Some things just never leave your mind. It's like they're there as a constant reminder.
I had kept in touch with Pattie for three weeks. Then come Friday after coming back from my orientation, I receive a phone call from her.
"Hello," I answered.
"Hey Camila, I hope I'm not interrupting anything," she said.
"No, I was just washing the dishes," I said putting the dish that I had in my hand down.
"Okay, well, I wanted to ask you for a favor," she said.
"Sure what is it?" I asked.
"I'm going on a business trip last minute, my boss just informed me today and I have no one to look out for Justin so I was wondering if you could please look after him?" She asked.
My eyes widened. Was I even capable of doing that? I don't even think he likes me... I scare him.
"Are you sure I could do that?" I nervously asked.
"Well you teach third graders and I suppose you've seen how Justin acts, it's not difficult at all," she said, "I'll pay you, I just need someone right now because my flight leaves in two hours."
"Okay, I'll be over in a few minutes," I said.
"Okay, bring clothes, it's for the whole weekend," she said, "you can sleep here eat here, everything."
"Alright, I'll see you in a few," I said.
"Thank you so much!" She exclaimed.
I hung up and finished rinsing off the plates then ran upstairs to prepare a bag. I threw a couple of leggings, jeans, bras, and panties in as well as some shirts. I put my converse on and walked into the bathroom to grab bathroom supplies. Once I was done I grabbed my purse and ran downstairs. On the notepad by the front door I wrote, 'I'm doing a favor for a friend, I'll be out for the weekend, call me if you need anything.'
I opened the door and locked it behind me as I walked over to my car. I drove to Pattie's and already knew where she lived since I had been there many times before. I stood in front of her door taking a deep breath in before I I knocked and she instantly opened. Her bag was already by the door. She hugged me, "Thank you thank you thank you, a million thank you's, come on in."
I walked inside and placed my bag down on the floor.
"Okay, quick lesson, you know where everything is, Justin's medicine is in his bathroom, emergency contact information to all his doctors is on the fridge. An overview of his day is also on there, it's the one that most sitters use. Bedtime is at 8 or he'll get grumpy. If he starts having an episode then just softly talk to him and he'll eventually calm down. He's really not that hard to look after, but maybe I'm just saying that because I'm his mom. If you need to go out and need to take him with you be very careful, he's quiet and easily walks away. That's it, that's all I can remember, everything else is in the packet on the fridge. Medication instructions, how to's, everything," she explained, "Questions?"
"Not right now," I said.
"Your room is the third one on the right, it's next to Justin's. I have everything you need in there. Okay, well I'm late, I better go," she said, "but first let's go say hi to Justin."
We walked into his room where he was solving a puzzle on his bed. I looked around taking in the blue color of his walls; it was a light shade of blue yet it was immensely blue. He had family pictures on his drawers and his bed was right in the middle of the room. On his walls were posters of famous places like Paris, London, Hawaii, and a few others. His room was simple yet childish. Games alighed the wall under his window and on the TV was the movie "Cars".
