Read The Nanny Diaries for Free Online Page B

and Mrs. X, her neighbor, andthedoorman all step out.
    "Nanny? Naaanny, I don't want your surprise. So go away. Really, really, go, get out of here." Well, at least we've all been updated. With a few "ahems" the neighbor lets herself into her apartment and the doormanhandsoffthepackagehe's beencarrying anddisappearsbackintotheelevator.
    I holdupGrayer's shoe.
    Asif for astudioaudience,Mrs. Xwhipsouther keys andproceedstoremedythesituation. "Well,then.
    Let's get this door open!" She laughs and unlocks the door. But she swings it open a little too quickly andcatchesoneof Grayer's fingers.
    "AHHhhhhhh.Nannybroke my hand!AAAAAHhhhhh. y hand is broke. Get out of HEERRrrreeee!
    GooOOOOoooo!"Hethrowshimself ontothefloor,sobbing,lostingrief.
    Mrs. X bendsdown,asif abouttoholdhim,thenstraightensup.
    "Well, looks like you really tuckered him out at the park! You can go on ahead. I'm sure you have a ton

    of homework to do. We'll see you Monday,then?" I reachcarefully inside thedoorway and put his shoe
    downinexchangeformybackpack.
    I clearmythroat. "Hejustthrewhis shoeandI?,
    At the sound of my voice Grayer lets out a fresh wail. "LEEAAAVVE!Ahhahhha."She stares down at

    him as he writhes on the floor, smiles broadly, and pantomimes that I should get the elevator. "Oh, and

    Nanny,C-a-i-t-l-i-n won't bereturning,butI'm sureyouhavethehangof everything bynow."
    I close their door and am alone again in the now familiar vestibule. I wait for the elevator and listen to
    Grayer scream. I feelasthoughthewholeworldisstickingits tongueoutatme.

    "Keep yournoseoutof it,NannyDrew."Myfatherslurpsthelastdropsof his wontonsoup. "You never
    know. MaybethisCaitlin hadanotherjob linedup."
    "I didn't reallyget thatsense..."
    "You likethekid?"

    "Minusthelocking-me-outpart. eah,okay."
    "So, then, you're not marrying these people. You're just working there. hat?. ifteen hours a week?"
    Thewaiter places aplateof fortunecookiesbetweenusandtakesthecheck.

    THE NANNY DIARIES
    "Twelve." I reachfor a cookie.
    "Right. Sodon't getyourknickersin a twist."
    "ButwhatdoI doaboutGrayer?"
    "They're always a little slow to warm up at first," he says, speaking from eighteen years of experience

    asanEnglishteacher. Hegrabs acookieandtakesmyhand. "Come on,let's walkandtalk.Sophiewon't be able to keep her legs crossed much longer." We weave out of the restaurant and head over to West EndAvenue.
    I putmyarm throughhis asheslipshis handsintohis blazerpockets.
    "Glinda-the-Good-Witchhim," hesays,chewinghis cookiethoughtfully.
    "Caretoelaborate?"
    Heshootsme a look."I wasfinishingmycookie.Areyoupayingattention?"
    "Yes."
    "Because this is good stuff." 1 stand, waiting, with my arms crossed. "In essence, you are Glinda. You

    are lightand clarity and fun. He is an inanimateobject, a toaster who happensto have a tonguehanging out. If he goes too far again.'m talking the door-locking routine, physical violence, or anything that putshimindanger. ABOOM!WickedWitchof theWest!Twopointfourseconds. ouswoopdown in front of his face and hiss that he must never do that again. ver. It is not okay. And then, before he canbataneyelash, backtoGlinda.You lethimknowhecanhavefeelings,butthatthereare boundaries.
    And that you'll let him know when he has pushed too far. Trust me, he'll be relieved. Now, wait here while 1get theSophster."
    He disappears into our lobby and I look up between the buildings to the orange sky above. Within minutes Sophie bursts through the front door, pulling the leash in his hand taut as she waggles over, smiling up at me as she always does. I crouch down, wrapping my arms around her neck, and burrow myheadinher brownandwhitefur.
    "I'll walkher,Dad."I give him a hugandtaketheleash. "It'll begoodtobearoundsomeoneunderthree feetwho doesn't talkback."
    "Andwhoonlysticksouther tongueforbiologicalnecessity!" hecalls after me.
    I stand on the sidewalk outside Grayer's school on the following Monday. I'm ten minutes early, as per Mrs. X's strict instructions, so I flip through