Agent for a Cause

She wanted new clothes terribly and the plan had been to fit shopping for some into the day, but she didn't want to risk pressing her luck with Kevin anymore today out in the public's eye.

She didn't have to worry about her job anymore at least. It had been so empowering to quit that crummy job this morning. Life was changing and unfortunately that meant leaving Mrs. Reed behind. It was going to be hard to find someone she trusted as much as her to watch over Kevin when she needed to go out and couldn't take him with her.

She moved to the checkout line and started unloading the food. It all rang up to over two hundred dollars! Organic and gluten-free or not that was ridiculous! Unfair or not, she could afford it now and for that she was eternally grateful. She had just started to leave when Tyre stepped into the grocery store and headed for her. He hadn't just bought the iPod for Kevin on a whim. She'd asked him why he had done it, he'd said that he'd been looking up stuff on autism the night before.

Apparently he didn't sleep much either. Something he had read had said how helpful iPads were becoming in the treatment of autism. Not only had he bought the iPad, but he'd had it specifically loaded with all the recommended apps for autism. Tyre wasn't just all about her. He was showing her that he was very much about caring for Kevin too as part of their relationship together.

Just then her underwire slipped free again and stabbed her painfully, an unprompted idea crystallized within her. She debated within herself whether she should or not, but as the wire kept jabbing her the answer became clearer and clearer what she was going to do.

Tyre thought of everything. He paid to have the groceries delivered and a doorman that he trusted would see them safely into her apartment.

Anna batted her eyes and asked, "I don't suppose you could do me a really big favor and watch Kevin in the park for an hour or so while I go and get some new clothes. This bra's trying to kill me and you wouldn't want that now would you?"

I stood there holding Kevin's hand as the taxi carrying Anna pulled away from the curb. How had I allowed this to happen? She'd tricked me somehow, as I rationally would never have agreed to babysit a kid. I wasn't cut out for this!

How had she done this to me? Perhaps it was the way she had said she would only get a few things because she wanted me to help her pick out the majority of her clothing. Faced with the prospect of that, it seemed only fair to babysit the boy for a few hours. I was regretting it now though.