Chapter 2 2

CHAPTER TWO

After two weeks, Mrs Rolls still didn't send my money to me and I had no job doing.

I came down the bus after a hectic day at school. It had rained earlier and it was still cold. I hurled my shivering hands into the pockets of my cardigan while I walked through the bus station. I wasn't the type to pay attention to the people surrounding me but I noticed a man particularly from the rest of the crowd.

He was short, dressed in brown suit, and holding his briefcase, he was making a phone call and my attention was somehow drawn to him.

"...yeah, how about the vacancy I told you about? I need someone to babysit Rudy... Yeah, I know right? " He laughed. "The former babysitter just left and I need another one... Twenty bucks... The guy's rich and payment's weekly... Yeah, I have to... " He paused and looked under his arm to see my fist tightly clenching his hand.

"And... who are you?" He asked calmly.

I began with a persuasive grin. "You need a babysitter for Rudy? I can babysit Rudy!"

Still looking at me, he slowly pulled his arm from my grip and talked into the phone.

"Umm, let me call you back."

I got home with a proud and jubilant grin on my face. I just got myself a new job. I walked in and the first thing I saw was Louise sitting on the couch. Though it was cold, she was only in a green singlet which exposed her chubby arms and navy baggy jeans. Her shoulder length brown hair was in a short ponytail like mine was.

"Hey." I called quietly as I walked passed her into my room.

"How's school today?" She wasn't the type of sister to always ask about my schooling or anything else serious going on with me. Asking about it meant she was about to start a serious conversation with me.

"Was great!" I replied and head I to my room. While I took off my cardigan, she could see me from where she sat as I left the door open.

"I want to talk to you about something." I heard her.

"What about?" I asked while I hung my cardigan trying not to reply with the same grimness as her voice.

"Do you have a moment?" She asked and I knew it had to be something entirely serious. I walked out of my room and sat next to her.

"I want to tell you something, Ashley..."

"You sound all worked up and scary, mind telling me already?" I sked calmly but eagerly.

Louise sighed and shut her eyes before opening her mouth. "I really don't know how to tell you this... I'm pregnant."

I was short of words and I only stared at her face. "What?"

"I found out yesterday after I went for my check-up at the hospital. I'm three weeks gone."

"I don't even know what to say. Is it for..." I pointed my thumb towards her belly and she looked at me.

"Yes, it's for Peter." She replied before I could really ask.

"Have you told him?"

"I can't. I don't know how to tell him. He's going to say I'm lying or he's not the owner or... " She dropped her head into her palms.

"Left to you do you want to keep the baby?"

"I don't even know what to do..."

I sighed. "Okay, don't tell him yet. Just wait till you've figured your own decision before you think of telling him, okay?"

She nodded and I sighed. I was going to tell her that I would be going for an interview tomorrow but I decided to tell her another time.

The next morning I took my time to brush my curly brown hair down my shoulders. After talking to Mr Lewis, the man at the bus station, he gave me an address and said I be there in Beverly hills today by 10 o'clock for an interview.

I chuckled once again. An interview just to babysit? Rudy must be some really special kid.

The taxi stopped infront of an estate mansion. I walked through the footpath that led to the front door laid in-between the neat green lawns. The house was lined with neatly trimmed flowers and I could hear the barking of a dog from inside the big house. I pressed the doorbell and I heard it's ringing echo in the room. Immediately, the door opened and there stood a fairly old woman dressed like a nanny.

"Good morning, ma'am. I am... supposed to meet Mr Lewis."

"Come on in." I went in and she asked me to sit down and I did.

"You must be the new babysitter. I'm called Miss Rose, here."

"Thank you, madam Rose." The house was big and well furnished. I didn't need to be told to know that the house belonged to a wealthy business man but Mr Lewis didn't seem like he was the owner. He was way too informal and loud. And as he walked down the stairs, he was cheerful and loud, still in his suit.

"Kelly! You came."

"Yes." I chuckled quietly. "Nelly though." I corrected him again.

He asked me a few questions about myself and told me of how much I was going to love babysitting Rudy. While we were talking, the barking I heard earlier came again from upstairs. It was then I looked up to see a big black hairy dog running down.

I took a few steps back when the dog seemed to be heading towards me. I didn't want to get bitten. The dog was still barking and coming for me. It jumped over me and I screamed in fright. The big dog fell me to the ground and covered my arm in saliva as I blocked my face with it. Mr Lewis started laughing.

"Seems she likes you a lot."

I now sat up with the dog and giggled too although nothing felt significantly funny to me. I just wanted this boring meeting slash interview to be concluded so I know where exactly I stand. Miss Rose came to drag the dog away and I got on my feet. After a brief silence and laughing, I asked.

"So... Where's Rudy?" I asked but didn't get an answer immediately. Mr Lewis and Miss Rose exchanged glances. It felt as though I had asked a really dumb question.

Mr Lewis pointed to the dog. "That's Rudy."