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October 6, 11:05pm
Whoah.Well, that came into my life quickly. This afternoon at 2pm, I had no job and no definitive life direction. But I did have an interview. I wasn’t expecting much of it - In the past several weeks, I’ve been turned down for six jobs already, plus the nanny jobs that I didn’t even try to see if they wanted me. Every single nanny position up until today wanted me to live off my savings while I created more spoiled, trust fund brats with no responsibility. Thank you, but no thanks. Enough people like my sister exist already.
At 10:03pm, I have a job offer. By 11pm, I have a job and a signed contract. A real job (ooh-la-la, adulting and all that!)that I interviewed for and everything and was not dropped in my lap. I never had to work in school, but I picked up odd jobs here and there. Random opportunities that lasted a few weeks, maybe a few months. My family always told me I should “focus on school, you have the rest of your life to work.” Which is true enough and a good deal of why I never took anything seriously. Or maybe I was the problem. No self-discipline. Just a great deal of curiosity and something, I’d like to think, that made having me in this world something of use. Not that I ever had proof of that. When I graduated, the Peace Corps was happy I had a pulse and no criminal background (and a degree in basically anything).
Moreover, the Peace Corps was originally my mother’s idea. I do love my mother, but she can be a little pushy. Sure, I took the idea and ran with it.And by, “ran with it,” I mean I gave my friends all of a month’s warning that I was leaving the country. For somewhat longer than a spring fling. I still feel a little guilty about Rachel. She never tried to hold me back, but I should have been more considerate. I just didn’t know how fast it would happen.
But I am rather done with doing something just because my mom wants it. This nannying job is all mine. I never said a word to anyone before I got final confirmation from the guy who hired me (well, except Rachel, of course, she’s the one who helped me find it in the first place!). I don’t know if my family will approve, but it’s my life. I’ve got to start somewhere, right?
The afternoon went quite smoothly. I arrive early, probably too early, but I’m nervous. It’s a single dad and three kids. Ten-year-old girl and four-year-old boy and girl twins who are a year away from going to kindergarten. Work is 7am - 3pm, break, help with dinner. I’m given privacy in the basement after 9pm every night (kids not allowed downstairs after that time). Plus two Saturdays a month, 9-5pm.
When I knock on the door, and a little boy opens the door. He looks about four or five years old. “Are you here to help me find my sock?” he asks. His dad interrupts, “Soon, dude. Let’s talk and play for a bit up here and then we can track down your sock. Your practice is not till Saturday. Hello, I’m David, come on in,” he invites me.That was smooth.
It’s a big house, but I’m not intimidated. I suspect most candidates are going to be taken aback. Three floors, including a fully outfitted basement floor, plus an attic with an office and a workout space. The basement is nice. Recently remodeled, it looks like, lots of windows and lots of light. To one side of the stairs, there’s a guest suite where I’ll be living – huge bedroom, huge bathroom (with a tub!) and a huge closet – should the job work out. Beyond the suite, there is a cavernous playroom that appears to be full of toys, beanbags, and a honest to goodness theatre setup. On the other side of the stairs, I see a glimpse of a large exercise room with machines and weights, a keycard-controlled door (apparently mechanicalscan be dangerous to little kids) and an exit to the yard. During the day, the basement is the kids’ play area.
I’m surprised to see a woman sitting on the couch in the basement. She’s on a shorter side, really well dressed with dark hair and dark eyes - I quickly assess that this is the ex. She’s polite, but distant. When I say “polite,” I mean that in the most dictionary sense of the word. All saccharine. I’m surprised she is there,but it’s a good sign that they’re doing the interview together?
He takes charge of the interview. The structure is pretty informal. Most of the interview is me playing with the kids. We build block legos, do a puzzle, and tea time with the girls and their stuffed animals. I chat with the parents on the side, answering questions about myself, etc. I answer his questions and her questions, too, as they arise, but they are few and to the point. After about an hour, she excuses herself and leaves. It seems she didn’t want to be here. And if I’m honest with myself, after that hour, I’m not sure I wanted her to be there.She really gave me the creeps.Good thing I’m not working for her, but for him. And for the kids. After she leaves, he organizes me and the kids to go on the great hockey sock hunt through the house. The sock is found, and I surprise myself with how quickly I remember where everything is. Then it’s bedtime routine. Kids are surprisingly easy to put to sleep after a full evening of playing – probably after a full day of playing as well.
After the kids are asleep, David drives me to the train station so I can make my train. We drive silently –awkwardly? or at least it feels awkward from my end. I wonder why he drove me. It’s a nice gesture, but I’m…cautious. Most women don’t trust me alone with their men. I don’t know why. I don’t have classically beautiful features, but my friend says I “draw men out of the woodwork.”Like the guy that tried to whisk me away to a romantic vacation in Costa Rica after meeting me once. Okay, that’s dramatic. Usually, it’s much less than that. But enough for me to run away.
David finally speaks up and provides some color about the interview and why his ex’s presence. It was a courtesy, he tells me, since I’ll be around their children. But she has her time, and kids have their time with him. It’s an interesting turn of tongue. Their parenting time switches every Friday afternoon, which explains the schedule.
“What will I be doing when the kids aren’t there,” I ask.
“Well, that’s something I didn’t want to bring up until after I saw how you interacted with kids, since they will be your initial primary responsibility. But they will be going to school next year and you did say during our phone call that you didn’t want to be doing this forever,” he answers.
I wanted to be transparent, and now I’m wondering if that was a good thing or not. Out loud I say, “No, I don’t want to do this forever.”
Then, he responds, “I’d like to train you for the next year.”
He starts explaining about the company he’s building. He’d like me to help manage it, the day-to-day needs. He and a few others have partnered together. But there’s nobody, full or even part time, on the ground to answer calls and do the daily grind. They haven’t even established where the company will be headquartered. One week, kids. One week, training for the business.
I’m hesitant and nervous — again.What is he offering? Am I stupid to be taking this job? Probably most people would tell me yes. He just likes you because you’re pretty. It is tiring being the pretty girl, and, I don’t think that I’m even that pretty.But I’m pretty enough for most men (and hopefully women, though I’ve never been put into an awkward spot by a female coworker,) I guess.
It’s sad that I can offer more to some poor guy than their wife of twenty plus years, but I’ve certainly seen it before. People lose interest after a while, and if someone else shows even the slightest interest…
Worse yet, he doesn’t have anyone, but that only makes him more of a risk.I hope I don’t have to run away from this. I like his kids. I like them, and him. I even like her. The job is for a single… They seem like genuinely good people. Maybe I shouldn’t have accepted the ride. Maybe- but I break myself from my thoughts because we’re at the station now, and he’s saying something.
“Do you want the job? You’ll need to start on Monday.”
What.I guess the stream of rejection lately has gotten to me. I didn’t expect a yes, I realize.
“Yes, yes, of course I can start right away. I just need to inform my current roommate and I can be there first thing Monday morning. 7am, correct?” I have no idea where this confidence came from, but, hey, I’ll go with it.
* * *
Rachel,of course, takes it hard.
“Wait, you’re leaving this weekend? Sunday? As in two days from now?”
“Yeah, he wants me to start Monday. It’s a live-in position.” She paused.
“Look, it’s a great opportunity for you, I know, but…you know, if you feel uncomfortable and all, you can always still live with me.” She trails off.
I laugh awkwardly.
