Girl in Charge

Whenever I had to go out of town on business Anne was always wanting to know how long I'd be gone, where was I going and when would I be home.  Before I would leave, I would pull Anne aside in confidence and say something like "look Anne, you're going to be the only girl here while I'm gone, you think you can take care of everything?  It's just going to be you and the boys, and you know how they are...."  Anne would take a great big deep breath and inhale,  raise her eyebrows as though I was asking her to move a mountain, and then get the "O" face and nod her head in conspiracy. 

When I would arrive home I would  take a hot bath that night.  Like clockwork, Anne would pull the wicker stool over to the bath tub, plop down on it and begin a diatribe of what had happened while she was in charge.   I would listen and praise her on what a great job she had done and would tell her it was a good thing she was here or who knew what might have happened.  And like clockwork, Anne would cock her head to the side just a little, nod and make the "O" face.