At exactly 6.30 a.m., Roxanne had woken up and rushed to the shower. She was looking forward to that day and finally, it arrived. Arnold was still sound asleep until she knocked on his door after her shower and shouted, “You’ll be late for school!”, then went into her bedroom to make herself presentable.
She arranged her hair into a ponytail, and put on a flowing red silk blouse tucked into a smart pair of dark trousers, plus the red heels Charlie got her. She put on dark earrings and completed the look with a red handbag. After applying red lipstick and admiring herself on her mirror, she went to have breakfast with her family, feeling ready to face the long awaited day.
“Looking smart as usual, honey,” Mr. Simmons observed, then sipped his coffee. Mrs. Simmons smiled as she beheld her.
“You look wonderful, darling,” she added to a beaming Roxanne who took her place at the counter.
“Thanks, guys. You both look terrific too,” she returned with a smile at both of them as she poured herself some coffee.
“Isn’t your brother up yet?” Mrs. Simmons asked her, then looked up the stairs that led to their rooms. Roxanne shrugged.
“I woke him up. I don’t know whether he’s still asleep,” she said, then sipped her coffee.
“Pumpkin! Breakfast, now!” Mrs. Simmons called out to Arnold. His bedroom door flew open and out he rushed, with his backpack strapped onto his back, while adjusting a jacket that he had worn on top of a dark T-shirt with tight blue jeans and sneakers to the counter, and took his place.
“Looks like someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed today,” Roxanne teased as she looked at her brother’s disarranged hair. He stroked it severally until his forehead was covered up and it looked tidy, then received the juice Mrs. Simmons poured him.
“Thanks, Mom,” he said, then wiped his nose and took a slice of the buttered bread on a wide plate that graced the center of the counter.
“Did you sleep well, son?” Mr. Simmons asked him.
“Perfect. It’s just that the night felt too short,” he replied briefly.
“Short? Anyway, I’m off, guys,” Roxanne announced after clearing her meal, then stood and took her place.
“Already? But you’ve had just a single cup of coffee and two slices of bread. Sit down. Have some more,” Mrs. Simmons implored her softly.
“I can’t, Mom. Duty calls. I’m reporting as secretary today and I have to be punctual,” she replied. Arnold’s ears pricked up, but he pretended to be disinterested. Mrs. Simmons hesitantly agreed.
“Alright, but next time, eat enough to get enough energy,” she said, then Mr. Simmons rose from his seat, took his briefcase, then wiped his mouth.
“Thanks for the wonderful breakfast, honey,” he said to his wife. She stood up and smiled, then walked towards him.
“Okay, see you all later,” Roxanne repeated, and marched off confidently after her family replied ‘Bye’ to her in unison.
Mrs. Simmons straightened her husband’s tie, then wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. Arnold groaned in disgust and shifted on his seat.
“It’s my pleasure. Have a nice day, darling,” she said, then released him.
“Bye, son,” he said.
“Bye, Dad,” Arnold replied. Mr. Simmons finally left, with his briefcase firmly in hand. Arnold finished his breakfast and stood up hurriedly.
“Thanks, Mom, I’ll be on my way now,” he said. She gave him his lunch money then kissed him on both cheeks.
“Have a nice day, Pumpkin. Remember: Mommy loves you,” she said. He rolled his eyes and rushed off to the front door, with his mother watching him proudly.
Immediately he got out of the house, he fished out his phone and made a call at the front porch. He thought of the one he called’s good will towards his sister and figured he had to inform her.
“Hello, cutie. What’s up?” Asked her familiar voice.
“Hi, babe. I just called to let you know that my sister begins work as secretary today,” he informed proudly, feeling important because of delivering the much needed news.
“That’s absolutely marvelous,” Trish replied, while typing on the keyboard of her computer.
“Where are you?” Arnold asked her.
“I’m at work. Thanks for the information, cutie. I have to go now. I’ll speak to you later,” she replied.
“Sure, babe. Until then,” Arnold replied with a satisfied smile, then pocketed his phone and strutted to school with one hand in his pocket and the other grasping one of the straps of his backpack.
That early morning found Jack Al snoring in bed. He was peacefully sleeping, all curled up, when he felt something wet striking his face severally. It was Bud, and he was on his bed. Jack Al cursed then sat up. Lilly came rushing.
“Bud! I told you not to bother Jack!” Lilly rebuked, as she stopped at the doorstep. He hung his head in shame and slowly climbed off the bed. Jack Al glared at him as he wiped the drool from his face. “Sorry, Beanstalk,” Lilly said with an embarrassed smile as Bud walked out of the room.
She then excused him to start his day, as she could see he was half-naked. He put on his shirt, grabbed a towel, and went to ask her where the bathroom was. She was dressed in a colorful dress, with a necklace around her neck, and had applied eyeshadow and lip gloss. Her hair hung freely down her shoulders. Jack Al went to take a shower, then dressed up in a gray T-shirt with a coat on top, plus jeans and football boots.
“Sleep well?” Lilly asked him as he came for breakfast.
“Yeah. You?” He replied as he eyed her from head to toe, then joined her at the dining table. She was having fruit salad and a glass of milk, while stroking Bud who perched on a chair beside her.
“I slept fine too. Let me get your food,” she replied, and left after Jack Al took a seat opposite her. He glared at Bud as he waited. Bud returned his intense glare, but looked away after sometime.
Lilly returned with a tray containing slices of toast on a plate, a flask, and a cup, then set it before Jack Al and resumed with her breakfast.
“You look stunning. Are you going out?” Jack Al asked as he took a slice of toast.
“Thanks, yeah. My designer is coming to pick me up,” she replied, while smiling at Bud and patting him.
“Don’t you eat bread?” He asked her again. She shook her head.
“Not just bread, any fat or anything with excess calories. We straight size models have to maintain our trim figures, you know,” she explained.
“Right,” Jack Al said, then raised his eyebrows and bit into the toast. After a while, Lilly eyed him.
“You’re also looking sharp. Are you going out?” She asked him.
He chewed, then took a sip of his coffee, swallowed, nodded and replied, “Yeah. I’m going to Wise Enterprises.”
“Nice. Are you going to seek a job there?” She asked him again, then stopped Bud from stealing a slice of toast from the tray.
Jack Al wrapped his arm around the tray protectively and replied, “No, I’m just checking the place out. I’ve heard so much about it.” He paused then added, “Um…I was wondering if you would lend me some cash for cab fare. I’m kind of broke at the moment,” feeling embarrassed.
“Sure. What are friends for, right?” Lilly asked with a smile, then reached out for her handbag that was on the table and took out some money, then gave it to him without counting. He smiled while receiving it.
“Thanks, Lilly. You’re a true friend,” Jack Al beamed.
“Don’t mention it,” Lilly replied, then gulped down her milk and forked the last forkful of her salad. Jack Al hurriedly finished his meal, then stood and hugged her.
“I have to go now,” he said. She took out a key from the side of her bag.
“Take this. It’s the key to this place, just in case you arrive earlier than me,” she said, while handing it to him and looking into his gray eyes. He received it and also looked into her eyes that had long eyelids and blue lenses.
“Thank you, Lilly,” he whispered. Bud looked at both of them, then barked. Lilly giggled shyly as they stopped the eye contact, then glanced at Bud.
“I think he’s jealous of you since you’ve caught my eye as well,” she said, then stroked Bud and hugged it.
Jack Al looked at him then smiled and said to Lilly, “Take care.”