Doltrino Daycare

Chapter 1

I never quite knew what I wanted to do when I got older. It was always an unknown topic to me. I hardly knew my true interest, what I enjoyed doing and the like, so it always left a void in terms of what I would be doing. After a certain point, I suppose I based it on what I was actually good at. I decided that I would one day become a mathematician, but I didn't like the sound of that. I remember vaguely working in an office and absolutely hating it, vowing I would never do that again. Though here I sat, in my little reclining chair, pressed amply up against my little office desk, on which sat a somewhat dated computer. I realize the irony of it all, but the circumstances were in fact different. Two things had actually changed, I did a different type of office work now, this type now being administrative, and I now was technically a manager. This already left me in a position where I was in more control, which made me feel all the much better. Then again, I work at a daycare, so there is only so much that is certain. I looked out onto the floor, where my coworker, the only other person who worked here in fact, was tending to the children. He was a lighthearted individual with crisp brown hair, and eyes, he was also a bit forgetful and a bit of a story teller, but that is a different story for a different time. He peered over at me and smiled, and I smiled back. Truth be told, I did not talk to him all that much and I did not know all that much about him.

I sighed and let my head fall into my hands. I was a terrible manager, and I knew it. I was decently bad with people, or things, let alone managing them and to make matters worse, I worked the front desk where I had to deal with both. I looked back out onto the floor, Black, I remember him telling me that was his name, was now handing the children out their lunches. I thought about this and realized that black actually did a large portion of the work, so I guess I was just managing him, and doing the things he couldn't... which would explain how I got a managing job... even though I had no experience managing anything.

I shook my head and settled back into the work I was actually supposed to be doing. I was apparently supposed to be coming up with a new schedule and work hours; would we be open on this day, would we be open to six on this one, that sort of thing. I frowned, because most of the days we were required to be open, or highly recommended to be open, were days I would actually like to have off. Who wants to work on New Year's day? I continued working until I heard a bell ring, at which I promptly stopped and got up to see what exactly was going on.

Someone had come to the front desk. "Welcome to Doltrino Daycare!" I said, as I attempted a smile. The person thanked me and proceeded to check their child out. I checked the name and called out into the main room for them, and Black sent them out to their parent. This went on for sometime, as several parents came out to check out theirchildren, I guess work just got out. I checked the time, with it being a quarter to six. With six being our closing time, I suppose the parents would be coming now.

We ushered the remaining children out, as their parents had arrived, and I locked the front door after they left. I retreated back to the office as Black went off to use the restroom. If I remember correctly, Black did not get to use the restroom or eat until after all the children left. This was mainly due to the fact that he was the only one watching them, but I wondered why he never considered asking me to help him.

"Hey, what is your name again?" This was the first time we had formally spoken today. Black smiled at me as he took a seat next to me and pulled out some paperwork.

"N." I replied coolly.

"Oh, that's a very nice name. Mine is Black." I actually knew this and was confused why he was repeating it now.

"I know. So you have been working here for several years now?" Black nodded, which I
saw out the corner of my eye, but pretended not to see.

"Yes, I have." Black took some oreos out of a bag and stuffed some into his mouth. He caught me looking at him and he held out some as an offer. I shook my head in response.
"Suit yourself. What are you up to?"

"I'm doing this year's schedule." I replied as I finished and closed the application. "What
are you doing."

"The budget, but I'm not sure what to include."

"The simple stuff, basic expenditures, running costs... That sort of thing." Black stared at
me as if I had grown another head. "You have no idea what that is, do you?" Black shook
his head. "I suppose I should help you then."

"That would be wonderful." I took the paper from him, and began looking over it as he
looked on. I scribbled somethings down and rewrote some other things.

"You should be good now, but you'll have to update it every couple of weeks." I handed it
back to him.

"Oh, ok." Black said, nodding and staring weirdly at the paper.

I sighed inwardly. "I guess I'll have to update it every couple of weeks." I took the paper
from him, filing it.

"Well, you don't necessarily have to do that. I'm sure I can handle it, if you help me for a
bit..." Black rambled on, but I quieted him.

"Don't worry, I'll just do it myself." I could let him do it, but I would still have to review it,
so I might as well do it myself.

Black smiles cheerfully. "Thank you very much, N. I really appreciate that." I think about
this for a moment, and decide that it was in fact better if I just simply did it myself. Now
that we were done with everything, there was nothing left to do in the office. I caught
Black staring blankly at me.

"I guess, if you have nothing left to do then you're free to go."

"Thank you very much," He let out as he stuffed some more Oreos into his mouth. "I'll
see you tomorrow then?"

"Of course," I packed up my things and we locked up the daycare together. As I was
locking the front door, Black asked me a question.

"So do you live in, Acadia Heights?" I shook my head as we began walking. Most of the people in this town lived in Acadia Heights, a subdivision, though there were some houses in the area surrounding it. I thought about moving into one of the houses when I moved here, but they were a bit costly and I wanted to be on the safe side.

"I live down the street from it though, so I guess we're going the same way?"
Black smiled brightened, causing me slight discomfort...

"That's good, I don't really like
walking alone." I could only imagine as to why that was. This was a relatively good neighborhood. Black caught my eye, with a somewhat curious glance. "It's not that I'm
scared or anything, if that's what you're thinking... I just prefer not... being alone," Black let out after a pause, he looked around a bit before smiling again.

I thought about this for a moment, but could come to no reasonable conclusion. "That's
understandable."

"What's the point of being alone anyway, shared experiences are some much more fun,
and then you can talk about them later with someone."

"I guess that's what friends are for."

"Exactly," Black said as he stopped. "This is my house...See you tomorrow!" He waved to
me as he walked up the driveway and entered the house.

I continued on my path, quickly making it home. I sat down in front of the television
setting my alarm clock, wondering how much sleep I would get. Considering how late I had stayed at work, thanks to the parents, I got home pretty late, and because I had to get to
work so early, thanks to the parents, I actually got very little sleep. Knowing this, I simply
had something to eat and set off to bed. Anything truly important could wait until tomorrow.