Pawsitively Improvised

Tears of Trouble

Chapter 9

The next day she was determined to have a day that went the way it was supposed to. Jude’s clothes were folded neatly in a bag to return. Again. Freshly laundered, of course. Her ‘swim wear’ was inside a small tote along with dry clothing for afterward. She was already doing better than the day before.

Renaldo had been walked and fed. The t.v. had been turned on to keep him entertained for the day. She even made it out the door before he could give her his usual inappropriate send off. It was going to be a good day. Those thoughts were what ended up jinxing her day. She was sure of it.

Once she was at work, everything went downhill. Again, she was enemy number one. Not only were glares sent her way all day, but she was relegated to potty duty as well. She had never realized how many boys couldn’t hit the large bowl of water. Perhaps couldn’t wasn’t the right word. Wouldn’t was more of an apt description. She had caught three different little boys playing some kind of make-believe game while aiming everywhere except the toilet. How the heck did anyone get a young boy to aim correctly? If her fellow coworkers had a trick for it, they weren’t telling. Instead, they giggled and sent smug looks her way after every mess she cleaned up. She was determined not to let it all get to her, however. Sinking to their level was not about to happen.

When naptime rolled around, she nearly cried. Her shoulders sagged as she slumped into a chair after the lights were off. It didn’t even annoy her when everyone left her alone to manage the kids. They were all on their own mats snuggled down with blankets. It was quiet and serene finally. A nice reprieve from chasing busy little bodies all over under the hateful glares of the other women. She had peace at last.

A high pitched scream shattered the silence of the room. Dropping her phone, she scanned the kids until she saw two that were awake. Although, because of the restless shifting of others, they wouldn’t be for long. Hustling over, she assessed the situation. Madeline was in full hysterics with tears pouring down her hot cheeks. Kevin, in contrast, had the biggest smile as he laughed. In one hand he held a pair of safety scissors. In the other was a cinnamon colored ringlet. The curly hank was suspiciously identical to the little girl’s hair. Whatever happened from that point on would not be pleasant.

“Kevin. Why did you do that?”

“We were playing barber.” The little twerp had the nerve to proudly hold up the hair he had cut with a smile while Madeline was still having a break down. Thank goodness the noise she was making drew some of the other women back to the room. After explanations were given, it was her that they were giving dirty looks to instead of the pint-sized culprit. By then, the other kids were awake and watching the scene unfold. One of the women saw to the children as the rest of them swarmed to Madeline in her distress. For her lack of attention, she was relegated to taking Kevin to the head office.

That’s how she found herself seated next to a now panicking boy. It would have been more helpful if he had seen the error of the action before he had done it. Did she believe for one minute that Madeline agreed for Kevin to cut her hair? Absolutely not.

They were both let into the office together. Instead of standing behind him as he received his punishment, she was told to take the seat next to him. They both sat in front of the desk equally in trouble for the deed. The only saving grace was that her boss waited to talk to her until Kevin was escorted back to the room by one of the office workers. His scissors were confiscated before he left. They discovered that it didn’t even belong to the daycare. He had brought his own pair in his backpack. It would be returned to his parents when he was picked up. Each room of the day care was now going to have to search every kid’s back upon arrival each day too.

“How did this happen, Kira?”

“I don’t know. They were all sleeping, as far as I could see. I admit that I was on my phone when it happened though. I didn’t think anything of it since it was nap time.” She wanted to slump down in her chair to hide from the whole mess. She should have been watching. There was no way around it.

“What were the others doing?” The question derailed her guilt-ridden thoughts.

“Others?”

“Yes, others. The coworkers that were scheduled to be in that room for the day.”

“I don’t understand what you mean. It was nap time.” Her boss looked at her in silence. She could tell something was amiss, but nothing came to mind.

“Were they on break?”

“I have no idea.” Her response brought a frown to the other woman’s face.

“Have you been doing nap time by yourself since you started?” What was she getting at? Wasn’t it normal for one of them to stay in the room alone at that time?

“Yes.” Her answer was hesitant. She had no idea what was going on at that point.

“I see.” It was only two little words spoken but they held so much meaning. Taking a moment, she thought over the last few days. Nap time happens in the afternoon in her room. On her first day, they had taken it after returning from the pool. Could they have been leaving her alone out of spite? Before working there, she wouldn’t have thought grown women capable of such childishness. Now she knew better.

“For the rest of the workday I want you stationed at a computer here in the office. You will be compiling a note for parents covering acceptable behavior. Use the handbook so nothing is left out. You will also explain the daily bag searches. I will require a parent’s signature on every note by tomorrow. You will be personally handing them to each parent and answering any questions they have. You will not use Kevin’s nor Madeline’s names when discussing with the other parents. I will handle the parents of those two children. You will send them to my office before they pick their children up.”

“Yes ma’am.” There was nothing else she could do at that point but agree. She had earned the punishment but was more than grateful it hadn’t been more severe.

Walking out of the office, she found the two-inch-thick handbook. The only computer available was positioned in the back corner of the reception area. How fitting that, as an adult, she still found herself sent to the corner. Opening the binder, she got to work. Just because it was a reprimand, there was no reason to not do the task to the best of her abilities. She was going to rock her punishment.

After it had been completed and okayed by her boss, she positioned herself by the sign out station. She was completely pleasant and professional as she dealt with every person through the door. After hearing Kevin’s mom blow up and then Madeline’s mom, she became more enthused in her post. She was glad those were two parents she wouldn’t have to talk to. Her boss had even taken two forms from her before she started. She tried her best to distract the other parents from the yelling. Cringing at the loud voices, she was well aware that her task could have been much worse.