Palmer's Babysitter

Chapter 1~The Call for Duty

Chapter One

I stepped into the old brick building with huge old double doors. Right up front the was a big desk with file shelves right behind it. To the right was a wooden board with keys hung on hooks. The area looked very gloomy even with the light from the windows and electrical light bulbs were shining. It was practically an open, wide space with the receptionist's desk and a few waiting chairs as the only furniture.

I walked up to the wooden desk which had a bell on it. As soon as I was about to tap it a lady immediately stood up behind the desk frightening me. "Hello dear. What can I do for you?"

I tried to gain my composure as I began to speak. "Hi, I'm Natalie Anderson." I shook her the short lady's hand. Her name tag said Abigail. She had enough wrinkles on her face indicating she is in her mid 40's or early 50's.

"You're the one who called about an apartment?" She said with a seemingly never fading smile on her face.

"Yes Ma'am."

She kindly accepted it and took a few minutes to read it over. " Well first of all how old are you honey?" A tiny bit of sweat broke out.

"I'm nineteen ma'am." I lied.

"May I see your Identification card?" I nodded and handed my fake ID to her. " Okay..." She said while scanning over it. "What is your occupation if I may ask. You need to have a sure job to keep up with rent."

"I'm a legal babysitter." I fished in my purse and took out my babysitter license. "Here's my license to babysitting." I showed them both to her. I held out a finger signaling her to wait while I took out money. "And I also have money covered for two months."

She looked at me with satisfaction and nodded her head. She then gave me papers to sign while I looked up to her and gave a quite subtle smirk.

"Thank you so much." I said smiling when she gave me the key.

She then began to blabber about rules. I couldn't care less, I'm not going to be here forever. Hopefully very soon I would giving her back the key.

I've been moving like a nomad to try to find new children to take care of and this is just a temporary place. This was just like another beginning.

I didn't have a problem with getting apartments and jobs all over the country. With my sweet charm I give almost everyone a good impression of myself. I have raven coloured hair reaching just a few inches below my shoulders to give me a mature look. My teeth are perfectly straightened because of the magic of braces. I stand at a 5'7 and my body goes oddly with my height. I was not blessed with the best physical structure and I didn't have the effort or the motivation to make and changes about it. I'm not really satisfied but I just don't want to try. My eyes are brown. Not light brown but so dark that seems black when its not directly in the sun. Many people say that my eyes are pretty. I don't know what they found appealing about them. My eyes are plain and simple, not special.

I'm just me. Natalie. Nothing special.

I used to think that I was cursed compared to other people my age. But I realized I should look to the silver lining more often, even if it seems really thin. Maybe I can write a book about my experiences, it could be popular... or maybe it won't. I'm not special, nothing about me is special. in fact I might just be below average.

I was at the lowest low that any person can feel, both mentally and emotionally. I try to be positive but my mind always hits rock bottom. I cant even see myself past five years...

I felt so lost.

I live in a shelter that houses for people like me with a small fee. I am smart enough at a secondary level, but I didn't finish the senior year of high school. I was too busy recovering from tragedies and trying to give myself the necessities in life than to find money for a college. Although I sometimes did save 5% of what I earned but that'll never be enough for even the cheapest community college..