Spending Time With Aunt Darla Pt. 1

TO THE READER: This is what I hope to be another great series. So give it a look & tell me what you think. Story is a little slow at first, but it does heat up the further you read this. Thanks.



Sumner of 1996…

As I still laid in my bed. I couldn’t help but  wonder how my Friday was gonna go.  For starters, I was supposed to go to my aunt’s house to babysit my two cousins while she went to work.  I happened to be home from college for the summer.  Money wasn’t really an issue, since I work four days a week up at my high school- assisting a couple of teachers.  It was only eight in the morning, but I could see it was gonna be another scorcher of a day.

You see, I’m originally from the southern part of Illinois.  But I’m attending the University of Illinois in Champaign.  So it’s not very often that I see my mom, dad or any of my other friends or relatives.  So anytime that I’m home from college, I try to meet up with or try to visit as many people as possible.  So now that I’ve finished a grueling three years worth of college, I could really use a break.  Aside from working up at the school, I also like to do voluntarily things.  Among others. babysitting my aunt’s two kids.

My aunt’s name is Darla, who is about maybe six years younger than my mom.  And even though her kids are both 11 & 9, they still need adult supervision.  .That’s because Eli(the younger of the two), has physical limitations that resulted from a car accident that killed their father, uncle Russ.  Even though aunt Darla is only in her early forties, she doesn’t look it.  At about 5′ 7″, she has a natural figure like Farrah Fawcett.  Everything except her hair, which is a light auburn-type.  In addition, She has a natural curl.

So I knew I was gonna have a full day ahead of me.  So I got up, took a shower, put on some loose clothing & then proceeded downstairs to have breakfast.  In the dining room at the dining room table, both my mom, dad & my sister were sitting there waiting for me.

“Good morning guys,” I said as I went into the kitchen to grab a bowl to have cereal in it.

“Good morning Doug,” answered my mom in a sweet voice.  Then she said, “Aunt Darla called.”

“Oh, what did she say?” I asked her.  Then she replied, “She doesn’t have to work today, but she wanted to know if you’ll go with her & her boys to the mall later.”  Now, this was getting a little better.  Not only would I do it, but it’s been a while since I’ve been to the mall.  As I said before, I don’t get much time to spend with family & friends.  Immediately without hesitation, I said, “Absolutely, I’ll go.”

“Why don’t you call her back then?” my mom suggested.  Then my dad said, “Find out what time though, she called here maybe a few minutes ago- right before you came down.”  So before I poured the milk into my cereal bowl, I went to grab the cordless & I called her.  We must’ve chatted for less then a few minutes before I hung up.  As it turned out, my aunt & my cousin weren’t the only ones going to the mall.  The therapeutic rec group that my 9-year old cousin belonged to at the time had planned a field trip & they needed an additional chaperone.  Therefore, my aunt wanted to know if I’d go.

“So what did aunt Darla wanted you to do?” my younger sister Jane asked me.  Then I replied(not directly answering the question), “She wanted to know if I’d like to go with them to the big mall with the therapeutic rec group that cousin Eli belongs to.”

“They probably need a couple of extra chaperones,” my mom said.  Then dad asked me, “So what time are you supposed to met up with her?”

“Actually,” I told him, “she’s coming to pick me up here in the next half hour or so,”

“So is Brendan going too?” my mom asked me.  Then I replied, “Actually, no.  Brendan already left for the weekend with his uncle Ted & his cousins.”

“Oh, okay.” my mom said.  Brendan is Eli’s older brother.  So after we chatted and ate our breakfast, I went & washed out my bowl- along with the few other dishes that were next to the sink.  It didn’t take me long to do them either, so I still had time to freshen up & get whatever stuff I needed.  So finally about ten after nine, a minivan pulls up in the driveway.  I heard my dog barking outside, letting us know that there’s somebody here.  So I went to answer the door.  Sure enough, it was aunt Darla waiting outside on the porch.

“Oh, come in, aunt Darla.” I said as I politely greeted her.

“Top of the morning to you too, Doug.”  my aunt said as I let her inside.  Then she asked. “Ready to go?”

“You bet,” I said.  She went into the dining room, where my mom & dad were still sitting.  But then my aunt asked me, “Do you think you could hang out at my place later”  I was wondering if you’ll help with something.”

Then I said, “Sure thing.  What do you need me to do?”

“Well,” she said, “I need you to help me re-arrange Eli’s bedroom.”

Then I said, “Sure, I think I could help you out.”

“Thanks a bunch sweetheart,” she said.  Then I said, “No problem dear.”

So after we chatted for a couple of minutes, I said ‘bye’ to my mom & dad as I walked out of the house & got into my aunt’s minivan where it was already cool & my cousin Eli was there to greet me.