Part 1 (1/2)

Adventures In Babysitting

Elizabeth Faucher

Chapter 1

It was going to be a great night In fact, hts Chris Parker had had in her whole life In fact - she s her already tashed hair with a styling brush

Her tape deck was playing so loudly that the perfu, but she turned the volu ”Then He Kissed Me” Which, with any luck, was an appropriate song for the night aheadChris danced over to her closet, trying to decide which dress to wear She had already tried on - and rejected - several, but Mike was going to be here anyand silky, sophisticated and elegant A perfect dress to wear to the best French restaurant in the cityShe took her bathrobe off and slipped the dress on over her head, zipping it up the back, then danced over to the mirror to see how she looked Pleased by the results, she took Mike's picture down fro back at it He was seriously handsoht they were going to drive into Chicago to Le Ciel Bleu to celebrate their anniversary She danced the picture over to her closet, looking for just the right pair of high heelsShoes selected, she danced over to her bed, carefully lying down to wait”This,” she told her picture of Mike, ”is going to be the greatest night of , and she ju this date for days, and she kneould be wearing a dinner jacket,again She snapped off the tape deck, cheeked her reflection one last ti in anticipation, she threw the door open to see Mike standing there with his hands in his pockets”Hi!” she said, then saw that he earing an old, ripped sweat shi+rt and jeans ”Hi,” she said again, uncertainlyHe didn't quite look at her ”Hi, Chris””I, uh,” she touched her hair self-consciously, ”I guess I'ht, still not looking at her ”It's just - I have to cancel”She blinked ”But - it's our anniversary””Yeah, I know” He looked in the direction of his car: a red Firebird with the license plate ”SO COOL” ”I'ot sick andto be a good sport ”You have to stay ho It's pretty bad I was gonna call you, but” - he held up a set this for her, so - so I thought I'd drop by””I could corinned ”We could ”Mike shook his head ”No, you don't wanna be there It's contagious And - and my Moainst the door ja that he couldn't see how disappointed she was It wasn't his fault his little sister was sick ”Tell your sister I hope she feels better””Sure” He gave her hissmile, the first time he'd really looked at her ”We'll do the French restaurant thing next week””Oh, okay” She s a little better ”When?””Not sure,” he said ”Friday or Saturday Anyway, I'd better go - ht, are you?””No,” she said quickly, then smiled ”Well, yeah But I understand”He s once in a lifetiious,” he said”Oh” She stepped back, rather deflated ”Right””Right,” he said, and headed for his carShe watched hi a brave little wave as the car peeled out of the driveway Then, she slouched back against her front door, not even caring if she wrinkled her dress So ht of her lifeIt was later, and Chris's best friend Brenda Pidgjocki had colasses bobbing in indignation as Chris sat on her bed amid the debris of her dately preparations: discarded dresses, the nylons with a run in theious?” Brenda said, for about the fourth tih ith the glasses and being slightly overweight, Brenda wasn't enjoying adolescence quite as muchChris nodded ”That's what he said”Brenda shook her head, sitting down on top of Chris's desk ”He's lying””Brenda! Mike wouldn't lie on an anniversary,” Chris said”Anniversary of what,” Brenda said, ”Pearl Harbor?”Chris ignored that ”Since we've been going out Three months and four days - ””Two hours, and three et why you'rethat's ever happened tothat's ever happened to you” Brenda picked up one of the college catalogs lying on the desk ”That's e have to get out of Oak Brook and go away to school””You sound like hts and put on fresh lipstick andher face ”This is what I would have looked like tonight”Brenda grinned ”Cleopatra?””Oh” Chris grinned, too ”I was going for Alexis Carrington””Carrington Colby Dexter,” Brenda said instantly”Morel Carrington Colby Dexter,” Chris corrected her, and they both laughedDownstairs, the telephone rang”Probably ri me crazy””Oh, come on,” Chris said, without conviction ”She's not so - ””One of these days I'ht she was getting nicer”Brenda shook her head ”Only when Dad's around”There was a knock on the door, then it opened, and Chris's htened up, very polite ”Hi, Mrs Parker””Chris, Mrs Anderson is on the phone,” her mother said ”She wants to know if you can babysit for her tonight”Chris groaned ”No, tell her I can't””Why not?”Chris fell back onto the bed ”Because I want to stay home and be depressed””Think of it this way,” Brenda said ”Sitting for the Andersons will o?” Mrs Parker said ”You could use the s You can work on those college applications”Chris rolled her eyes Her mother was a lot more enthusiastic about the applications than she was ”I can't,” she said ”What if Mike calls?””I'll tell him you're at the Andersons',” Mrs Parker said, already on her way out of the room”I'm too old to babysit,” Chris said after her Especially for the AndersonsThe best night of her life was turning into the worst one

Chapter 2

The Anderson kitchen was in chaos The Anderson kitchen was usually in chaos The pot ofover; the television on the counter - tuned to a rerun of the horror Brad Anderson, as fourteen, sat on a stool to watch thedisaster on the stove There was a loud hiss as the water boiled over onto the burner and he ju to try and make it stop It foamed over all theit ti ale She earing a grey plastic winged helrey plastic breastplate over her sweat shi+rt The Terror of the Fourth Grade A plastic sledgeha a Gre full-speed, she passed the television, changing the channel to a Thor cartoon”Hey!” Brad protested, unable to hit her with his hands holding thea large sketch pad and a box of paints froe ”Please Return To” address label with her name and address on it Sarah was, as a rule, very possessive”Guess what,” she said cheerfullyBrad put the macaroni pot down on the counter ”Mo skates in the house””She has to catch uess what?”Brad put a spaghetti strainer on the counter, then lifted the pot up to due the television back””The strainer should be in the sink,” Sarah said just as he started to du all over the counter”Aw, man!” he said, frustrated He dropped the pot, theacross the counter, and turned to scowl at his sister”But that's not the news,” she said, skating out of the kitchen to safety She grinned back at hiot Chris to babysit for me”Brad stiffened, almost smiled, then rushed out of the kitchen Very a at the bottom of the stairs to unlace her skatesBrad tore into his rooh a pile of dirty clothes, toward thethat he was breaking out a little on his chin”Oh, no,” he said, and threw open the top dresser drawer, searching for some acne medication FastOutside, Chris pulled her parents' station wagon into the driveway Oh, yeah, this was exactly what she felt like doing tonight Very gru sure she had Cosmopolitan and Glae applications into the bag, too Seeing that she had everything, Chris pushed up the sleeves of the sweat shi+rt she'd changed into, grabbed her coat, and walked up to the front door, where she rang the bellMrs Anderson, wearing a black evening gown and putting on her earrings, opened the door ”Hi, Chris,” she said ”Sorry for the short notice - thanks a million for this””No problem,” Chris said halfheartedly ”Glad I could help out”Mrs Anderson closed the door once Chris was inside ”Wait right here,” she said ”I've got a list for you”Chris nodded, sitting on a chair in the front hall, wishi+ng that she were somewhere else Anywhere elseUpstairs in her bedroo a picture of her favorite cartoon hero: Thor, God of Thunder There were already at least twenty or thirty painted pictures of Thor hanging on her walls Thor, not unlike Sarah herself, alore a Viking helreat steel ha her brush, Sarah exa for red For Thor's cape A the paint lay a wrinkled tube of ClearasilBrad burst into the roo it up ”I ran out of brown”Brad snatched it froreat” He dropped it ”Nohat'm I supposed to do?”Sarah offered hie?””I can't use paint!”She held up her picture ”Hey, what do you think ? I figure it's my best one yet””You wasted my Clearasil on another picture of Thor?”Sarah looked at the picture happily ”Thor's usted, Brad kicked his empty tube of Clearasil under her bed ”Thor's a jerk””He is not!”Brad just left the rooht behind hi a moron face at her”Take back what you said about Thor!” she said, sta down the stairs, not noticing Chris sitting in the front hallSarah, following him, did notice ”If you don't take it back, I'll tell Chris about all those love poe ”You better keep your mouth shut””Chris'd love to hear how you draw her name in hearts all over the walls at school,” Sarah said, s defeat ”Okay, okay, I take it back Thor's not a jerk””Thank you” Sarah smiled down at Chris ”Hi, Chris”Brad turned, saw that Chris had been there the entire ti, ran past him and into the family room”So” Chris raised an eyebrow at him, the mystery of the hearts all over her school solved ”It's you””Me? Who,to avoid Sarah's roller skates ”What?””Neverdown the stairs to help her”Hey, you look great,” he said, fuet the coat off ”I mean, really Your hair, your eyes”Chris shook his hand off, re the coat herself ”What about thehed, taking pity on him ”Brad Relax”He nodded, then sed ”Let me, uh - ” He took her coat ”Terrific coat That's not from Sears, no way Unh-unh, too cool for that, it's - ””It was reat taste,” Brad saidHad ”He's dead””I' onto the coat aardlyChris took it back, hanging it over a chairMr and Mrs Anderson ca her list, Mr Anderson holding their overcoats”hello, Chris,” he said, looking s in his dinner jacket As Mike probably would have”Hi, Mr Anderson,” Chris said”Come on into the kitchen,” Mrs Anderson said, and they all followed herSarah was sitting on the stool, watching cartoons and stuffing herself with an oversized bowl of Fruit Loops The soggy macaroni and water were still all over the place, and Mr and Mrs Anderson stopped inaway from the television”Brad, clean that up this instant!” Mrs Anderson saidBrad, looking sheepish, reached for some paper towelsMrs Anderson watched toto clean it up, then turned her attention to Chris ”Here's the list,” she said, handing it to her ”If you need to reach us, we're at the reception at the associates Building The nu the list in her pocket”And,” Mrs Anderson frowned at her daughter, ”make sure Sarah doesn't wear her skates in the house””That's right,” Mr Anderson said ”Sarah, Chris is in charge now, okay?”Sarah shrugged ”Sure Can we go to Haagen-Dazs?”Mrs Anderson shrugged, too ”Sure Just don't go after eight o'clock” She looked back at Chris ”Brad's spending the night at a friend's, so you don't have to worry about hilanced in his direction Brad nodded a sad little nod”Also,” Mrs Anderson said, ”Sarah's just over a virus, and - ””It's been teeks!” Sarah saidMrs Anderson ignored her ”Give her aspirin in an hour and once before bed”Seeing a candy bar on the counter, Brad reached for it”Brad, no chocolate,” his , ”Moht?” Sarah asked”Nine,” her mother said”Eleven,” Sarah said”Ten,” her mother said”Ten-thirty,” Sarah saidMr Anderson interceded ”Sold to the Viking We really have to go”Mrs Anderson nodded, putting on her coat ”But no later, Sarah And no TV after ten””But Creeping Terror is on tonight,” Sarah said ”And Dad proht,” Mrs Anderson said, letting her husband herd her toward the garage ”But after that, turn it off””You guys behave now,” Mr Anderson said”We will,” Brad said”We should be hoood care of uard her withas the Andersons pulled the car into the driveway Then the garage door slid back down, leaving the house very quiet”Let the babysitting begin!” Sarah said in a formal, Olympic voiceChris just looked at her

Chapter 3

Now that the Andersons had left, it was ti her voice very businesslike ”Let's get this place cleaned up, okay, Brad?”As he started to answer, there was an urgent coded knock on the back door”I'll get it,” Brad said He hurried out to the back hall, opening the door”Hi,” his best friend, Daryl Coopersmith, said He wasn't as tall as Brad, but He was ht red hair He was faital watch he alore He tried to get inside as Brad practically rhuht at et past hirinned ”Chris is here, isn't she?””No””Yeah, she is - I saw her go in the front And that's,” he held up a toothbrush, ”why I'et it,” Brad said”You kiss her yet?””Don't be crude” Brad pushed him ”Get out of here, okay?””Listen to you,” Daryl said ”You fall in love, and suddenly you're a classy guy”Brad glanced back at the kitchen, hoping that Chris hadn't heard ”I have not fallen in - ””What's she wearing?”Brad gritted his teeth ”Clothes Now, get out””Wait, you have to see this azine out of his jacket ”There's a girl who looks just like her”Brad shoved him all the way out of the house, slammed the door, then locked itIn the family room now, Chris tuned the television to MTV, while Sarah snooped through her purse, exae applications to Northwestern, University of Michigan, UCLA, and Coluhtly out of breath from his scuffle with Daryl”Who was that at the door?” Chris askedBrad shrugged, flopping down on the couch ”Stray dog””A what?””Are you going to college?” Sarah asked, holding up the applicationsBrad saw thee? Away?””No,” Chris said, putting the applications back in her purse”Whew,” Brad said, alrinned ”Calot up to answer it”It's probably Mike,” she said”Mike?” Brad said quietlyChris snatched up the phone ”hello?””Will you accept a collect call from Brenda?” an operator asked”What?” Chris shook her head ”Ias if she were cryingChris cupped a hand over her free ear to hear better, ignoring the fact that Sarah was ruesturing for soo away ”Brenda, where are you? I can't hear you””Chris?” Brenda said, still crying”What's wrong?” Chris asked, hearing a lot of background noise People,announcehed ”You're always in trouble””No, I'asped in spite of herself ”You spiked her Tab with cyanide?””No, I ran away from home,” Brenda said”You what?” Chris reached for the re the volume on the television down so she could hear better ”Where are you?””The bus station Don””The bus station? Brenda, don't go anywhere,” Chris said quickly”I can't” Brenda sniffled ”I spent allone of her lipsticks, Chris grabbed it away fro the phone on her shoulder”Chris, I need help,” Brenda saidThat was an understatement ”Yeah,” Chris nodded, ”you do””If I take a cab to the Andersons', can you pay for it?””That'll be at least fifty dollars!” Chris said ”I don't have fifty dollars””Well - can you pick ””I can't call anyone else,” Brenda said, sounding frantic ”My father doesn't know He'll killyou,” Brenda said ”It's really scary here I've seen three people pass out, a bald Chinese lady, and there's an old guy outside trying to get in here with et here?”Chris hesitated ”Look, I have my mother's car I can't just drive it into the city” She flinched as Brenda made a sound very close to a shriek ”What? What happened?””There's a un,” Brenda said ”Getup and sit down Do not move! I'll be there in half an hour””Hurry,” Brenda said ”I think he's going to kill someone! Maybe me!”Chris slammed the phone down ”I don't believe this,” she said, searching her pockets for her car keys ”I do not” She found theo don Brad, can you watch Sarah?””No way,” Sarah said ”What if the house explodes ?”Chris sighed ”The house is not going to explode””You leave Brad here and it will!””Look, I'll just be gone an hour, there and and back,” Chris said, ”and - ”Sarah shook her head ”My oodback into her purse ”Brad can watch you””Why would ood money to have Brad watch o?” Sarah asked”Because - ””That guy Mike,” Brad said suddenly ”Do you go steady with him?””What?” Chris asked ”I mean, yeah””Do you like him a lot?””No” Chris shook her head ”Yes””Which is it?””Yes, I like him,” Chris said ”And no, Sarah Your parents'd flip if they found out I took you into the city””They'll flip if they find out you left me with him,” Sarah pointed out”Yeah, but - ould tell the innocently Batting their eyes, evenChris sighed ”All right, all right, all right,” she said ”Coot her coat, made sure Brad and Sarah put on jackets, then closed and locked the front door of the house”Co them over to the car ”We have to hurry” She stepped aside to let Sarah get into the seat ahead of her, shaking her head when she saw the roller skates ”You're not going to need those””You never know,” Sarah said, stuffing them into her knapsackChris started the car ”If anybody asks, ent for ice crealanced over to see if her sidewhen she saw a face grinning at her through the ”Road trip?” Daryl askedBrad groaned, covering his face with his hands”Where you going?” Daryl asked brightly”Don,” Sarah saidChris frowned at her”Zippy,” Daryl said ”Can I come?”Brad lifted his head ”No Go home”Chris swiveled in her seat to look at Brad ”Who is this kid, Brad?””Stray dog,” Sarah said”Daryl Coopersh theto shake Chris's ”You're Chris Parker, right?””Daryl, go horeat babysitter””What do you mean?” Chris looked at Brad and Sarah ”What does he mean?””I mean,” Daryl stretched the word out, ”Mr and Mrs Andersonyou take Brad and Sarah into the city,” he paused significantly, ”alone”Sarah nodded ”Isn't it great?””So great,” Daryl backed away froet my mother - ””Stop him,” Brad said quietly” - to talk to their mother - ””Chris, stop him,” Brad said”And maybe,” Daryl went on, ”you can babysit for me - ””Chris!” Brad said”And maybe, we could drive to New York,” Daryl finished ”Just for kicks” He gave Chris a winning shed deeply ”What do you want?””For you to open the door”Chris shook her head ”Unh-unh No way”Daryl shrugged, walking away ”Okay, no proble, and - ”Chris looked at Brad ”What do we do?””Run hiested”Open the door,” Brad saidChris thought about that, sighed, then nodded ”Daryl!”He was already halfway across the yard ”Sorry, can't talk,” he called back ”Gotta run””Get in the car,” she said”All right!” He ran back, ju very pleased with hi even htened her helmetChris turned so she could see all of theive rief over the next sixtyFinish Got it?”They all nodded”Good” She faced front, putting the car into gear, pulling out of the driveway She ay too old for this babysitting stuffThere was a lot of traffic on the expressway, but Chris stayed conservatively in thea story, which she did, feeling more surly and cranky by theher eyes on the road, ”the babysitter goes upstairs and the sound keeps getting louder 'Scrapescrapescrape' Then, the babysitter stops at the kids' room”Sarah watched her, transfixed; in the backseat, Brad and Daryl scuffled over the Playboy Daryl was refusing to put away”Slowly, she pushes the door,” Chris went on ”It creaks openand the kids are safely in their beds” She stopped, hearing the struggle in the backseat ”What are you guys doing back there?”Daryl was distracted by this, and Bradit out the ”Nothing,” Brad said”Unh-hunh” Chris adjusted the rearview mirror so she could watch them more closelyDaryl punched Brad's arm ”That was ht it, stupid””You guys want me to finish this or not?” Chris asked”Yeah!” Sarah saidBrad and Daryl shrugged Agreeably”All right, all right” Chris frowned, trying to remember where she'd left off ”Okay When the babysitter looks more closely at the kids, she sees thatthey don't have any faces””Oh, gross,” Sarah said”It's just - ” Chris thought - ”a pile of hetti-Os with meat The babysitter screauy standing in front of her, and - he raises his right ar metal hook instead of a hand, and he moves the hook to the babysitter's face - 'Scrape! Scrape! Scrape!' ”Brad lunged forward to grab Sarah's face, and Sarah screa rueso falsetto ”I'm so scared!””Tell another, Chris,” Sarah said ”Please”Brad pointed out through the”Hey, look!”They all stopped talking, looking at the Chicago skyline, bright and beautiful in the dusk”Wow,” Sarah said, sounding awed ”That's where Thor lives”Chris raised her eyebrows ”Thor?””Well, all superheroes live in the city,” Sarah said in a ”Don't you know anything?” voice ”Spiderhts the Forces of Darkness” She looked at the skyline, lifting her sledgehammer in a salute ”Forces of Darkness, beware - here we come!””Bus station, here we come,” Chris said

Chapter 5

It was almost dark now, and they drove in silence for a while Then Brad leaned forward, resting his arms on top of the front seat”Mike what?” he asked”Mike hat?” Chris asked, drivingDaryl leaned forward, too ”Mike hat? What are we talking about?””What's his last na a book?””Mike Toddwell?” Daryl said ”You know hio out”Daryl leaned over the front seat, Chris pushi+ng hiht?”Chris shrugged ”A lot of people have Firebirds””Yeah,” Daryl said, ”but do a lot of people have the license plate 'SO COOL'?”Chris s his ar his car Which I didn't do””That was Mm?” Brad saidDaryl nodded ”You know it He - ””Oh, coh to frown at him ”Mike wouldn't do that””He would, too,” Daryl said ”He kicked me so hard I still have the bruise” He lifted his shi+rt, turning around ”Wanna see it?””No,” Chris and Brad said”Yeah!” Sarah said ”Letthat sounded suspiciously like a tire blow-out, and the car skidded wildly to the right, with Chris fighting the wheel to keep froht!” Daryl yelled ”Three-sixty!””Oh, no,” Chris said,the steel riainst the road as she tried to keep the car under control”It's just a flat,” Brad said, very cal onto the dashboard, just as excited as Daryl ”I love it!””To the right, Chris,” Brad said ”Go to the right””Right” Tightly gripping the steering wheel, Chris guided the car over to the side of the road, the shredded tire and ri to a stopThey sat without speaking for a ht ahead, Sarah and Daryl exchanging ”Isn't this great?” grins, Brad frowning”I guess we'll just have to change it,” he said”Right” Chris opened the glove coot out of the car, all three kids following herShe unlocked the tailgate, then lifted up the spare tire co it - empty Empty”Where is it?” Brad askedChris stared at the compartment, still stunned ”I don't know””Maybe it's already on the car?” Daryl said, helpfullyChris gritted her teeth harder, trying to digest this situation ”Maybe,” she said She stood there for afor her to do so She let out her breath ”Okay, okay We'll just have to flag soot my checkbook, and - ” She stopped Did she have her checkbook? ”Oh, no” She ran back to the front of the car, searching the driver's seat for the purse she now reot ot my purse! I don't have my checkbook, I don't have any money - I don't even haveher continue the frantic search, ”did you forget your purse?””Yes, you little cretin!” she said, searching under the seat, just in caseDaryl nudged Brad in the side ”I like this girl, Brad I like her”Brad ignored hi into his pocket ”I have some money””What, fifty cents?” Chris asked impatiently ”You don't have any ood, solid kick ”I can't believe this is happening, I can't believe any of this””She's right” Daryl pushed him off balance ”Don't be stupid”Brad pushed back ”Go walk in traffic, would you?”There was a bright, blinding light behind thee, indistinct vehicle ru?” Chris asked, uneasy”He's going to run us over,” Daryl said, ”isn't it obvious?”The vehicle came to a slow stop a few feet away fro Then, the driver's door flew open and a huge, hulking silhouette - six, or even seven, feet tall - lumbered toward themWith a squeak of fear, Daryl scra next to her, however uncertainly Sarah whipped out her address-labeled plastic sledgeha in front of all of the and brave Thor-likeChris yanked her back to safety, then lifted her flashlight, shi+ning it at the silhouette's face It was a y beard and deep-set dark eyes He earing sorease-blackened narowled Or mumbled - it was hard to tellBrad leaned over to Chris ”Was that English?”The man saw the flat tire ”Got a spare?””No,” Sarah said, her voice rather sled, almost ”You went out on the expressithout a spare?”Brad looked at Daryl, shaking his head ”We're history, , theup to scratch his head The hand passed through Chris's flashlight beam, and they saw that it wasn't a hand at allIt was a metal hook