ECU High - Mike's Circumstances
One weekend morning Mike wakes up and heads downstairs to see his dad dressing up in his uniform.
Mr. Edwards turns around.
"Last dusting of the season. I just got word from our neighbor Mr. Ling that he just got a promotion of a delivery driver."
"Yeah instead of picking apples he'll collect 'em from orchards all over the Texas/Oklahoma border. Of course all that traveling means he'll need someone to watch Sue-Lin while he's gone during harvestin season. Think you'd want to do that Mike?"
He scratches the back of his neck. On one hand babysitting sounds like a girl's job but on the other hand, he wants a model plane and needs to raise money to do it.
"Atta boy. You're 14 now so you can be left at Mr. Ling's house by yourself. If there's ever a problem you know momma's here."
"Thanks dad. Good luck on your flights."
Mr. Edwards smiles and walks downstairs to leave the house.
"Edith I'll be back in two weeks. If Walter comes by with Sue-Lin while I'm gone, Mike said he'll be fine babysitting."
She kisses him on the cheek and he walks out the door. Mike goes to have breakfast when there's a knock on the door. Mrs. Edwards goes to answer.
"Sorry for short notice Mrs. Edwards. Got called to work early. You are able to watch Sue-Lin?"
"Oh. Yes Walter. Mike said he'd love to babysit. I'll send him next door after breakfast."
"Thank you for help. Hope you have good day."
He goes to leave as she closes the door.
"Mike that was Mr. Ling. He's leaving for work early so I said you can start watching Sue-Lin after breakfast."
Mike almost spits out his milk.
"Today?! But mom I was supposed to meet my friends at the mall today."
"Well unless you're willing to take Sue-Lin with you, you'll have to cancel."
"I gotta call the guys then."
He finishes his milk and gets up to use the phone. He finally gets to calling Clint.
"Oh Ah don't mind if ya bring 'er round. Jus make it clear ta Pacer that yer bringin a lil girl. He don't really like surprises."
"Yeah I know but I hope he'd feel at least a little better once he knows she's a 7 year old Chinese girl."
"Wha's her bein Chinese gotta do with it?"
Mike stops for a second because he remembers that Clint simply doesn't know these things.
"There's a history of Chinese people being treated badly. Even though Mr. Ling hasn't had that happen in this neighborhood, it can still happen. Pacer would feel better about it because he can relate to that."
"Oh. Well Ah won't be mean ta her if that's what ya mean Mike."
"I know you won't Clint. I'm just telling you that Pacer might feel better because of it."
"Ok then. Ah'll see ya in a couple hours."
He hangs up the phone. Then he picks up again to call Pacer.
"Um hi, Pacer. Listen I know you don't like surprises but there's gonna be a little change in plans today."
Mike takes a deep breath.
"We're still gonna meet at the mall today as promised. I just need to bring someone with me."
"My neighbor's daughter. He got a sudden promotion to delivery driver so he's gotta travel a lot. She's a small 7 year old Chinese girl named Sue-Lin so he can't leave her at home alone."
Mike can hear a sigh over the phone.
"Ok. I just don't wanna answer personal questions."
"Oh yeah don't worry about that. Sue-Lin's the type that don't need to be told things twice. Mr. Ling's a first generation Chinese-American immigrant so he's still very traditional."
"Alright then. So long's that's the case that's fine."
"Good. Thanks. I'll see you and Clint later then."
They hang up and Mike goes back to the kitchen.
"Is everything alright, Mike?"
"Yeah. Just had to make sure Pacer was fine. You know how he is mom."
She sighs as she washes dishes.
"Well it's not my business to pry, but it sounds to me that he could seriously benefit from some therapy. The poor boy is clearly traumatized and I don't want anyone getting hurt."
"I know mom. I think Clint being who he is has actually been helping him out. He doesn't feel as jumpy when you so much as talk to him."
Mrs. Edwards dries a glass.
"That's good but Clint's just a boy himself. Pacer needs a professional who can help him in a mentorship role. Why isn't Mr. Lightcloud a Native?"
"Yeah he moved from Arizona. His sister makes and sells turquoise jewelry. He's our world history teacher."
"I'm gonna go next door and tell Mr. Ling I'm taking her to the mall."
"Alright Mike. Stay safe with Sue-Lin now."
Mike goes over to Mr. Ling's house and knocks on the door.
"It's Mike Edwards Mr. Ling."
He opens the door and gives a little nod.
"Thank you. Please come sit down on couch."
"Uh yes I do. I have some friends I want to meet at the mall and I wanted to know if I can bring Sue-Lin with."
"Yes yes you can take her to mall. She needs to buy new clothes for cold weather."
"Ok. Is there a time you want her home?"
"I come back home at 5 pm. I want Sue-Lin back at 6."
Mr. Ling gives a short nod again.
"Good. I get Sue-Lin from room."
Mr. Ling goes to Sue-Lin's room and knocks on the door. He starts speaking in Chinese to ask if she's ready.
She comes out of her room in a traditional Chinese outfit with her hair in twin pigtails. Mike's heart melts with how cute she looks.
"Daddy said you were taking me to the mall to get new clothes."
"Yes I'm taking you clothes shopping. I'm also meeting with some friends. Clint talks a lot and he'd love to meet you. Pacer though is very shy and doesn't like it when you ask a lot of questions. Once he gets used to you, he'll think you're a great little girl."
"That's ok Mr. Mike. I'll just talk with you and Mr. Clint."
"Alright then. Now your daddy said I gotta have you back by 6 pm."
He stands up as Mr. Ling goes to the door. He speaks some Chinese to Sue-Lin and then to Mike.
"Are you going to mall now?"
"No I'm taking Sue-Lin next door for a couple hours since I won't meet my friends until later. My mom's going to drive us."
Mike and Sue-Lin walk out the door to head over to his house.
She comes out of the kitchen.
"Why hello there Sue-Lin. What a lovely outfit."
"Mr. Mike's going to take me shopping today. I saved four whole dollars."
"How wonderful dear. Now I have some work to do before I can take you and Mike to the store. You can sit down on the couch and watch some tv."
"Thank you Mrs. Edwards."
Sue-Lin and Mike go to the couch and sit down.
"So. What are you allowed to watch?"
"My daddy only lets me watch educational shows."
Mike turns to channel 13 and sees a show he's never heard of before.
"Word Word! Everything's made out of letters to spell things. The duck is made out the letters used to spell duck."
"But what if you split the letters up do you just stop being awake? Like that sheep there, does she still know what's happening when she's just separate letters?"
"Of course she does. She's made of letters and she's a sheep which makes her alive. A lot of the shows daddy lets me watch is about reading and spelling."
"Man. Cartoons sure have changed."
"You watched cartoons Mr. Mike?"
Mike fiddles with his hands.
"Well yeah but they were very different. The Magic School Bus had its first episode involve the kids going to outer space. One of the kids froze his head and got a cold because he took his helmet off on Pluto."
"That's silly Mr. Mike. A bus can't fly to Pluto."
"And you can't make a sheep out of just letters silly."
She giggles and Mike realizes that maybe babysitting won't be so bad after all.
An: Sorry this took so long. Some installments are harder to write than others. If you haven't been tagged but wanna see more please leave a note down below.
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