Chapter Four

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In Language, I told Robin about getting to stay home alone and babysit. She couldn’t believe my parents were actually going to let me watch my brother and sister.

At lunch, I stood in line next to Darla. “Can you believe my parents are actually going to let me babysit?” I asked her.

“You’ve got to be kidding? They’ve never even let you stay on your own, much less babysit,” Darla said in shock.

“Go figure,” I said. Who could understand parents anyway? I sure couldn’t. I was glad they were finally giving me a chance to be on my own.

I stopped in front of Today’s Selections in the lunch line. Hmm. Should I have the dried out chicken nuggets? Maybe a greasy hamburger? Choosing a slightly better alternative, I grabbed for a slice of pizza and added an order of fries. Pushing my tray along the counter, I paused only for a moment to grab juice. After I paid for my food, I followed Darla to the table Peggy saved for us.

“Hi,” Peggy said as we were sitting down.

“Guess what? Stef’s parents are actually going to let her stay home alone,” Darla said.

“You’re kidding? I’ve been staying home on my own for around two years,” Peggy boasted.

I felt like such a baby. My parents were overly protective. Other kids at school were lucky enough to go to the mall without their parents, or stay home without a babysitter. Sometimes my parents can be so embarrassing.

Quietly, I munched on my fries. Peggy was stealing my moment of glory. It might not be a big thing to her, but it was to me.

“So, are you scared?” Peggy asked.

“Why should I be scared?” I asked, puzzled.

“I remember one time when I was home alone, I kept hearing strange noises. Then, a shadow went by the window. My heart was beating so fast; I could feel it pounding in my chest. I was never so scared in all my life. I called a friend of mine, but I was almost going to call 911,” Peggy told us.

“What happened?” Darla asked.

“Well... my friend hung on the phone while I peeked out the window. It was a meter reader for the electric company. But it could have been a burglar. I was lucky that time,” Peggy announced, as if she was in any real danger.

“I was scared the first time I stayed on my own, too,” Darla admitted.

“What’s there to be scared of?” I asked.

“Nothing really,” Darla said.

“Yeah,” agreed Peggy. “The only thing that really ever happened when I was babysitting was my cousin fell and hit her head on the coffee table. She had to have three stitches.”

“Ow. I bet that hurt.” Her poor cousin, I’m sure that had to be painful. I’ve never had stitches nor do I ever want to have them. I’m positive everything will be fine when I’m on my own. I’m not a chicken like they were.

“Hey, do you have basketball practice this week?” Darla asked.

“We’re supposed to start next week,” I told her.

“It’s a good thing Heather moved,” Peggy said.

“Why’s that?” I asked out of curiosity.

“If she hadn’t, you might not have made the team,” Peggy said, taking a bite of her hamburger. A few drops of grease dripped onto Peggy’s tray as she bit into her juicy hamburger.

I finished slurping my juice, then cleared my throat before telling her; “I would have made the team. It was close. Ms. Jansen tried to make sure she used some eighth graders on the team since they wouldn’t get to play next year.”

It wasn’t as though I only made the team because Heather left. Well, all right, maybe Heather was a shoe-in; she was sure to make the team. Since she was moving, it left it a toss-up between Carla and me. Not to put Carla down or anything, but I was definitely better than her. Her lay-up shots stunk.