Chapter Seven - Daycare

The first thing I noticed as the five of us entered the familiar scouting lodge was the excitable clamor of children’s voices. It wasn’t the regular boisterous countertenor of pre-adolescent scouts however, but rather the excitable sugary soprano of tiny toddlers. It was the middle of the day, and the community center was busy serving its other purpose as Welton’s volunteer-run daycare service.

“So…what are we doing here?” I asked Alex for what seemed like the millionth time.

“Volunteering.” she said simply “To help the community.”

“Doing what?” I pursued.

“Helping with the daycare.” she answered, rapping on the door to the preschool classroom that was usually our Beaver meeting room “Duh!”

I looked to the other Kindies for support, suddenly feeling strangely frightened. Zach looked just as skeptical as I was, though his face seemed to portray something closer to pouty teenaged pique than fear; Charlie looked rather non-committal, perhaps even a little tired; Laurie however looked positively delighted! “Cool!” he enthused. “Can we play with the toys?”

Charlie let out an amused guffaw. “They probably want us to help, not play.”

I gulped, searching for any excuse to back out. I couldn’t volunteer at a daycare! I was terrible with kids. Well, really they just made me uncomfortable. It was bad enough hanging out with the Kindies, but somehow whenever I was around toddlers I felt even littler than I was - like a total baby! It was stupid, but even as big as I was I still somehow felt that I might be mistaken for one of their number. It was like baby cooties - as if by mere proximity I thought I might contract some of their babyishness. There wasn’t any time to make excuses however before the door flung open to reveal none other than Bradley’s mom, my next door neighbor. She was all business, her graying brown hair tied back in a tight bun and her arms resting authoritatively on her hips.

“Hi Mrs Warren!” Alex chimed, taking charge. “We’re the beavers!”

The woman chuckled, “I can see that. Taylor said you might be swinging by.” She stepped to the side, allowing us to file into the room.

It was the same room we used for the Beaver colony meetings, but it felt totally different now. All the toys that were usually stored safely in bins and boxes were sprawled out on the carpet; there was cheery nursery rhyme style music playing from a small outdated stereo; and there were at least six kids running around and jumping off of furniture. I tried to size up the kids, deciding that they both looked and acted even smaller than Leo. Not one of them could be older than four.

Mrs. Warren led us to the front of the room and paused the music, a couple kids turning to watch with fascinated eyes as we followed her in our beaver uniforms. She clapped twice and then three times rapidly. Immediately the kids all stopped what they were doing, dutifully copying her and rushing to sit down quietly on the carpet. “I want everyone to give a special welcome to the Beaver Scouts who have volunteered to help us today!” She announced. The reaction was rather mixed - some of the toddlers turned to look at us with ravenous excitement, while others just had confused glares. “Please introduce yourselves.” She instructed us.

Charlie broke the ice. “My name is Charlie.” He declared. “I’m a white tail in Beaver Scouts - which means I’m the oldest.”

Alex had a wide grin on her face, ready for her turn. “I’m Ringtail, I’m a blue tail in our colony and it’s my seventh birthday today.” She said quickly with excitement, the mention of her birthday prompting more than a few excitable wide eyed stares from the toddlers. She placed a hand on Laurie’s shoulder, prompting him to go next.

“Hi everyone, my name is Laurie.” He squeaked. “I’m a brown tail in the colony and I used to come here just like you.”

Realizing it was my turn, I felt my nerves build up again. I hated introducing myself in front of people, and even though it was just a small handful of toddlers I still felt like I was on display. “Hi.” I said meekly with a tiny wave of my hand. “I’m Cooper, a brown tail like Laurie.” I decided not to elaborate further than that.

Everyone’s eyes turned to Zach, he let out a sigh. “My name is Zach, I’m a Cub Scout and Keeo to the beaver colony.” He said with an annoyed tone.

The little kids opened their mouths into perfect “Os” of wonder, staring at him in adoration as if he were the latest cool new toy. He winced in disgust at his new found group of followers.

“Excellent!” Mrs Warren enthused, turning an authoritative finger on her five loyal volunteers “Alex, Cooper and Laurie - you three can lead a group reading time. Charlie and Zach, why don’t you help me clean up a little?” We all nodded, though I felt a little overwhelmed. Would I really have to read? I couldn’t do voices or anything - not like my Mom or Dad. Luckily, Alex was the one to take a colorful story book from Mrs Warren, enthusiastically taking up the task of reading to the class.

She sat down in a rocking chair while the toddlers all scooched forward so that they could hear, looking up at us with enraptured eyes as Alex started narrating the story. She was surprisingly good at it. Alex was always loud and full of energy, but when it came to reading to the younger kids she was especially enthusiastic. I even began to have fun myself, craning my head around from where I stood at the front of the classroom to get a look whenever she flipped the book around to show the kids the illustrations.

I was taken by surprise however when Alex handed me the book to read the next page.

“Me?” I stuttered, my nerves tingling.

“Sure! It’s easy.”

Reluctantly, more out of embarrassment than anything else, I took the book - picking up where she had finished. I stammered over the words, much too embarrassed to put on funny accents like Alex had, and it was soon obvious we were starting to lose the kids’ interest.

“Why don’t I finish the story?” Alex suggested, gently taking the book from my clammy fingers. I nodded in relief, sitting down on the floor beside the toddlers. Laurie sat down beside me, his presence making me feel just a little less ashamed of my awkward performance.

All those feelings soon dissipated however as Alex got started again. I really was having a good time listening to the story. It had been a long time since I had participated in any kind of read aloud story time, and Alex had a knack for it. She had special voices for each character and her authoritative soprano voice boomed throughout the small classroom. At the end of the story everyone clapped, including myself.

“Everyone, why don’t we thank Ringtail for reading us a story on her birthday?” Mrs Warren told the kids.

A loud high pitched cacophony of kids piping out “Thank You!” filled the room.

“Okay, let’s go get ready for nap time. Charlie and Zach are setting everything up for you.” Mrs Warren instructed, beginning to herd the kids to the other side of the room.

Alex put away the story book, giving the three of us a moment to talk. “Alex, why did you want to do this on your birthday?” I asked, trying to fill the brief silence while we waited for our next task. “You could have just played games.”

“I told you! We’re getting our community badge. What better way to spend your birthday?” Alex explained. “It’s like an adventure.”

“Reading to kids?” I asked without thinking.

“Yeah! It’s fun.” She punched my arm in her usual playful way. “When it’s your birthday I’ll come to your party and we can do what you want, kay?”

My face went pale, trying to disguise my discomfort at the topic.

“Cooper? What’s wrong?” Laurie asked. The five-year-old could be naive, but no one could say he was unempathetic. He always seemed so attuned to how I was feeling!

“Yeah Cooper, I didn’t hit you that hard.” Alex said rubbing my arm where she punched me. “When is your birthday?”

There it was - the question I had been trying to avoid. I grumbled, trying to figure out what to say. Did I lie to the Kindies again and just pick a random date on the calendar? There really wasn’t any point - the only thing that really mattered was that I didn’t tell them my age! “Well you see Alex.” I began softly, playing with my hands.

“Ringtail.” She corrected me. We were now on official scouting business, after all.

“Right. Ringtail. My birthday is...” I was having such a hard time getting it out, terrified of putting myself in the spotlight! Would this ruin her birthday? But it was too late to back down now. “Today.” I whispered so only Laurie and Alex could hear.

I shut one eye and grimaced. I had expected them to be disappointed that I didn’t tell them earlier, or at least for Alex to be upset - since this was supposed to be her day.

Instead however, Alex grabbed both of my shoulders, eyes wide and grinning from ear to ear. “We have the same birthday! It’s your birthday! Happy Birthday!” She shot off rapidly, shaking me by the shoulders. I finally had to stagger back just to get free of her grip.

“Thanks.” I muttered, overwhelmed. I wasn’t used to so much as an acknowledgment from other kids on my birthday - but this was a full barrage of congratulations!

Free of Alex, I was then caught up in a hug from Laurie. “Happy birthday Cooper.” He told me sweetly. Grateful, I actually returned his hug this time. Usually I just tried to pry the clingy boy off of me!

“Thanks Laurie.” I told him. Just then, Alex rose to her feet. I made a quizzical expression “Where are you going?”

“Nowhere.” she giggled, grinning mischievously. I just shrugged, still immobilized under the weight of Laurie stuck to me like a limpet.

He gave me a big toothy smile, before he let out a gasp of realization - his lips falling suddenly into a sad little frown. “What’s wrong?” I asked, concerned.

“It’s just… you didn’t even get any presents!” he objected.

“It’s okay.” I assured “I got some stuff from my parents.”

“Oh.” Laurie peeped, still looking very upset. He rested his head against my shoulder, his big green eyes filled with melancholy “I just meant something from me…”

I forced a smile, trying to lighten the mood. “That's okay. You don’t have to get me anything.”

The five-year-old sat straight up, shaking his head forcefully to the contrary. “Yeah I do.” he declared, reaching into the pockets of his beaver vest.

“Seriously, it’s okay.” I insisted.

Laurie continued to shake his head, producing a pair of stuffed felt wolves - one gray and one white. Both animals were pretty well worn, their fur coats matted and splotchy and their bodies slightly deflated from years of tender cuddles. They had little clips protruding from their mouths, almost like those stuffies you could get to attach to pacifiers. “These are my wolf cubs - Wubbie and Fuzzie.” the boy explained, indicating first the white wolf and then the brown “I’ve had ‘em since I was a baby.” He tugged at my arm, making me hold out my own palm and forcefully placing the white wolf into my grasp. “You can have Wubbie for your birthday.” he insisted, his morose frown immediately brightening again into a sunshiny smile.

I fidgeted awkwardly, not really knowing what to say. It wasn’t like I disliked the gift. I would never admit it if I was talking to a kid my own age, but I had always liked stuffed animals - and the little white wolf was heartbreakingly adorable. But it was Laurie’s toy! One he’d had since he was a baby, no less. I couldn’t just take it!

“That’s really sweet…” I began diplomatically, awkwardly trying to push Wubbie back into Laurie’s hand, “But I can’t take it.”

“Why not?” he demanded. “Don’t you like it?”

I bit my lip, terrified I might offend the little boy who so obviously adored me “No…”

“Then take it!”

“It just seems like it's really special for you.”

“Uh-huh!” Laurie agreed “That’s why it's such a special birthday gift. You can have Wubbie, and I’ll keep Fuzzie, and that way we’ll always be friends!”

I frowned, still feeling very uneasy about the whole situation. Before I could reply however, Mrs Warren appeared beside us, kneeling down with a finger pressed warningly against her lips. “It’s time to quiet down now.” she instructed in a low voice. “The other boys and girls are already taking their naps.”

She was right. The classroom had gone as silent as a crypt, with all the toddlers all laid out exhausted on their nap pads. “Where’re the others?” I whispered, looking around in vain for Zach, Alex and Charlie.

“They went out into the hall.” Mrs Warren explained, still speaking in an intoxicatingly calm measured hush “Did you boys want to take a nap too?”

I blinked dumbly, taking a moment to process what she meant. A nap? Eleven year olds don’t take naps! The idea was almost comedic. Still, with my brown tail and my beaver uniform, Mrs Warren could have hardly guessed my real age. Plus, with the two of us talking energetically in the middle of the preschool classroom like overexcited little boys and clutching our matching wolf stuffies, me and Laurie probably didn’t look a whole lot more mature than the toddlers under her care. I grimaced, trying to craft a polite enough excuse to slink out with the other beavers; but just then Laurie let out an almighty yawn.

“I’m pretty sleepy.” he admitted, cuddling up to my side again. “Can I have some milk too?”

“Of course you can.” Mrs Warren chuckled, indicating a pair of free nap pads “You boys get comfy. But no more chatting, okay?”

“Kay.” Laurie agreed, immediately getting on his hands and knees to shuffle over to the nap pads.

I scurried behind him, eyes furrowing in annoyance as I lay down by his side. “What did you say that for?” I hissed, my face ruddied from embarrassment.

“What?” he yawned, entirely oblivious.

“We’re meant to be helping, not taking a nap!”

“Naps are nice.” Laurie smiled, stroking his own brown wolf cub against my flushed cheeks. “You can cuddle Wubbie!”

I let out an exasperated sigh. How was it that I always managed to get myself into these situations? I was turning eleven that day - I certainly didn’t need a nap! I looked at Laurie and decided it was better to not protest, however. He had just given me an overly sentimental gift. I didn’t want to embarrass him by causing a fuss.

Soon, Mrs Warren made her way back to us carrying two open cartons of milk with pink bendy straws sticking out of them. Laurie and I sat up as she handed one to each of us, putting a finger up to her lips to once again admonish our noisiness.

For a moment Laurie and I sipped on our milk in silence, until I heard him making a gurgling noise blowing bubbles in his milk. I rolled my eyes at him, but couldn’t help but start giggling at the absurd situation. I struggled to contain it to not wake the little kids, shaking my head between laughs in the hope that he would stop.

Laurie continued to smile however, giving his carton a tiny shake. Was he trying to get me to blow bubbles too? I decided to indulge him a little, if only to put off having to lay down on the mat. I blew softly into the straw, causing a few bubbles to rise and a much louder gurgling sound than I had expected to echo out of my carton. I gave a start of surprise, almost dropping my milk.

Laurie couldn’t contain himself, letting out a series of conspicuous snickers. “Shh.” I shushed him, pointing to the nearest kid who had rolled over and was now facing us - his eyelids closed and his breathing rising softly in and out in peaceful sleep. The two of us silently tried to hold back laughs, until I started making bubbles again - causing Laurie to burst out in a small yelp like hiccup. Immediately, the boy beside us opened his eyes, sitting up to watch us with a perplexed sleepy smile on his face.

“Hey.” Laurie whispered, clearly a little concerned. “It’s okay to go back to sleep.”

Mrs Warren was on us in an instant, kneeling down beside us and letting out a tut of disapproval. “I think it’s time for you two to have your nap.” She plucked our half drunken milk out of our hands, gestured authoritatively at our nap pads, and walked away - leaving us both red in the face.

The other boy, now uninterested in our antics, turned over as we lay down on the mats. Left with only my thoughts, I was hit with a wave of embarrassed regret. Why had I done that? We were supposed to be helping, not causing a ruckus!

I looked at Laurie, but he now had his eyes closed and was breathing softly. He sure went to sleep quickly. I frowned. What were the others doing? Had they just left us here? It’s not like I would be able to fall asleep. The closest thing I came to a nap was daydreaming in the car ride to Canada. I held up the wolf stuffie over my head inspecting it. It was an adorable plushie: big eyes, dopey smile, and it had obviously been loved by Laurie. I would have to find an opportunity to give it back to him. He had only given it to me because he felt guilty.

Mrs Warren and I caught eyes and she placed her head on her hands, gesturing for me to go to sleep. She really did expect me to nap! I shut my eyes and held onto Wubbie, ending up rolling onto my side to find comfort. I figured naptime couldn’t be that long. I could just lie here for a little while and think. Big kids didn’t need naps, after all.