Read Online London Harmony: Flotilla by Erik Schubach - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Erik Schubach
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table.
After they had finished eating, I washed the dishes, having the little ones dry them. We made a game out of it. I had them tell me where the dishes went, and I lifted one of them at a time to have them place each dish in the little cupboards above the kitchenette.
Then I looked at the time. The school was a kilometer away. With the roos, it would take us a good ten or fifteen minutes to get there. I said, “Come now, we better get a move on, where are your wellies and macs?”
They went squealing into their room, I grinned again, I was doing a lot of that lately. Did children squeal when they did everything? Must movement come with volume? The answer, of course, is yes, they are kids.
That grin became a big smile. Wil's wellies were bright yellow with little duck faces painted on them. They looked a lot like the ones Paya had on. Nat's were adorable pink and purple with daisies printed on them. They had matching macs. I had them get into their winter jackets and put the raincoats over them. When they had the rain gear on and I was satisfied they would survive the monsoon, we were off.
Natalie grabbed a small clear brolly, which had a purple handle, from a cane rack at the door. Then we ventured down and out onto the streets, Wil holding my hand as we huddled under my umbrella. Nat walked on my other side, splashing in every puddle that deigned to park itself in her path.
She asked cutely, “Are you gonna be our new forever babysitter Auntie Kanga? You're more fun than Olivia.”
I shrugged, not knowing how to answer that. There was so much hope in her voice. How could I tell her that it was just this once? I sighed and hated myself because I knew that the truth was always the best, even if it hurt a little.
I shook my head and said with a heavy heart, “No, I'm just doing a favor for your mum today, your normal sitter is down with the flu.”
She grumped a little, looking down and splashing a puddle just to teach it a lesson. Then she looked up hopefully, “The flu lasts fer more than a day. Peggy Anderson was outta class for four whole days. Will you be our sitter 'til Olivia gets better?”
I cocked my head at her. Both she and Wil had hopeful looks on their faces as they looked up at me with their mother's eyes. I sighed again and just nodded once as I tentatively agreed with provisions, “I'll ask your mother what her plans are until this Olivia returns. I can't promise anything though, it is up to her, and Paya may need me for Flotilla business.”
They cheered and went about happily splashing puddles the rest of the way to school. I walked them inside and found the headmaster's office and spoke with the attendance clerk; an older woman with white hair and sharp eyes. “Hello, I'm Angie Wells, I'm sitting for Stephanie Draper today. I just thought I'd pop in and let you know I'll be picking Natalie here up after class instead of her normal sitter. In case someone thinks to tackle me at the door.”
The woman nodded with a sly grin at my humor, and said as if it happened all the time, which it probably did. “Yes, Mrs. Draper called. I'll need your contact information since she's your ward for the day.”
I nodded and wrote down the number of the mobile that Paya gave me. I'm still not sure if I believe that it is a 'company phone' as she insists. I'm sure she knows it is the only way I would have accepted it.
I squatted and took off Nat's rain bonnet and handed it to her and I smoothed her hair back. “I'll see you after class little roo.”
She nodded seriously and said with surety, “Ok, Auntie Kanga.”
I hugged her, and she zoomed off down the hall into a mass of little girls who were passing by, slipping seamlessly into whatever topic they were chattering about.
I chuckled and shared a knowing look with the woman behind the desk. I said to her, “Thank you. Have a great day.” She nodded, and I looked down at little Wil.
He looked tired from our walk so I hoisted him onto a hip and
After they had finished eating, I washed the dishes, having the little ones dry them. We made a game out of it. I had them tell me where the dishes went, and I lifted one of them at a time to have them place each dish in the little cupboards above the kitchenette.
Then I looked at the time. The school was a kilometer away. With the roos, it would take us a good ten or fifteen minutes to get there. I said, “Come now, we better get a move on, where are your wellies and macs?”
They went squealing into their room, I grinned again, I was doing a lot of that lately. Did children squeal when they did everything? Must movement come with volume? The answer, of course, is yes, they are kids.
That grin became a big smile. Wil's wellies were bright yellow with little duck faces painted on them. They looked a lot like the ones Paya had on. Nat's were adorable pink and purple with daisies printed on them. They had matching macs. I had them get into their winter jackets and put the raincoats over them. When they had the rain gear on and I was satisfied they would survive the monsoon, we were off.
Natalie grabbed a small clear brolly, which had a purple handle, from a cane rack at the door. Then we ventured down and out onto the streets, Wil holding my hand as we huddled under my umbrella. Nat walked on my other side, splashing in every puddle that deigned to park itself in her path.
She asked cutely, “Are you gonna be our new forever babysitter Auntie Kanga? You're more fun than Olivia.”
I shrugged, not knowing how to answer that. There was so much hope in her voice. How could I tell her that it was just this once? I sighed and hated myself because I knew that the truth was always the best, even if it hurt a little.
I shook my head and said with a heavy heart, “No, I'm just doing a favor for your mum today, your normal sitter is down with the flu.”
She grumped a little, looking down and splashing a puddle just to teach it a lesson. Then she looked up hopefully, “The flu lasts fer more than a day. Peggy Anderson was outta class for four whole days. Will you be our sitter 'til Olivia gets better?”
I cocked my head at her. Both she and Wil had hopeful looks on their faces as they looked up at me with their mother's eyes. I sighed again and just nodded once as I tentatively agreed with provisions, “I'll ask your mother what her plans are until this Olivia returns. I can't promise anything though, it is up to her, and Paya may need me for Flotilla business.”
They cheered and went about happily splashing puddles the rest of the way to school. I walked them inside and found the headmaster's office and spoke with the attendance clerk; an older woman with white hair and sharp eyes. “Hello, I'm Angie Wells, I'm sitting for Stephanie Draper today. I just thought I'd pop in and let you know I'll be picking Natalie here up after class instead of her normal sitter. In case someone thinks to tackle me at the door.”
The woman nodded with a sly grin at my humor, and said as if it happened all the time, which it probably did. “Yes, Mrs. Draper called. I'll need your contact information since she's your ward for the day.”
I nodded and wrote down the number of the mobile that Paya gave me. I'm still not sure if I believe that it is a 'company phone' as she insists. I'm sure she knows it is the only way I would have accepted it.
I squatted and took off Nat's rain bonnet and handed it to her and I smoothed her hair back. “I'll see you after class little roo.”
She nodded seriously and said with surety, “Ok, Auntie Kanga.”
I hugged her, and she zoomed off down the hall into a mass of little girls who were passing by, slipping seamlessly into whatever topic they were chattering about.
I chuckled and shared a knowing look with the woman behind the desk. I said to her, “Thank you. Have a great day.” She nodded, and I looked down at little Wil.
He looked tired from our walk so I hoisted him onto a hip and
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