Free Judith Wants To Be Your Friend by Annie Weir Page B

well, well, there’s a turn up for the books. The thought of babysitting fills me with dread but we can read books or something, or whatever one does with four-year-olds in the evening.
     
    Friday 13 th November 2009
    I make sure that work is uneventful today so that I can get away on time. Maureen disappeared for about an hour during the morning and we think Mary Morris was having a chat with her about the two mistakes with money in the last month. Her eyes look bloodshot when she comes back in so I tactfully don’t look at her. That’s not difficult of course. There are no problems with banking or cash reconciliation today and there won’t be for a few more weeks then her carelessness may take a more sinister turn. I haven’t quite decided what to do yet so I concentrate on being the perfect cashier.
     
    I get the No. 76 bus from the car park at Stanwix all the way to Cumrew Close. I follow Gaynor’s directions and turn down the narrow lane past a small play area into the next close. Joanna lives at No. 8, a fairly small terraced house with a crazy paving path leading to a new white UPVC door. As I approach the front door Gaynor opens it and ushers me in. Ricky runs up to say hello then runs up the stairs to tell his mum (or ‘mam’ as he calls her) that I have arrived. We were never allowed to call our mother ‘mam’.
    ‘Come back here, Ricky,’ Gaynor calls after him, ‘leave your mam to sleep.’
    He peeps in on her to confirm that she is actually sleeping then bumps back down the stairs on his backside.
    ‘He’s had his tea,’ she tells me, ‘but he can have some pudding and a drink of milk between now and seven. That’s all though; Joanna is very strict about that.’
    ‘Fine with me,’ I agree pleasantly. Then to Ricky I say, ‘What books do you like to read Ricky? If you haven’t got any I can read you some of my book. I brought it with me.’ This sets him off giggling as usual. Really, it’s like feeding candy to a baby as the saying goes.
    Gaynor is wearing her M&S uniform and seems happy that Ricky and I are getting along well. She gets ready to catch the next bus into town.
    ‘I’ll be back shortly after nine-thirty. I get a lift back so I don’t need to wait for the bus.’
    ‘OK,’ I say, ‘we’ll be fine. I used to babysit for my niece when she was small. Please don’t worry.’
    As the evening goes on, Ricky plays me up a bit asking for sweets and more drinks but I stick to the rules. I wouldn’t like to be caught out on a technicality. There are plenty more mistakes that I am likely to make, but not following instructions isn’t one of them. We read books and play with his wooden train set then at seven I watch him clean his teeth, rather badly, then watch him sneak in to give Joanna a soft kiss goodnight so as not to wake her up. She is awake though, and gives him a weak hug.
    ‘Judith,’ she croaks, ‘thank you so much for this.’
    ‘No problem,’ I reply quietly, ‘but can I get you anything?’
    ‘No, I’m OK. I’ll go straight back to sleep now I know Ricky’s in bed.’ Her head sinks into her pillow.
    ‘I’m going to eat the meal your mum left me then read my book. She’ll be back in no time. See you Monday night.’
    She nods and I shut the door quietly behind me.
    ‘Judith,’ whines a little voice, ‘please may I have a drink of water?’
    ‘No, Ricky, time to go to sleep.’
    ‘But I need one.’
    ‘If you still need one when Granny gets back you can ask her,’ I say firmly to imply that is the end of the conversation and go downstairs.
    Gaynor has paid for a taxi to take me home and it arrives at the same time as her so we have little time for small talk. I assure her that everything is fine, she thanks me again, and I thank her for the taxi.
     
    Monday 16 th November 2009
    Joanna doesn’t turn up at Spanish. I explain to Senor Rossi and he teaches us some Spanish words for common ailments. It is not as amusing as last week.
    Saturday 21 st