Work Text:
You had assumed the position of Daycare Attendant. Well, only partially. You had been given full control over nap time.
Sun was the daytime attendant. He kept the children busy, entertained, and safe. He also doubled as a personal janitor for the children’s play place only. His counterpart, however, was the one you were “replacing”. After some undisclosed incidents - corporate never told you about them, probably because they were covering them up - they decided to hire you to compete his duties in his absence. You would instruct sun to leave, so his counterpart had no chance of appearing, and then would dim the lights to a dark, yet visible setting. From then, you would gather the children, helping them prepare for an hour long slumber.
This, however, would turn out to be a harder task in reality than it was written in the email you received notifying you of your hiring.
The second you asked Sun to retreat in is room, which he happily agreed to, the children started to get rowdy. They went from one group, to a smaller group when some ran off, to a handful of kids waiting for nap time. Toddlers were hiding in the play structures, some where swimming in the somehow safe ball-pit. A few were knocking over cans that had just been re-stacked. The noise was more than what was allowed for nap time. The few that had remained were a little grumpy, tired from playing and wanted to sleep. One in particular was very tired, and they sat slumped over, half-asleep.
This made you kick into overdrive. A quick whistle from you garnered most of their attention. “Children, I know naptime isn’t fun, but it has to happen eventually. If you gather around now,” you put a finger to your chin, “there may be a reward.” You enticed the little gremlins with a treat. Not the edible kind, that would rile them up more.
You walked back to the security desk, where your things lay untouched. A perk of being an employee in the daycare meant you could leave your things were no one would be able to touch them, even the attendants weren’t allowed back here. You pulled for a guitar you had brought, planning to use it for an activity later, but now seemed like a good time to pull it out. The smooth, polished wood felt relaxing to the touch. Confidence entered your spirit. This would definitely work just fine.
Curious, some children gathered outside the desk, and seeing you pull out the guitar lead to some asking, “Are you gonna sing a bedtime song?“
“Wow, so shiny- Can I touch it?”
Another one shouted. “They’re gonna sing us a song!” And more children came out of hiding. A faint memory of another attendant singing them songs made them want to come out.
You walked with the children that flocked you like kittens hearing a treat bag, and you lead them to the nap time corner.
Seeing more tiny humans gathering per your request, you spoke up. “Since you used your amazing listening skills, who wants to hear a little song for nap time?” They excitedly raised their hands, some choosing to speak up their interest. “Okay, okay. Let’s set up first. Can’t fall asleep if there’s no children in their mats.” You chuckle. Setting down the guitar, you help the children pull out mats and blankets. Once they’ve all settled down, you sit in the center of the them, guitar in your hands. It took you a moment to think of a good song to play, but you thought of a decent one they would like.
Under the dimmed lights of a silent daycare, save for the children’s whispers, you put your fingers at the fingerboard and strings. And begin to play.
“Days seem sometimes as if they’ll never end,
Sun digs it’s heels to taunt you,
But after sunlit days, one thing stays the same,
Rises the moon~”
Your singing, while a bit rough from the lack of practice, is formed into a soothing tone. You let the melody lull the sea of toddlers to sleep. From the corner of your eye, you see some already sleeping, and you smile inside.
The song entrances even you, and when all is sung, you gently pull yourself up and back to the security desk, placing the guitar back in its resting place. You dim the lights all the way, allowing the children to get a full rest, and finally rest your head. You needed a nap to, so who were you to deny yourself that.
From beyond the daycare, the sun peeks down from his room. He watched as you handled the children so perfectly well, making him swell with adoration and serenity. He was scared at first when you were hired, fearing you would see him as nothing but a robot, and not take your job seriously, leaving him to do the impossible. You have no idea how many employees have come through and make a mockery of his daycare. Of *their* daycare. Watching you now, he knows it in his robotic heart that you being hired was the best thing to happen to them. The only thing he wanted now was for Moon to come back, for him to stop doing those horrifying things he’s been doing, so that maybe you and him and sing together at nap time.