One Big Happy Family

Chapter 17: Miss Watson

"Lorie! Come down here immediately!"

Viktor stood at the bottom of the stairs, fuming. Lorie opened the door to her bedroom and poked her head out.

"I can't! I'm busy at the moment," she replied warily.

"Lorie! Don't make me come upstairs!" Viktor warned her.

Lorie sighed. She decided it was best to go ahead and deal with the situation. She knew exactly what was coming, and therefore took her time descending the grand staircase.

"Yes, Papa? What is it?" Lorie put on her most innocent face.

"You know very well what it is," Viktor scowled. "I told you to never bite the nanny!"

"But she made me mad," Lorie defended herself. "She hit me over the knuckles with a ruler."

Viktor narrowed his eyes. "And she told me exactly why she had to do it... before she packed up her bags and made a run for it." Viktor hooked a finger and beckoned his daughter to follow him into his office. Theirs was not going to be a friendly chat. Lorie gulped uneasily.

"Sit," Viktor instructed her once he settled himself behind his massive mahogany desk.

Lorie obeyed. She didn't dare look her father in the eye. Instead, she stared intently at her pink shoes.

"Now. Let's start at the beginning," Viktor spoke sternly. "I thought we both decided that Miss Watson was the right nanny for you."

"Yes," Lorie mumbled under her breath.

"She came with the best credentials," Viktor continued. "She had been a nanny for one of the Vanderbilt heirs, in New York. She stayed with that family for several years... six, I believe."

Lorie nodded in assent.

"After that, she spent some time teaching at an all girls' school in the same area," Viktor reminded his daughter. "For another six years. Her latest job was as a full-time au pair for the Coolidge family, in Boston... where I believe she was employed for four years." He watched Lorie closely. "So far we are in agreement, right?"

"Right," Lorie replied, chewing on her lower lip.

Viktor sighed. "I was delighted that she accepted our offer. A person with such an admirable reputation is hard to find... especially one who was also readily available to start." He paused. Lorie remained silent. "Miss Watson was here exactly three days, Lorie. Three days," Viktor raised his voice along three of his fingers. "What in the world were you thinking?"

"I'm sorry, Papa," Lorie sniffled.

"Don't you start that with me, young lady," Viktor was not going to allow Lorie to manipulate him with tears. He sat back in his chair and frowned. "Now. I want to hear your version of what happened."

Lorie pouted. "Miss Watson was a bully. The very first day, she gave me a list of acceptable behaviors. Can you believe that? She made an actual list! It said I was only to speak when spoken to, I was to do all of my homework before I could play, I had to wake up every morning at eight and go to sleep every night at eight-thirty, I had to clean up my room every day before school, I only had a half hour break during my lessons which were to last from nine A.M. until two P.M. every day, I had to maintain a perfect posture when I walked, I had to curtsy to her before she dismissed me... She would check my fingernails and if she found any dirt under them I had to use this really stiff brush she gave me until they sparkled clean, I had to keep my hands in my lap during lesson times, I had to learn how to write only with my right hand... even though I am left-handed." Lorie paused to catch her breath. "Need I go on?"