"Hello?" I answered breathlessly, while still keeping a watchful eye on the twins.
"Good afternoon, ma'am. My name is Sheryl from MCI Phone Services. We understand that currently you are enrolled in-"
"Look, if you're asking me if I want to switch to your company, I think you should know, it's really not my decision-"
"-we offer continual low rates and you can call anywhere in the U.S. for less than what you're paying with your current-"
"Ma'am, I'm the baby-sitter, I can't decide for these people what phone company they want to-"
"If you register with us now, we'll give you a free chance to win an opportunity to enter into a contest to be selected for a new-"
"How about NOT INTERESTED?" I replied before slamming down the phone.
"Damn telemarketers." I muttered, leaning on the kitchen counter with one hand and still holding the wad of play-doh in the other.
"Tewwamarkers?" Mindie asked me, looking up at me with huge beautiful brown eyes and her chubby little baby arms circled around my legs. I laughed, bending down to pick her up.
"Yeah, sweetie. Telemarketers. They're bad. Don't ever trust em," I said ruffling her dark brown hair. She giggled, and responded by yanking on my short, chin-length, layered red hair. "Ow, don't pull hair, that hurts," I winced laughing. Mindie just giggled. Suddenly I realized Charlie was missing. As usual. "Mindie," I said while quickly scanning the kitchen and under the table. "Where's Charlie?"
"Chawlee?" She asked me again, still pulling on my hair. I pulled a few of my stray hairs out of her sticky grip, then ran up the stairs looking for Charlie. I set Mindie down at the top of the stairs and began searching rooms. Beginning with the twins' room.
"Charlie?" I called glancing under the beds and behind the wooden dresser. I ran to the playroom. "Charlie?" I called again, looking behind the couches and bookcases.
"CHAWLEE!" Mindie screeched, while she looked in such helpful spots as in the VCR. Suddenly I heard the phone ringing again downstairs. At first I decided to let the machine get it, but then I remembered the twins' mom said she'd call when she was on her way home, and she'd probably be worried if no one picked up. I scooped up Mindie in one arm and tried to get down the stairs as fast as I could without falling on my face.
"Why oh why can't they have a phone upstairs, too?" I muttered. I reached for the kitchen phone on the wall only to realize I still had the play-doh in my left hand, and was holding Mindie with my right. I threw the play-doh in the sink and lunged for the phone. "Hello?" I managed to say between gulps of air.
"Hey Maggie, just calling to say I'm on my way home. Tell Charlie and Mindie I'm bringing them home a treat, and I'll be there soon," cooed Mrs. Roberts over the crackle of the car phone. I decided it wasn't a good idea to tell her I had no idea where Charlie was and simply told her I would see her in a few minutes.
"Thank God, almost free," I thought as I moved Mindie over to my other arm. "Mommy's going to be home soon, so let's go find your brother, kay?" I told her as I turned to go back up the stairs and continue the search. Just then, the phone rang AGAIN. "What now?" I moaned as I reached for it.
"Hello?" I answered with maybe the slightest hint of irratation in my voice.
"Hey there, baby, catch ya at a bad time?" came the instantly recognizable voice on the other end of the line. I immediately relaxed, a smile spreading across my face.
