Caroline Cala - The Good, the Bad and the Bossy (Best Babysitters Ever)

“Ramona and I are looking for a new junior intern,” Chelsea continued, “and I think Malia would be a perfect fit.”

Chelsea had recently accepted an internship with Ramona Abernathy, a retired tech mogul and the wealthiest woman in all of Playa del Mar. Even though she was technically retired, Ramona was still a very busy woman. As Chelsea explained it, she worked as a consultant on all sorts of projects and sat on the board of many organizations. Malia didn’t quite understand what that meant, but she gathered that it was important. And working for Ramona was impressive, by any measure.

“Oh my goodness! What an honour,” said their mom.

Still, Malia was skeptical. This was Chelsea, after all. Her big sister was known for achievement in every area except kindness. Doing Malia favours was not a bullet point on her very long résumé. In fact, she wasn’t even particularly inclined to include Malia in social activities, routinely excluding her from social gatherings in their own house and “forgetting” to wait for Malia to join the carpool home from school.

But now Chelsea was being nice? For no apparent reason? Something was amiss.

“I think this sounds like a wonderful opportunity!” said their mom, clapping her hands together as though she was at a Broadway show.

“Does it pay?” Malia asked.

“It pays to put it on your résumé,” Chelsea said, rolling her eyes.

“That kind of experience is priceless,” said their mother. Malia’s mom worked as a career counsellor, and this kind of thing was right up her alley.

“The internship is every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday after school, plus Saturdays,” said Chelsea.

“Whoa. Four days? But what about babysitting?” Malia asked. “And schoolwork? I’m already super busy.” And the Veronica concert is happening in a few weeks , she silently added.

Chelsea snorted. “Like you’ve ever been serious about school. And look at me. I’m able to balance my internship with school, plus way more activities than you’ve ever done.”

“Malia, I’m glad you’re thinking about time management,” said their mom.

“Yes, and I have a lot on my plate,” said Malia. This was a phrase her mom used a lot, so Malia hoped it might work to her advantage.

“But time management is a great skill for you to work on,” her mom concluded. “And this can be practice. Having an internship will teach you how to prioritize!”

“Unless you’re afraid you can’t do it,” Chelsea added.

Malia sensed this was a fight she would never win. Plus, she hated it when Chelsea acted superior. If Chelsea could balance everything, then surely Malia could, too.

“Okay, so how does it work? Do I have to apply?” she asked.

“Just come with me to the office on Thursday,” Chelsea said. “I’ve already talked you up. You’re my sister, and Ramona will love you.”

“Could I, like, try it out first?” Malia asked. She was terrified of committing to something that would eat up four days of her week, without the promise of money or Connor or her friends or anything of the other things that brought joy.

“Malia, this is an opportunity hundreds of girls would kill for,” Chelsea said. “It’s a yes or a no.”

Malia had never liked that phrase, about the things other girls would kill for. Anything involving killing was sure to be bad, including the sound of this internship. Still, she felt trapped. If she said no, she would look like a wimp in front of Chelsea. If she said yes, she just cut her available babysitting time in half, not to mention her funds. She had a concert to go to and Connor’s heart to win.

“I don’t know . . .” Malia waffled.

“The answer is yes,” said her mom.

“Yes?” said Malia tentatively.

Her mom beamed. Chelsea smirked. Malia sighed.

Since she clearly had no choice in this matter, she figured she might as well roll with it. With the art of babysitting firmly under her control, maybe it was time to expand her business sense by taking on a real-person job. Who knows what she’d learn, or what she’d be inspired to do? Maybe Ramona had the secrets to unlimited earning potential. She was about to find out.

Butthe bonnet is so cute!” yelled Bree. “I don’t understand what your problem is!” She held a glittery blue bonnet in the air, prompting the cat to dig his claws ever deeper into Bree’s second-favourite sparkly pillow.

In the three short days Bree had owned him (the vet had informed them that Veronica was, in fact, a boy cat), Veronica had all but destroyed Bree’s lifelong dream of feline parenthood. He had also, quite literally, destroyed her duvet, her fluffy white rug, her curtains, and everything that once sat on top of her desk.

Despite what Bartholomew had said, this particular sphynx cat had no interest in being hugged. He wasn’t even a little bit cuddly. He didn’t want to socialize with Chocolate Pudding, or with Bree, or really with anyone. He did, however, have a lot of energy.

“I love you!” Bree yelled, close to tears. “Why won’t you let me love you?”

The cat stared at her menacingly, his giant yellow eyes glowing with what anyone who wasn’t Bree would likely identify as pure evil.

Bree pounced on top of him, causing the cat to scratch at her arm. “You’re supposed to want to be held!” she said. “Hugs are good for you!” Somehow, she managed to hold him for just long enough to squeeze the bonnet on to his head and secure it with the little elastic. Veronica made a sound not unlike a baby screaming.

Just then, there was a knock at her bedroom door.

“Bree, lovey?” her mom called from outside the locked door.

“Yes?” Bree called, trying to sound casual.

“I’m picking up Emma and Olivia up from dance lessons, so it’s time for you to hang out with Bailey until we get back. He needs help with his school project.”

“Okay!” Bree called as Veronica ran in manic circles around her.

Bree’s job was to babysit Bailey, especially now that the concert was approaching and she needed the extra money. But so far, it felt virtually impossible. How was Bree ever supposed to see human Veronica if she couldn’t get cat Veronica under control?

“And it’s taco night, so can you also take the stuff out of the fridge? I’ll heat everything up as soon as I’m back.”

“Uh-huh!” Bree said, her voice coloured with fake sunshine.

“Okay! Everything is good with the cat?” Her mom sounded suspicious. How did she always know everything?

“Yep! Everything is great,” Bree said as Veronica went into full-on attack mode with one of Bree’s remaining pillows, sending stuffing flying through the air.

“Okay, then! I’m heading out. Come downstairs, okay?”

“Coming!” Bree said in a singsong voice, as she scrambled to pick up the bits of discarded stuffing and bury them securely in a trash bag.

Veronica meowed, pleased with himself.

Bree sighed.

“Look, I get that you had a rough kittenhood or whatever, but I love you now. You’re safe here. You don’t have to keep acting out. You have food and litter and toys and an entire wardrobe with outfits for every occasion and even accessories.”

The cat meowed defiantly.

“I need you to, like, calm down.”

Veronica blinked one time.

“Can you stay in here and not destroy everything? I have to go downstairs for a little bit to spend time with Bailey. I’m not abandoning you. I’ll come back upstairs soon, okay?”

The cat sauntered in front of the door, daring her to open it.