I Killed My Sister's Nanny Pt. 2

   I don't know if you've ever had someone ask you before if they were dead or not but it's definitely the most disconcerting question that has ever been posed to me. How do you answer a question like that? Everything inside of me wanted to tell Marissa that of course she was fine but there her body was; laying on the floor in front of me. 

  Oh my gosh, I am dead. Marissa's ghostly voice gave me chills and the last thing I wanted to do was turn around and face what could be nothing else other than her ghost. But what else could I do? 

  I took a deep breath and slowly turned around. Marissa's ghost was floating there looking down at her body and then back up at me as if hoping one of us would have answers. 

  Yeah I think you might be dead, I muttered. 

  So I'm a ghost, Marissa said, talking more to herself than me. She floated over to her body and looked down at it. 

  Are you the only one who can see me? she asked me. I shrugged. How would I know that? Until thirty seconds ago I didn't know if I believed in ghosts. 

  While I was twiddling my thumbs awkwardly wondering if I was about to be haunted for the rest of my life, Tina walked over and looked up at Marissa's ghost. 

  Can I have a snack? was her question. Not "why do you look different" or "why are you outside your body" just, can you feed me? I guess it's true what they say: watching kids is a full time job. It doesn't even stop after you die. 

  Well you heard the kid. She wants a snack. Marissa folded her ghost arms and stared at me. 

  Uh yeah I don't really know what to do about that. 

 Marissa rolled her ghost eyes at me.

  You know what snacks are, right? 

  She'd been dead for five minutes and already had an attitude. 

  Yes I know what snacks are. But this was your job. 

  Yeah keyword there, sport. It was my job and thanks to you, I've retired early. 

And there it was. The blame. A guy tries to do a nice thing for someone and it's never "thank you" it's just "you triggered my allergic reaction and now I'm dead." 

   Sure, Tina. I'll get you a snack, I said, staring down Marissa as I walked to the pantry and got an applesauce pouch. Tina grabbed it from my hand, twisted it open and went back to watching TV. Somehow oblivious to the dead body on the floor. 

  Congrats, you fed the child. How was dead Marissa more annoying than alive Marissa?

  So what do we do about that? I asked.

  You mean my body? I know, let's plant me in the garden and see if I grow back.

  Wow. This was fun. Here I am trying to clean up after the death I caused and my victim is making it a problem. 

  I think the bigger question is how will Addison feel when she finds out I'm dead and it's your fault?

  That was the one question I had been trying not to think about and as it turned out, the answer was far worse than I predicted. Addison reacted terribly to showing up at the house that was now surrounded by emergency vehicles and it only got worse when she came inside to see Marissa's body on a stretcher covered in a long white sheet. 

  Jason didn't react any better and it was several long and stressful hours full of so many questions that I was thrilled when Addison finally suggested we stop and order pizza. 

 Oh this will be so fun, Marissa said floating up next to me. I can't wait to watch you guys eat. 

 Why are you still here? I asked.

 Addison turned around and gave me a weird look. 

 Who are you talking to? 

 Oh uh, just this ringing in my ear. Why is it still here? I chuckled and Addison looked back down at her phone. 

 I'm gonna go wait on the porch for the pizza, I said. Marissa floated along behind me till we were both outside. 

Why are you still here? I asked again.

 Don't you think I've tried to leave? I don't wanna spend eternity here. But as it turns out, the universe has decided I have unfinished business in the form of those little monsters in there. 

What do you mean?

Marissa floated to a chair and tried to sit in it but instead she just sank to the floor. I didn't wanna laugh so I took a hit from my vape and looked the other way.

Since you so kindly decided to abruptly end my existence, I believe it is your responsibility to be the new caretaker for Tina and Kiara and I will train you. 

 I'm sorry, what now? I know absolutely nothing about taking care of kids. Addison and Jason would be mental to ask me to be the new caretaker. 

 And then the door opened and Addison stuck her head out. 

 The pizza will be here in ten minutes and you're taking care of Tina and Kiara till we find someone new. 

 And then she just closed the door. I don't know if you've ever seen a smug ghost before but that's the only word I can use to describe how Marissa was grinning at me as I stood there with my mouth hanging open. 

 I followed Addison inside reminding her that I had absolutely zero experience with kids.  

 This is why YouTube videos and parenting books exist. Get studying, was her answer. 

Marissa was behind me twirling her ghost self back and forth with a huge smile.

 We are going to have so much fun together, she squealed. 

 And let me just say, two weeks, dozens of diapers, at least three hundred applesauce packets and unlimited repetitions of Baby Shark later, fun was not what I was having. Did you know it doesn't matter how many times you put a kid's toys away they will just get them right back out again? Not even play with them either. Just dump them on the floor. 

  My first day, I went to give Kiara her bottle and Marissa screeched at me that I had to test how hot it was on myself first. 

  No you don't take a sip of it, oh my gosh, she said, when I looked at her weird and started raising the bottle to my lips.

  Pour a drop out on your wrist and see if it's too hot or not.

 I'm pretty sure I still have a red mark from where the milk touched my skin. They should call them bottle boilers, not warmers. 

 All of this is new to me and none of it makes sense. Why do kids ask for food and then when you give it to them, suddenly they don't want it and throw it on the floor? Why do they want the same story read to them thirty seven times in a row? You have four shelves of books! 

  Honestly the hardest part though has been trying to explain to Tina why Marissa can't do things for her anymore. Last week she said she wanted Marissa to pour her juice and when I said she couldn't and I had to do it instead, Tina poured juice all over the floor. So I got to mop that up while a ghost laughed at me. We still aren't sure if Kiara can see Marissa or not. But Marissa is always there every time I put Kiara down for a nap. Sometimes she will just float over her crib for a while and watch her sleep.

 I don't think I'll ever stop feeling bad for accidentally un-aliving her but taking care of the kids makes me feel a little less guilty. 

  Addison and Jason have been doing phone interviews but they say no one has stood out yet. Every time they do a call I can see Marissa listening over their shoulders and usually she's shaking or head or making some other sign of disapproval. I don't know what she doesn't like about these potential nannies, just that none of them are good enough for her. 

  And somehow, in a twist that no one saw coming, she approves of the job I'm doing. She still makes fun of me constantly, from the way I cut a sandwich in half to how bad I am at drawing pictures for the kids. But we are making it work. I was almost sad at the thought of it all ending.

  Then this morning something happened I don't think either of us expected. We took the kids outside on the driveway. Kiara was in a baby bouncer and Tina was drawing with chalk on the driveway. Marissa and I were watching and chatting like we do when we heard crying suddenly. 

  It's Tina, Marissa said pointing. I turned around and saw Tina standing there with a scraped up knee slowly turning red. She was making the most pitiful noises. I knew at any minute she would call out for Marissa and my heart would sink when I had to remind her Marissa couldn't hold her anymore.

 But then she started hobbling over and said, Aiden I hurt my leg can you fix it? 

  I looked down at her and then back up at Marissa wondering if I heard her right. Had she really just asked for me?
 Marissa looked sad for a second as if she wanted Tina to ask only for her. But then just as quickly, she smiled and looked at me. 

  She wants you to fix it. Be the hero. 

 I can't say I'd ever thought putting a Disney princess band-aid on a kid's knee would make me feel like  hero but it did. 

And I haven't stopped feeling like one all day. It felt even better when Marissa floated over to me after lunch and said, You don't have to stop doing this, ya know. You can be a permanent manny. I'll be here as long as you need me. 

 And I think she's right. I'm going to tell Addison when she gets home that I want to do this for a while. It's not all bad and having a helpful ghost on your team certainly doesn't hurt. 

  So yeah. That's my story. I killed my sister's nanny and I've never been happier.

  Well that sounds really bad. But you know what I mean.