Jilted (A to Z Challenge Day 10)

It’s been like clockwork.  The sound of the school bus stopping, followed by it chugging off, and finally…

“Hi, Ms. Carson!”

Through the front door and right into my office comes the neighbor girl.  I’ve had to change my schedule to fit her distraction if I want to get anything done with my day.  I think about shooing her away but somehow I keep the door unlocked and let her in.  Kids and their fragile, doe-like look of innocence…

“Good afternoon, Taylor.  What brings you in to my office today?”

“Nothing.”  She smiled.

Honesty.  That’s appreciated anyway.

A strong scent wafted by as she circled the room pawing things that I wish she wouldn’t touch.  An overwhelmingly fruity scent.

“Have you, uh, been in your mother’s perfumes?”

“Yeah!  Now I smell like she does when she goes to work.”

“Mmhmm.”

She shuffled her feet.  “Moms been at work a lot.”

“I’m sure she’ll be home soon.”

“She hasn’t been home yet.”

“It’s only four.”

“But she’s usually home in the morning…”

This gave me pause.  “Are you saying she hasn’t been home all day?”

She nodded.

“Has she talked to you?”

“Well, not recently.  She put me on the bus Monday…”

It was Wednesday night.

I tapped my desk, thinking.  Dad was never in the picture as far as I knew.   If he was then he could be any of the suitors that I’ve seen holding her mother’s hand on the way out their door…

“Are you hungry?”  She nodded enthusiastically.  “I always make too much for one person.  You’re joining my tonight.  Start on any homework at my desk while I get it started.”

I grabbed my phone and slipped out of the room.

It's not the perfume that you wear
It's not the ribbons in your hair
And I don't mind you comin' here
And wastin' all my time

--Just What I Needed by The Cars