caveat uxor

[older_and_wiser]

Tamara is beginning to be concerned.

There's a pattern here. She knows there is. But it's subtle, it's so subtle she thinks she might be imagining it. A flyer appears on the wall of the coffee shop, announcing that his band has a show there that week. There's so few details that she thinks she must be mistaken, someone else here must have decided to use that same band name, it wasn't that creative- but she goes back to look again the next day, just to see, and it's gone.

She finds a jelly doughnut left on the hood of her car while she's out shopping. They're Kevin's favorite, and she has to talk him out of eating it- they don't know where it came from, it can't be safe, just throw it out, see how someone's already cut it open? It's oozing red jelly out over the roof of the car.

Little things, one at a time. Spaced apart enough that she's never quite sure they're related to each other. A week before something new happens? Two? Once there's two incidents in three days, then nothing for almost a month. She could be imagining it.

...maybe.

She finds a stuffed dog in their front yard. It's very generic, one of those silly plush dogs you can get at any store for a few bucks, and it's arguably, plausibly, a dog toy. But the tag on the dog's collar says 'Tammy'. And it's been torn almost to shreds, viciously. And none of her neighbors have dogs.

Tamara calls the Watcher's Council. And then she calls Bella.

Comments

[keyed_up]

And then the phone rings.

[older_and_wiser]

"Hello?"

[keyed_up]

"Hey, little bird told me you're in the market for a babysitter?"

[older_and_wiser]

"The little bird didn't lie. Could you? Are you even done with school yet?"

[keyed_up]

"Nnnno, but I will be in a week and I could say I have mono."

[older_and_wiser]

"...in a week, then. There are other babysitters, I do not need to endanger your education. You must have exams, if nothing else."

[keyed_up]

"Okay. But in a week?"

[older_and_wiser]

"In a week. I work what I'm given to understand are fairly standard American work hours; if that's too much of your day, I can find someone to alternate with you?"

[keyed_up]

"I mean, if he's a total holy terror, it might get to be a bit much, but Bella doesn't describe him like that, so I could do other stuff. Can I bring you my DDR setup and wear him out playing it?"

[older_and_wiser]

"I haven't the foggiest notion what that is, but assuming it's as harmless as it sounds, by all means."

[keyed_up]

"It's a video game that you play by dancing!"

[older_and_wiser]

"If you can convince him to dance, by all means. And if possible, videotape."

[keyed_up]

"Will do. Okay, I don't want to totally wreck your bank account, here, and if it was just a couple of days of crisis I'd do it for free, but Bella's not sure how long it's gonna take before she can find the dude - and after she finds the dude are you still going to need a babysitter what with school being out?"

[older_and_wiser]

"By themselves, summers aren't an issue. I've found an affordable day care that Kevin likes well enough. But the day care doesn't count as a residence, and none of his minders know enough to be properly warned. I'd much rather the both of you were safely behind an invitation-only barrier."

[keyed_up]

"Right. Aaannd Bella thinks that a smart vampire will set the house on fire so I will get on learning how to make things be not on fire in case extinguishers don't cut it or require unsafe amounts of going outside."

[older_and_wiser]

"I have a couple of spells marked out for you, they'll be waiting when you get here. There's also a dousing potion Alli can make for emergencies, but it's very thorough and I really wouldn't use it unless you can swim."

[keyed_up]

"I can swim, I dunno if I can swim while keeping a little kid afloat. Thank you for doing my magic homework for me. Is there any other stuff I should know?"

[older_and_wiser]

"...of course. It's my job, after all, and you're doing me an enormous favor. It's the least I can do." She considers the swimming issue. "Kevin isn't a stellar swimmer, precisely, but he can certainly keep himself afloat under his own power. I'll talk to Alli about getting emergency potions. I'm afraid I can't think of anything else, but I'll let you know if it occurs to me."

[keyed_up]

"So he's not allergic to anything or afraid of plastic jewelry or - whatever? Okay. What are we paying me?"

[older_and_wiser]

"He likes cars...? Nothing unusual as far as I know. I admit I haven't a clue what American salaries are like. Say 'base wage' and leave it at that, whatever that is?"

[keyed_up]

"Minimum wage is - I think six-something? Six-fifty, six-seventy-five? If we assume the McDonald's that Meg works for pays minimum wage to teenagers, which I think we can assume."

[older_and_wiser]

"From what I know of McDonald's, that seems fair," Tamara agrees dryly. "I'll have it for you your first day. Just let me know what exact day that is when you have a moment, please?"

[keyed_up]

"Iiiiit's - we're off on Friday, so Friday."

[older_and_wiser]

"All right. I'll see you next Monday, then. Good luck on your exams. And thank you again for your help."

[keyed_up]

"You don't want me over Friday? I don't go to school on Friday, that's when we're over with. I think maybe AP exams happen then but I'm not in any AP courses."