“I’m totally on the clock!” I called. I took a sip of my chocolate shake and unwrapped my burger. I had just taken a bite when several little girls came over to me, crowding around like puppies.
Beck really must have gotten around.
“Are those french fries?” one girl asked excitedly.
I was not a kid person. Kids were sticky and loud and made weird noises. But maybe these were the kids that were part of my job description.
Guess I better channel my inner Ms. Frizzle.
I peered at the girl. She looked exactly like Beck.
“Guess I didn’t know your dad as well as I thought I did,” I told her.
She gave me a confused look.
Kids. Maybe she was hungry. She and her sisters were peering intently at the slightly greasy paper sack.
“I do like a fellow fried food lover,” I said and begrudgingly opened the french fry bag. I shook a few fries into their outstretched hands. To be fair, I couldn’t very well say no and give them some sort of eating disorder. I hated when my stepfather would make snide comments about my food choices.
“That burger sure looks nice, miss,” another blond girl said as I took a bite of my cheeseburger.
“Now we’re really stretching the limit of my generosity.”
Beck came rushing back into the lobby.
“Don’t give them that,” he scolded.
I immediately got riled up.
“They can have a cheeseburger if they want!” I said hotly. I handed the paper-wrapped burger to the girls. “In fact, you can have all of it.”
Beck made a disgusted noise.
“You don’t get to police what they eat,” I admonished, waving a french fry at Beck. Part of it went flying and hit him in the face.
HI jaw tensed.
I could tell he was itching to fire me.
“I don’t care what they eat,” he said, gingerly touching his cheek. “If you all want cheeseburgers, I will order you some,” he told the girls, who were busy scarfing down my breakfast, which I was totally now going to expense to Beck. “However, Tess had that food bouncing around god knows where, and I bet you didn’t wash your hands.” He frowned.
“Germs are good for kids. It builds healthy immune systems,” I said with a grimace.
And this is why I should not be trusted with kids. I definitely should have made them wash their hands.
Beck grabbed my burger from the girls and headed to the trash can.
We all raced after him.
“Stealing food from your own children’s mouths,” I scolded. “Shame on you.”
“These aren’t my children,” he said, lowering his voice. “I’m not that kind of man.”
I used the opportunity to grab the burger from him.
“I guess I misjudged you,” I said.
“You absolutely did. I don’t have illegitimate children.” His face was dark and angry. “These are my little sisters. You need to watch them and hire a nanny. That’s your first task and only task until I fire you. Again.”
