Chapter Text
“Hi, I’m here to interview for the nursery practitioner role!” the woman announced as she walked inside the office, brushing strands of red hair out of her face.
The Deputy Manager looked up from her computer with an annoyed expression. “Name?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Charlotte,” the red-head replied, turning her lips up in a gentle smile.
The Deputy didn’t return it, instead looking the woman up and down before clicking her tongue. “Go wait in the waiting room. Marjorie will be with you soon.”
“Okay, great!” Charlotte exited the office, quickly finding the waiting room where she took a seat on one of the few chairs. She could barely contain her excitement as she took a look around the room. She could see herself working there, taking care of children like she had always known that she would end up doing. As long as the interview went well, the job would be hers. God, she couldn’t wait!
She glanced towards the clock on the other side of the room. 11:50. Only ten more minutes. She spent her time preparing what to say during the interview in her head, wanting to make a good first impression. The minutes slowly passed by, but there were no signs of Marjorie. The only thing filling the silence was the endless ticking of the clock. She rested her head in her hands, swinging her feet back and forth and popping her mouth in an attempt to occupy her mind. Charlotte sighed. What was taking so long?
After what felt like an eternity, the Deputy Manager finally showed up. “Hello, sorry to keep you waiting, but Marjorie is such a busy woman.”
Charlotte sent her a reassuring smile. “Oh, it’s okay! It’s only been-” she took a glance at the clock, her smile immediately dropping, “an hour.”
“Follow me,” the Deputy instructed, leading Charlotte into another room where they found Marjorie mumbling to herself, her phone held closely up to her face.”Marjorie?”
“Oh, swipe left. No, thank you,” Marjorie mumbled, not reacting to her company. She gagged loudly as she laid her eyes onto a man on her screen.
“Marjorie?” the Deputy tried again at the lack of a reply.
“What?” Marjorie turned around in a haste, an annoyed frown appearing on her forehead.
“Lady’s here to interview.”
Marjorie glanced behind the Deputy, making eye contact with Charlotte who appeared slightly out of her element. A hint of realisation crossed Marjorie’s face and she quickly moved to turn her phone off. “Oh, darling, come take a seat. Alright and- oh! Prince Albert piercing…”
Charlotte eagerly took a seat on the empty chair in front of the two women, glad to finally get started.
“I’ll come back to that,” Marjorie mumbled before putting her phone down on the computer desk beside her. “Right, your name is?”
“Uh, Charlotte.”
“And you’re here to interview for?”
“The level 3 practitioner role.”
“Of course you are. Well, tell me a little bit about yourself.”
“Okay, um…” Charlotte began, taking a deep breath before she spoke. “I did my apprenticeship at a different nursery and I achieved my level 3 diploma there. I’m 32 and I have a son-”
Marjorie interrupted her before she could continue. “Hang on, so, you’re a mum?”
“Yes, to Jared. He’s four.” Charlotte replied, smiling at the thought of her little boy.
“I see. So, if Jared were taken ill one day, who’d be taking care of him?”
“I would.”
“Have you got anybody else who could take care of him?”
“Unfortunately not. My husband works on an oil rig, so he’s away quite a lot. I’d be the only one who could take care of Jerard.”
“Really? You’ve got no close relatives that could step up?” Marjorie asked, leaning forward in her seat.
“I suppose his grandmother could watch him, but it would be a long drive. It’s just easier for me to watch Jerard myself.”
Marjorie turned her head to the side to glance at the Deputy who sent back a knowing look.
“So if Jerard’s ill one day and you’ve got to go and collect him, where does that leave us?”
Charlotte was taken aback at the question. “What do you mean?”
“What if we’re stretched for staff one day and you’ve got to go and that leaves us under ratio?” Marjorie clarified.
“Obviously I wouldn’t want that to happen, but I’d have to take care of my poor child.”
“So his needs come ahead of the nursery?”
“Well, yes, I can’t neglect my child!”
Marjorie gasped and threw her hands in the air. “Oh, look at us throwing around the word ‘neglect’. I never said neglect. Did you say neglect?” She turned towards the Deputy who immediately shook her head before glaring at Charlotte who squirmed in her seat.
“I-... I suppose that Jerard’s grandmother could take care of him in that case…” she spoke up.
Marjorie happily clapped her hands, a smile brought back to her lips. “See that? That wasn’t so hard, was it? I’m sure that you’ll make a great candidate for our nursery as long as you stay on board.”
Charlotte nodded, her lips forming a straight line. “When can I start?”
Marjorie handed over a couple of papers. “Just sign out these application forms and you’ll be good to go to start next week!”
Charlotte smiled, standing up from her seat after she signed the papers and the interview came to an end. “Great! I promise I won’t disappoint you,” she said before turning on her heels and exiting the room, closing the door behind her.
She was excited to get to work with the children. She had a feeling that everything would work out great. Sure, there had been a rocky start, but at least she got the job!