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the sitter
Its summer in New Jersey, its hot, it’s boring and never-ending. Jay just got home from his friend’s house, his foot not even at the door and he can already hear yelling. Jay is the youngest of a family of 5. 2 brothers, mom and dad. He comes from a lower-middle class family that is just not his fit. “Where where you?” asks mom. “I was out at Steven’s house, what’s the big deal?”. “Well I don’t know the dishes were going to wash themselves while you were at Stevens” she exclaimed. “If you want your allowance you are going to have to put in the work, you are welcome to get a job elsewhere, oh and while you’re at it, take the leftovers and put them in the freezer, that’s tomorrows breakfast”
Next day that’s exactly what Jay does, he goes out to look for a job, anything but work at his miserable home. Annie, one of Jays classmates tells him her aunt is looking for a sitter, and that she pays well. “A sitter? I don’t know, where does your aunt live?” Jay asks. “Down by the lake, I think its pretty close to you” says Annie. “Whoa, where the big houses are?” says Jay extremely surprised. “I guess so”.
Jay gets home and lets his parents know that he will be taking the job. “As you wish” said mother in a weird tone. “I’d rather bore myself to death than babysit, that’s why I work down at the slaughterhouse, best job ever” said one of his brothers. Jay says nothing, he’s always thought of himself as the outcast of his family, he feels different. Next day Jay goes out to the Joneses’ house. It was what he imagined, huge mansion down by the lake, perfect family of 4, two kids that look like they were made in a lab and a tv bigger than his house. “well Jay we’ll be back in 4 hours, feel free to use the TV, oh and dinner’s in the kitchen we didn’t know if you wanted steak or lobster, so we made you both” said Mr. Jones. “Sweet” said Jay in an overwhelming voice.
For the next 3 weeks, Jay had babysat the Joneses and had made more money than her mother working at the nail salon. It was a dream come true, he got paid while doing nothing and while he was away from his miserable life at home. One night Jay made it home late, the family knew he was not having dinner with them, which was ok with them. Who would want to have dinner there anyway, meatloaf for 4 days straight, no thanks. “Well well, look who showed up” said one of the brothers. “You think you’re better than us?” said the other brother. “Settle down” said dad. “I’m just going to go take a nap” said Jay.
The next day it was weird. Jay had called the Joneses all day and had got no answer. It was weird since he babysat nonstop for weeks and they always called. He decided to show up at the place. When he arrived, the house was raided by cops, detectives and many people. “What’s going on here?” jay asked one of the officers. “Well son, looks like the Joneses were involved in some shady business, they left town” he said. “They were also found guilty of kidnapping; don’t worry we are on the lookout for them” said the officer.
Jay just stayed silent and walked home. All the way back he kept thinking what could have happened to him, could he have been hurt? He made it home and sat down on the couch. “Should you be at your fancy job” asked mother while washing the dishes. “Nah, I decided id quit” he said. “Hey, can I get my old job back here doing chores?” he asked. “Sure” said his mother with a confused face. “Ok” said Jay. He stood up, hugged his mother and started helping her. “I can start right now” he said with a smile
