The Pattern
Mrs. Hammers didn't blink at the children as they tumbled out of the helicopter. She'd seen many come- and half as many go. Whatever maternal instinct women were supposed to have she had lost it years ago. Except that she loved her egret Henry. Henry was her son and confidant she needed no other.
The children looked at her hopefully, she thought she saw Mr. Woods smile. He was a bastard he would allow them the hope that she would be their friend. He liked to let children learn from experience especially if it wasn't dangerous. Mrs. Hammers wasn't dangerous- most of the time.
The platform was made of a heat and weather resistant foam so that it cushioned the foot, and as the children walked on wobbly legs that too quickly forgot the feeling of level ground she almost smiled. The little boy in the rear had a limp. She assumed his driver had been Chester. Chester had a temper, and he'd been known to teach the kids new lessons on the way to the drop off.
Mrs. Hammers saw one of the little girls dancing from foot to foot. She looked like a funny red haired flamingo. She dismissed the girl as soon as she formed an opinion of her.
"Mrs. Hammers, it is a pleasure," Mr. Woods greeted her cordially removing the headset from his head. She knew this greeting meant he was pleased with himself, and that the children were worthy of the Pattern.
"How do you do, sir?" she asked shortly.
"Very, very well." He paused and looked at the red haired flamingo dancer. "Would you mind taking Rozamond to the restroom?"
The girl's face lost all color suddenly. She backed toward one of the boys and started shaking her head. Mrs. Hammers sneered at her derisively. Children were ridiculous with their little attachments.
"I need to go too," Hannah piped up and took Rosie's hand.
The little mouse was a hero- interesting, Mrs. Hammers stored the knowledge and caught Mr. Woods' eye. Yes, he was pleased as well.
Rozamond looked up her eyes drowning with having held her bladder for as long as her little body would allow it. Mrs. Hammers turned sharply leaving the boys together on the runway, and expecting the girls to follow. She heard little feet tapping behind and knew they had perceived her wishes and obeyed.
The children looked at her hopefully, she thought she saw Mr. Woods smile. He was a bastard he would allow them the hope that she would be their friend. He liked to let children learn from experience especially if it wasn't dangerous. Mrs. Hammers wasn't dangerous- most of the time.
The platform was made of a heat and weather resistant foam so that it cushioned the foot, and as the children walked on wobbly legs that too quickly forgot the feeling of level ground she almost smiled. The little boy in the rear had a limp. She assumed his driver had been Chester. Chester had a temper, and he'd been known to teach the kids new lessons on the way to the drop off.
Mrs. Hammers saw one of the little girls dancing from foot to foot. She looked like a funny red haired flamingo. She dismissed the girl as soon as she formed an opinion of her.
"Mrs. Hammers, it is a pleasure," Mr. Woods greeted her cordially removing the headset from his head. She knew this greeting meant he was pleased with himself, and that the children were worthy of the Pattern.
"How do you do, sir?" she asked shortly.
"Very, very well." He paused and looked at the red haired flamingo dancer. "Would you mind taking Rozamond to the restroom?"
The girl's face lost all color suddenly. She backed toward one of the boys and started shaking her head. Mrs. Hammers sneered at her derisively. Children were ridiculous with their little attachments.
"I need to go too," Hannah piped up and took Rosie's hand.
The little mouse was a hero- interesting, Mrs. Hammers stored the knowledge and caught Mr. Woods' eye. Yes, he was pleased as well.
Rozamond looked up her eyes drowning with having held her bladder for as long as her little body would allow it. Mrs. Hammers turned sharply leaving the boys together on the runway, and expecting the girls to follow. She heard little feet tapping behind and knew they had perceived her wishes and obeyed.