I loved the childhood

very special for me. In my last job, I took care of the seven-year-old boy until he was pre-adolescent, when the family dismissed me because they no longer needed me. During brief periods of inactivity I stayed in cheap boarding houses, but even if they were cheap, I needed work to pay for them. So, I practically accepted any job, even if it was far or even if it was difficult. — Okay, let's go in, Maria Eduarda — he said, turning his back on me and returning to the mansion. — I'm Samuel, the butler.

The house had a butler! I was speechless, not only because it was the first time I had met a butler, but it was the first time I had entered such a mansion. For starters, the place was old. It had the look of a rustic castle, with several portraits on the wall. The entrance hall was high, and right above our heads, a bright chandelier gave enough light for me to see a huge staircase in the background that led to a richly decorated second floor. I followed the butler deeper. We entered a spacious room with a fireplace, but it all happened very quickly and I couldn't get a good look at her. Soon the butler guided me to a hallway. There were small benches in this hallway, and Samuel told me to sit on one of them. — Wait, I'll announce it to Mr. Figueiredo. He disappeared, heading towards one of the rooms. I imagined it was an office. I lost my breath for a few moments, I didn't know anything about the house, nor about this Figueiredo guy, and I thought I should have prepared myself better for this interview. Frankly, I didn't fit in with this place. Not with my loud orange gypsy skirt and my comfortable black pajamas. As the place was very far away, I had to take several buses to get there and walk a bit more, so I dressed as comfortably as I could. I even wanted to put on jeans, but I didn't have any clean ones. Plus, I thought it was just another lower middle class family needing a babysitter while the parents work. Not that it was a place in a castle! Nobody commented anything special on SINE. I hear footsteps. I turn my face to Samuel and he extends his hand towards the door, a clear indication for me to enter. I straightened my skirt as best I could, as well as my hair, which was disheveled and frizzy from the wind I caught outside. I took a deep breath and started walking towards the door. I entered. That's when my eyes noticed a man in his early thirties, with brown hair and blue eyes, sitting behind a huge wooden desk. He got up. It was tall. But, not a giant. He was discreetly handsome, but nothing that made him stand out as a model or actor. — Good morning, I'm Otávio — he extended his hand to me with simple politeness and I hurried to accept it. — Maria Eduarda Fiuza, Mr. Figueiredo. — Only Otávio, please — he asked, smiling at my greeting. His teeth were so white and straight that I smiled in return just because that was how my body reacted. It was as if his smile awakened something very strong and beautiful in me, which I wasn't used to feeling. — Did you bring your CV? “Yes, sir,” I say, rushing the paper through his fingers. He smiled again. My heart missed beats and I know I blushed. — Please sit down — he indicated a chair in front of the desk. When he sat behind the desk, he reclined in the armchair, reading the paper. — He has a lot of experience, apparently. - Yes sir. I have been taking care of children for years. — And do you have any qualifications in the area? Pedagogy or maybe something in health? Nursing technician or something? How can I explain to him that I never studied because I was too stupid to learn anything? - No sir. Just experience. I was mortified with shame. He would definitely send me away saying he would evaluate it. — Experience is everything, Miss Fiuza — he smiled again. Miss Fiuza. Nobody ever called me that. — We are from a secular family. My ancestors inherited these lands from the Portuguese government shortly after colonization and, regardless of past crises, we remained firm and productive. We have a noble title that was granted to my great-great-grandfather. He was a count, and today I am. But, titles do not hold inheritances and fortunes. It's hard work that does it. I manage several family businesses, I hardly have time for my children. He dropped the paper on the table. One of his fingers went up to his face, and he supported his face with his thumb and forefinger. Thoughtfully, it was as if I would define it. — I have two children. Igor and Isis. They are adorable children, you will like them. It's not because they are my children, but they really are intelligent and full of life. Sure, a little messy, but nothing that would take anyone seriously. I nodded. - How old? — Isis is five and Igor is seven. —Are you at school? — They were, but with the divorce... Anyway, it was very stressful for them, and they ended up missing a lot of days. As the year is almost over, I agreed with the management that they will restart everything next year. Since they were so small, I knew this wouldn't be a problem. Otávio stood up. I started to do the same, imagining that the interview was over, but he motioned for me to stay put. So, he went to the door, and called for the butler. They talked quietly, and the older man soon left. — I asked to call the children — he told me. — I want you to meet them. I believe that not even a minute passed before the door opened and I saw two small miniatures entering the place. My heart raced at the beauty I saw in the two little creatures. I loved children. I loved them because they never pretended to be something they weren't.