Friday, September 18, 2009

Flashback Friday - Babysitting Blues

I know this is a flashback to only June... but I haven't been on here all that long! Enjoy the blast from the past!

Another blogger, Scary Mommy, has inspired me today... As you all always do!

Babysitting... Ok - I was babysitting in the late 70s and early to mid 80s. My formative years... My very first babysitting job would have been the summer that "When a Stranger Calls" movie had just come out. 79' or so. I was 13.

I had hung up an ad in our local laundromat for house cleaning or babysitting jobs, the equivalent of Craigslist at the time... And got my first call! It was a woman who had 2 little kids. The little girls name was Angel, that's all I remember of the names. I cleaned house for her the first couple times, then she decided I'd do for babysitting too.

The first few times I babysat for them were kind of fun! We played in the little wading pool on their yard and they were the sweetest kids. After I put them to bed, I'd stay up and watch SNL. Ahhh, the good years of Saturday Night Live!! And I remember they had a record player with some funky classic rock on it. So I'd play them late into the night until they got home.

Usually the mother was kind of tipsy when they got back and I remember clinging to the door handle as she swerved around corners driving me home... Oh my! Looking back now, I should have told my parents about this, but then... they wouldn't let me for babysit them again.

The last time I babysat for them, I remember it was late on a Saturday night. I was sitting on the couch watching SNL and the phone rang. I went to the kitchen to answer it and someone was breathing very hard into it. I thought it must be the mother. Maybe she had rushed to the phone and couldn't catch her breath. Come on! I was a naive 13 year old! But when she didn't say anything outside of the heavy breathing, I hung up, a little unnerved and went back to the couch.

The phone rang again a few minutes later and I answered it. Someone whispered, "Have you checked the children?" I hung up. The next time it rang, I let it and slid down on the floor with my hands over my ears, slowly going mad as it rang and rang. The mother had said there was something funky with the kitchen door and it wouldn't lock, so I was even more freaked out. I tried to wedge a chair under the knob and realized that it looked much easier when people did this in movies and I couldn't figure out how.

Oh - and NO WAY was I going to check the kids!! What?? And find their faces a pool of icky goo? No way Hosay! So if I wasn't huddled on the floor in the kitchen, I was curled up on the corner of the couch, pretending this wasn't happening. I didn't go anywhere near those kids room. I know... I'm a terrible babysitter...

So the parents, FINALLY, came back and confirmed that they hadn't called me all evening. Oh boy... AND the mother asked me if I'd had some friends over that evening. No, why? When they pulled up to the house, she saw someone in the alley peaking in the windows...

I never babysat for them again.

10 comments:

Bow Cheeky Creations said...

That would definitely be scary. You prolly made the right choice not babysitting for them again. Creepy.

Jeanette said...

How scary! I don't think I would have ever done any babysitting again. Happy SITS day by the way!

Macey said...

I'm such a wuss, I would've called my mommy. :/

Frances said...

Scary!! I think I would have been calling my mom to come over RIGHT NOW!

Pam said...

I would have been calling my parents! How scary.

McVal said...

It's been so long ago! I "think" I may have tried my parents, but they were out late... I was an idiot and should've tried calling my brother or anyone that could've come over until the parents got home.
Young and stupid... that was me!

Big Mama Cass said...

OH.MY.GAWD!!!! That would freak me out to the point of never babysitting ANYONE ever again!!!!!!!! AAHHH!

The Old Parsonage said...

Too creepy, but then maybe it was just some other kids playing a prank (I hope so anyway).

Thanks so much for all of your sweet comments, I love hearing from you!

Leann

Flat Creek Farm said...

Holy cow! I have some strange babysitting stories from my teenage years, but nothing that creepy. Glad everyone made it out alive! And happy to hear you chose not to go back. -Tammy

Southern Gal said...

My worst babysitting nightmare come true! And I hated that movie, by the way.

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