LARRY'S ADVENTURE IN BABYSITTING

Dominic sat on a booster seat in the kitchen staring intently at the man in the fridge. Actually he was staring at the man staring into the fridge, searching all the shelves.

" SO, what would you like, Dominic?" Larry asked out loud, " your mom left some sandwiches and," he picked up a jar, opened it, and took a sniff, " Pudding, tomatoes, and a cup of milk."

Taking out the items, Larry put them on the plate he had taken thenturned his head and looked at the little boy. He was suprised to see an angry look cover the child's face.

" Are you alright, Dominic?" he asked, concerned.

The little boy didn't answer. Larry stood up and walked over to the counter.

Leaning on it he asked again, " Dominic, are you alright?"

The little boy just stared at him. For a moment Larry stared back. Finally he turned around and grabbed the plate. Putting it in front of the boy he waited. Dominic did not do anything. Larry leaned against the counter and waited.

Finally the little boy said, " Your doing it wrong!"

Larry stood up, completely confused.

" What am I doing wrong?" heasked grabbing the list,

" It says your supper is in the fridge," he said completely perplexed, " And that I'm suppose to put it on a plate for you."

" Your doing it wrong!" Dominic insisted forever, " Your not doing it like Mommy or Cindy!"

" How do they do it?" Larry asked, vaguely wondering who Cindy was, " Can you show me?"

Dominic shook his head and crossed his arms. Larry gave up and picked up the telephone. Dialing the number Madeline had left he waited. Dominic watched him, his arms still crossed and his face still sour.

Suddenly Larry heard, " You have reached the number for...Madeline...if you'd like to leave a message press 1 or just wait for the tone if..."

Larry pressed one and said, " Um, Madeline, I don't want to worry you or anything. How do you get Dominic to eat. I set out the food you left in the fridge, but he...Is there a chance you could call me back. I'd appreciate it."

Hanging up the phone, Larry sighed. First crack out of the bag and he already needed help with child care. The sigh seemed to amuse Dominic because the little boy began to laugh. Larry turned to look at him.

" Are you sure you can't tell me what's wrong?" he asked desperately.

Dominic shook his head. He couldn't tell the man how to do things correctly. He should already know how to do things correctly. Why wasn't he doing it.

Dominic became aware of the growing pain of hunger in his stomach. Desperate for something to eat he screamed, " YOU'RE DOING IT WRONG! YOU'RE DOING IT WRONG! YOU'RE..."

Larry jumped back in utter suprise. Dominic had been calm before. A little defiant, but calm. Now here he was screaming!

" SHH, Dominic! Shhh!" Larry tried to calm the child.

Placing a finger to his mouth he tried to signal for the child to be quiet. Dominic, however, continued to scream, more for enjoyment then anything. Larry waved his hands trying to make the kid laugh, but Dominic screamed more and began banging the table. Scared out of his wits Larry grabbed the phone and dialed the first number he could think off.

" Eppes residents," the voice on the other line replied.

" Alan?" Larry said, recognizing the voice wasn't Charlie's.

" Yes."

" Alan, it's Larry."

" Oh, hello, Larry. Let me call Charlie for you."

" NO," Larry said, " I mean Charles probably won't be able to help me with this problem."

" What sort of problem is it?" Alan asked, intrigued. Suddenly he could make out the distinct roar of a screaming child.

" Larry," he said in complete suprise, " Do you have a kid there?"

" Well, yes," Larry said, his hands moving on their own accord as he explained, " You see I'm babysitting for Madeline. Charles should know her. She works for the Science department, another physics teacher. She was called in for a meeting and couldn't find a babysitter so I..."

" Larry, stop," Alan demanded over Larry's ramble, " What's the problem?"

Larry paused and replied " Oh, right. Um, Dominic, Madeline's son. He won't eat. She left me some instructions that said to leave a plate out with the food. I did that and now he keeps screaming that I'm doing it wrong. Frankly I have no idea what he means. I followed Madeline's instructions correctly and..."

" Larry," Alan said, immediatly knowing what was up, " What did Madeline leave for Dominic to eat? How old is Dominic?"

" A sandwich, pudding, tomatoes, and a cup of milk. He's four."

" Okay, Cut the sandwich in half. Find a cover for the milk and tell him he has to eat all the tomatoes and drink the milk before he gets any pudding," Alan ordered confidently.

" Are you sure?" Larry asked, " Not that I misjudge your child-rearing skills, but..."

" Trust me," Alan replied.

Reluctantly Larry found a kitchen knife and cut the PB&J sandwich in half. Putting a small cap on the milk he put it front of the now silent Dominic.

" Now you're suppose to eat all of that before you get any pudding," Larry firmly told the boy.

Dominic looked at him and then at the plate. Immediatly to Larry's amazement he began eating.

" It worked!" Larry said, astounded, on the phone.

Alan smiled and replied, " Of course it worked."

" How did you..."

" Two sons that were picky eaters will teach a man how to judge food preperation," Alan replied.

" Of course, thanks, Alan," Larry replied.

" Sure. Oh, if you have anymore trouble. Don't hesitate to call."

" I'm sure I've got a handle on it," Larry replied, " Thanks again. Goodbye."

" Goodbye," Alan replied hanging up.

Larry hung up his phone. He looked to see Dominic's entire plate cleaned.

" Wow," he muttered.

Without a second thought he gave Dominic the bowl of pudding. The little boy wolfed it down instantly.

" All done," he said with an innocent smile, " Truck time."

With a little assistance from Larry he jumped down from the seat. Taking the older man's hand again, he led him into the living room. Plopping down on the floor Dominic began playing with his toy truck. Larry gladly sat down on the couch and pulled out his book. For the time being he enjoyed the near silence in which to read.

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