Copyright 2005 By Bucky Edgett
Toshie’s Momma said, “Aunt Loie and I are going shopping. We’ll be gone a few hours.” Toshie was sitting with her Poppa at the kitchen table. Baby Nicholas was in his high chair, enjoying his long breakfast. Everyone else had finished theirs long ago. Momma was walking into the kitchen, speaking as she came.
“Who will babysit for us when you are shopping?” said Toshie.
“Oh, I think Poppa can stay with you today. I won’t be gone long.”
Toshie began to argue with her Momma. “I don’t think Poppa can babysit me and Nicholas,” she said.
“Now Toshie,” said Momma, “Poppa can certainly stay and take care of the two of you. Everybody will be fine.” The doorbell rang and Momma said, “There’s Aunt Loie. OK, guys, you behave, and have a good time with Poppa while I’m gone. See you in a little while.” Momma was heading out into the hall, lifting her jacket from the coatrack. Poppa lifted Baby Nicholas fron his high chair, Toshie slipped down from her chair, and all three followed Momma toward the front door. Momma opened the door and Aunt Loie stepped inside.
“Are we ready to go?” she said. Everyone was standing in the front hall at the foor of the stairs, waiting to say hello to Aunt Loie and goodbye to Momma.
“Almost,” said Momma. She kissed Baby Nicholas and Poppa goodbye, and bent to kiss Toshie.
“Give me a kiss goodbye and I’ll be home soon,” Momma said to Toshie.
“No Momma, no. Poppa can not babysit,” said Toshie. Her voice was loud and demanding. Toshie turned and ran stomping up the stairs, crying “Wait, Momma,” as she went.
“We’ll be fine,” said Poppa, gently bouncing Baby Nicholas on his arm.
“All right,” said Momma. “Check on her in a few minutes?” Poppa nodded, and Momma and Aunt Loie went out.
“Sometimes it’s better just to ignore it and she’ll…” Momma was saying as the door shut. Toshie was upstairs in her playroom with her dolls and bears.
“Alexandra,” said Toshie, “I think you can babysit for us this morning.”
“Oh, Toshie,” said Alexandra, “Beetle and I are having a tea party. I can not babysit for you.”
“Beary White, you can babysit for us,” said Toshie.
“I’m planning on a long morning nap,” said Beary White. “So I’m afraid I can’t babysit today.”
Bambi had to go out to find Falene. He could not babysit. The Yuppie Bears were going to a movie. They couldn’t babysit either. Toshie could not find Yowie. That was just like Yowie, to be missing when needed. Everyone in the playroom had important plans. No one could babysit for Toshie and Baby Nicholas. Toshie was getting tired, finding and asking all her dolls and bears to be her babysitter.
She sat on her bed, becoming more and more grumpy. “Who will babysit?” she said. “I don’t want Poppa, I want some one to babysit…” Toshie slipped over onto her side, and the morning house was quiet as she lay in her princess bed. A lawnmower was droning somewhere outside; a bird sang in the trees at the edge of the yard. The Beautiful Sun sent a soft ray through Toshie’s window as it rose through the morning sky, warming her hands and face.
Toshie sat up. She had decided that Poppa could probably babysit after all. There was no one else who would. Toshie slid out of bed, walked along the short upstairs hall and started down the stairs to tell Poppa he could babysit.
“Hello, Toshie,” said Aunt Loie. She and Momma were sitting at the kitchen table, each with a mug of coffee before them.
“Hello, sweetheart,” said Momma.
“Poppa can babysit us today,” said Toshie. Poppa was just coming in the back door.
“Good afternoon, pumpkin,” he said. “How was your morning nap?”
“Momma, Poppa can babysit me now,” said Toshie.
“That’s nice of you, sweetheart,” said Momma, “But we’re home from shopping and you don’t need a babysitter any more.”
“Oh,” said Toshie. “Then next time Poppa can babysit us all day.”
“I’m sure he’s glad to hear that, Toshie,” said Momma. Poppa smiled and nodded, and everyone was happy that Toshie had made such a nice decision.
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