Two Small Complications
Originally posted on June 16, 2008
Pete: I hate this stuff. I wish Asher would find the kind of wire that doesn’t zing itself into a tangled mess when you drop the end of it.
Kaida: Oh stop your whining. You’re a real grouch today.
Pete: I know – not getting much sleep lately.
Kaida: Yeah? Why not? Too much gaming? Or is it chat now?
Pete: I wish. No, I had to give up my room and I’ve been sleeping on the sun porch. The glider’s hard as a rock and squeaks no matter how much I grease it.
Kaida: Had to give up your room? What’s up with that? You have guests or something?
Pete: Sorta. My two little cousins are um…. staying with us for a while.
Kaida: Oh cool – how old are they?
Pete: Seven and almost-four. And it would be cool enough, but they’re here without their mom – she’s “unavailable” right now. Their dad hasn’t been in the picture for as long as anyone remembers. Poor tykes.
Kaida: Geez, some parents! I think they ought to…….
Asher: Pete – your sister’s here looking for you. Says it’s some kind of emergency.
Pete: Zenny? No, can’t be Zenny, she’s away at softball camp. Must be Lucy….
Pete: Kaida – recoil and put this stupid wire away, will you? I have to go see what my sister…..
Kaida: Don’t worry – I know what to do.
Pete: Lucy – what’s up? What’s wrong?
Lucy: I need your help, Pete. I know it’s my afternoon to watch Michaela and Stevie, but I just got a call from a client and I simply must make a meeting in….. oh dear…..ten minutes, or we stand to lose a really big account.
Pete: But….
Lucy: Thank heavens I wore something decent to the park and didn’t get it all messed up when Stevie….. oh, never mind! You’ll have to drive them home. If I have to go that far out of the way, I’ll be late for sure!
Pete: Lucy, I work for a living too, and I’m in the middle of a job I have to get done here. You can’t expect me to just drop everything for….
Lucy: *harsh whisper* Shhhhhhh, Pete! …. Please watch what you say – I don’t want them ever hearing us argue about who has to watch them. They’ve been through enough without us making them feel unwanted. *calling out* Michaela, Stevie, where are you two?
Pete: But Luce, I can’t just leave and……what about Stevie’s car seat?
Lucy: I brought it in – it’s in the lobby. Michaela can use a regular seat belt. I really have to go……*gently prods the little girls forward*…….Thanks Pete!
Pete: Lu-cy!…………...
Pete: *lowers his voice* Hey there, little cousins – how are ya today?
Stevie: Hiya, Big Cousin! Guess what? We went to the park and I swinged on the swings and slided on the slide….and….. and got to go on the round and round and my tummy felt funny and…. and then I played in the sandbox and then this big stupid boy covered me all up with the sand and I was gonna bam him with Mr. Frog but I had to go potty and…
Pete: Wow! You’ve had a busy day there, squirt. How about you, Mickey? Did you have fun in the park too?
Michaela: Mommy doesn’t want anyone calling me that.
Pete: Sorry….Michaela. Did you like the park?
Michaela: It was okay.
Kaida: *enters* Who you got there, Pete?
Pete: My cous……..
Pete: Hey, Stevie! Get down from there! You get hurt on my watch and Lucy will give me hel…..a hard time for sure.
Pete: Anyway, Kaida, these are my cousins, Michaela and Stephanie.
Stevie: Stevie!
Pete: Yeah, sorry, Michaela and Stevie. They’re the ones living in my bedroom right now.
Stevie: And we ain’t allowed to touch none of his stuffs, neither. No touching the hamster radio, no touching the TV, no touching the ‘puter, no touching the thing that talks funny, no touching….
Pete: What thing that talks funny …… Stevie, were you messing with the karaoke again?
Stevie: Nuh-uh, not me. No touching the croaky.
Michaela: You were too.
Stevie: Was not!
Michaela: Were too.
Stevie: Was not!
Michaela: Were too.
Stevie: Was…..
Pete: Hey! Guess I need to find a safer place for my “stuffs.” Sheeeeesh, kids.
*Jeremiah wanders in*
Stevie: Ooooo, look, ‘Chaela, a real live giant.
Jeremiah: Hey there, little person. Who are you?
Stevie: *shy for the first time* Just Stevie.
Jeremiah: Just Stevie, huh? I’m Just Jeremiah.
Jeremiah: And who’s this little lady?
Pete: This is Michaela. They’re my cousins.
Pete: Hey Jare, you got a few minutes? Can you help Kaida finish up running cable so I can…uh…. work out a couple small….uh…. complications?
Jeremiah: Sure, glad to. You coming right back?
Pete: Yeah, I need to do some more of the…. oh shi……. shoot.
Stevie: BANG!
Pete: *picks Stevie up again* Not you, Shrimpboat. I just remembered. My mom isn’t home until later today. Oh crap, if I take ‘em home I’m gonna have to stay there and babysit.
Stevie: Oh crap. Hafta babysit.
Kaida: *trying not to laugh* Listen, you guys finish the cable and I’ll watch the youngsters. Don’t be too long though, you hear? Come and rescue me as soon as you’re done. *looks at Stevie* I think I’m gonna need it.