A Colorful Fantasy

After we got into the car Olive started to yawn. "Hmm thanks to you my photoshoot ran too long. Cancel the rest of my day, I wish to go home." Olive said. I was going to start nagging her about responsibilities when she started to nod off. She fell asleep almost instantly. She really is a good actor to keep up her appearances so well, while being so tired. Five minutes ago I thought she was perfectly awake and ready for her next activity, but as soon as we were out of the public eye, she was out cold. I told the cab driver the address to Olive's house, and half an hour later, I was carrying a sleeping Olive into her house. Ed was sitting at the table eating a sandwich when he saw me sneak in. He opened his mouth to speak, but stopped himself when he saw that Olive was asleep. I carried her easily up the stairs and tucked her into her bed. Then I went downstairs to talk to Ed. As soon as he saw me he started talking. "Why are you two home so early? Why is Olive asleep? How did you manage to carry her up a flight of stairs?" He looked at me then asked one more question, "Why are you smiling?" I knew I needed to talk to Ed about today's events, I didn't know how he would respond, but I still couldn't help but smile. "The photoshoot ran long today, because of a series of events. By the time everything was done, poor Olive was exhausted, she fell asleep in the back of the cab. I carried her to her bed because I didn't want to wake her. I was able to carry her up a flight of stairs because she is five and doesn't weigh that much. That being said I am still very strong." I then filled him in on the events of the day, leaving out the bits on how people were surprised to see Olive behave for once, when she was called difficult, and when I blackmailed her of course. "May I use your phone? I need to call and cancel all of the other appointments Olive had today." I asked. Ed nodded, still shocked that I made it through the day with flying colors. I took out my itinerary and called all of the other businesses to cancel Olive's appointments. I came back to talk to Ed some more. "Sin should have emailed you today's pictures of Olive. I will be getting my own phone soon, so I will no longer depend on using yours." I said. He opened his laptop to check his emails looking for Olive's pictures. He gasped when he saw them. "I have never seen my baby look so pretty" Ed said. "and you said she mostly behaved today?" he asked. I nodded in response. "She must like you. She has never behaved like that for any of the other nannies. You know the longest lasting nanny we had lasted two days." I gulped and became nervous "Not much of a confidence boost there boss." I said. He chuckled "I mean the other nannies were fired on day one, because Olive hated them. That one nanny lasted two days because she hated Olive. She quit of her own free will. I know I am not really giving you a choice here, but it is amazing what you did today. You should have a lot of colors, not just blue. You are good with kids, you are smart and strong, and you have given it your all. I can tell you were up all night, because of those dark circles under your eyes, and that massive detailed itinerary you have for Olive." I blushed a bit and rubbed my arm nervously before speaking, "I know you are just saying these things so I will enjoy my time here. Thank you for your kind words though." He looked at me with kind eyes, not the usual threatening glare that I get when Olive is the topic. "You know miss...miss... Wow I am a horrible boss, I never even learned your name. How many forms did I fill out with your name on them, I didn't even read em'". I sighed and began to speak "My name is Violet Foster, but I just go by Miss Foster to anyone except Robert. I am not a big fan of my name." I hated telling people my name. He smiled and started speaking again. "Okay since I am your legal guardian, I probably should know a few things, your name was one of them. One where do you want to go to school? I imagine you and Olive will be going to school on the same schedule, so it won't effect your work." I waved my hands "Oh no" I said "I don't need to go to school, I graduated two years ago." He raised his eyebrows in amazement. "I thought you were only fifteen. You aren't messing with me are you? I will get in trouble if you are lying." His threatening tone came back. "No sir" I replied "I graduated at the age of thirteen." I kept a serious face as I said this, I really wanted to be taken seriously. "So what are you, some kind of prodigy?" Ed asked. "Since you are my legal guardian and will find out eventually; the reason I am advanced, is because I am convinced that I can earn my own colors. I study night and day about everything, I work for things. I babysat for free for years in hopes that I would earn some green or pink colors. I study in hopes for blue, I exercise in hopes for gold, I nurture in hopes for green, I am kind in hopes for pink, and I have learnt a well rounded sense of humor in hopes of becoming yellow, I keep a level head and am not easily intimated in hopes of becoming red, and if I achieve even one of these colors, I will consider myself orange." I said all of this with a determined and proud look on my face, I felt immediately deflated by Ed's face though. "heh heh heh" He chuckled "Girl having color isn't like earning a girl scout badge or getting good grades. It's something you are born with. Olive is set for success because of her orange, and I know she is strong enough to achieve it because of her gold. No one can do shit without color, I don't know what fantasy you are living in." Ed mocked. I almost lost my cool and yelled my next response, but when things are said calmly, the more they seem to sting. "Oh, the fantasy that I am living in is where an over exceeding orphan, whom graduated at thirteen, gets set free, starts being a nanny, and on her first day of the job is offered a second job no questions asked. One job that most people have to go to college to get, yet this fifteen year old child, managed to get it by only dressing up a toddler. Not to mention my new job is paying me well, and I get a free company phone. Yes it is a fantasy: where not one but two people said I should be blue. Alas this could never be reality...oh but wait. It is." Ed scowled at me I had told him off, but before he could comment, I stood up flustered. "Oh my we have been talking for some time, I need to wake up Olive." I turned heal and ran upstairs. It was a valid excuse to run off, and I wouldn't have to deal with the repercussions of telling off my boss. I sat on the bed and started stroking Olive's hair until she woke up. "Hey squirt, it's time you woke up. We don't want you to be awake all night, beauty rest is crucial for a model superstar athlete. Come on I'll make some dinner." Olive yawned opening her eyes and stretching her arms. She looked at me and spoke "You know new nanny. You are my favorite new nanny so far. What should I call you?" I smiled gently down at her, and spoke softly. "You know what I will tell you a secret my real name is Violet Foster, I don't like it very much. What do you think?" She sat up and smiled, "It seems like an odd name for a person who isn't purple, but it would be even weirder on someone who was purple. It would be like daddy naming me Goldie because I am gold, or naming a dog Puppy. It would sound silly if you were purple. I like your name. Olive means green, but I still like my name." I smiled and gave her a hug. "You know Olive, you are wise beyond your years. No one has ever said anything like that. They only mock my name. From now on only you are allowed to call me Violet, or maybe just Vi, if there are people around." She smiled big "Okay it will be our secret." she said. I think I misjudged this little girl, she isn't rotten. At least not all the way through. When she doesn't try to keep an appearance up, she can be sweet. "Okay then Violet" Olive said, quickly standing up on her bed. "What have you made me for dinner?" I laughed, "Oh Miss Olive, what kind of nanny would I be if I didn't let you pick what to eat on my first day? I have to make you like me somehow." She smiled and jumped off her bed. "Okay pizza and mashed potatoes for dinner!" She shouted I thought this was quite the odd combo, and there were no vegetables, so I would have to sneak some in. Some cauliflower into the mashed potatoes and pizza crust should do the trick. "Okay Olive, you go work on your treadmill to wake up and prepare for a lot of carbs with your dinner. Do you want anything on your Pizza?" I asked. "Just cheese." Olive said as she rushed over to her miniature exercise room. "Okay, as you wish Squirt." I went downstairs and started cooking. Ed came into the kitchen following the smell of dinner. "Seems you can cook Miss Foster." He said. "Like I said before boss, I have skill in everything. How would I gain green points if I couldn't cook for a family?" I said. He stood dumbfounded at my confidence. Well good luck getting my baby to eat any vegetables. Is that cauliflower on the counter? There is no way she will eat that." Ed remarked. "Oh, she won't even notice that she is eating cauliflower, since she is not here to see it. I put it in a chopper and pureed the cauliflower to a paste, which I added to the pizza crust and the potatoes. Mashed potatoes are a simple food, and is finished quickly. Luckily I knew a recipe for quick rise pizza dough. I put the pizza in the oven for 30 minutes, then took out the cheesy perfection. Olive came running down the stairs. When she saw her father she started up the act of being superior. "New nanny. Is my dinner almost ready. I don't like waiting." Now that I knew this was an act, it was much easier to be submissive. I am just taking the pizza out of the oven now Olive. Why don't you sit down and I will bring you some. I put some on a plate and poured a glass of skim milk for Olive. I put the dishes in front of her. "Be careful Olive, it is still very hot." Despite my newfound dislike for Ed, and the fact that I had no obligation to, I served Ed a plate as well. Olive spoke up "This is the best food ever!" Olive paused for a moment rephrasing herself. "This food is more than adequate how did you make it. I am sure daddy gave you a recipe." she said this time in a condescending voice. "I used a secret ingredient when I made this food." I said, and I winked at Ed who was dumbstruck once again. I had gotten praise from his daughter, and had gotten her to eat vegetables. I sat and watched them eat, Olive looked at me. "New nanny you should be eating too. The last thing I need is you fainting while taking care of me." I smiled back at her she sounded irritated, but I know she was being sincere in wanting me to eat. "Okay Olive, I grabbed a slice of pizza, and some potatoes. Then I began eating next to Olive. "Ed didn't look happy. Maybe this was his time to bond with his daughter and I was butting in on it. I quickly finished my food, and left the table to do dishes. I could hear their conversations from the kitchen sink, to my amazement and horror. All Olive was talking about was me. I finished the dishes, and checked in on Olive whom had finished eating. Okay kiddo, it is time for a bath. I filled up the bathtub and added some bubble bath. Olive removed her designer clothes, and got in the tub. I began to wash her hair. I talked to her as I scrubbed. "You know Olive, when you are talking to your dad, maybe talk to him about some other things." I said "Why?" Olive asked. "Well because he is your dad, and he already knows what you have been doing everyday, he also wants you to want to do things with him. Maybe you should ask him to go to photo shoots with you, or maybe have a daddy daughter day. You could also tell him about school. He doesn't know anything about fashion, so he doesn't understand most of what you say." I said. Olive looked as though she was thinking. "I guess that makes sense." She said. We continued to talk while she finished cleaning herself. I took out a warm dry towel, and a fresh pair of pajamas. After helping her dress and drying her hair, we played with dolls for a bit, then I tucked her into bed. "You have school tomorrow, so I hope you sleep very well tonight. I gave her a hug and a stuffed toy. I began to walk away, but she grabbed the edge of my shirt and asked for a story. So I told her my story. After I was done Olive said, "I am going to help you get some colors." I smiled gave her my thanks and turned off the light, only leaving a glow of her nightlight. I walked back down the stairs and met Ed at the bottom of the stairs. "Come on I will drive you home tonight, the night nanny came in early."

We got in the car and I buckled in. Once he had started the car he began talking, "Thank you for asking her to talk about things that I understand. You must have been able to tell I wanted to talk about something I understood when we ate dinner. To be honest, I was jelous about how much she talked about you. She can act all she wants, but as a father I know when she is truly happy. She hasn't acted this way to anyone since her mother died last year. Maybe it's because neither of you have mothers or maybe it's because you understand fashion, but she really likes you. That is a huge deal; and while I still don't believe that you can simply earn colors, Olive does, and her being motivated to help someone else is unheard of. You are good for her, only one day of you knowing her, and she has already taken off her shell around you. She doesn't even do that for me. Don't mess this up for her, I don't think she could recover losing someone else. She doesn't have any friends, so until now it was only the two of us." I listened to Ed's words. Until now I had disliked Ed, but I was beginning to understand is crusty personality. He had lost so much. "I will do my best to keep Olive happy. She seems snobby on the outside, but she is actually very sweet, and she is also insanely smart for a five year old. I am surprised that she has no blue on her. Trust me I know children, Olive might be a special case, but I can deal with any problems that might occur. Even if I resign from this job, I will be Olive's personal stylist. There is no way that I will leave her, she also knows where I live that's another thing. You have nothing to worry about; I'm not going anywhere." I said. I meant every word too. "You know, you might have some pink in you somewhere" he said, tears welling in his eyes. I smiled and he pulled up to my building. I got out and thanked him for the ride. I walked up the stairs to the apartment both exhausted, and excited to tell Robert about my day. There is no way he can top my news.