I got a call from my brother John. He asked me if I could watch his eighteen year old daughter Patty for two weeks. It seems that my brother and his wife are going through a rough patch. They wanted to get away and see if they could mend their marriage. My brother did say that my niece might be trouble. She was part of the problem in my brother's marriage. I had to think about it some but I wanted to help out my brother. I told him I would do it.
John showed up the next day with Patty in tow. I could tell right then I was in for trouble. Patty had this scowl on her face telling me she didn't want to be here. My brother told me that he had Patty's car keys and her keys to the house, she couldn't run back home. Oh great, I thought. I took Patty's bags and I stored them in one of the spare bedrooms. When I came back into the living room I asked Patty if she wanted something to drink. All I got was a short 'no' for an answer.
It was getting late in the day. I asked her what she might like for supper.
"I don't want anything, I just want to be left alone," she said.
This wasn't going well and I was starting to get pissed. I am not used to dealing with teenagers, especially moody ones. I guess I lost my temper. I marched into the spare bedroom and I picked up Patty's bags. I opened the front door and then spilled the bags onto the walkway.
"Get out!" I screamed.
I just went off.
"Your parents are close to divorcing and the party is almost over for you. I am not going to babysit someone for two weeks who doesn't want to be here. Get your bags and go!"
I wish I had a camera right then. Patty's eyes went wide with horror. I am sure her parents never talked to her like I did. I stood at the door and pointed to the way out.
"Please Uncle Nick, don't make me go. I'll behave."
I waited a long minute before I said anything.
"You had one chance and you just used it. If I have to call your parents and tell them to interrupt their vacation, you are going to wish you were on another planet."