Jasmine

''Gracie, sweetheart, say hi to the new nanny, please,'' He said as the little girl came from behind him dressed in a pink dress.

Oh, she's an angel. I was paranoid for no reason. I can't believe I thought she was going to be some type of Tasmanian devil. Pfft. This is going to be lemon squeezy.

''You remind me of Cinderella.'' The little girl said, crossing her arms.

''Aww, that's so sweet. Thank you so m-''

''Before the bippity boppity boo.''

Seventy-two-hours before:

''Aren't you a cutie? Yes, you are! You're going to grow up to be big and strong? Yes, you are!''

''Jazz, we talked about this. Stop talking to the puppies like they are babies. They can't even hear you.'' Ethan argued, walking in the room and rolling his eyes.

''How do you know? What if they can hear me and they just don't want to say anything because you're always making fun of them? Never thought of that, did you?'' I protested, setting a newborn puppy in it's bed.

''Maybe, or they really can't hear you, and you're just a weirdo. ''

''Whatever. My shift is about to end. I'm going to go fill out my form and head out.'' I answere, choosing not to have this argument for the third time today. I walk to the back and take off my protective gear.

Working at the New Wings Pet Shelter, wearing regular clothes, was suicidal. I never knew whether one day I would have poop all over my pants or shredded hair. Puppies, dogs were the main hassle. I basically lived in fur. Although some of that was my fault. I just couldn't resist the little fellas.

''Let's hope he's not here,'' Ethan says, interrupting me from my thoughts.

''I swear, if he's in there, I'm walking out so fast. ''

Bernie Irving. My stalker boss. He started off as the typical 'do what I say, or you're fired' type. Then he gradually became a creep. Staring at my boobs, 'accidentally' touching my ass, sexual remarks. That's not even the worst part. One day after coming home from work, I found a letter sitting on my counter from him. But it was either move back in with my parents or put up with my pervert boss.

I find him in the room, at the back of the building, his creepy smile greeting me as he closes the fridge.

''Good afternoon, Ms. Grayson. You are looking rather ravishing today.'' He compliments me as I try to get to the form.

Oh, please, just let me get out of here.

''Thanks.'' I try to walk past him, but he blocks my path and stands in front of me, crossing his arms. ''Is there a problem?" I ask, already annoyed.

He doesn't answer, instead moves closer to me. Before I knew it, his hands were on my butt, and he was leaning down to kiss me.

I shove him back before he could kiss me, his eyes widening as he stumbles back and hits his back on the edge of the table.

'''Oww! What the-''

But adrenaline courses through my veins and I take one step forward, striking across the face. ''Fucking perv!" I shout, ripping off the protective gear and striding out of the room.

Ethan frowns when I pushs the door open. "You okay? I heard you yell. What happene-"

''Low life dirtbag, kiss my ass!" I yell, interrupting Ethan and walking out of the store with my bag.

I turned around one last time, stalking back into the room. "In case you didn't get the memo, I quit!"

Pushing hair out of my face as I walked out again, an awful smell filled the air. The smell was so bad I felt as though I was in a fart room. Wanting to leave that vile stench immediately, I started to walk along the sidewalk. Then began running when the smell followed me.

''What is it?" I shout, catching my breath and looking around. Realizing I looked like a chicken with it's head cut off, I  was about to give up when I found it.

Bingo.

''I stepped in dog poop?''

I looked down at my shoe to see a little closer. ''Oh my god! I stepped in dog poop!" I yelped, trying my best to wipe the brown turd from the back of my shoes with a few tissues from my bag. Thankfully, it wasn't a lot, but it was enough to leave a stain. After many foot slides against the sidewalk and confused stares, I managed to clean up the poop.

''What the hell happened to you? I thought you discard the poop, not take it with you.'' someone comments after a few minutes, just as I turned into my neighborhood street.

''I thought you were supposed to mind your business, not g... hey girl!" I cut my self off when I saw it was my best friend, Tatum, rolling up in her jeep. I wondered how she knew I stepped in poop, when I realized I was still holding the napkin with poop on. And I hadn't done such a good job cleaning as I had thought.

''Hey, Jazz! You know what today is, right?'' she asked, unlocking her doors.

''Unfortunately, I do.'' I groaned and got in the car. Sighing, I buckled up as she drove off.

Gossip day. Tatum was known for gossip. It was practically her nature. Every Friday, we spent nearly the whole day catching up on the drama of the week. And since we live where we live, there was always drama.''Oh, cheer up. I bought you some more art supplies." said Tatum.

''Wait, really? ''

''No, I was just playing."

''Oh.''

''I'm being sarcastic. Gosh, for someone so smart, you're so dumb. Bless your heart.''

''Well, if you did, thank you. You know I appreciate it. Even though we both know I'm never going to become an artist,'' I joked, but stopped smiling when she looked over at me and glared.

''Stop. You are an amazing artist and if you would worry about that instead of those damn animals at that shelter, you would already be getting paid to do it,'' she scolded as we made it to my apartment.

My place wasn't very far from the shelter. That's why I had applied for the job.

''Hey! Don't point fingers at my puppies. It's not their fault. I would be making money if I was a good artist and wasn't so broke.'' I protested, getting out of the car at the same time as her. Then we walked up the stairs into my place.

When I opened the door, I immediately went to the bathroom and put my shoes in the tub, making a note to wash them later. As I went back into the living room, I decided to just blurt it out before Tatum interrogated it out of me. ''I lost my job.''

''You what?''

''Well, technically not lost. I quit.''

Tatum stared at me for a good minute before replying, ''Finally!" She shouted and flopped on the sofa.

''What do you mean, finally? I don't get to see my babies anymore." I answered, sitting next to her on the burgundy sofa, also pulling my phone out.

''Oh please, ya'll can see each other again. Just go adopt one. And I wanted you to quit that job. Your boss is a jackass, and you can come work at the salon with me again.''

''Tat, as much as I love working with you, I am not spending my whole day moving my hands around an old lady's hair.''

''Well, I find it relaxing.''

''Agree to disagree. Send me that job site. I cannot afford to wait for another job. Literally. The landlord gave me two more weeks then I'm out.''

''Alright. But we are looking together- No more animals. You are beginning to look like fur,'' she insisted and got her phone out as well.

~~~

''Tatum, come on! You know I was damn good at taking care of that plant!''

''Oh geez! Jasmine, that was in the third freaking grade! And the plant only lived because it was fake!''

''That still counts!" I protested.

"Look. How about we both choose? I'll randomly choose one with my eyes closed, and you go after me. Whatever job it lands on, that's what you're applying for. ''She sighed, snatching the phone from my hands.

''If you snatch that from me one more time, we are going to box,'' I warned her, snatching it back from her. She rolled her eyes, and we both sat back on the couch.

''Deal?'' She asked, ignoring what I said.

I can already tell I am going to regret this.''Fine.'' I agreed, handing her the phone back.

She closed her eyes but didn't scroll through the website.''You have to close your eyes too, Jazz.''

''Hell no.''

''Okay, fine. I don't feel like going back and forth like I know you're going to do, so I am going over yonder,'' she answered, opening her eyes and walking to the kitchen.

Tatum sat on the counter and closed her eyes again. Since the job site was like a fortune teller, all she had to do was spin the wheel. When I heard it land, I rush over to her.''What is it?"

She opened her eyes and looked down.''Dammit! Why couldn't this be the second one?" she complained after seeing it was an application for a shoe store worker.

''My turn!''

I snatched the phone, put my finger on the wheel, and closed my eyes. Soon it landed.

''What is it?'' Tat asked when I opened my eyes. Both of us looked down, and I was caught off guard.

''A Nanny?'' asked both of us, surprised.

Silence filled the air. Every time I applied for a job, which was a lot, it was always the same thing. Pet shelter, volunteer, salon, and cashier. Never a nanny, though. The website always chooses what job was good for me based on my experience and education. I had no experience whatsoever of nannying.

''Well, click it, girl.''

I listened to her and clicked the ad. It didn't show a face, just a blank avatar and a few words at the bottom reading, ''Nanny in need. We will discuss details if you are accepted. ''

After filling out the form, Tatum headed home, and I took a quick shower, cleaned my shoes, and went to sleep.

~~~

As I got up to pee, I checked the time and saw it was already four in the morning.

I swore it was right when I went to bed.

Just as I was about to walk into the bathroom, there was a ping on my phone. Not having a clue who would have the audacity to message me at four in the morning, I went over and checked it.

''Oh. My. God."

When I checked my phone, it had the same no profile picture that was posted on the ad that read, Dear Ms. Grayson: This letter is to let you know that I have received your application. I appreciate your interest in becoming my nanny for which you applied.''

I nearly fainted at what I read next.

''Please meet with me today at three pm sharp at The Heirloom cafe on 834 Ina Moran Street. I look forward to your interview.''