It was a hot mucky night the night I had to sit for Andrea Wilson. She, lucky devil, would be sitting in an air conditioned hall playing bingo while I was sweltering at her house with just a fan. She really needs to get air conditioning. Her husband, Ron, was on a business trip and was probably relaxing in an air conditioned hotel bar with a drink in his hand. And I slowly cooked.
I'd put the kids down but they were restless and I didn't blame them. I wasn't really surprised when the baby started crying. He was wet and uncomfortable, so I changed him, cooing sweetly to him to calm him down.
The little beast promptly christened me in the middle of the change. You know the routine. Nappy off and squirt goes the little brute, all over me. I put on his new nappy, chucked him in his cot and he just rolled over and went to sleep, his work done.
I wiped down the change table and headed towards the bathroom. I always have a change of clothes when I go sitting, just for occasions like this. A long cool shower and I was feeling heaps better. I finally hopped out and started drying of when there's this call of, "Chrissy".
Little Madeline had woken up. Not wanting her to wake the baby I just wrapped the towel around myself and rushed into her bedroom.
"I'm thirsty," complained Madeline. "Can I have a drink, Crissy, and why are you wearing a towel?"
"I had to change you brother and he squirted me," I said. "I'll get you a glass of water."
Madeline nodded.
"He does that. Mummy says he does it deliberately because the little bastard is male and they always piss on women, and then she got mad at me when I asked Daddy if he pisses on Mummy."
"Um, yes, well I'll just get your water."
I shot through to the kitchen and came back with her drink. Madeline drank in, passed me the glass, smiled and fell asleep, just like that.
I took the glass back to the kitchen, snagging the towel in the bedroom door as I closed it, and finished up walking back to the kitchen with the glass in one hand and dragging the towel behind me in the other.
I dumped the glass in the sink and turned around to head back to the bathroom to get my clothes and Mr Wilson was standing there, looking me over.
And I mean really looking me over. I could practically feel his eyes wandering up and down my body. And what was he doing here anyway?
"What are you doing here?" I asked. "You're supposed to be in an air conditioned hotel somewhere, enjoying a nice drink."
"I wish," he said. "The trip finished early and I do live here so. . .