Thirteen-year-old CC Babcock stood in the front doorway listening to Mr. and Mrs. Wilkerson prattle on and on. She found it hard to restrain herself from rolling her eyes as the couple explained rule after rule to her.
"And remember, his bedtime is seven o'clock on the dot" said Mrs. Wilkerson, looking sternly at CC.
"Alright, honey, I think she understands. We need to leave now or we will be late to the party," said an exasperated Mr. Wilkerson. His wife shot him a look, before sighing and turning to CC one last time.
"Okay, so we'll be home around midnight, the emergency numbers are-"
"- on the fridge and call if I need anything. Yes, I got it" finished CC, plastering on her fakest Babcock smile. Mr. Wilkerson ushered his wife quickly out the door before she could say anything else, and with the slam of the door, they were gone.
CC let out a sigh of relief before heading towards the living room, where little Tommy Wilkerson was sitting on the couch watching TV. He was a small boy with curly brown hair and hazel eyes. Mrs. Wilkerson had informed CC that he had just turned three. CC sat down in the large armchair next to the couch, unsure of what she should do next. She cast a glance at the little boy, who seemed to be absorbed in some animated movie.
"Well, this should be a cake walk," thought CC as she curled her legs up under her and leaned back against the chair.
An hour and a half later, the movie was over and it was quarter of seven.
"Okay, Tommy, its time for bed" stated CC, who got up and headed towards the stairs. Just as she reached the first step, she noticed that the young boy was not behind her. She walked back to the living room.
"No bed" shouted Tommy, who remained sitting on the couch.
"What are you talking about, its time for bed! Now come on, let's go upstairs" said CC sternly, expecting him to come with her this time. Tommy didn't budge.
"Okay, fine, we'll do this the hard way" huffed CC, marching over towards the couch. As soon as she started approaching, Tommy sprang up and ran into the neighboring room.
"Hey, you little brat, get back here!" yelled CC as she followed him into the darkened room. She ended up chasing him through several rooms and down the hallway before she caught him.
"Now, I told you, its time for bed" said CC through gritted teeth.
The boy instantly started wailing.
CC sighed, scooped him up and carried him upstairs to his room as he kicked and screamed the entire way. She unceremoniously dropped him on his new big-boy bed and blew a few blonde strands of hair, which had fallen from her ponytail, out of her face.
"Ok, now let's get you ready for bed so that I can tuck you in and never have to look at your snotty little face again" snarled CC. Tommy just looked at her, suddenly afraid.
Getting the boy ready for bed proved to be just as much as a hassle as getting him upstairs. First, she had to get him in his pajamas, which apparently he hated. After receiving several bruises from some surprisingly strong kicks, she dragged him into the bathroom to brush his teeth.
"Okay, go ahead" she told him, gesturing towards the toothbrush and paste. Tommy looked up at her with wide eyes.
"But Mommy always brushes my teeth" he whimpered. CC gave him a disgusted look before slowly reaching for the toothbrush. Gingerly, she brushed his teeth and made sure he didn't swallow any of the paste. After he had spit and had a drink of water he stated,
"I have to go pee pee"
CC looked at him disgustedly as he walked towards the toilet.
"Okay, I'll just wait outside" she replied, making her way towards the door.
"NO" Tommy shouted, "What if I need help? I need you in here, that's what Mommy does!" CC's blue eyes widened at the idea of remaining in the room with him; it just wasn't proper! But before she could say anything, Tommy stepped up on his little stool and pulled down his pants. Too late.
Finally, CC had the little boy in bed with the lights off. As she headed for the door, he called out to her,
"Will you read me a story?"
"No," CC answered, "It's time for you to go to bed, and I just want to relax."
"But I can't go to sleepys without a story" he whined.
"Alright Alright, fine" exclaimed CC from the doorway. "Once there was a little boy who wouldn't go to bed. The baby sitter got very angry and told his parents he was bad. Then they took away his trust fund. The end."
"That wasn't a very good story…"
"Whatever, sleep tight kid" CC said as she shut the door. She could hear him call for her one last time as she walked down the hall, but she ignored him. If she had to go back in there, she would probably rip the kid's head off. And he didn't deserve that, even if he was extremely annoying.
"God, kids are such a hassle" she thought as she walked down the stairs.
When she got back downstairs, CC sauntered around the house a bit, glancing in all the rooms. It was nice; each room contained many priceless antiques and fancy technology. The house was extravagant but not overly gaudy, which CC liked. The house was big, but she'd seen bigger. She estimated the whole estate was worth five million maybe? She'd developed her father's affinity for finances. Someday she would own a huge house like this one. And she'd share it with her handsome and impossibly rich husband. There would only be one difference between her household and the one she was in now. There would be no snot- nosed little kids in her house.