First Floor Lobby, Saturday Afternoon

[finding-x-dream.livejournal.com]

So the island, in one of its ineffable fits of pique, had started filling itself with random alternate-universe children from the future. Probably because of all the people who just had sex last night. Since none of them -- at least not yet -- seemed to belong to her, Agnes was going to do the sensible thing and hide in her room until they left.

...No, no, she wasn't, was she? That's what she would like to do. What she was GOING to do was be helpful and dependable, because it was impossible for her not to be. She didn't even like kids all that much.

She was still arguing with herself about it while she made and set up the sign in the lobby that said "FREE BABYSITTING". And made bologna and cheese sandwiches with the crusts cut off.

Comments

[newlances.livejournal.com]

Malcolm was hungry, and starting to get worried, so it was nice to see a plate of food and someone who looked like they were a babysitter or grown up. "May I have a sandwich, please?" he said, looking expectant.

[finding-x-dream.livejournal.com]

"Of course you might," Agnes told him sweetly. As she handed him one, she asked, "so what is your name, little man?"

[newlances.livejournal.com]

Yay. FOOD! Malcolm took a huge bite, and chewed and chewed before saying, "Malcolm Tam. I'm four. And a half!" Okay, most of the food was already swallowed. "I'm lost. Do you know my mom'n'dad?"

[finding-x-dream.livejournal.com]

"I might, at that," Agnes answered. "Can you tell me what their names are?"

The smile flickered to a frown for a moment. "Don't take such big bites. You could choke."

[newlances.livejournal.com]

"Daddy is Dr. Tam." Malcolm swallowed, then nibbled at the cheese. Nibble, nibble. "Mommy's Dinah." He pulled his baloney out of the sandwich, and folded it in half, then took a bite out of the fold. "Look! Circle!"

[finding-x-dream.livejournal.com]

Agnes smiled. "Yep, a circle. And if you're REALLY good at it, you can hang that circle off your nose. I'm afraid I don't know a Dr. Tam, but there's a Dinah living just upstairs, if you want to go find her."

[newlances.livejournal.com]

Which Malcolm proceeded to do. Well, sort of. Then he ate his way through it. "Mmmmph!" He swallowed it, then grinned. "Thank you very much! What floor is she on?" Then, conscientiously, "An' what's your name?"

[finding-x-dream.livejournal.com]

"She's on the the third floor, room 312," Agnes told him, reading off the convenient directory. "I'm Ms. Agnes, and YOU may have another sandwich before you go, if you like."

[newlances.livejournal.com]

Malcolm grinned at her real big. "Thank you, Miss Agnes. You rock."

Yeah, you could tell who his mom was by the grin and the bounce, even if he was a little quieter.

[finding-x-dream.livejournal.com]

That got a thoroughly genuine smile out of Agnes, one she didn't have to force. "Well, thank you VERY much," she replied. "You rock, too."