The Tale of Ryan the Babysitter
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The warm afternoon sun streamed through the living room windows, casting golden light over the chaos unfolding within. Londa and Jackson, two spirited four-year-old wolf cubs, were fully immersed in their game of pretend pirates. Their tails wagged excitedly as they darted around the room, toy swords clashing with dramatic "clang" sounds and exaggerated pirate accents filling the air.
"Yarr! Ye'll never take me treasure, scallywag!" Londa growled, baring her tiny fangs and brandishing her plastic sword. She wore a paper pirate hat she’d crafted herself, slightly crumpled from all the action. Her pink bow-tie was making it go a little lopsided.
"Not if I take it first, Captain Londa!" Jackson retorted, leaping onto the couch with a triumphant grin. His own pirate hat was askew, and he had an old scarf tied around his waist like a sash. He swung his sword wildly, nearly knocking over a lamp.
The coffee table had been transformed into their pirate ship, complete with a makeshift sail made from a bedsheet tied to a broomstick. The "ocean" around them was a sea of scattered toys and cushions, which they had declared were "dangerous shark-infested waters."
The room was a battlefield of giggles and growls, the cubs fully lost in their imaginary world. Neither seemed to notice—or care—that their game was quickly turning the living room into a disaster zone. As far as they were concerned, this was their pirate kingdom, and no one could tell them otherwise.
Londa lunged forward with a triumphant yell, her toy sword aimed with precision. Jackson, caught mid-step on the couch, didn’t see it coming. With a dramatic slice, Londa’s plastic blade swiped through the air and caught the waistband of Jackson’s pants.
“Gotcha!” Londa declared, grinning from ear to ear as Jackson’s pants slid down to his ankles, revealing his bright blue underwear adorned with cartoon stars with smiling faces on them.
Jackson froze, his tail stiff with surprise, before letting out a loud embarrassed gasp. “Hey! No fair!” he shouted, his cheeks slightly flushed but his grin unwavering.
Londa struck a victorious pose, planting one foot on the couch cushion and holding her sword high above her head. “Victory is mine!” she declared in her best pirate voice, tail wagging furiously behind her.
But Jackson wasn’t about to let her win so easily. With a mischievous glint in his eye, he lunged forward, his own sword aimed at Londa’s pants. “Take this, Captain Londa!”
Before she could react, Jackson’s sword landed with a slice, and Londa’s pants slipped down to her ankles, revealing her pink underwear decorated with little hearts.
“Ahhh!” Londa gasped, her ears flicking in surprise. But instead of getting mad, she burst out laughing, clutching her sides as she doubled over. Jackson joined in, their giggles filling the room as they both stood there, pants pooled around their ankles, toy swords still in hand.
Little did they know, their adventure was about to be interrupted by the arrival of their newest babysitter.
“Londa! Jackson! Your new babysitter is here!” Mom shouted up to the two of them.
They both stopped and turned with mischievous grins towards the direction of their mother’s voice and uttered in unison “Fresh meat!”
With a high-five, they pranced downstairs. Their pirate personas had melted away and in their place was what they truly were; two young brats with a hunger for trouble. They were more than eager to put their newest victim to the test.
Downstairs, their mom stood by the door, wearing her light blue doctor’s scrubs and tying her hair back into a ponytail. She looked up as Jackson and Londa bounced down the stairs, their energy as boundless as ever. Standing next to her was their new babysitter: a black-furred, red-headed teenage wolf named Ryan.
Ryan shifted nervously as the twins approached, his green eyes darting between them. He gave a small, uncertain wave. “Uh, hey, guys,” he said, his voice cracking slightly.
Jackson and Londa stopped a few steps from him, their sharp eyes sizing him up like predators evaluating their prey. Their synchronized grins didn’t help ease Ryan’s nerves. He started to shiver and sweat a little but he kept his peppy grin going.
Their mom, oblivious to the brewing storm, smiled warmly. “Kids, this is Ryan. He’ll be watching you until I get back tonight. Be good, okay?”
“Sure, Mom,” Londa said sweetly, her tail swishing innocently behind her.
“Yeah, we’ll be good. Promise,” Jackson added, though the mischievous sparkle in his eyes told a different story.
Their mom gave Ryan an apologetic smile. “Don’t let them intimidate you. They’re good kids, just… spirited.”
Ryan chuckled nervously, scratching the back of his neck. “Right. I’m sure they are. F-First impressions can be tough after all.”
Before leaving, their mom quickly ran through their daily routine. “Dinner’s around six, but it’s okay to order pizza if you’d rather not cook. Just make sure they’re in bed by eight-thirty. Oh, and one more thing—” she turned to the twins, her tone firm—“do not go in the backyard. That big tree fell last week, and it’s not safe out there.”
Jackson and Londa exchanged a glance, their ears perking up with curiosity. “The backyard?” Londa asked, feigning innocence.
“Yes, the backyard,” their mom repeated, narrowing her eyes. “It’s off-limits. I mean it.”
“Got it, Mom,” Jackson said, his grin widening.
Their mom sighed, clearly unconvinced but out of time to argue.
“Your daddy will be working the nightshift again so he won’t be home until late,” She added. “I really mean this when I say it’s best to make sure nothing bad happens.”
Ryan winced. “Oh. A night shift sounds interesting. What job does he work at?”
She turned to him with a grin. “Oh, he’s an officer of the law. So you’d best take care of my kids with your full chest or else he’ll come and arrest you.”
Ryan’s eyes widened and he laughed, really nervously.
She laughed as well, patting his back. “Relax. That was a joke.”
“Joke! Yes! Joke! I know of jokes! Haha!” Ryan fidgeted, pushing his fingers together. She giggled at this. He was cute.
She grabbed her keys and headed for the door. “Alright, I’ve got to go. Be good for Ryan, okay?”
“Bye, Mom!” the twins chorused, waving enthusiastically as she walked out.
As the door closed, the room fell into silence. Ryan looked at the twins, who were now staring at him with unsettlingly wide grins. He swallowed hard, his tail flicking nervously. All of a sudden he was wondering if he went to the bathroom before he left his house.
“So,” Londa said, tilting her head, “what’s the plan, Mr. Ryan?”
Jackson leaned against the banister, smirking. “Yeah, what are we doing first, babysitter?”
Ryan blinked, suddenly feeling like a gazelle surrounded by hungry lions. “Uh… uhm…” Ryan fidgeted and rummaged through his pants pocket. He pulled out a small notebook and flipped through it. “H-Hello. My name is Ryan…”
The twins turned to look at each other and then back at him.
“Yeah, we know.” They said in unison.
Ryan grunted. Things were already out of order from what he wrote down in his notebook. Perhaps it was best he just answer their question about what they were going to do and wing it from here.
“Uh…well what we could do first is… uhm… h-how about we start with, uh, something quiet?”
The twins looked at each other again. Then they burst into laughter.
“Quiet? Oh, you’re in for a treat,” Londa said, her grin growing wider.
“Neat!” Ryan said, giving a thumbs up. Seems the way she said that didn’t quite hit home with him. Or maybe it did and he was trying desperately to ignore it.
Either way, the twins weren’t impressed so far.
Ryan stepped into the living room, his ears flicking nervously as he glanced around. The aftermath of the twins’ pirate adventure was everywhere—pillows and toys scattered across the floor, a bedsheet draped over a broomstick in the middle of the room, and a paper pirate hat crumpled on the couch.
“Looks like you two had fun,” Ryan mumbled, trying to sound casual as he picked up the broomstick and leaned it against the wall. He flopped onto the couch, pulling out his phone to check the time.
Londa and Jackson stood by the doorway and watched him. He hadn’t raised his voice, talked down to them, or shifted into a mode that spelled doom for their peace of mind just yet.
Eyeing one another they grinned and nodded. It was time to put him through “the test” just like they had so many other babysitters in the past.
Ryan set his backpack on the coffee table and unzipped it, pulling out a notebook, a water bottle, and a small snack. “So, what kind of stuff do you guys like? Movies? Games? Maybe we can do something fun while your mom’s gone,” he asked, trying to sound upbeat as he rifled through his things.
Jackson and Londa stood a few feet away, their eyes fixed on Ryan’s tail, which was draped over the side of the couch. Unlike most wolves’ tails, which were short and bushy, Ryan’s was unusually long, almost fox-like, with a sleek tip that curled slightly at the end.
“What’s up with his tail?” Jackson whispered to Londa, his head tilted.
“I don’t know,” Londa replied, squinting at it. “It’s weird. Maybe it’s fake? Like a big balloon?”
Jackson grinned, his mischievous mind already at work. “Only one way to find out.”
He grabbed a small pin from the floor—leftover from one of their crafts—and crept closer to Ryan, who was still busy unpacking his bag. Londa watched, biting her lip to keep from laughing.
With a quick jab, Jackson poked Ryan’s tail with the pin.
“OW!” Ryan yelped, jumping up so fast he knocked over his water bottle. He grabbed his tail, rubbing the spot where the pin had pricked him while suspended in the air with his legs out momentarily. It was a very cartoonish reaction. “What the heck was that for?” He asked when he landed on his feet and nursed it cutely.
Jackson and Londa both burst out laughing, doubling over as Ryan glared at them.
“What’s the big deal?” Ryan asked, his voice tinged with both confusion and annoyance.
Jackson shrugged, still giggling. “We thought it was, like, fake or something. It’s so long!”
“Yeah,” Londa added, her tail wagging as she grinned up at him. “It doesn’t look like a normal wolf tail. We thought maybe you were hiding something.”
Ryan sighed, his ears flattening slightly as he sat back down, still rubbing his tail. “It’s not fake. It’s just… long, okay? I’ve had it my whole life. No need to poke it!”
“Hmph. If you say so,” Jackson said, though his smirk betrayed his lack of sincerity.
“Yeah, we believe you I guess,” Londa echoed, though she was clearly holding back laughter.
Ryan took a deep breath, keeping his cool despite the twins’ antics. “Alright, look,” he said, turning slightly and holding out his tail for them to see. “It’s just a regular tail. Nothing weird about it. See?”
He even yanked on it to emphasize how it wasn’t plucking off his butt.
The twins leaned in, inspecting it closely.
“Huh,” Londa said, tilting her head. “I guess it’s normal… just super long.”
“Yeah,” Jackson added, poking it lightly with his finger this time. “Kinda doughy though.”
“Doughy? What does–? Ugh. Nevermind. Just please… if you have questions about me and how I… function or whatever, just ask?” Ryan pleaded.
The twins nodded, their grins softening slightly.
Ryan stood and walked over to the entertainment center, pulling out a game case from his backpack. “Alright, how about we play something fun? I brought a few games for the PS5.”
The twins perked up, their tails wagging. New PS5 games? Oh hell yes! “What’d you bring?” Jackson asked, hopping onto the couch.
“Yeah, is it something cool?” Londa added, climbing up beside her brother.
Ryan held up a game case with a grin. “This one’s a co-op platformer. Lots of puzzles and stuff. Sound good?”
“Yeah!” the twins cheered.
Ryan slid the disc into the console and grabbed a controller for each of them. They were surprised he thought to bring controllers for them. They graciously accepted, dealing with the surprising thought that he had intended to play video games with the both of them and not on his own while ignoring them or something.
They felt their curiosity grow fonder when he bent over to plug everything in. The twins couldn’t help but notice the waistband of his underwear sticking out of the back of his pants.
“Hey,” Jackson whispered to Londa, pointing. “Look at that.”
Londa giggled. “Something cartoony is there!”
Ryan, oblivious to their observation, sat down on the couch between them and handed over the controllers. “Alright, let’s do this,” he said, feeling a little more confident now that they seemed interested in something other than pranks.
As the game started, the three of them quickly got into the action, laughing and shouting as they worked together to solve puzzles and beat levels. Ryan’s initial nervousness began to fade, and the twins found themselves relaxing slightly too.
“Not bad, babysitter,” Jackson said, grinning as he nailed a tricky jump in the game.
“Yeah, this is pretty cool,” Londa added, her tone grudging but sincere.
Ryan smiled, feeling a little relieved. “Thanks…”
As the game session continued, Ryan leaned into the fun, laughing alongside the twins as they cleared level after level. Unbeknownst to him, Jackson was plotting his next move. With a sly glance at Londa, Jackson silently pulled out a fishing line he’d stashed under the couch from a previous prank and carefully hooked it to the back of Ryan’s pants.
Londa bit her lip to keep from laughing, giving Jackson a subtle thumbs-up. When they got to a decent stopping point, Ryan stood up to grab a bag of chips from his backpack. He set it way off to the side and eventually moved it to the kitchen earlier. Now it was too out of reach for casual snacking.
“Be right back,” Ryan said, stretching as he got to his feet.
The moment he took a step forward, the fishing line went taut, and with a loud, dramatic RIP, Ryan’s pants slid down to his ankles!
Ryan stumbled out of them and then managed to stop, eyes widened with shock and awe. His pants were split down the middle in such a way that it would be impossible to wear them again.
Ryan froze, his ears stinging as he processed what had just happened. Slowly, he looked down, his face flushing a deep crimson as he realized his underwear—brightly colored briefs featuring the cheerful characters from Paw Patrol—was now on full display.
The twins burst into uncontrollable laughter, clutching their sides and nearly falling off the couch.
“Paw Patrol?!” Londa wheezed, tears streaming down her face. “Oh my gosh, that’s sooooo cute!”
“Yeah, real cool, babysitter!” Jackson added, howling with laughter while giving a thumbs up. He rolled back and forth while holding his gut.
Ryan began to shake, standing with his underwear on open display before the laughing children. His face burned with embarrassment, and his eyes glistened as he turned to face the twins.
“You… you did that on purpose!” he stammered, his voice shaky. He grabbed the torn fabric of his pants off the ground and clutched it tightly.
The twins only laughed harder, unable to deny it.
Ryan’s lip quivered, and he turned on his heel, muttering, “That was so mean…!” He hurried out of the room, sprinting in his underwear towards the bathroom with his pants in tow.
As the bathroom door clicked shut, the twins’ laughter began to subside, replaced by something they had never felt when dealing with a babysitter before.
A pang of guilt.
The two of them turned to look at one another and then the hallway Ryan ran down.
They turned to glance at the paused video game and the three controllers that sat before the TV where, when a babysitter came over with a game console, there would usually be one.
The two of them actually frowned.
“Maybe we went too far,” Londa said, her ears drooping slightly.
“Yeah,” Jackson admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. “I didn’t think he’d get that upset.”
The two exchanged a look, wondering if they should apologize—or if Ryan would even want to come back out.
The twins sat on the couch, the sounds of their own laughter still echoing in their minds. As the silence stretched on, that feeling of guilt really was settling in the most. They exchanged uncertain glances, both wondering what they had done to make Ryan run off so upset. Miraculously, they were having trouble piecing that together. It was factually relatively harmless compared to what they did to other sitters.
“Do you think he’s crying in there?” Londa asked in a low murmur, her tail flicking nervously.
“M-Maybe?” Jackson admitted with a shrug. “D-Does it matter? He’s just… our babysitter, y’know?”
The two of them slumped there and then peaked over at the bathroom once more.
Just as they were starting to feel even more dower, they heard the bathroom door creak open. Ryan stepped back into the living room, looking a little more composed but still clearly nervous. His pants, while still a bit wrinkled, were now miraculously repaired—though they still bore the evidence of the earlier destruction.
Ryan walked slowly toward the couch, his ears flicking nervously as he looked at the twins. He cleared his throat and sat down, glancing at them with a shy, almost hesitant expression. “Hey… uh, look. I just…”
He was having trouble speaking. Perhaps he was worried he’d say the wrong thing? Who could blame him.
“...I want to know why you did that,” he said, his voice quiet but kind. “I get that you were probably just messing around, but I’m a little confused. Why did you, uh, have to tear up my pants like that?”
The twins looked at each other, unsure how to answer. They hadn’t really thought about it before—they were just having fun, playing their usual pranks on the new babysitter. But now, with Ryan sitting there looking hurt, they realized it was coming off as more than just a joke.
Jackson shifted uncomfortably, his ears drooping slightly. “I… I don’t know. I guess we just thought it would be funny. We do stuff like that to all our babysitters.”
Far worse stuff even.
Londa nodded, her tail flicking nervously. “Yeah, we didn’t mean to make you upset. It just… happened, I guess.”
Ryan listened quietly, his face softening as he took in their words. He exhaled slowly, his posture relaxing a little. “Well, I appreciate you telling me the truth at least. I’m sorry… I guess maybe this must mean I’m not that great a babysitter.
“No… it’s not you,” Jackson said. “Like I said, we do this kind of stuff to all our babysitters…”
Ryan looked at him, still a bit down.
“We’re really sorry, Ryan,” Londa said sincerely, her ears folding down. “We didn’t mean to hurt your feelings. We just thought it’d be funny. Honest.”
“Yeah,” Jackson added, his voice a little softer than usual. “We’re sorry we made you feel bad.”
Ryan smiled weakly, his tail flicking behind him. “It’s okay. I forgive you. I’m… not too good at handling embarrassment eh?” He smiled cheekily with a blush and rubbing the back of his head.
The twins smiled, relieved that Ryan wasn’t mad at them anymore. “Thanks for forgiving us, Ryan,” Londa said, her voice brightening. “We’ll be better next time.”
“Yeah, we’ll keep the pranks to a minimum,” Jackson added with a grin.
Of course, he didn’t promise to stop.
Ryan laughed softly, shaking his head. “Alright, I’ll hold you to that. Now, how about we get back to that game? I’m still winning, by the way.”
The twins grinned, eager to get back to the game. “You wish!” Jackson teased, grabbing his controller.
Ryan chuckled, feeling the tension between them finally ease.
—
As the afternoon wore on, Ryan was just completely comfortable now. The twins were still a little mischievous, but it seemed like they were at least trying to be good—at least for now.
After a while, Ryan decided it was time to order dinner. He pulled out his phone and began dialing the pizza place, making sure to get a large pie with all the toppings the twins liked.
Meanwhile, Jackson and Londa were back to scheming again. The tranquility couldn’t last. It just wasn’t in their nature not to have some prank-filled fun.
They had been planning something since before Ryan had started ordering the pizza, and now was the perfect time to execute it.
Londa grabbed a skateboard from the corner of the room and quietly set it behind Ryan’s feet while he ordered the pizza in the kitchen. Jackson carefully snuck by Ryan and climbed up the sink to reach the sprayer. He carefully turned the kitchen sprayer faucet to the side, setting it up so that when the faucet was turned on, the sprayer would shoot water straight at whoever was standing near it.
“Ready?” Jackson whispered to Londa.
“Yep!” Londa whispered back, her eyes gleaming with mischief.
Ryan, oblivious to the twins’ latest plan, finished up his pizza order and put his phone down with a satisfied sigh. “Alright, pizza’s on its way. Should be here in about 30 minutes,” he said, hands on his hips.
The twins, now sitting at the kitchen table, exchanged a knowing look.
“Hey, Ryan,” Jackson said sweetly, “can we have some water?”
Ryan, still feeling a bit too comfortable with the twins, nodded. “Sure thing, Jackson. Londa, you want some too?”
“Yeah, please!” Londa said with a grin, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
Ryan turned to the sink and turned on the faucet. The moment he did, the kitchen sprayer went off, and water shot out directly at him!
Ryan yelped in surprise as he was drenched with a stream of water. “What the—?! AAAAAH!”
The sudden blast of cold water made him gasp, and in his panic, he slipped backward onto the skateboard that Jackson and Londa had left in his path.
With a startled scream, Ryan shot forward like a rocket, his legs flailing as he tried to regain control. His pants, already precariously hanging from his hips, were no match for the speed and momentum, and with a rip, they tore off completely, leaving Ryan in his Paw Patrol underwear once again!
"WHAAAAA—!" Ryan screamed, his voice high-pitched with panic as he zipped through the kitchen.
He careened into the dining room, narrowly missing the table and crashing into a chair, sending it toppling over. The sound of clattering metal and wood filled the air as Ryan continued to zoom uncontrollably.
Londa and Jackson chased after him, wincing and jolting with each crash that was made. It felt as if this was another thing they hadn’t quite predicted would be so destructive.
It was funny though.
"AHHH!" he yelled, his arms flailing in every direction as he tried to steady himself, but it was no use. He slammed into a stack of books on a nearby shelf, sending them flying across the room like a burst of confetti.
Next, Ryan barreled into the living room, where he collided with the coffee table, knocking over a lamp and sending a couple of magazines spinning through the air. The light from the lamp flickered as it hit the ground, but Ryan didn't have time to stop and look.
"OH NO!" he yelled, his heart racing as he slid through the room, his underwear on full display.
He crashed into the couch, his body jerking violently as he was flung back onto the floor, only to continue his wild ride, skidding through the hallway. The walls seemed to close in on him as he zoomed by, narrowly avoiding a picture frame that flew off the wall, and he skidded around a corner into the master bedroom.
Finally, with a triumphant yet terrified screech, Ryan shot straight into the large walk-in closet. His momentum carried him forward, and he crashed into the closet door with a loud thud, sending clothes and shoes flying in every direction.
The door swung open wildly, and Ryan came to a screeching halt inside the closet, his chest heaving from the wild ride. He sat there for a moment, dazed, his underwear still proudly on display as he blinked in disbelief at the chaos he had just caused.
For a moment, everything was silent. Then, from the hallway, he could hear the faint sound of Jackson and Londa’s laughter echoing through the house.
Ryan sat slumped upside down against the back wall of the closet, his underoos clad butt sticking up and his body still reeling from the chaotic skateboard ride. His chest heaved as he tried to catch his breath, his face flushed with embarrassment. He looked up at his Paw Patrol underwear, still in disbelief at how he had ended up in this situation once again. His clothes were a mess, and the room around him was in complete disarray from the wild ride.
The sound of light footsteps approaching broke him from his daze. He fumbled to a proper sitting position and turned to see Jackson and Londa standing in the doorway of the closet, their grins wide and mischievous.
“Uh-oh,” Ryan muttered under his breath, realizing the twins had followed him into the closet.
The twins stepped inside, their eyes scanning the chaotic mess Ryan had caused. Jackson’s gaze landed on one of their old potty chairs in the corner, and he tilted his head, confused.
“Hey, look,” Jackson said, pointing. “There’s one of our potty chairs.”
Londa looked around the closet, her eyes narrowing slightly. “But… where’s the other one?” she asked, her voice tinged with curiosity.
Ryan, still trying to regain his composure, shifted uncomfortably. He knew the twins were probably going to tease him about the mess, but it didn’t matter. They were just… being horrible and monstrous. They were gonna get him again! He just knew it!
He blushed deeply, his ears flattening as he looked nervously at the twins. “W-Why did you do that?” he stammered, his voice shaky. “Why did you—”
Ryan’s face reddened even more as he stood up, trying to gather his dignity. “I’m just... I’m really confused right now. Why are you two doing all this? I’m just trying to be a good babysitter.”
Londa and Jackson exchanged a look, their grins slowly fading into something more thoughtful. Again, they hadn’t expected Ryan to be so flustered, and it was clear that they had pushed him to his limit.
These were just harmless pranks… right?
No, they could tell by the look in Ryan’s eyes… he was in the midst of feeling a tormenting amount of terror. His shaking pupils were radiating abject fear!
Londa and Jackson exchanged a worried glance before they began trying to answer. However, before they could, something disrupted the scene.
As Ryan stood there, his heart still racing from the wild ride and his mind trying to process everything, the sound of something shifting caught his attention. Before he could react, the second potty chair—hidden on a high shelf and jostled loose from the earlier impact—suddenly tipped over and fell straight toward him.
Thud!
The potty chair bonked Ryan squarely on the head, sending him into a doofy daze. He was scrunched up and hunched over for a bit. The potty chair fell over while he stood directly in front of the other one. His eyes were crossed and his tongue poked out of his mouth.
His vision blurred and he felt himself lose balance as he tried to steady himself.
“Isss waning potties mommy…!” He said, gurgling as chirping birdies flew around his head. With a loud yelp, he fell backward, landing butt-first onto the first potty chair that had been sitting innocently on the floor.
“Wh-What duuuuh—?” Ryan gurgled, drool pooling out his mouth. He couldn’t even register what had happened and then he felt an overwhelming, uncontrollable urge to go potty. He froze for a moment, the embarrassment washing over him like a wave. The sound of tinkling was heard between the three of them and it grew louder as the potty he was sitting in… was getting used.
And then, as if on autopilot, he started to sing the Pull-Ups jingle, his voice high-pitched and almost robotic.
🎶 "Mommy wow! I’m a big kid now, I wear Pull-Ups, I can do it, I can do it, all by myself!" 🎶
Ryan’s face was beet-red despite barely realizing what was happening. The situation was so ridiculous, so utterly humiliating, that few could articulate how even in their right state of mind. He had just fallen on a potty chair, and now, in front of the mischievous twins, he was singing a children’s potty training jingle while wetting himself.
Jackson and Londa, standing just a few feet away, stared at him in shock and amusement. Their eyes widened and faces showcasing wild grins of amusement.
The sides of them that were feeling guilt and the sides of them that wanted to keep pranking Ryan were clearly at odds here. However, that didn’t stop this from being funny.
Ryan, still sitting on the potty chair, was completely disoriented, his mind swirling from the bizarre series of events. His vision was blurry, his face red with embarrassment, and his mind felt like he was in one of those silly cartoons where everything goes wrong at once. He couldn’t even think straight, his thoughts muddled and nonsensical.
The twins, meanwhile, stood there, trying to stifle their giggles. They couldn’t help but find the juxtaposition from where he was before to what he was doing now hilarious.
Jackson raised an eyebrow, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. “Wow, Ryan,” he said, his voice dripping with playful sarcasm. “Didn’t know you were that into potty training.”
Londa snickered, crossing her arms and tapping her foot. “Yeah, you’re really nailing it, huh? I guess we’ll have to get you some Pull-Ups now.”
Ryan blinked, his brain still in a fog as he tried to make sense of their teasing. “W-What…?” he mumbled, his voice sounding far more cartoonish than usual. His eyes were still unfocused, and his tongue lolled out of his mouth for a moment as he tried to process what the twins were saying.
“You know, you’re really good at this,” Londa teased, leaning in with a smirk. “Maybe you should get a job at a daycare or something. They’d love you!”
Ryan’s head lolled to one side as he gave a goofy, dazed grin. He had no idea what was happening anymore. His mind was too foggy to piece things together, and the combination of the twins’ teasing and the bizarre situation he found himself in was enough to leave him feeling completely cuckoo.
Jackson, seeing Ryan’s state, couldn’t help but laugh even harder. “Look at him! He’s totally out of it. I think we broke him, Londa.”
Londa giggled and nodded. “Yep, he’s officially a cartoon character now. We’re going to have to get him a diaper and a pacifier next.”
Ryan, still in his dazed state, tried to protest but ended up just humming the Pull-Ups jingle again, his voice still high-pitched and silly.
🎶 "I’m a big kid now, I wear Pull-Ups, I can do it, I can do it, all by myself!" 🎶
The twins laughed even harder, and for a moment, it seemed like the entire world was spinning around Ryan. He couldn’t tell if he was in reality or some kind of crazy dream, but as the laughter of the twins filled the air, he felt like he was caught in the middle of an endless cartoony loop.
The endless loop spiraled on and on but the more it did the less dizzy he got, ironically. It was spiraling back to reality and the reality of the situation sat before Ryan was becoming clearer and clearer.
He stopped singing the song and his crossed eyes started to refocus.
As the fog in Ryan's mind began to lift, the reality of the situation hit him all at once.
His face went from a goofy, dazed grin to a deep, painful flush of embarrassment. His heart sank as he realized exactly what had just happened—he had wet himself, sung the Pull-Ups song, and had been completely humiliated in front of his charges!
The weight of it all suddenly overwhelmed him. He had come into this job hoping to do a good job as their babysitter, but now, here he was—sitting on a potty chair, in his underwear, drooling pathetically in front of the mischievous twins who were still laughing at him.
With tears welling up in his eyes, Ryan stood up shakily, his knees feeling weak. His hands trembled as he wiped his face, trying to hide his emotions. He couldn’t hold it in any longer though.
“I’m a failure!” he screamed to himself, his voice breaking as he choked back a sob. However, even that didn’t last. He starts to full on bawl his eyes out, spewing tears everywhere while wailing like a baby.
He didn’t even look at the twins as he stormed out of the closet, his face still red with shame. His heart was racing as he hurried through the hallway with his hands out in front of him, desperate to escape the situation.
He made a beeline for the couch in the living room, his legs feeling heavy as he plopped down onto it, burying his face in his hands. The tears came now, uncontrollable and full of frustration.
“I… I can’t do this!” Ryan whispered to himself, his crying voice soaring. “I’m a big fail baby!”
The sound of the twins’ laughter still echoed in his ears, and he couldn’t escape the feeling of being completely out of his depth.
Even though their laughter echoed in his head, it had stopped long before then.
—
Jackson and Londa walked outside into the backyard, their small feet crunching on the grass as they silently made their way to the fallen tree. The weight of the afternoon’s events hung heavily in the air, the echoes of Ryan’s breakdown still lingering in their minds.
As they sat on the fallen tree, they exchanged glances, both of them deep in thought. The playful mischief that had filled their actions earlier seemed to fade away, replaced by a quiet contemplation.
“Do you think we went too far?” Jackson asked, his voice softer than usual. He swung his legs back and forth, his eyes scanning the broken tree as if it could provide some kind of answer.
Londa bit her lip, looking down at the grass beneath her feet. “I dunno… Ryan was really nice, though. He didn’t treat us like babies like the others.”
Jackson nodded slowly, his brows furrowed. “Yeah… he was different. He didn’t yell at us or act all stiff. He just… tried to keep up.”
They both fell silent for a moment, the weight of their actions starting to sink in. They had been mischievous, yes, but they couldn’t ignore the fact that Ryan had genuinely tried to be a good babysitter. He had been kind, patient, and even a little goofy at times, but he hadn’t treated them like little kids.
“So… then… maybe he IS a good babysitter?” Londa asked, wondering if it could be true.
Jackson looked at her, unsure of how to respond. Could it be true? Was he really?
Did they find a good babysitter after all this time… and render him a crying mess anyway?
The twins sat there for a moment longer, their thoughts swirling.
Before they could get too deep in thought, something unexpected happened. Londa slipped from where she sat and got her tail caught within the fallen tree! She flailed upside down in a sudden panic, eyes wide with shock.
Londa tried to wiggle her tail free from beneath the fallen tree. Her small tail was wedged tightly under the trunk, and no matter how hard she twisted and pulled, it wouldn’t budge. Panic started to rise in her chest as she realized she was stuck.
“Jackson! I’m stuck!” Londa cried out, her voice tinged with frustration and a hint of fear. She wriggled her body in an attempt to free herself, but it was no use. Her tail was firmly caught, and she couldn’t get it out.
Jackson’s eyes went wide, his own panic starting to set in. “Sis! H-Hang on!”
He charged forward and tried to budge it. That was a bad idea and he could tell the instant he touched it that it was. It was going to collapse if his uncoordinated fingers tried anything.
He let go and backed up, prancing from foot to foot. “What do we do? What do we do?!” he asked, his voice rising in alarm. He paced around, looking at the situation, then back at Londa, his thoughts racing.
“I can’t get it out! It’s stuck!” Londa whimpered, trying to shift her body in every direction, but the tree was too heavy and her tail was trapped.
After a few moments of frantic thinking, Jackson’s eyes lit up with an idea. It wasn’t the best idea, but it was the only one they had.
“Ryan!” Jackson blurted out, his face lighting up with determination. “We have to ask Ryan for help!”
“Please! Hurry!” Londa screamed and wriggled about. Tears were gathering in her eyes as the panic was setting in.
Jackson nodded. His head was already doused in sweat from nerves. He turned and sprinted his way back into the house. It hurt leaving Londa behind but that’s why he was so particularly quick here.
Jackson burst through the door, his breath coming in quick gasps as he ran into the living room. He spotted Ryan sitting on the couch, still looking down, his face marked with frustration and embarrassment. Ryan was holding a spare pair of pants in his hands, but he barely seemed to notice Jackson’s sudden entrance.
“Ryan!” Jackson shouted, his voice filled with urgency.
Ryan looked up, startled, his ears flicking back as he saw the distressed look on Jackson’s face. “What’s wrong, Jackson?” Ryan asked, his voice soft and concerned, though his own emotions were still a bit fragile from earlier.
“Londa—she’s stuck! Her tail’s caught under the tree!” Jackson exclaimed, his words tumbling out in a rush. “We need help! She can’t get free, and I don’t know what to do!” Tears gathered in his eyes now. He rarely ever allowed himself to become this vulnerable.
Ryan blinked, still processing Jackson’s words. His eyes widened as he stood up, instantly focused. “What? Londa’s stuck? Where again?”
Jackson quickly grabbed Ryan’s hand and pulled him toward the door. “In the backyard! Please, Ryan, she’s really stuck! You have to help her!”
Ryan’s heart raced, but his protective instincts kicked in. “Alright, alright. Let’s go.”
The two of them rushed outside, and Jackson led Ryan to the fallen tree. Londa was still there, sitting upside down on the ground with her tail wedged under the heavy trunk. She looked up at Ryan with wide eyes, her face flushed with embarrassment.
“RYAN!” Londa screamed, frantically, her voice shaking.
Ryan crouched down next to her, his eyes scanning the situation. “Don’t worry, Londa. We’ll get you out of this,” he reassured her, though he could see the difficulty of the situation. The tree was heavy, and her tail was trapped tight.
Jackson stood by, watching nervously. “What do we do, Ryan?”
Ryan’s mind raced for a solution. He gently lifted the tree a little, trying to get enough room to free Londa’s tail. “Hold on, Londa. This might take a second,” he said, his voice calm and steady.
His protective instincts kicked in, and he moved swiftly, squatting down beside the fallen tree. “Hang tight, Londa,” he said, his voice steady despite the pressure of the situation.
Londa, who had been nervously wriggling her body to try and free her tail, nodded, her eyes wide with worry. “I’m sorry, Ryan… I didn’t mean to get stuck…” she murmured, feeling scared.
Ryan shot her a reassuring smile. “No need to apologize. We’ll get you out of this.”
He placed his hands on the tree, testing its weight. It was heavy, but with some effort, he could manage. He looked over at Jackson, who was pacing nervously. “Jackson, give me a hand. We need to lift this tree just enough to get her tail free.”
Jackson nodded and immediately ran over and knelt beside Ryan. Together, they gripped the edges of the fallen tree. With a grunt of effort, they managed to lift the tree just enough to create some space.
“Alright, Londa, try to move your tail now,” Ryan said, his voice full of encouragement.
Londa carefully wriggled her tail, and with a relieved squeal, she felt it slip free from under the tree. She immediately jumped up, her tail swishing in the air as she looked at Ryan with wide, grateful eyes.
“You did it! You really did it!” she exclaimed, her voice filled with joy. She grabbed her tail and gave the bushy thing a hug.
Ryan stood up, wiping a bead of sweat from his forehead, a proud smile on his face. “I told you we’d get it done. You okay, Londa?”
Londa nodded, her eyes sparkling. “I’m fine now! Thanks, Ryan!” She threw her arms around him in a quick hug.
Jackson, who had been watching anxiously, let out a relieved sigh. “That was awesome, Ryan. You… you saved my sister’s life!”
Ryan chuckled. “I mean, that’s a bit dramatic isn’t it?”
“Nuh-uh! She’d be trapped under that thing forever if you didn’t move it!” Jackson exclaimed, sounding so sure of himself.
Ryan literally forgot that he was four.
“Well, I’m just glad I could help. You two like to keep me on my toes, don’t you?”
The twins giggled. That was really putting it kindly. The fact that he could still do that after everything that’s happened was incredible.
He did that while still in just his Paw Patrol underoos, standing outside, with a big pee-pee stain on them.
Londa, still catching her breath from the excitement, looked down at the ground, a little worried. “Do you think we’re going to be in trouble?” she asked, her voice tinged with guilt. “We were told not to go near the tree…”
Ryan, sensing her concern, quickly shook his head. “No, no. You’re not in trouble,” he said reassuringly. “We’ll just clean up and make sure everything looks good. I’ve got it covered.”
Londa raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. “What do you mean?”
Ryan smiled, his tone light but confident. “Well, we don’t want anyone to drum up bad memories of this experience all willy-nilly do we? So let’s just keep the fact that it happened to ourselves.”
He even put a finger to his lips with a smile. Londa, a bit teary eyed still, smiled and nodded.
Jackson looked really grateful and relaxed. This was wonderful.
Ryan gently took Londa’s hand and led her back into the house, heading for the bathroom. “Let’s get your tail cleaned up and if anything seems out of place enough that your folks feel the need to ask questions, we’ll come up with a great story.”
Once inside the bathroom, Ryan carefully helped Londa sit down. He turned on the faucet and grabbed a washcloth, gently cleaning the dirt and leaves off her tail. Londa looked at him, a little surprised by how calmly and efficiently he was handling the situation.
Jackson stood off to the side, watching him gently taking care of her before tending to himself.
“Thanks, Ryan,” she said quietly, her earlier worries starting to fade.
“No problem,” Ryan replied with a small smile. “I’m just making sure you’re taken care of. As your babysitter, it’s my job to make sure the king and queen of the house are well served!”
The two cubs felt a warmth fill their souls a bit on that one.
After a few more minutes, Ryan finished cleaning Londa’s tail, making sure there was no trace of the tree’s mess left. He then helped her wash her hands and gave her a reassuring pat on the back.
“Alright,” Ryan said, standing up. “There’s no need to overthink this. Just keep calm and quiet about it. If something is out of place then we’ll just tell your mom that you were playing around and maybe got a little dirty, but nothing serious. No mention of the tree.”
Londa nodded, feeling much better.
Jackson perked up. “Thank you. Really. You’re… actually the best.”
Ryan chuckled, his heart warming at their gratitude. “You’re welcome.”
He shuffled a bit as he stood there, in his underwear still.
“... In a way I guess I’m just like you guys a bit too. Just… perhaps not as impulsive when it comes to the pranks.”
The twins didn’t let him finish. They both ran over to Ryan, wrapping their arms around him in a big hug.
“You’re awesome!” they exclaimed in unison.
Ryan bit his lip, slowly but surely, returning the embrace. He could feel it. He could tell. They genuinely meant it.
He allowed a little bit of pride to creep back in after once pronouncing himself a failure. He felt so much better and so much warmer now.
Then the doorbell rang. The three of them jolted with surprise, instantly worried that it was someone they didn’t want to be here right now.
As the doorbell echoed through the house, Ryan froze in place, his ears perking up in alarm. His eyes widened as he glanced at the twins, who looked equally startled.
Ryan rushed to the door and opened it while shaking.
“Here’s your order,” the delivery raccoon said with a friendly smile, holding two steaming pizza boxes.
Ryan blinked, realizing he had completely forgotten about the order. He let out a deep breath, placing a hand over his chest. “Right. Pizza. Of course.”
He quickly paid for the pizzas, giving a small tip, and brought the boxes back into the house. The smell of melted cheese and pepperoni filled the air, instantly making everyone’s stomachs growl.
“Pizza’s here!” Ryan announced, setting the boxes on the coffee table.
The twins cheered and rushed over, dive bombing the boxes and scrambling for slices.
With pizza in hand, the three of them resumed their video game session. Between bites of pizza and bursts of laughter, they took turns battling bosses, racing cars, and competing in silly mini-games.
—
The soft hum of the television filled the cozy living room as Ryan sat on the couch, his head leaning back against the cushion. Jackson and Londa were curled up on either side of his lap, their tails draped lazily over the couch as they snoozed peacefully. A faint smile played on Ryan's lips as he absentmindedly stroked their fur, his earlier worries now a distant memory.
The sound of the front door opening startled him slightly. He turned his head to see the twins' mom stepping in, still wearing her scrubs and looking exhausted but relieved to be home. She paused in the doorway, taking in the scene with a warm smile.
“Wow,” she said softly, setting her bag down. “Did I hire a wizard? Look at the magic you worked in here.”
Ryan chuckled quietly, careful not to wake the twins. “Nah. They were great,” he said, his voice low. He’d finally managed to change clothes too, now in a pair of pajamas. It was fine. When he went home, he’d just plop into bed with these on, no changing required.
Her eyebrows rose in surprise. “Really? No trouble at all?”
Ryan hesitated for a split second, glancing down at the sleeping cubs. He thought about the chaos earlier—the pranks, the tree incident, and everything in between while staring at their peaceful faces.
“They were well-behaved,” he said with a smile. “And, as promised, they didn’t go near that tree in the backyard.”
The twins’ mom let out a sigh of relief. “That’s good to hear. Thank you, Ryan. I know they can be a handful sometimes.”
Ryan shook his head. “Honestly, they’re a lot of fun. I really enjoyed spending time with them.” He paused, glancing back at her. “If you ever need a babysitter again, I’d be happy to help.”
He was eager to maybe even be a full time babysitter.
Her smile widened. “That’s so kind of you, Ryan.” She then yawned and stretched, heading off to the kitchen. “Now for my nighttime snack…”
Ryan stretched out on the couch, letting the quiet of the evening settle over him. Then the two cubs on his stomach giggled and looked up at him.
“Thanks for not ratting us out,” Jackson whispered, his voice barely audible but carrying a note of sincerity.
“Ah. You guys pretend to be asleep so well I almost forgot you were awake the whole time.” Ryan snickered.
Londa nodded sheepishly. “Yeah. We just… wanted to see what you’d say to Mom.”
Ryan sighed, leaning forward a bit while sitting up. His face shifted to something semi-serious but mostly curious. “Why do you guys do it? All the pranks and tricks on your babysitters?”
The twins exchanged a glance before Jackson spoke up, his voice unusually serious. “Mom’s always working at the hospital, and Dad’s a cop on the night shift. They’re hardly ever around at the same time. It’s just us most of the time.”
Londa chimed in, her tone softer than usual. “We don’t hate our babysitters or anything. It’s just… we get bored. And sometimes they treat us like we’re babies, so we make it a game to mess with them.”
“Some of them deserve it more than others,” Jackson said. “The ones that treat us like we’re not even here…”
Ryan studied their faces, seeing a vulnerability he hadn’t noticed before. “I get it,” he said after a moment. “You’re not bad kids. You’re just... lonely.”
They both looked down, shuffling their feet.
Ryan smiled gently, putting his hands on their shoulders as he leaned forward. “You know, there’s a saying among wolves: we look out for each other. That’s what a pack does.”
Londa’s ears perked up. “You mean, like, you’re part of our pack now?”
Ryan chuckled, ruffling her head fur. “If you’ll have me.”
Jackson grinned and huffed with his chest puffed out, “Okay. I’ll allow it. You’re not bad for a babysitter.”
Londa nodded. “Yeah, you’re pretty cool.”
Ryan leaned back on the couch, his smile growing. “Thanks, guys.”
As the three of them settled in to laugh and joke around with one another, Ryan couldn’t help but feel like he’d found something special with these two mischievous cubs—a connection that went deeper than just babysitting. There was kinship among wolves after all. Perhaps, in reality, he should have seen this coming.
