Bobby blinked twice, he opened his eyes sleepily. He shook his head,trying to remember where he was and what was going on. He remembered! Derek had been over and had promised not to leave even if he went to sleep. He sat up quickly looking for his friend. He heard Derek talking on the phone in a low voice. He looked up to see him sitting close by on what looked to be Bobby’s cell phone. Even though Derek was talking quietly Bobby could hear his end of the conversation.

“Me too” Derek said “I totally agree, of course I can cake care of it. I think we will both feel better”

Bobby was curious about who Derek was using his phone to talk to. He he waved at the taller boy and catching his friends attention mouthed “who’s on the phone”

Noticing his friend Derek simply winked and continued his call “no problem, that seems like a good idea, no, I’ll tell him now, okay Johanna, good talking to you. See you later” Derek said before hanging up the phone.

Bobby looked at Derek in surprise “was that my mom, since when do you call her Johanna and why did you answer my phone”

Derek shrugged “Yah bud, that was Mommy, I saw that she was calling you and I kind of wanted to talk to her about some stuff so I answered...sorry about that”

Unbothered by his friends use of his phone Bobby nodded “why did you want to talk to my mom though”

Derek paused then stood up and moved to the sofa so he was sitting next to his smaller friend. He took a deep breath “well Buddy... I’ve been sort of worried about you since Mommy went back to work. I mean she’s not home much right now and it just kind of seems like maybe you’re lonely and maybe you need some help”

Bobby opened his mouth to speak but not finding any words he just looked down.

Derek put his hand in his friend’s shoulder “it’s nothing bad Bobby I’ve just noticed some stuff, like this morning with your shoes and sometimes your clothes aren’t clean. You’ve been forgetting your lunch and your rooms a mess plus I heard Mrs. Johnson yelling at you about not doing homework yesterday. I just think you need some help. There’s nothing wrong with needing help right buddy”

Derek waited for the smaller boy to nod his agreement before continuing “so your mom and I talk and she’s been worried too so we came up with an idea, starting tonight we will walk home together everyday and I’ll come over and stay with you until your mom gets home and in the mornings I’m going to start coming over to help you get ready for school. Wont that be great bud you wont have to be alone anymore.” Derek looked at his smaller friend to gage his reaction.

Bobby thought for a second “so you’ll come over every morning” He asked. Derek nodded “and everyday after school too” that got another nod” Bobby froze “wait... are you like my babysitter now”

Derek considered the question before answering “ look Bobby you’re my best friend and we’re always going to be friends but both mommy and I agree you staying alone isn’t workings so I’m going to help out... but yes technically I guess I’ll be babysitting you from now on when your mom can’t be here with you”

Bobby’s stomach was doing circles. He tried to take a deep breath but he couldn’t help it, the words came spilling out. “But I’m older than you and I can take care of my own self” Bobby looked to his friend. They both knew he was lying.

Derek gave the boy a small smile and gave him a little squeeze “I don’t want to embarrass you buddy but you obviously can’t take care of yourself. Your room is a mess, you forget to eat and change your clothes! You can’t even remember to put on socks. To me that sounds like you need help and I want to help you Bobby if you’ll let me”

Bobby opened his mouth to retort the closed it. He looked down studying his toes. He didn’t know what to say, everything Derek said was true.

Making a decision he looked up with a sigh. He couldn’t meet Derek’s eye but he nodded “I guess I do need help and it will be great to get to hang out so much.

Derek pulled his little friend into a tight hug “yah it will buddy and you’ll see everything is going to be so much better now”

Bobby found himself nodding into his friend’s shoulder as he hugged him back.