New Story Contest: Resolving Conflict - Elizabeth S. - 03/24/21

Contest: Winners

New Story Contest: Resolving Conflict

Submitted by: Elizabeth S., age 10, Forest Hills, NY

Babysitting Twins

“Remember to take good care of her,” Mom pleaded.

“We don’t want to watch a romantic movie and ten minutes later get a call from the FBI that Allie is missing,” Dad added with a nervous chuckle.

“Guys, I am sure Jack and I can handle Allie, no problem,” Sophia said, forcing a smile.

“See you in a couple of hours,” Mom responded, and everyone could tell that she was uneasy letting the twins babysit, even if it was just a few hours.

Just when they were about to leave, Jack interrupted, “Twenty bucks if we don’t burn down the house, because working together with Sophia is not easy.”

Mom answered, “Deal. Twenty bucks to split between you and your sister. Just get along, you two, and take care of Allie. We are already late for the movie.”

With that, they left the eleven-year-old twins, Jack and Sophia, to babysit their crazy three-year-old sister, Allie. . . .

“Alright, you go mash some apples. Allie loves that. I am going to play with her,” Sophia bossily told Jack.

“I ain’t no servant and I know well that you are just going to message someone or play on your phone while you ‘entertain’ Allie,” Jack uttered.

Sophia blushed with guilt since she was about to check her Instagram, still she stood up for herself. “Excuse me, I am older than you by six minutes.”

Allie then started wailing. “I want FOOD,” she babbled.

Jack rolled his eyes. “We are babysitters, Sophia, so let’s act like ones. Go get some apples, and I will get the forks for the mashing.” With that, Jack rushed over to the kitchen and grabbed the available forks.

Sophia followed Jack’s lead and took two ripe green apples and stated mashing the applesauce. Sophia then ran over to the fussy baby and reassured her that the food was on the way.

It was a total success for the twins. When the parents came home, they were astonished to see no burning house or missing baby; they even saw Allie fast asleep, and she usually never naps.


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