TWENTY-THREE
Summerville, W.T.
Dusk falls on Summerville and it is now time to prepare the younger kids for bed. Samantha and another male caretaker take turns sending the kids to the washroom for their baths. Samantha and the girls go first, then the boys take their turn. Once they are all clean, Samantha files them all in a line and takes them to their bedroom.
"I didn't expect you to stick around this late," the male Coatimundi says to Samantha as she leaves with the kids.
"Yeah, well there's nothing for me to do back at my dorm aside from sleep." Sam replies politely.
"How well do you think you did on your exams?" he inquires.
"I'm confident I'll be graduating..." Samantha says with a self-assured grin.
"Well alright then! Can't wait to have you around full time! Most of the kids are always asking about you when they notice you're not here."
Samantha cannot not help but blush. The idea of others thinking about her makes her feel as if she's truly moving in the right direction. Samantha takes a turn down another hallway and it is here Samantha encounters Mrs. Benton and two other associates. One is a Maned Wolf faunian named Vivian Valorie. She's the same age as Samantha and is also a part of the work study program from a smaller university, called Hillcrest Institute of Science.
Vivian is somewhat of a rash and short-fused faunian. Despite having a low tolerance for most of her peers, Vivian is incredibly stoic when it comes to interacting with the orphans. As for the other presence in the room, this is Samantha's first time seeing them. She did not intend to stare, but upon seeing this Panther faunian, Samantha's mind recollects her encounter with Jess the night he attacked her in the alley. Mrs. Benton sees her before entering the room and kindly waves at Samantha, motioning for her to come over.
"Oh, hi Mrs. Benton..." Samantha waves nervously as the children enter the room, but Sam does not move an inch further.
"Come on over. I would like to introduce you to a new employee!" Mrs. Benton announces jubilantly before turning her attention to Vivian. "Could you see to it that the kids are in bed at a reasonable time tonight?" she kindly asks Vivian.
"Sure...I'm on it." Vivian replies, not once bothering to look up from her smartphone.
"Right, now where was I again...oh yeah, I want you to welcome our newest member of the team." Mrs. Benton gestures towards the middle-aged Panther faunian. "This here is Sandria Nucci. She's travelled all the way from Cinderia of Liora to live here in Summerville. Imagine that!" Mrs. Benton shares enthusiastically.
"Oh wow. Yeah, that is...far." Samantha says, fighting back every instinct to cower as she slowly lumbers closer.
"This is Samantha Snowfield, one of my best 'unofficial' caretakers," Mrs. Benton jokes. "Samantha is nearly finished with her graduate studies and will become a full-fledged childcare associate by the end of Spring. She's so wonderful with the children, I have to remind myself that she was once a resident like them."
"Wow, that's impressive. It's an honor to meet you, Samantha." Sandria nods.
"Likewise..." Samantha murmurs, avoiding making any eye contact.
"Are you...feeling okay?" Mrs. Benton asks her, picking up on Sam's fearful body language. "You seem a bit nervous, dear. Well, more so than usual."
Sam glances at Mrs. Benton and then back at Sandria, forcing a twitchy smile on her face. To Samantha, Sandria's stature is tall and imposing, but to be fair, Samantha finds many other Faunians intimidating thanks to her height. What really bothers her is that this new employee brings back unsettling memories. Samantha knows that it is unfair to label Sandria as a threat due to a bad experience, but her body cannot help but to act on its instincts.
YOU ARE READING
Tails of Alpherion
ФэнтезиA story that focuses on the lives of several individuals who are dealing with various situations and challenges from life. As their stories unfold, their lives will intertwine and branch apart, leading them on journeys that will shape their futures...
