Chapter 7 My Favorite Word

• I flinched as soon as an email notification popped out which came from Nannies Land agency. I quickly opened it and yet again, they had congratulated me for passing the medical exam. I scream against my pillow out of happiness before I continued reading the entire message as it sent me a location for my written exam and oral exam that is going to happen tomorrow morning at one o’clock in the afternoon.
• As the rest of the email aforementioned: After your written and oral exams, you will be given your final score from both examinations, thirty minutes after. If passed, you will proceed right away to the last step which is the final interview and they will be informing you about your Level. Please wear your best formal attire and present yourself with confidence because even if you passed the examination but you failed the last interview, then you will be placed on the waiting list where you will be scheduled for another written and oral exam refresher then you will have the last interview, five months later. Punctuality is an edge. Best of luck!
• "Five months? That is just absolutely and stupidly cruel." I muttered to myself, trying to gather my thoughts in my head while pushing out the negative thoughts infiltrating. "No, Florence. You can do it. You can fucking nail it! I know you can." I pulled myself up from my bed and started looking for my formal clothes to wear for tomorrow.
• The next morning, I arrived thirty minutes before my scheduled time and was stunned by how huge the Nannies Land building was. Most of the employees were wearing white formal pantsuit attire and seemed like they had the same red heels which looked really sleek. Now I find myself sitting in the waiting room after taking the oral and written exam where I have no idea how I survived it. My stomach feels like an entire zoo had just been accidentally opened and I absolutely don’t know how to pass the oral exam.
• "Miss Florence Winchester?"
• I flinched in my seat as soon as I heard my name, nervous and sweating under this conservative two-piece suit which I borrowed last minute from Mrs. Allison, a pencil skirt that is knee-length that matched the blazer, and dark shoes. I feel my armpits sweating profusely, thinking and worrying about my result from the examination that I had just finished.
• I stand from my chair at the same time the woman enters and hands me a piece of paper. She looked strict which made me feel much worse, "Congratulations." I exhaled heavily as soon as that word escapes her lips. "You passed both the examinations." She flashes me a smile.
• Thank you, God!
• The word congratulations had been my favorite word these past days.
• I inwardly squealed, "Thank you so much."
• "Are you ready for your final interview?" She sounded absolutely polite.
• "Yes." I answered confidently as soon as I remembered that I need to present myself with confidence even though most days I lack in that, "Born ready."
• "That is the spirit we like in here." She cheered with a smile. "Please follow me."
• I followed the woman who just called my attention in the waiting room and as soon as she leads me to another room just across the hall, I feel my entire body in a complete trance. I only hear the sound of my heels hitting the marbled ground and there’s this long beep echoing from a distance as my eyes stare at a door being offered to me. The woman is smiling at me as she tells me something in slow-motion but I could not hear any word that she is saying.
• "Thank you," I answer her softly before I take a step inside the room where I see a block of white marble with the name Carol Hayes written in gold on it as it sits perfectly on top of the desk.
• "Miss Winchester, welcome to my office. My name is Carol Hayes." The woman, who looked like she was in her late 40s seemed very welcoming and as soon as she spoke, the long beep that I was hearing disappeared. "Please join me."
• I gathered confidence and walk up to her desk before I take a seat right where she had gestured. "Thank you so much. It is a great pleasure to meet you."
• She smiles at me, "It is indeed a pleasure to meet you as well. By the way, congratulations for passing all the application procedures. You have come this far."
• "I know. Thank you so much, I actually can not even believe that I am here." I force a smile, hoping that it did not look too obvious that I am almost shitting my underwear.
• "You deserve it."
• "Thank you."
• "Shall I start by asking what is your favorite age to care for and to tutor? Why?" She started straight away even before I came to take a second for time out.
• "I can honestly and confidently say that I have never really favored a particular age group over others. I make sure that I have each day planned out based on their needs, personalities, and skill levels. There were instances when I was looking after kids ages four and eight and the age difference caused them to be in completely different stages of life, so I worked on a plan with the parents to make sure that each day was stimulating for both children." I miraculously answered and I did not know where those words were coming from.
• She smiles at me, "Wonderful. Are you looking to stay long-term with a family?"
• I take a pause because I honestly do not know what to answer for that, "I believe that staying long-term with a family is highly beneficial for all parties involved." I glance at my hands before looking back at her as I added, "As time passes by, I get to know the family more, and create a much stronger relationship, bond, and understanding with the parents and the kids too. I start to understand their needs which allows me to do better with my job which is really a wonderful thing. Additionally, the parents develop this kind of trust in me and feel more comfortable leaving their children under my care and supervision. Lastly…"
• Her eyes intently looked at me but my entire body had stopped feeling nervous.
• "Lastly," I continued. "Perhaps most importantly, I think it is crucial that children have a certain level of consistency and do not have to readjust their lives so keeping the same nanny and or tutor will allow that."
• She nods, "That is a very insightful answer." She sounded impressed. "It makes me believe that you have had children who have gotten attached to you."
• I answer with a nod, "Not to sound boastful but I have had quite a few."
• "That is great." She smiles. "Last question, what is your view on disciplining a child?"
• I squared my shoulders knowing that this question seems like the most important question of all as it is a very touchy subject. I gather my thoughts for the short seconds I could get and eventually muttered the words confidently, "Discipline is extremely critical, especially for children of younger ages to learn the difference between right and wrong and to take responsibility for their actions."
• She nods her head in agreement, "I agree to that."
• "You see, when disciplining a child, it means teaching them responsible behavior and self-control which can sometimes be difficult for the younger kids. The first thing I do is to simply model behaviors I would want them to see from me, as a nanny and a tutor. Secondly, I give the warning, to give them the opportunity to change their behavior. The warning is appropriate to the incident and age of the child." I added, sounding more confident than ever now as the words are going out straight from my mouth without my brain processing it. "If the child continues to misbehave, I put them in timeout."
• "Timeout?" She repeats.
• "Yes. Like, a breather, to help them cool down and learn good behavior." I responded confidently. "I take a minute for each year of age, like two minutes for two-year-olds, three minutes for three-year-olds, and so on."
• "That is nice."
• I answered her with a nod, "I think the most important things to keep in mind involving discipline are not to debate with the child, as a matter-of-fact it is to hear them out, know when to respond, redirect bad behavior, and be prepared for trouble. Any kind of trouble. Aside from the fact that I make sure the consequences fit the action, I also make sure that I catch them doing good things and praising success and good tries."
• Carol smiles widely at me, "You are very much experienced."
• "I am," I answered confidently. "Thank you."
• She nodded her head again at me which got me thinking that she might have loved my answers and she seemed to look like she was finished interviewing me, "That will be all for today, thank you for applying." That sounded like a consolatory speech for people who did not pass but I did not want to lose hope.
• She adds, "I would like to congratulate you in advance for coming this far. We saw your credentials and your experiences that were backed up with your certificates and score."
• I forced a wider smile, "Thank you so much."
• She hands me a white envelope, "You are on Level S, the third-highest level in the agency." She smiles at me and her smile is screaming good news, "Congratulations Florence, and welcome to Nannies Land."
• My lips widened so much as soon as I lay on my bed that night and stared at the letter that I received from Carol . I squeal in happiness and just finished informing Zelda, my little sister, that I got hired as a nanny for an agency that offers high pay and bonuses and she was so happy for me. My phone suddenly beeps for notification and the moment I grabbed it, I see a new email from the agency.
• FROM: hr-lovelyjones@nanniesland.com
• SUBJECT: VVIP CLIENT MEETING
• On behalf of the entire Nannies Land team, I would like to warmly welcome you to our humble family. Seeing your remarkable credentials and availability, a VVIP client had personally handpicked you to be their new nanny for their child/children. For personal reasons, the VVIP client won't be named for now but will you be available tomorrow at nine o’clock in the morning for the CLIENT MEETING where you will be interviewed by the parent/s and you can discuss payment and bonuses. Please respond to this email as soon as possible and we will schedule your meeting right away.
• Without hesitation and in dire need of cash, I agreed to the client meeting. In just a matter of minutes, I got a client right away. The next morning, I wore something formal for my client meeting, and as soon as I was led to the room where my client was waiting, I felt dismayed that they had arrived even before I did. I did not really want to leave a bad impression but then I guess they just arrived much earlier than me.
• As the door opens, I enter the VVIP Meeting Room, and the moment I laid my eyes on the person sitting on the white sofa where Carol Hayes had just offered a cup of tea for the client, my jaws literally dropped. I think I froze the second our eyes met.
• It was freaking Kieran Tiziano-Vetrelli in his black and crisp suit and tie with black leather shoes.