A Babysitter for My Son
She wore a hat and cradled a pug in her arms. But most strikingly, both the woman and the pup seemed to smile at Alex in identical ways, or so it appeared to him.
Taken aback, he returned the smile.
“How old is our child?” she asked, skipping any formal greetings.
“Excuse me?” Alex replied, confused.
“When we spoke on the phone, you never mentioned how old your son is.”
“He’s three… almost four…”
“Perfect…” She set the pug down on the floor. “Run along, Gracie, make yourself at home.”
Gracie waddled around on her tiny legs, taking her time to explore the new apartment.
“She… uh… Gracie doesn’t bite, does she?” Alex asked nervously.
The sounds of delight from his son’s room soon answered his question.
As arranged, Alex returned precisely at nine that evening. Opening the door with his key, he was surprised by the silence. He tiptoed to his son’s room and, in the dim light, saw a curious sight—Johnny was asleep, and at his feet lay Gracie.
“You’re back?” came a whisper from behind him.
Alex turned around.
“As promised,” he whispered, handing over some cash. “Thank you… But why is Johnny asleep? He never went to bed before ten.”
“Because he had a wonderful time,” the woman said wearily. “With your permission…” She went over to Johnny’s bed, picked up Gracie, and headed to the hallway.
“Shall I call a taxi for you?” Alex suggested. “My treat…”
“No need… Gracie and I haven’t had our bedtime walk yet.”
“I insist,” Alex said firmly. “It’s awful weather. Take the taxi home, then walk as much as you like.”
She relented, gave him her address, and after calling the cab company, he paid for the ride.
“Thanks…” the babysitter nodded. “I’ll wait for the car outside.”
After she left, Alex realized he didn’t know her name. Going into the bathroom, he was surprised to find his son’s freshly washed clothes on the drying rack—a mountain of laundry tackled.
“That’s just great! This wasn’t part of the deal!” he thought irritably. But when he entered the kitchen, his frustration grew. An annotated note was taped on a pot, reading: “Breakfast for Johnny!”
His sister’s persistent matchmaking came to mind, and Alex decided never to hire this babysitter again.
The next morning began with Johnny jumping into his bed.
“Dad, when will Aunt Lucy come back?” his son asked gleefully.
“Who’s Aunt Lucy?” Alex grumbled. “Johnny, let me sleep.”
“Aunt Lucy, the babysitter from last night.”
Suddenly wide awake, Alex said flatly, “She won’t be coming back. Ever.”
“Dad…” Johnny’s eyes filled with fear, which worried Alex. “What about Gracie? Will she come back?”
“No…” Alex replied softly, then quickly hugged his son. “Would you like me to buy you a puppy? Today? A little dog?”
For some unknown reason, Johnny broke free from his father’s embrace and went to his room.
Breakfast was a silent affair, with Johnny staring blankly ahead.
“Come on, Johnny, what is it?” Alex coaxed gently. “Why are you so attached to Gracie? We managed without her and will continue to. Who’s closer to you, me or a dog?”
“You,” Johnny answered, his voice hollow, as he got up and returned to his room.
Alex lost his appetite. He quietly approached his son’s closed door and listened. He could hear Johnny softly crying.
With a sigh, Alex headed back to the kitchen, thought for a while, then picked up his phone and dialed the babysitter’s number.
The phone rang a long time before a soft voice answered, “Hello?”
“It’s Johnny’s father, you know, the boy from yesterday,” Alex began, but was interrupted by a slurred male voice.
“Who’s calling you?!” followed by a string of expletives.
“What’s going on…?” Alex asked in concern. “Who’s with you?”
“Nothing…” the babysitter replied, sounding trapped. “My ex-husband dropped by, he won’t calm down… I’m sorry… I’ll call you back…”
“I’ll call you back!” screamed the drunken voice. Then there was a frantic barking, a woman’s scream, and Gracie’s pitiful whimpering.
The call ended abruptly, leaving Alex’s heart racing. Clearly, something terrible was happening at the babysitter’s home. He recalled the address from ordering the taxi last night, not knowing the apartment number but needing to act.
Calling to his son, “I’ll be back soon,” Alex dashed out. Within minutes, he was in his car, and fifteen minutes later, he arrived at the building.
“Excuse me, miss,” he hurriedly asked an elderly woman. “Does a lady with a dog, wearing a hat, live here? Can you tell me the apartment number?”
Minutes later, Alex was on the fifth floor, at a door behind which a male voice was still ranting. He pressed the doorbell and only stopped when the door opened, revealing a man.
“Who are you?” the man demanded belligerently, only to be knocked down by a well-placed punch.
Barely restraining his anger, Alex waited as the man touched his bleeding face and slowly rose from the hallway floor.
“If you ever come back here, I’ll throw you out the window. Now, leave.” Alex pointed to the door. “And don’t even think about it…”
The ex-husband slinked away. Alex entered the dim room. The babysitter was in a chair, quietly crying and holding Gracie close.
Alex’s heart ached.
“Are you okay?” he asked her. Seeing her confusion, he clarified: “I mean, is Gracie alright? I heard her yelping…”
“She’s fine,” the babysitter nodded wearily. Then she whispered, “I hate him so much…”
“He won’t be back. I promise you.”
“He will…” she said hopelessly. “You don’t know him…”
“And you don’t know me!” He smiled, approached her, gently took Gracie, and awkwardly petted the trembling dog. “She’s so soft… That’s why Johnny’s smitten with her… Come on, Lucy…”
“What?” she asked, bewildered. “Where?”
“To Johnny, where else… He’s waiting for you and Gracie. Really misses you both.”
“You’re joking…” She studied him intently.
“No… I’m not…” Alex replied, meeting her gaze. He didn’t quite understand why he was doing this, but he knew it was right.
“You can’t stay here. Besides… Johnny refuses to eat the breakfast you made without you…”
With Gracie in his arms, Alex turned toward the door.
“Catch up, Lucy. By the way, my name is Alex. I’ll wait by the car.”
“Okay…” she nodded, still seated. “Let me gather my thoughts… I’ll catch up…”
