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During my high school years I lived next door to a family with three boys (Matthew, Adam, Tyler) and wound up being a somewhat ideal babysitting option for their parents (Doug and Marlene). Since I didn’t tend to engage in much extra-curricular activities beyond the time I spent in my Sensei’s dojos I was often home and open to bringing my homework over with me if Doug and Marlene suddenly felt an urge to see a movie or step out with friends.
I got along with the boys quite well, becoming an honorary fourth brother for a few years. I could answer questions on everything from comic books to the melodramas of high school life and I was also, thanks to the above mentioned dojo time, fully versed in various methods of low risk but ‘fun ride’ horseplay. And due to my stealthy use of the many doors in their house during games of hide-and-seek I had them somewhat convinced I was concealing superpowers for a stint.
They were great kids and I had a blast popping over a couple times a week to keep an eye on them, or simply be in the house while their parents went out after the crew was already asleep. I had been playing my role as the itinerant fourth sibling for several months before Doug and Marlene took the plunge and had me take a longer shift, one which involved putting the crew to bed.