The chronicles of Shane McInerney.
Shane McInerney has to babysit her neighbors' kids. If at first everything goes as planned, she's not at the end of her surprises. In additional, a bonus fanfiction. The characters belong to the talented Martha Williamson.
One Friday night, Shane McInerney was checking out his tablet, sitting on his couch. Suddenly, she heard the doorbell and went to open it.
"Hi, Shane. Sorry to bother you. I have an important favor to ask you. Tomorrow, John and I have to leave in the afternoon, absolutely. We'll be back around 8:00 p.m. Nobody can to look after the children. So, I thought...
"Karen, you can go quietly. I'll look after them. It's my pleasure," Shane declared.
"Shane, you're so sweet. Tomorrow afternoon, I was supposed to take them to the aquarium in Denver. Here are the tickets. I'm warning you, they're very nice, but Max, who's 7, loves to make jokes and pranks and Lena, who's 8, loves to ask questions," Karen, the neighbor, said
"Don't worry, I'll handle it," Shane added.
"Great, see you tomorrow, after lunch," Karen suggested.
"Yeah, that's perfect. See you tomorrow," Shane replied, closing the door.
The next day at 1:00 pm, Karen walked in with her kids.
"Shane!" exclaimed the children as they ran towards Shane.
"Shane, here's my phone number in case there's a problem. Max, Lena, you listen to everything Shane tells you, okay?" Karen warns.
"Yes, Mommy. See you tonight," said the children.
"Thanks again, Shane," Karen added before she went out.
"Well, we're going to spend the rest of the day together. Is there anything in particular you want to see at the aquarium? Shane asked.
"Dolphins and the mermaid show!" Lena exclaimed.
"It's bad. I want to go see the whales and the sharks," Max added.
"We'll go see all that. What about dinner, what's your treat?" Shane asked.
"Fajitas and applesauce for dessert," Max rushed to answer.
"Me too, the same," Lena, added, happy
"We'll also go shopping at the supermarket after the aquarium," Shane, said taking her car keys.
Arriving at the Denver Aquarium, Shane got some activity books for children and the show program. The mermaids show was plan at 4:30 p.m. So they had plenty of time to visit the aquarium. The tour was going very well. Max and Lena were impressed by the countless dolphins, sharks, turtles, seals, fish and other sea creatures. Shane was also fascinated. This was her first visit to the Denver Aquarium. While everyone was admiring a penguin through the glass having fun sticking his beak on the glass, Lena called Shane.
"Shane, I believe Max went in the wrong direction," Lena remarked.
And she was right. Max wanted to venture into the aquarium. Shane spotted him and Max approached a door "Do not enter" to open it."
"Max, you didn't read that it's forbidden to enter!" Shane exclaimed
"Yes, but I'm not going in, I'm just looking." Max replied.
"Close that door right now and stay with us," Shane ordered
"Shane, that fish have a horn. It's real ?" Lena asked
The technophile from Washington DC, thought for a moment to try to find an answer to her question.
"This fish is called the Naso unicornis. And because it has a horn, it is also called the unicorn fish," replied a male voice.
"Really?! I love unicorns!" Lena exclaimed.
"Oliver? What are you doing here?" Shane exclaimed.
"I'm asking you the same question, Miss McInerney. It's not in your habit to find yourself on a Saturday afternoon in the library, in a museum or at the aquarium. I'm surprised," Oliver said.
"Well, actually, I'm with my neighbor's kids. This is Lena, whom you saw, and Max... But where?!
"Max... This is not this child who is climbing on the shark sculpture," Oliver remarked.
"I can't believe it! I'm going crazy !" Shane exclaimed
Everyone ran.
"Help, help!" The child cried.
"It's your fault, Max, you didn't listen to Shane," Lena exclaimed.
"Shane, I'm sorry. I'm afraid I might fall," Max said with tears in the eyes.
"I'll help you down," Oliver said.
"My dad said I shouldn't talk to people I don't know."
"Max, he is right. But, it's Oliver and is with us. All right, you're safe." Shane added.
"Max, listen to me, you're going to jump and I'm going to catch you, okay. You can trust me. Don't look down," said Oliver said to reassure him.
The child winced, waited few seconds, jumped and then closed his eyes. The postal detective caught him gently, in his arms.
"You can open your eyes now, my boy" Oliver said smiling.
Max opened his eyes.
"Wow. Are you a superhero?" Max asked.
"No, I'm not a superhero. I'm Oliver O'Toole and I work at the post office," The postal detective declared, putting the child down.
"Shane, I'm really sorry, sorry." The little boy said, huddling up to her.
Shane smiled.
"I forgive you, Max, but you scared the hell out of me. I don't want you to ever do that again, okay?"
He nodded and smiled.
"Well, we've had enough intense sensations for today. Oliver, thank you so much from the bottom of my heart," Shane declares
"It was my pleasure. Goodbye Miss McInerney. Goodbye Max, Lena" Oliver said before he left.
Shane took the children by the hands and they were off to the mermaid show.
"Shane, is that your boyfriend?" Lena asked
"My boyfriend?" Shane asked, surprise.
" Oliver who saved Max. Is that your boyfriend?" Lena asked again.
"Uh... no, I don't have a boyfriend," Shane replied with a small smile.
Then they went to the supermarket to make dinner. They'd put everything on the checkout counter mat, when Shane frenziedly reached into her purse. There were car keys, house keys, her cell phone, but she couldn't find her wallet.
"Kids, just wait a moment, I'll be right back," Shane said.
She ran quickly through the shelves. Shane was sure she had lost her wallet or left it at home. She sighed in desperation until she saw Oliver, catching a bottle of Yoo-hoo. Shane was embarrassed to ask him for help and was about to leave when the postal detective called her.
"Miss McInerney, my goodness. What a surprise! I meet you twice in the same day, that's no coincidence," Oliver said smiling... You look a little lost," Oliver remarked.
"Well actually, it just so happens that I went shopping and forgot or lost my wallet. This is a really great day," Shane began.
She almost had tears in her eyes and Oliver noticed.
"Miss McInerney, in the Dead Letter Office, we aren't just learn how to find what's lost, but try to bring a smile to people's faces too. I'll take care of it," Oliver offers, smiling.
The postal detective paid for the groceries.
"Oliver, I don't know how to thank you," Shane said, a little uncomfortable.
"One smile is more than enough," Oliver said.
"You sure you don't want to have dinner with us," Shane proposed.
"Please Oliver, come have dinner with us!" Lena and Max exclaimed.
"Your invitation honors me, but I had already planned to have dinner with my father. Enjoy your fajitas," Oliver added with a big smile.
Shane smiled at him and watched him walk away.
"Shane, we're getting hungry," Lena said rushed to the car.
"We're going to go home, sweetheart," said Shane.
Back home, Shane found her wallet. After dinner, Karen arrived.
"Oh, my treasures, so you had both a good day with Shane," the mother said.
The children ran to throw themselves into their mothers' arms.
"Mommy! Yeah, it was great. Shane is very kind," said Max said.
"And her fajitas are delicious," Lena added.
"I made some for you too. I thought maybe you didn't have dinner," Shane said with a smile.
"Thank you so much, Shane. I'm sure they had to give you some troubles," Karen presumed.
"Max and Lena are adorable" Shane replied with a smile.
"Anyway, thanks for everything. You'll make a fantastic mother." Karen said as she hugged Shane.
Joe's house.
"Dad, are we having Italian food tonight?" Oliver asked.
"Yes, son, and tell me what you think of the rocky mountain pizza," Joe laughed.
"Well, I know some of people are eating Mexican tonight," Oliver said with a half-smile.
"Really?" Joe asked, suspecting something.
"A decisive encounter is something looks like destiny"" Oliver said with a smile.
Eeveryone was gone and Shane tidied up her kitchen. She'd had a great day, so funny, fun and full of emotion. Shane smiled especially when she thought of Oliver. She picked up the shopping bag when a piece of paper fell on the floor.
Miss McInerney,
I've rarely spent a Saturday afternoon so pleasant. Thank you very much.
Next time, I hope to invite you to spend an afternoon in a place you like.
Just trust in fate.
Very sincerely.
Oliver O'Toole.
Shane smiled and then laughed.
The end.
Bonus fanfiction : Imperfections.
One morning, Oliver was getting ready for work. The postal detective took his satchel and went out. But he noticed a huge cat sleeping on his front porch. Oliver bent down to gently carry the cat. But the cat opened its eyes wide, got angry and scratched Oliver in the face and ran away.
"It's not true?! What's Sam Hill ,? exclaimed Oliver.
He took a handkerchief to wipe off his face and rushed to the office.
Oliver was happy because the office was still empty. He entered the DLO thinking he was alone.
"Morning, Oliver... What is happened to you?" Shane asked, worried when she saw the scars.
"Good morning, Miss McInerney. No, nothing happened. I fell on thorns of roses " Oliver answered.
"Oliver, you're a terrible liar. Anyway, you've got to disinfect those scars. Is there a first-aid kit and a basin I can fill with water?" Shane asked.
"You'll find all that in the cupboard next to Norman's desk," Oliver answered.
Moments later.
"Oliver, you've been scratched by a cat. Coming from you, it seems so unreal," Shane said, hiding a smile.
"You can laugh if you want to. What am I going to tell Norman and Rita, and the people at the post office?" Oliver said, visibly uncomfortable.
"It's true that a gentleman in a suit, with scars on his face, is not ideal. Careful, it's going to sting a bit," Shane, declared, disinfecting the wounds.
Oliver gritted his teeth a little.
"That's very nice of you to care for me." Oliver said, embarrassedly, looking away.
"It's my pleasure, Oliver. It will heal quickly. I must admit, you're quite attractive. The scars give you a lot of charm too," Shane, said, who blushing a little.
"Really?" asked Oliver.
"Yes. It wasn't you the last time which said, that It's the imperfections in life that makes something perfect." Shane replied with a smile.
" So ? I'm perfect, isn't " Oliver says with a smile.
Norman and Rita walked in quietly and saw Oliver and Shane sitting face to face in the distance.
"It's so cute. Do you think that's why they came early?" Rita asked.
"Who came to do what?" Norman asked.
"This is so they can see each other in secret!" Rita exclaimed, excited.
Norman thought that was strange.
"Hello, sorry if we interrupted a romantic moment," Rita exclaimed.
They got up in a hurry.
"Not really, Rita," Shane said.
"Actually, we were just talking about scars and imperfections in life ," Oliver said, smiling to Shane.
"Oh, yeah, because that's not the impression you were giving. Okay, this will stay a secret. "Rita says.
Everyone smiled and started working with gusto, even someone with a few scars on his face.
The End