Original Author: Detective Barricade
You are walking down the street after raiding a comic book store for your monthly fix of action packed, multicolored goodness and on the way to Wendy's for a burger, when you pass a playground and see something terrible going on. A small group of children are bullying and terrifying an 8 year old girl. Naturally, being a nice guy, you go over and scare the bullies off with your size and age - and a threat to find their mothers' numbers in the phone book and call them about what they were up to. Once the last of them are gone for now, you check up on the girl. She's about 3'9" tall, nearly two-thirds your own.
"Are you alright? Those bullies didn't hurt you did they? Say, my name is Sean. What's yours?" you say, trying to be friendly. She murmurs a response which you don't catch, so you ask, "I'm sorry, I didn't catch that. Could you speak a little louder please?" She complies, but only barely. "Sar..." It's clear that she makes Fluttershy seem incredibly brave and outgoing by comparison in sheer shyness, and you need a different approach to find out her name. You hand her a small piece of paper and a pen and say, "If it helps, can you write it down?"
Hesitantly, she takes what you hand her and jots down a word, then hands the pen and paper back. Her thin, pale hands are trembling the whole time, as though afraid you'll lash out at her. You read her name aloud. "Sarah. That's a pretty name, for a pretty girl." Normally you try that as a pick up line, but here... Poor Sarah looks as though she needs all the self-confidence she could get. At least the complement goes over well with her.
An hour passes, and you start to learn more about Sarah. Her parents were divorced and felt responsible for it, thus had trouble saying much of anything. She was often teased and bullied for how utterly quiet she was. If she spoke up about how she disliked it, you figure perhaps they'd learn to leave her alone. But as it was, she was too scared of speaking up and putting her foot down as it were to even tell her own mother who had full custody of her. You decide there and then to ask, "Sarah? Do you mind if I walk you home?"
Sarah says softly, "No, I-I don't mind." And with that settled, you and she are on your way. She seems to enjoy your company despite the 9 year difference in age, and you can't help but picture what she'd look like at your age. This image is helped by the time you reach Sarah's house, surprisingly just across the street. Her mother was in her mid 30's, had similar long blonde hair though with brown eyes instead of Sarah's jade colored ones, and...was a tall drink of glass. She was just in her socks and you still had to look up to meet her gaze. You guess around 6'4", so you assume Sarah herself could end up being close when she was older.
"Uh...hi, I'm Sean. I live just across the street. I found your daughter, Sarah, being bullied, so I told the bullies off and walked her home." you say with honesty as Sarah gives her mom a hug as soon as she enters the doorway. Her mom says, "Thank you, Sean, for you kindness. I'm afraid she's been like this all her life, but it has gotten worse when her father and I got separated. Most of the time the only way I find out about these things is if I see them happen myself... Though I'm amazed at how quickly she's bonded with you. I've never seen her become this open towards someone she hasn't met before."
You find that interesting. Perhaps it was because you didn't try to force her into anything, or because she was grateful for you scaring off the bullies? She seems like a nice little girl, so you don't think much of it. "Well if you've got any favors to ask, don't hesitate to ask." you're about to head off when Sarah's mom says, "Actually, I do have a favor to ask. " I have this important business trip to attend to tomorrow, but I don't want to leave Sarah home alone. I haven't been able to find a babysitter for her anywhere. And since she seems to get along with you so well, Sean, I was wondering..."
"...You were wondering if I would be willing to babysit her, is that correct? Sure, I don't mind. I'll be over as soon as I can tomorrow, or she can come over to my place if she wants. My folks do have a swimming pool she can play in." you suggest, and Sarah's mom says, relieved, "Thank you Sean. You're a life saver. Sarah is a kind girl so she shouldn't be hard to watch over, but as her mother I worry when she's alone."
You wave goodbye to Sarah and her mother, and then head across the street to your place. Your parents happen to be out visiting your relatives out of state, so you're home alone, but you're responsible enough not to burn the place down. By nightfall, you're fast asleep. You have no idea what awaits you in the morning, or thereafter...
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