Sedona

Toys at Daycare

(Y/N)'s POV

"Have a good day!" I called to Thomas and Annie, watching them head into Daycare for their tenth time.

The two excitedly ran into the daycare with Esme holding the doors for them. From what I've heard, Annie has come out of her shell a bit for Esme. A smile grew on my face, knowing that these two were happy and safe.

"Mx. (L/N)?" A familiar voice came into my ear. My smile faded for a moment.

Mr. Charles, the Daycare's Manager, stood before me. From other parents and from the one-time experience, he's a stickler for the rules that lived with his mother. He supposedly found enjoyment in for telling others off and otherwise wasn't here.

"Yes?" I slowly turned to the man dressed in a all beige suit without the blazer. His oily hair combed over to cover a bald spot. He looked content with himself already, a small smile close to invisible on his lips.

"Can I talk to you in my office?" He opened the door that blended into the wall.

"Sure," I could hardly hold back a sigh, exhausted already with this situation. My good mood is spoiled quickly, stepping into the mute room.

"I can't stay long because I gotta go to work. Has there been behavior problems?" Dread filled my soul quickly in such a room. It's like all the color outside of the room is zapped in here.

"Don't worry; I won't keep you here long." He sat down in the seat in front of me. "The issue that I have with you today is that for the past few days, you're children, Thomas and Annie, have been leaving toys here."

"Are you sure it's their toys? Could it be some other kids? How do you know?" More questions came to mind, but I stuck to those three.

"Hmm, all of the toys that come from this place are marked so we know which are ours and what aren't." He hid his smirk behind his entwined hands with his elbows on the table.

"And your children have written their names on the tags."

"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't even know that they had been doing that."

"Hmm, I can see that." His tone is ever snarky. Satisfaction is hardly hidden on his face. It would've been less obvious if he had the word written on his forehead right now.

"Well, should I take the toys? Are they set aside or something?" I looked around the beige room for a moment.

"Yes, I have them here." He grabbed the box beside him and set it on the table. "You'll need to take them, or I'll have to throw them out." He used a pencil to scoot the box closer to me like the box was infested with germs.

"Thank you." I trailed off. I couldn't find a reason for him to act that way about a box of toys, but I didn't bother with it. Apparently, along with having a sick kick for having some kind of power over someone, he's also a germaphobe; how fitting for a daycare.

"I'll take the box home." The box went into my lap. "Do you have anything else to say, or is that all?"

"I just wanted to stress that outside toys are not allowed to be left in the Daycare. Kids will cry over lost toys, parents will get mad, and sickness will spread. I know some kids like to chew on their toys." He said his last sentence with extra disdain.

"I understand the concern here." I tried to stay civil with him. It's proving to be a difficult task, but I kept it bottled up.

"The next time that this happens." He put his hands on the table for emphasis. "If it ever happens again, you will need to pay a fine. This will be a mark on your record. With this fine, you'll get a two-dollar charge for each toy found."

My heart sank quickly at his words, like an apple falling for a tree. "It won't happen again. I'll try to be sure." I could hardly imagine someone being as rude as this man before me.

"I would hope this doesn't happen again in the future. I want to keep a pleasant relationship with all the parents that I work with here in the daycare. After all, it's the only daycare in town. The next one is an hour away." He wore a smile on his face like his words were coated in sugar.

"Thank you, Mr. Charles. I have work to go to, so if you don't mind, I'll be going." I rose from my seat and left with the box.

After that, I just sat in the daycare's parking lot. The box sat next to me in my car's passenger seat. "You got to be kidding me. That man..." I sighed, dragging my hands over my face.

"I just need to do my best," I mumbled to myself in my car alone. I couldn't use another daycare. It takes an hour to get them ready in the morning, and I have to be at work at 8 in the morning. I would have to wake them at four if I went to a different daycare.

Thomas would be so tired that he would like a completely different six-year-old when he gets in my car if he woke up at four in the morning. Annie would just fall asleep on herself as he gets cranky. It would also take a lot of gas to drive at least two hours per day, five times a week.

I didn't want to put the kids through that, and it wouldn't be good for my pockets either. Mr. Charles is the most unbearable man that I had to work with in this town. Between him and my boss, with the inflated ego, I would choose my boss.

But for now, I just have to sigh and go to work so that I can go home with Thomas and Annie sooner.
_______________________________________
1016 Words