Next thing Chef knew, he had a biscuit, some tea, and Izzy's rambunctious laughter in his ear. He was pleasantly surprised at how well-behaved all the kids were suddenly. Even Duncan! But he looked like he was about to jump out of his seat and break a vase.
"Oh, your situation seems horrible…"
Mary looked up at Chef, her eyebrows furrowed and curved in a sympathetic way. Chef in the corner of his eye could see little Ezekiel looking behind Mary's back, observing all the kids his age interacting. He smiled softly before turning his attention back to Mary.
"Oh yeah, especially with these kids. Look at missy up here."
He gestured to Izzy on his shoulders, who was bonking her head against Chef's shiny bald one, laughing like a maniac. However, he seemed completely unphased.
"Is she…okay?"
"Yeah, just energetic."
Just energetic? Chef was practically sure she would go to prison one day by the things she's done ALREADY!
"Well she's the complete opposite of my little Zekey here! He gets tired so easily, especially when he does his chores."
Chores? He's only like….5.
"I see that look, don't worry it's normal, we don't make him do too much anyway."
While Mary talked, Chef glanced over to the kids again, no broken objects? No flying glass shards? No fighting? Very interesting. They're taking it! He knows it. They're just acting all prissy and perfect so they get like…extra treats or something.
"Zekey, you wanna go down?"
Ezekiel nodded as Mary placed him down onto the floor, making him wobble before he regained his balance.
"Let me down, I'm next! I'm next!
Izzy pleaded. Chef let out a long sigh before putting her down as well. She scuttered over to the others.
There was an awkward silence between the two adults before Mary abruptly broke it.
"I- daycare teacher you say? Must explain why there's so many of you..hahaha!"
Chef was confused as to why well…she was so confused. But he answered normally anyway.
"Yep. Been with these kids since their first day."
"That's nice…I would have just expected for you to be in the military or something! Cause well you do look very strong—"
"Oh I was."
He said with a neutral expression, looking like a blank canvas. Mary seemed taken aback by this; she just nodded her head in acknowledgment while rubbing her arm.
Ruined a conversation, like always, well done Chef.
"You know…er. That sounds like a wonderful job."
Not really but continue,
"I bet you are so proud of all that they have achieved!
He gave them a passing glance again. Sure, they are a right handful of little boogers. But they did go through a lot, everyone as a class. Like crashing a bud and being stranded in the middle of a stranger's house!
"Yeah, you can say that."
"Oh? What's that little one doing—"
"OWEN THAT'S THE SIDE OF COUNTERTOP—"