Judy's father

Rebecca:

A Mr. Patterson called me and said that the Wright family had introduced me to him.

So he made an appointment for me to come to his office and talk to him.

The next day at 10 am I went to Mr. Patterson's office and we talked about the job.

I told him that I was paid more than other nurses.

Mr. Patterson said, "Your salary is not important to me, it's your work skills that matter." Mrs. Wright was very complimentary about how you looked after her son. I have to go on an important business trip for a month in two days and I'm really worried about my daughter. I need someone to take care of her for the month and to continue working when I get back. Of course, there's a problem, and it's on my side.

I was curious and said, "What's the problem?"

My wife is dead and I have an eighteen-year-old daughter. Usually girls are very busy with school and are anxious and stressed about their future. My daughter is not only not interested in studies, she is not even the slightest bit disciplined. Sometimes I feel like she has no purpose for her future. She is bored even with simple and ordinary hobbies. Most of the time she is aggressive and irritable. So far, no tutor has been able to cope with her and tolerate her. I am ready to pay you twice or even three times what Mr. and Mrs. Wright were paying you, but on the condition that you can make my daughter interested in studies like the Wright family son. This is what is important to me.

I thought about Mr. Patterson's words for a while. The part where he said he was ready to pay me three times what the Wright family paid me, tempted me badly and determined me, that means he is ready to pay me about 30 thousand dollars for a month or else this amount will change my life. But I was not a tutor. So I told Mr. Patterson that I am not a tutor, I am a nurse.

Mr. Patterson said: Well, my daughter has rejected more than ten private tutors so far, or rather, she has run away. I think that if someone can control her and take care of her, she can also help her progress in her studies. But I emphasize again, my daughter has a very aggressive and nervous temperament. I don't know.

I asked how old she was when she lost her mother?

They said she was nine.

I asked if I could ask how her mother, or your wife, died?

• We don't talk about it at all. I don't even think about it in my mind. But since I have come to the conclusion in just a few moments of meeting you that you are a decisive person who knows her job well, I have a little hope that you may have a positive influence on my daughter. So I prefer to tell you. Of course, on the condition that you only keep it to yourself and never tell anyone. My wife set herself on fire. The moment he burned himself, only Judy was in the house.

I was shocked by what I heard.

Well, I thought it was a good challenge, so I said, "Okay. When can I start?"

-You can start right now. I have an hour left. I can take you home and introduce you to Judy."

I said to Mr. Patterson, "No problem, let's go right now."

A luxurious five-story apartment. I entered the house with Mr. Patterson. The sound of music filled the house. Mr. Patterson went to the source of the loud music. A room in the hallway to the right of the hall. He knocked hard on the door several times until the door finally opened. A bright pink light shone out of the room. After a few moments, the music stopped. A slim girl came out of the room. She was wearing a pink T-shirt and black fabric pants with tiny pink flowers. Her very short hair was combed up. Overall, the girl didn't look very pretty, more like a cute girl. Mr. Patterson pointed to his daughter and said to me, "Judy."

Then he pointed to me and said to Judy, "Mrs. Rebecca Sullivan, your new teacher and nurse."

Judy extended her hand to me and said in a rather polite tone, "It's a pleasure to meet you."

According to Mr. Patterson, I hadn't expected such politeness. But I didn't bring it up. I shook Judy's hand and smiled and said, "I'm happy, too, my dear."

Mr. Patterson turned to me, "I'll have to go now. I'll leave you alone to get to know each other and work out your month-long schedule. I'll just have a few moments at the door with you."

I turned to the door with Mr. Patterson. Judy crossed her arms and watched us with her eyes. Mr. Patterson led me to the hallway outside the apartment building and said, "Don't look at her politeness." As soon as I'm gone and he's alone with you, he'll do anything to make you regret it and push him away. I hope it won't be like the last time, when that first meeting was his last.

Mr. Peterson didn't wait for my answer or reaction. He got into the elevator and pressed the parking button. I felt a strange feeling. I said to myself in my head: What does Judy want to do now? She wants to behave worse than Tommy and Sam. I gathered myself and went back inside.