Mannies Incorporated by Michael, Sean (phonics books .TXT) 📗

bottle of salad dressing. The man made homemade ranch dressing?

"Yeah, just tired. Where the hell do you find the time to do anything?"

"They go to bed at eight-thirty."

"Oh, that helps, doesn't it?" He chuckled and then had a thought. "And when do they get up in the morning?"

"Jenny gets up at seven. Christian at seven-thirty. Maggie will sleep 'til nine if the other two let her."

"Wow. That's better than I was anticipating." Still fucking early, but if he could sleep in like Maggie… "You and I have something in common, Mags. We both like to sleep in."

Slayde pulled the pizzas out, made sure everyone had a piece, then ate his standing.

It made Drake think Slayde was crazy, not wanting his help. The man was clearly run off his feet and sleep deprived to boot. He wondered why Slayde didn't sit, but about the time he opened his mouth to ask, Jenny dropped a piece of pepperoni, Maggie needed more milk, and Christian's fork fell on the floor. Jesus, how did the man do it?

By the time that the pizza was done, and everyone got a tiny scoop of ice cream, the man was on to doing dishes. Then he announced it was bath time before movie time.

Drake reminded himself that everyone went to bed at eight-thirty. Because, wow, this was just go and go and go. There was no time for…to be grown up.

"If you want to watch the news or something, there's a TV in Mindy's room."

He raised an eyebrow. "I thought it was bath time?"

"It is."

"Don't you want help with that?"

"Sure. I was trying to be nice."

"Well, so am I."

"Okay." He got a look, then Slayde started moving. "Christian, you're first. Maggie, go take your clothes off. Jenny, it's time for you to go potty."

"What do you want me to do?" he asked, following them up the stairs.

"Make sure Christian washes. With soap. And rinses off."

"Sounds easy enough." He followed Christian into the bathroom and helped the kid get the water going.

Christian grabbed bubble bath, dumping the whole thing into the tub. The whole thing. Oh shit. He was pretty sure that was going to be a problem. And he had no idea how to fix it.

"Um…"

"Bubbles!" Christian clapped.

"Oh, yeah." And how. Shit. He wasn't sure if he should call Slayde in or just hope it didn't get as bad as he was suspecting it might.

"I like bubbles."

He could hear the water running in what he assumed was the master bath.

"Yeah, well, I think we're going to have a whole bunch of them." Maybe he needed to turn off the water. He felt around in the tub -- there was only a few inches, though, so he let it keep going.

Christian nodded and got in, splashing happily. "I need my boat!"

"It could already be in there, Chris. I mean, those bubbles are legendary." And he was going to have to admit to them soon, get help from Slayde. Goddamn it.

"Nuh-uh. It's in my bedroom."

"Okay, where?" He'd make a quick run and then stop the water when he got back and deal with the bubbles if needed.

"On the bed."

"Okay. Be right back." He found Christian's bedroom but there was no boat on the bed. He poked around, taking far longer than he liked before finally finding it under the bed, and went back to the bathroom.

The sound of splashing and squealing had him running the last few feet, and, as he feared, the tub was overflowing, bubbles covering the floor.

"Oh fuck." He had no clue how to fix this. "Turn the water off! Chris! Turn the water off."

"Huh? Look! Bubbles!" Christian splashed.

He went for the tap, intent on turning it off. Halfway there his feet slipped out from under him and he went flying, landing on his back. The air whooshed out of his lungs in a rush.

"Uncle Slayde! Uncle SLAYDE!"

"Coming!"

Slayde came in, sliding on the floor. "What the… Christian! Pull the plug, man! Pull the plug!"

Drake groaned, trying to get up.

"Just stay there for God's sake." Slayde stepped over him, pulled the plug. "Christian. You stay right there, do you understand?"

"Yes, sir."

"Don't you move." Slayde looked at him. "I need to get the babies; I'll be back with towels and help."

"'m okay. Just winded." His head hurt like an S.O.B.

"Just lay there."

He heard the girls laughing, then two little girls in pajamas were sitting in a pack and play next to the door. Then about ten thousand towels landed everywhere.

"Can you sit up, man?"

"Shit, I have no idea."

"Okay, then stay." Slayde stepped over him, lifted Christian, wrapped the little boy in a towel. "Pajamas."

"I'm just winded. I just need a moment." He just needed to lie here for a second as it wasn't life and death if he did.

"Okay." Slayde got the water up, piling one wet towel after another in the tub.

"Just leave it. I'll deal with it in a minute." Slayde didn't need to take care of his messes; he was entirely capable.

"You ready for some help up?"

"Uncle Slayde! Movies!"

"Just a minute, guys."

"No. I mean I can get up myself." He sat up to prove the point, refusing to give in to the dizziness, and going to his knees and then holding on to the sink as he stood.

"Man, you're soaked. You need to sit on the toilet?"

"I didn't think the tub was that full." It had felt like only a couple of inches. He hadn't been looking for the damn boat that long had he?"

"No worries. It happens." Slayde sat him down, cleaned the floor under his feet. "Let me get the kids settled downstairs and I'll come back."

"You don't need to take care of me." The man was already overworked, Drake could see that.

Slayde didn't answer, he just got the kids moving. "Come on. Momma will be on the computer soon."

It was all quiet in a moment and he looked at the mess. Fuck, he'd screwed this one up pretty fucking badly. At least he hadn't drowned Christian. That had to count for something.