My car…

“I heard mom and dad arguing the other night.” A youngster said to her nanny as they walked hand in hand to school.

“Whenever your mom and dad are talking try and go to your room. It is adult talk and you might be bothered by it.” The nanny said.

” Well last time mom argued with my dad, he left and did not return until I was in the fourth grade.” The youngster said.

”That’s too bad.” The nanny said still holding her hand walking with her.

By now they were walking along a fence laced with tall grass and insects. The neighborhood seemed old, historical and some parts of it were dilapidated. The school was a couple of blocks down the street. Most parents walked their kids to school. The older ones preferred to ride a bus or to drive themselves.

”I bet that’s why my mom invited you to help us. She doesn’t want to have this dad leave us too. I am no longer in the fourth grade now. How will he come back? I am in the fifth grade now.” She said as if talking to no one in particular.

She picked up pace and let go of her nanny’s hand. She could see other kids her age walking with determined expressions on their faces wanting not to be late. The school zone was upfront and by hook or crooks they were going to enter all the gates of the scholl and leave the messy adults behind.

“Bye! I am going to class now! You can’t come in. I don’t think. My teacher said we have to let adults know that they can leave us to enter the gates alone….. okay I will see you later.” The youngster said and walked to class waving her hand.

The nanny walked home. She didn’t have an experience taking care of other people’s children. It was her first job after she finished taking child development classes post high school graduation.

She wasn’t supposed to worry about private personal issues of the family whose daughter she was taking care of.

She hurried home and picked up after the dog when she entered the gate. Sometimes she walked with the dog when she is walking her to school. Not that day, they left the dog behind.

She entered the kitchen and picked up after everyone. The mother who hired her was on the phone talking to someone about specifications and “I am on my way. I’ ll see you in a few minutes.” She hung up the phone.

“How was she today? Cranky! Was she okay!” The mother asked the nanny picking up many small round items to her bag, blush, lip balm, etc.

”Oh yes, I almost forgot to mention that she could hear you when you disagreed with your husband. He overheard the last conversation and she is worried. Maybe she can go to camp this coming long weekend.” The nanny said.

”Oh sure. I am sorry about that. It’s nothing really. I want a new car.” she said

”She thinks he will leave.” the nanny said.

”Oh my God I forgot about that! We are fine I want a new car that’s all. I want a new car.” she said not caring how she sounded.

”Be considerate to her. She is still upset. She is not all the way back. I promise you we can help her without therapy. I will research a few things that we can do to fix this. We don’t need a setback.” The nanny said.

”I have to rush to work. I will email her teacher later.” She said.

She rushed out of the door.

The nanny cleaned up and locked the door and left. She would have to return later to pick up the daughter from

school. Sometimes she drove to her school sometimes she walked to pick her up.

After school with the nanny waiting, she walked out of class like all other students did. Hand in hand they walked away from school home bound.

“Hi nanny, how are you? School was fun today. I got an A on my test and S on my vocabulary. Which means satisfac-t-c-Tory. Is that how you say that? I always have a difficult time with that word. I don’t know why.” The youngster said.

”Satisfactory.” The nanny repeated.

“How was school?” The nanny asked.

”Fine. I still have to ask mommy what she meant by overdrive? Driving that is over? Is that why we are walking. I don’t like walking sometimes. I like waiting in line with all other kids and their moms in cars. You can drive and pick me up too.” She said.

”Oh sure, no problem. I’ll let your mom know. By the way, your mom meant a car. It’s called Triumph Overdrive. She wants a new car. It’s a sports car though but it sits four or five. That’s what she meant by Overdrive.” The nanny said.

”Overdrive, overdrive, I hope dad lets her have it. I heard her say….’ You don’t want me to have anything nice… anything I want ‘“ she said making faces mimicking her mom as she imagined her.

”I’ll race you to the door!” The nanny said.

”Hi mommy, I am home!” She said on the phone after calling her mom.

”I wanted to say that we were talking about you just now. We walked home again today. Anyway, mom, I like driving with you in the car. Can she drive me to school instead of the nanny walking with me? I get hot and sweat when we walk and I have a funky smell when I start class because it’s hot in the morning. Just now I am sweating but at least it’s after school. I am going to rush and take a bath. You know what I mean mom.” She said.

”Honey I am at work. I’ll talk to her. She wanted to lose weight. I am sure she won’t mind driving you to school.

What else honey? Oh before I forget. Go to my closet I have a shopping bag for you and there are tights and a t shirt for you and candy. Have fun. I’ll see you when I get home with daddy.” She said and hung up the phone.

Her daughter went to her closet and pillaged the shopping bag for candy. Turned on the TV and laid on her back and watched cartoons on TV

“This is the life. School finished, just me and candy and cartoons!”

she said.