Generations: The Long Game

The Knight Nursery

2013

Starting new jobs always made Charlotte a bit nervous. She could feel a fluttering of anxiety swelling in her chest, but she had the education and qualifications. She had worked too hard to turn back now.

She arrived at the Knight Nursery at 7:30am just as she had been instructed. By the time she arrived she was feeling a bit queasy. "Come on Char. You have what it takes to do this" She said to herself. She dialed Marjorie's number and told her she had arrived.

With a sharp exhale she punched in the code Marjorie gave her over the phone and made her way to the office. Marjorie greeted Charlotte and walked with her to the toddler room where she left her at the door.

Charlotte was a bit perplexed by the lack of introduction to the staff, but she made her way into the room and introduced herself in her soft and melodious tone.

"Hiya, I am Charlotte," she said.

The two women in the room introduced themselves as Barbara and Francine. They would be her mentors for some time until she was accustomed to the room and the children.  She would not be in ratio until her training was complete and satisfactory. Knowing this eased Charlotte's nerves significantly, but something about Barbara had her feeling a bit edgy. She wasn't sure what it was, but made a mental note not to get too chummy with her. The way Barbara barked these things at her was a bit jarring. Maybe that was all it was.

At her break Marjorie called her into the office which made her nerves come back to the surface.

"Marjorie, you wanted to see me?" Charlotte asked.

"Yes, these were delivered for you," Marjorie replied pointing to a vase of wildflowers. "Who are they from?" She continued.

"Oh, aren't they lovely. They are from my husband." Charlotte replied as a grin spread across her face.

"How very thoughtful of him," Marjorie replied. Marjorie was not one to really interact with her staff much, but flowers from your husband on your first day of work was so romantic and she couldn't help it as the smile spread across her face.  "You're husband must love you very much," Marjorie said.

Charlotte returned the smile and said he did before taking the flowers to the staff room with her. Charlotte tried to relax while on her break and soon, maybe too soon, it was time to return to the toddler room. She took a backwards glance at her lovely flowers and bit her nail. Although, they had a newborn at home and she just started this job it was awfully sweet of Jack to send her flowers. She worried about the money he has spent to send them.

The next day Charlotte arrived to work with baby Lynn in tow. They had decided that Jack would keep her at home for Charlotte's first day and Lynn would start nursery the second day. She did hand over with Gemma  just like every other parent, and then went on to the toddler room for her shift.

On Friday of that first week Charlotte was returning from her break when she heard the muffled sound of someone crying. She rushed into the toddler room to find Barbara towering over Finn menacingly. Finn had visibly wet his pants from fear, and Charlotte scooped him up and went straight to the office followed by a fuming and red-faced Barbara. Charlotte had already been in the office twice to lodge complaints against Barbara this week, and when the trio entered the room Marjorie rolled her eyes.

Barbara had worked for the nursery for many years, and Marjorie was more then a little frustrated with the recent uptick of complaints. If she was honest, she was also annoyed to be disturbed. Barbara barreled right past Charlotte almost knocking her along with Finn to the floor. Marjorie's eyes widened at the sight and told Barbara to sit before looking to Charlotte for an explanation. When Charlotte had finished telling Marjorie what she walked in on, Marjorie told her she could go and change Finn and she would be out to the room in a bit to check on him.

Marjorie had no choice. She had to let Barbara go.