Prologue and Chapter One: Nanny for Sale Summary

The prologue begins with the protagonist, Nan, summarizing what all nanny interviews are like. The women are thin and sylph-like, designer outfits perfectly in place, hair coiffed, and nails manicured. Their houses resemble hotel lobbies, stately and desolate. Even though these women have children there are no signs of them in the house—no toys, no fingerprints, no snacks. In fact, the kitchens are completely empty because the women do not cook. In the refrigerator are gourmet foods that the women will expect the hired nanny to prepare for their children, while the freezer will host the secret convenience foods that only the mothers are allowed to prepare.

There are three phases to the nanny interview: Phase I is the collusion phase. The woman will lower her voice and complain about how hard it...