"In a week. I work what I'm given to understand are fairly standard American work hours; if that's too much of your day, I can find someone to alternate with you?"

"I mean, if he's a total holy terror, it might get to be a bit much, but Bella doesn't describe him like that, so I could do other stuff. Can I bring you my DDR setup and wear him out playing it?"

"I haven't the foggiest notion what that is, but assuming it's as harmless as it sounds, by all means."

"It's a video game that you play by dancing!"

"If you can convince him to dance, by all means. And if possible, videotape."

"Will do. Okay, I don't want to totally wreck your bank account, here, and if it was just a couple of days of crisis I'd do it for free, but Bella's not sure how long it's gonna take before she can find the dude - and after she finds the dude are you still going to need a babysitter what with school being out?"

"By themselves, summers aren't an issue. I've found an affordable day care that Kevin likes well enough. But the day care doesn't count as a residence, and none of his minders know enough to be properly warned. I'd much rather the both of you were safely behind an invitation-only barrier."

"Right. Aaannd Bella thinks that a smart vampire will set the house on fire so I will get on learning how to make things be not on fire in case extinguishers don't cut it or require unsafe amounts of going outside."

"I have a couple of spells marked out for you, they'll be waiting when you get here. There's also a dousing potion Alli can make for emergencies, but it's very thorough and I really wouldn't use it unless you can swim."

"I can swim, I dunno if I can swim while keeping a little kid afloat. Thank you for doing my magic homework for me. Is there any other stuff I should know?"

"...of course. It's my job, after all, and you're doing me an enormous favor. It's the least I can do." She considers the swimming issue. "Kevin isn't a stellar swimmer, precisely, but he can certainly keep himself afloat under his own power. I'll talk to Alli about getting emergency potions. I'm afraid I can't think of anything else, but I'll let you know if it occurs to me."

"So he's not allergic to anything or afraid of plastic jewelry or - whatever? Okay. What are we paying me?"

"He likes cars...? Nothing unusual as far as I know. I admit I haven't a clue what American salaries are like. Say 'base wage' and leave it at that, whatever that is?"

"Minimum wage is - I think six-something? Six-fifty, six-seventy-five? If we assume the McDonald's that Meg works for pays minimum wage to teenagers, which I think we can assume."

"From what I know of McDonald's, that seems fair," Tamara agrees dryly. "I'll have it for you your first day. Just let me know what exact day that is when you have a moment, please?"

"Iiiiit's - we're off on Friday, so Friday."

"All right. I'll see you next Monday, then. Good luck on your exams. And thank you again for your help."

"You don't want me over Friday? I don't go to school on Friday, that's when we're over with. I think maybe AP exams happen then but I'm not in any AP courses."

"Oh, so you're all done Thursday then? Thursday seemed an odd final day, but the advanced exams make sense. Friday it is."

"Okay, I'll be over that morning, Bella will probably drop me off."

"All right then, we'll see you on Friday."

"Hi, Kevin. You can call me Soph for short."

"Hi Soph."