The Hunters require a babysitter for Harvey. Logically, they hire Jeff. The ending is deliberately vague, up to your imagination to what Jeff did to Harvey.


THREE – BABYSITTER

"Billy? Did you call the babysitter?"

He shuddered, heat sparking in the pit of his stomach. Sighing, he replied lightly: "No, love."

Footsteps padded outside the bathroom, the door creaking open, only to reveal his irritated wife. Arms folded over her chest, Teresa snapped: "Why not?"

All of the warmth evaded his stomach as Bill blinked, turning to face his wife with a guilty expression slapped across his face.

"Erm… I forgot?"

"Oh, for God's Sake, Bill!" Teresa uncrossed her arms and put one of her hands up to her head. "Now what are we going to do?!"

"We could just bring Harvey with us? I'm sure they won't mind…."

Teresa narrowed her eyes and gritted her teeth. "Did you even read the damn flyer?"

"No…. What did it say?"

"It said that any children under the age of twelve are not to attend as they don't want any kids running around the place, and lastly, Harvey wouldn't want to go to the Opera! He'd be on his phone all night, texting Ingrid and whining about how he wants to go home!"

"Ah right." Suddenly, Bill clicked his fingers and stated his bright idea. "If we don't take Lloyd and Dinah, then they can stay here and look after him."

Teresa sighed, instantly crushing Bill's hope that his idea would be pulled off.

"No, that wouldn't work. Dinah really wants to go to this."

"And Lloyd?"

His wife grimaced. "He has made it clear that he doesn't want to go, but apparently at School, his class are studying this particular Opera so he needs to go."

"So…" Bill slumped his shoulders as he followed his wife out of the bathroom and into their bedroom. "This puts us back at square one again."

"Yes…. Unless…." Eyes alighting, Teresa rooted around in the top drawer of her bedside cabinet, her left hand closing around her mobile phone. Pulling it out, she tapped the screen twice, then held the phone up to her ear.

As Bill creased his forehead in confusion, Teresa smiled to herself and spoke into the phone.

"Hi, I know this is short notice, but I was wondering if you could help me out…"


"A babysitter?! I don't need one!"

Glowering down at her youngest child, Teresa chided him. "Yes you do, Harvey. You've had one many times before, so don't complain now. Besides, you haven't got the usual one, since Daddy forgot to call her…."

In the background, Bill sheepishly smiled at his wife's back, hands straightening his tie as he peeked outside towards the car, where Lloyd and Dinah were sitting side by side in the backseat, both of them ignoring each other.

Harvey huffed. "So who do I have then?"

At this question, Teresa beamed and clapped her hands together. "Don't worry, sweetie. I found someone who knows you very well. They'll be here soon. It was only logical that we got them to look after you."

"Oh Mum, you didn't have too!" Harvey flapped a hand. "I know that Ingy will take good care of me!"

"Ingrid?" Teresa shook her head as she bent down and pecked her son on the cheek. "I didn't hire Ingrid."

Too shocked to wipe away the kiss that had been planted onto his cheek, Harvey sputtered: "Who t-then?"

The chime of the doorbell distracted his mother from answering him, so Harvey could only watch in trepidation as Teresa moved into the hall-way and opened the door.

"Oh, hello! Come on in! Thank you for coming at such short notice!"

Harvey did not hear the babysitter's reply as right at that moment, the blare of the car horn erupted outside. He heard his mother grumbling, before catching a glimpse of her face as she popped her head round the living room doorway to give her goodbye.

"Alright, sweetheart? Now, be good for your babysitter. Daddy's getting impatient so I'm going to go. Any problems, just text me. See you later, Harvey, and not too late to bed!"

"Yes, M-Mum." He could only stutter as her face vanished from view, followed by the sound of the front door shutting loudly.

Although extremely baffled at the series of events that had just occurred, what happened next, blew Harvey's breath away.

The babysitter stepped into the living room and Harvey's heart smashed against his chest.

Directing an evil smirk at the younger boy, Jeff Morgan crooned: "Wheezy…. Ready for a fun night?"

Harvey whimpered and backed away, bumping into the settee behind him.


Four hours later, Mr and Mrs Hunter shepherded their son and foster daughter into the house, the two weary children dragging their feet upstairs to their respective bedrooms, sleep the only objective on their mind.

Bill and Teresa smiled at each other as they spotted their trusted babysitter quietly watching television, a cup of tea cooling on the coffee table in front of him. At the noise of footsteps, Jeff twisted his head round and plastered on a fake smile.

"Hullo, Hunters! Before you enquire, Harvey was a very good boy this evening. He did everything I asked of him, with no hesitation. He went to bed about an hour ago, and I gave him cookies and fresh milk for being so good."

Teresa beamed and exclaimed: "That's wonderful!", whilst Bill chuckled. "Glad we've got someone who can keep him in line."

"Yes." Jeff grinned wryly. "I can assure you, there was no bad behaviour from… Harvey tonight… I made sure of that."