LARRY'S ADVENTURE IN BABYSITTING

Larry shifted his leg, which had after the passing of time fallen asleep. Looking down at his watch, he was suprised to see that an hour had gone by. He suddenly became very aware of the silence in the room. Looking down he saw Dominic curled up next to his other leg, the toy truck next to him.

A small smile made it's way on Larry's face. Despite the bad luck before, he could definitely see perks to having children. That thought remained with him for only a minute. Suddenly Dominic woke up.

" Dada," he mumbled sleepily as he looked up at Larry.

Larry sighed. Sitting up he looked down at Dominic.

" No," he said calmly, " I'm Larry. Can you say Larry?"

" Lawy," Dominic fumbled over the name.

" No, no, no," Larry mumbled softly, " Larry. Lar -ry. Larry."

" Lawy," Dominic repeated.

Larry leaned his head on his hand and looked ponderously at the little kid. Dominic mimiced the gesture. Both of them stared at each other for a few minutes. Quickly Dominic seem to get bored and began to fidget. Pushing himself up from his sitting position he stood in front of Larry.

Placing his small hand on Larry's shoulder he said, " Lawy."

Larry sighed defeatedly.

" Well," he muttered to himself as he watched Dominic walk to the center of the room, "I suppose a child's mind needs more development before it can incoperate adult sounds within it's vocabulary."

" Lawy," Dominic called out suddenly.

" What is it, Dominic?"

" Bwimpy," Dominic replied motion towards thin air. His voice was full of childish delight.

" What?" Larry said sitting up.

" Bwimpy," Dominic replied, again motioning towards thin air.

" What's Bwimpy?" Larry said utterly perplexed.

Dominic sighed.

" Bwimpy," he replied motioning towards Larry, " Lawy."

Looking back at Larry he smiled proudly and said, " Bwimpy."

Larry looked at the little boy a look of utter confusion on his face. He placed a finger to his lips seeming ot consider every possibility of what 'bwimpy' could mean. His mind drew a blank. Dominic for his part returned to playing with his trucks.

Larry stood up and walked back into the kitchen. Dominic watched him go. Picking up the phone, Larry dialed the Eppes phone number.

" Hello," the voice on the other end answered.

" Hey, do you happen to konw what a bwimpy is?" Larry replied assuming the person on the other line was Alan.

" Larry?" Charlie replied, " Larry, what are you talking about?"

" Charles?" Larry exclaimed, " Sorry. Could I speak to Alan?"

" He's busy right now. Why?"

" Well, I could use his expertice at the moment," Larry replied, " You see I'm watching Dominic. You know Madeline's son..."

" Wait, did you say you're watching Madeline's son!" Charlie interrupted, a bemused tone in his voice.

" Yes," Larry nodded, " What's so funny about that? I'll let you know, Charles, that so far..."

" I didn't mean anything by it," Charlie interrupted, his tone still amused, " But Dad can't come to the phone right now."

" He can't!" Larry replied, " Why not? I mean where is he?"

" Downstairs, fighting the furnace," Charlie replied.

A sudden image flashed through Larry's mind. It was quickly erased by a sudden cry.

" Just a second, Charles," Larry replied setting the phone down.

Running into the living room he saw Dominic sitting on the floor in tears.

" Dominic," Larry called squating in front of the little boy, " What is it? What happened?"

Dominic looked at Larry with tearful eyes. Sobbing he replied, " I-I was dwiving...And Bwimpy's foot. Bwimpy hurt his foot..."

" Bwimpy hurt his foot?" Larry said, " What do you mean he..."

Suddenly Larry understood. Bwimpy was Dominic's imaginary friend, and he must have been hurt somehow.

" It's okay, Dominic," Larry said picking up the little boy, " I'm sure Bwimpy is fine."

" NO," Dominic cried, hitting Larry in the shoulder.

" HEY!" Larry yelled, instantly putting the boy down, " There's no hitting."

Shaking his finger to scold the boy, Larry stopped. Dominic was looking at him in a very strange way.

" Lawy," Dominic said, " Lawy can fix Bwimpy."

" WHAT?" Larry protested, " Now, Dominic."

" Lawy fix Bwimpy! Lawy fix Bwimpy!" Dominic Chanted bouncing up and down, " Lawy fix Bwimpy! Lawy fix Bwimpy!..."

" Okay, okay, Dominic," Larry said holding his hands out, " I just need to consult an expert first."

With that Larry ran back to the phone, leaving Dominic to his chant.

" Charles, get Alan, please!" Larry begged into the reciever.

" I'm afraid I can't, Larry," the reply came back, " He just left."

" What? Charles, didn't you stop him," Larry looked back at the bouncing Dominic.

" He said just give the kid a cup of milk and some cookies and everything should be fine," Charlie replied.

" I seriously doubt milk and cookies are going to help in this situation," Larry retorted, " Charles, do you know anything about fixing imaginary friends?"

Larry could hear laughter from the other side of the line mingle with Dominic's chant.

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