Chapter Three
|Getting to Know Naomi|
Arthur expected Naomi when he returned from school the next day. He didn't want to see her after being surrounded by concerned girls trying to do his bidding at school, but he had no choice. He plopped his books on the bed and moved into the kitchen, where Naomi was waiting for the twins' bus to arrive.
"So three days a week, they have preschool classes?" Naomi asked. Arthur nodded, opening the fridge to evaluate the snack situation. A fruit platter sat on the bottom shelf, and Arthur knew by Naomi's glances that this was something she'd brought in for the Read's to enjoy. "You really like taking care of your family, don't you?"
"I was all my parents had when the twins were born. My dad's dad was in a nursing home because of his Alzheimer's disease and his mom had just broken her hip. Everyone else was busy, so I became caretaker. It's a rewarding job," Arthur murmured, taking a seat as far from Naomi as he could while still sitting in the room. Naomi respected his space, shifting as she eyed the street.
"That's why I like nursing. You really help people, you know? You really help them get through their problems. And that's why I started babysitting. Like you, I have a handful of siblings, and I had to take care of them until they were old enough to do it themselves. I personally doubt DW will be ready any time soon," Naomi smiled, gauging Arthur's reaction. He smiled as well. "But Kate is already there, and soon the twins will be too. Did you know they had their own secret language?"
"Yes. How did you find out?" Arthur asked. Naomi showed Arthur his parents' note, "I came in at noon, so I had to put the twins on the bus at one, then help with laundry, and now I'm waiting for snack time, homework time, and ah, the bus," Naomi smiled, nearly bouncing to the front door to greet the twins. They stormed the house like a herd of antelope, vibrating the floor as they ran into the kitchen. Like clockwork, the girls walked up a moment later and moved into the kitchen for a brief snack before homework.
Arthur waited patiently as the house calmed down into the lull between snack time and dinner time. Naomi busied herself by cleaning up juice spills and helping the twins wash the sticky fruit juice from their skin. When she was done, everyone had left the room…except Arthur.
"I take you're being more friendly today?" Naomi guessed, pulling out a container to store the remaining fruit. She offered Arthur another slice, but he shook his head, "I just…I'm going to be out of commission for a month, and since my parents seem to like you, I want to get to know you. Start with schooling. What's your history?"
"Well, I started in public school when it was time," she said, finishing her storage job and joining Arthur at the breakfast table again, maintaining the distance to Arthur's relief. "I went to Lakewood Elementary like Kate. The only teacher I really remember is Miss Sweetwater. She was the last one I had before my mom married a Catholic man. I was sent to St. Mary's the next year and I was there until I graduated last year," she sighed. "It's hard being ahead in public school, but St. Mary's was tiny. The teachers didn't mind pushing people like me through, especially since Metropolis University was willing to accept me into the nursing program. That's why I'm ahead," she said, exhaling slowly.
"You remind me of some people I go to school with," Arthur murmured. Naomi asked him to speak up, so he repeated himself a little louder. She sat back in her chair, "Oh? How so?"
"Your fashion, your looks," Arthur shrugged. "You just felt familiar to me for that reason, but not in a good way. I hope I'm wrong about you, but I know your type. The girls at school aren't that nice. They want you to think they are, but everyone knows they're just trying to get ahead like everyone else. They just choose dirtier methods, of course."
"I'm not one of those girls. I embraced my step-father's Catholic culture, Arthur. I go through life as the Lord would want me to," Naomi smiled, leaning forward, "I don't mind if your family isn't religious. I'm used to that up here. I want to explain to the twins though, if you think your parents won't mind."
"I don't know how they feel. Just no lies, of course, and nothing about that little scandal problem. They're too young to know about that," Arthur clarified. Naomi laughed, "Yeah, that right there is why I like being an honest Catholic. The Church has problems, but those scandals are over. The Pope—"
"He's trying to clean things up. I know," Arthur nodded. "I took a current events class last year so I know all about him. All I'm saying is that the kids don't need to know just yet, and you should keep everything else simple too."
Naomi nodded softly, leaning back in her chair again, "I had a feeling you'd warm up to me. You try to look distant, but you watch every move I make, proving you had interest in me. I know you were also trying to make sure I wasn't one of those old witch babysitters who wanted your younger siblings for some potion or ritual," Naomi laughed, and Arthur smiled as well. "I'm here to help your family, Arthur. It's the least I can do to pay you back for being such a good big brother all these years. Recover, and when you're done, go out and start making a life for yourself. I'll be here with the kids, and things will be…like a fairytale," she sighed happily.
"I thought you were going to get a nursing job soon," Arthur said, "within the next year or two after you pass your test," he added. Naomi paled a little before leaning back in her chair again. Arthur couldn't read her, but he felt like she looked nervous.
"We'll just have to see what happens, won't we?" she smiled. She looked up to the clock and reminded Arthur about his homework. Arthur nodded, heading up to his room. Yesterday, his thoughts were swimming with the new details that were intriguing. Today his thoughts were questioning Naomi's true nature, and trying to determine what lies were being told to his family.
|Hidden Dangers?|
The next day, Arthur was grouped with Sue Ellen and Buster for a science project. Sue Ellen wanted to meet at Arthur's house, and Buster was quick to agree. They entered Arthur's home and found Naomi playing with the twins in the front room. The teens quickly moved upstairs, and though Buster's mood had improved, Sue Ellen's mood had soured.
"What's the topic again?" she asked darkly, snatching up her notebook and flipping to a clean page. Arthur reminded her and she nodded carefully, writing the word with almost too much precision. "And what parts do we want to do? Arthur, you need something hands-off, don't you?" Sue Ellen asked.
"I thought we could all help build the model. Arthur's house has plenty of space, and Naomi could help us if Arthur can't," Buster grinned. Sue Ellen's face twisted as she resisted the urge to kick him. She composed herself, shaking her head, "We need to completely divide up the work. One of us should do all the building, one of us all the writing, and one of us all the research. Arthur, you should do the research. It's the most hands-off of the jobs. And you shouldn't use this Naomi for help. It's our project, not theirs."
"It was just an offer," Buster muttered, crossing his arms and sitting back in his chair. Arthur ignored him, "I like that idea, Sue Ellen. I don't want her helping me. She might not even know what…that is," Arthur stammered. He didn't really know what they were doing, but he assumed that was the purpose of the school project in the first place.
Sue Ellen's mood seemed to change and she sat up more in her seat, "That means you'll have to bounce between the two of us this week. I want to do the writing part, which means a lot of library time. My mom won't mind driving us to and from the library if you're not up for walking," she smiled, her voice taking on a seductive tone.
"I want to build the model here, just in case my mom thinks it's just a bunch of junk," Buster chuckled. That happened the year before, also within a group containing Arthur and Sue Ellen. Francine was in their group too and she was definitely the most angered of all of them, seeing that she put in half the work of their very late model.
"You can build it at my house in my art studio," Sue Ellen corrected. "Arthur can help you with the model and me with any writing," she said through clinched teeth, seeing that Buster wanted to counter her. Rage was in her eyes, and Buster yielded, agreeing to start the building as soon as they told him what to build. Sue Ellen smiled, "Arthur and I will decide once we start research. In fact, we should start now. I have my tablet with me if you have wireless internet."
Arthur helped her log on and the teens began preliminary research for their school project. But soon, a knock sounded at the door: Naomi was concerned about the three teens being alone behind closed doors. Sue Ellen was quick to protest, "We're just doing a class project! The kids are too loud for the door to be open so just deal with it!"
"No, it's okay," Arthur said, standing and opening the door. "See, we're working. My parents don't mind. We've all known each other for years," he explained, pointing to a class photo from third grade on the wall next to the door. Naomi smiled softly, touching the frame. "We need to get back to work," Arthur called to her. She snapped out of her trance and nodded firmly.
"I'm going to check on you every few minutes. And dinner is at six, but I don't know if there's enough for two extra people," Naomi explained, eying Buster and Sue Ellen carefully. Sue Ellen's head remained locked on the tablet, but her voice carried throughout the room, "I have to go home then anyway. Arthur, will you help me decipher this? Research is your task," Sue Ellen smiled, a victorious smile once Naomi was gone.
Later, when Sue Ellen was gone and dinner was over, Buster remained in Arthur's room to discuss the project, but namely the girls. Arthur sighed as he lay on his bed, "I knew this was going to happen, Buster. I don't think Naomi is a brat like Muffy and Sue Ellen, but if Sue Ellen sees her as a threat, who knows what could happen?"
"What makes you think Naomi isn't one of those? She certainly looks like one, and a girl with her looks must know she's attractive. But maybe she has low standards. Maybe she'd even date a guy like me…if I break my arm like you did," Buster sighed, his ears flopping down as he put his head on the desk. "I'll never have luck with the ladies like you do."
"I don't want any of them!" Arthur hissed, raising up in bed. "I want my life to go back to the way it was before that stupid biking accident. She's taking over my house, Buster! She wants me to get a job just like my parents do. She'll be with the kids, she told me. She doesn't mind it. But she mentioned being a nurse, and when I asked her about it—"
"Those nursing tests are hard, and she was already doubting the classwork," Buster offered, lifting up as well. "Maybe she's being practical and thinking of a backup plan. I'd do the same thing if I was smart and good-looking like her."
"Well I think she's lying about something," Arthur said, looking out the window. "And I want to see my parents. They were gone before I got up again. They never did that when I was in charge, and I don't understand what Grandma Thora would need so much help with anyway. We cleaned her house out years ago to make it easier for her to move around, and with those new neighbors, someone is always keeping an eye on her."
"Maybe they're the ones lying," Buster said, smiling softly. "Maybe they're using this time to go on dates or go dancing or something. Your parents do love each other, you know. It's the first time they've been able to do something like this since the twins were born."
"You're right, but something still isn't right about Naomi," Arthur whispered, listening as she led the twins to the bathroom. "The kids seem to like her, so I don't think she's a bad caretaker or anything. There's something else about her, something personal."
"I wouldn't worry about it. You've wanted a job since you were fourteen. Now you have that chance. Take it if the kids are safe," Buster shrugged, eying the clock. "I need to get back and start planning out this model. Everything's due next Friday, right?" he asked, gathering his things. Arthur nodded, watching his friend leave. He'd be alone with Buster gone, giving him more alone time with Naomi. He shuddered at the thought, but he also wanted to pursue her. What if she was a danger? He needed to know, even if no one would believe him.
|Questions and Answ—More Questions|
The next day after school, Muffy and Sue Ellen practically kidnapped Arthur, pulling him into Muffy's limo and heading off in some unknown direction. The devious smile on the girls' faces told Arthur something was up. He just didn't know what…until Muffy started to run her notorious loud mouth.
"We want to meet this Naomi character, well I do," Muffy said, laughing poshly. "You always have to examine the help to make sure they're the right match for you. When Mother had Eric, we had to do the same process to find the perfect nanny. Believe me, it's very difficult with how deceptive people can be. There are always signs though, always," Muffy said firmly.
Arthur nodded, refusing to argue with her logic. She remembered the Crosswire's nanny, a Latina woman who was stealing their valuable in order to send more money home. Arthur remembered his parents disagreeing with the Crosswire's and their decision to charge the woman for the theft. She would remain in the United States for five years while serving time in prison. After that, she would be deported to her home region, a country Arthur couldn't remember. He did know the place had been the scene of unrest for years thanks to his current events class, and he found himself hoping the woman and her family would be alright. He hoped Naomi wasn't doing the same thing, though it's not like they could deport her.
"Here we are," Bailey called, leaving the car to open the door. In elementary and middle school, Muffy would enter and exit the car without Bailey's help. Now that her parents' snobby ways had rubbed off on her, she always had him do everything for her.
"Just go park somewhere until we're done. This might take a while," Muffy said, patting Bailey's arm before making her way up the front walk, her heels clacking on the concrete. "Wow, your house looks different than I remember, Arthur. What happened?" Muffy asked.
"It's a new house, just a few doors down from the old one," Arthur said, pointing to his childhood home up the street. Muffy shrugged, looking the property over carefully. "Is something wrong with this place?"
"No," she sighed, picking at a shrub next to the door. It had withered since they buried Pal beneath it. It was his favorite spot when they moved. Sadly, the little dog didn't realize this was his permanent home, and during one of his trips back to the old house, he was hit by a car. It still hurt Arthur to think about it, and seeing Muffy being so critical made him even more angry.
"Let's just go inside. I assume this Naomi character will be there?" Sue Ellen asked. Arthur shrugged, unlocking the door and leading the girls inside. He discovered the house to be empty, and the note on the refrigerator said both Read parents would be home around six. Naomi's number was listed in case Arthur needed her, but otherwise he was on his own.
"Well this is disappointing, Arthur Read," Muffy spat, running her finger over the chair rail next to the door, grimacing as she inevitably found the dust she was looking for. "We should stay, Sue Ellen. I think Arthur needs our help caring for…what are their names again?"
"I'll be fine without you both," Arthur assured Muffy, namely. Sue Ellen shook her head, "We have a project to take care of, so if you don't mind…," Sue Ellen hinted, opening the door just as the twins' bus appeared.
"I'll be fine as well," Muffy smiled, looking Arthur over as the twins ran inside looking for Naomi. Arthur moved them into the kitchen to begin preparing their snack, but he couldn't open the container on his own. Muffy and Sue Ellen through themselves at him, both of them eager to open the container. As they did, DW and Kate arrived, and DW looked completely disgusted.
"Who are these people? Where's Naomi?" she asked coldly, looking over Muffy the same way Muffy had looked over the home. Muffy scoffed, "I know you remember me, DW. Muffy? Muffy Crosswire?" she asked. DW shook her head, looking to Arthur, "I was talking to him. What's going on?"
"Mom and Dad will be here later, so it's just me. Muffy and Sue Ellen were just leaving, unless Sue Ellen wants to work on our project, then she may stay until five," Arthur said firmly. "Muffy, you need to go. DW, why don't you walk her out?"
"No, I'll walk myself out. Do tell me when Naomi is going to be here," Muffy smiled poshly, handing Arthur a business card with her full name and cell phone number. Arthur slid it into his pocket and watched her leave. Sue Ellen did as well before reaching for the container and opening it easily.
"DW, will you help me get the snacks distributed so Sue Ellen and I can work?" Arthur asked. DW scoffed, shaking her head as she took her seat. Arthur shrugged, serving everyone and moving to the dining room to sit with Sue Ellen. Now that Muffy was gone and they were away from the kids, her bratty attitude seemed to fade.
"I'm sorry about how Muffy is acting. I told her about Naomi and she was curious about her. She wanted to know if she was taking good care of everyone. I guess she is since the kids like her so much," Sue Ellen sighed. "I can make her step back if you'd like."
"No, I don't mind her asking questions. I have plenty of my own, so if she can get answers, so be it," Arthur whispered. Sue Ellen gave him a perplexed look. "It's fine, I assume. I just…I don't know her that well, and I sometimes wonder about her personal life. That's normal though, I guess. You want to know the people serving your family."
"What do you think she's lying about? I mean, this could be serious," Sue Ellen said with a nervous tone. Arthur shook his head, "I think she just isn't being honest about what she's doing with her life. She plans on staying here for a while, and if that's the case, I guess it's okay. If she's not doing anything wrong, she can stay as long as she wants. I need to do something with my life anyway."
Sue Ellen sighed softly, pulling out her tablet and sliding it to him, "I started writing after doing some of my own research. You can still help Buster, but I don't want your help. You need to learn her secrets, just in case. Muffy had a bad experience, and I know it's different than yours, but is it? You won't know until we figure her out, and Muffy is the right person to do that. Well, Fern is, but she doesn't talk to us anymore."
Arthur nodded. Muffy went after Fern their ninth grade year for spending time with a boy she had her eye on. Muffy ruined the mutual friendship the two had because of her own jealousy, and Fern never forgave her. Arthur, however, could still talk to her. He suggested the idea to Sue Ellen, who shrugged softly, "If you think it's needed, let her. She's the greatest young mystery writer in the entire region. If she can make up a mystery from scratch, just imagine what she could do with real facts."
Arthur agreed, and after finishing their snacks, Sue Ellen asked if Arthur needed his help around the house. With the kids settled in their usual after school places, Arthur decided she could leave. He had Sue Ellen's number in case that changed, and if he did need help, he knew he'd probably call her well before calling Naomi. Until he knew who she was outside the Read home, he had to be cautious.
A/N: Hi guys, I hope you're enjoying the piece. I just wanted to let everyone know that Naomi's World will have a prequel! It's called "Arthur's Baby Problems" and it's about the origin of Ricky and Vicky. Why did the Read family move to a bigger house? Why did they have two more kids in the first place? You'll find the answers in "Arthur's Baby Problems," coming soon. (I'm also thinking of doing a sequel but I haven't decided yet)
Also, I have a Twitter account, where I'll post some of my writing news from time to time (as well as retweet awesome stuff from other people far more awesome than me). Follow me DASLChrys