Thoughts Apiece

"is it cheaper than the workers?"

"it is right now"

"ok everyone's super, super fired. now what"

"oh no it's dreadful"

When Annie's mom told her that a friend of a friend from work heard that Richard Harrington was looking for a babysitter, she was expecting to jump through a hoop or two.

Richard Harrington was kinda notorious for living up to his shortened name, but Annie was prepared. She had experience.

"Mr Harrington had to take a call from a client," His pretty blonde secretary says. "He's a very busy man even on days he's not in office. You understand."

"Of course," Annie smiles. "No worries."

She's eighty percent sure this is some kind of power play but no worries.

Annie's been babysitting since she was eleven. She's CPR certified, a former camp counselor, and currently taking childhood development at school. She has a perfect driving record, plans to be a teacher, and most importantly. She knows how to deal with difficult parents so.

No worries.

"You can take a seat in the living room."

Annie nods.

She rolls her eyes when the secretary walks away. Privately, she thinks this is a lot of work for a babysitting gig.

She has to submit a resume just to get an interview. For a babysitting job.

Annie is about to walk into the living room when she hears a rustling by the stairs. She turns to see a plush blue monkey stick his head around the banister and look around before disappearing back into its hiding spot.

"Hmm," She hums aloud, making sure her shoes click on the floor as she approaches the staircase. "What am I possibly going to do while I wait here all by my lonesome? Oh, how I wish there was a monkey or two to keep me company."

The monkey sticks his head out again, disappears, comes back, and then a little hand appears to stick the monkey's paw out to her. Annie shakes the paw, "Hi, Mr Monkey. Can I sit with you and your friend?"

The little hand drops the paw to make the monkey nod.

"Thank you, Mr Monkey," She says as she rounds the banister to see the Harringtons' three year old son crouched on the second to last step. "And a big hello to you, too. I’m Annie."

He blinks his big eyes at her, clutching his monkey to his chest before hiding in its fur. He's shy - she can tell - and a little wary but that's okay, "What's your name?"

She doesn't get an answer.

"I like your pajamas," She tells him as she sits down. There are baby zoo animals on the pastel green fabric. "You must really like monkeys."

He nods.

"You know, I saw a monkey once," She tells him. "I went to the zoo and I saw an orangutan. That's a big orange monkey that walks around like a little old man. It was so cool."

"My favorite animal is a dolphin," She continues when she doesn't get much of a reaction. "Have you ever seen a dolphin?"

He shakes his head and she reaches for her folder with her resume, references, and two letters of recommendation. She opens it and shows him the sticker on the inside sleeve, "This is a dolphin."

Annie has babysat three year olds before. They are not nearly this subdue. They're all little wrecking balls rather they're trying to be or not so...

She peels the sticker off and holds it out to him, "Will you keep this for me?"

Steve's eyes go wide.

A smile breaks out over his face and he buries it in his monkey before sticking the sticker onto his shirt.

He beams.

Annie smiles too. She smiles wider when she hears a small, "I's 'teve."

He sticks his little hand out to her.

"Hi, Steve," She says, engulfing his hand in a shake. "It's so nice to meet you."

He opens his mouth to say something else but closes it when they hear, "Anneliese, I'm ready to start-"

"Right here, sir," Annie pops up before he turns into the living room. She gives Steve a salute when she jokes, "Just meeting the boss."

"I would be your boss," Richard frowns. Great first impression, Annie. Way to go. "Steven, you're supposed to be taking a nap. Go to your room."

Steve slumps. He pouts. He makes a whiny noise in the back of his throat and looks expectantly at his father.

"Stop whining and use your words, Steven. You know how to talk," Richard says like he's talking to a moody teenager. He shakes his head and tells Annie off-handedly, "Speech regression. Apparently no cause for concern according to his doctor."

"That's something you'd need to work on with him," He adds. "You're taking a parenting class, right?"

"I - childhood development and family planning, sir," She says. "At the high school."

"Right," He sighs. "Let's start your interview in my office. Its right-"

"No!" Steve snaps, catching them both off guard by the force behind the word and the way he throws himself into Annie. He clings to her tight, "Mine."

"Oh my god," Richard swears, turning and yelling, "Angela, come take your son to-"

"I can lay him down for a nap," Annie cuts in. She knows that initiative and demonstration are the best ways to impress a man like Mr Harrington.

She smiles, "Trail by fire? If I get him to sleep, you give me the job and if I fail, well. I won't. I’m good at this."

Richard considers it.

She can already tell she's won him over before he says, "This is your only chance."