Page 124 of Worst Nanny Ever
Mrs. Applebaum is bribing them with candy now?
Mind. Blown. I’m instantly desperate to tell Travis about all of this, but he and Rob are taking their Missing Beat students on a field trip to a concert this afternoon, so Ollie and I aren’t joining them. I won’t see him until after his band meeting tonight.
“I’m going to need a minute to process all of this,” I say, “but I want to ask why you reacted like that about the broken hedgehog. You know I wouldn’t get mad at you over an accident.”
“But it was important to you,” he says, fidgeting with the hem of my shirt. “I was worried you’d want to leave. I know you’re not going to be my nanny for much longer.”
I crouch down on my haunches so we can be eye to eye. “No, probably not,” I admit. “But that doesn’t mean you’ll stop seeing me. I’m sorry to tell you that you’re stuck with me. We’re going to be friends forever, you and me.”
“Do you mean it?” he asks with those serious brown eyes, so like Travis’s. I feel like I’m answering both of them as I say, “Yes,” emotion burning behind my own eyes.
He hugs me tighter, and then the sound of someone clearing their throat behind me signals me to turn around.
Tweed Teacher is gazing at me expectantly. He is one of the few people left in the auditorium, which has virtually emptied out other than a few teachers.
“Mrs. Applebaum has agreed to see you,” he says.
Ollie holds my hand as I follow Tweed Teacher back toward Ollie’s classroom. Crap, what am I going to do now? The hedgehog present is ruined.
“…” Tweed Teacher clears his throat as we walk. “How’s Peebles doing?”
“He’s doing great. We call him Spreadsheet now.”
“Uh, okay.”
And an awkward silence floats between us before he comes to a stop at Mrs. Applebaum’s door.
I knock and then enter at her officious, “Come in.”
She raises her eyebrows as I step into the classroom with Ollie.
“Hey, Ollie, can you sit over there for a minute while I talk to Mrs. Applebaum?” I point to a desk in the back, and he nods, squeezing my hand before he lets go.
I approach the front of the room, where Mrs. Applebaum is seated at her desk. Can’t say I’m really feeling the spirit of welcome, considering the doom-and-gloom stare she’s giving me.
“What is it now, Miss Hannah?” she asks, then glances back at Ollie. “I thought everything was going quite well this week.I’m not sure if Ollie told you, but he and Mickey have finally found some common ground.”
“I’ve watched an unreal amount ofTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtlesto help make this happen,” I say with a smile.
She surprises me when she admits, “And I offered them candy at the end of the week if they were willing to work it out. I’m not proud, Miss Hannah, but I do think good work should be awarded, and Ollie has beenvery good.”
My heart swells with pride, but I admit, “I’m actually not here about Ollie.”
She gives me a strange look. “Do you have an odd relationship with some other child in my class?”
I laugh. “No.”
Oh, what the hell. It’s the thought that counts, right?
I thrust the bag forward, and she looks at it doubtfully.
“It’s for you,” I say.
“I don’t accept gifts from students,” she says, glancing at Ollie again.
“It’s not from Ollie. Or me. Or Travis. A…mutual friend found out about the broken pencil cup, and he immediately decided he was going to make another one for you.” I remember Eugene’s worry about the gym teacher. “But it wasn’t the gym teacher.”
Her frown deepens. “I never said the gym teacher made it for me.”
