The Babysitter

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by Fuyukiik27

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“Are you sure he’ll be okay with another babysitter?” Samantha asked, visibly worried, which was unusual for her. She usually acted like this on Monday afternoons when she couldn’t pick up her son after his tennis lessons, not on a Saturday morning. She’d never been one to leave her little boy in the care of anyone other than herself or her husband.

“Don’t worry, honey. I’m sure he’ll be well taken care of this time,” David replied proudly.

“This is just so he doesn’t spend the night alone,” the man added curtly before opening the door. They had already been notified of the babysitter’s arrival after hearing the doorbell.

They both hurried off on their business trip, which would last all weekend. Besides, Arnold, the babysitter, had excellent ratings according to the neighbors.

“Don’t worry, Mr. and Mrs. Iberis. Your little Jerry is in very good hands!” the Thylacosmilus said with a confident expression.

The couple drove off, but not before leaving a long list of chores to do with young Arsinoitherium. Tennis lessons? A thirty-minute jog? Brew Sophora toromino tea at sixty degrees with thirty grams of sugar and serve it in the Superbeast-patterned mug? That sounded boring!

When the door closed, Jerry appeared. He'd always had that determined, defiant look, even as a little boy. The photos in the living room confirmed it. They stared at each other in silence, sizing one another up, until finally they spoke:

"I'm the one in charge here!" they declared simultaneously.

"Of course you're not!" the other repeated.

"I'm the adult, and the little ones have to obey their elders."

"You're the third one this week. Nobody can stand me," the boy retorted before grabbing the feline's fangs.

Arnold burst out laughing until the little boy started tugging at them. In retaliation, the cat grabbed the mammal's short antlers and began tugging at them too. They went on like that for a while, until the growls turned into laughter. When they realized it, they were lying on the rug, exhausted.

"You don't want to do anything on the list, do you?"

"Just take me to my tennis practice," Jerry replied, pausing. He seemed to have an idea in mind to test if this babysitter was different. "Do you want to come watch me practice?" he asked shyly.

"Sure! Although it's still several hours away... How about we do something fun in the meantime?" Arnold suggested.

The little boy didn't even have time to answer before the cat pounced on him to tickle him. They were both equally unbearable.  They spent the day running and jumping all over the house: they played role-playing games, one where Jerry was a famous police officer arresting a dangerous gang of Bald Hairys led by the fearsome Arnold; they cooked awful dishes, got disgusted, vomited, and laughed; they hunted arthropods in the yard and ended up terrified when a Megamonodontium appeared, which Jerry sent flying with a kick.

Break.

"Ah! I have to get changed! My practice has already started!" exclaimed Jerry, excited by the time. He had never had so much fun with a babysitter.

"When we get back from your class, we'll keep the party going!" Arnold told him with a huge grin. Jerry grinned back and ran to his room to get ready.

While he waited, Arnold went to the landline and made a call, unaware that Jerry was secretly watching him.

A little while later, the boy came downstairs in his uniform and with a small backpack.  They hopped on the cat's motorcycle and headed to the court, where the other students had already arrived.

Jerry was playing pretty well. Or at least that's what Arnold thought, sitting in the stands, because he'd never seen a tennis match before and it all seemed fantastic to him. For his part, Jerry was trying twice as hard to impress his... friend?

Time flew by, and as the sun set, they went home. The party continued! They watched movies and made some awful popcorn with pineapple sauce. Before they knew it, it was bedtime.

"Sorry, champ, but I really have to do this," Arnold said, patting his head.

"Babysitters just wait until the kids are asleep so they can bring their girlfriends over and make out," Jerry retorted mischievously.

Arnold let out a nervous laugh.

"Oh! Uh... No!"  "I mean... I will bring my girlfriend, but... we'll talk about... politics! You know... elections, presidents... really boring stuff!" the cat tried to explain.

"You're a good boy, aren't you? Good boys go to bed early. Would you like me to sing you a lullaby? I can't promise it'll be pleasant, though," he added humorously.

Jerry agreed to go to sleep, though declining the lullaby. They gave each other one last high five before the little one headed to his room.

But Jerry was a kid, and if you told him not to do something, it only motivated him more to do it.
Although there was no guarantee that it was a good idea.

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