The Keeper

The Keeper

Ted slowly started climbing up the rock wall surrounding their yard, glancing back at Susan often.

Susan was his new daycare person. She’d only started this week, but so far it had gone pretty well. She seemed nice. She was younger than Mrs. Warren, but just as nice.

She wasn’t as neat as Mrs. Warren, but Ted wasn’t as neat as Mrs. Warren either, and the good part was Susan never made him clean up. Mrs. Warren was a stickler for clean-ups.

This was another test. As soon as they got outside the first day, Susan made him zip up his coat. Very Mrs. Warren. But, then she walked around with him, kicking leaves! And then, she actually slid down the slide herself! Mrs. Warren always just sat in the chair by the door and read her book.

Unfortunately, even reading a book, Mrs. Warren was always aware of what Ted was doing, and often disapproved... “Don’t go down the slide, it’s wet today. Don’t pick those dandelions they’ll stain your hands! No throwing stones ever!” He never could figure out how she saw everything while reading a book. One thing he was never allowed to do was climb the rock wall. Something about falling. It wasn’t even that high! Today he was determined to see what Susan thought of the rock wall.

After sliding down the slide Monday and having to change because his pants were wet, Susan laughed. Then Tuesday, throwing stones to make the wind chime ring, Susan threw one too! But, this was the big test.

Turning to check on Susan again, he almost fell! Susan was standing right there! “Careful!” she said, and then, “Is it OK if I climb too? I love climbing rock walls!” Well! That nailed it.

Susan was a keeper!