poor little guy, his dad was away on a business trip, and with the hospital full, there was no one to take care of him. That's when I did it. I thought if girls can fight monsters, I could baby-sit, so I volunteered. Amazingly, Amy vouched for me. I didn't think she knew me that well. Her mother is a doctor there, so her opinion was respected.
A short time later, after filling out forms and a crash course on how to take care of a baby, I found myself temporarily responsible for nine-month old Jordan. With reality setting in, I accepted Serena's offer to help. She's a girl; girls know how to take care of babies, right? Wrongo. After fixing the formula, it looked like a hurricane had hit my kitchen. That kid knew he was in the hands of amateurs: we made faces, he cried; we tried to feed him, he cried; we changed his diaper, he cried. We gave him his bottle again, he shut up. So did Serena. It was nice, just sitting there quiet. Was this what it's like to be a family? I started to talk to Jordan, to see if he would talk back. Serena said babies learned to walk first. She bet me two weeks allowance she's right. We'll see. She left soon after that, looking a bit hurt. Alright, I called her meatball head again. There's something about that girl that just gets to me.
Ok, I'll just look on this as a learning experience. If I want to be a doctor, I'll need to know what a normal kid is like. Good thing it's the weekend. I can study and work on term papers when he sleeps. Notes to self:
a nine-month old can crawl, fast
a baby will put anything in his mouth
remember to burp
don't bounce him right after feeding
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I didn't get any studying done last night. Jordan fell asleep while I was holding him, and so did I. Good thing, too. He woke up a 3:00 am, wet and hungry, like Serena said he would. It took an hour to settle him down again. He's already used most of the stuff the nurse gave me; I'll have to go shopping for more.
Serena surprised me by showing up again this morning. Can't say I mind, she watched Jordan while I showered and shaved. (Note to self: keep things out of reach, I barely saved my Physics book, the teacup and my pants weren't so lucky.) She came shopping with me, saying my hands would be too full to shop. She was right there, too. (Note to self: a fifteen pound baby is strong and unpredictable.) But I think she is really using this as a good excuse to be around me. Her friends saw us shopping together and teased her by commenting about what a cute family we make. I kept my cool and let Serena blow up at them. That girl does have a temper and it's nice to see I'm not the only one she uses it on. Amy knew better. What I don't get is why they act like we've been going together. Ann was there and half believed them. Weird. Geez, Serena is way too young anyway. She left after we got back.
Yes, he does take naps. He must be getting used to me, and I'm beginning to get the hang of taking care of him. I was able to get some work done after all.
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Jordan is a happy, calm baby- most of the time. Ann came by today, she said she wanted to help. Turns out she knew less than Serena did. I don't think Jordan liked her, he was real fussy while she was here. It was funny when he peed on her and she freaked out. She was leaving after that when Serena showed up. Jordan calmed down right away, even though Serena started to argue with me. She acted all jealous because Ann had been here, when I'm not going out with either of them. Just then Jordan stood up and walked. We were so pleased, we stopped bickering and had a great time playing with Jordan, getting him to walk to each other. I don't care that she won our bet and I owe her. When Amy showed up to get Serena, we guys were both ready for a little quiet time. I haven't given up on getting him to talk yet.
The hospital called, Jordan's mom will be ready to leave in the morning. I'd better let Serena know so she won't come by. I think Andrew has her number.
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Serena surprised me again. She came by, early, to go with me to take Jordan to his mom. I have to admit, I liked having her help and she didn't bail even when things didn't go well. Jordan had a little surprise for us, too. He talked! He said, "Bye-Bye, Dewen, Mee-ba-ed." We taught him to walk and talk! I'm gonna miss the little guy.
I found out later that the Scouts trounced the monster that was doing this. I'm glad. I took Serena out for a shake after school to celebrate and to pay her the money I owe her. She refused, saying we were even. She looks at me so intensely. Has she taken my teasing to mean something more? I hope not.
I've been watching the news for reports of more monster attacks. There was an incident at the Cherry Blossom Festival a few days ago. Some teachers and a number of students were hospitalized. Some are kids I know that hang out at the arcade. The Scout gang had a rough time before defeating it. Why do I care? I care because someone has invaded my city and is hurting people I know,. and I can't do anything about it. That's what hurts the most. I've spent most of my life holding back, not getting involved, and now that I want to do something, there isn't anything I can do. The only ones who can do something are a bunch of magic girls. Well, good luck, girls. You need it.
---------------------------------------------------------
Lately, whoever is controlling these monsters has been targeting kindergartners. How low can they go? Vultures, vampires, why don't they pick on someone their own size, someone who can at least run away? I hope the Scouts can stop the next attack.
---------------------------------------------------------
All right, Dare, you had to open your big mouth and now look where you are! Let me write this down, so I can remember exactly how I got into this. I was just returning from classes, when I heard screaming. I ran and found it was Amy and Serena. There had been another monster attack, this time at a nursery school! There must have been twenty babies and their attendants lying there, pale and lifeless. I kept my cool, and called to report the emergency. We went to the hospital to give them any information we could. There was one baby that was well, his mother had protected him and she was very weak. Poor little guy, his dad was away on a business trip, and with the hospital full, there was no one to take care of him. That's when I did it. I thought if girls can fight monsters, I could baby-sit, so I volunteered. Amazingly, Amy vouched for me. I didn't think she knew me that well. Her mother is a doctor there, so her opinion was respected.
A short time later, after filling out forms and a crash course on how to take care of a baby, I found myself temporarily responsible for nine-month old Jordan. With reality setting in, I accepted Serena's offer to help. She's a girl; girls know how to take care of babies, right? Wrongo. After fixing the formula, it looked like a hurricane had hit my kitchen. That kid knew he was in the hands of amateurs: we made faces, he cried; we tried to feed him, he cried; we changed his diaper, he cried. We gave him his bottle again, he shut up. So did Serena. It was nice, just sitting there quiet. Was this what it's like to be a family? I started to talk to Jordan, to see if he would talk back. Serena said babies learned to walk first. She bet me two weeks allowance she's right. We'll see. She left soon after that, looking a bit hurt. Alright, I called her meatball head again. There's something about that girl that just gets to me.
Ok, I'll just look on this as a learning experience. If I want to be a doctor, I'll need to know what a normal kid is like. Good thing it's the weekend. I can study and work on term papers when he sleeps. Notes to self:
a nine-month old can crawl, fast
a baby will put anything in his mouth
remember to burp
don't bounce him right after feeding
-----------------------------------------------------------
I didn't get any studying done last night. Jordan fell asleep while I was holding him, and so did I. Good thing, too. He woke up a 3:00 am, wet and hungry, like Serena said he would. It took an hour to settle him down again. He's already used most of the stuff the nurse gave me; I'll have to go shopping for more.
Serena surprised me by showing up again this morning. Can't say I mind, she watched Jordan while I showered and shaved. (Note to self: keep things out of reach, I barely saved my Physics book, the teacup and my pants weren't so lucky.) She came shopping with me, saying my hands would be too full to shop. She was right there, too. (Note to self: a fifteen pound baby is strong and unpredictable.) But I think she is really using this as a good excuse to be around me. Her friends saw us shopping together and teased her by commenting about what a cute family we make. I kept my cool and let Serena blow up at them. That girl does have a temper and it's nice to see I'm not the only one she uses it on. Amy knew better. What I don't get is why they act like we've been going together. Ann was there and half believed them. Weird. Geez, Serena is way too young anyway. She left after we got back.
Yes, he does take naps. He must be getting used to me, and I'm beginning to get the hang of taking care of him. I was able to get some work done after all.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Jordan is a happy, calm baby- most of the time. Ann came by today, she said she wanted to help. Turns out she knew less than Serena did. I don't think Jordan liked her, he was real fussy while she was here. It was funny when he peed on her and she freaked out. She was leaving after that when Serena showed up. Jordan calmed down right away, even though Serena started to argue with me. She acted all jealous because Ann had been here, when I'm not going out with either of them. Just then Jordan stood up and walked. We were so pleased, we stopped bickering and had a great time playing with Jordan, getting him to walk to each other. I don't care that she won our bet and I owe her. When Amy showed up to get Serena, we guys were both ready for a little quiet time. I haven't given up on getting him to talk yet.
The hospital called, Jordan's mom will be ready to leave in the morning. I'd better let Serena know so she won't come by. I think Andrew has her number.
---------------------------------------------------------------
Serena surprised me again. She came by, early, to go with me to take Jordan to his mom. I have to admit, I liked having her help and she didn't bail even when things didn't go well. Jordan had a little surprise for us, too. He talked! He said, "Bye-Bye, Dewen, Mee-ba-ed." We taught him to walk and talk! I'm gonna miss the little guy.
I found out later that the Scouts trounced the monster that was doing this. I'm glad. I took Serena out for a shake after school to celebrate and to pay her the money I owe her. She refused, saying we were even. She looks at me so intensely. Has she taken my teasing to mean something more? I hope not.
