The Periwinkle Affair

TPA15: Mommy

"MAINE, this is Molly." Luisa introduced a young lady to her as she was coming down the stairs. She had put Periwinkle to sleep.

It's been a week since they came home from the hospital. A lot has happened. She went to court and got what they needed for her. A lot has changed, too. She can't go back to the post yet, Big Mike's order since she doesn't have anyone to care for Periwinkle. She can't take her to the post since it is not really conducive for the child so as the urgent care, since they both present a different kind of danger for the child. but she doesn't have a choice, since she couldn't find a suited babysitter for Periwinkle, so she chose the lesser danger, her office in the urgent care.

"Hi, Ma'am." Maine nods her head to acknowledge Molly.

"Hello. Sit down, please." She waved her hand to make her sit. Molly sat down quietly, while Luisa threw herself on the long couch. Maine shook her head.

"And you call yourself a dignified doctor of pediatrics and general medicine." Maine said waving her hand like the queen of England. Luisa stuck her tongue out to her.

"Please forgive my friend for being so ill-mannered." Maine faces Molly.

"Whatever, Maine. I got you a nanny for Periwinkle, what more do you want from me?" Luisa's dramatic reply. Molly giggled at their banters.

"That's the thing Lu, I don't want anything from you, Wink does, I don't." She comes out from the kitchen with juice packs and some crackers on the tray. She put it down on the table and lay her hand out to Molly. "Hi, Molly." They shook hands.

"Molly Magbanua, M'am. I'm a certified childcare provider. My CPR certification is up to date. I am also a BSEed graduate, specializing in special needs children." Maine stopped midway from drinking her juice.

"You're a teacher? What are you doing here applying for a nanny?" Molly looked down as if Maine had talked down to her. "I'm sorry, Molly. I didn't mean to sound off to you." She added, wanting to kick her own butt.

"It's okay, Miss. I haven't had the chance to take the teacher's board yet. I don' t have enough money to pay for all the fees let alone sustain my fare back and forth to the review center. I have to work still and share it with my mom." A likely story for everyone who came from a low income family. It is a sad thing but it's true. Maine's heart constricted. She can't stand hearing and seeing people in need, the government should do something about this.

"I made a full background check on her. Well, Mike did. She came from one of the tenements not far from here." Maine turned to Luisa and gave her a signal. Luisa winced. She knows she should have told Maine first before bringing someone in. What can she do? She got so excited and neglected that small but important part.

"Let me get some water." Luisa said. Maine got up, too. Luisa stood up. They went to the kitchen.

"What the hell, Lu? When are you going to tell me about this? You just sprung someone in my face just now!" Maine was talking in a controlled anger. A part of her that Luisa hasn't seen before. It's like Mamma bear mode on.

"Okay. Maine, can we calm down for a bit?" Luisa nervously uttered.

"I am calm, Lu. I am very, very calm. So you better give me a good explanation. Who is that girl out there?" Pointing straight out to the living room. Maine doesn't know why she is getting so worked up.

"Okay, Meng. Hear me out first." Luisa said swallowing the invisible lump in her throat. "When Mike heard that you are able to take Periwinkle home, he created an ad for babysitter/nanny. He specifically states there the need of CPR certification, must have an education background or at least still in college, whether it is high school or elementary. This girl has an associate degree in child development concentrating on special needs children." Luisa was trying to say it as fast as she could because she knows Maine will lose interest at whatever people are explaining when she's upset like this.