Chapter 29: Babysitting woes

Brax waited for either of his parents to come home, as much as he didn't want his brothers to stay home alone with either of his parents, it was better than having them stay home by themselves. Casey was only four and even though Heath was eleven and Brax had managed the house when he was younger than that, Heath was not as mature as Brax, and that worried Brax, but he had no choice. He was asked to a work late shift at the supermarket and he couldn't turn down another shift, he had missed so many hours already because of coming home for his family and the manager told him if he didn't shape up he would be out of a job and he couldn't afford to risk that now.

It was getting late and he had to go. Heath sat on the lounge while Casey played with his toys.

"Alright you two, I have to go, but I will be home as soon as I can okay." Casey ran up to Brax and grabbed his leg.

"Don't go Bax."

"I have to Case. It's work." Casey moaned and grabbed tighter.

"Let go Case." Casey pouted and let go. Brax turned to Heath. "I'm leaving you in charge Heath. I need you to take care of Casey and make sure he gets to bed no later than 8:30pm. Don't open the door to anyone and if Mum and Dad come home stay in your room and keep quiet and keep Casey with you okay." Heath grunted.

Heath wasn't too happy having to look after Casey he had been too temperamental lately.

"I will be home in a few hours tops. I'm relying on you Heath." "Yeah okay."

Brax leaned down to Casey. "Case listen to me, Heath's in charge tonight okay. I want you to do everything he tells you and to go to bed on time. You be a good boy okay and I'll see you soon." Brax hugged Casey and stood up. "You call if you need anything okay."

Heath nodded. "Okay bye."

"Bye." Heath replied. Casey was too annoyed at Brax having to leave that he didn't reply or even wave.

When Brax left, Heath closed and locked the door. "So squirt, you can play with your toys for a little while longer then you're going to bed."

Casey did not like that idea and was not going to do as Heath told him. "No. I wanna watch TV." Heath sighed.

"Fine squirt, you can watch one show then its bedtime." Heath put Casey's favorite show in the video player and let Casey watch. After the show had finished Heath approached Casey.

"Time for bed squirt."

"NO! I wanna watch more."

"No I said only one show." Heath replied trying to sound powerful. "No!" Casey yelled.

Annoyed, Heath turned off the TV. "You mean!"

"Too bad! Bedtime!" Heath shouted.

Heath made a leap for Casey but he took off, racing to the front door, but because it was locked he could not get out. As Heath ran for him Casey ran away and reached the back door, which Heath had forgotten to lock. Casey opened it and ran out. Heath tripped over the table as he chased after Casey, who now raced around to the front and ran down the street.

"Casey! Get back here!" Casey stopped to catch his breath, not realizing his father was in a neighbor's front yard talking to a mate.

Heath now caught up with Casey and grabbed him tightly. "Come here!"

Casey struggled in Heath's arms. With all his might Heath picked up Casey and carried the screaming boy home. Brax always made looking after Casey look easy, but this was irritating him. Once back inside Heath dumped Casey on his bed. Casey went to run past Heath again, but he slammed Casey's bedroom door shut and blocked him.

"I telling Bax on you!" Casey pouted.

"So what? I told you to go to bed and I'm in charge!"

Casey let out a yell but was cut off when the two boys heard a hard slam of the door and knew Brax was not home yet, so that only meant…

"Heath!"

Heath knew Danny had heard the yelling and did not like to deal with his kids shouting. Heath rushed to Casey and quickly shoved him down and covered him up.

"Quick Casey, pretend you're asleep."

"But I not!" Casey struggled to get the sheets off, but Heath held him down, scared that he and his brother were going to get hurt.

"I mean it!" Heath said through gritted teeth. Heath left Casey's room and saw Danny advancing down the hallway.

"Where's Darryl?" "He...he's at work." Heath replied nervously.

"So you're the one responsible for that little brat running around in the streets, making me look bad in front of the neighbors." Heath didn't answer. "Not to mention all the yelling. You know I hate you boys yelling. Where is that little brat now?"

"He's sleeping."

Casey could hear everything that was going on outside his room. Suddenly he flinched as he heard a loud smack. Danny had hit Heath across the face.

"Learn to bloody control your brother!"

Danny stormed back into the lounge room. Heath reached up to feel his stinging face and walked into his bedroom. How did Brax manage to deal with all this, he couldn't even manage one night.

When Brax arrived home at 8:30pm he saw his father sitting on the couch. Worried he walked down to Heath's room knocking and opening the door. "Hey mate, is everything alright?"

Heath didn't answer but turned to look at his older brother. Brax was surprised when he saw a red mark on Heath's cheek. "Mate what happened."

"Why don't you ask Casey? That brat didn't listen to a word I said all night and when I went to put him to bed, he threw one of his tantrums and ran out the back door and down the street. Apparently Dad saw him and when I got him back, Dad came after me. It's not fair! Casey runs off and I get smacked for it."

Brax placed an arm around his brother's shoulder. "Heath I'm sorry."

"You make it look so easy"

"I've had a lot of practice." Brax smiled. "Look I can't change what happened with Dad, but I will talk to Casey about his behavior okay." Heath nodded. "Why don't you get some sleep huh? You need it."

Brax left and shut the door behind him. He could not believe what had happened. Brax entered Casey's room to check on him. Expecting him to be asleep, Casey laid withdrawn in his bed with his eyes open. "Case what are you still doing awake."

"Daddy hurt Heaf because of me."

Brax walked over to Casey bed and sat down. Casey got up into a sitting position. "I don't want you worrying about that okay. Heath told me you didn't listen to him when he told you to do something."

Casey looked away. "He was mean and wouldn't lets me watch my show."

"That's not the point. What did I tell you about having to listen to Heath while I was gone?" "Sorry Bax."

Brax sighed. "Alright. But because you didn't do what Heath and I asked, you are not allowed to watch TV or play video games for the whole of tomorrow and I want you to apologize to Heath first thing. " Casey nodded and Brax stroked his hair.

"Goodnight Case. Get some rest. It's past your bedtime." "Night Bax."

Brax tucked Casey in and left the room, going into his own bed and tiring for the night.

The following morning Brax just set down Casey's breakfast when Heath walked in.

"Morning mate." Heath grunted. "Casey." Brax pushed.

"Heaf?" Heath looked at Casey. "I sorry I was bad for you last night and I mades you get hurt. Can you forgif me?"

Casey's tragic look on his face made Heath rethink his anger towards his younger brother.

"No sweat Case. Course I forgive my little squirt of a brother."

After breakfast Heath sat in the lounge room playing video games while Brax sat down at the kitchen table to complete some work. "Bax, you play with me?" Casey asked.

"I'm sorry mate. I really have to get this work done. Ask Heath heh?"

Casey walked into the lounge room to see Heath. "Heaf, you play with me?"

"Sure Case. Why don't we play some video games?" Casey doesn't move.

"Ah come on, are you afraid I'll win every time?" Heath joked. Casey shook his head.

"Bax says I not allow to play games or watch TV today." Heath sighed and turned off the TV.

"Okay, what would you like to play then?" Casey smiled and grabbed his Lego, running up to Heath. "This!"

"Arg alright, I'll play Lego with you, but only after you do one thing for me." Heath smirked.

"What?" Heath picked up Casey and held him in his lap and started to tickle his abdomen.

"Tell me how great a big brother I am." He laughed as Casey squealed and kicked his legs out wildly. "No! Heaf stop! Pwease!"

"Say it."

Casey screamed. "Heaf!"

"Not until you say it."

"Otay! Otay! You the greatest!"

"What was that?" Heath teased.

"Heaf!" Casey squealed.

Brax heard the squealing and stood at the front of the room. "What's going on?"

Heath stopped tickling Casey and held him on his lap. "Nothing Brax."

"Heaf wouldn'ts stop tickling me!" Brax raised his eyebrows at Heath.

"What? The little squirt asked for it." He smirked.

"I did not!" Casey protested causing both his brother's to laugh. "He's got you there Case. But enough now ey?"

Casey stuck his tongue out at Heath only to receive a warning look that he was about to tickle him again and Casey let out a squeal. "No. I sorry."

Heath laughed and placed Casey down on the floor. "Alright squirt let's play with your Lego." Brax smiled at his brothers and left, leaving the two to play together.