ter

workday went by shocked her. She went directly to the daycare by car from school. Her hands trembled and her heart pounded with excitement, but a genuine sense of purpose lifted her

here she looked. Tree leaves were raked and placed around shrubbery, and the hedge in front was trimmed. The parking l

d full of kids ages two, three, four, and five as they played from the back door. Aides moved between them, keeping a close eye on them. A school bus pulled up in front of her and dropped off

Lawrence welcomed her. Her hand

Dalt

call m

is my wife Alex. Did you have the o

serve through the fence the children pla

a time I suppose when age creeps up on you and you just know

my thir

little surprised and they

to run a daycare?" Mrs. Lawrence asked, while s

awrence yesterday on the phone

Mrs. Lawrence said, taking off he

rsing home, and going off to work and leaving them every day is very hard. I worry about them as if they are my children. It's

e daughter you are to care so much for your parents." She

"Running a business isn't easy, Clar

with greater concentration to what I need to do. I worked with my father in his accounting business before he became too ill to work. I'm good i

ther two are used for storage. I'm sure the larger one would be suitable for

rfect." The lounge contained a sofa, chairs, an extension phone and a televi

e room, which could easily be turned into a den with day beds where her parents could nap. The daycare had a small kitchen off the main room where she could prepare their meals

ing. They discussed the kind of down payment she was willing to make, and the monthly cost of mortgage payments. Clara did some mental calculating, but Mr. Lawrence figured it precisely for

ol. I believe I could do it. Does

a decent living here. We haven't exactly gotten rich, but we've lived very comfortably. I believe your experience as a teacher can dra

nitely do. I don't want to give

and appeared to be good at what they were doing. The more the Lawrences explained about the day-care, the more Clara's interest grew. It still f

hopes surged like they hadn't in months. She was beginning to believe it co

the right thing to d

it's going to work out

she drove home. She had never taken such a l

a said excitedly. "One can be turned into a day room where you and papa can lie down if you want. There's also a lounge with a television and a bathroom. You can sit ou

ntil she could barely do things for herself, much less for Stanley. Hearing this news from Clara raised her spirits. Maybe she wouldn't have to become a nursing home statist

her, she smiled, picked up the phone and dialed. M

ldren sort of grow on you like your own. We didn't want to put them

and the next day Clara gav

. For one so young to take on the responsibility of disabled parents and

statements to be mailed out when a parent's payment wasn't timely, keeping tax records, maintenance of grounds and building, ordering supplies as needed, and numerous other chores that Clara took notes on. There were things to be done she ha

ack door while Matilda napped, there was no need for panic because the fence was six-feet tall and there were no unlocked gates to enable the old gent to walk away. Had Clara kno

d with a great deal of last minute reservations scrambling th

m me so I can function with less stress. Anyway, when I consider the amount of work I put into school work

g to dedicate your life to work and parents.

I don't see much of him, but I'm always aware that at least I have someone. Anyway, I j

imes you must go after the things you want personally for yourself

ved her parents too much not to do all she could for them. When she dared let her mind travel to her own hopes and dreams, guilt ate at her, reminding her that she had no t

in front of the television and her father no where in sight. She checked the tiny bedroom where she had put two twin beds for the

saw him near the slide board, and

d silent. She touched his pulse, and breathed a breath of relief. His pulse was strong and steady. "Oh, Papa

ently. Then struggling to get him up, his weight feeling like a sac

sier?" she cried during th