Mary Elyse had calmed Bobby down and walked back over to where she had left little Andie. The 1-year-old looked a little wobbly on her feet, but raised her arms up when she say the 13-year-old coming toward her.
“Aww, look at you, you little cutie!” Mary Elyse said as she picked up the toddler. “Who’s a pretty girl?”
Andie, who hadn’t learned yet how to talk, giggled with delight at the attention. Nearby, 2-year-old Jimmy and Susie happily played with sand and shovels, although neither of them understood the connection between the two.
A few yards away, three of the other 13-year-old girls, Claudia, Tricia and Nancy, were gabbing and practicing gymnastics. Still the most brazen of the group, the blonde, stick-like Claudia made a proclamation.
“Gawd, Tricia, I wish I wasn’t so flat!” she said as she went into a handstand. “I’m in 7th grade, that’s practically a grown-up!”
“It’s not that big a deal, Claud,” Tricia said. “If anything they like, hurt half the time. They’re itchy too.”
“I hate my boobs,” Nancy added. “They’re such a pain.”
Meanwhile, 29-year-old Katie sat down in one of the beach chairs to get a load off her feet. She couldn’t help but notice how great Mary Elyse was with the kids, especially her 6-year-old daughter, Kellie.
“I really wish she was just a little bit older, then I could trust her more to babysit Kellie,” Katie thought. “Even if she were 14 or 15 , I’d feel a little bit better leaving them alone at nights.”
Mary Elyse gently laid newborn Andie on a beach towel, being very careful not to irritate the little umbilical cord nub that had not yet fallen off. She saw 1-year-old Susie crawling away, and she wanted to grab her. As she ran off, she failed to notice the glow than began to envelope the tiny baby.
Kellie was sitting on the ground, meanwhile, with 2-year-old Bobby, happily watching the big girls doing their gymnastics. The honey-haired 6-year-old was in awe of the big 12-year-old girls. She couldn’t wait to be that old one day and have fun like them.
“What day do?” asked Bobby as he watched the girls’ routines.
“They’re doin’ gymnastics,” Kellie said. “I can do a somersault. Wanna see?”
“K,” was Bobby’s reply. Kellie jumped up and started. She loved being the big kid.
13-year-old Mary Elyse came walking up with Susie. She placed the tot on the ground nearby.
“Hi guys, whatcha doin’?” she asked.
“Nothing,” Claudia said, rolling her eyes. She didn’t need this older girl watching her or her friends. She was in 6th grade!
“Mary Elyse! Watch me!” Kellie shouted. Mary Elyse pivoted around to watch the 6-year-old, not noticing the purple mist beginning to form around newborn Susie or Jimmy.
“Wow Kellie! You’re really good!” the pretty teen said. “But be careful around little Bobby, he’s only a year old!”
“Kay!” came the reply, as did another somersault. To be safe, Mary Elyse placed the baby on a nearby towel.
“Hey watch him a sec guys!” she yelled to the group of girls.
“You’re not my mom, Mary Obese!” yelled 11-year-old Claudia.
“Gawd Claudia you’re so mean!” Tricia said as she unconsciously held up her giant one-piece bathing suit – a pastime the other 4 girls were also partaking in.
“Hey Trish! Are you getting’ boobies?” Claudia laughed as she pointed at her friend. “TRICIA’S GETTIN’ BOOOOO-BIES!”
“AM NOT!” Tricia protested.
“I wish I had boobs,” Nancy said. “I hate being a kid. I wanna be a teenager like Mary Elyse! She’s so pretty! Claudia you’re mean to her.”
“Am not!” 10 year-old Claudia said. “She thinks she’s so much better’n us ‘cause she’s a big kid. I don’t need no babysitter!”
No one noticed as the purple light misted around baby Bobby.
Katie decided she had had enough rest and stood up to go check on the girls. The 30-year-old surveyed the sand and saw things were pretty much how she had left them. Mary Elyse was helping 5-year-old Kellie learn how to somersault, while the 5 9-year-olds were off by themselves talking by a tree. She couldn’t help but notice that someone had abandoned a fishing pole and some umbrellas nearby.
“Why did I agree to let those girls play dress up in those big bathing suits?” Katie thought to herself. “In fact, how did I get roped into baby-sitting them at all? With only a teenager to help!”
“Do you wanna go swimming?” Tricia asked.
“Well, let’s at least go stick out feet in!” Nancy responded. The two other girls, Rose and Nicolette, agreed.
“I don’t wanna go in there,” Claudia said. “What if there’s sharks an’ stuff?”
“I thought you were brave!” Tricia said. “But you’re just a chicken! Haha! C’mon guys”
The four 8-year-olds marched off, leaving Claudia alone. If they had turned around, they might have seen the tiny blonde’s lip start to quiver. She held in her tears just long enough for them to be out of earshot. And then:
“Mary Elyse! They’re bein’ mean!” the girl ran over to her babysitter and Kellie.
“What’s the matter?” the red-haired teen asked.
“Tricia and those meanies told me I’m a chicken ‘cause I won’t swim!” Claudia said.
“Well I think you’re big girl.” Mary Elyse said. “Want to help me and Kellie build a sand castles?”
“She’s dumb, she’s only 5!” Claudia responded.
“Claudia, you know better than to make fun, you’re 7 years old now. If you make fun you’re just as bad as them. Now apologize.”
“I’m sorwy,” Claudia said.”
“It’s fine! Let’s play!” Kellie responded.
“Start without me girls, I’m going to get the rest of them out of the water. I think they are too young to be by themselves,” Mary Elyse said.
And once again, Katie’s ring glowed.