The nanny Diaries

CHAPTER TWO

THE NANNY DIARIES

Then, with a long, loud sniff, that seemed to indicate that she had
made up her mind, she said: "I'll take the position."
"For all the world," as Mrs Banks said to her husband later,
"as though she were doing was us honour."

--MARY POPPINS

My grandmother greets me in her entryway in a linen Mao Tsetung outfit and pearls. "Darling!" Come in. I was just finishing my tai-chi." She gives a kiss on both cheeks and a solid for good measure." Honey, you're damp. Would you like to shower?" There is nothing better than being offered Grandma's buffet of amenities.

"Maybe just a cold washcloth?"
"I know what you need." She takes my hand, weaving her fingers through mine, and leads me to her guest powder room. I've always adored how the small lights of the antique crystal chandelier illume the rich peach chintz. But my favorite part is the framed French paper dolls. When I was little I would set up a salon under the sink, for which Grandma would provide real tea and topics for the discussions I would lead with all my lovely French guests.

She places my hand under the faucet and runs the cool water over my wrists. "Pressure points for distributing fire," she says as she sits down on the toilet seat, crossing her legs. She's right; I begin to cool down immediately.

"Have you eaten?" she asks
"I had breakfast."
"What about lunch?"
"It's only eleven, Gran."
"Is it? I've been up seen four. Thank God for Europe or I'd have no one to talk to still eight."

I smile. "How have you been?"
"I've been seventy-four for two months, that's how I've been."
She points her toe like a dancer and slightly lifts the hem of her pants. "It's called Sappho---I had it done at Arden's this morning-what do you think? Too too?" She wiggle her coral toes.

"Gorgeous, very sexy. Okay, as much as I would love to spend the the rest of the day in here I've got to drag myself downtown and make my offering to the Tuition Gods. I turn off the sink and shake my hand dramatically over the basin.

She hands me a towel. "You know, I don't remember having a single conservation like the ones you describe when I was at Vassar."
She is referring to my endless history of tête-a-tête with the administrative staff at NYU.

I follow behind her into the kitchen. "Today I'm prepared. I've got my Social Security card, my driver's license, my passport, a Xerox copy of my birth certificate, every piece of mail I've ever received from NYU, and my letter of acceptance. This time I won't be told I don't go there, haven't completed the last semester, haven't paid my tuition from last year, haven't paid my library fees, don't have the correct ID number, Social Security number, proof of my address, the right forms, or simply don't exist."

"My, my, my." She opens the fridge. "Bourbon?"
"Orange juice would be great."

"Kids." She rolls her eyes and points me to her old air conditioner sitting on the floor. "Darling, let me get the doorman to help you carry it."

"No, Gran, I got it," I say, trying valiantly to heave the machine into my arms before slamming it back on the tile. "Yeah, okay, I think I'm going to have to come back later with Josh and get this."

"Joshua?" she asks with a raised eyebrow. "Your little blue-haired friend? He weighs five pounds soaking wet."

"Well, unless we want Dad throwing his back out again, that's about all I have to choose from in the boy department."

"I chant for you every morning, darling," she says, reaching for a glass. "Come on. Let me whip you up some Eggs Benedict."

I glance up at the old Nelson wall clock. "I wish I had time, but I've gotta get downtown before the line at the registrar is around the block."

"She gives me a kiss on both cheeks. "Well, then bring that Joshua by at seven and I'll feed you both a proper meal---you're disappearing!"

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
S

orry for the short chapter, I promise to update another chapter soon and in the next chapter we all meet the blue-haired friend Joshua.

-please don't forget to VOTE, COMMENT, and SHARE to friends.

Where to find me:

Twitter: @Naomi36329476

Instagram: NaomiIkechukwu

- Naomi