This is just a character
introduction, information and in-between stuff story and done mostly in
conversation.
Note: 'words' = personal thoughts.
"words" = telepathic communication
THE NANNY
THE
RAIN WHIPERS SERIES: Ame - 7 months old
"Oh, wow…"
"…Um, hi. I-I have an
appointment--I think. Were you
the one who was looking to hire a nanny?"
Bobby Drake, who was still
staring dumbly at the young woman standing in the doorway, finally sputtered an
answer.
"Um, yes-- I mean,
no-- I mean, this is the place, but I’m not the one who placed the add."
After staring at each other
a few moments longer, she spoke again.
"May I come in?"
"Oh! Yeah, sure! Come
in! Sorry!" He moved aside and let her pass. "I--My name is
Ic--B-Bobby. Bobby Drake."
"Lisa Benny. Nice to
meet you." She shook his hand. "Do you live here?" She asked
looking about the large entranceway of the mansion.
"Uh, yeah. A lot of
people do actually."
Another staring contest
initiated by Bobby.
Lisa shrugged sheepishly.
"Are the parents of the children, some of those people?"
"God, I’m sorry."
Bobby said smacking himself on the forehead. "I-I don’t know what’s wrong
with me. It’s been one of those mornings. Um, this way, please." He
motioned genteelly for her with his hand the direction in which she should go.
He followed close behind.
‘God, Ice-for-brains!
What's wrong with you?’ He thought to himself.
"Bobby?" Someone else’s voice sounded in his
head. It was Jean. "Is that another, Nanny applicant?"
‘The applicant.’ He thought, forgetting he was conversing
with a telepath.
"Huh?"
"Uh, nothing. Yeah,
it's another one. Her name’s Lisa Benny."
"We’ll be right
down. Keep her company will you?"
"Not a
problem." ‘Most definitely not a problem.’
"Try to show a
little enthusiasm, okay." She said with a knowing laugh. "We’re on our way."
"Yeah, sure."
Bobby let Lisa into the
Professor's office where the other interviews had taken place.
"They're on their way
down." He said. He motioned that she should have seat.
Lisa did so but immediately
stood back up as Jean, Ororo and Charles entered the room. Introductions were
made and Bobby, this time without an embarrassing pause excused himself. What
was embarrassing, was as he turned for a final acknowledgement, he tripped
backwards over his own feet and went crashing to the floor. Luckily, pride
somehow gave him the ability to instantly pop back up, and leave with some
shred of his dignity left in tact.
"Interesting
guy." Lisa said with a smile after the door closed.
"To say the
least." Jean said with a laugh. "Please, have a seat."
"Thank, you."
"Well, Miss
Benny—"
"Lisa, please."
"Lisa, we understand
you are Marlene Bennett’s niece."
"Yes, I had just
returned from a job in France, when my aunt and uncle informed me that you were
looking for a nanny. Ms. Monroe, I was told you are a close friend of
theirs."
"Yes, and it is Ororo.
Your aunt and uncle were good friends of my parents."
Lisa nodded. "I—I hope
you don’t think that I’m expecting any kind of preferential treatment in this
interview. I’m certain my credentials speak for themselves."
"Indeed they do."
Jean said looking at her resume. "You were a nanny for five years in
France?"
"Mmm Hmm. Both
children are now off at a private school."
And you hold a degree in
both child development an international studies.?"
"Yes, and I also
became a fully licensed lifeguard in college and am licensed to practice first
aid—both practical and field."
"You’ve been
busy." Charles said. "What is your motivating force?"
"My… I—I love
children."
Charles tilted his head,
waiting for the rest.
Lisa got the hint she
wasn’t fooling him.
"Well, I—I do love
children. I’ve always felt a strong need to care for them. You see, when I was
seven, my younger sister died—needlessly. Apparently our babysitter didn’t feel
a three-year-old needed very much attention. Somehow, Jenny got into the pool.
The sitter pulled her out after only a few minutes, but didn’t know haw to
revive her properly. She tried CPR—Adult CPR. She was panicking, I guess and
didn’t think—didn’t realize that you can’t put the same pressure on an infant’s
chest that you would on an adult’s. The only upside was that Jenny wasn’t
conscious to feel her chest being crushed."
She stared at the floor a
moment then shook her head.
"I’m sorry. I don’t
know where that came from. I mean, this is supposed to be a job interview, not
a therapy session right?"
"We’re sorry about
your sister Lisa, and there is no reason to apologize. In a way, that was what
we wanted to hear. We want someone looking after our children whose sole
motivation is money. We want someone who cares and is dedicated."
Jean looked from Ororo to
the Professor. And I think we would like to offer you this job."
"Really?"
"I think you’re
what—who we’re looking for."
Ororo nodded in agreement.
"But before you decide, I think we should first inform you of some
of the particulars. At present there are three children in this house for whom
we are seeking additional care. Jean’s son David, who is four months, my seven
month old, Ame and another little girl, Jerri, who is nearly five."
"This is essentially a
full time live in position," Charles added. "But you would by no
means be expected to handle all three children by yourself. We—all of us are a
very large family here. These children have many aunts and uncles who without
question are willing to share in the responsibilities."
"So—I would basically
be… a supplement?"
"For the most part,
yes." Ororo said. "Our careers are quite demanding. We might well be
asked to leave without any notice whatsoever, and could be gone for several
hours, or even days."
"But it’s an extremely
rare circumstance that everyone in this house is gone; I myself am here a
majority of the time." Charles said. "So you would never, really
be here on your own."
"We really haven’t set
any form of vacation time. If you’d like time off just let us know in advance
and we’ll make sure you’re covered.
"Room and board are
included of course, and a car will be made available to you."
"…And the catch
is…?"
"Catch? There is no
catch. These are our children we’re talking about. For their quality care and
comfort, spare no expense."
"Well… if you
insist." She said with a laugh. "Um… Just—one question though…"
"Yes?"
"The children, are
they… um, mutants?"
Six eyebrows went up.
"It’s just that—well
Professor Xavier, you’re not exactly unknown for your activism for mutant
rights. I remember in college my friends and I use to joke that your School For
Gifted Young People—Youngsters, something like that—was really a school for
training mutants, which, when you thing about it really isn’t that bad of an
idea."
"And if the children were
mutants?"
"Oh, there’s no
problem. It’s just that—well I—well, to my knowledge that is—have never
actually met a mutant. I would just want to know if there was anything—special
I would need to know how to do."
"Yes. Two of the
children, the girls, are mutants, although their mutant genes have not yet been
made active."
"That happens around
puberty right?"
"More often than not.
And no, there is nothing special you need to know how to do, at least, nothing
that we ourselves are aware of just yet."
"And… I think that we
should also mention, if you do decide to take this job… you and my son would be
the only non-mutant’s currently living here."
"…Really?" Lisa
finally asked, suddenly feeling very stupid about her earlier comment of never
having met a mutant."
"Really." Jean spoke in her head, causing
Lisa to jump.
"Sorry. Just so you
know, I, the professor and one other here are all telepaths. But it is policy
for us not to intrude upon the thoughts of others without their permission.
Although we do speak mentally, time to time, we would never intrude upon your
privacy.
Lisa nodded and smiled.
"And you don’t have to worry about me. I can understand your need for
discretion. I can be trusted. Your "secrets" is safe with me."
"Oh, we already knew
that, or we would not have told you the things we did. Without actually going
in and reading your thoughts, I was still able to sense what kind of person you
were the moment we met."
"Wish I had that
ability with my last boyfriend."
Jean laughed. "Well,
Lisa, what do you think?"
* * * * *
"God, you guys shoulda
seen her. She’s beautiful, she’s an angel, she’s perfect… she—probably thinks
I’m the biggest moron on the planet…" Bobby slammed his head on the
kitchen table.
"Hey, watch the
wood." Scott said.
"I made such a
fool of myself."
"Thought you’d be use
to that by now."
"Not helping,
Remy."
"I don’ care what the
fille look like."
"…You runnin’ a fever,
Remy?"
"Dis my babe we
talkin’ ‘bout. Don’ care if Mrs. Doubtfire walk t’rough dat door, long as she
know how t’take care of my belle." Remy said sitting down. "Still
don’t understand how dey managed to ban us from de rest of de interviews."
He mumbled.
"Do the words the
third degree mean anything to you?" Hank asked. Remy, Scott and even
Logan glared at him.
"We weren’t that
bad."
"You made one of the
applicant’s cry."
"She wasn’t up to the
task."
"You boys are really
unbelievable ya know that." Rogue added and was about to leave the room
when the Professor, and the three women came through the door.
"Everyone, I would
like you to meet Miss Lisa Benny. The children’s new nanny."
"While those who yet
to be introduced to Miss Benny greeted her, Bobby remained uncharacteristically
quiet.
Hank leaned over and
whispered some words in his ear that set Bobby grinning like an idiot.
"Yes, Robert, there is
a Santa Claus."
The End
Next: "Someone
To Watch Over Me" – guest starring… (shhh!!! It’s a secret!!!)