FREE PARENTING LESSONS

That night Simon had left Nina sleeping in their room. The days events had left her feeling tired and literally worn-out, so Simon, being the sweet, kind gentleman he was, had decided to let her to sleep. Now Nina had awoken, confused for a moment at her surrondings then rembered where she was. She looked out the opened door to see Dennis dressed nicely in a pair of slacks and a green top. "Hey Nina, you awake?"Dennis asked smiling. Nina thought about closing her eyes and not saying a word, the decided against it. "What do you want you tea cup poodle?"She asked sarcastically. "I just need to ask you a question!" "Then come in here!" Dennis quickly ran into the bedroom, not wanting to wait to ask his question. "Ok, is Simon still doing the concert tonight and if he hopefully is, what time does it go to?"Dennis asked quickly. Nina stared up at him for a moment with an ambiguous look, then comprehended what he had said. "Yes and I don't know what time it is over? Why? Tricked a stupid beach girl into going with you, but her daddy wants her home by a descent hour?"Nina asked in a patronizing tone. Dennis gave an annoyed look her way. "For your information her agent needs her up early in the morning so she has to go home a little early! There, does that answer your noisy question?"Dennis asked in a child like tone. "Pretty much so!"Nina smiled. Dennis rolled his eyes and quickly left Nina sitting there thinking. The room had just went quiete when the loud, shrill screams of a little girl was heard through the house. "DADDY, YOU CAN'T FIND ME!"The tiny child yelled as she entered Nina's bedroom and closed the door behind her. The child stood there at the door a moment then looked at Nina. "What's wrong with you? You look very old!"The little girl said smiling. Nina scowled at the little girl's remark. "Shouldn't you be hiding from the boogie-man?"Nina asked annoyed. The little girl stood there a moment giving an annoyed look. "What's wrong with you? You are very bitter!"The little girl inquired. "Yeah, well you would be bitter too if you found out you were pregnant, then had to stay at home while your husband is rubbing elbows and God knows what else with other women!"Nina complained. The child was still giving Nina the skeptical look when Jack came in the room. "Hannah, I thought I told you not to bother Nina. She needs her rest!"Jack said scolded. "But Daddy, I wasn't I promise! I just thought I would say hey!"Hannah smiled. Nina rolled her eyes and looked up at Jack. "Why are they so short?" "Nina, she isn't short, she is the right size for her age!"Jack rolled his eyes at the little knowledge Nina had of children. There was an akward silence for a moment, then Jack thought of something. "Hannah Bear, why don't you go down stairs and find a movie to watch, we'll be there shortly!"Jack said smiling. "Alright Daddy!"Hannah smiled and skipped out of the room. Jack and Nina both watched as the child made her exit. "So, Nina, do you wanna come and watch a movie with us? What else are you doin' tonight?"Jack asked smiling. "Nothing, besides being insulted by you and your daughter!"Nina said defenesively. "Ah, Nina, what's wrong? Are you upset that Simon wouldn't let you go with him to the concert?" "Yes!" "Well, come down stairs with us and watch a movie, it isn't as bad as you think! Besides, you'll have to do this soon too ya know!" Nina rolled her eyes at his tone and at the thought of him being right. It wasn't that she didn't want the child, it was just that there was so much that went with a child, so many sacrifices. Nina nodded and followed Jack downstairs where Hannah was sitting on the couch watching The Rugrats Go To Paris. Jack and Nina joined her and were sitting quietly when the phone rang. Nina, being the closest one to it, answered it. "Hello!" "Nina, Oh My God, you have got to help me! What am I gonna do? Come get me out of here!"Maya said frantically on the phone. "Lord woman, calm down. Now slowly tell me what is going on"Nina said in a calming tone. "Nina, I was out with this guy I met earlier today and now we are in jail! It was horrible, I got pepper sprayed, now all of them are gone and I'm left here by myself an..."Maya continued as Nina held the phone away from her ear. "Jack, here, it's Maya!"Nina said handing him the phone. Jack gave an ambiguous look and took the phone. Just as he put it to his ear, Maya said: "Nina, DO NOT give my dad this phone!" "Maya, what is going on? Where are you?"Jack asked worriedly. Maya stood still thinking for a moment then decided to tell him exactly what was going on. "Well, dad, I am in jail, please come get me out!"Maya pleaded. "Alright, I'll be there in a second!"And with that Jack hung up the phone and went to grab his coat. "Jack, where are you going?"Nina asked, following him around the house. "I have to go get Maya out of jail!" "God Jack, all the times I've been in jail no one has had to come and bail me out! And anyway, you have a daughter!"Nina said pointing to Hannah. "I know that, and that was why I was going to ask you to please watch her for me!"Jack said in a pleading tone. "NO! She's yours, you watch her!" "Nina, if you do this for me I'll give you a raise!" "No!" "I'll give you a boat!" "No!" "I'll pay for your next fifty visits to the dermatologist!" "Alright!"Nina smiled as she turned around. Jack rolled his eyes at the thought of how easy it is to buy Nina. "Now just let her watch the movie until eight thirty, then she'll need her bath, she's already been fed, then put her in bed! That simple!"Jack said and left. Nina stood there a moment shocked. She looked at the tiny child as she watched the movie. "Where did my daddy go?" "He went to get your sister.out of jail!" "Oh! Can you teach me how to fix my hair like yours? It's really pretty!"Hannah said smiling. Nina was shocked by the child's attit6ude toward her. "Sure I can! I'd love to!"Nina said sitting down beside of the child on the couch. She then began to fix the child's hair as she thought, 'This is going to be so easy!' The first of many mistakes she would make that night.