“Oh, no!” She said, He said
Dialogue-- a true story
"That's just how it is.”
Cearra, age 5 and Jacob, age 4 and their babysitter are walking up the street to Cearra’s house:
“Follow me Jacob,” Cearra orders.
Jacob stops walking, waits for Cearra to step
ahead of him, then he obediently gets behind her.
“Do as I say, walk behind me.”
Cearra repeats without looking at Jacob.
“Okay.” Jacob answers.
“Jacob, taking orders from a woman, is something you will have to get used to.”
The sitter tells Jacob, he stops walking, looks up at her and says:
“Huh, really?”
“Yes it is true. You must always obey women. When you grow-up you have to get a good job and make lots of money so the women
can spend it. That's just how it is.”
Jacob looks down at the sidewalk his expression is worried then he looks up at the babysitter and says:
“Oh, no!”
[The sitter laughs]
The rise and fall of Jacob
“Okay, what do you two want to watch? Cartoons?” The sitter asks.
“Yes! Yes!” Cearra and Jacob answer.
The television is turned to a cartoon station.
“Do you like this?” The sitter asks.
“Hooray! Barney!” Both children answer.
After that they sit right in front of the TV screen, eyes fixed to the set.
“Cearra, Jacob…I do not want you sitting on the cold floor. Sit on the couch please. Do you need a blanket?”
“No.” Cearra answers.
The sitter goes into the kitchen to put the dishes away. When the sitter returns the children are back in front of the TV
set.
“Get up you two I don't want you sitting on the cold floor, here sit in this beanbag.
The sitter shoves the bag behind the children. Jacob and Cearra stand up automatically, their eyes still fixed to the
television.
"Sit down." She orders. They obey without looking backwards. The sitter then covers them with
Cearra's blanket. A few minutes go by and Cearra walks up stairs to her room leaving Jacob alone. When she returns she is dressed to the 9's in a hot pink
evening gown. Cearra's mother bought this play dress last week, the outfit came with hi-heals. The dress is nylon, an empire style gown trimmed in black
lace. This outfit is just what Cearra should not wear on a cold winter’s day, but kids will be kids.
Cearra models the gown for Jacob who responds to her charms with ah. He gets up and greets her like a proper
gentleman, he takes her by the hand and escorts her to the bean bag chair. Cearra sits down first, then Jacob.
"Jacob! Get up! You are on my dress! " Cearra orders.
He jumps to his feet and says:
“Sorry.”
He then he moves the dress out of the way and sits down again.
“Cearra.” the baby-sitter says: “Get use to it, that is what boys do.”
“Huh, what?” Cearra inquired.
“They sit on your dress, step on your feet when they slow dance, then they pull your hair when they put their arm around
you. You must accept this they don't know any better...that is just the way things are."
The sitters speech is interrupted by a knock at the door. [Knock…knock…knock
"I'll get it!" The baby-sitter announces. “Stay where you are"
“Oh, hello Angel.”
(Angel is the older man (6-year old) from next-door; he is Jacob’s rival for Cearra’s affections.)
“Can Cearra come over?” Angel asks.
“After you painted her face with pink lipstick? I think not, besides she is seeing another man…see he is sitting
right over there.”
Angel leans up against the screen door and looks inside the house. The baby-sitter is surprised how badly he took this
news. His face has a look of betrayal. Cearra jumps up and grabs Jacob by the arm, dragging him to the door.
“I cannot come over. Goodbye.” Cearra tells Angel then she slams the door in his face!
It happens so quickly that the baby-sitter is just as shocked as Angel was!
"Cearra! You shouldn't slam the door in peoples faces...it is rude!"
"I'm sorry Cynthia." Cearra responds.
The baby-sitter pulls the curtain open on the door and watches Angel walk away. His little head is drooped like a
welting flower.
"Cearra! You hurt Angels feelings, don't ever do that again." The baby-sitter scolds.
"I wont...I am sorry." Cearra responds.
"Do you want something to snack on?" The baby-sitter asks.
"Yes, please."
The baby-sitter enters the kitchen just as the phone rings:
"I will get it, stay were you are! Hello."
"This is Angel, can Cearra come over?"
"One moment please. Cearra it's for you."
"Who is it?" Cearra asks.
"As if you get a lot of phone calls, it is Angel."
"I'll get it." She answers.
Cearra has a conversation with Angel just like an adult. The baby-sitter is amazed by her demeanor she decides to leave
the room so Cearra can have some privacy. Moments later she hears Cearra saying good-bye.
Minutes later the doorbell rings, it is Angel. This time Cearra invites him in, Jacob stands up to greet Angel.
Angel walks pass Jacob and takes his place on the beanbag chair...Cearra sits next to Angel. Jacob stands behind the chair and rocks back and forth just like a baby
elephant in distress. Jacob was dethroned, in one afternoon he loved and lots the woman of his dreams. For the present, Jacob life is tough, for Angel life is
good—that is, until Cearra has another change of heart.
The End
Written By: Cynthia E. Martin
Monday, December 30, 1996
Edited by: George Naanes 1998
Active Participants
Cearra Dickman—Age 5
Jacob—Age 4 Angel—Age 6
Cynthia E. Martin—forty something…the Dickman’s
babysitter.
Setting Dickman house, Oceanside, California. 1996
Copyright © 2001 by Visions West Inc. All rights reserved.
Last Updated: 01/14/2002
