AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I know,” I rub her back. “I’m surprised you can take anything seriously.”
“What do you mean?” She looks up to me, amused with my tone.
“Yeah, you’re always laughing off everything!”
I look at her, and now she’s giggling, and I’m enjoying every second. I’m glad to see she is feeling better.
The elevator doors open, and we pull apart the same instant. We’re at the 15th floor and the sounds of New York City are muffled far below. There are only a few honks and distant sirens audible.
“Apartment 1501…” I take Joyce by the arm and walk her out of the elevator.
There are only two apartments per floor, so I head to the door on the left and ring the doorbell. Jefferson’s wife, Karen, answers the door, and has a big smile for Joyce when she sees her.
“Welcome, sweetheart!” she says, hugging Joyce with excitement. “I’m Karen. Come on in. Let me introduce you to the rest of the family!”
Albert Jefferson, my regional sales director, is sitting on the couch beside his youngest daughter, Esther, who’s playing intently on a tablet.
“Hey Logan,” Jefferson waves to me nonchalantly, keeping his eyes fixed on the game the little girl is playing. “Come look at this! All I had when I was her age was the Atari, and I sucked at it!”
I get behind the couch to better watch the action. The game Esther is playing is some racing game full of neon lights and moving shapes.
“This is far more advanced than what Anna plays!” I exclaim, looking from Jefferson to his wife, and then finally, at Joyce.
Building rapport with a child who's glued to screens can be a long-term challenge, and I'm uncertain about how much progress she can make in just one afternoon.
“Hi Esther!” Joyce says, without altering her voice, but lowering herself to be at the child’s level. “Can I take a seat?”
Esther pauses her game to give Joyce a good once over. Apparently satisfied with what she sees, she then asks, “What’s your name again?”
Joyce starts to giggle, but answers right away, “It’s Joyce, Esther. But you didn’t answer my question!”
“What?” This kid definitely has a short attention span.
“If I can sit or not?” She places a hand on her hips to look sassy.
Esther scoots over to the side, sitting almost in her father’s lap, so Joyce can sit in the enormous space left behind for her.
“Dad,” Esther cries in complaint. “Can I keep playing?”
“No, dear, it’s time to play with Joyce,” Jefferson says, encouraging the little oyster to come out of her shell.
“I have a better idea,” Joyce raises a finger. “Do you like watching funny videos?”
The girl simply nods.
“Not one for many words, is she?” I say to Karen, who smiles and interlaces her fingers together and places them over her crossed knees.
“She’s quiet until you get to know her,” she says. “Wait until she gets comfortable.”
When I turn back to Joyce, she’s playing a video about two puppets arguing for Esther to see. The little girl starts to giggle immediately and allows Joyce to place a hand on her shoulder while they watch the little show together.
“Would you like some coffee, Logan?” Karen offers.
“Oh, sure,” I say, getting up from behind the couch and into the dining room, which leads us to the kitchen.
“Please, take a seat,” the woman says, pointing me to a chair around their table. “Joyce seems lovely so far!”
“She is amazing,” I say. “Anna loves her, but she’s getting too attached.”
