After my early morning round of delivering papers, I got my pay and grabbed some food. I cycled home to find Benita watching a programme on the television.
"Hey Mummy," she greeted. I dropped the takeaway bags on a stool and switched off the television. "Mummy?" she whined.
I frowned at her, "Baby, you are supposed to be studying not watching TV."
Her face scrunched up as she tried to explain, "I know Mummy but I needed to see that programme. One more hour please."
"You could use that one hour later. But it is study time now." I stated. I handed her a bag and told her to eat, then study.
I got her some books some weeks ago. I thought that it would be better she started learning a few things from home while I saved up for her school. Hopefully, the foster home would be of immense help too. I had no other work for the day, so I decided to job-hunt online. The next hours consisted of me clicking on ads and applying for interviews, till my fingers hurt.
A call from Nancy interrupted me.
"Hey girl. Are you up for a job?" she asked as soon as I accepted the call.
My attention was pricked. "Yes yes. Where?"
"I will send you the address."
I quickly checked on Benita and hurried to the address Nancy sent to my phone. I saw her smiling face as she waved me over. I picked up my pace and met up with her.
"Hey."
"Hey," I replied. "So what are we doing?"
She led the way, "Babysitting."
A lot went through my mind in a second.
"Babysitting?"
"Yes. You do not have to fret. You will be fine." She reassured me and stopped in front of a low fenced compound that had a bungalow standing in its center.
She clicked on the doorbell and spoke her name into the intercom. The gate clicked open and allowed us access. She did same at the doorstep and we were allowed access.
"Mrs. Pelton, it is Nancy," Nancy said aloud.
"In the kitchen," we heard a female voice float across the house and Nancy led me towards it.
"Hello Nancy," a woman standing at the sink greeted.
"Hello Mrs. Pelton. How are you doing today?" Nancy asked.
"I am well," she smiled at us. "And who is your friend?"
"Oh this is Victoria Williams. A close friend," Nancy replied her.
"Hello Victoria. It is nice to meet you," she greeted as she cleaned a dish.
"The pleasure is all mine," I forced a smile.
"The name does sound familiar," Mrs. Pelton said.
My heartbeat accelerated. Oh no. Not again. Nancy and I exchanged glances.
We both were speechless. Nothing smart to say to avert this coming disaster.
"Anyways, the kids are in the study," she waved us off as she arranged the dishes in a rack.
Nancy led me through a hallway and we stopped at a door. We opened and walked in to find two girls and 5 boys. The girls looked to be around five and eight years while the boys looked to be in their teens. They all were either on a sofa, desk, or huddled in the corners of the room. They were deeply engrossed in their study.
Nancy waltzed to an empty sofa and I followed suit.
"Yo people," She greeted them in a whisper. They all looked up and smiled at her and faced their books. That was very weird.
"I brought a friend," she continued unfazed. "Meet Victoria. Victoria meet the Peltons." She told me their names in their order: Dave, Stan, Ben, Jon, Cass, Mia and Amelia.
"Hello kids." The boys heads shot up and they glared at me.
I pulled Nancy to the corridor. "How would this work, Nancy? Those are overgrown adults there. It is called babysitting not adult watching."
Nancy sighed and rolled her eyes, "It is going to be easy peasy. Eyes on the money and not the job. Does not matter what the job takes, as long as we get the money we are doing it."
I did not even know why I was complaining. This was going to be easy since they were not kids. I just had a bad gut feeling about this. I felt I should be home with my daughter. But I could not go home to my daughter empty-handed; I really needed this money.
Nancy held my shoulders, "Do not think too much about it. You will be fine. You are just over thinking things." She shook her head and laughed, "Are you scared they would eat you alive? No worries, they are lovely."
I assured myself it would all be fine and we went back in. A few minutes later, Mrs. Pelton hurried out giving us instructions to make sure her kids behaved proper. As soon as the sound of her car receded, the kids all flung their books in the air and began whooping. I gave Nancy a look and she shrugged; looks like this was normal.
Everyone exited the study, except me. Babysitting grown kids should not be so hard. They could take care of themselves. This is waste of cash if you ask me. But then no one was asking and people like me and Nancy needed people like Mrs. Pelton to throw cash so we could survive.
I engrossed myself in my all time favorite book on my phone. I wondered what Nancy was doing with the kids, since I heard shuffling and footsteps around the house. Was that part of behaving proper? I snorted and continued with my book.
The door opened two hours later and Amelia tiptoed to me.
"Why are you tiptoeing?" I smiled at her.
She whispered, "Mother taught us to always be quiet."
I frowned, "Does she have a reason?"
She thought for a moment, then replied, "I have never asked. But she says it was the right thing to do."
"Weird teaching," I mumbled, turning the thought in my head.
"I did not mean to bother you but I am hungry," she said.
"Awwwn. It is alright. Come on, lemme fix you something," I told her and got up. We got to the kitchen and saw Mia at the dining, playing dress up. Clothes and make up were strewn all over. Who plays dress up in the dining?
"Uh... Mia, do you not have a room?" I asked and glared at her but she ignored me. "I am talking to you young lady." I was still ignored.
"Do not mind her. Nancy will clean this when she gets back. It is normal."
Wait what?
"Where is Nancy?" I faced Amelia and asked her.
"She is out with the boys," Mia whispered.
"Is that a normal thing?" I asked her as I spread jam on some slices of bread I found in the fridge.
"Yes. They went to party," she replied.
I turned to the wall clock. It was four in the afternoon.
"Would your mom like that?" I asked as I put the bread in a toast machine.
"Of course not. She would flip if she finds out. They usually get back before she returns."
"Okay. I hope they are fine," I said. "What time does your mom get home?"
"Six," she replied and collected the plate of toasts I handed to her.
I looked over at Mia, "Mia, do you want some?" She nodded in affirmative. She did not even stop to acknowledge me. "Why does she give so much attitude?"
Amelia replied, "She is actually not. She is dumb."
"What?" I almost choked on my spit. I watched Mia shoot Amelia a glare.
I did not know if I should feel sorry for her or apologize and tell her she will be fine. I decided to shut it and just give her her food.
I retreated back to the study to continue with my book when my phone rung.
"Nancy," I said when I picked up.
I heard sobbing. "Victoria"
"Nancy, what is wrong?" I got worried. Was it her mum? Did she have an accident?
But I never expected this bomb she threw at me, "Jon is missing."