Ms. McFadden

Beverly McFadden

Beverly McFadden wore a bright red bucket hat, a navy-blue and orange striped summer dress, one purple shoe and one yellow shoe. She had a white jacket with black polka dots. She rode into town on a heavily used Segway PT. It was slightly modified to reach a top speed of 35 MPH—at least that’s what she said. The fact that she was able to pass several cars on the road made most believe she had to be traveling closer to 50.

When Officer Martin pulled up behind her and flashed his lights, she turned around, smiled, and waved at him as if greeting an old friend. She had no idea he was signaling her to pull over. Officer Martin and his partner could only laugh and wave back.

“That lady,” he said, shaking his head, “you can’t help but like her.” And with that, he drove off.

Beverly rode up to the house of the Anderson family, jumped off her Segway, and knocked on the door. She tapped the tune of Shave and a Haircut. Jonathan answered, dressed in a black suit and a sky-blue shirt.

“Beverly McFadden, at your service.”

“Yes, yes,” he said. “Come on in.” Turning to his wife, he added, “Sweetheart, I’d like you to meet Beverly McFadden. She’s from the nanny agency.”

This would be the third family Beverly worked for. The Harolds had been first—she’d watched their children for four years. In the course of just one summer, she took them from a group of rebellious delinquents to upstanding model citizens. Next came the Meyers. They weren’t bad children, just addicted to their electronic devices. In five weeks, Beverly had them spending most of their time outdoors. Now it was time for the Andersons. Her reputation had shined before she even arrived.

Beverly was about 65 years old—the cool grandmother type. Her vibrant clothes, her quirky transportation, her wild sense of humor and personality made her stand out in any crowd. She was something like a mix of Mary Poppins, Granny Clampett, and Ms. Frizzle from The Magic School Bus. No, she never jumped into a painting and danced with penguins or took the children on a field trip into the human bloodstream. She never used “white lightning” to cure anything—at least not in front of the kids. But she did take children on trips within their own imaginations.

“A child with a strong imagination can do anything.” That’s what she always told them.

Everyone who knew her loved her—children, parents, neighbors. She touched the hearts of all she came in contact with. If you ever got the chance to meet her, you would understand why.

There was only one problem.

She didn’t really exist. She was nothing more than a character in a book.

________________________________________

Jenifer

Jenifer Howle pulled the book off the shelf on her first day of class. She wasn’t required to take classes for an entry-level position, but Jenifer wanted anything but entry-level. Her dream was to open her own daycare center, and she knew that both schooling and experience were necessary.

It wasn’t like she was enrolling in a four-year university. She could complete a certification course in just a few months. She had already finished four years of business school—she wasn’t ready for four more.

She had read the book years ago when she was young. It was what inspired her to go into childcare. There had even been a movie based on the book, though movies never did books justice.

“Can I take this?” she asked.

“Well,” said Mrs. Green, her instructor, “it’s really just there for decoration. You can take it if you bring in another book to replace it.”

That night, Jenifer read Beverly McFadden to her nieces and nephew. She loved children but had none of her own. The children adored the story and started calling her “Auntie McFadden.” She liked it so much she eventually had her name legally changed to Jenifer McFadden Howle.

________________________________________

A New Beginning

Jenifer graduated at the top of her class and quickly landed a job at Little Prodigy Childcare Center. On her first day, she wore a bright red bucket hat, a navy-blue and orange striped summer dress, purple and yellow shoes, with a white jacket covered in black polka dots. She arrived on her heavily used Segway PT.

It was 5 AM when she pulled up to the door. She knocked on the receptionist’s desk, tapping the tune of Shave and a Haircut.

Annoyed, Joanna, the receptionist, looked up. “Can I help you?”

“Jenifer McFadden,” she said brightly. “At your service.”

“I’m sorry, who?”

“Jenifer McFadden Howle.”

“Oh—the new hire.”

Joanna spoke with little or no enthusiasm. Her dry personality revealed a particular dislike for children. Why someone like that would work in childcare was anyone’s guess. Maybe it was the only job she could get. Maybe that’s why she worked the desk instead of with the children.

“Mrs. Banks,” she called over the intercom in the same monotone voice, “your new hire is here.”

Mrs. Banks soon appeared, her bubbly presence the opposite of Joanna’s dryness. Jenifer greeted her with equal enthusiasm.

“Jenifer McFadden Howle, at your service. You may call me Jenifer McFadden.”

“Well, hello, Ms. McFadden,” said Mrs. Banks. “I’ve already reviewed your credentials, and I must say, I’m impressed. You even scored higher than me. Is Mrs. Green still teaching at the academy?”

“Yes, she is. She spoke very highly of you. She was the one who suggested I come here.”

The energy between them clearly irritated Joanna, but Mrs. Banks didn’t notice—or didn’t care.

________________________________________

The Sparrow Room

Mrs. Banks gave Jenifer a tour: the commons area with its giant 500-gallon fish tank; the Tadpole Room (ages six months to two years); the Hummingbird Room (ages two to five); the Sparrow Room (ages six to nine); and finally the Raven Room (ages ten to twelve).

“You’ll be working in the Sparrow Room,” she explained.

Inside were about ten carpet circles, six of them labeled with names: Carl, Jamie, Mike, Tiffany, Greg, and Nala.

The children filed in, sat in their spots, and eyed the newcomer.

“Okay, class,” Mrs. Banks said, “I’d like you to meet Ms. McFadden.”

Before introductions could begin, Nala raised her hand. “What happened to Mrs. Hanson?”

The children all voiced how much they missed their former caregiver. Mrs. Hanson had been 83 and in declining health, though she hid her struggles well.

“She had to take care of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren,” Mrs. Banks explained.

“That sucks,” Carl muttered.

“Carl, watch your mouth. You’re in good hands with Ms. McFadden.”

Reluctantly, Carl shrugged. “Okay. We’ll give her a chance. What do you say, guys?”

The children agreed.

But they were already plotting.

________________________________________

Mrs. Banks asked Jenifer to meet her in the office. The kids promised to be on their best behavior while she was gone. However, Jenifer could see that they were whispering. They were up to something.

She was gone only for a few minutes. When she returned, she did not come into the Sparrow Room right away. She slowly opened the door, stuck her arm inside to move the broom that was propped against the door. It was set to fall on her when she came in.

“Nice try children”, she said. “You will have to try better than that.”

They were all shocked. They didn’t dare ask how she knew it was there. To do so would be to admit guilt. Neither one of them was willing to do that.

“OK”, she said. “Let’s start with everybody saying telling me your name. My name is Jenifer McFadden. You will call me Ms. McFadden.”

“Ms. Mc-Fattening”, Jamie started. All of the children laughed. “My name is Sandy. But I need to use the bathroom.”

After getting permission, she got up and went to the back of the room. Although there was a larger bathroom in the commons area, each room had its own smaller bathroom.

Mike, Tiffany, Greg, and Nala all introduced themselves. However, neither used their own name. Mike said that he was Bob. Greg said that he was David. Tiffany said that she was Cindy and Nala said that she was Betty. Carl didn’t want to talk at this time. Mrs. Banks had already called his name.

“Well,” said Jenifer when Jamie returned. “It seems that were having an identity crisis.

“What’s an identity crisis?”

“Something like this. I said that my name is Ms. McFadden. Yet, you called me Mc-Fattening. Which one is my real last name?” She paused. She wasn’t really asking the children to respond. “Neither.”

The children were shocked. “What’s her name”, they whispered to each other.

“You want to know my real name! Why not start by telling me your real names.”

After everybody said their real names, Jamie raised her hand.

“Ms. McFadden”, she said, “I think the toilet is clogged.”

Jenifer went to check out the bathroom. She called for Jamie.

“There’s nothing wrong with the toilet. It flushes fine. Now, I have to wash my hands.”

As she turned on the water, a stream sprayed Jamie in the face. Jamie was shocked that she knew the sink was rigged. She was even more shocked that Jenifer knew how to change it to get her instead.

Jenifer was ready to get the kids to play some games. When she mentioned “game time”, their idea was to pull out electronic devices. She was not going to let them do that. They needed interaction. Sitting down in front of a personal screen was not her idea of a game.

“Have you guys ever played Red Light, Green Light”, she asked?

“Never heard of it”, Carl said.

Jenifer went to grab some masking tape from her desk. Tiffany was trying her best to hold in her laughter. She told the other children that she had placed a fake rat inside the drawer. When Jenifer opened it, she did not have the scared reaction the children were looking for.

“Aw! How cute!”

At that point, she pulled out a real white rat. She had already removed the fake rat it put it in Tiffany’s backpack. A point that she would learn later.

Of course, they were mesmerized. That is until the rat got away from Jenifer and ran toward Tiffany. Now, she was the one screaming. Jenifer whistled and the rat came back to her. She picked it up and put it in a cage that the children didn’t even notice it was there.

“Are we done with the practical jokes now?” They quickly learned that Ms. McFadden could be a lot of fun if they would allow it.

As it turned out, “Red Light, Green Light” was a game they really enjoyed.

“Mrs. Hanson never played games with us like this”, said Mike.

“She’s didn’t even play the board games”, said Greg

“She only played word games”, said Nala.

Now the children were playing Tag, Tug-of-War, and running through Obstacle Courses. When they were all tired out, it was time for a nap. But first, Jenifer, or should I say, Ms. McFadden, read them a story. Only one story would fit.

While the children were laying down for a nap, Jenifer could hear them talking. She couldn’t hear who was saying what. But this is how the conversation went:

“She knew about all of our tricks.”

“She turned the back on us.”

“I thought it was funny.”

“Yes, I like her.”

“She’s cool.”

“I hope she stay.”

After the last of the little eyes closed, Jenifer walked into the common area. She wanted to spend a little time getting to know the staff. She saw Mrs. Banks talking to Mrs. Carmichael. She was 65 years old and worked in the Tadpole Room. She was the loving grandmother type that new parents loved to leave their children with. Often, the children would cry when it was time to go home. Nobody wanted to leave when Mrs. Carmichael was involved. The cried when it was time for them to “graduate” to the Hummingbird Room, also.

Mrs. Gunn-Wright was also there. She worked in the Hummingbird Room. She was 35 and had already had 3 children to reach the “terrible twos”. She felt that she was an expert and apparently, since she was so successful handling them. She was right. “The best thing to remember”, she said, “is to always stay calm when tantrums happen. You need to validate the child's emotions and calmly redirect or remove them from the situation.” She had more to say, a little too much to repeat.

Mr. Branch was in the Raven Room. He was tough and firm. Kids moving into the pre-teenage years needed that firmness. But he was also soft when he needed to be. All children need that. “They have to know that they can talk to you whenever they need someone to talk to”, he said. “But they also need to know that there are limits to what they can do and get away with.”

Mrs. Cook was not one of the providers. She worked in the kitchen. Jenifer thought that it was funny that there was a cook whose last name was cook.

Joanna was still at her desk. She didn’t really interact with others well. Because of that, she was who Jenifer came to speak to.

“Hello”, she said with about half the energy she had earlier.

“What do you want?”

“Just to talk.”

“Nobody ‘Just Talk’ with me.”

“Maybe they just don’t make the time to get to know you.”

“You want to get to know me?”

“I’d love to.”

Joanna’s dry, lackluster attitude started to break down. It wasn’t gone, but there was most definitely a hole in it. Jenifer couldn’t stay; she still had to watch over the children.

“OK”, she said. “I’ll talk to you later. I have to get back to these kids.”

Before opening the door, Jenifer could hear the kids moving around.

“Shh! Somebody’s coming.”

They were all pretending to sleep. But they were not doing a good job at it. Carl was doing the classic fake snoring. Whatever they were doing, they left the paper and markers out. All Jenifer could do was laugh and clean up the mess.

While they were “sleeping”, she used the time to put down different colorful mats and rugs on the floor. The children got up to a lot of reds, yellows, orange, and browns. “OK”, she said, “The game is called Lava Monster. The floor is lava and…”

She paused to take a second to think. She walked up to Nala, tapped her on the shoulder and said, “Nala’s the monster. Go!”

All of the children jumped on brown mats to avoid Nala. They jumped from one mat to another when Greg landed on the red rug. Nala quickly grabbed him.

“Greg’s the monster”, she said as she jumped on a brown mat.

The game was a lot of fun. It was obvious that they enjoyed themselves. The laughter was so contagious that the kids from the Hummingbird Room wanted to come and join the game. There was no objection. The more playing the game the better.

At the end of the day, all of the children gave Jenifer a hug. They pulled out a card they made while they should have been napping.

“Well kom to the Sparrow Room”

As each child left, they hugged her. “See you tomorrow!”

Jenifer left the center with a doggie bag from Mrs. Cook, climbed onto her Segway, and zoomed off into the evening.

“Day one is over,” she said to herself. “Tomorrow is another day.”