if you have children someday | Glowfic Constellation

"Does she want to work here too?"

"Yes."

The worker fills out a form with her information as well and says they can start right away if they like.

He goes to fetch Shasali and inform her that she is employed.

"Where?"

"They're called creches, apparently, the place where they abandon the kids - seemed more your thing than cleaning tables."

"Quite. And I suppose there won't be any trouble about having Kalatha there."

"You might have to again clarify that you'll be taking her home at the end of the day but otherwise no."

"I hope they don't decide to fire us for favoritism or something."

"I really just need a week and then we have a lot more options."

She nods.

They work at the creche. They can get their first day's pay after the first day, if he asks. There are babies! And small children! And older children, but those spend significant amounts of time out elsewhere and there are fewer of them in any given age group. They can find out why - someone comes and interviews a few kids who look maybe two and takes one home with her.

"People here want kids again when they are older, can work?"

"Apprentices," someone explains. "They help with work and learn stuff."

"Any kid learn any job if they seem smart and can learn?"

"Well, sure, what else would we do?"

"Anitam learn things you can see in babies that go with things you can learn as grownups, teach kids the things they look like they will be good at."

"Huh. What things that you can see in babies?"

"In Anitam hair color go with things you can learn."

"But you're both working here."

"We are both wrong color working here! Thing I am good at hard when poor language. Learn more language, then do thing I learned as kid to do. Shasali maybe still do this. Hair not perfect. Very good, much more good than guess, but sometimes kid good at two things. Shasali good at babies and red thing."