Read Online Something Old by Dianne Christner - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Dianne Christner
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said sternly, “You sit in that chair.” When he hesitated, she sharpened her voice. “Now.” The child sulked into the chair. “Addison you sit in that one.” Addison bounced into the chair, giving her brother a victorious look. “Now listen up. When I’m watching you, I expect you to respect each other. I have two brothers and a sister at home. Don’t think I don’t know how to make little children behave.” She narrowed her eyes. “Because I do. Do you understand?”
They both gave nods. Tyler’s eyes, however, darkened rebelliously. Katy moved to the counter and looked for her instructions. Sure enough, she was to take Tyler to his friend’s house and then take Addison to dance class at an Upper Arlington address. She was supposed to walk her inside, watch practice, and afterward relay the instructor’s parental information to Tammy.
“I’m done with my snack. Can I go play?” Addison asked.
“Yes. We have a half hour before I take you to your lessons. Tyler you’ll be going to your friends'—”
He punched his fist in the air. “Awesome!”
“You may go to your rooms and change clothes, and I’ll call you when it’s time,” she called after Tyler who was already halfway up the stairs. “Tyler, stop! Come back here and take that banana peel to the trash. It’s only polite to clean up after yourself.” It was no wonder the house always looked like a tornado had hit it.
He turned and marched back, like a bull eyeing a matador and snatched up the peel with a scowl. “I’ll do it, but you’re the maid. There.” He plunked it in the trash. “Satisfied?”
“I’ll be satisfied when you can do that with a smile on your face.”
“Fat chance of that.” He glanced at her covering. “Pilgrim lady.”
Katy’s jaw dropped, and she found herself speechless. Meanwhile, Tyler took the steps two at a time and disappeared.
So much for the misconception that the Brooks’ children were polite. Though it was probably useless and would probably go unnoticed, Katy went through the house, picking up things that were out of place: Barbie dolls, video games, princess socks, and wineglasses.
She had threatened the children by telling them she knew how to handle her brothers and sister, but the truth was, she’d never had to deal with an adolescent boy’s smart mouth. The woodshed prevented that sort of rebellion at her house. She would need to speak to Tammy about the appropriate methods of discipline.
Her more immediate challenge, however, would be taking Addison to dance lessons because dancing was forbidden in the Conservative Mennonite Church she attended. In her imagination, the word
dancing
conjured up smoky dens of drink and lust. She’d never given this type of dancing a thought. If she took Addison, as her employer expected, would she be enabling an innocent child to do something sinful?
On the other hand, Addison would continue her lessons regardless of whether Katy continued to be her nanny or not. And if Katy refused to take the little girl to her dance lessons, Tammy might get angry and fire her. Then her doddy house dreams would be ruined for sure.
Considering the options available to her, she placed the breakfast dishes in the dishwasher. Mom would probably tell her to quit her job and remind her that she could live at home until she got another one. Lil would insist that as long as Katy wasn’t dancing, she wasn’t doing anything wrong. Megan was adept at handling sticky situations. She would advise Katy to use this as an opportunity to witness to the children. So far that tactic hadn’t worked with Tyler when he wanted to listen to the radio. But then she hadn’t made Christianity sound very enticing, had she? Nevertheless, Megan’s imaginary advice was the best.
She gripped the edge of the sink. She wanted to please her employer, but she didn’t want to displease God. She definitely believed that bars and nightclubs were not God-honoring places. Lil had watched
They both gave nods. Tyler’s eyes, however, darkened rebelliously. Katy moved to the counter and looked for her instructions. Sure enough, she was to take Tyler to his friend’s house and then take Addison to dance class at an Upper Arlington address. She was supposed to walk her inside, watch practice, and afterward relay the instructor’s parental information to Tammy.
“I’m done with my snack. Can I go play?” Addison asked.
“Yes. We have a half hour before I take you to your lessons. Tyler you’ll be going to your friends'—”
He punched his fist in the air. “Awesome!”
“You may go to your rooms and change clothes, and I’ll call you when it’s time,” she called after Tyler who was already halfway up the stairs. “Tyler, stop! Come back here and take that banana peel to the trash. It’s only polite to clean up after yourself.” It was no wonder the house always looked like a tornado had hit it.
He turned and marched back, like a bull eyeing a matador and snatched up the peel with a scowl. “I’ll do it, but you’re the maid. There.” He plunked it in the trash. “Satisfied?”
“I’ll be satisfied when you can do that with a smile on your face.”
“Fat chance of that.” He glanced at her covering. “Pilgrim lady.”
Katy’s jaw dropped, and she found herself speechless. Meanwhile, Tyler took the steps two at a time and disappeared.
So much for the misconception that the Brooks’ children were polite. Though it was probably useless and would probably go unnoticed, Katy went through the house, picking up things that were out of place: Barbie dolls, video games, princess socks, and wineglasses.
She had threatened the children by telling them she knew how to handle her brothers and sister, but the truth was, she’d never had to deal with an adolescent boy’s smart mouth. The woodshed prevented that sort of rebellion at her house. She would need to speak to Tammy about the appropriate methods of discipline.
Her more immediate challenge, however, would be taking Addison to dance lessons because dancing was forbidden in the Conservative Mennonite Church she attended. In her imagination, the word
dancing
conjured up smoky dens of drink and lust. She’d never given this type of dancing a thought. If she took Addison, as her employer expected, would she be enabling an innocent child to do something sinful?
On the other hand, Addison would continue her lessons regardless of whether Katy continued to be her nanny or not. And if Katy refused to take the little girl to her dance lessons, Tammy might get angry and fire her. Then her doddy house dreams would be ruined for sure.
Considering the options available to her, she placed the breakfast dishes in the dishwasher. Mom would probably tell her to quit her job and remind her that she could live at home until she got another one. Lil would insist that as long as Katy wasn’t dancing, she wasn’t doing anything wrong. Megan was adept at handling sticky situations. She would advise Katy to use this as an opportunity to witness to the children. So far that tactic hadn’t worked with Tyler when he wanted to listen to the radio. But then she hadn’t made Christianity sound very enticing, had she? Nevertheless, Megan’s imaginary advice was the best.
She gripped the edge of the sink. She wanted to please her employer, but she didn’t want to displease God. She definitely believed that bars and nightclubs were not God-honoring places. Lil had watched
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