NANNY FOR MENDES.

Thirty-three

𝗦𝗢𝗣𝗛𝗜𝗔'𝗦 𝗣𝗢𝗩

I'm expecting Shawn at any minute now. But right now, I need to focus on what I'm here for.

"Now that I have proof that you are indeed Mr Mendes' assistant, I can talk to you about Raul. How can I help you?"

"How is he as a student?"

"He's actually pretty good. Especially in the last couple of months. I asked him how he got really good all of a sudden. No offense, I promise. It's just he wasn't that good at French. He said his best friend is helping him studying friend. Her name is Sophia. But she's not a student here."

I smile.

"Okay. As a person?"

"Well, he's.... distant. He doesn't communicate with other kids in class. Sometimes I feel like he's somewhere else. His mind is somewhere else."

"You have any idea why he doesn't communicate with other kids?"

"Maybe he's shy?"

"He's bullied, Madame Guillod."

"Bullied?"

"Yes. Kids in class bully him. That's why he doesn't speak to any of them. He came home crying on my first day of work."

"Came home crying? You're not Mr Mendes' assistant, are you?"

"I'm his nanny. I'm the Sophia he mentioned to you. And yes I'm his best friend."

"Of course you're helping him. You speak French."

"Yes, I do. But that's not the point of my coming here today."

She nods. "You were saying he's bullied? Who's bullying him?"

"He didn't say who. He just said a boy in school is bullying him.

"I'll get him here."

"Okay."

A minute later, Raul walks into the room.
He looks scared.

"Madame Guillod, what did I do?" I hear him say behind me.

I turn my head around, smiling at him.

"SOPHIA!!" He runs toward me, then hugs me. I wrap my arms around him. He ends up sitting on my lap.

"This is your friend who's been helping you with French?" Madame Guillod asks Raul.

He nods. I turn him around, in my lap, so that he's facing me.

"Raul, look baby. I came here to solve your problem."

He frowns and looks down.

"Hey. Look at me." I tilt his head.

"Okay." He says, sadly.

"Who's bullying you, Raul?" Guillod asks him.

"Elliot."

"Okay. We'll get him here."

"No. No." Raul says quickly. He buries his face in my chest.

"Baby, it's okay. He won't do anything to you."

"I don't want to see him."

"Stay in my arms then."

A few minutes later, that Elliot boy comes to the office.

"Elliot, dear." Guillod says.

"I didn't do anything!"

"Calm down, dear. We just got you here to talk to you."