Chassy had taken on babysitting jobs ever since she was old enough to earn a bit of extra money. She was known for being reliable, responsible, and great with kids, which made her a popular choice among parents in her neighborhood. So, when the Johnson family called and asked if she could babysit their four boys one evening, Chassy was more than happy to accept, even though it would be right after her cheerleading practice.
That practice ran late. Chassy barely had time to swing by her house and freshen up. She decided to head straight to the Johnsons' in her cheerleading uniform, which was shorter and more fitted than she would have liked for a babysitting gig. The blue and white skirt barely reached mid-thigh, and the matching top, while flattering, left her tanned midriff exposed. But there was no time to change, so she grabbed her bag, slipped on her sneakers, and drove to the Johnsons’ house.
Rebecca arrived at the house just as the sun was beginning to set. The neighborhood was quiet. The Johnsons’ home, a large, two-story colonial, looked warm and inviting. She parked her car, grabbed her bag, and walked up the driveway. The sound of her sneakers on the pavement was the only noise breaking the evening calm.
When she rang the doorbell, it didn’t take long for the door to open. Mr. Johnson, a tall, well-built man in his early 50s, greeted her with a wide smile. He was dressed casually in jeans and a button-up shirt, and his hair was slightly tousled as if he’d been running around with the boys.
“Chassy! Great to see you,” Mr. Johnson said, his eyes quickly scanning her from head to toe. “Come on in.”
“Hi, Mr. Johnson,” Chassy replied with a polite smile as she stepped inside. She was immediately aware of how his gaze lingered on her revealing outfit and fit body. She felt a twinge of self-consciousness. “Sorry, I didn’t have time to change after practice.”
“No need to apologize,” he said with a grin that made her a bit uneasy. “You look great. The boys are going to be thrilled to see you.”
Chassy smiled, though she couldn’t shake the feeling of discomfort. “Where are they?”
“They’re in the living room playing video games,” Mr. Johnson said, closing the door behind her. “Let me introduce you.”
As they walked down the hallway, Chassy felt Mr. Johnson’s eyes on her again. She wished she had a jacket or something to cover up. He was old enough to be her father. But she pushed the thought aside, reminding herself that she was here to do a job.
When they entered the living room, Rebecca was greeted by the sight of four boys, ranging in age from around seven to thirteen, all deeply engrossed in a video game on the big screen TV. The youngest, Tyler, was the first to notice her. His eyes lit up, and he dropped his controller, jumping up from the couch.
“Chassy's here!” Tyler exclaimed, causing the other boys—Ethan, Jake, and Lucas—to look up as well. They noticed her skimpy cheerleading outfit as well and smiled.
“Hey, guys,” Chassy said with a wave, trying to keep things light and cheerful. She loved working with kids. However, she could already tell that the Johnson boys were going to be a handful.
Mr. Johnson, however, wasn’t quite ready to leave them alone just yet. “So, Chassy,” he said, leaning casually against the doorway, “I should probably warn you—these boys can be quite the troublemakers, especially when it comes to their babysitters.”
Chassy raised an eyebrow, looking between Mr. Johnson and the boys. “Troublemakers? How so?”
The boys exchanged mischievous looks. Chassy couldn’t help but feel a growing sense of apprehension.
“Well,” Mr. Johnson began, “they’ve developed a bit of a habit of tickling their babysitters. Especially on their feet.”
Chassy’s heart skipped a beat. She had always been extremely ticklish, particularly on her feet. The thought of being tickled by four boys—and possibly their father—wasn’t something she found amusing.