Boomerang, Author unknown

Chapter 3
Boomerang, Part III

Chapter Description: Author unknown

Part III

The following Friday, the newspapers were all over passage of the Kensing-Haberly Act, although almost all of them began to use its pet name religiously. The Daycare Act boiled down to three separate sections, and the morning news spent time dealing with each. As most of the country had already learned, all boys forcibly regressed would be eligible for enrollment into the Daycare of their parent’s choosing.

The government was already taking steps to open more centers since the population of those in need had exploded by 18 million virtually overnight. A 1-800 number quickly became available providing information on where and how to contact the appropriate center.

The second part of the Act dealt with health care for the afflicted. Many children who had been working to make money in order to support their families were offered a stipend in order to make up for the loss in available income.

The last part of the Act was by far the most controversial. Beginning on Monday, December 14, all products for children aged 2 through 7, would be tax free and able to be used as a tax write off on that year’s Income Return. Regardess of what the product might be or where it could be purchased, from here until the foreseeable future, any toddler care item would be sold free of tax.

Around the country, parents began to breathe a collective sigh of relief and a shopping exodus bloomed almost immediately. Malls and supercenters were inundated with parents scrambling up and down the aisles to get this or that piece of equipment for their child. Daycare centers also felt the beginnings of tension as they received thousands of phone calls from frantic parents demanding a placement for their child and refusing to accept no for an answer.

The lucky parents used their work connections and tried to place their sons in the office daycare center. In this case, hospital employees proved the most successful. Unfortunately, many parents and small boys were left freaking out when the day that became known as Black Monday began.

In Scottsdale, Jason woke up Monday morning in a cold sweat. This was it, the day when he would have to actually be seen by multiple people. He couldn’t hide in the house anymore. Mom went to work promptly at 8:00 and Jason was scheduled to begin Daycare at half an hour till.

Around the town, care centers were undergoing severe construction and renovation with the assistance of government loans and subsidies but the construction wasn’t supposed to be completed for another two months. Until then, the School Board had found their “alternative education placement” in the older Warren Anderson High School. For almost twenty tears, Anderson was the place for underage mothers and students with specific educational needs. Its floorplan happened to include a rather large nursery area, large enough to accommodate at least four hundred children, because of a blunder on behalf of the company who’d built it, a blunder which appeared more like a Godsend now.

At least to the parents. To Jason, it seemed more like prison.

The Board randomly selected what children would be enrolled there until the care centers finished their work and Jason’s name had been selected. When his Mom received the phone call Saturday morning, she reacted as if she’d been selected for Publishers Clearing House sweeptstakes.

“Isn’t that great, honeybunch? They’ve got a place for you to go on Monday!” Pam had shouted, picking Jason up off the couch and swinging him through the air.

“Mom, please, you know I hate it when you dooo that,” Jason protested. In the following week, his Mom’s behavior had become progressively more childish in the way she treated him. She had begun to answer his questions in a syrupy voice and refer to him as either “Sweetie,” “Honey,” or (his least favorite) “Pookie.” She’d also begun to order his daily routine with no input from him. “Am I supposed to be happy they’ve found someone to watch me all day?”

“Jason, you know there’s no way I can stay home from work with you. You know that right? I have to work so we can eat, for God’s sake.”

“But why can’t I stay here?” Jason pleaded. “I can look after myself just fine while you’re at work, I know I can. And if I do need you, I can call you on the phone.”

Pam simple stared at her son, and set him down on the floor. “We’ve been over this, Jason and Mommy’s not going to argue with you again. I am not leaving a toddler home by himself; it’s not happening so just get it out of your head!”

And that was that. As was becoming more and more common, Jason’s Mother was relegating her son to the position of idiot, a child incapable of making his own decisions. She told him where to go, what to do, what to eat, what to wear. She acknowledged his questions and requests, but ultimately did what she wanted. And in this case, Jason could only lower his head and follow her demands. After all, what could he do to stop her? It wasn’t like he could run away. How far could a two year old set of legs carry him, after all?

So today, they drove towards the school in silence. Anderson had been built only about 10 minutes from their home so it didn’t take long. The long brick building glowered in the early dawn light with little friendliness. Its red brick glimmered coldly and the windows showed only a few flickers of light. Pam pulled the Jeep Cherokee up to the drive circle and stopped it close to the front door. At this point in the morning, only a few other parents were there with their youngsters.

Pam opened up the passenger door and undid Jason from the car seat, then reached behind him and grabbed a bag . Helping him out of the car, she took his left and hand and guided him into the building. Immediately, they were met by a harried older African American woman with a P.D.T. in hand.

“Hi,” the woman said, briskly striding up to the Carlsons, “I’m Janet Witmore, Nurssery Supervisor. I need to check your son in and make sure we have all his records and immunizations on file.”

“Pam Carlson, this is Jason, how do you do?” Pam said, proffering her hand. Quickly, Ms. Witmore found Jason’s information on the computer and proceeded to affix a colorful sticker to his shirtfront, one which showed Elmo.

“I see that the pediatrician who examined Jason, a Dr. Kelling, measured him at around two years, is that right?” Witmore queried.

“That’s correct, he’s one of the younger ones,” Pam replied.

“Actually, he’s the only younger one we’re getting at Anderson. Most were sent to Ashgrove Daycenter, the rest are at Tiny Tots. All we have here are four year olds and a couple of three’s. I’m afraid Jason is kind of on his own in that respect.”

“Oh, that should be fine. Jason shouldn’t be any trouble to you,” Pam smiled.

“I’m afraid you don’t get it, Ms. Carlson. We usually have 72 children at this center in various ages running from newborns to 4 year olds. Today, we’re expecting an additional 250 children, and although we have the space for them, we don’t have the teachers for them. . .yet.” Ms. Witmore paused to ensure that Pam was listening to every word.

“In order to accommodate all our little ones, we’re separating them by age so we can properly staff them all. Until we get the new center workers we’re expecting in about a week or so, we’re using students here to help us out. We’ll have people to look after your son, but we can’t ensure he gets a teacher, at least not until the help arrives.” Pam waited, taking this all in. “And until that help gets here, I’m afraid we’re splitting the new boys up into age centers. So I’ve placed all the four year olds in the four year old room, same for the three’s.”

“But that means?” Pam looked meaningfully down at her son.

“Jason’s going to be with the toddlers,” Ms. Witmore replied.

“I’m going to do what?” Jason screamed. He was practically apoplexic now.”I have to be with the babies for a week?” he demanded of the women.

“Possibly longer, hon, ya see we’re not sure when the new daycare center workers will be here.” Ms. Witmore smiled reassuringly at the frightened lad and then turned back to Pam. “I need to ask, is Jason using the Potty? We have some diapers here, but I’m afraid if he needs them, you’ll need to furnish your own supply.”

“Oh, Jason wears a Pull Up and I did bring a couple of extras with me, you know just in case,” Pam said, handing the pack over to Ms. Witmore. Now Jason saw what his Mom had grabbed from the back of the Jeep earlier. “He should be just fine with those, but I’ll be glad to bring more if he needs them.”

“Mr. Carlson, I’m sure that’s fine, but you do know that Pull Ups only work if the child has occasional accidents. Should the problem increase, we would have to take . . .different steps.”

“I completely understand, but I think Jason will be just fine.” Pam patted him on the head and kissed him on the cheek. “Have a great day, Pookie. Mommy will be back at 4 to pick you up.”

Jason could only watch as Pam walked back out the door to the car.

“Well, Jason, if you’ll come with me, I’ll show you to your room,” Ms. Witmore said, taking Jason’s hand and leading him to one of the first rooms to the right of the hallway. The sign on the door read in bright, colorful letters:

All Terrific Two’s Welcome!

And Jason’s first day of Daycare for the second time in his life began.