short fiction: Just Walk Away, Dear
“Come on Jack, you’re running out of time.” His dad’s words were soaked in frustration.
“Jack, let’s go!”
Jack stumbled down the stairs with heavy footsteps and shuffled into the kitchen. The rest of the family was already there and morning preparations were in full swing.
“Come on Jack, you’re running out of time.” His dad’s words were soaked in frustration. “You can’t take a 25 minute shower when you don’t get out of bed until after 8:00.
Jack plopped himself down on a stool at the counter. “It’s not my fault. Nobody woke me up.”
“What do you mean nobody woke you up? What about when I came into your room and said Jack, it’s time to get up?”
“I didn’t hear you. Must have been fast asleep.” This conversation s way too intense first thing in the morning, Jack thought to himself.
“Really? Well you responded with, okay dad, I’m getting up, and then I said, let’s go, don’t fall back asleep, and you said, I’m awake.”
“That’s funny. Don’t remember any of that.”
“Do you want me to make you a plate of scrambled eggs? Maybe some bacon?” His mum switched the burner on.
“At least someone is happy to see me this morning.” Jack yawned.
“He doesn’t have time to wait for scrambled eggs and bacon,” his dad jumped in, “his bus comes in 10 minutes. He can have cereal.” His dad opened the cupboard and passed him a bowl.
“I could make it to go. How about a nice breakfast wrap to go, Sweetie.” His mum knew how to take care of him.
“Sure. Can you put a little chipotle mayo on it too? Besides, if I miss the bus, Gran will drive me.”
“No way,” his Dad’s temper was starting to rise. “You’re not making your Gran come all the way over here to drive you to school because you can’t get your butt out of bed. If you miss the bus, you can walk to school.”
His dad just needed to chill out.
“You’re such a dork.” His sister, Claire, had finished her breakfast and decided to add some commentary.
“Ah, you’re the dork. Obviously. How’s Math Team?”
“Whatever. This thing happening right here is so dramatizing. Smell ya later.” Claire grabbed her bag and made her way to the front door.
“Oh, you two need to be nicer to each other. Breakfast wrap is almost done.”
“Get your lunch together. You’re running out of time.”
“Don’t forget the chipotle.”
“Make your lunch!”
“I’ll just buy some pizza.”
“Why would you spend your hard-earned money on pizza when we have lots of stuff here to make a lunch.”
“Oh, I don’t have any money. Can have 10 bucks for pizza?”
“What?!”
“Here, I put your wrap in tin foil. Watch out, it’s hot.”
“Thanks, at least someone in this family loves me.”
“Why do we have to go through this every morning?”
“I don’t know dad, but maybe you should start the day with some mindfulness. Breathing exercises or something. Get lots of oxygen into your body. You’d feel way better.”
“Arrrrgh!”
“Just walk away, dear.”
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