In another life

4

A few kids have arrived now and another one walks in,
"Good morning Sarah, how are we today?" She certainly looks wrapped up tight,
"Oh she's fine"
"That's great, I see we have a lot of layers on today" she tells me about all the layers she has on and wow she must be warm, even in the cold weather it seems a lot.

"Well you're in doors now sweetheart so maybe you can take your hat off" I suggest but her mum stops me very quickly,
"I'm just absolutely terrified of her catching a cold" well that's understandable,
"Was she quite poorly as a baby?" Usually if babies were more poorly then their parents become a lot more worried. Just like my Isabella, she doesn't have the best immune system either.

"She's actually never really been poorly and I want to keep it that way. So you know, layers"
"Oh alright, okay. Well we will keep an eye on her in case she gets too warm" I smile but she assures me Sarah will be fine.

Sarah says goodbye and goes in to play with her friends, the heaters are on today though and I doubt all of those layers will be kept on, she must be so uncomfortable.

...

The sun came out after lunch so I take the kids outside to play. Sarah comes up to me asking to take her hat off and of course I say yes and take it for her so she can play.
"Be careful! That mud might be slippery" I remind the children as they run around.

"Excuse me?" Oh, Sarah's mum,
"Oh hello, Sarah your mummy's here!" Sarah stops and looks back at us before running over,
"Why are you holding her hat?"
"Oh, she literally just passed it to me, she was getting a bit hot under there" I pass it back to her and she snatches it hastily,
"But I specifically told you she needs to keep it on"
"Oh yes and she had it on most of the day, but like I said she got really hot and wanted to take it off"
"We're outside!"
"Yes but she's been running around quite a lot" I explain but she still seems quite angry.

I explained that I can't force her to keep the hat on as it risks her overheating and she reminds me of the risks of catching a cold.
"To be honest that's more likely to happen inside where all of the children are together. At least out here she's in the fresh air" she doesn't really listen to me though and puts the hat back on Sarah who starts to complain.

"We are going home right now and you will keep that hat on" she practically drags Sarah back inside and I awkwardly say goodbye. That poor girl she must feel horrible in all those layers.

"Hey Char! I'm here to cover you so you can go in your lunch now" Carly smiles as she walks towards me,
"Oh thank you Carly"

Once I'm in the staff room I check my phone and see I've gotten a text from Amelia, we exchanged numbers earlier in the morning before I dropped her off at that bar.

The message just says thank you for helping her and I reply with 'no problem'. She asks if I'd like to meet her for coffee to say thank you and I of course except. Who am I to turn down coffee? It's practically my oxygen.

...

After heading back to the room, I relieved Carly and went on with the day. Now it was 5:30 and we were supposed to be expecting Jack's mum by 5. At first I thought she was just running late, but it's been half an hour now so I decide to call Marjorie.

"Hello?"
"Marjorie, hi. I was wondering if you could give Jack's mum a call as she hasn't shown up yet"
"Oh, alright. I'll give her a ring" I thank her and go to read a story to my group of kids as well as Jack.

It's now 5:50 and I still haven't heard anything, some of the other kids have gone home and now there is just a small group playing independently. I hear the phone ring and see that it's the office,
"Marjorie?"
"Hello my love, I can't seem to get ahold of Jack's mum at all. So I've rang his nan and she said she'll be here soon" oh, I wonder where is mum is then.
"Okay, thanks Marjorie"

Not too long after Jack's nan arrived,
"Oh hello Charlotte"
"Hi, Jack your nan's here"
"I'm ever so sorry about this dear"
"Oh it's alright, have you heard from Jack's mum at all?"
"I'm afraid not. You know where she'll be? With that boyfriend of hers" she shakes her head,
"Boyfriend?"
"I don't like mummy's boyfriend" Jack tells me,
"Me neither darling"
"You don't like him?"
"He's not the nicest of men, but who am I to have an opinion. She'll do what she wants either way" she tuts.

I wasn't aware Jacks's mum had a boyfriend or that neither her mum or son liked him. Of course it's none of my business though.

"Well have a good evening"
"Thank you dear, and you" I say goodbye to Jack and watch as he leaves with his nan. Only a few more kids to go.

I don't have the girls tonight as they are at their dads, but I do have a lot to do as tomorrow is my baby's birthday. Jason is bringing the girls round tomorrow after school so we can all celebrate together.

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A/N,
But boring chapters today, I'm sorry, but it does get more interesting I promise :)