by Twila

Feedback is always welcome: twila@e-scribblers.com.

Copyright © 2008 by Twila. All Rights Reserved.

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“Are you sure you don’t need to ask me anything, baby?”

“I’m sure,” Lizzie whispered, not meeting her Mama’s gaze.

Andy lifted her chin. “Baby, I don’t feel like you’re telling me the whole truth here. Why is that?”

Lizzie pulled her chin free and stared at the floor. “I don’t like this, Mama. I’m not a baby and I don’t need a sitter. I’m old enough to be the babysitter.”

Andy lifted her chin again, gently and smiled at her daughter. “I understand how you feel, baby, but you also have to understand where we are coming from. We don’t think a thirteen year old is old enough to watch four children and Mom has already told you why we’re not comfortable with you staying by yourself. Do you understand so far?”

“Yes, Mama, but why can’t I watch myself with her here?”

“Baby, what are you afraid of?” Andy asked gently.

Lizzie let out a long sigh. “I don’t want her punishing me,” she whispered.

“Then behave, baby and it won’t be an issue. Do you think that’s going to be a problem, Lizzie?”

Lizzie nodded.

“Why, baby?”

“I don’t like being told what to do especially by someone not much older than me,” Lizzie confessed softly.

Andy nodded, finally understanding Lizzie’s dilemma. “Lizzie, what would happen if we did let you baby sit the other kids? Do you think Megan should be allowed to ignore you because she’s almost your age?”

Lizzie thought about that. “No, ma’am,” she replied, reluctantly, understanding where her Mama was going with this.

“Then why should you be allowed to do it with Heidi?”

Lizzie shrugged.

Andy gave her a hug. “Baby, I understand why this is strange and difficult for you, but we need for you to act your age and help Heidi out. Can you do that for us?”

“I’ll try, Mama.”

“Thank you, baby and I meant what I said about calling me. You know my cell number and Mom’s. Call us if you need us, baby, anytime. Okay?”

“Okay, Mama. Thank you.”

Andy held her for a few minutes before Allie joined them. She spoke with Lizzie briefly before they had to leave.

Lizzie really tried to do as her Mama asked, but she really hated being told what to do by her Aunt Heidi. Being pulled aside by her and lectured about it only added to Lizzie’s ire. She was in quite a temper and had a nice attitude by time dinner rolled around.

“Lizzie, go to your room until you can be civil,” Heidi ordered, having put up with more than enough of Lizzie’s attitude and cutting remarks.

“I don’t want to go to my room and you can’t make me,” Lizzie retorted.

Heidi stood up, took Lizzie by the arm and pulled her into the kitchen.

“Let me go,” Lizzie said, trying to break free.

“Stop acting like a child, Lizzie,” Heidi replied, reaching for the phone and trying to keep hold of Lizzie’s arm. “Hi, Andy. I’m having a problem with Lizzie. Can you talk?”

Lizzie froze when she realized who Heidi had called. Ut oh. How much trouble am I in now? She cringed as she listened to Heidi explain to Andy exactly how she’d been acting. It didn’t sound good at all. Lizzie almost cringed as she took the phone Heidi was holding out to her.

“Hello?”

“Exactly what do you think you are doing, young lady?” Andy practically barked at her daughter. “Having temper tantrums and mouthing off? Is that how a thirteen year old acts, Elizabeth Ann?”

“No, Mama,” Lizzie whispered, embarrassed to be fussed at with Heidi there. She turned slightly and realized that Heidi had left the room. Lizzie actually felt grateful.

“No, it isn’t and you better give me a very good reason not to come home right now and give you a good spanking.”

Lizzie inhaled at that. “I’m sorry, Mama. Please. I won’t do it again,” she begged. Lizzie not only had no desire, whatsoever, to have her Mama carry out her threat but she also would be horrified if it happened with Heidi here.

“Elizabeth Ann, who is in charge there?” Andy was reigning in her temper with difficulty after what Heidi had told her. Some part of her felt that she needed to go home and confront Lizzie and another part wanted to let Lizzie and Heidi figure this out.

“Aunt Heidi,” Lizzie whispered.

“And do you have any right to argue with her decisions?”

“No, ma’am.”

“No, you do not, young lady. And what about that attitude and mouth of yours?”

“I’m sorry, Mama. I won’t do it again. I promise.” Lizzie wasn’t sure it was possible to get herself out of the mess she’d gotten into, but she knew, without a doubt, that she didn’t want her Mama coming home because of this.

“Do you promise, Lizzie?”

“Yes, Mama. I promise.”

“You are going to apologize to your aunt, Elizabeth Ann and you are going to spend the rest of the evening in your room. No TV. No books. No phone. And you are going to write me a very long essay. Understood?”

Much as Lizzie hated the idea of what her Mama proposed, it was better than the alternative. “Yes, ma’am.”

“Good. Give the phone to your aunt. I want to talk to you again when I’m done.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Lizzie called Heidi and handed her the phone when she joined her.

“Yes? Okay. Understood. Yes, ma’am. I will.”

Lizzie was a little surprised to hear her aunt call her Mama ‘ma’am’. Did she always do that?

Lizzie took the phone back. “Yes, Mama?”

“Don’t forget your apology, young lady,” Andy warned. “I want an essay on respect, Lizzie. A complete essay, no less than fifteen hundred words. It had better be done well, understood?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“After you’ve written that essay, you get a shower and go to bed. Call me before you do. I had better not get another phone call from Heidi about you misbehaving or I will come straight home. Is that perfectly clear?”

“Yes, ma’am. I’ll be good, Mama. I promise.” Lizzie just wanted her Mama to stop being disappointed in her, like she sounded.

“Alright, baby. I love you, you know that. Right? But I really don’t like the way you’ve been behaving. Understand the difference?”

“Yes, Mama. Love you too.”

“Talk to you soon, baby.”

“Bye, Mama.” Lizzie hung up the phone and turned to go to her room. Heidi was suddenly in front of her.

“Do you want to finish dinner before you go up?”

“I’m not really hungry, but thanks,” Lizzie whispered, her face flushing. “I’m sorry for everything, Aunt Heidi,” she added, knowing her face was bright red.

“Me too, Lizzie. I’m not sure what I did, but I’d like to know so I can change it,” Heidi said softly.

“You didn’t do anything. I just don’t like being told what to do,” Lizzie confessed.

“Does that go for your mom’s too or just me?”

“I don’t have a choice where they are concerned,” Lizzie muttered. Her head shot up when Heidi laughed.

“No you don’t, but I can see where you thought you might with me. Unfortunately, where they are concerned, I’m the adult here tonight and you are still a child in need of supervision. Until you can accept that, this isn’t going to get any easier,” Heidi stated in a soft, gentle tone. She didn’t want to antagonize Lizzie anymore, just inform her.

Lizzie just nodded her head.

“Let me know if you need anything.”

“Thank you.” Lizzie headed up to her room and had a seat at her desk. It was only 6:30, but she knew the essay was going to take her a while to write. She got a pen and notebook and got busy. Two hours later, she laid her pen down and read over what she had written. She hoped it was good enough because she couldn’t figure out what else to write. She stretched and headed downstairs for a drink before her shower. After her shower, she called her parents. She got another mini lecture from her Mom and had to answer some questions for her Mama before they told her goodnight. They’d see her the next day and Andy was looking forward to reading her essay. Lizzie couldn’t go to sleep right away, but she didn’t dare grab a book to help. She fell asleep hoping her essay was good enough.

Continued in Part 13

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