“Sweetie, what are you doing all on your own?” Jacob is startled out of her musings by the voice of the front desk receptionist. She merely stares at the receptionist silently. “Come here, I won’t hurt you.” Reluctantly, Jacob walks over to the front desk. “Are you lost?” Jacob shakes her head. “Are you looking for someone?” Jacob nods. “Who?”
“Sef,” Jacob squeaks in her high-pitched toddler voice. The receptionist frowns.
“Sef… Can you tell me their last name?”
“His last name is…” Unfortunately, Seth has a very complicated last name. Seth himself was unable to pronounce it properly until first grade. Jacob stammers her way through a few attempts. By the end, the receptionist is incredibly confused and Jacob is so frustrated that she’s in tears.
“Aw, it’s okay, honey,” the receptionist coos. “I’ll find Sef for you. But in the meantime, you’re going to go play with some other little kids, okay?” Jacob’s eyes widen. Is she being sent to the daycare center? The receptionist picks up her phone and makes a call. “Hi, Caitlyn, I’ve got a little girl here at the front desk. She’s looking for someone. While I track them down, could you send someone to pick her up and bring her your way? Thanks.” The receptionist hangs up and looks in Jacob’s direction again.
But Jacob is already gone, terrified at the idea of being in a daycare. She won’t have nearly enough freedom. Just around the corner, Jacob hears the receptionist curse. An announcement crackles over the intercom.
“Attention. There is a lost child. An unattended toddler girl about two or three years old. If you find her, please bring her to the daycare center so she can be taken care of.” Jacob lets out a curse of her own. People are going to be on the alert, keeping an eye out for her.