My note...this chapter was so fun to write, and yes again, some real life experiences were added for effect.
ADVENTURES IN BABYSITTING
CHAPTER 3: LOST IN TRANSLATION
Ashley was a complete wreck the entire trip back home, worried that Liberty would never let her babysit Ryan again, worried that Liberty and Toby's relationship might suffer because her actions...worried that her lapse may have caused little Ryan, pain.
"You think he's okay Jimmy?", Ashley asked her boyfriend, this being the third time, just as they entered the house.
They moved over to the couch and he wordlessly took the boy from her grasp. "Look Ash, he's fine", Jimmy assured, taking off the baby's t-shirt to reveal Ryan's torso. "He's hardly even red anymore".
Ashley studied the skin that had thankfully, turned from blotchy pink at the park, to almost it's normal caramel color...save for the very tops of his shoulders, as well as his nose and cheeks, that were still a light rosy color.
Ashley scooped the baby from Jimmy's grasp and began pacing the room with him. "But he's still warm", she muttered, holding the side of Ryan's forehead to her cheek. "...and a little cranky".
Jimmy couldn't help but smile at the worry that laced Ashley's voice, or the motherly way she was tending to the fussy toddler...a side of her, he'd seen many times, where his own health or well-being was concerned, but he never truly appreciated it, until now. Emotion filled eyes met sympathetic ones. "I need to head to the washroom anyway...", he paused in passing. "I'll bring a wet washcloth out for him, that should cool him down a bit".
Ashley lovingly cupped her hand around Jimmy's cheek, then slowly let it trail down to his chest. "You'd better get one for yourself too", she sounded serious, feeling the heat of his own flushed pink cheeks under her hand, and taking in the sight of as his sweat stained t-shirt. Jimmy took hold of Ashley's hand and gave it a slight squeeze in affirmation, before continuing forward.
While Jimmy was gone, Ashley took the time to check Ryan over once more. She found even less discoloration this time, and breathed a huge sigh of relief. It seemed that the pink blotchy patches Ryan was sporting at the park, were, as Jimmy had insisted, most likely caused by the little boy running through the cold water of the sprinkler...not the harmful sunburn Ashley was fearing.
Too bad the same couldn't be said for Jimmy...
He had exited the bathroom with a damp hand towel draped over his shoulders, as per instructed by Ashley. Pulling up to the couch, he grabbed the washcloth that was tucked into the front of his shirt and tickled the baby's exposed tummy with it, before handing it over to Ashley. Jimmy then moved over to his backpack, to return the sack with his bathroom supplies in it, and search for his spare t-shirt.
It was while watching Jimmy change, that Ashley noticed the distinct outline of where his other shirt had been. There was a slight clench of her chest as she lowered Ryan, who was contently chewing on the wet washcloth, to the floor, and stepped over to Jimmy. "Looks like I was worried about the wrong one of my boys", she stated apologetically and laid her hand upon his shoulder.
Jimmy smiled up at her, but shook his head dismissively. "Nah, I needed a little color any way", he quipped, admiring the contrast between bicep and forearm before shrugging into the clean shirt.
"Yeah, but not this much", Ashley countered, gently fingering the bright red patch covering the back of his neck and around the collar. She wondered how Jimmy, who was the most covered out of all of them, would be the one to end up with sunburn...and then it occurred to her...he was never out of the sun. She was in the Dot the entire time Ryan was in the sandbox, shielded by his large brimmed hat, at lunch, she and the baby were sitting on the ground, in Jimmy's shadow, and finally, at the water play area, Ryan was under the protective netting of the 'tot spot' canopy, while the bench she was sitting on, was partially shaded by a large oak tree.
Ashley's concern for Jimmy was momentarily interrupted by the incessant whining at her feet, "Ba...bap...".
"What's wrong little man?", she asked as she picked up the baby.
"Baa...baa", he sobbed.
"What does he want?", Jimmy asked Ashley.
"I'm not sure", she answered questionably, as she tried to console him by bouncing lightly. "He sounds like a lamb".
"Maybe he's got a favorite stuffed animal in his bag", Jimmy offered, reaching for the parcel.
The whining began to increase, as Jimmy rifled through the bag. "Baaaa...baaaa...".
"Ash, there nothing here but diapers, creams and lotions, baby food and clothes", Jimmy stated helplessly. "...and a few toy books, but definitely nothing that resembles a lstuffed amb".
Ashley sighed heavily, as she tried to figure out what would sooth the baby. "Well, maybe he wants one of the books", she suggested. "...anything with animals on it?".
Jimmy handed Ashley a cloth book with the picture of a farm on in. She offered it to Ryan, but he just turned his head and cried harder. "Maybe he's hungry?", he guessed, holding a carrot chunk up to the boy, but Ryan quickly swatted it to the floor.
"Baaaaaaaaa...", he wailed, as he wiped his face across Ashley shoulder.
"Shhh...shhh...", Ashley chanted as she began to pace, while still bouncing.
"Someone's sleepy", Jimmy chuckled, as the room went silent and a tell-tale yawn finally made it's appearance.
With a quick glance at the binder page holding Ryan's schedule, Ashley moved toward the diaper bag sitting on the coffee table. "Liberty said he gets a bottle at nap time and bed...".
"Ash, there aren't any bottles in there", Jimmy cut in, Ashley's hand left hovering over the bag.
"None?", she gasped incredulously.
Jimmy shook his head and shrugged helplessly, "Maybe Liberty forgot to pack 'em".
"Be serious Jimmy, this is Liberty we're talking about", Ashley replied sarcastically. "She probably has a checklist that she goes over five times before she walks out the door. There's no way she forgot anything". Determined, Ashley handed the fussy baby off to Jimmy, and set off to find the missing bottles.
She started with the three bags sitting on the floor, next to the couch. The first one was a small sack filled with classical cd's and educational dvd's. The second was a little bit larger duffel, holding only toys. And the last was about the size and style of the other diaper bag, but contained only extra clothing items.
When Ashley stood up, she immediately spotted the grocery bag, still sitting on the table. "Well, I found the bottle", she announced, a sarcastic undertone shadowing any enthusiasm that should've been here.
Jimmy carefully spun around, one hand on his wheel rim while the other held Ryan against his chest. "Great", his face lit up. "Where?".
"Right here in this bag...", Ashley answered tersely. Jimmy's expression turned puzzled. "...along with the milk", she emphasized, holding up the carton in her other hand.
Jimmy's face twisted into a cringe. "It might still be good?", he offered hopefully, though he wasn't entirely convinced himself. Even with the houses cooling systems running, the milk had still sat out at room temperature, for almost four hours. Ashley opened the carton and held it under Jimmy's nose. "Maybe not", he conceded after one sniff.
Ashley sighed frustratedly as she took the fidgety baby from Jimmy. "Well, we can't give him this, and we only have skim and that soy stuff Toby drinks, in the fridge...", Jimmy looked up curiously. "He's lactose intolerant", Ashley clarified, as she began pacing again. "...and Liberty said Ryan is only supposed to have whole milk...and that he only goes down with a bottle...and he only takes milk in said bottle...and all we have is spoiled whole milk...and a really cranky baby who needs a nap...".
"Whoa Ash, relax", he chuckled lightly at Ashley's rambling and inched closer to block her path. She twirled around to find Jimmy right behind her and reached out for his extended hand. "Now, the only way for this little guy to calm down is with a bottle of milk...", he paused and smiled up at Ashley, who nodded. "...which is why your gonna leave him with me...", another pause and Jimmy held out his hands for the boy. "...and go to the store to get some more".
"You sure?", Ashley asked tentatively, as the reluctant exchange took place. She knew it was the only option, there was absolutely no way she was going to make Jimmy go back out into the hot sun and hike the two miles to the grocery store and without a car seat for Ryan...
"Sure I'm sure", Jimmy replied casually, setting the baby, momentarily, on the the couch, while he moved about, collecting the items that he figured he might need, while Ashley was gone.
"Really?", she pressed questionably.
"Yes really", he assured, but Ashley still didn't look all that convinced. "Ash, we'll be fine", Jimmy looked at the baby sitting on the cushion opposite him. "We've got the 24-hour kiddie channel, an unlimited supply of Goldfish crackers and an entire bag full of toys...what more could we need?", he asked innocently, his brow arched up adorably as he looked up at her. Jimmy reached for Ashley's hand and his grin turned suggestive, "And the sooner you go, the sooner we can put him down for a nap, and maybe squeeze in a little adult time...".
Ashley immediately leaned in and silenced Jimmy with her lips. "Yeah right", she teased sarcastically, as they broke apart. She then moved to kiss the top of Ryan's head, but lingered on Jimmy's,"I'll have my cell on if you need me".
Jimmy nodded appreciatively. "Drive safe", he called out, just as the door was closing. Jimmy looked back over at the baby and clapped his hands together, "Okay little man, what's next?". Ryan smiled and held out a fish-shaped cracker up to Jimmy's lips. "A snack", he chuckled and nodded in agreement. "Sounds good".
The boys spent the next few minutes feeding each other the crackers, and sharing sips from Jimmy's water bottle, that was until Jimmy found some orange-colored specks floating near the top... then it became solely Ryan's.
Within seconds of the end of snack time, Ryan became restless and began tugging at the straps of his shoes. "Good idea buddy", Jimmy declared as he helped Ryan out of his sandals and set out to remove his own.
Jimmy was just about done untying the first shoe when, out of the corner of his eye, he saw Ryan sliding down from the couch. "Hold up Ry, uncle Jimmy's almost done...".
But it was too late, the little boy was already heading for the four steps up to the front landing. "Ryan, wait", Jimmy added.
Ryan turned his head in the direction of Jimmy's voice and smiled at him. "Kee", he spouted and continued on his way.
Jimmy glanced down at his shoe. Content that he his laces wouldn't get tangled up in the front casters, he pivoted around the couch, hoping to cut Ryan off at the pass, but the little guy was too fast. "Kee", he repeated, crawling up the steps.
"Kee?", Jimmy parroted questioningly.
"Kee", Ryan confirmed, as he stood looking at the large front door.
"Kee...like in keys", Ryan smiled and Jimmy smirked at his intuitiveness.
"Kee...kee...", the baby chanted.
Jimmy waved for the little boy to follow. "C'mere Ry, I think your keys are over here", he pointed at the toy bag, near his feet. But when the baby didn't budge, Jimmy reached in to find the keys himself. It was only for a split second, and when Jimmy looked up..."Ryan no".
By the time Jimmy made it up the landing ramp, Ryan's hand was on the third step. And with one swift swoop, he was back in the safety of Jimmy's lap. "Kee", he chattered innocently.
"I think we've already established that", Jimmy let out a relieved chuckle. "Now how about we find those keys, and play down here", he suggested and placed the baby down by the top step of the landing, while he headed for the ramp.
As he descended, Jimmy was surprised to see Ryan, still standing at the top of the landing, starring at the steps in front of him. "It's okay Ryan", he held his hand out to the stranded boy, but couldn't quite reach him.
Both Jimmy and Ryan were now contemplating their next move. Ryan squatted, turned, sat...but remained on the landing. "Ah, you can get up them, but not down", Jimmy noted Ryan's predicament. With a forceful push, he headed back up the ramp then beckoned the boy over to him. Jimmy tried to coax Ryan down the ramp, but the incline was too much for the new walker, so he scooped him up again and they rode it together.
Ryan squealed with delight on the way down, as Jimmy coasted to a stop, using alternating hands. Safely back on the main floor, Jimmy put Ryan down and headed for the bag of toys...but Ryan clearly had other ideas. Jimmy grinned at the smiling boy, standing on the top of the landing, and caved..."Okay, but just one more time".
One more time turned into ten.
On their last descent, Jimmy's hand slipped off the right rim of his chair, he over compensated, sending them crashing into the end table, and the fish crackers scattering to the floor. After checking that Ryan was alright and mumbling that the impact "...must've hurt", Jimmy lowered the boy to the floor and began the tedious task of cleaning up the mess.
He tried to keep half an eye on Ryan, as he used a newspaper to 'sweep' the crackers into a pile...but the percocious toddler was wound tighter than a drum. "No Ryan", Jimmy scolded mildly, as the magazines from the coffee table, met with the floor.
There was a "Buddy, don't do that", to Ryan's unpacking of the diaper bag, just as the first magazine was picked up.
A frustrated "Ryan, come back", as the little boy headed out of the living room. And a seeking "please come outta there", to Ryan's hiding under the dinning room table.
After a seemingly endless game of cat and mouse, with Ryan at cyclone speed, Jimmy finally got him back into the living room, where the boy happily plopped himself down into the pile of the now pulverized, cheese flavored crackers.
"You stay right there", Jimmy ordered breathlessly, as he quickly grabbed the sack full of toys. He reversed back over to Ryan, set his brakes, and lowered himself next to the boy.
That's exactly where Ashley found them when she walked in, about ten minutes later. "Well, it looks like you two had fun", she exclaimed happily at the sight of the boys running the chubby, plastic cars along the floorboards.
"Yeah, we did", Jimmy replied with a sincere, but tired chuckle.
Ashley stepped over his outstretched legs on her way to the kitchen, then stopped and turned around. "I'll take him in the kitchen with me", she offered, and picked Ryan up with her free arm. "You don't mind cleaning that up, do you?", she asked sweetly. Jimmy just laughed and shook his head.
After the toys were put away, Jimmy reached up and placed the bag on the side table, he glanced back at his chair and considered tranferring, then considered just sprawling out on the floor, but finally decided on just scooting over to the couch and planting himself on the nice soft cushions.
"Jimmy...Jimmy...", the soft beautiful voice of Ashley beckoned him. "JIMMY!".
"Wha..?", he mumbled, his head snapping up in attention.
"Where's Ryan?", Ashley asked anxiously, one hand on her hip, the other holding the baby's bottle.
"Whadda you mean?", Jimmy queried sleepily. "He was in the kitchen with you".
"I thought he was calling you, so I let him down", she stated anxiously. "I yelled out for you...".
He hadn't planned on falling asleep, but as soon as he settled himself onto the the pillows, his head lolled back and...
"Oh my God...Liberty's gonna kill me...", she cried in panic. "First I almost get her kid sunburned, then I nearly poison him with sour milk, and now I loose him".
"Ash, relax...he's gotta be here somewhere", Jimmy reasoned, glancing over his shoulder.
"Your right", she gasped and followed Jimmy's gaze to the stairs. "You look for him down here and I check up there", she called out as she headed for the steps.
"Ah Ash...?", he called out, peering over his other shoulder, only to confirm what he already knew. "...my chair...".
Jimmy could hear Ashley calling Ryan's name as doors and cabinets were opened and shut. Without many other options, he decided to call out for the baby too. "What...did you find him?", she asked, running back down the stairs at the sound of her boyfriends voice.
"No sorry", he offered, motioning to his abandoned chair. "...it was a little hard to...".
"I'm sorry, I didn't notice...", Ashley apologized for the oversight, as she swiftly moved to his chair and snapped off the brakes, tried to push it forward, stopped, and..."Oh Jimmy", she gasped and he shifted to get a better look.
"How did he get in there?", Jimmy asked incredulously, when he saw a sliver of Ryan's curly mop sticking out from the net, under his chair.
Ashley giggled softly as she carefully pulled the baby out and carried him over to the couch, where she laid a blanket down on the floor and gently placed him down. "Looks like someone really needed a nap", she whispered, slipping onto the cushion next to Jimmy.
Jimmy smiled and pulled Ashley close to his chest, as he yawned, "He's not the only one".
Wow that was long! It took me FOREVER to get it right, so I really hope you enjoy it. Yes I watched BAM and yes I do have some opinions, but I think I'll spare you(it would probably end up being longer than this chapter). Just a little word to those faithful JimAsh fans out there...stay positive, be strong and remember...there will always be fanfiction to rectify the writer's mistakes.
Degrassi is not mine.