The Best Babysitter

by pchn00


Chapter 2: Remembering Pennie

Chapter 2: Remembering Pennie

Bursting from the auditorium, embarrassed by the huge scene she just made, and angry for being pushed into causing such a scene, Jennifer made a beeline for the school doors. Her long legs swept her through the front doors, ignoring the shouts to stop from the hall monitor she rushed out into the cold winter air, across the parking lot and into the downtown Rochester area, only slowing when the school was well out of sight behind her.

Barely aware of where she was going, she just knew she wanted to go away from there, the school, that weird Lucy girl, and…the feelings she stirred up. Jen hadn’t thought of her old babysitter for years. She made her way through the small alleys between the shops that dotted the downtown area and found herself in the city park beyond.

A faint frown creased her lips as she lifted her head from studying the new hole in her favorite shoes (her mother harped on her near daily to get new ones); she hadn’t been to the park in several years either. Three to be exact. Her angry pace slowed to a more normal one, and she started on the small path winding through the trees.

It hadn’t been a particularly cold winter; there wasn’t much snow on the ground or trees. Just a faint chill in the air that caused her to zip her jacket up as she walked. She knew she was coming up on it, but something compelled her to veer off the path and onto a less used, though no less familiar route into the trees themselves. She stepped over roots and around what would normally be hard to see dips in the path as if she’d just been down it yesterday. Given how often she used to come this way with Pennie for the usual picnics with her friends, it wasn’t too surprising.

Her frown deepened. Pennie. She thought the name again. Pennie, Pennie, Pennie. Ugh…now she couldn’t stop thinking about her. It only got worse as she stepped into the empty clearing that so frequently served as the sight for picnics, games, and whatever else they’d fancy doing. Walking over to the lone and very sizeable tree in the clearing, she plunked down and leaned her back against it, memories she’d tried to leave behind swirling back up against her will…

-3 years ago-

“But mooooom I’m almost thirteen! Don’t you think I’m old enough to stay home by myself for a few hours while you and dad go do your…whatever, boring…adult stuff tonight?” Jen scowled in an as adult manner as she could manage, doing her best to look proper mature and capable.

Her mother barely spared her a second glance as she swept by, fastening her earrings into place. “No more back talk. When you are thirteen we’ll talk about it. Until then you’re getting a babysitter. “

This elicited a grunt from her pre-teen daughter. “Mrs. Crimshaw is so old I think she needs the sitter more than I do mom!”

Before her mother could respond the doorbell rang. “Get that Jenny, that’s probably her now.” Her mom rushed back to her room to finish getting ready. While Jen rolled her eyes and went to get the door. “Hi Mrs. Crim….uh?”

Standing at the door was definitely not the hundred something, (to a young girls eyes every elderly person must be a hundred something) old crone who usually sat for her. It was a girl. Obviously older then her, probably sixteen or seventeen she’d guess. Only a little taller than Jen, who was freakishly tall (by her own estimation), with a thick mane of pale red curls, almost pink really. She had bright blue eyes that seemed to be full of cheer and laughter…it was the only way Jen could think to describe it. She had a pink hoodie on, with three balloons over the breast, then some more mundane jeans and a slightly scuffed pair of converse sneakers. She had a plain, if full looking denim backpack over her shoulder.

When she spoke her voice was serious, but it sounded like she was straining hard to keep it so. “Hey there kiddo, you must be Jenny. I’m Penelope, are your folks home?” Nodding wordlessly Jen just stepped aside to let her in.

Penelope walked a touch hesitatingly, like she wanted to bound or bounce in but was trying hard to appear mature and professional for her parents. Her dad greeted her in the kitchen and they talked a few moments before her folks hurried out to their car giving her a brief ‘behave you’ by way of goodbye. Jen just sort of stood off to the side quietly while Penelope walked to the window, giving her parents a wave as they backed out and drove off. Once their car disappeared around the corner, she turned on her heel with an abruptness that caused Jen to jump back a moment.

“So! You ready for some fun?! I don’t mean to toot my own horn but boy howdy are you in for a doozy of a great night!” She dropped the backpack off her shoulder and started rummaging. “Let’s see! Board games? Check! Water balloons? Check! Stuff for snacks? Check! Let’s get this party started!” She bounced back up to her feet after dumping out the aforementioned items, a huge grin on her face.

Jen had to admit, if she weren’t so determined to be huffy tonight this girls cheeriness would be really contagious. “Oh well…y’know I was just gonna chill up in my room uh, Penelope. I wanted to just listen to some music and stuff.”

The big smile faltered for just a minute before she nodded, causing her hair to bounce a bit. “Oh! Oh sure you’re not some little kid, I gotcha! It was pretty silly of me to think you’d wanna do little kid stuff huh? Well don’t you worry I’ll just…er…read…these…really big, interesting looking books your parents have on their shelves! Yessiree that sounds like a lot more fun than games, water balloons and making s’mores!” She began hastily packing her bag back up. “Well I’ll be down here with these awesome looking books if you need me kay? And just call me Pennie, Penelope is so boring.” She gave Jen another big grin.

“Um…right ok Pennie thanks.” Jen hurried up the stairs rolling her eyes. “Jeez what a weirdo.” Nudging the door closed and popping in a cd she flopped back on bed, prepared to stare at the ceiling until it was time for dinner.

It was maybe a half hour before she heard it. Giggling. Not just faint, quick giggles like the girls at school usually had, this was loud, long, and just like the smile, weirdly infectious. Only barely able to keep a smile from her face Jen made her way downstairs to find Pennie sitting on the couch, just…making shapes with her fingers. She was using the light from the lamp behind her to cast shadow puppets on the wall. This seemed to be delighting her to a weird degree.

She sat down quietly on the other couch just watching her cast all sorts of shapes on the wall, making assorted growls and bird calls to go with them. She glanced over eventually, putting her hands down. “Sorry, I didn’t interrupt your music did I? I was just sitting here wiggling these guys, then saw the shadows they were making and well…one thing led to another!”

This time Jen couldn’t help it, and found a bit of a smile forcing itself onto her lips. “You’re kinda a weirdo huh Pennie?”

Instead of being insulted that just made Pennie grin all the brighter. “I like to think of myself as interesting! Or exotic! Orrrr just plain old fun! All my friends back home sure seem to think so y’know?” She paused to take a breath. “So…no board games, no water balloon fights…what do you like to do for fun?”

This seemed to give the younger girl pause. It wasn’t very often someone asked her what she wanted to do, and by not often she couldn’t remember it ever happening. “Oh well…I like listening to music, walking in the park when mom and dad let me.” She rolled her eyes at that. “And um…” She hadn’t told anyone about this, but something about Pennie made her really easy to talk to. “I love to draw.” Jen was surprised to find that rather than her eyes drifting away to something more interesting or important, Pennie seemed to be hanging on every word.

“Oooo an artist huh? That’s really exciting I love art! What kinda stuff do ya draw? Can I see? Huh huh can I can I?!” There was genuine excitement in her voice, so much so how could she refuse? She ran up to her room with more energy then she’d felt in a long time, rummaging under her bed for her sketch book, handing it over tentatively. Pennie spent a long time on each page, looking each drawing over carefully. Every now and then she’d give a soft ooo or ohh. Finally she handed it back. “Well…looks like YOU found your very special talent already! Pretty impressive for such a little filly.”

Jen took the book back, a genuinely wide smile on her face now. “Thanks, I’ve never shown the book to anybody before.” She closed it and looked back up to find Pennie staring intently at her teeth…and the new additions on them. Wide eyed she leaned inappropriately close to Jen’s face and burst into more giggles.

“Oooo I can see my reflection!”

This caused Jen to snap her lips shut, the smile disappearing instantly. “My dad made me get em ok?! It’s not funny!” She jumped to her feet dashing back to her room slamming the door and flinging herself face first onto her bed. 'What was all that about?! She seemed so nice then she just made fun of her braces like everyone else at school!'

It wasn’t long before there came a soft knock on the door, and Pennie peeked her head in. “I’m super sorry Jennifer, I didn’t mean to make you upset. I’d just never seen um…anyone with metal in their mouth like that.”

She sounded genuinely sorry, even if it was hard to believe someone her age had never seen braces before. She looked up, eyes red from the brief cry she’d been in the middle of. “R…really? You’ve never seen braces?”

Pennie shook her head, setting her hair bouncing once again. “Nope! Really really, first time! I didn’t mean ta make ya feel bad, friends?” She came over and sat on the edge of the bed.

Jen slowly sitting up and wiping her eyes. “I…yeah ok. Sorry I thought you were makin fun of me…you just seemed so nice and I thought you were like everyone else at school.”

Pennie’s face fell as she digested this. “You get picked on a lot by the other kids huh?” At the responding nod she hmm’d. “Well c’mon! Your dad left us pi-zza money" (she seemed to have a hard time with the word which was weird), "…why don’t you order it huh? You’re old enough.”

This seemed to brighten Jen a good deal. “Really?! Mom and dad never let me order!” She dashed downstairs grabbing the phone with a huge grin. Thirty minutes later a steaming hot pizza was on the table. Jen happily digging in, Pennie eyeing it…skeptically? “What’s wrong?”

The older girl slowly picked up a slice, mimicking how Jennifer was eating it. “Oh well, first time eating pizza that’s all!” She took a tentative bite, before her usually cheer snapped back across her face. “Heeeeey this isn’t bad at all! And you called this stuff pepperoni? I wonder what else we can put on pizza? Maybe ice cream? Jelly beans? Hot sauce? Mmmm I bet it’d all be great!”

Of course by now Jen was staring at her like she’d grown a second head. Never seen braces, never seen pizza. “…you’re not like, an alien or something are you?”

Pennie’s reaction was not something she’d expect of someone who wasn’t in fact an invader from another world. She choked a bit and spit out the bite of pizza that was in her mouth. “AHAHAHAHA! An alien?! Me?! Oh you’re silly!”

Jen frowned now, suspicious aroused fully. “…you pinky swear you’re not an alien?”

This seemed to strike a chord in Pennie and she set down the slice of pizza she was about to bite into. “Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye!” She bonked her fist into her eye for good measure and smiled. “That’s a Pennie promise. The most sacred promise I can give. I am not an alien.”

From the solemn tone her vow was made, it seemed to assuage Jen’s fears. “Well…ok then.” So satisfied the meal resumed, the leftovers boxed up and put in the fridge leaving the two girls to consider what to do next. It was Jen who broke the silence first. “So…you got games huh?”

An eager spark lit in Pennie’s eyes as she bounded to her backpack with more energy than most kids half her age displayed. “Have I got games?! You won’t believe the games I’ve got!” The rest of the night passed in a blur of fun and well, games.

Jen couldn’t suppress a groan as she heard her parents pull up. “Well…I guess I gotta go to bed, and you gotta go home huh?”

Pennie nodded but smiled all the same, if somewhat more subdued. “Yeah, but don’t worry I’m not goin anywhere for a good while. Anytime you need a sitter, I’ll be there.” She winked and got the door for Jennifer’s parents, a brief conversation and she was gone. Leaving Jen alone with her folks.

“So, was the play nice?” She ventured to ask. Her father just gave a faint nod and a good night while her mom hung her jacket.

“How was that Pennie girl? Did she do ok? The house doesn’t look destroyed.”

Jen nodded eagerly. “She was great! We played some games and I showed her my sketches and I hope she can come back real soon!”

The response seemed to surprise her mother, if pleasantly. “Well, I’m glad to hear that. With your father’s new promotion we’ll be going out a lot pretty soon and we’ll need to have someone we can rely on to watch you. Now…go get to bed, it’s late.”

After that it seemed like every two or three nights her parents were out, and Pennie came by. She had something new to do every time too. As her parents got more comfortable with Pennie, they let her take Jen out to the park which delighted both girls to no end. They’d spend hours wandering off the normal path to explore the surrounding woods. It was on one such expedition they found their ‘secret spot’. A large clearing with a single large elm tree dominating it. After that they’d go right to it every time they went out.

It had been the happiest months of her life, she didn’t even notice that her parent were out of town for her birthday that year. Pennie threw Jennifer the biggest birthday party she’d ever seen, inviting all the neighbors and their kids over for the backyard festivities. Miraculously it was all cleaned up and the house looked better than ever when her parents got back.
It was a pleasant July morning as Pennie led Jen out to their spot in the woods. “Alright Jenny-bean, we’re gonna meet my very best friends in the whole wide world today. And don’t be nervous! They’re all super nice and super fun!”

Normally not a fan of meeting new people, especially in a crowd but if Pennie vouched for them they had to be alright. She couldn’t keep a huge Pennie sized grin off her face the whole way anyhow, staring down at the new (new to her, not new in general) shoes Pennie had given her. The slightly more beat up sneakers she was wearing the day they met. Jen’s old shoes having been a couple sizes too small for some time, the slightly too large shoes were welcome relief. And they were a gift from the very best friend Jen had ever had, it wouldn’t have mattered WHAT they were.

She could hear a number of voices before they even reached the clearing, but rather than shrink back as was her usual reaction, she bounded ahead, inspiring Pennie to chase after her in an impromptu race. Of course running all out in shoes a size or two too big can be difficult, and it wasn’t long before Jen tripped skidding headfirst into the clearing, Pennie, being right on her heels falling over Jen and the two tumbled together, coming to a stop just at a blanket spread out across the ground, laden with food. Both girls burst into giggles as they untangled themselves. Finally sitting up Jen glanced around at the crowd.

There were five girls who looked around Pennie’s age, and three who looked a little younger then Jen herself. The three older girls on the blanket were busy setting out food from a pretty sizeable looking basket. What really drew Jen’s eye though…was the dizzying assortment of hair colors these girls had. They must go through a bottle of dye a week each. “Okie dokie! Let’s introduce everypony! Now that’s Tina, Renee, and Felicity.”

Tina had a very striking hairdo. Black and straight to the middle of her back, but with a stripe of both pink AND purple running through it! She wore slim glasses, and a look of displeasure directed at Pennie. “She meant everybody, introduce everyb-o-d-y, right Pennie?” She had on the uniform of the fancy private girls school across town, a blue blazer and skirt with plain brown shoes.

Renee was probably the prettiest girl Jen had ever seen. She batted long eyelashes over sparkling blue eyes, flashing a vibrant smile. “Well hello dear, a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Pennie has told us all about you.” Her hair was perfectly styled and bounced in light curls around her shoulders. While the other girls dressed more like what she’d come to expect girls around her age to wear, Renee looked like she stepped out of one of her mother’s catalogues in her stark white blouse and skirt. She was even wearing heels. Who wears heels to a picnic outside?

Felicity gave a soft eep as Jen’s eyes turned to her, looking back and forth quickly as if seeking an escape route. Tina laid a comforting hand on her clearly nervous girls shoulder, and she swallowed hard seeming to calm somewhat. She peeked over at Jen through a part in her pale pink hair, long and falling down almost to her hips. A thick yellow sweater and long skirt did a good job covering the rest of her up. “Um…hello…” Jen had to strain to make it out, but gave a friendly smile in return. They might be a little odd but friends of Pennie’s had to be great.

Pennie indicated the other two older girls, who seemed to be engaged in an impromptu arm wrestling match. “That’s AJ and Rachel.” Both looked to be pretty fit physically, with AJ on the brawnier side. She was dressed pretty much exactly like Jen’s image of a cowboy from the old west was supposed to dress like. Brown cowboy hat, boots, dusty jeans, work shirt with sleeves rolled to the elbows…definitely a cowgirl. The other girl though, Rachel was definitely the most striking of the bunch. She had a slim wiry build, and was wearing what looked like brand new running shoes, a pair of blue shorts and matching t-shirt. What really stood out though was her hair. It seemed to be dyed all the colors of the rainbow!

With a loud THAP AJ forced Rahcel’s hand against the stump they’d been using as a table down and she grinned victoriously, before tipping her had Jen’s way. “Pleasure t’meetcha sugarcube.” 'Wow she even sounded like a cowgirl.'

Rachel just huffed. “Well let’s have a race then! We’ll see who’s better at that.” She was polite enough to give the newcomer a quick nod of greeting, before turning her attention back to AJ. She never quite got why they were competing but Jen just figured older girls were weird like that.

“And over there is Anna Belle…she’s AJ’s little sister, Stephanie is Renee’s, and their friend Susie.” The three young girls were all huddled around some sort of papers talking quietly to one another. Jen wandered closer and could just hear a bit of their conversation.

“Can we even earn our cutie marks like this?” Stephanie was dressed a bit like her older sister, wearing a cute white dress and matching shoes (though no heel), her hair a curly mop of pale violet tresses.

Anna Belle’s shoulders raised and fell in a shrug. “Maybe? I mean maybe we can get em fer something because of bein like this!” She definitely had her older sisters southern drawl, her red hair tied back with a big equally red bow, wearing a yellow shirt under her sturdy looking overalls.

The third one, Susie huffed. “Well sitting around here wondering isn’t gonna get us anywhere! C’mon Crusaders we got cutie marks to earn!” Pennie hadn’t mentioned Susie being Rachel’s sister, but she sure was doing her best to emulate the older girl. Dressed much the same just in orange rather than blue, she had a windswept head of…purple hair.

All three glanced up to see Jennifer watching them curiously, before they hastily gathered up their plans and rushed off to the tree line. She wandered back toward the girls on the blanket, Pennie now joining them and stuffing her face with whatever sweets she could get her hands on, much to Renee’s apparent dismay. “Hey Pennie, what’s a cutie mark?”

The reaction wasn’t quite what she expected. Pennie immediately began to choke, prompting AJ to rush over and start whacking her on the back. Felicity gave a soft eep and retreated deeper into her thick sweater if that was possible. Renee and Rachel took off at a run (an impressive run in those heels no less), after the three departing youngsters, while Tina chuckled nervously.

“Eh he he…well it’s…just a game those three play. You know how…little kids are?” She looked back at Jen trying to appear confident in her answer, AJ and Felicity looking on with concern (Pennie meanwhile was gasping for breath having the chunk of cupcake expelled forcefully).

Sensing that this was a…weirdly touchy subject, and not wanting to make Pennie look bad for bringing her here Jen simply nodded. “Yup! I get it.” Her own smile was a good deal more confident then Tina’s and all four girls let out huge breaths of relief, (or gasps of air). She glanced passed them to see Renee and Rachel talking in what looked like a very angry parent manner to the other three girls, who kept shooting glances Jen’s way and looking appropriately chastised. Soon however the two older girls came back and took their own seats at the picnic.

“Everything is alright over here I hope?” Renee’s cultured accent did an excellent job of hiding her nervousness, and she relaxed visibly when the others nodded. “Splendid! Well shall we eat…what Pennie hasn’t eaten already that is?”

The rest of the afternoon went great. First was the good food, than Pennie dumped out a big bag of all sorts of outdoor games and activities that everyone jumped in on. Not remembering having this much fun before in her whole life, Jen just went along with everyone else. The sudden impromptu musical number from the six girls, joined shortly by the three returning crusaders caused her to raise an eyebrow, (they must be in choir at the high school or something she reasoned to herself) but even that bit of oddness was easily ignored in the wake of the warm feelings.

After that day she was out to the park almost daily to meet with everyone, her parents allowing her to go alone since it was just down the street, (she was thirteen after all). It seemed like someone was taking charge and scheduling different activities every day, and every one of them was fun and exciting. (Maybe Tina’s reading circle and Renee’s fashion show less than the others). Even Felicity was opening up and getting more comfortable around her.

Once Renee caught wind of her artistic talent, she insisted Jen do sketches for everyone. Rather than do them individually she sketched the whole group at once. Promising to have a copy for everyone the next day, she rushed home already excited for tomorrow’s events.

Upon reaching the clearing in the early afternoon, an armful of xeroxed sketched in tow, she spotted Pennie, and just Pennie looking…positively down. That didn’t seem right. “Uh, is something wrong Pennie? I got the pictures! Where is everyone?”

Pennie looked up, and her eyes looked red, almost as if she’d been crying…or trying very hard not to cry. “Oh uh…well…they went home.”

Jen furrowed her brow processing why this was such a bad thing, it was a little weird that it was so early in the day for everyone to call an end to it but maybe they had family stuff. “Oh well…I can bring these back tomorrow huh? So what’re we gonna do then?” Her cheery smile faltered on seeing just how sad Pennie’s own was.

She seemed uncomfortably, shifting from foot to foot. “HOME home Jenny-bean, where we all came from before we moved here. It’s…it’s really far away and they wanted to say goodbye but there are rules and I’m already gonna get in a WHOLE lotta trouble for staying as long as I am, but I just couldn’t go without saying bye and what a great friend you’ve been!”

Jen was standing very still about halfway through Pennie’s speech, looking like someone had slapped her across the face. “Well…well so how long’ll you guys be gone? I mean…you’ll be back soon right?”

Pennie came close then, looking like she wanted to hug, but Jen stepped back out of it. The older girl let her arms fall slowly. “Well…no Jenny-bean I’m sorry, we um, we can’t come back. It was just for a year, that’s the rule and it’s a stupid rule but we can’t break it no matter how much-“

Jen took another quick step back, cutting Pennie off mid-sentence. “Fine then! Go home and leave me! I…I don’t care! I hated coming out here with you weirdos anyway!” So saying she flung the papers in Pennies face and dashed back toward home, ignoring Pennie’s voice as she cried after her.

Barreling through the front door, eyes full of tears she almost send her mother flying right on her rear. “Jenny! What has gotten into you?!”

She paused just long enough at the top of the stairs to call down. “It’s Jen mom! Ok? Jen or Jennifer! Not Jenny! I’m not a baby anymore!”

---Now---

She could hear her door slam, as if it was happening right now, and not in her head, snapping her eyes open and again focusing on the beat up shoes on her feet. Scowling at the wetness on her cheeks Jen hastily wiped them off and began to stand, when she heard the crunch of leaves underfoot from around the tree. She peered over and standing there was Lucy, the one who started all this.

“I wanted to apologize.” Now she could place the accent. It was close to the one Tina had. The other girl extended a hand offering a fancy handkerchief, which Jen snatched angrily.

“Apologize? Apologize for who? Penelope? Or you for reminding me of her? Which is it? Huh?” She shoved the smaller girl hard, who stumbled back, a look of surprise on her face. She worked her mouth once or twice, before turning and running into the woods, away from the path.

Jen watched her go with a scowl, before frowning. Realizing such a delicate newcomer would easily get lost, and likely not have the knowhow to get herself UNlost in the large forest park. She started after her, following the trail she was leaving through the fallen leaves and bits of snow still clinging to the ground. She quickly lost sign of her trail in a few moments…it’s like she just disappeared.

Wandering around getting lost wouldn’t help anybody, so she quickly made her way back out of the woods, using the handkerchief to clean some of the sweat off her forehead. Noticing the name embroidered in elegant script as she lowered it from her face.

Luna Equestris