I rang the doorbell of a large house in my neighbourhood and stood before the door feeling nervous. It was going to be my first day on the new job I had just gotten. It was just going to be a simple weekend job I had decided to take up just to do something different after a week of study with my tutors at home. I had just graduated from secondary school and my parents thought it ideal to get me the best lecturers to tutor me privately for matriculation into university. I thought this job would be a new experience.
The door swung open and I was greeted by a tall brunette woman. She gave a dignified smiled and asked "Are you the new babysitter?". "Yes", I answered as I gave a mousy little smile. "Come in and I'll show you around" she said. I walked in reluctantly into the living area that was large,cold and filled with expensive furniture,not very different from my home I thought. "So the kitchen is in the back and we have six bedrooms upstairs and I guess it's almost like your house since you do live just a few blocks down" she said. "So it should'nt really be a problem I would think" she added. "No Mrs. Smith" I said. "Let me show you to Edmunds room upstairs" We walked up the carpeted staircase and turned to the right. There down the corner was a white door that she opened. "Edmund come here" she said. I saw a little boy get up and run towards his mother. He looked up at me. "Mummy who's that?" He asked in a small voice." She is Lily your new nanny on the weekends when mummy and daddy are busy". "Hey Edmund" I said to him and gave him a little wave and tried to smile as sweetly as I could. "Hi",he replied as he hid behind his mothers legs. "He is a little shy now but he will get used to it" Mrs. Smith said. "So we will be out at 4:00 in the evening every Saturday and would only come back later in the night at around 11"she said." I already told you his routine before and I have a list prepared on the counter if you need it and please call if anything isn't right" she said very seriously. "Alright Mrs. Smith, you have nothing to worry about" I said trying to sound confident. "Well I leave now then. Bye my baby boy. You be good for mummy alright", she said as she bent down and kissed his head. Soon after she left and I was with Edmund,the little boy, in the living room.
"Hey. Your name is Edmund right?" I said to the little boy as I bent to his height. He was such an adorable little creature,small and handsome. "Yes" he answered meekly.I tried to be friendly and seem less intimidating to him by kneeling down. "How old are you?" "Five years old" "I'm Lily. I'm 18" "What do you like to do Edmund?" "Play with my toys" "Would you show me some of your favourite toys?" "Umm...ok...". I offered my hand and he put his little hand in mine and we went up to his room.
He showed me his favourite toys which was a red toy car and a toy ship. I smiled and told him they were awesome and asked if I could play with him now. He agreed and soon enough he was warming up to me and started talking to me like we had been the best of friends for a long time. I always admired that in little children.
We played for awhile and I listened to all his stories. "Lily I'm hungry" he said. "Alright, I'll get you something to eat" I said and we went down together and I made sandwiches for the both of us. Taking care of a child for more than half an hour was very new to me but I always adored little children. They never judge and they never hurt and they are fun to be around. It was my first day so I wanted to do all I could to keep Edmund happy and fulfill Mrs. Smiths routine to give a good first impression and keep this job for awhile.Plus, I could use this money and stop being so depended on my paid-for credit card and save some as well.
After we finished our sandwiches, we went out to play fetch with the Collie, Teddy in the front yard under the tall shady trees.We spent the rest of the time watching cartoons and I fed him the dinner that was prepared for him and soon enough it was time for me to put him to bed at 9. It took him quite awhile to go to sleep and he wanted me to read him a story as well just like his mummy would when she was at home. Soon he fell asleep and I went downstairs. There was about an hour left for Mrs. Smith to arrive so I was just channel hopping and thinking. I thought it was a good first day and that Mr and Mrs. Smith would be pleased and Edmund was not difficult as I had imagined before coming here. Preparing for the worst and to be extremely drained of energy by the end of it all but it was different. He was a good kid and it felt like spending time with him rather than merely watching him or keeping him out of trouble. They seem like a happy family in all those family pictures they have up but the parents are rarely around. That always becomes a problem after some time,just like in my house. My parents eventually got me my own place in this neighbourhood and a car.They pay for education and a credit card and thats all there is. I rarely ever see them.
"Lily,Lily" I heard a voice call. It was Mrs. Smith. I had fallen asleep on the couch. "You must be really tired, but you did a good job this week" she said as she handed me my money. I received it and thanked her for it and left to go home and get some rest.
