A Summer's Work

Too ambitious a burden for a girl
with one year's teen experience, she
has nonetheless agreed she would
sacrifice much of her summer to the
mindful care of siblings, a boy and a
girl; she five, he ten. Little dreaming
the difficulties she would face.

More than adept at preparing meals
with a care to ensuring nutrition, she
is challenged by a child who would
prefer to exist on junk food. A child
whose response to 'don't do that!'
when her brother cries for help as
she tosses items at his head, is to
scream at the minder, and violently
attack her, inflicting bruises, instead.

Privileged children of a privileged
society, with video games, TVs of their
own, computers and cellphones. Outdoor
games, a trampoline and a well-behaved
dog, a mournful beagle, much put upon.
The boy insists the sitter-minder is
obligated to play games with her charges.
She assents on occasion, and the spirit
of the games conclude with the little
girl in a furious temper tantrum.

The teen's regard is that of personal
responsibility, to ensure the siblings do
not inflict lasting wounds upon one another,
and she herself tends to her purple bruises
once home. On return from work, the
siblings' mother's rote question is
'and how were things today?', as though
she were truly concerned and interested.

Apprised of how things commenced and
concluded that day, the mother assures
the teen she will 'talk to' her children.
Which avails precisely nought. Defiance,
refusals, denials, dismay and dysfunction
continue. There is no riot act to be read.