Chapter 97: CHARLES AUNT
Chapter 97: CHARLES AUNT
“Which movie makes you so excited?” Charles doubted.
“I don’t remember the name. It was a documentary. I had a ticket, so I went to watch for a while, but I
just came out.”
“Oh, where are you now? I'm coming to pick you up.” Charles resumed, “I’m sorry to keep you waiting
for so long that you even had enough time to watch a movie without me.”
Sarah peered at her watch. It was at seven o’clock. She thought it wasn't that late since she usually
had worked later and replied. “It’s okay—no need to worry about me. I can fend for myself if needed.
I'm on a pedestrian street near your company, come around, and I will wait for you at the nearest
crossing.”
“Okay. I will be there right away. Don’t go anywhere!”
“I know. I am not a child!” Sarah smiled as she ended the call.
She pulled her face, trying to throw all her sad emotions away. She tried her best to be happier before
she walked to the nearest crossing to wait for Charles.
Charles drove around the corner and saw Sarah waiting for him. They smiled at each other, and
Charles said. “Come on, it's getting late. We need to hurry up to get over there quickly!”
Sarah stepped into the car and belted up. “Where are we going? Is it still convenient to get there at this
time?” She asked curiously.
“It's okay!” Charles looked at her carefully. He wasn’t at ease until he ensured himself that nothing had
happened to her. Based on her voice on the phone, he had thought that something happened to her.
This woman always kept him worried.
“Perhaps it is a bit late, but we must go.” He turned on the car and drove away.
Charles turned on some music while driving, which made them feel more relaxed. They briefly talked
about the conference meeting. Ten minutes later, they arrived at their destination.
Sarah was surprised to see a kindergarten-like school near the university town. She looked at the
colorful wall with various animal paintings and asked, “Where is this, a kindergarten? Why are we
here?”
Charles laughed confidently and said. “No. Just come in, and you will see for yourself. I want to
introduce you to someone.”
“Who?”
Charles didn’t answer her question but went to ring the doorbell. After a while, someone opened the
door from the inside. A petite chubby woman in her forties beamed with smiles as soon as she came
out, providing a warm, welcoming vibe to both Charles and Sarah.
With a loud, passionate voice, she welcomed them. “Hey, there you are! I thought you wouldn’t come
tonight. You shouldn't come this late.” While talking, she opened the iron door. Then she looked at
Sarah and said enthusiastically, “And this is your legendary wife, right?”
“Legendary?” Charles bantered, “Aunt, don’t get me wrong. She is my only wife.”
Sarah finally knew this woman was Charles’s aunt, but she looked too young to be Mr. Thomas's sister.
He was nearly sixty while this lady was in her forties, and physically they shared no common features
at all. Sarah was confused.
Charles introduced them to each other. His aunt was very enthusiastic, looking at Sarah with great
interest. Satisfied with what she was, she nodded continuously and said, “Great! She looks good. Much
better than your several ex-girlfriends! Come in, I prepared dinner for all of us. Let’s go have supper.”
Sarah and Charles walked in. During dinner, Sarah realized that this woman was not his natural aunt.
Charles’s grandfather had been married to two women. His first wife had been Mr. Thomas's mother,
while the second wife was this aunt's mother. Once the three had passed away, Charles's aunt had
become independent and lived alone. She then had established a kindergarten and had hardly ever
come back to the Thomas Family.
Sarah hadn't even seen her at her wedding with Charles, yet somehow Charles seemed to have a very
intimate relationship with this aunt. Their interactions were those of a mother and son who hadn't seen
each other for a long time. Charles seemed to be closer to her than to his own parents.
Later, Charles told Sarah that this aunt had always looked after him and helped him with everything,
even regarding him as her real son when his parents were too busy to take care of him as a child,
which is why he was so close to her.
The school was different from most other nurseries. It was called the New Element Nursery, following a
child lead teaching method where the children were guided to stimulate their natural talents and
interests and thereby to help every child to find their real sense of future direction.
What was most surprising to Sarah was that although the building looked ropey from the outside, from
the inside, it was very luxurious with high-end equipment. They had only highly skilled teachers, as
aunty described: “We choose teachers here based on their caring, kind, and honest nature. Their
educational background and teaching experience are not as important, but they must be able to guide
the children in the right direction, explore their good virtues and help them to grow into a child with a
combination of strong skills and good morals.”
“Is it difficult to find teachers who meet those strict requirements?” Sarah asked.
“Yes. It is hard to find them. I often must travel to recruit the best teachers. But since we are able to
offer a high salary, it gives us good merits to persuade the best to come here!” Aunt laughed out © 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.
happily.
Charles put one hand on his aunt’s shoulder and said. “Anyway, given that you are rich and well
known, you can invite anyone, yeah?” He was talking to her like she was his birth mother.
Aunty patted his hand and said, “Hey, am I rich? Aren't you, my biggest sponsor?” She questioned him.
Charles laughed, so did Sarah. It seemed that Charles was very nice to his aunt. He respected his aunt
more than his parents. Mr. Thomas was often miserable because even though he treated Charles very
well, Charles was still unwilling to be close to him. Sarah sighed.