Staying with the in-laws, written by Working Winter, 8320.

Summer 2005.

I was 14 years old.

I had been staying with my sister for a bit. She, her husband and their kids,

Anna, 4, and Sam 2, actually lived in her husband's parents' house, so she lived with her in-laws.

Her growing family lived and slept in the same bedroom

so their room was messy with kids toys everywhere.

I was there to help watch her kids.

But they had their parents, grandparents, and me. So I was really just enjoying a semi- vacation from my own home.

One early morning, my sister woke me up at 6 a.m.

Her mother-in-law had a stroke earlier that same morning.

All the adults were going to the hospital.

My sister asked me to watch the kids while they were at the hospital.

There was an extra kid added.

Tim, six, Sam and Anna's cousin.

It would probably just be a couple of hours.

I'd be the only adult at the house. I was half asleep when she said this and really only took in half of what she

said but I agreed most of the morning was easy the kids were watching Spongebob in the

living room around noon Sam was getting tired. I took him to his

parents bedroom to nap while I watched YouTube. Anna and Tim continued playing

downstairs in living room. At some point there was a knock at the bedroom door. It was Anna. She came

in for her toys and asked, can you please leave the door in lock so I can come in for my toys?

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