Chapter Six

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“I’m going to watch Mighty Warriors of Calgonia,” Dwight hollered as he ran to the television, shoving Wendy out of his way.

“No you’re not. I’m watching The Wombabee’s,” insisted Wendy.

Wendy and Dwight were both pushing different channels on the cable box and slapping the other one’s hand away. “Stop it! I’m going to tell,” Dwight whined.

“I’m telling, if you don’t quit it!” Wendy whined.

“Both of you stop it!” I told them in my sternest big sister voice. Little brothers and sisters can be such a pain, I thought.

“You can’t turn off the TV, Stephanie. You ain’t our boss,” Wendy said. She stood with her arms crossed, giving me one of her dirty looks.

“I’m babysitting. You have to do what I tell you or you’ll be in trouble when Mom and Dad get home,” I reminded her. Go ahead and push your luck!

“You’re such a brat,” Wendy stormed. She grabbed her backpack and stomped out of the living room.

“I can still watch TV,” Dwight said, smiling smugly.

“Sorry. I know someone who has to get the dog food and water. Then he has to help Wendy do dishes before he does his homework,” I reminded him.

Dwight scrunched his hands up into tiny fists.

Go ahead, I silently dared him. He would be in such big trouble when Mom and Dad got home. He must have thought about that, too, because he picked up his stuff.

“You’re a mean babysitter,” he mumbled on his way out of the room.

Maybe I was a little mean. If Mom and Dad came home and the chores weren’t done, they weren’t going to be very happy and I’d be the one who got chewed out. I still had to do my homework and I didn’t want to get in trouble. Sure enough, they wouldn’t let me babysit anymore.

The minute Mom walked through the door, Wendy and Dwight were on her like flies to a bug zapper. Twerps. They couldn’t wait.

“Mom, Stephanie made us do all the dishes. She’s supposed to load the dishwasher and she didn’t help at all,” Wendy complained.

“Yeah, and she wouldn’t let us watch TV either,” Dwight chimed in, as if some great injustice occurred. Please. Give me a break.

The front door closed with a resounding thud. “What’s going on?” Dad asked. Everyone went quiet.

“Well?” Dad asked, looking from Mom to me. I began to shrink. Great. Now they have done it.

“I had a lot of homework and made them do the dishes. They were upset because they didn’t get to watch TV and had to do chores instead,” I said in my own defense. There was no way I was telling him I watched TV. I mean... I did have a lot of homework. Sort of...

Giving Dwight and Wendy stern looks, Dad said, “You both know you have responsibilities. You have to take care of your chores when you come home, and do your homework. Stephanie is in charge when we’re not here and I expect you to listen to her.”

“Yes, sir,” they both said. They looked like somebody knocked the wind out of their sails. Their shoulders drooped and they had long faces.

“Now for you, young lady,” Dad began. “I expect you to do your chores too. Do you understand?”

“Yes, sir,” I replied. Whew, at least I’m not in ‘big’ trouble.