And just like that, Ruth had managed to find someone to look after her kids. And for a good price too. She scooped up her cup and put it to her lips to hide her surprised face. When she set her cup down, she had more or less composed herself.

"I will give you my address, but you must only correspond with me through my postbox. Never write or come to the address, unless I have explicitly asked you too. If there is something urgent, and only in that case, send a message boy to my address to tell me..." She thought. "Let him tell me my hat... let him tell me the hat I ordered is finished and I may pick it up today, and I will come. He must not mention you or the children. If I find you a place in time, will you be able to start Saturday next?" She was eager to get the children out of her parents' home for good.