- 16.
The two–person storytime audience successfully evolved into a three–person group.
On the bed, Matt and Monica claimed the prime spots on my left and right.
Nathan was squeezed into a corner at the foot of the bed.
The little guy wasn’t happy about it. He stealthily burrowed his way under the covers and popped up right in my arms.
He shot Matt a triumphant, provocative smile.
Matt was furious. “You fiend! Unhand her!”
“First, you stole my birth mother, and now you scheme to take my stepmom!”
With that, he performed a move straight out of his storybooks, grabbing Nathan and yanking him out of my embrace.
Me: ?
Right, that’s it. Half of the martial arts stories are getting cut from now on.
Nathan started crying. “My mommy and daddy went to the Alps for vacation. They haven’t been home in a long time. I‘
m always just with my nanny.”
The little guy looked with envy at the twins snuggled in my arms.
“I… I don’t even want your stepmom,” he sniffled.
“I paid my money. I’m here to listen to the story.”
He wiped his tears with his arm, sat up straight at the foot of the bed with great dignity, and refused to even get under
the covers.
“You can continue now!”
“I paid. I’m here for the story. I’ll leave as soon as it’s over.”
Me (coldly): Fine. Then first, go scrub the toilet.
Nathan was shocked. “But I paid! It’s $9.99 for the whole month!”
“You didn’t pay me.”
“One chore per story. No credit.”
clapped my hands. “Go, go, go! Everyone, move it!”
With a little pat on each of their behinds, I shooed all three of them out of bed.
One made me tea and gave me a massage, one scrubbed the toilet and took out the trash, and the last one prepared my foot bath.
Ah, bliss!
