Big City Greens and Me
Chapter 9
Cricksitters
It was a warm and sunny day and everyone was out and about. Feet strided on the sidewalk, city folk were on their way to their respective business. Street vendors were selling anything and everything to adults and kids alike.
Walking along the sidewalk, Dillon held Molly's hand while she skipped beside him. Dillon was tasked to babysit her for the day because they're parents were at work and Dally had an important school trip.
It wasn't a matter for him since he always babysits her.
Right now they were walking to the Green's house when Tilly called him needing help babysitting Cricket while Bill and Alice were gone to the doctor.
Molly: Dillon. When are we gonna be at the Green's house?
Dillon: Just around the block. Remember, don't do anything too dangerous. Don't want you getting hurt.
Molly gave a two finger salute.
Molly: Aye aye, big brother!
Arriving down the sidewalk of the Green's house, they walked down the yard and to the front door. Dillon knocked on the door, but no one came to the door.
Dillon: Hello? Guys, you in there?
He knocks again only for the door to be opened up by Tilly who looked to be on edge.
Tilly: O-Oh! H-Hey D-Dillon, Molly. Glad you can make it, but I don't think it's a good time to come over right now. Can you come back later?
The two Cortez's tilted their heads in confusion. Now wanting to know what the whole ordeal that made Tilly so fidgety.
Their questions were soon answered when screaming came from inside the house from upstairs. Tilly looked behind her to scream and push the door open for Cricket to come flying down the stairs in a bucket.
Dillon quickly picked up Molly and stepped away from the door. Cricket soared out the door, hitting the front yard. He crawled out laughing, feeling the adrenaline pump through his vagina from coming down the stairs like a torpedo.
Cricket: That was so much fun! I went down there like a whole rocket!
Dillon puts Molly back on her feet and she looks on with stars in her eyes.
Molly: So cool! Dillon, can I try?
Dillon: No.
Molly: Aw…
Cricket finally noticed Dayton and Molly standing at the front porch.
Cricket: Dillon! So glad to see ya! Ya here to see me go through my bucket list?
Dillon: Hm. Didn't think you'd be thinking of what you wanted to do in the future before you pass. Almost like Molly.
Molly: I'm an archaeologist in training! I discovered the Ampelion. An apple and chameleon.
Cricket: No! Why does everyone think that?
He reached into his overall pocket and pulled out a bucket list.
Cricket: I'm actually working on my bucket list. Things to do with a bucket.
Dillon looked at the list seeing that most of it had to do with a bucket. Bucket bowling, bucket hang gliding, bucket ice skating… bucket dating? Wouldn't expect that, but ok.
This looked absolutely dangerous and could get someone hurt. Maybe even break a bone?
Dillon: Oh, yeah! I'm so in!
Cricket gasped, he finally had some that could do his bucket list to his lips.
Cricket: It brings a tear to my eye. Thank you, Dillon.
He gave Dillon a bucket and they both cheered as they ran around the place doing dangerous stunts. Tilly on the other hand was being a nervous wreck. Not only did Cricket go back to causing more mayhem, Dillon joined in two? To her this was a disaster.
She had her hands ruffled in her hair, trying to think of something when Dillon and Cricket came rolling past in buckets having a bucket race with each other. Cricket was in the lead, but Dillon was right at his tail.
Cricket: You can't beat me Dillon! I'm a bucket racing champion.
Dillon: Well looks like I'm gonna be taking the belt!
They were both having a lot of fun, but in the background Molly felt a bit left out. She wants to play with her big brother.
Molly: Dillon! Can I play too?
Racing in front of Molly, they both sat up in their buckets.
Dillon: Yeah sure. This seems safe enough, but…
He digs into his hoodie pocket and brings out a helmet. He straps it to Molly's head, also giving her bucket to ride in.
Dillon: Safety first.
Molly: Yay!
She hopped into the bucket and they all went back into rolling across grass, laughing and cheering to see who can beat who.
Tilly was sidelined, panic fueling her eyes at them being so reckless.
Tilly: Oh jeez! Papa's gonna be so disappointed, I can see the disappointment in his face right now.
She shivers from just imagining it. The near thought of it being brung to her mind terrified her.
Tilly: Ok, Tilly, all you have to do is make sure nothing goes wrong and you'll be fine.
All of sudden, she heard a crash in the backyard. Quickly running back, she finds Cricket and Molly using buckets to spin around the field while holding onto a rope over the ground. Dillion stood behind them watching as they had the time of their lives.
Cricket: This is amazing!
Molly: Faster! Faster!
Dillon: If you insist…
He grabs the handles on their buckets stopping them. Getting some momentum he pushed them up into the air and using all his strength pushed them back to send them into motion. As they orbit around, he kept giving them pushes in back to make them go faster until they were just blurs of yellow and red.
Cricket/Molly: Wahoo!
Dillon took some steps back only to bump into Tilly.
Dillon: Sorry, Tilly. Didn't see you th–
Tilly puts her hand to his mouth and drags him away from the two spinning children still having the time of their lives.
Dillon: What gives, Tilly?
Tilly: Dillon, do you think this is kinda dangerous for them?
Dillon: Is that what this is all about? Tilly, I'm pretty sure I know what I'm doing. I babysitted Molly so many times that I'ma complete pro. I'm always prepared!
Dillon's reassurance didn't really bother her, but she hoped he was right. He did seem pretty confident in his abilities to keep them safe.
In the background, the two younger kids were having a competition on who can go faster. They spinned around faster than the eyes can see, spinning faster and faster with each twirl.
Molly: Faster, faster! I want to go faster!
Cricket: This is the best day of my life!
The spinning from them soon caused the rope to get strained with each tug. Bringing even more tension with each orbit around the pole causing the rope to snap in between a swing.
Cricket: Uh-oh.
They soared through the air, soon to hit the floor.
Molly: Dillon?!?
Like the strike of thunder, before they could hit the ground, Dillon had grabbed the two of them in a blink of an eye.
Dillon: Whoo! You two would have gotten hurt, huh?
Molly: Yay! Big brother to the rescue!
Cricket: So…. Amazing!
Dillon put them back on their feet and looked at the contraption. He picked up the snapped rope to see the damage.
Dillon: Should get some stronger rope for next time.
He puts the ropes back in his pocket.
Dillon: So, what's next on the bucket list?
While the tree went back to doing their usual shenanigans, Tilly still had her doubts on Dillon's ways of babysitting. Thinking at any time something could go south real fast.
Tilly: No, Tilly. He knows what he's doing, he's done it longer than you. Everything will be just fine.
Hopefully…
Throughout the day, Dillon, Molly, and Cricket were cracking down on the bucket list. They did Bucket Surfing, Bucket Dancing, even did Bucket Tea Party (per Molly's request). Cricket was having the time of his life.
The other side of the spectrum, Tilly's nerves were starting to edge on with each dangerous stunt. It was like her anxiety was gonna explode at any minute at seeing one of them get hurt.
Tilly: Dillon got it. Dillon knows what he's doing. Everything will be fine. Don't freak out, Tilly. Don't freak out!
She was indeed freaking out.
Tilly: Oh, Saxon. What will I ever do?
Saxon being the smartest bag of all time gave her the exact advice she needed.
Tilly: A-Are you sure? What if Cricket and Molly get hurt?
Saxon tells her that it'll help them learn and teach them it's too dangerous to play any of those silly games.
Tilly: Yeah. Yeah! You're right! Thanks, Saxon. I can always count on you.
She leaves Saxon on the porch only for him to fall face down.
With the three, Dillon had made a contradiction of some kind of windmill with a bunch of safety precautions in case anything bad happens.
Cricket gave a whistle after seeing Dillon's work.
Cricket: This mighty gizmo looks like beauty.
Dillon: This thing has the power to keep you spinning till no ends meet. But first…
He puts some helmets and harnesses on the two.
Dillon: Safety first.
They both hopped into their buckets and they instantly went spinning around. Dillon sat and watched to make sure everything was going smoothly.
From behind him, Tilly had snuck past and freaked behind the Spinner.
Tilly: You're doing a good thing.
Sneakily, she took a screw off the hinges. With the Spinner now wobbling around it couldn't keep balance before the hinge broke off.
Dillon: What the!
The two kids broke off their harnesses and dropped to the ground. Soon the whole thing was going to come down on them.
Cricket: Oh my god!
They both cower, waiting for the inevitable only for Dillon to come running in front of them and push them aside. This didn't come without sacrifice.
With them being pushed away, Dillon was left with his arm being under debris. Next thing you know a piece came down and a scream came next.
Inside, Dillon's arm was being fitted by a cast by Molly. His arm was practically crushed into a jigsaw piece that was gonna take a while to heal back up.
Dillon: Argh! Can you make it a little less tight?
Molly: It won't heal if it isn't tight like this. Don't be a baby.
Dillon: That's ironic.
As Molly continued to wrap the cast around his arm, Tilly sat in the armchair rocking back and forth over her own mistake.
Tilly: Oh heaven on Earth, what have I done! Dillon's arm was broken because of me and my own thoughts. It's all my fault.
Leaving Tilly in her mental state, Molly had finished putting on Dillon cast and so Cricket started drawing on it. As he drew he asked some very important questions.
Cricket: I'm wondering, how did that spinny thingy even come apart?
Dillon: I must've not tightened the screws enough. Made the whole thing come apart from all the spinning.
He sighs.
Dillon: At least you two are ok. You may have even worse than me. Broken legs, head damage, blood lost, maybe even worse. So many different possibilities that were lucky didn't happen.
Tilly had enough and got up from the chair to walk to her room.
Tilly: I'm kinda tired so I'm gonna get some sleep! Night!
She sped down the hall before a sound of the door slammed behind her. Everyone else sat in silence from her random outburst.
Molly: Must've felt wheezy.
Cricket: Maybe she needs old Cricket Green's natural brotherly charm. Be right back!
He jumped down from the couch and walked towards their shared bedroom. Entering, he saw Tilly wrapped up in her blankets staring at the wall.
Cricket: Ok, Tilly. I know you're feeling sick, but there's no time to be day sleeping again.
Tilly kept her back towards him as he climbed up to her bed.
Cricket: What's wrong, Tilly? You really not feelin' well?
Tilly: No. No I'm not.
She sat and cradled herself through her blanket.
Tilly: Cricket, can I tell ya something?
Cricket: You can tell me anything sis. I'm all ears!
Tilly: So… I was the one that sabotaged Dillon's doohickey.
Cricket gave a sharp gasp. His own sister sabotages someone for her own gain? Impossible!
Cricket: But why? We could've gotten hurt and Dillon sacrificed his arm for us.
Tilly cradled herself again feeling even more guilty of being told off about it.
Tilly: I don't know! I just felt kinda… jealous.
Cricket: Jealous?
Tilly: He always knows what he's doing and is so much better than me when it comes to these kinds of things.
She buried her face into her knees, sulking to herself.
Tilly: It just took over and… Dillon… I wasn't expecting this to happen.
Cricket sighs, scooting closer to his sister.
Cricket: Well, Tilly. I don't like saying this much, but I think you need to tell Dillon the truth.
He gagged a little, feeling his stomach clench for even saying sorry.
Cricket: That kinda hurt my soul right there.
Tilly: M-Maybe you're right, but how?
Cricket: Go up to him. Tell him the truth and say you're sorry.
Tilly: You make it sound easy…
Cricket: Honestly, I don't even know how I'm even saying this stuff.
Tilly and Cricket both crawled down from the top bunk and walked outside the room. Walking into the living room Molly was drawing on Dillon's cast.
Molly: Stop moving! You're gonna ruin my masterpiece!
Dillon: But my arm is so itchy!
Cricket pushed a nervous Tilly in front of the two. The country girl felt her stomach twist into a knot and was telling her to turn around and hit back under her blankets again.
Dillon, with an obvious eye, saw how uncomfortable Tilly looked.
Dillon: What's wrong with Tilly? Why does she seem about to blow a gasket?
Cricket puts a hand on Tilly's shoulder, trying to calm her down.
Cricket: Dillon. Tilly has something very important for you to say.
Confronting Dillon made her chest want to burst out into confetti. He was just waiting there for her to respond as she was dead silent.
Dillon: You sure you ok, Ti–
Tilly: IWASTHEONETHATPULLEDASCREW LOOSEANDMADEITFALLAPART!IDIDN'T MEANFORITTOCAUSETHATMUCHDAMAGEBUTTHENITSTARTEDCOMINGDOWNALOTMOREANDITTOPPLEDOVERTHENITBROKEYOURARMANDIMSOSORRY!!!
After that while rant, she tucked herself into her knees to hide from his sight feeling his shock burning in her mind. She felt worse than ever before.
Processing all the information at once, Dillon only had one thing to say.
Dillon: What the heck, Tilly! What were you thinking?! You know how dangerous and/or how worse that could've gotten?
These words hit her hard. He kept on asking so many questions that she barely even had an answer for her.
Tilly: Yes, and I should feel ashamed! Don't worry, I'll be out of your hair and you'll never have to see me again.
She tries to escape back to her room, but rope snatched around her waist and closer to Dillon making her sit down on the floor.
Dillon: Tilly. Why do you think I don't want to see you again?
Tilly: B-because… I don't know…
Dillon: I don't know isn't an excuse Tilly. I need words.
She was silent for a second, trying to come up with what to say. She just didn't want him to be even more mad at her than he already was.
Tilly: Because I'm such a bad babysitter. I don't know how to control Cricket before you got here and right then and there you knew exactly what you were doing. You knew how to protect them both at the same exact time. You were just….
Dillon: Prepared.
Dillon sighs.
Dillon: Tilly, I'm always prepared. Hoodie basically gives me what I need at any moment. That doesn't mean you have to be on the sidelines all the time. You could've helped me anytime you wanted, but instead you sat in the background.
Tilly tried to cover her embarrassment by getting back in her ball, but the ropes kept her stationary.
Dillon: But… I can't blame you. I kinda made the same mistakes when my parents told me I can babysit Molly for the first time and that's before I even had my hoodie.
Molly: Yeah, yeah! He got me stuck on the apartment roof. He practically searched the whole building for me.
The former looked away in slight embarrassment and Tilly and Cricket tried to keep themselves from laughing.
Dillon: I'm trying to be serious here!
Tilly cleared her throat trying to get back into the right mood again.
Tilly: Ok, ok. Continue.
Dillon: Anyway. It's all about learning about responsibility and all that jist. Understand.
Tilly: Yes, I understand. So does that mean you're not mad?
Dillon: Oh, no. I'm absolutely livid. That's why you're babysitting these two for the rest of the day.
She turned towards Cricket and Molly who both had their separate buckets with mischievous smiles spread across their faces.
Tilly: Oh boy…
Dillon: You're gonna need this.
He hands her bucket that was most needed for what disaster she was about to face.
Dillon was laying on the couch and from the kitchen he can hear a whole racket of kitchen ware being thrown around and Tilly screams to keep everything in control.
Dillon: Gonna have to learn one way or another.
As he rested, the house phone rang from the desk. Dillon leaned over and picked up.
Dillon: New phone, who this?... Oh, hey Mr Green, how's it going?... Coming from the hospital in ten minutes?... Yeah, it's definitely clean, everyone dead asleep. Don't worry as soon as you come home everything will be spotless.
He quickly hung up and got up from the couch.
Dillon: A babysitter's job is never done.
He puts on a metal bucket and runs into the kitchen to help Tilly before an even bigger disaster can erupt when Bill gets home.
The End
Football. That's my excuse. Football. I really like playing football.
For real though, I'm sorry for not uploading for about two months now, but hopefully I can get into a consistent timed upload. Hopefully a… double upload.
But for now, to the previews!
When Frank finds out about Bill getting back into gymnastics he encourages him to go see his old friend give it his all in the league again, but when finding out he's going through the same thing that made him quit gymnastics he decides to take matters into his own hands.
Get ready to flip into…
Backflip Bill!
Later Speedsters!
Ps: Doable upload coming soon!