My first experience as a Baby-sitter

During the school holidays, my friend's sister asked me to babysit her four-year-old son one Saturday night. I agreed thinking others would be an easy and fun way to earn some extra pocket money. When I arrived at the house, I was introduced to the child, Kris.

After the parents left, I asked Kris what he would like to play. " Train, " came the answer.  So I brought out his train set and helped him to put the tracks together. After a short while, he must have got bored and wandered off. I was concentrating on setting up the train set properly, so I did not notice his disappearance.

Suddenly, there was a loud crash. I neqruly jumped out of my skin. I was terrified to see that Kris was nowhere in sight. I ran to look for him and found him in the kitchen. He was standing in the middle of a big mess. Tins and containers of every size were all over the marble floor. ' I'm hungry, ' said Kris.

It was not yet his dinner time. But I decided to let him have his dinner while I cleaned up the mess. There was a bowl of porridge for his dinner. Kris stared at it and said he was not hungry. ' But you said you were hungry just now! ' I said in frustration. ' I want egg sandwich, ' Kris announced. I told Kris firmly that he had to eat the porridge. He seemed to give in and began to eat. With a sight of relief,  I started to clean up the mess.

One tin had roller under the table where Kris was eating his dinner. I bent down to get it. Something wet and sticky landed on the back of my neck. It was the porridge! Kris grinned mischievously. I counted to ten slowly to control my temper as I wiped the porridge off my neck, my hair and clothes. Kris also had porridge all over his face and shirt. I had to give him a bath.

Unfortunately, he refused to have a bath. I had to carry him, kicking and yelling to the bathroom. In the end,  I was as wet as hee was and feeling bruised all over. When Kris refused to change for bed, I lost my patience and smacked his bottom. How he yelled, screamed and rolled on the floor. What a performance! I watched him and said nothing. He peeked at me and decided not to waste his time. He was tried out by then. I put him win need and read him a story. Were were friends by the time he fell asleep.

When the parents arrived home, they were pleased to see their son sleeping peacefully. They asked if I could babysit Kris again. I said, ' No! ' My first experience as a babysitter was also my last.