The Babysitter

Social Work

MaryGrace combs through Hazels hair, smoothing out the bumps at the top of her head so her ponytail would look nice. 

Until her phone starts to ring, "Hazel baby, hold this." MaryGrace asks, handing her daughter the comb she had been using. Hazel starts to strum the picks. MaryGrace reaches for her phone and holds it between her cheek and her shoulder, "hello?"

"MaryGrace, hi. its Justin"

"whats up?"

"I was wondering if I was ever going to get that second date?" Justin asks MaryGrace laughs to herself.

"what did you have in mind?" she asks, tying Hazels ponytail and tapping her butt signaling that she's free to go. Hazel stands and runs off to play. 

"I don't know. Can I take you out to lunch? Say, 30 minutes?"

MaryGrace sucks in her breath. "Im sorry, I actually have a meeting at one."

"meeting?" Justin asks, 

"yeah, uh, ever since Daniel died and I refused to sign over custody to my mother, she's been accusing me of child neglect, so a social worker comes to check on us"

"wow, invasion of privacy" Justin notes,

"she's just looking for any reason to take Hazel away." MaryGrace says, 

"well you're going to be fine. I promise, you're like the most selfless person I've ever met. You put your childs well being before your own, that is what a mother is supposed to do."

"Well thanks Jay" She pauses as she hears a knock on the door, "oh, okay, I think she's here." 

"alright, good luck. Give me a call when she leaves and maybe we can go grab some dinner" Justin says, 

MaryGrace smiles, "okay, bye." 

As soon as they hang up, there is another knock on the door. MaryGrace straitens her skirt and walks over to the front door. 

"hi Jeanie, how are you today?" MaryGrace says warmly, opening the door wider for her to enter. 

"I'm good MaryGrace, how are you?" 

"I'm doing great." MaryGrace explains as Jeanie walks around looking at the apartment. The night before MaryGrace worked a double that ended at midnight and stayed up till 3am deep cleaning the apartment. 

"do you mind if I talk to Hazel for a little?"

"yeah of course" MaryGrace says, "Hazel," she calls.

"mommy?" Hazel calls from the bedroom.

"you can talk in there, for some privacy" MaryGrace says, leading Jeanie into the bedroom. Where Hazel is sitting at a kids table, pouring imaginary tea for herself and Nico. 

"Hi Hazel" Jeanie says, kneeling on the floor next to Hazel. 

"Hi Ms. Jeanie, would you like some tea?" Hazel offers. 

"I would love some" Jeanie says. taking a seat on the floor. "Is this new?" Jeanie asks, noticing the pink plastic tea party set and matching table. 

"mmmhmmm" Hazel nods, "Justy got it for me"

"who is that?" Jeanie asks glancing up from her notebook, ready to take notes.

Hazel glances around the room to see if her mother is near, "mommy's crush" Hazel whispers, as if it were a big secret. 

"So is he your mothers boyfriend?"

"I don't know" Hazel shrugs, "but they do like eachother."

"Fair enough, so are you happy Hazel?"

"yep" Hazel says, popping the 'P'. 

"how has your mom been doing?" 

"I do wish she doesn't have to work so much, but I don't mind spending time with Justy." Hazel explains, pouring Nico another cup of tea. 

"so you like Justin?" Jeanie asks, Hazel nods rapidly, "and how is school going?"

"I love school." Hazel says, with a cheeky smile.

"whats your favorite thing?"

"lunch and recess" Hazel says, bouncing in her seat, excited to even think about it.

"yeah? and does your mom take you to school?"

"Yep, she drops me off every morning and picks me up at noon and drops me off at Justys. And then, we uh, come home and she helps me with my homework"

"alright, I think that's all I have to ask you" Jeanie says, "thank you for the tea Hazel, I will see you soon, okay?"

"bye Ms. Jeanie" Hazel says, remaining seated at her table. 

Jeanie stands up from the table and goes back out to the living room, where MaryGrace sits on the couch doing her homework. As soon as she notices Jeanie she stands up.

"so Hazel seems happy" Jeanie says, causing MaryGrace to smile. She really likes this Justin fellow" Jeanie says, while taking a note on her legal pad. MaryGrace smiles to herself. "I hope that he does not distract you from Hazel"

"Of course not. Justin and I are not together, he's just been watching Hazel for me while I'm at work"

"what happened to Georgia?" 

"uh, she was asking for more money, and I just couldn't afford her anymore." MaryGrace explains, hoping it wouldn't ruin the meeting

"Are you having financial troubles?" Jeanie asks, with her eyebrows scrunched

"Not at all, Georgia was asking for $28 an hour, which is ridiculous because I work all day. And besides, Hazel loves Justin."

"Alright, so I don't have an issue with who watches her, just as long as she's safe." Jeanie says. "So, everything does seem fine, I will let you know when our next meeting is." 

"okay, thank you for coming" MaryGrace says, walking Jeanie out of the apartment.

HEY y'all 

so I moved into my college dorm on August 11th. So I'm sorry I haven't updated recently, I've been hella busy. My classes have been pretty intense. But as soon as I completely settle in, I will try to update as often as I can. 

Love y'all

drink some water, take meds if needed.