The
Eisensons lived in the upstairs apartment, while the Abners occupied the
downstairs flat. Mrs. Eisenson had asked Droozy’s mother whether the girl
could babysit with her children on New Year’s Eve. This was shortly after
Droozy’s eleventh birthday. Although she was quite grown up in many ways, she
did not like the dark or being alone at night. Despite this Droozy mustered up
her courage and agreed to be the guard with three-year-old Sandy and
six-month-old Philip. Droozy ascended the dimly lit stairs to the Eisenson abode
and entered an even darker living room, which was gaily decorated for the
occasion with blue, red, green and purple lights, which cast eerie shadows on
the walls and floors.
All
was well until the couple left, closing the door tightly behind them. Sandy was
still up and sang many verses of “There is Blood on the Saddle” and asked
equally many questions. Droozy kept him up as long as possible because with him
awake she was not too terribly frightened. When Sandy’s eyes began to droop
Droozy knew that she would have to sit up alone. The little boy crept into his
bed and five minutes later was fast asleep. The sound of his breathing coupled
with that of brother Phillip sounded very frightful and Droozy repeatedly
visited their room, checking under their beds to see whether a marauder had not
somehow been hiding there. Soon the purple shadows began to take on shape and
appeared like phantoms and evil spirits. Droozy’s heart pounded more and more
and she was paralyzed with fright, absolutely unable to move. She buried her
head in the couch pillow and hardly dared breathe. She was in this condition,
what seemed to be hours, when gentle sleep took over. Droozy was awakened a few
minutes later by a creaking noise and out of the corner of her eyes a spectre-like
shadow crept closer and closer to the couch. Frozen terror seized Droozy when
suddenly a voice was heard: “Droozy, I want a drink of water, I’m
thirsty.” Droozy gave out with a terrified shriek and looked squarely into the
eyes of the little blond demon, Sandy. Shakily Droozy
took hold of the child’s
hand and groped her way to the faucet, where the request was met. After several
more nerve-tingling hours the Eisensons made their way up the stairs. Droozy was
never so happy to see anyone. They gave Droozy fifty cents of which twenty five
were later returned the child’s mother, since Mama did not want to
“overcharge” neighbors. It was a long time before Droozy babysat again!
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Up Introduction Pork Dumplings Please Don't Eat the Goldfish Pretty Shoes Blueberry Cake Sukkot The Garden Maxel The Red Rabbit Passover The Lost Bathing Tickets What Shall I Do? The Double Message Pieces of Gold Aromas of the Sabbath The Birth of a Brother Green Apples Herr Kübler The Broken Leg Boarding School The American Calendar Suse Puppe Shirley Temple Eyes Kristallnacht Nov. 9, 10, 11 Aunt (Tante) Mathilde Ice Skates The Cologne Cathedral The Escape A Belgian Holiday Gas Balloons and the S. S. Washington Papa The Statue A Bad Dream A Pencil Thief The West Virginia Hills Thanksgiving Ice Cream, Grieben and Baked Spaghetti The Gypsy’s Song Venetian Blinds The Deaf One Dimmed Lights Marryyayo Friendship Norma Mae The Spelling Bee Run, Thief, Run! Chances The Candy Store The Birthday Party Deep, Shallow Waters Red Riding Hood Small Mama Droozy In Love Eskimo Pies Apple Picking Time Working Days Easter Baskets Valedictorian Farewell Blind Joe Lessons Learned From Parents About the Author
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