Something Old

by Dianne Christner

  Katy felt her face burn. Tammy assumed her life was luxurious? She seldom lounged around reading books. There was plenty of work to be done at home, helping her mom. Her mind raced, looking for a way to politely turn down the offer. When nothing came to mind, she stalled. “How old are they? It’s Addison and Tyler?”

  “Yes. Addy is seven, and Tyler’s an eleven-year-old adult.”

  Katy smiled. The children seemed well behaved the few times she’d met them. It was Mr. Brooks she didn’t care for. Most often, she’d encountered him on his way to the liquor cabinet or sprawled out watching television, both forbidden indulgences in Katy’s mind. His drinking reminded her too much of Jake, making her distrust the older man. Maybe he was the reason the nanny quit. She found herself tapping her fingers on the counter.

  “Please say you’ll do it until I can find another nanny? I like you and know you’ll be great for the kids. You’ll help me out this once, won’t you? I’ve got several clients this week, and I can’t leave them hanging. And you admitted yourself, you need the money.”

  “You’ll look for another nanny?”

  “Yes. Oh thanks, so much.” Tammy flew out of her seat. “You’re such a sweet thing. And I’ll ask around and see if anyone needs a housekeeper. Thanks again, honey.”

  “So when do you want me to start?”

  “Tomorrow afternoon. Here.” Tammy scribbled the addresses of her children’s schools on a yellow sticky note. “Addison gets out of school at 2:30 p.m., and Tyler gets out at 3:00 p.m. Works out great.” She picked up her briefcase and left like a whirlwind, leaving Katy to ponder what had just transpired and to stew over the way Tammy had so effortlessly manipulated her.

  The Brooks’ home was located in the west side Columbus suburb of Old Arlington. The affluent neighborhood sprawled between two rivers, the Olentangy and the Scioto, giving it a parklike feel. Many of the houses were Tudor style. With Tammy’s yellow sticky note stuck to her steering wheel, Katy followed the street signs through meandering, tree-lined streets to a brick elementary charter school and eased into a slow-moving lineup. She noticed teachers lined along the walkway, helping the students into their cars. On Katy’s rearview mirror hung a yellow card with a number that would identify her as Addison’s ride.

  Addison stood in line on the sidewalk with her classmates. The blond second-grader wore a purple coat and pink boots and had a princess backpack slung over one shoulder. Katy pulled up to the curb, and a teacher opened the car’s back door. Addison started talking before she’d even buckled her seat belt.

  “I’m surprised to see you, Miss Yoder. Why are you picking me up?”

  “Didn’t your mommy tell you I’d be watching you for a while?”

  “Yes, but I forgot. I’ve got dance class today.”

  “You do?” Katy asked, easing the car back into the line of traffic. “Well, I’m not sure you’ll be going today. Your mom said she’d leave me instructions at the house.” Katy felt tense. Dance lessons? She turned west onto another suburban street. “We’re going to pick up Tyler now.”

  “Okay, but where’s my snack?”

  “What snack?”

  “Tanya always brings me a snack so I don’t get bored. Sometimes she brings gummy bears or granola bars. But sometimes she brings me pop. I don’t like apples. I’m really tired of apples. So don’t bring me any apples. Without my snack, it’s so boring waiting for Tyler. Today’s going to be a boring day, isn’t it?”

  “I hope not,” Katy replied, glancing at the sticky note again and watching for the street signs. “Do you know how to get to your brother’s school?”

  “Sure, I know where it is. He thinks he’s big stuff just because he’s in sixth grade, but they don’t do anything fun. I don’t know why he brags about it.”

  “Well, tell me if you see where we’re supposed to turn.”

  “Okay. So why don’t you just take me to my dance lessons now? I can hang out with my friends, and then I won’t be bored.”

  “Don’t worry. We’ll figure that out.”

  “That was the street back there. You just missed it.”

  “Ugh!” Katy wheeled into a driveway and waited for the opportunity to turn back. Soon she was in another lineup but feeling less apprehensive about the pickup procedure. When Tyler got in the car, he threw his pack on the floorboards and slammed the door. Then he looked at his sister and said, “Hi, brat.”

  “Stop calling me that. Make him stop calling me that. He thinks he’s big stuff. But he’s not.”

  “Be kind, Tyler. I’ll soon have you both home.”

  “Put on the radio,” Tyler demanded.

  “I don’t listen to the radio,” Katy explained. “Why don’t you look out the window and see how many snowmen you can find?” Such driving games always entertained her little brothers.

  “Why don’t you listen to the radio?”

  Seemed the car games weren’t as fun for Tyler as they were for her siblings. She sighed. “Some of the lyrics aren’t godly.”

  “What’s that mean?”

  “They talk about bad things.”

  “No they don’t. Turn it on. Come on. My mom lets me.”

  “Sorry, Tyler.”

  She heard his seat belt unbuckle and then heard him rustling through his backpack. Katy glanced in the mirror nervously. “What are you doing, Tyler?”

  “Duh. He’s getting his iPod,” Addison said. “He thinks he’s big stuff because he has an iPod.”

  “Oh. Well, you need to keep your seat belt fastened.” Not that it mattered as they had already reached the children’s street. She’d barely pulled into the drive when both children barreled out of the car. While Katy fumbled in her purse for her house key, Tyler walked to the garage door and punched some buttons. The door opened and both children let themselves into the house. Snapping her purse closed, Katy hurried after them. She closed the garage door behind her and followed them into the kitchen, despondent to see empty microwave popcorn bags and bowls on the counter and a stack of dirty dishes in the sink. How hard was it to load a dishwasher?

  Tyler jerked open the refrigerator door and stared into it. Addison pushed him and jerked open a bin.

  “Stop it.”

  Their bodies tugged for position, and Addison came out of the scuffle with string cheese, but her brother latched on to it, too. “Let go,” she demanded.

  Katy walked over, taking each child by a shoulder. “Move aside, and let me see if there’s more.”

  “This was the last one,” Addison said, jerking it out of her brother’s grip and quickly peeling back the plastic.

  Katy glanced at the counter. “How about some fruit, Tyler?”

  He gave his sister a glare but moved toward the fruit bowl and took a banana. When he peeled it back, he stuck it under Addison’s nose. She squealed. “Stop. Make him stop.”

  Katy placed her hand on Tyler’s shoulder and said sternly, “You sit in that chair.” When he hesitated, she sharpened her voice. “Now.” The child sulked into the chair. “Addison you sit in that one.” Addison bounced into the chair, giving her brother a victorious look. “Now listen up. When I’m watching you, I expect you to respect each other. I have two brothers and a sister at home. Don’t think I don’t know how to make little children behave.” She narrowed her eyes. “Because I do. Do you understand?”

  They both gave nods. Tyler’s eyes, however, darkened rebelliously. Katy moved to the counter and looked for her instructions. Sure enough, she was to take Tyler to his friend’s house and then take Addison to dance class at an Upper Arlington address. She was supposed to walk her inside, watch practice, and afterward relay the instructor’s parental information to Tammy.

  “I’m done with my snack. Can I go play?” Addison asked.

  “Yes. We have a half hour before I take you to your lessons. Tyler you’ll be going to your friends'—”

  He punched his fist in the air. “Awesome!”

  “You may go to your rooms and change cl
othes, and I’ll call you when it’s time,” she called after Tyler who was already halfway up the stairs. “Tyler, stop! Come back here and take that banana peel to the trash. It’s only polite to clean up after yourself.” It was no wonder the house always looked like a tornado had hit it.

  He turned and marched back, like a bull eyeing a matador and snatched up the peel with a scowl. “I’ll do it, but you’re the maid. There.” He plunked it in the trash. “Satisfied?”

  “I’ll be satisfied when you can do that with a smile on your face.”

  “Fat chance of that.” He glanced at her covering. “Pilgrim lady.”

  Katy’s jaw dropped, and she found herself speechless. Meanwhile, Tyler took the steps two at a time and disappeared.

  So much for the misconception that the Brooks’ children were polite. Though it was probably useless and would probably go unnoticed, Katy went through the house, picking up things that were out of place: Barbie dolls, video games, princess socks, and wineglasses.

  She had threatened the children by telling them she knew how to handle her brothers and sister, but the truth was, she’d never had to deal with an adolescent boy’s smart mouth. The woodshed prevented that sort of rebellion at her house. She would need to speak to Tammy about the appropriate methods of discipline.

  Her more immediate challenge, however, would be taking Addison to dance lessons because dancing was forbidden in the Conservative Mennonite Church she attended. In her imagination, the word dancing conjured up smoky dens of drink and lust. She’d never given this type of dancing a thought. If she took Addison, as her employer expected, would she be enabling an innocent child to do something sinful?

  On the other hand, Addison would continue her lessons regardless of whether Katy continued to be her nanny or not. And if Katy refused to take the little girl to her dance lessons, Tammy might get angry and fire her. Then her doddy house dreams would be ruined for sure.

  Considering the options available to her, she placed the breakfast dishes in the dishwasher. Mom would probably tell her to quit her job and remind her that she could live at home until she got another one. Lil would insist that as long as Katy wasn’t dancing, she wasn’t doing anything wrong. Megan was adept at handling sticky situations. She would advise Katy to use this as an opportunity to witness to the children. So far that tactic hadn’t worked with Tyler when he wanted to listen to the radio. But then she hadn’t made Christianity sound very enticing, had she? Nevertheless, Megan’s imaginary advice was the best.

  She gripped the edge of the sink. She wanted to please her employer, but she didn’t want to displease God. She definitely believed that bars and nightclubs were not God-honoring places. Lil had watched enough television and passed along enough steamy details for Katy to make valid conclusions about those devil houses. But that wasn’t really the issue.

  The Bible talked about King David dancing. Katy had wondered about that when she came across the Old Testament passage. She did little joy dances herself when she was alone. Lil had perfected the garbanzo shimmy. Nothing wrong with those. But to move your body seductively, unless it was with your husband, of course, was definitely wrong.

  She had picked up Addison’s dance costume off the floor several times. It was skimpy, yet how seductively could a seven-year-old dance? She turned on the faucet and watched the water rinse the sink. She washed her hands, dried them, and carefully folded the hand towel, even though she never found it that way.

  She didn’t want to overreact. Tyler already thought she was a pilgrim. She wasn’t sure where he’d come up with that idea. Was he confusing her with Quakers? Still, it was meant as an insult, and she hadn’t enjoyed his wisecrack.

  A glance at the clock told her she needed to decide now. With a sigh, she opted to follow Tammy’s instructions and evaluate the experience. This wasn’t a permanent position, anyway. Maybe Tammy had already found a replacement for her. And God knew her heart, that she didn’t want to sin against Him.

  Church restrictions were put in place to keep a person from falling into situations of temptation that could lead to sin. She would be very careful not to allow temptation in. She pushed the dishwasher’s START button and hurried to the stairway.

  “Addison. Tyler. It’s time to go. Are you ready?”

  CHAPTER 6

  Katy followed Addison through a lobby decorated with modern chrome furnishings. A bright ballet poster graced one wall, and a rack of glitzy costumes hung from a corner rack, but no one staffed the desk. Katy followed as Addison skipped down the hall and into a cloakroom. Next Addison went into a practice studio where she greeted her enthusiastic friends. Katy hovered by the door tentatively taking in the assortment of girls and a few jean-clad moms.

  The girls ranged from about six to ten in age. They chatted and giggled with each other as they did warm-up exercises, reminding Katy of a physical education class. Only these girls were like little princesses. Most wore tights and leotards. A few had frilly tutus, and some wore skin-fitting slacks and glittery tops.

  Soon the instructor walked into the room, speaking kindly and clad in a black second skin. The striking young woman intrigued Katy as she floated in and out among the girls, like a breath of fresh air that touched here, repositioned there, causing smiles and looks of adoration on her little students. When she had everyone’s attention, she demonstrated a few movements that they all tried to imitate.

  Katy bit her lip, amused. Although the little girls looked the part, they were hopelessly out of sync. But the instructor’s youthful body and graceful air fascinated Katy. She could almost imagine Megan using her svelte body in such a way. Megan was the most graceful person Katy knew. As she watched Addison, she wondered what it would be like to be a participant and be encouraged to mimic the instructor’s movements. As a little girl, it must be great fun.

  She remembered learning to skip rope and the satisfaction that came with mastering the little ditties that went along with it. She found herself rooting for Addison to get the movements, and Katy felt a surge of pride when the little girl did them correctly.

  As Katy glanced around the studio for a place to sit and quietly observe the class, she had to wonder if her own slim body was flexible enough to bend and stretch like the instructor’s. Her gaze rested on a group of moms, and with embarrassment, she realized she’d caught them staring at her. Instantly, she jerked her gaze away. She felt like the guilty party for invading their world.

  Even if she never grew accustomed to stares, the odd looks she often drew from outsiders served to ground her in her faith, reminding her of her true identity. She was a citizen of a higher kingdom. She walked in the truth. Outsiders had no idea that the heavenly kingdom was more glorious than the earthly one. It put Katy in an awkward position to be both out of place and right about life. And being right never kept one from being scorned.

  She reminded herself that hers was an everlasting kingdom where thieves didn’t steal, weather didn’t erode, and age didn’t wrinkle. At times like this, she wished she could tell the outsiders about her glorious kingdom, but would they listen to someone they considered plain and odd like a pilgrim? What could she say to make them desire her world over theirs?

  “Pardon me, miss.” a petite blond in jeans and a tight-fitting striped T-shirt jarred her from her thoughts. “Are you Addison’s new nanny?”

  “Yes, temporarily.”

  “Oh. Well, we were wondering. Are you European?”

  “No ma’am. I’m Mennonite.”

  “Oh.” Another woman with long hair twisted in a messy topknot burst into the conversation. “That’s right. You drive buggies and stuff?”

  Smiling at their naive curiosity, Katy gently corrected, “I brought Addison in my car. You’re thinking of the Amish.”

  The second woman’s face fell, and the blond snickered at her friend’s gaffe. “Well, we were going to go watch the older girls. They’re practicing for a Valentine’s Day performance. Want to join us?”

  “Sure.
” Katy appreciated the kindness of their unexpected inclusion, and with a backward glance at Addison, she followed the two glamorous ladies down the hall. They stopped in front of a glass window to peer into another studio.

  Even before Katy looked through the glass, the sudden terrible blare of a worldly song invaded her body, hitting with thunderous force and clapping the forbidden beat through her veins. Her heart leapt wildly from the unexpected assault, and she scudded breathless to a halt. Just as unexpectedly, the music quit, but it left her quite shaken.

  With caution, Katy peered through the window. Her eyes widened at the bosomy, witchy-looking creature with wild, coal-black hair, who sashayed about the room. This instructor had dark-lined eyes with fake lashes. The lids were dark lavender even from a distance. Her lips were bloodred and drawn with exaggeration outside the lines. Her skintight top was dangerously low. She wasn’t slim and graceful like the other instructor, but embarrassingly curvy and provocative. And old. Katy pitied the woman who must have thought her painting and primping made her appear younger and attractive. It was a wonder her students didn’t have nightmares. It was a wonder they ever returned.

  The petite blond touched Katy’s arm, and she started.

  “This dance is so cute. They’re going to perform at the mall on Valentine’s weekend. Isn’t that fun?”

  With a slight nod, Katy looked over the girls in the class, junior high age and maybe older. She noticed dancers came in all sizes and shapes, her heart going out to the chubbier ones, the clumsier ones who at this age stuck out in a disparaging way. She heard the instructor—a Mrs. Tenny they called her—tell the girls, “Let’s go through the whole thing from the top. Remember to stay in sync with the lead girls.”