Vignettes: Routine
@adventurepunks
It is almost dawn when John comes home. He shuts the door behind him and heaves a smoky sigh. What's left of the cigarette is stubbed in the ashtray by the console. John kicks his shoes off to shuffle into the house.
Everyone in the flat is asleep. He hangs his coat and tosses his tie into the wash, then opens the master bedroom door as gently as possible. Talia is lying there beneath the sheets. He smiles and leans in to give her forehead a kiss, then quietly slips into the bathroom.
When John emerges with a towel, he sees her alarm is about to go off. He taps it shut to let her sleep in some. Another kiss to her ear to tell her he'll take over for the day. He goes back out into the kitchen to prepare breakfast.
Fifteen minutes after, the twins' alarm rings. John wipes his hands on a tea towel and opens their door.
Jimi is groaning and complaining and covering his eyes with his pillow. After another two minutes of fussing, he rolls off the bed and drops his duck Runner on the floor. He brushes his teeth and elbows his sister if she tries to get any sink space from him.
John hurries them through their prep. He packs their lunches into their bags and knocks on Damian's door three times along the way back to the kitchen. The kettle boils with water for Talia's coffee.
He plates five sets of runny eggs and toast, three cups of milo and a bowl of sliced oranges, then points Jimi towards the sink to do the dishes, so that when Talia is awake, the kitchen is in ship shape.
John lights another cigarette just as the sound of newspaper slaps against their main door outside.
The sun is up.