"Madame, she’s here." said by the maid who accompanied me to enter this house, or I can say mansion to be exact.

"Are you the one who was referred to by Sarah?" asked the woman in front of me.

"Yes, it’s me." I answered politely.

I am here in the number one village in the town where the richest families in town reside. My neighbor, Aunt Sarah, asked me a favor. She is unable to complete this task due to changes in her schedule for her other job. We live in the poorest village in town. Most residents of that village have multiple jobs or some are still unemployed.

I was amused by the interior of her house. I can tell that she is one of the richest families just by looking at her house. There’s a grand staircase and a glimmering chandelier hanging on the roof. It looked like I was in the setting of some fairytale. I looked like a dirty rug inside of this house. I am wearing old sweatpants and a black shirt with some weird print on the front.

"Take your seat and wait for me here." "Oh, before I forget, my bad, my name is Denny, and I have two children, one boy and one girl, and, of course, a husband. "She introduced herself and her family, who were out of sight. Then she reaches her hands out to me. Even her laugh sounded expensive.

I thought she still doesn’t have a husband. She looks young and single. I cannot believe that she is a mother of two.

"Nice meeting you, Madame Denny. I am Alexa." I was hesitating to hold her hand for a shake. Her hand looks so smooth and soft. I think it is rude for me to hold it with my rough hand.

“Don’t need to call me Madame, Denny is enough. I always told our maid to call me Denny and not Madame, but they are all stubborn, so please just for once, let someone listen to me, okay? " I nodded my head even though I’m not sure if it is okay to call her by her name. She then grabbed my hand and if I'm not mistaken, her hand is smooth and soft.

"But can I call you Miss?" I don’t really like it when I don’t use some honorifics.

“If that’s what you want, I don’t mind it, but please don’t call me madame. Wait for me here, okay? " I nodded to her and she went to wherever she was going.

I can’t stop myself from being amazed at her house. I can say that this house is one of the dreams of everybody who’s still striving for their life, but not for me. I don’t need a house like this. I just need a simple one that can protect us from the sun and rain. That will keep us warm and safe. What is more important to me is my mother and aunty. I want them to have a good life and they will be free from the stress of their work, whatever it is.

"Who are you?" I was back to reality when a small hand touched my arm. I didn’t notice this little kid beside me.

"Uhm, I am Alexa." I stammered. I don’t know how I will talk to her. I am not used to talking to small girls like her. I am afraid that I will just get hurt from the tone of my voice. I don’t like to change my tone and voice for kids.

"Hi Alexa! I am Lily. Is my uniform pretty? " She asked me and then she twirled in front of me to showcase her uniform.

"Yeah, it’s pretty." She smiled brightly at me and it warmed my heart.

"Thank you, Alexa!" She almost embraced me, but her mother caught us.

"Lily? What are you doing there? " Denny asked her daughter. I think she’s mad because her daughter talked to someone like me and she even held me.

I remembered one day at the restaurant. I encountered a woman with her daughter. The little girl talks to me when I’m about to ask for their order. Her mother was busy talking on her phone. The kid is friendly, and I don’t have a choice but to approach her. She’s a customer, after all. But when her mother was done, she was shocked to see us. She took her daughter away from me like I was a sick person. She yelled at me with hurtful words. I glared at her but she got angrier and she started pushing my head with her fingers. I still remember those insults she said to me. All the staff gathered to stop the commotion. If it isn’t for Miss Carmi and for the sake of the diner, I will talk back to that woman. That is the reason why I hated kids.

"I’m just asking Alexa if my uniform looks pretty, and she said yes." She answered her mother.

"Sorry Alexa, is my daughter bothering you?" She asked with a concern.

I was confused about what she asked. Isn’t she going to scold me for talking to her daughter?

"Don’t worry, I am not mad at you for talking to her." I’m just worried if she’s bothering you. She’s very friendly, even if it's a stranger and sometimes people tend to be pissed off. " She explained Maybe she read my facial expression.

"No, she doesn’t bother me in any way." Lily makes her way to me and holds my hand. I looked down and smiled at her.

"Alright, this is Nana, our cute Pomeranian dog." She introduced me to their white dog. I don’t want kids, but I also don’t like animals. "You have to walk her out to get exercise and a breath of fresh air. I have work to do. That’s why I don't have time for this because I am the one who usually takes her for a walk. "

"Will that be okay with you?" she asked me, and I nodded.

"Yes, that’s definitely okay with me." I don’t have a choice but to follow her instructions though.

"Alright, let’s have some coffee first before anything." She gave Nana to one of their maids.

"Come on, Lily, lead her the way to the dining area." Her daughter obeys her immediately. She tried to pull me, but I was rooted to where I was standing.

"It is okay, I already had my breakfast before coming here." I don’t think it is a good idea to have their breakfast with me. They may lose their appetite.

Don’t be like that. It is my order. If you refuse, I will cut your salary by fifty percent. " She hooks her arms around my left arm while her daughter is holding my right hand.

I think I don’t have a choice anymore. They both dragged me to their dining area.

I was in awe again. This isn’t a typical dining area; it looks like a famous restaurant.

"Good morning, honey." She let go of me and went straight to her husband. Even Lily goes to her chair to settle down. I saw her brother looking so bored.

"Guys, this is Alexa. She’s the one Sarah talks about." She’s the one who will walk Nana outside.

"Hi Alexa, I’m Conrad, Denny’s husband.” He’s smiling, but the authority is radiating from him. "And this is our son Dominic." He introduces their son, which I think is a grumpy one.

It’s nice to meet you today, Sir and Dominic." The boy just glared at me.

"Sit here beside Dominic, Alexa." I was still hesitating to take a seat, but she pulled me in.

Their maids started to put different foods on the table. They have lots of foods to choose from, unlike me. When I left earlier, I just sipped my coffee. I need to save money for emergencies. I hope not, but I’ll never know if something bad will happen to me, to my mother, or even to Aunty. And even if it's not for emergencies, I still need to save money. We’re not rich after all.

"I don’t like anything; I don’t like to eat." The boy next to me starts to throw a tantrum.

"Dominic, eat something." You’re going to school; you need to fill your stomach. " His mother puts some eggs and bacon on his plate, but he just ignores it.

His father tried to persuade him, but he never listened. Her sister continues eating her food and never minding her brother's complaints. I don’t get this boy. There are lots of kids out there who complain not because they don’t like their food but because they don’t have it to eat.

I looked down at him. I just stared at him. I want him to feel some authority over me. That is just like what I am doing to every child that I encounter. When I start a staring contest with a child, I never lose. He turned his gaze to his plate and stared at his food in a matter of seconds, and he later began picking his foods.

I looked at his parents to see if they saw me glaring at their son. My guess is right. They are both looking at me. I waited for them to scold me but I just received their warm smile and Miss Denny mouthed me ‘thank you’.

___
"Hey Nana, do you know how lucky you are?" I asked this clueless dog.

We stopped for a while. I sat down on the street gutter. I think it is not easy to walk a dog. I need extra strength for this. She’s just a small one, but her strength is unbelievable.

"You are showered with love even if you’re just a dog, but I know for them you’re not just a dog." You have a lovely and caring mother, right? "Even if she’s not a real one. She looked at me and moved her head.

“Don’t look at me. You look like you’re pitying me." Why does this dog have the things that I don’t have? How stupid am I to be envied with a dog?

"What’s wrong with you?" She stands up and perks her ears up.

"Don’t you dare run!" but she runs at full speed with her leash.

"Nana! Come back here! " I ran after her while shouting out her name.

This is my first day at this job and probably my last. I’m so dead. That dog is very important to them, and I just let her go. A file case will be waiting for me when I come back to their house.

"Nana!" Now I know why I hated animals, especially dogs. Why do they run so fast?

"Hey Nana, what are you doing here? Where’s Aunty Sarah? " I heard from somewhere.

"Nana!" I ran as fast as I could to get her. I tried to grab her leash, but someone snatched it from me.

I looked up at the man I caught talking to Nana, "Of all the people, why you?" This isn’t a good day.

"Maybe we’re meant for each other." I rolled my eyes and tried to get the leash from him.

"Try and get it!"