It was lunch time and I was sitting in the park with Muriel having a sandwich when Janet came along. Muriel, Janet, and myself (I'm Rochelle, by the way), are three birds of a feather. We were in the same class at school, all leaving at the same time, all working at the local mall (for the time being), and all doing baby-sitting jobs to help stretch our income.
It was pretty plain that Janet was a bit antsy about something, just dying to tell us but not sure how to broach the subject. We let her stew for a while, but I was curious, so I eventually told her to spill the dirt, whatever it was.
"Um, well, you know I had to sit for Ada Jenkinson last night?"
Yes, we knew this. Ada had parent/teacher interviews or something and Mr Jenkinson apparently had an appointment he couldn't break so Janet had a mid-week babysitting job.
Muriel and I both nodded and looked expectant.
"He fucked me," hissed Janet, sounding slightly shocked that such a thing could happen.
"Yes, yes," I said encouragingly. "Tell us more. How did he go about it? What was it like?"
"What, you're not surprised and shocked?" asked Janet.
"Not really," I said. "It happens. Details, girl, details."
"What do you mean it happens? Has something like that ever happened to you? How about you, Muriel?"
"I must humbly admit that it has," I confessed. "Muriel?"
"Yeah, me too."
"So you're not the only one to get screwed by a horny father. You're avoiding the issues. What was it like?"
"You don't really expect a blow by blow description, surely?"
"Ooh, you gave him a blow job first? Tell us more."
"No, I didn't. I'm saying I'm not telling you anything. It's not as though you've told us about the time you were tagged."
"Good point. Sort of I'll show you mine if you show me yours? I'm game. Muriel?"
"As a matter of fact I'd love to tell someone what happened," Muriel stated, sounding quite determined. "Ah, after you, Rochelle," she added, not wanting to lead off and finding the two of us clamming up.
I shrugged. I didn't mind leading the way.
"Have either of you ever had to sit for the Fitzhugh's?" I asked.
Muriel shook her head but Janet spoke up.
"Isn't he that big Irishman? Black hair and eyes a really dark blue? Over six foot tall and about as broad?"
"That's the man," I agreed. "If you sat for them you can probably remember what Mrs Fitzhugh does as soon as she gets back from wherever they've been?"
Janet thought for a moment.
"Is she the one who records her favourite show while they're out and then rushes to see it as soon as they get back?"
"That's her. She loves Judge Judy and watches faithfully. Anyway, what happened was this. . ."
I'd had a reasonably easy time of sitting the kids. The three of them took after their father, mischievous, disrespectful, and utterly charming. They're fun to play with but I wouldn't want to own them. Come to think of it, the same could be said of their father.
They'd eventually calmed down and drifted off to sleep and I'd settled down to watch TV in the playroom. Mrs Fitzhugh had the main TV set up recording her favourite shows. Heaven forbid that anything happen to interrupt the recording.
When Mr and Mrs Fitzhugh arrived home she said the standard, hi, how are you, did the kids behave, and didn't listen to a word I said before heading off to watch the first of her shows in bed. She couldn't go to sleep without watching Judge Judy. (One thing I'm going to have to learn. She records in the lounge room but watches in her bedroom. How the hell do they do that? It would be so convenient, at times.)
I called goodnight after her, which she answered with a wave of her hand, leaving Mr Fitzhugh to pay me and see me out.
"Tell me," he said, "did you have any problems putting the fire out? Oddly enough, I didn't see any burn marks on the cat when it wandered past."
I blushed. I'd known Mrs Fitzhugh wasn't listening and when she asked if the kids had behaved I'd said, "Certainly, apart from setting fire to the cat." It turned out that Mr Fitzhugh had been listening.
"They behaved perfectly," I told him. "Well, perfectly for them," I added, seeing his disbelieving expression.
He laughed and then Mrs Fitzhugh appeared again.
"Did you say they set fire to the cat?" she asked, sounding puzzled.