Yet another Sunday afternoon in Weiner, Arkansas. The birds sing, the fluffy clouds role by, morning mass was done, and Jesse and his friends ride their bikes around town. Weiner was a small town, only really made popular thanks to Tia on The Bachelor (but this story takes place four years before that season).

Jesse was about fourteen (going on fifteen next month) at the time and was the youngest in his little group. The oldest being Lukas who was seventeen, followed by Olivia and Axel who were sixteen. Then there was Petra who was only older than him by one year, she was fifteen. But this story isn't about the gang.

"We'll hang out later guys. I have to babysit Dan again." said Jesse, pulling over on the sidewalk.

His friends stopped in the middle of the street except Lukas who also went on the sidewalk. "It's okay Jesse, we understand." Lukas reassured.

"But he always has to take care of Dan. Can't Stacy find someone else to babysit him?" Axel complained.

"Leave her alone Axel, being a single mom with a six year old son is probably really hard." Olivia growled.

"Plus, I'm his best friend. A little scamp that one is. We'll just hangout after school tomorrow!" Jesse added.

Petra nodded in agreement. "Sure Jesse, if something comes up we'll be hanging out near the park again." Jesse waved and watched his friends ride their bikes away, in the street no less. A miracle how they never got into an accident before. He saw Axel do a little trick before turning the corner and off they were.

So Jesse got off his bike and walked up the small pathway that went to the door. Babysitting wasn't the best job but it was something, especially since Jess (his older sister) went off to college a few years ago.

Getting onto the front porch he put his bike behind a chair since that's were he always put it, and he walked up to the front door. He didn't even have to knock before he heard a dog start to bark, and that's when the door opened and he saw who was inside. Of course, it was none other than Stacy.

She was smiling but looked distressed. "Thank goodness you're here. Look I don't got time, you know what to do. Oh and Lizzie is here today. You remember her right? Don't answer that I need to go."

Jesse nodded and was let inside. As usual he was almost knocked over thanks to Wink who really liked to pounce on him. He couldn't even close the door before he heard another person behind him. Wink ran off somewhere into the other room and Jesse turned around to see who was outside, though he knew who it was. Mr. Stampy the home-ec and shop (building/fixing stuff) teacher.

Jesse just smirked as he saw the two talking. But in order to move things along he coughed, "I know you two have been dating for about a year but jeez, rent a room love birds."

"Shouldn't you be watching Dan?" Stampy asked, he wasn't as sassy as Stacy was. More sincere.

"Shouldn't you be on a date with her?" Jesse joked.

"Just close the door... never mind I'll do that for you." Stacy groaned, literally closing the door.

With that over and done with Jesse walked into the living room where Dan and his friend Lizzie were playing Jenga. Although Lizzie was seven and Dan was six they had a lot in common, one is their love of games. Another more personal one is their shared condition. It's a medical condition that Jesse didn't know the name of, but basically it affected the hair. It's why Dans hair changes color with his mood, while Lizzies just stays pink. But no need to worry, it doesn't affect the brain or anything; at least to Jesses knowledge.

Wink was on the couch barking at the window, which Dan got up from his seat on the floor to look at. Jesse didn't look though, he could probably guess what Wink was barking at. When Dan got off the couch to go back playing Jenga he did his super secret handshake with Jesse, something he made up himself. And Jesse sat down next to Dan on the floor, nothing against playing Jenga with kids.

"Hey Lizzie." Jesse greeted.

"Hi Jesse!" She said, voice cheerful.

"Mind if I play?" He asked.

Dan laughed, "Prepware to lose!" The kid had always had a speech impediment. But then again, he was six.

The three played for about a good thirty minutes, starting up a new game about five times. Jesse lost most of those times because of his big fingers, but it was still fun. Once Wink ran over the Jenga blocks and ruined the whole game!

Now as they were putting the blocks away Jesse thought he should talk to the kids he's babysitting. "So Dan," he said, "you might have a dad soon. Isn't that cool?"

Dan dropped the Jenga blocks he was holding as if he was surprised. As he picked them up his hair turned yellow: neutral. "You mwean the tweacher?"

"Yeah. He's a cool guy, he teaches me stuff. Like baking!" Jesse said. He didn't want to annoy the kid, but Jesse thought Dan should hear good things about his soon to be dad. And Jesse knew Mr. Stampy was a nice guy, he's just trying to help Dan see that. Maybe it'll help him, who knows.

"But bwakings borwing!" Dan whined.

"Fine. Then I won't make you cookies anymore!" Jesse announced.

Lizzie gasped and Dan's hair turned a slight blue. "No pwease! I want cookies!"

Jesse laughed, "Alright fine, I'll make you cookies. But Mr. Stampy doesn't just teach baking, he fixes stuff!"

"Realwy?" Dan asked.

"Yeah! I can fix my bike on my own now! And remember when your Wii broke?" Jesse asked. Dan nodded and Jesse smiled. "Well your mom brought it to Mr. Stampy and he fixed it!"

Dan rolled his eyes and continued to put the blocks back into the box. When they were done Jesse went to put the box on the closest when he heard Dan and Lizzie talking back in the living room.

"Mr. Stampy sounds cool!" Lizzie said, voice still cheerful.

"Yeah. But I don't wanna dad!" Dan complained.

"Why?" Lizzie asked.

"Becwause," Dan started, "I don't wanna dad! He's gonna take momma away!"

Jesse couldn't help but sympathize with the little six year old. Now Jesse didn't like mingling with others problems unless they desperately needed help, one of the reasons he helped to babysit Dan anyway. And over time by friends and neighbors did he learn the truth. And god, Jesse could relate to the story.

(Note: No offense to anyone who actually lives in Weiner. I bet you're all amazing people!)

Weiner was full of three types of men. The good guys, the normies, and the jerks. Sadly this story involves one of the jerks (aka assholes).

About six years ago, or possibly more Stacy met this man. No one knows where but it didn't matter, they hit it off like the crack of a whip. Soon enough, Stacy got pregnant and the guy started to freak out. So a few weeks after little Dan was born the guy bailed. But Stacy couldn't spend time crying over him, she had a child to raise gosh darn it! But after five years, Mr. Garrett (though all the students call him Mr. Stampy or Mr. Cat) moved into town and became a teacher in the local high school. And the story wraps up from there, because the rest is history.

Still, Jesse could relate to the kid. He didn't have a good dad either, he only read cared about Jess. He payed more attention to her than to his son, his own son. Probably why Jesse spends so much time being outside, to get away from his idiot father. But love works in mysterious ways.
And to be honest, Jesse thought it was cute what Dan said. He didn't want to lose his mom to some random guy. I would feel the same way Jesse thought.

So Jesse walked back into the living room and sat down on the floor next to Dan. "You know, Mr. Stampy isn't going to take your mom away."

"You where wistening to us!" Dan squealed.

"Yeah, but that isn't the point here. But listening to other peoples conversations are wrong and you should never do it. But come on, do you really think Mr. Stampy is going to take your mom away?"

Dan stayed silent and Jesse continued talking to the little boy. "Now I don't know a whole lot about this love stuff, but I know your mom and Mr. Stampy love each other. And Mr. Stampy wants to be your dad! You know how you're happy when you play Jenga?" Dan nodded and Jesse smiled. "Well Mr. Stampy makes your mom happy. And I know how much you hate it when you cant play any games. Well your mom also felt the same way for a long time, sad. But like you she always finds something else to do. Do you really want to make your mom sad?"

At this point Dan started crying and his hair turned a deep shade of blue, maybe even black. "N-no." he stuttered.

"Then what are you crying about? Come on, you and Lizzie can throw water balloons at me in the backyard!" Jesse encouraged.

Dan wiped the tears off his face and smiled (he was missing a tooth) and Lizzie (who went into a different room while Dan and Jesse where having a moment) ran into the room jumping up and down. And for the rest of the afternoon Lizzie and Dan threw water balloons at Jesse as some sort of punishment for eavesdropping (Wink even tried to catch some in his mouth), at least until Lizzies mom came and she had to go home.

So by the time seven thirty rolled around Dan was already sleepy, so to make Dan go to sleep Jesse put on Shrek, and just like Disney magic Dan fell asleep. As Jesse plopped the sleeping kid into his bed Wink started to bark. So in a brilliant moment, Jesse shoved the dog into the bathroom and closed the door. When Wink barks that means that- But Jesse's thoughts where interrupted by the front door opening.

Of course Stacy walked in, Mr. Stampy following after her. The two looked over and saw Jesse who was just about to run into them. "Alright Jesse, thanks for babysitting again. Here's a twenty, that's all the cash I have." Stacy said handing Jesse a twenty dollar bill.

Jesse said goodnight to the two and got his bike. He was about to ride off when he heard Mr. Stampy ask, "Jesse! Did you finish your homework?" Jesse biked off so fast after that, because it was the one thing he forgot to do. His homework.

What? You'd thought I would leave you with such a crappy ending? Come on now, get real! Here's the rest.

~~~

Two years later Jesse was sort of surprised when he got an invitation to Stacy and Stampys wedding, though only he got it and not the rest of his family. Makes sense, a lot of people hate Jesse's dad. Luckily it was in the summer so there was no homework for Jesse to do, and his invitation also had a plus 1, so he brought Petra along (as much as she wanted to say no she went anyway).

After the whole wedding thing, guess who had to look over Dan for a week while the two love birds where on their honeymoon? Yep, Jesse. Unlike when Dan was six, the kid was more mature now for an eight year old. He wasn't stoked about changing his last name but that was about it (besides his mom being away for a week).

Now, four years after that life changing conversation with little Dan, it was the spring of 2018. Jesse graduated from high school and he and Petra where now dating. Lukas moved to California for college, Axel worked at the auto shop with Olivia.

Jesse was riding his bike down the street in the afternoon, then he went onto the sidewalk and stopped at a familiar house. "Hmm, it wouldn't hurt to say hello." He said to himself.

So Jesse walked up the path and put his bike behind the chair, it was a different chair but he still put his bike behind it. Yet before he could knock on the door a dog started barking Wink! Then someone opened the door, it wasn't Stacy or even Stampy. When Jesse looked down he saw a little boy with grey hair, though when the boy saw Jesse his hair turned electric blue. "Jesse!" said the boy, it was none other than Dan.

"Hey Dan!" Jesse greeted, and of course Wink ran past the ten year old and jumped towards Jesse, who miraculously caught the dog.

But then another voice spoke, a male voice. "Dan? How many times do your mother and I have to tell you, stop opening the door to strangers!"

"But dad, it's Jesse!" Dan yelled to the voice.

"Jesse? Well bring him in here!" The voice said.

Dan grabbed Jesses hand and lead him inside, it was almost the same as it was four years ago with a few slight changed. Wink jumped out of Jesse's arms and ran around. Dan lead Jesse to the kitchen where he saw none other than Stampy in a bakers hat and he was stirring something in a tin pot. Probably making cake. Jesse thought.

"Jesse!" Stampy said cheerfully, "where have you been? Dan might be ten but it doesn't mean you can't hang out with him!"

"Where's Stacy?" Jesse asked, he was just curious.

"At work, she wont be home for another two hours or so." Dan said. At least he doesn't have a lisp anymore. Jesse thought.

"Well sorry Jesse, but it's the weekend and Dan doesn't need a babysitter anymore." Stampy explained.

"Yeah!" Dan agreed.

"I was just stopping by, I'll leave if I'm ruining something."

"No you didn't ruin anything, in fact you can help if you wish. Lets see if you really know how to bake Jesse." Stampy said.

Of course, Jesse accepted the challenge and the result was a fantastic cake, and a pumpkin pie. Conveniently they heard a car park in the driveway and the front door open, and the lady who walked in was greeted by a boy covered in flour and a quick kiss on the cheek from Stampy. Clearly it was Stacy who did one of her classic dramatic gasps. She basically forced him to stay for dinner.

It was only four years ago when Jesse first met this family. Dan, a little boy with a hair condition and loves his mom. Stacy, single mother who wants the best for her son. Then Stampy, who married into that family. Though Jesse was more than 'just a babysitter' at this point, he was a family friend. And he helped them out of the Little Boy Blues.