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Description
In this chapter there are mental meltdowns. From more than one person, oddly enough. haha

You can read the written portion here:
Working at the Superstar Daycare CH 23Chapter 23: The Test BZZT BZZT! BZZT BZZT! Panic mixed with annoyance as the phone continued its pleas for attention. I never liked talking to people on the phone. You'd think it would be easier with phone interactions not being in person. But no. It was just as bad. And with what happened last night I was worried about who was trying to contact me. Was it my new employer? Is a child missing? Another parent complaint? Was I in trouble? “Prrau?” Aspen questioned why I had stopped our morning petting session. He purred against my head as he rested his front paws on my hair. I hadn't gotten up yet. To be honest it was hard to sleep last night. My run-in with Vanessa left a deep pit of dread in my chest. There was no sleeping with that. The buzzing stopped but now it was the only thing I could think about. I should look at that... But I don't want to... Aspen started a batch of biscuits in my hair. Encouraging me to stay put. However, job obligations were more important than my feelings about them. I stretched my fingers out to my bedside table. My fingertips swept around the surface until I found my phone. It buzzed one last time before I brought it up to my face. Number Unknown: 5 Messages Who was sending me texts? I had already saved the Pizzaplex's number in my contacts so who was this? I was a bit relieved that it wasn't my employer but now I was just confused. A mumbled sigh made Aspen shift his paw over one of my eyes. “Sorry, buddy,” I nudged his large appendage off of me, “but I gotta read this...” My cat was so appalled at the audacity that he jumped off the bed with a powerful bound and slunk away into the living room. Guess morning cuddles were over. Oh well... I pushed myself upright and sat against the wall and tapped on the notification. [HELLO MISS NAE NAE! THIS IS SUN.] [SO SORRY TO BOTHER YOU SO EARLY IN THE DAY. BUT I'M SURE YOU'LL LIKE THIS MESSAGE.] [BECAUSE YOU SO GENEROUSLY TOOK OVER CLOSING YESTERDAY YOU MAY COME IN LATER TODAY.] [1 PM] [I INSIST.] A lazy, “Huh?” floated out of my mouth. I rubbed my eyes in hopes of clearing up my blurred vision. Sun? Like, Mr. Sun? The animatronic?? They have phone numbers??? I knew that Fazbear Entertainment's technology was advanced, but I didn't expect this. Might as well call them walking-talking smartphones at this point. “Should I reply? Uh-” I mumbled to myself. I tapped on the blank text box at the bottom of my screen. The thin bar blinked slowly. Expecting the letters of my message to come at any moment. My finger hovered around the displayed keyboard. My mind went over many versions of similar phrases. Ultimately I went with a simple [Okay] and hit send. I barely had enough time to notice the 'unknown number is typing' text before my reply came. [THANK YOU! ENJOY YOUR MORNING.] Well, now I was more convinced that this was indeed Sun. Only an AI could type that fast. I added that number to my contacts and just sat there for a moment. What now? Maybe I could try again to get some sleep... … … I didn't end up sleeping. And on top of that, I ended up getting to work early anyway. 12 instead of 1. I was getting too nervous sitting at home, despite Aspen's efforts. So there I was, walking up the steps behind the golden Freddy statue. I tried my best to glance up at the cafe without making it too obvious. No Vanessa. Good... Dread's grip on my chest loosened just a hair. I don't make a habit of causing trouble. So I should be fine. Although, that would also depend on what the night guard considers 'getting in her way'. I just won't talk to her. Ever. Yeah, that'll do it. I rounded the corner into a wave of greetings. 'Hello!' 'HI TEACHER!' along with variations of the two slammed my eardrums into submission. Everyone was sitting at the tables in the check-out area. Lunches in different stages of disrepair. One of the more outgoing children got out of their chair to pat their hands on their hips and say, “Where were you, Miss Teacher?” in a tone they probably learned from their mother. “Mr. Sun asked me to come in late,” I explained before changing the subject to something my little friend could properly participate in, “What did you do today?” The little one exaggerated their mock disappointment for one last moment before transitioning to a big grin. “I got to see Freddy! And- and- I got the most points ever!” The seated children added more and more to the story all at once. I couldn't understand a word. It must have been really fun. “You all got to see Freddy?” the sadness in my voice was only slightly staged. I was looking forward to meeting the face of the franchise. “Ah, man. I missed it... You'll have to tell me all about it after lunch.” “Good to see you, Nae,” Cassandra paused her pacing routine around the children to greet me, “How are you? Did everything go well?” “Oh yeah! Mr. Nico had to leave sick, right?” Miss Mia handed a food pouch that she had opened back to its owner, “Did you have to close? I've never done it so I would have NO idea what to do.” She laughed sheepishly. Her poofy ponytails bounced and her bracelets clanged together rhythmically. “Yeah, I did close last night,” I adjusted my bag strap with both hands. My fingers trembled slightly despite my efforts, “I think it went okay... Mr. Moon helped me before he had to leave.” At least I didn't hear anything about last night yet. So I was assuming everything was okay. That thought was the only thing keeping me calm. Although, the expressions I received made me rethink everything... again. Both women stared at me. Eyes wide in astonishment. Even some children joined in. If only to mimic the adults they idolized. My shoulders hugged my neck and my eyes darted to the floor. Too many eyes on me. Mia was the first to speak up, “Moon... helped you?? I haven't heard anyone say that for months!” Her voice was more surprised than anything else. Cassandra's, however, was concerned, “What do you mean, 'had to leave'? It's not supposed to leave till all the children are gone. You were left alone?” She stepped closer to me. I swallowed down my panic. I had no control over what Moon did. And it sounded like he didn't either. It was Vanessa who demanded he leave. So why did I feel like I was in trouble? “I don't know...” my mind raced with a myriad of excuses, “I looked out the curtain one time and he was gone and never came back...” That was the best I could think of. I didn't dare mention Vanessa again. I didn't even want to think about her let alone get caught tattling on her. But it didn't feel good to throw Mr. Moon under the bus... “I didn't think Sun and Moon could leave,” Mia pondered, a hand on her chin, “Wow, you learn something new every day...” Cassandra attempted to put a hand on my shoulder. She retracted it when my reaction was flinching away. Her face had that 'I know something is going on' look. But all she said was, “Well, it turned out alright. Hopefully, it doesn't happen again.” “Y-yeah, it's okay...” I attempted a smile. They accepted it well enough. “I'm gonna go put my stuff away.” “See you in a bit~!” Mia waved me off. I wiggled a few fingers in response. My body nearly gave into the temptation to curl up into a ball once I went down the stairs. The crowd of people weaving around each other made that impossible. I would have to make do with gripping my bag tighter. I pulled my bag in front to lead me around the people. Like a plow through thick dirt, I trudged down the path to the doors. If I were less awkward about walking past people this would be so much easier. But no, I felt bad whenever I had to go through a group of people. I would rather wait till they moved than just scoot on by. If I did that every time I would never get anywhere. So using my bag as a kind of shield from it all helped. I lifted the knocker when the door began to open. Just a crack at first. Sun's eyes peeked through with stars displayed. I heard a snicker. If Sun's mouth could move, his smile would be wider. The sound of shuffling shoes and baby strollers behind me was beginning to grate on my nerves. I resisted the temptation to glance behind me. Oh, come on! just open the door... Sun's voice was coy, teasing, “Late for your first lesson, I see.” He opened the door a bit more to pop his sun rays out. “Lucky for you we had a delayed start today so you didn't miss anything~” , “Mr. Sun,” I hunched for a moment before correcting my posture, “Can I please come in? I uh-” “Oh no, no, no~” Sun giggled, “You have to pass the test first! Are you ready?” I really wasn't in the mood. Every moment I spent idling at the door made me feel more foolish. Exposed. Who was looking at me? Is it- No... Don't think about it. Don't think about it. “Y-yeah...” “Perfect! You'll do great. I just know it~” His rays spun methodically for a moment and he made a humming sound. “You are such a hard worker! You didn't have to come in for another hour, but here you are~ I love seeing that work ethic!” Sun displayed fireworks and other celebratory animations. The door opened a bit more to allow Sun to be fully visible. He directed his ever-present smile to me. Then he waited. Was that it? A compliment? A back-handed way to reprimand me for being early? How is this a test? “Uh...” I glanced around. Confusion evident on my face. People were looking at us. Why wouldn't they? This must have looked strange to any normal person. I nearly jumped out of my skin when I notice someone I thought was the night guard. “Oh deary me~” Sun's voice turned me back to attention. His head tilted whimsically, “You really do need practice. Don't worry, I'll give you a hint this time!” Sun leaned down to my eye level. His hands were on both doors to keep them open and to prevent me from getting in before the test was over. The letters 'T' and 'Y' blinked in his eyes. What?! I don't know! Uh... By now it felt like everyone was looking at us. I was too afraid to turn around and check. How do I get out of this? Um- uh- I couldn't grip my bag any tighter but my hands sure tried. I was one step away from crumpling into a puddle. Sun's eyes blinked with color for a moment and his rays twitched. He changed his tone, “It's 'thank you'. Say 'thank you'.” He prompted me to come inside with a light nudge and pull of my arms. “Th-th-thank you- Thank you-” I rushed into the play area and froze. My hands were at an odd angle. Still attached to Sun's grip. The animatronic was quick to remedy this and move into a more comfortable position for my limbs. The doors shut with a subtle click. The air I was holding finally escaped, making my lips rumble with an exasperated 'brr'. Glad that's over... My attempt to go back to business as usual was stopped by the robotic hands that held firm. Refusing to budge even after a couple of tugs. Mr. Sun's eyes blinked with more color. His head clicked and the rays shrank. I heard his knees creek as they bent to lower their host. The noise concluded with a clack once Sun was at eye level with me. “Is everything alright, Miss Nae-nae?” Sun displayed question marks, his tone quiet and concerned. “Would you like to breathe with me?” I had forgotten how big this robot's face was. With it this close... it was almost scary. My heart was beating fast and my hands felt sweaty. But I was okay. At least I thought I was doing okay so far today. However, I nodded my head at Sun's suggestion anyway. If only to see his calm down routine again. The humming of little motors issued in the soft swaying of Sun's head. I allowed my eyes to get lost in the mesmerizing ebb and flow of the animations he displayed. I made no effort to breathe with the prompts. I simply enjoyed watching. The way every movement synced with the rhythm was entrancing. The soft clicks and taps of clockwork became a percussive yet soothing song. My intense focus made everything else seem insignificant. Then it was over. Sun stood up to his full height, his eyes smiling, “Better?” “Yeah,” I blinked at the sudden transition to reality. I could see imprints of the projections on the backs of my eyelids. “Much better. Thank you.” The death grip on my chest was gone and my neck and shoulders relaxed. I was more tense than I realized. “You're welcome~” Sun clapped my hands together and returned them to me with a playful pat. “Now, would you mind telling me what's got you so... frazzle dazzled?” He emphasized that by flicking out his fingers to mimic sparks and his eyes rolled in a cartoonish fashion. The loop of my apron was halfway over my head by now. I bought myself some time by humming in thought. The dread threatened to take over again. I couldn't tell him what actually happened. That would lead to a report and in turn to Vanessa finding out. And I flat out didn't want to think about what she would do if that happened. I couldn't even mention it to anyone while at work. 'If it's seen on the cameras, they report it.' I could almost hear Vanessa's snarl as I remembered her words. I repositioned my bag and tied the back of my uniform. More of a distraction to keep the nerves away. Once I was done I hadn't thought of what to say. Mr. Sun was contently waiting for me, his fingers forming a triangle shape. My humming had long since stopped. No more delaying. I had to think of something now. Come on brain. Work your magic... Any time now.... uh... Sun tilted his head. The irises displayed were stagnant. His body language was still and hesitant. He didn't know what to say in my silence. Eventually, Sun's eyes blinked. I could see red for a frame or two of the animation. “Moon says he is sorry for leaving you alone last night.” A wave of relief nearly toppled me over. Thank you, Mr. Moon! This was the perfect excuse. And it wouldn't even be a lie! “Y-yeah...” I grabbed my bag strap and hunched a bit, “I was just worried that one of the kids went home with the wrong person. I didn't see them get dropped off and the computers were too far away to check anything. I stayed up all night thinking I would get an angry call about a kid going missing and-” I huffed out a sigh. Overselling this as the real problem was turning it into a rant. “But, uh... yeah. I was just being a worry wort. I didn't want you to think I was mad...” “You did a fantastic job, don't you worry!” Sun nodded his head with a robotic spring in his step, “I didn't like the idea. Not one bit! But we are obligated to follow the head of security's orders.” He leaned over in a cutesy manner, pointing to his head, “We kept an eye on the cameras. Everyone got home safely~” “Oh, good...” My grip loosened. I should put my bag away, shouldn't I? “That makes me feel better.” My bag slipped into position with a light thud. Right next to the stack of papers I received yesterday and- the moondrops. Right, I should pocket some of these. Just in case. While grabbing a hand full I twitched at the sound of shrieking coming from above us. “That sounds like Suzie,” Sun had directed his gaze to the check-in area. The rays took turns retracting in a circular motion. This concluded with a chime, “Confirmed, it is little Suzie. She's late today.” The crying got louder and louder. I could barely hear the children's footsteps as they returned down the stairs. A muffled tap on the door snuck into my ears while the screaming was at its peak. Sun pushed the button, adding a gentle nudge to get the doors moving faster. Miss Cassandra ushered in the group and helped with their shoes. Miss Mia had a little girl tugging and yanking her arm. Both of them didn't say a word. Not that anyone would be able to hear anything over Suzie's wailing. But I knew the looks on their faces. The expression when that 'special friend' arrived. And by special I mean they require a special kind of patience. So this was a normal arrival for poor little Suzie. The little ball of tears slipped out of Mia's grip and attempted to dash out the door before it closed. Only to be thwarted by a pair of metal hands picking her up kicking and screaming. “Oh, no no no, Suzie~” Sun carried her further into the play area. “It's not safe to leave the daycare by yourself.” The little one only screamed louder. It was hard to understand her but I could make out phrases like 'put me down' and 'I hate you'. The other children didn't pay her much attention. They did go to the opposite side of the jungle gyms, however. Maybe to deafen the sounds of Suzie's fit. Although, the high ceilings echoed the sounds quite effectively. So I wasn't too sure if that would help at all. My coworkers went with the children. Leaving Mr. Sun to deal with the tantrum. The little one kicked and punch him where ever she could reach. Sun continued to speak calmly and his grip never wavered. This may have been standard procedure. To let the animatronic get beat up instead of the human employees. He seemed more than capable of handling it. But I felt bad leaving Sun alone with that. Mr. Sun swayed and danced around with Suzie who was less than pleased. He tried his calm down routine, which ended with his eyes being slapped several times. The robotic caretaker cycled through several different techniques, all of which proved to be a waste of time. After what seemed like hours she stopped screaming. Either because she was tired or she realized it wasn't getting her what she wanted. “Are you ready to play now, superstar?” Sun prompted with a gentle pat of her head. The response was a pout and a shake of her head. “Would you like to go to the quiet corner?” I meekly suggested. That very well could have been what she needed. It was the only thing that wasn't tried yet. I was confused at first why Mr. Sun hadn't suggested it until I remembered it's dark in there. Moon's domain. But it was mine as well. “Yeah...” Suzie mumbled. “That is a wonderful idea!” Mr. Sun lowered the little girl down to the ground. His arms shook slightly. Stiff from maintaining the pressure to keep Suzie still. “The quiet corner is the perfect place~” Sun directed his face to me, his rays attempted to spin but one of them seemed to be jammed out of place. I reached up to jostle it back into position but stopped myself. I didn't want to make it worse. “Here, hold my hand,” My fingers wrapped around Suzie's little hand. Together we made our way to the curtains. I glanced back at Sun to see him crumble slightly. Whether it was in relief or exhaustion I couldn't tell. I was more than happy to give the jester a break. That's what coworkers are for. There's no way one person could do all of this on their own. Even if they were made of metal and wires. Plus, I could use the distraction right now.

Description
In this chapter there are mental meltdowns. From more than one person, oddly enough. haha

You can read the written portion here:
Working at the Superstar Daycare CH 23Chapter 23: The Test BZZT BZZT! BZZT BZZT! Panic mixed with annoyance as the phone continued its pleas for attention. I never liked talking to people on the phone. You'd think it would be easier with phone interactions not being in person. But no. It was just as bad. And with what happened last night I was worried about who was trying to contact me. Was it my new employer? Is a child missing? Another parent complaint? Was I in trouble? “Prrau?” Aspen questioned why I had stopped our morning petting session. He purred against my head as he rested his front paws on my hair. I hadn't gotten up yet. To be honest it was hard to sleep last night. My run-in with Vanessa left a deep pit of dread in my chest. There was no sleeping with that. The buzzing stopped but now it was the only thing I could think about. I should look at that... But I don't want to... Aspen started a batch of biscuits in my hair. Encouraging me to stay put. However, job obligations were more important than my feelings about them. I stretched my fingers out to my bedside table. My fingertips swept around the surface until I found my phone. It buzzed one last time before I brought it up to my face. Number Unknown: 5 Messages Who was sending me texts? I had already saved the Pizzaplex's number in my contacts so who was this? I was a bit relieved that it wasn't my employer but now I was just confused. A mumbled sigh made Aspen shift his paw over one of my eyes. “Sorry, buddy,” I nudged his large appendage off of me, “but I gotta read this...” My cat was so appalled at the audacity that he jumped off the bed with a powerful bound and slunk away into the living room. Guess morning cuddles were over. Oh well... I pushed myself upright and sat against the wall and tapped on the notification. [HELLO MISS NAE NAE! THIS IS SUN.] [SO SORRY TO BOTHER YOU SO EARLY IN THE DAY. BUT I'M SURE YOU'LL LIKE THIS MESSAGE.] [BECAUSE YOU SO GENEROUSLY TOOK OVER CLOSING YESTERDAY YOU MAY COME IN LATER TODAY.] [1 PM] [I INSIST.] A lazy, “Huh?” floated out of my mouth. I rubbed my eyes in hopes of clearing up my blurred vision. Sun? Like, Mr. Sun? The animatronic?? They have phone numbers??? I knew that Fazbear Entertainment's technology was advanced, but I didn't expect this. Might as well call them walking-talking smartphones at this point. “Should I reply? Uh-” I mumbled to myself. I tapped on the blank text box at the bottom of my screen. The thin bar blinked slowly. Expecting the letters of my message to come at any moment. My finger hovered around the displayed keyboard. My mind went over many versions of similar phrases. Ultimately I went with a simple [Okay] and hit send. I barely had enough time to notice the 'unknown number is typing' text before my reply came. [THANK YOU! ENJOY YOUR MORNING.] Well, now I was more convinced that this was indeed Sun. Only an AI could type that fast. I added that number to my contacts and just sat there for a moment. What now? Maybe I could try again to get some sleep... … … I didn't end up sleeping. And on top of that, I ended up getting to work early anyway. 12 instead of 1. I was getting too nervous sitting at home, despite Aspen's efforts. So there I was, walking up the steps behind the golden Freddy statue. I tried my best to glance up at the cafe without making it too obvious. No Vanessa. Good... Dread's grip on my chest loosened just a hair. I don't make a habit of causing trouble. So I should be fine. Although, that would also depend on what the night guard considers 'getting in her way'. I just won't talk to her. Ever. Yeah, that'll do it. I rounded the corner into a wave of greetings. 'Hello!' 'HI TEACHER!' along with variations of the two slammed my eardrums into submission. Everyone was sitting at the tables in the check-out area. Lunches in different stages of disrepair. One of the more outgoing children got out of their chair to pat their hands on their hips and say, “Where were you, Miss Teacher?” in a tone they probably learned from their mother. “Mr. Sun asked me to come in late,” I explained before changing the subject to something my little friend could properly participate in, “What did you do today?” The little one exaggerated their mock disappointment for one last moment before transitioning to a big grin. “I got to see Freddy! And- and- I got the most points ever!” The seated children added more and more to the story all at once. I couldn't understand a word. It must have been really fun. “You all got to see Freddy?” the sadness in my voice was only slightly staged. I was looking forward to meeting the face of the franchise. “Ah, man. I missed it... You'll have to tell me all about it after lunch.” “Good to see you, Nae,” Cassandra paused her pacing routine around the children to greet me, “How are you? Did everything go well?” “Oh yeah! Mr. Nico had to leave sick, right?” Miss Mia handed a food pouch that she had opened back to its owner, “Did you have to close? I've never done it so I would have NO idea what to do.” She laughed sheepishly. Her poofy ponytails bounced and her bracelets clanged together rhythmically. “Yeah, I did close last night,” I adjusted my bag strap with both hands. My fingers trembled slightly despite my efforts, “I think it went okay... Mr. Moon helped me before he had to leave.” At least I didn't hear anything about last night yet. So I was assuming everything was okay. That thought was the only thing keeping me calm. Although, the expressions I received made me rethink everything... again. Both women stared at me. Eyes wide in astonishment. Even some children joined in. If only to mimic the adults they idolized. My shoulders hugged my neck and my eyes darted to the floor. Too many eyes on me. Mia was the first to speak up, “Moon... helped you?? I haven't heard anyone say that for months!” Her voice was more surprised than anything else. Cassandra's, however, was concerned, “What do you mean, 'had to leave'? It's not supposed to leave till all the children are gone. You were left alone?” She stepped closer to me. I swallowed down my panic. I had no control over what Moon did. And it sounded like he didn't either. It was Vanessa who demanded he leave. So why did I feel like I was in trouble? “I don't know...” my mind raced with a myriad of excuses, “I looked out the curtain one time and he was gone and never came back...” That was the best I could think of. I didn't dare mention Vanessa again. I didn't even want to think about her let alone get caught tattling on her. But it didn't feel good to throw Mr. Moon under the bus... “I didn't think Sun and Moon could leave,” Mia pondered, a hand on her chin, “Wow, you learn something new every day...” Cassandra attempted to put a hand on my shoulder. She retracted it when my reaction was flinching away. Her face had that 'I know something is going on' look. But all she said was, “Well, it turned out alright. Hopefully, it doesn't happen again.” “Y-yeah, it's okay...” I attempted a smile. They accepted it well enough. “I'm gonna go put my stuff away.” “See you in a bit~!” Mia waved me off. I wiggled a few fingers in response. My body nearly gave into the temptation to curl up into a ball once I went down the stairs. The crowd of people weaving around each other made that impossible. I would have to make do with gripping my bag tighter. I pulled my bag in front to lead me around the people. Like a plow through thick dirt, I trudged down the path to the doors. If I were less awkward about walking past people this would be so much easier. But no, I felt bad whenever I had to go through a group of people. I would rather wait till they moved than just scoot on by. If I did that every time I would never get anywhere. So using my bag as a kind of shield from it all helped. I lifted the knocker when the door began to open. Just a crack at first. Sun's eyes peeked through with stars displayed. I heard a snicker. If Sun's mouth could move, his smile would be wider. The sound of shuffling shoes and baby strollers behind me was beginning to grate on my nerves. I resisted the temptation to glance behind me. Oh, come on! just open the door... Sun's voice was coy, teasing, “Late for your first lesson, I see.” He opened the door a bit more to pop his sun rays out. “Lucky for you we had a delayed start today so you didn't miss anything~” , “Mr. Sun,” I hunched for a moment before correcting my posture, “Can I please come in? I uh-” “Oh no, no, no~” Sun giggled, “You have to pass the test first! Are you ready?” I really wasn't in the mood. Every moment I spent idling at the door made me feel more foolish. Exposed. Who was looking at me? Is it- No... Don't think about it. Don't think about it. “Y-yeah...” “Perfect! You'll do great. I just know it~” His rays spun methodically for a moment and he made a humming sound. “You are such a hard worker! You didn't have to come in for another hour, but here you are~ I love seeing that work ethic!” Sun displayed fireworks and other celebratory animations. The door opened a bit more to allow Sun to be fully visible. He directed his ever-present smile to me. Then he waited. Was that it? A compliment? A back-handed way to reprimand me for being early? How is this a test? “Uh...” I glanced around. Confusion evident on my face. People were looking at us. Why wouldn't they? This must have looked strange to any normal person. I nearly jumped out of my skin when I notice someone I thought was the night guard. “Oh deary me~” Sun's voice turned me back to attention. His head tilted whimsically, “You really do need practice. Don't worry, I'll give you a hint this time!” Sun leaned down to my eye level. His hands were on both doors to keep them open and to prevent me from getting in before the test was over. The letters 'T' and 'Y' blinked in his eyes. What?! I don't know! Uh... By now it felt like everyone was looking at us. I was too afraid to turn around and check. How do I get out of this? Um- uh- I couldn't grip my bag any tighter but my hands sure tried. I was one step away from crumpling into a puddle. Sun's eyes blinked with color for a moment and his rays twitched. He changed his tone, “It's 'thank you'. Say 'thank you'.” He prompted me to come inside with a light nudge and pull of my arms. “Th-th-thank you- Thank you-” I rushed into the play area and froze. My hands were at an odd angle. Still attached to Sun's grip. The animatronic was quick to remedy this and move into a more comfortable position for my limbs. The doors shut with a subtle click. The air I was holding finally escaped, making my lips rumble with an exasperated 'brr'. Glad that's over... My attempt to go back to business as usual was stopped by the robotic hands that held firm. Refusing to budge even after a couple of tugs. Mr. Sun's eyes blinked with more color. His head clicked and the rays shrank. I heard his knees creek as they bent to lower their host. The noise concluded with a clack once Sun was at eye level with me. “Is everything alright, Miss Nae-nae?” Sun displayed question marks, his tone quiet and concerned. “Would you like to breathe with me?” I had forgotten how big this robot's face was. With it this close... it was almost scary. My heart was beating fast and my hands felt sweaty. But I was okay. At least I thought I was doing okay so far today. However, I nodded my head at Sun's suggestion anyway. If only to see his calm down routine again. The humming of little motors issued in the soft swaying of Sun's head. I allowed my eyes to get lost in the mesmerizing ebb and flow of the animations he displayed. I made no effort to breathe with the prompts. I simply enjoyed watching. The way every movement synced with the rhythm was entrancing. The soft clicks and taps of clockwork became a percussive yet soothing song. My intense focus made everything else seem insignificant. Then it was over. Sun stood up to his full height, his eyes smiling, “Better?” “Yeah,” I blinked at the sudden transition to reality. I could see imprints of the projections on the backs of my eyelids. “Much better. Thank you.” The death grip on my chest was gone and my neck and shoulders relaxed. I was more tense than I realized. “You're welcome~” Sun clapped my hands together and returned them to me with a playful pat. “Now, would you mind telling me what's got you so... frazzle dazzled?” He emphasized that by flicking out his fingers to mimic sparks and his eyes rolled in a cartoonish fashion. The loop of my apron was halfway over my head by now. I bought myself some time by humming in thought. The dread threatened to take over again. I couldn't tell him what actually happened. That would lead to a report and in turn to Vanessa finding out. And I flat out didn't want to think about what she would do if that happened. I couldn't even mention it to anyone while at work. 'If it's seen on the cameras, they report it.' I could almost hear Vanessa's snarl as I remembered her words. I repositioned my bag and tied the back of my uniform. More of a distraction to keep the nerves away. Once I was done I hadn't thought of what to say. Mr. Sun was contently waiting for me, his fingers forming a triangle shape. My humming had long since stopped. No more delaying. I had to think of something now. Come on brain. Work your magic... Any time now.... uh... Sun tilted his head. The irises displayed were stagnant. His body language was still and hesitant. He didn't know what to say in my silence. Eventually, Sun's eyes blinked. I could see red for a frame or two of the animation. “Moon says he is sorry for leaving you alone last night.” A wave of relief nearly toppled me over. Thank you, Mr. Moon! This was the perfect excuse. And it wouldn't even be a lie! “Y-yeah...” I grabbed my bag strap and hunched a bit, “I was just worried that one of the kids went home with the wrong person. I didn't see them get dropped off and the computers were too far away to check anything. I stayed up all night thinking I would get an angry call about a kid going missing and-” I huffed out a sigh. Overselling this as the real problem was turning it into a rant. “But, uh... yeah. I was just being a worry wort. I didn't want you to think I was mad...” “You did a fantastic job, don't you worry!” Sun nodded his head with a robotic spring in his step, “I didn't like the idea. Not one bit! But we are obligated to follow the head of security's orders.” He leaned over in a cutesy manner, pointing to his head, “We kept an eye on the cameras. Everyone got home safely~” “Oh, good...” My grip loosened. I should put my bag away, shouldn't I? “That makes me feel better.” My bag slipped into position with a light thud. Right next to the stack of papers I received yesterday and- the moondrops. Right, I should pocket some of these. Just in case. While grabbing a hand full I twitched at the sound of shrieking coming from above us. “That sounds like Suzie,” Sun had directed his gaze to the check-in area. The rays took turns retracting in a circular motion. This concluded with a chime, “Confirmed, it is little Suzie. She's late today.” The crying got louder and louder. I could barely hear the children's footsteps as they returned down the stairs. A muffled tap on the door snuck into my ears while the screaming was at its peak. Sun pushed the button, adding a gentle nudge to get the doors moving faster. Miss Cassandra ushered in the group and helped with their shoes. Miss Mia had a little girl tugging and yanking her arm. Both of them didn't say a word. Not that anyone would be able to hear anything over Suzie's wailing. But I knew the looks on their faces. The expression when that 'special friend' arrived. And by special I mean they require a special kind of patience. So this was a normal arrival for poor little Suzie. The little ball of tears slipped out of Mia's grip and attempted to dash out the door before it closed. Only to be thwarted by a pair of metal hands picking her up kicking and screaming. “Oh, no no no, Suzie~” Sun carried her further into the play area. “It's not safe to leave the daycare by yourself.” The little one only screamed louder. It was hard to understand her but I could make out phrases like 'put me down' and 'I hate you'. The other children didn't pay her much attention. They did go to the opposite side of the jungle gyms, however. Maybe to deafen the sounds of Suzie's fit. Although, the high ceilings echoed the sounds quite effectively. So I wasn't too sure if that would help at all. My coworkers went with the children. Leaving Mr. Sun to deal with the tantrum. The little one kicked and punch him where ever she could reach. Sun continued to speak calmly and his grip never wavered. This may have been standard procedure. To let the animatronic get beat up instead of the human employees. He seemed more than capable of handling it. But I felt bad leaving Sun alone with that. Mr. Sun swayed and danced around with Suzie who was less than pleased. He tried his calm down routine, which ended with his eyes being slapped several times. The robotic caretaker cycled through several different techniques, all of which proved to be a waste of time. After what seemed like hours she stopped screaming. Either because she was tired or she realized it wasn't getting her what she wanted. “Are you ready to play now, superstar?” Sun prompted with a gentle pat of her head. The response was a pout and a shake of her head. “Would you like to go to the quiet corner?” I meekly suggested. That very well could have been what she needed. It was the only thing that wasn't tried yet. I was confused at first why Mr. Sun hadn't suggested it until I remembered it's dark in there. Moon's domain. But it was mine as well. “Yeah...” Suzie mumbled. “That is a wonderful idea!” Mr. Sun lowered the little girl down to the ground. His arms shook slightly. Stiff from maintaining the pressure to keep Suzie still. “The quiet corner is the perfect place~” Sun directed his face to me, his rays attempted to spin but one of them seemed to be jammed out of place. I reached up to jostle it back into position but stopped myself. I didn't want to make it worse. “Here, hold my hand,” My fingers wrapped around Suzie's little hand. Together we made our way to the curtains. I glanced back at Sun to see him crumble slightly. Whether it was in relief or exhaustion I couldn't tell. I was more than happy to give the jester a break. That's what coworkers are for. There's no way one person could do all of this on their own. Even if they were made of metal and wires. Plus, I could use the distraction right now.