FIC: The EPIC STORY of the Toaster-Sitters Club (1/?)
You know, I said- several times- someone talk me out of this fic.
And no one did.
So if you think about it, you have no one to blame but yourself for this.
Also? Someday, I will write serious BSG fic. I swear.
Today is not that day.
The EPIC STORY of the Toaster-Sitters Club.
Chapter One of MANY MANY MANY (IF YOU LEAVE FEEDBACK :D:D:D) - Claudia!
Kristy said were suposed to rite about our jobs, even tho we dont have a club notebook anymore. She says its's the only way to be prufesional proffesional a good bussiness.
But wat can i say about my first job since we gott to New Caprica.
The baby was cut. Her parents were intristing...
"Kristy," I said patiently, "no one is going to call."
"Why not?" she demanded. "We've had our club meetings every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, from five thirty to six, since the club started. Why wouldn't they call now?"
Stacey and I exchanged a Look. "Um," she said, "because we don't have a phone?"
Which was true. Ever since the Cylons attacked, we'd been without any way to communicate except for in person. But Kristy is nothing if not persistent. That was probably why all ten of us were squeezed into my family's tent perched on or around my bed, while Mom, Dad, and Janine tried to be busy at the other end.
"They know we're here," Kristy said. "I told people. I told practically the whole fleet."
"If anyone could, it would be you," Abby said mildly.
"Why would they need baby-sitters anyway?" Stacey asked. "It's not like there's anywhere for the parents to go."
"They still might need breaks for themselves," Kristy said.
"That's true," Mallory said. "I mean, my parents are dying to get away from my brothers and sisters for a few hours. Mom said she might stop by, by the way. She needs two sitters."
"When?" Mary Anne asked. She didn't have her record book in front of her, but she did have an excellent memory. Also, none of us had anything else to do.
"Whenever two people are free," Mal said with a shrug.
"Also," Logan said, "it's probably important the parents get a lot of time... alone."
Jessi turned to him, confused. "Why?"
"You know." He was blushing now. "To... repopulate the fleet."
"Oh." Now we were all blushing. That's just a weird thing to talk about with a boy. Even if, now that he's one of the only boys left who's our age, we'll all probably end up close to him a lot.
It would have been really awkward, for all of us, except at that moment someone knocked on the flap of the tent, and then laughed a little and called "Hello?"
I think we all recognized the voice at the same time. And we all had the same reaction.
Well, most of us did. I noticed Janine was almost hyperventilating, but Mom managed to call "Please, come in!" and then the flap opened and we all noticed we were right.
Because standing there was the President of the Twelve Colonies.
Well, that wasn't exactly right. Technically she was the former president of the colonies. But President Baltar wasn't exactly going to show up at our door, and anyway, even former president was pretty impressive.
Kristy recovered her function of speech first. "Madam- I mean, Ms.- I mean-"
Wow. I'd never seen Kristy speechless before.
"Laura," she said. "Just Laura. I'm looking for the Baby-Sitters Club?"
Now Kristy grinned. "That's me! I mean, that's us. Visit one tent, reach ten experienced baby-sitters!"
The president- the former president- Laura looked at us all carefully over her glasses. "None of you look like Cylons."
I was really worried for a second that she was going to airlock all of us anyway, but then I realized she was probably kidding.
"All human, ma'am," Kristy said.
Laura smiled. "My- Maya and I were looking for someone to look after Isis."
"How old is Isis?" Kristy asked.
"Almost a year. We just need someone to watch her for a few hours."
I thought Mary Anne was going to faint when she squeaked out the word "When?" and then looked down, letting her hair fall across her face.
"Oh, dear," Laura said. "I was looking for someone tonight, at first. Was that too soon?"
"Well," Kristy said, "we all kind of need to let our parents know where we're going to be. So I don't know if anyone can-"
"I can do it," I heard myself saying. Everyone stopped and looked at me, and for once it wasn't because of my fashionable outfits (even though right then, I was wearing an outfit modeled after military dress, with a backwards tank top over another shirt, but my tank top was neon green. Also, my earrings were tiny Centurions I'd made out of found objects, like mud and leaves and stuff). "I mean," I said, "Mom and Dad are right here. So if they say it's okay-"
"It's okay," my dad said hurriedly. "Madam President."
"Please," she said again. "Laura."
"Laura," Dad said, sounding kind of awed.
Kristy checked her watch. "Six o'clock. Charlie should be here to pick us up soon, guys," she said. And sure enough, someone else was pulling at the flap to the tent. Charlie walked Kristy, Shannon, and Abby home every night. Their tents were in the nicer part of the Stoneybrook settlement, but it was farther away from the rest of us.
Everyone started breaking off to go. Mary Anne and Dawn left with Mal and Stacey, and Jessi and Logan headed in the same direction, and then it was just me, and the president (Laura, her name was Laura), and we were heading towards her tent with the promise to my parents that she or Maya would walk me home.
"Thank you so much for doing this on short notice," she said to me. "But it's been crazy at the school, and we haven't had a break in ages."
"No problem," I said. I couldn't believe that the president- the president of the twelve colonies!- was back to being just a normal schoolteacher. But she seemed like she couldn't have been happier, talking about what she and Maya were doing with the little kids like it was the most natural thing in the world.
I hadn't been to school since the Cylons invaded. It was weird to hear about people learning like that. I wasn't really interested in the class work, the history and science and math, but then she started telling me about the art projects they had the kids doing, and I started asking questions and making suggestions and before I knew it I'd volunteered my services- as well as the rest of the club's- to help with anything she needed. She admired my earrings and said she'd never seen more original jewelry. I told her I could teach the kids how to make them too!
She asked me about myself, and I told her. About my parents, my genius older sister, my problems in school before the Cylon invasion, my old boyfriends, my best friends and our club- she was just so easy to talk to. She was totally like a mom. A really cool mom. Which, I guess, now she was.
We were so busy talking about art that I barely noticed when we arrived at the tent. She opened the flap for me, and I walked in. She came right behind me, and fastened the door securely behind her. "Maya?" she called. "Maya, I brought the sitter."
Maya- I guessed she was Maya- looked younger than Laura, and a little less tired. But her face mirrored Laura's; they both looked absolutely full of love, and most of it was directed at the little girl cradled in Maya's arms.
Isis wasn't crying, like most little kids might be in this situation. She was absolutely quiet and absolutely calm, and beaming up at both women around her, who were cooing softly. I felt weirdly out of place, like I'd interrupted a private moment.
I think they realized that at the same time, because they exchanged a little glance, and then Laura said "Maya, honey, this is Claudia Kishi. Claudia, this is Maya. And this is Isis."
I leaned forward to see the baby. I've always been told I look kind of exotic, which I guess I do, compared to most of the people I've grown up with. But the baby didn't look like anyone I'd ever seen. She was gorgeous, but she looked foreign, somehow. I was enchanted.
"She looks just like you," I murmured, because that's what parents always wanted to hear.
Maya and Laura exchanged a Look. I wasn't sure what it meant, but they were both smiling, and Maya said "Thank you," so I figured it was okay.
They asked me to just entertain Isis for a few hours while they did some work, so I set up right near the crib, and gently rocked her and talked to her and let her grab at my earrings. She was so cute!
Sometimes, during a lull, I could hear Maya and Laura talking. I didn't understand most of what they were saying, but some of the words were definitely familiar, from history classes or something. Revolution, dictator, coup d'etat. I didn't know what they meant, but I made a mental note to ask Kristy later. She always paid attention in class.
I was surprised Kristy hadn't thought of starting a school in New Caprica, actually. It was kind of weird to meet people who'd had great ideas who weren't Kristy!
It seemed like the three hours passed super-quickly. Isis was an absolute angel. I couldn't wait to play with her again, which I told Maya as she walked me back home. The streets were cold and empty. A centurion watched us but didn't say anything. Two Eights walked rapidly past us. I shivered.
"You were excellent," Maya said. "We'll definitely be using your club again."
I grinned. I was so pleased!
"You didn't overhear anything--?" she asked.
The first job of a baby-sitter is not to snoop. So I just said "No, I was busy with Isis."
"Well," Maya said. "We were just unwinding. Nothing serious."
"Of course," I said.
"And," she added, her voice noticeably lighter, "we will definitely be in touch about you helping with the art projects."
"I can't wait," I said, and I meant it.
We arrived at my family's tent, and Maya waved goodbye cheerfully. As soon as I was inside, and we were pretty sure Maya was gone, my parents and sister were full of questions. How was it? How was the baby? How was the PRESIDENT?
I tried to dodge their questions. I wasn't sure what had happened that night, but I was pretty sure I hadn't heard the last of Maya and Laura and Isis.
I was dying to learn more.
And no one did.
So if you think about it, you have no one to blame but yourself for this.
Also? Someday, I will write serious BSG fic. I swear.
Today is not that day.
The EPIC STORY of the Toaster-Sitters Club.
Chapter One of MANY MANY MANY (IF YOU LEAVE FEEDBACK :D:D:D) - Claudia!
Kristy said were suposed to rite about our jobs, even tho we dont have a club notebook anymore. She says its's the only way to be prufesional proffesional a good bussiness.
But wat can i say about my first job since we gott to New Caprica.
The baby was cut. Her parents were intristing...
"Kristy," I said patiently, "no one is going to call."
"Why not?" she demanded. "We've had our club meetings every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, from five thirty to six, since the club started. Why wouldn't they call now?"
Stacey and I exchanged a Look. "Um," she said, "because we don't have a phone?"
Which was true. Ever since the Cylons attacked, we'd been without any way to communicate except for in person. But Kristy is nothing if not persistent. That was probably why all ten of us were squeezed into my family's tent perched on or around my bed, while Mom, Dad, and Janine tried to be busy at the other end.
"They know we're here," Kristy said. "I told people. I told practically the whole fleet."
"If anyone could, it would be you," Abby said mildly.
"Why would they need baby-sitters anyway?" Stacey asked. "It's not like there's anywhere for the parents to go."
"They still might need breaks for themselves," Kristy said.
"That's true," Mallory said. "I mean, my parents are dying to get away from my brothers and sisters for a few hours. Mom said she might stop by, by the way. She needs two sitters."
"When?" Mary Anne asked. She didn't have her record book in front of her, but she did have an excellent memory. Also, none of us had anything else to do.
"Whenever two people are free," Mal said with a shrug.
"Also," Logan said, "it's probably important the parents get a lot of time... alone."
Jessi turned to him, confused. "Why?"
"You know." He was blushing now. "To... repopulate the fleet."
"Oh." Now we were all blushing. That's just a weird thing to talk about with a boy. Even if, now that he's one of the only boys left who's our age, we'll all probably end up close to him a lot.
It would have been really awkward, for all of us, except at that moment someone knocked on the flap of the tent, and then laughed a little and called "Hello?"
I think we all recognized the voice at the same time. And we all had the same reaction.
Well, most of us did. I noticed Janine was almost hyperventilating, but Mom managed to call "Please, come in!" and then the flap opened and we all noticed we were right.
Because standing there was the President of the Twelve Colonies.
Well, that wasn't exactly right. Technically she was the former president of the colonies. But President Baltar wasn't exactly going to show up at our door, and anyway, even former president was pretty impressive.
Kristy recovered her function of speech first. "Madam- I mean, Ms.- I mean-"
Wow. I'd never seen Kristy speechless before.
"Laura," she said. "Just Laura. I'm looking for the Baby-Sitters Club?"
Now Kristy grinned. "That's me! I mean, that's us. Visit one tent, reach ten experienced baby-sitters!"
The president- the former president- Laura looked at us all carefully over her glasses. "None of you look like Cylons."
I was really worried for a second that she was going to airlock all of us anyway, but then I realized she was probably kidding.
"All human, ma'am," Kristy said.
Laura smiled. "My- Maya and I were looking for someone to look after Isis."
"How old is Isis?" Kristy asked.
"Almost a year. We just need someone to watch her for a few hours."
I thought Mary Anne was going to faint when she squeaked out the word "When?" and then looked down, letting her hair fall across her face.
"Oh, dear," Laura said. "I was looking for someone tonight, at first. Was that too soon?"
"Well," Kristy said, "we all kind of need to let our parents know where we're going to be. So I don't know if anyone can-"
"I can do it," I heard myself saying. Everyone stopped and looked at me, and for once it wasn't because of my fashionable outfits (even though right then, I was wearing an outfit modeled after military dress, with a backwards tank top over another shirt, but my tank top was neon green. Also, my earrings were tiny Centurions I'd made out of found objects, like mud and leaves and stuff). "I mean," I said, "Mom and Dad are right here. So if they say it's okay-"
"It's okay," my dad said hurriedly. "Madam President."
"Please," she said again. "Laura."
"Laura," Dad said, sounding kind of awed.
Kristy checked her watch. "Six o'clock. Charlie should be here to pick us up soon, guys," she said. And sure enough, someone else was pulling at the flap to the tent. Charlie walked Kristy, Shannon, and Abby home every night. Their tents were in the nicer part of the Stoneybrook settlement, but it was farther away from the rest of us.
Everyone started breaking off to go. Mary Anne and Dawn left with Mal and Stacey, and Jessi and Logan headed in the same direction, and then it was just me, and the president (Laura, her name was Laura), and we were heading towards her tent with the promise to my parents that she or Maya would walk me home.
"Thank you so much for doing this on short notice," she said to me. "But it's been crazy at the school, and we haven't had a break in ages."
"No problem," I said. I couldn't believe that the president- the president of the twelve colonies!- was back to being just a normal schoolteacher. But she seemed like she couldn't have been happier, talking about what she and Maya were doing with the little kids like it was the most natural thing in the world.
I hadn't been to school since the Cylons invaded. It was weird to hear about people learning like that. I wasn't really interested in the class work, the history and science and math, but then she started telling me about the art projects they had the kids doing, and I started asking questions and making suggestions and before I knew it I'd volunteered my services- as well as the rest of the club's- to help with anything she needed. She admired my earrings and said she'd never seen more original jewelry. I told her I could teach the kids how to make them too!
She asked me about myself, and I told her. About my parents, my genius older sister, my problems in school before the Cylon invasion, my old boyfriends, my best friends and our club- she was just so easy to talk to. She was totally like a mom. A really cool mom. Which, I guess, now she was.
We were so busy talking about art that I barely noticed when we arrived at the tent. She opened the flap for me, and I walked in. She came right behind me, and fastened the door securely behind her. "Maya?" she called. "Maya, I brought the sitter."
Maya- I guessed she was Maya- looked younger than Laura, and a little less tired. But her face mirrored Laura's; they both looked absolutely full of love, and most of it was directed at the little girl cradled in Maya's arms.
Isis wasn't crying, like most little kids might be in this situation. She was absolutely quiet and absolutely calm, and beaming up at both women around her, who were cooing softly. I felt weirdly out of place, like I'd interrupted a private moment.
I think they realized that at the same time, because they exchanged a little glance, and then Laura said "Maya, honey, this is Claudia Kishi. Claudia, this is Maya. And this is Isis."
I leaned forward to see the baby. I've always been told I look kind of exotic, which I guess I do, compared to most of the people I've grown up with. But the baby didn't look like anyone I'd ever seen. She was gorgeous, but she looked foreign, somehow. I was enchanted.
"She looks just like you," I murmured, because that's what parents always wanted to hear.
Maya and Laura exchanged a Look. I wasn't sure what it meant, but they were both smiling, and Maya said "Thank you," so I figured it was okay.
They asked me to just entertain Isis for a few hours while they did some work, so I set up right near the crib, and gently rocked her and talked to her and let her grab at my earrings. She was so cute!
Sometimes, during a lull, I could hear Maya and Laura talking. I didn't understand most of what they were saying, but some of the words were definitely familiar, from history classes or something. Revolution, dictator, coup d'etat. I didn't know what they meant, but I made a mental note to ask Kristy later. She always paid attention in class.
I was surprised Kristy hadn't thought of starting a school in New Caprica, actually. It was kind of weird to meet people who'd had great ideas who weren't Kristy!
It seemed like the three hours passed super-quickly. Isis was an absolute angel. I couldn't wait to play with her again, which I told Maya as she walked me back home. The streets were cold and empty. A centurion watched us but didn't say anything. Two Eights walked rapidly past us. I shivered.
"You were excellent," Maya said. "We'll definitely be using your club again."
I grinned. I was so pleased!
"You didn't overhear anything--?" she asked.
The first job of a baby-sitter is not to snoop. So I just said "No, I was busy with Isis."
"Well," Maya said. "We were just unwinding. Nothing serious."
"Of course," I said.
"And," she added, her voice noticeably lighter, "we will definitely be in touch about you helping with the art projects."
"I can't wait," I said, and I meant it.
We arrived at my family's tent, and Maya waved goodbye cheerfully. As soon as I was inside, and we were pretty sure Maya was gone, my parents and sister were full of questions. How was it? How was the baby? How was the PRESIDENT?
I tried to dodge their questions. I wasn't sure what had happened that night, but I was pretty sure I hadn't heard the last of Maya and Laura and Isis.
I was dying to learn more.