In his early 20s, Kevin Renn moved to New York City with dreams of making it as a playwright. When money got tight, he decided to fall back on a familiar option: babysitting. “The question, though, wasn’t whether I would be a good nanny, but if anyone would let me — as a Black man who is over six feet tall,” Kevin said in his Modern Love essay. Kevin soon became a nanny to Lucas, a 4-year-old boy with a wide smile and stylish parents. Today, Kevin takes us into his secret world with Lucas — their intertwining daily routines, the nights full of spaghetti and meatballs and jazz music, and the times they stood up to strangers with a phrase that became their refrain: “Do it, I dare you.” Then, we get to hear from Lucas, now 7 years old.
[phone ringing]
Emily Martin (on Phone): Hello?
Anna Martin: Hey, Em.
Emily Martin (on Phone): Hey, Anna.
[music]
Anna Martin: From The New York Times,
I'm Anna Martin.
This is Modern Love.
And that's my sister Emily.
Do you remember Ms. Dina?
Emily Martin: Of course I remember Ms. Dina.
She was our babysitter when we were living in D.C.
Anna Martin: Ms. Dina took care of me and Emily when we were young,
and she's this totally mythical figure to us.
Our memories of her are full of color.
I remember her hair is like fire engine red.
Emily Martin: Me too.
That's the only color I remember.
Anna Martin: I remember her laugh.
Emily Martin: I feel like she was constantly smiling.