Girl Power

Randall

What on Earth is going on?

Just a few minutes ago, I went to David’s room and neither he nor Sabrina were there. That’s fine. It’s not one of my rules for them to stay there at all times, after all. Now, though, as I approach the kitchen, I can hear David making weird noises and saying weird things like ‘brown vomit,’ ‘dog poop’ and ‘ants in your stomach.’

What the hell is happening?

As I enter the kitchen, I find out. At least, I see Sabrina on the counter, eating a burger. No, more like devouring the burger as fast as she can while David is sitting across her, watching her and cheering her on. No, not cheering her on but more trying to get her to vomit. In between them are two more plates, one empty except for some crumbs, and the other with another burger. The kitchen timer is there, too, ticking away, right beside a pitcher and a glass of water.

Okay. I think I know what’s going on. I’m still confused, though. Why is Sabrina speed-eating burgers and why does David want her to fail?

“David.” I approach them. “Was this your idea?”

“No,” he answers, quickly glancing at me before turning back to Sabrina.

Sabrina, on the other hand, just waves at me and then continues eating as she glances at the timer.

No? So, this was Sabrina’s idea? I find that hard to believe. If it is, though, then she must have a good reason behind it.

As she finishes the second burger, she grabs the glass of water, gulping it down. Then she pushes her plate away and grabs the third, cutting the burger on it into four and chomping away at the first quarter. She seems to be struggling now, though, slowing down.

“Spit it out! Spit it out!” David cheers as he beats his fist on the counter.

“David,” I warn him.

“What?” He shrugs. “It’s part of it.”

I guess it isn’t unfair. Even so, I can’t help but want Sabrina to succeed at whatever this challenge is and glancing at her, she seems to be having a tough time already.

Unable to resist, I grab one of the quarters of the burger, hoping to help her.

“No!” both Sabrina and David shout at the same time, Sabrina with her mouth still full.

“Sabrina has to finish all that by herself or she loses,” David explains.

Fine. I put down the piece of burger and anxiously wait for her to finish. I want to cheer her on but I don’t know if it’s the right thing to do. I don’t even know if she should be doing this.

Finally, she’s on her last quarter of burger and David looks scared, especially since there are still sixty seconds left on the timer. She goes through this one quicker than the rest, then gets off her stool and puts her hands, ketchup, mustard and mayo-coated fingers and all, up in the air.

David has the opposite reaction, his face falling on the counter like he was just the one who ate a ton of burgers.

“Oh, man.”

Done with cheering, Sabrina washes her hands and mouth, then goes back to the counter to drink another glass of water.

“Now, could you please tell me what’s going on?” I ask her.

She sets her glass down. “Your son and I made a deal. Basically, he gets to dare me to do three things that he thinks girls can’t normally do and if I do them, he’ll start thinking better of girls and be my friend. This is the first challenge. Well, technically it’s the second but…”

“First,” David says. “The one with the bugs was a trial.”

“Bugs?” I ask curiously.

“You know how your son already has his collection of fake bugs? So, the first challenge was for me to lie down on the floor and stay still for ten minutes while he covers me with those bugs, and mind you, there was a real beetle mixed in. But, hey, I did it.”

“But that doesn’t count?”

“It’s a trial,” David says again. “This is the first challenge.”

“Yup. So, this time, he told me to eat three burgers in ten minutes and that’s what I did.” Sabrina grins triumphantly as she lifts the three empty plates on the counter. “So, I guess we’re down to two, right, David?”

He doesn’t answer, lifting his face but still letting his chin rest on the counter. “Are you sure you’re a girl?”

“Of course, I am, silly.” Sabrina chuckles as she ruffles his hair. “What? Do you think I’m wearing a disguise?”

“Hey. Don’t touch my hair.” He smooths his hair again.

“Sorry. I forgot boys are touchier about their hair than girls are.”

“Are not.” David gets off his stool. “I’ll think of something harder next time.”

“You do that,” Sabrina says, getting back on her stool. “I’ll call you when it’s time for your dinner.”

“Do your homework,” I call after him as he walks out of the kitchen.

“Already did it,” he says before disappearing.

“Yup, he did it before we started,” Sabrina confirms.

She lets out a deep breath as she folds her arms on top of the counter and buries her face in them.

“Hey. Are you all right?” I ask as I go around the counter so I can stand beside her.

“Sorry you had to see that,” she mumbles.

“Don’t worry about it.” I sit in the stool beside her. “In fact, I have to say I’m impressed. I’ve never seen a woman eat that fast before.”

“I’m not sure if that’s a compliment.” She lifts her head. “And I don’t think I’ve ever eaten that fast before. Have you?”

“Maybe. But I’ve never tried an eating challenge before so you beat me to that. And you won, too. You should be proud of yourself.”

“I don’t feel like a winner.” She touches her stomach. “I feel so full I don’t think I can eat anything for a week.”

“Too bad. I was going to ask if you’d like me to make you a burger this weekend. I make pretty mean burgers.” I look around the kitchen and lower my voice. “Better than Mrs. Wilson’s.”

“I’ll pass.” She buries her face in her arms again. “I don’t think I can eat another burger for the rest of my life.”

I rest my arms on the counter. “Well, at least they were burgers and not like heaps of mashed potatoes or burritos. And at least there were only three.”

“Yup. If there had been more than that, I definitely would have lost.”

“So, what’s the deal again? You pull off three dares and David will start acting nice to you?”

“That’s the deal.”

I shake my head. “Why didn’t I think of that?”

“I don’t think it would work with you. You’re a guy.”

I crease my eyebrows. “You did say something about girls.”

“Your son doesn’t like girls.” She lifts her face again, this time resting them on her hands as she props her elbows on the counter.

“He doesn’t?” I never thought of that. “Well, I guess most of his friends are boys.”

“That’s normal. But thinking that girls are stupid or being mean to them and pushing them all away just because they’re girls isn’t. So I’m trying to teach your son a lesson.”

“By having yourself covered in bugs and letting him encourage you to throw up?”

“By doing things your son thinks girls can’t do.”

“So, earn his trust and make him think girls aren’t so bad?” I tap my fingers on the counter. “That’s a big weight you took upon your shoulders.”

“I know, but I have to do it.” She raises her fist. “For all the girls. We–”

She stops, covering her mouth as she coughs.

“Are you all right?” I ask again, looking at her.

“I’m okay.” Suddenly, she burps. “Oops. Sorry.”

“No worries.”

Sabrina runs her hands through her hair. “You must think I’m a slob now, huh?”

“No.”

Actually, I can’t think of anything that could make me want her less.

“In fact, I should thank you for doing this,” I tell her. “You’re the first nanny to go through these lengths just to get along with David.”

“Yeah. I got that impression from Lucy.” She looks at me. “I don’t understand why the previous nannies didn’t, though.”

“They probably thought it wasn’t part of their job to care.” I grab the fork on a plate and start twirling it around. “Or maybe they didn’t want to get attached. How about you? Why do you care so much?”

“Because I don’t like seeing anyone lonely.” She clasps her hands on top of the counter. “Because I want to make a difference, however small it may be.”

“Trust me. If you succeed, it won’t be a small difference.”

“If I succeed.” She rests her cheek on the counter. “Until then, spare your thanks.”

“I’m sure you’ll succeed.”

She turns her head and narrows her eyes at me. “Are you putting pressure on me?”

“No. I’m just expressing my confidence.”

“To tell you the truth, I’m not that confident.” She gets the fork from my hand and twirls it herself. “I’m not even confident I can get out of my bed once I’m in there. I just feel so full, like an anaconda after a meal. I must have gained ten pounds.”

“Then why don’t you spend a few minutes at the gym with me tomorrow morning?” I suggest, resting my jaw on my hand as I look at her.

“Gym?”

“Yup. You know, that place with the dumbbells and the benches and all those nice machines. My favorite place in all the world.”

“I know what a gym is,” she tells me, lifting her head. “I’ve just never been to one.”

“Well, you’re in luck because I happen to have one.”

“I knew that.”

“So, let’s work out a bit tomorrow? Burn some calories and get rid of the pounds from those burgers?”

She frowns. “Are you challenging me, too?”

“I’m offering you a chance to feel better,” I say.

And to spend some time with me.

“Fine. I’ll meet you at the gym tomorrow after David has gone to school.”

“Good.” I give her a wide smile. “I’ll be waiting. And you don’t have to worry about a thing. I’ll teach you everything you need to know.”