What do you say?

Nothing

You open your mouth but nothing comes out. Just like that the door clicks shut and you are stuck here, responsible for these two kids.

For a while you just stand there in a daze. Thankfully the kids are still distracted by what they were doing before. It gives you a chance to bring your heart rate down. You talk yourself down from your panic and realize that the combination of the pill, Mike answering the door in his towel, and memories of your bully had sent you spiraling for no reason. As time ticks away you feel totally in control again.

And that’s good, because the kids are starting to get bored.

“Let’s do something fun” Tommy whines.

“Yeah let’s go swimming!” Julia chimes in.

“Ugh, you suck at swimming. We can’t play any fun games in the pool. Why don’t we play hide and seek?”

The kids argue back and forth and eventually turn to you to decide.