This short story was inspired by my career as an Early Childhood Educator--inspired by it but not about it. I've made mistakes--many, too many--thankfully this wasn't one of them.
I'd started working at the daycare only a few weeks before so I was still getting to know everyone.
Tyler, one of the children in my care, rushed to the toilet but she didn't get there fast enough. She kept crying and saying, "I'm not a baby."
Tyler is an adorable little girl with an angelic face and big blue eyes. Seeing those big blue eyes full of tears tore at my heart. I would have done anything to ease her pain. All I could say was, "Everyone makes mistakes."
I dug through our collection of donated clothes and found a pair of pink sweatpants that fit. She dried her eyes and joined the other children at the craft table.
I bagged Tyler's soiled pants and hung them on the hook under her jacket.
Her mother usually picked her up from daycare. She often arrived with a gift for her daughter--a flower or a pebble or a... Little things that delighted Tyler. Gifts that revealed their special relationship. Small things that spoke loudly about a thoughtful mother.
That day we were told "Peter" would pick up Tyler.
I was helping one of the little boys put on his jacket to go outside to play when Peter came.
"You--?" Was all he said when he saw me.
We'd meet the night before at the pub. One thing had led to another and I'd invited him home.
"I work here." Said quickly to ensure him that I wasn't a mom. I smiled at how shy Peter was acting. I didn't think he was capable of shyness. And I smiled because I was excited to see him. Butterflies. The whole nine yards. Doubly so now that I knew he must be Tyler's uncle.
He pulled Tyler's jacket off the hook and knocked the bag containing her soiled pants to the floor. "What's that?" He picked up the bag. "It stinks!"
"Tyler had an accident but--."
"And you didn't wash her pants?"
"The daycare doesn't wash clothing."
"Where's Tyler?"
"She's finishing her snack. Please don't--. I mean she feels really bad about her accident so I told her, Everyone makes--."
Tyler came running down the hall and threw her arms around his leg. "Daddy."
"Mistakes." But I wouldn't make that mistake again.
photo by ldyck
Nails by GG on Mayne Island
photo by ldyck
October on this Blog...
and...
Atwood Gibson Writers' Trust Fiction Prize
and...
City of Victoria Butler Book Prize
and...
It's literary awards season and we're celebrating on this blog. I'm devoting the entire month to reviewing books...
Sunday, October 16
Book Review: Everyone in this room will someday be dead (novel) by Emily Austin
Sunday, October 24
Book Review: Hannah and Ariela (novel) by Johnnie Bernhard
Sunday, October 31
The Dollhouse: a ghost story by Charis Cotter
What happened to and on Sunday, October 9? Well, you know I couldn't go an entire month without sharing a short story. And so...
