Dust trap

To keep or not to keep her (the new maid Podiyamma whom V calls Dust since podi in Malayalam can mean either dust or something very small) is our present dilemma. Her mood swings and attitude to the kids bothers us. She doesnt seem to take much interest in them, at least while we are there, and the kids were not too keen on having her around last week and insisted that either of us stayed back because she whacked and pinched them. But one cant beleive all that they say, for even a chiding is listed as a whack in their dictionary.
And to make life difficult for her, they indulged in mischief with all their vengeance - such as throwing her folded inner wear from the balcony down to the ground two floors below - they had to be retrieved in stages, with the watchman temporarily lodging the last lost piece on V's scooter :) :)
After threatening to leave in a week or so because she had never seen such mischeivous brats in her life (she has appparently been working as a maid since she was 10), she ate her words today and said kids will be kids. But as of now she seems to be a bit sick - fever, though she initially said it could be jaundice making us wonder if it was a ploy to leave soon.
And late evening today, when I called to check on them, Mira said: "Amma come home fast. Please switch on the TV for me. Didnt I tell you in the afternoon? And take me to the Joker shop (Mcdonald's). Let me speak to your sir, and ask him to send u home fast!"