Member-only story
In the Watchful Eye of Two Women
A short story about childhood
“I brought a towel and sunblock only”, is what I told the caretaker when I preferred not to go to the water park. For the rest of the day, I stayed with the steward, who lingered behind. I hoped I stayed with the one I liked.
In the 2000s, during my adolescence, after school, I stayed at a care center run by the church. My parents who worked had no chance to watch me and deemed it wise to have their child cared for instead of staying at home alone.
Every day after school, the caretakers would pick me up. The caretakers were, to sound polite, big women. Two older ladies with personalities to attribute their appearance. I could’ve ridiculed these ladies to kingdom come, yet I doubt it would serve someone who was overweight themselves. It’s better if I kept my mouth shut.
Regardless, I enjoyed spending time with these women. Once a week, they would take us to the movies or the place I dreaded: the water park. The two of them did everything in their possession to entertain us. If we didn’t go on a trip, their massive collection of Disney films and board games kept us occupied. At the caretaker’s is the first place I watched classic Disney films I might’ve missed: A Goofy Movie and An Extremely Goofy Movie.