Sadie: So are you going to help a girl out?You know I’m in this mess because of you.
“Way to lay on the guilt.”Bellamy high-fived Cathy over Sadie’s head.
Jed: Fine.How is this going to work?
She was sure she felt the heavy sigh in his reply through the phone.
Sadie: I need you to come to my apartment around six.I have to be at work at 6:30 to fill out paperwork and stuff.
Jed: What do I do with him?
“Oh, oh, oh!You should have some fun with this.”Cathy was all but bouncing on her toes.
Sadie: You’ll need to fix him dinner.He’s allergic to pizza, hamburgers, and tacos.Then you need to help him get a bath.After that, he can watch TV until 8:30, then you need to put him to bed.Read him three stories.
“Oh my God!I bet his eyes are bugging out and his head is about to explode.”Bellamy laughed.
No response.
“I bet he’s rethinking helping you out.”Cathy snickered.
Sadie: Hello?
Jed: Yeah.Okay.I’ll be there at six.Does he like peanut butter and jelly or scrambled eggs?
Sadie: Yes to both.And I’m just pulling your leg.He’s not allergic to anything but red dye.He gets very wound up.
That was putting it mildly.The kid was like the Energizer Bunny on crack until it wore off.
Jed: You’re a mean woman, Sadie.I’ll order a pizza when I get there.See you at six.
Sadie: Thanks, Jed.;)
“Oh my God!That was so much fun.”Cathy had tears in her eyes and fanned her face.“Having a barfing kid was worth it to see his reaction.”
“I can’t believe he said yes.He must be feeling really guilty.”Bellamy smiled broadly and took a step back.“You let him off easy.I’d have strung him along for a while longer.”
“I probably should have, but as long as he doesn’t give him anything with red dye, he should be fine.”Sadie dropped her phone back in her purse.
“You were serious about the red dye?”Bellamy asked.
“Yes.He gets super hyper.He runs around the house like a squirrel on crack, jumping over furniture like he’s a superhero.He also gets into everything, and he talks a mile a minute.”
“He talks faster than he does right now?”Cathy asked, clearly unable to imagine how he could talk faster.She’d been good about not giving him anything with red dye in it and hadn’t had to deal with her nephew hopped up on it yet.
“Yes.He cannotphysically sit still to save his life.”She hiked her purse up on her shoulder and wound her scarf around her throat.“Finding kids' medicine without red dye in it can sometimes be impossible.”
“Wow.”Bellamy got a devious look on her face.“Don’t you want to give Oliver something red before you leave for work?”
Sadie liked how she thought.It was tempting to give him something red as payback to Jed for all the grief he was putting her through, but she couldn’t do that to Oliver.The kid crashedhardwhen it wore off.“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
Bellamy moved back behind the counter.“You’ll have to let us know how it goes.”
Cathy remained next to Sadie.“I’ve got a niece who might be able to help you out.I’ll give her a call and see if she’s interested.What are your hours?”
“That would be awesome.I work Tuesday through Saturday from eight to two.If she were able to come stay with Oliver at the apartment, it would be so great.Let me know what you find out.”
“Will do.”
