Author's Note: Not a meet the parents story like I was hoping. I don't know if I'll write that but this chapter is Jamie and Lucy together, mixed with some of the "New BSC" (not really lol) and a cameo with a couple of the kids I have written before along with someone different. As usual let me know if there's anyone in particular that you want to see.
Happy reading!
Jamie Newton sighed as he watched the leaves fall off the trees around him. The crunch of red and gold felt satisfying beneath his shoes. A cool breeze reminding him of why he was wearing a plain white sweater already despite it being the beginning of fall. In his ear a Bon Jovi song played encouraging him to complete his morning run.
That didn't seem to matter as he rounded the corner and into his parent's house. His sister would be starting classes at Stoneybrook University soon and he was going to spend some time with her before heading back to work himself. The perks of putting in his vacation at exactly the right time he supposed.
Still slightly sweaty he was surprised to see Lucy there with her friend at the kitchen counter. A frozen pizza baking in the oven. In front of Laura Perkins was a batch of brownie batter ready to be baked.
"Hi Laura," he said waving to the girl. "Why do you look so…"
"Worried? Tired? Distressed? Ann…"
"We're just trying to figure out what to do about this class," said Lucy interrupting her friend and finding the greased pan. She didn't look as upset as Laura at this though. "We signed up for an independent study to do together this semester and trying to find something that could fit with both of our degrees."
Oh, he could understand that knowing what school was like. Jamie went to school to learn accounting and he remembered the long nights running numbers and writing essays. Laura wanted to open her own pre-school one day and Lucy was getting a liberal arts BA so she can go on and get her masters. Lucy could pick whatever subject she wanted it and it would apply. However, it might be harder with Laura's career goals. He shrugged and went to get a water bottle out of the fridge.
"Maybe we could do something with kids," said Lucy a hint of vagueness in her voice.
"Like what?"
"Run a business maybe?"
"The Baby-Sitters Club," said Jamie interjecting into their conversation. A memory from the back of his mind first and foremost. "When I was little mom would call some of the neighborhood girls to watch me and Luce. They ran it out of Byron and Charlotte Pike's house, when the Kishi's still owned it. Call one number and reach a bunch of experienced sitters. They also ran all kind of events for the kids and did some local community work too."
Laura and Lucy blinked at him as if he had grown three heads. Oh well it was different, he thought, too bad it didn't seem to help them anyway. He remembered Claudia Kishi, she baby-sat them lots of time until they were old enough. Then sometimes during the summer and when his parents went away for a weekend. He smiled remembering that Claudia came to his college graduation party.
The oven beeped reminding them of the pizza as he took it out and found the cutter.
"You know that's not a bad idea," said Laura slowly. "Sorta combine the two of them together. There are websites like care dot com or something for baby-sitters in general. But I don't know many businesses that would try to combine community work with kids."
"What does that have to do with running a preschool though?" asked Lucy taking a slice.
"Not much, but it would give me experience running a business that does involve children. Jamie what kind of events did these baby-sitters do with you?"
Jamie chewed on his pizza thoughtfully trying to figure that out. They did a lot of stuff that he could recall.
"Well, like talent shows and threw some parties like the mini Olympics," he said thinking of a few events.
"Jamie you're a genius," said Laura throwing her arms around him. "We could make something like that work. Andrea and Hope are going back to school soon, but Rose Salem goes to the community college with us."
The two girls chatted away talking about their plans and what they could do including as many friends and their sitting charges. Jamie listened half interested finishing his pizza and put the brownies in the oven on a timer. Still pooped from his run, the twenty-four-year-old plopped down on the couch with a magazine.
Humming the song from earlier he read a few pages of People Magazine before his thoughts strayed to those old baby-sitters. They'd totally get a kick about two of the babies that sat for starting their own project like theirs. He pulled out his phone and quickly texted his mother.
After a few minutes he found himself staring the phone number for Claudia Kishi. She lived in New York now, which was only about an hour or two away. Jamie wanted to call her and get lunch or something one day. Their families were still friends with each other after all. Then finally found the courage to call her himself.
"Claudia Kishi," said a chipper voice at the other end.
"Claudia? Um, this is Jamie Newton," he said bracing for what was to come.
The voice on the other end was silent for a minute then something being put up to the phone. Then she came back and he could hear her loud and clear.
"Hi Jamie! Sorry about that I had to get something for my son. It's been a while since I heard from you. What's up? How's your parents and Lucy?"
"We're all great," he said. "I just thought I'd call. Uh Lucy and her friends are working on some independent study and I told them about your club and it kind of inspired them. It inspired me to call you."
"Oh, that's right, Lucy and Laura used to baby-sit when they were about fifteen or so. It's weird, I used to baby sit them when they were little and then they turned around to babysit my kids. Life is kind of funky like that. What kind of project are they working on?"
"Something about kids in the community type of business. I think I heard them talking about donations or writing letters to those in the military.'
"That sounds like so much fun. Listen I'm going to be in Stoneybrook next week with Janine to visit our parents. What do you say that catch up at Rosebud at say noon?"
Jamie paused thinking about his day. His vacation didn't end until Sunday.
"Sounds perfect," he said hearing the front door open and shut. Then the sound of running feet. "I'll see you tomorrow?"
"Wonderful, I'll see you then."
Claudia hung up and Jamie a bit mystified and now relaxed went into the kitchen. The brownies still not done yet, but he could see several children around their kitchen table. Geez both girls worked fast. Not only did kids show up but also some parents and Lucy's friends. Hope Felder and Andrea Prezzioso had snagged the two slices of pizza.
"What is going on?" asked Jamie to Kristy who was standing in the doorway.
"Your sister is proposing her independent study project to the kids," said Kristy with a wide smile. "I really like this idea. Maybe I can get a couple of the grades at my school involved with something like this."
Honestly, he had to praise Lucy and Laura's initiative with her rather ambitious project. Bobby Gianelli was there with his son Aaron. Charlotte Pike was there with her son Gavin. Anna and Levi Stevenson-Cohen had both of her kids Uriah and Elsie there. Alan Gray with his kids: Wendy, Quinn, and Elliot. Kristy and Lucas had Molly, Conner, and Jeremy. Logan Bruno with his daughter Harper. Then two of the neighbors had their kids Maren and Everett.
"I guess they're really doing it," mused Jamie looking over at his sister. He was glad that he was able to help them even though he didn't do much. They were even telling them about their first project when they get approval for it.
"It sounds like she's going to have a lot going on," said Kristy. "I'm glad Molly dragged me here."
He nodded and couldn't help but think so too. Plus he was going to see Claudia soon too. Sounded like a good way to end his vacation days.
