I let out a soft laugh and let go of her pinkie. “Why don’t you go choose your jammies and some toys for the bath while I run the water?”
“Okay, Jazz.”The pastfew minutes seemingly forgotten, she merrily trots out of the bathroom leaving me to draw her bath.
I infuse the water with one of her bedtime bath teas, which I’ve discovered work wonders to chill Izzy out on nights like tonight when she’s still a ball of energy as bedtime approaches.
Izzy returns to the bathroom with a bundle of pink and blue flannelette clutched under her right arm and a pink clam shell bucket dangling from her left hand. Inside the bucket are three plastic mermaids, a sparkly blue seahorse and an inflatable orca that looks so ridiculously out of place I’m finding it hard not to laugh.
I takeher pajamas and set them on the vanity counter, my lips twitching as I notice she’s chosenPeppa Pigbottoms and aBlueytop. “Is this a new fashion trend or couldn’t you decide?”
“Couldn’t decide.”
I let out a soft laugh. “Alright then.” I check that the bath is ready and turn off the water. Then I help Izzy out of her jeans and sweater and take a moment to tie back her hair; the last thing I want to deal with this close to bedtime is a mass of wet hair.
I help her into the tub and let her get settled before dunking a washcloth into the water and wringing it out thoroughly. Carefully lifting her glasses up, I give her face a quick scrub and then set them back on her nose.
“You want to do the rest?” I ask her, handing her the washcloth.
She beams at me. There’s nothing Izzy loves more than doing things for herself.
With nothing left for me to do, I take a seat on my usual perch: the closed toilet. Leaning back against the tiled wall, I rest my forearm on the vanity counter and stretch my legs out, one foot propped on the edge of the bath. It’s a surprisingly comfortable position that lets me relax while also keeping an eye on Izzy as she plays around.
My phonebuzzes in my pocket and I tug it out, my lips curving up as I read the text.
Damon Forrester
What are you doing right now?
I think about it for a moment but ultimately I can’t resist taking the opportunity to mess with him a little.
Me
Watching my sister take a bath
It’s close to a minute before my phone buzzes again and I know he’s spent that time trying to figure out whether or not to take that text at face value.
Damon Forrester
I really hope you’re just screwing with me. I know I’m into some creepy and taboo shit but there are lines…
I give a little snort of amusement. He’s so fucking easy.
Me
You got me. I might have been screwing with you a little. But I wasn’t lying—you asked me what I’m doing right now and I told you the literal truth
But I may have neglected to provide some important context… my sister is five years old and has Down syndrome. She needs to be supervised during bath time
Damon Forrester
You’re a dick. And it’s creepy that you used a special needs five-year-old to mess with me
Me
I just answered a question. It was your sick mind that went to creepy places
Damon Forrester
I let out a wry huff and set my phone on the counter, returning my attention to Izzy; she’s still happily playing with her toys, chattering away as she creates a story for them. As I watch, she raises the orca from the water in a dramatic burst, manipulating it into a kind of half-barrel roll, half-backflip in the air before gracefully diving it back into the water.
