Kim

The door slams more forcibly than intended, briefly rattling the windows. I fight with the key, already agitated by the advancing time and unnecessary stalling tactics. My finger makes contact with the bricks in my haste, sprouting a small bubble of bright red on my knuckle. Instinctively placing the wound between my lips as I turn on the step, the metallic tang on my tongue is a sharp contrast to the sweet toothpaste from earlier. That reminds me, I really must get the sausages out of the freezer when I get back!

 

My eyebrows furrow at the crunching gravel as the kids mess around in the flower bed. It grates on my rapidly decreasing mood. The squeals of a play fight in progress as they kick the crisp fallen leaves at each other. A crane fly makes its escape, its long spindly legs hanging downwards, twitching as it moves up into the still air. I shudder as I watch its body retreat, willing it not to change direction. I hope there are no more of those. The fresh air expands my lungs. Stay calm, don’t start shouting again. The prickling in my throat is evidence that it is ‘one of those’ mornings.  A trickle of sweat tickles my side. I regret putting on a jacket as I roughly yank open the zip but there’s no time to change today.  It’s warmer than it appeared through the window. That reminds me, I really need to sort through the kid’s clothes!

 

“Right, go go go!” I bark like a sergeant major and the kids leap out of the flower bed, a black Clark’s shoe crunching and splitting one of the shrubs. I emit a small growl in protest, but the kids are too far ahead now to hear. Their rucksacks rattling, steel water bottles collide with plastic lunch boxes as they run. I follow them down the pavement, their hurried steps echoing off the houses in our road with their manicured lawns and carefully selected seasonal bedding plants. A dewy damp scent hanging in the air declaring Autumn is here. Embarrassment pools in my stomach, our garden is letting the side down. That reminds me, I really must book a slot at the tip! 

 

I hurry to catch up, shaking my head at the switch in role. How can they be so slow 5 minutes ago when we were in the house and now so fast? The soles of my old trainers allow every sharp stone or bump to bite my feet. My heels ache all the time. Why is that? That reminds me, I really should order some new trainers!

 

The whiney squeak of a rusty spring signals my daughter opening the gate for a sneaky go on the slide, oblivious to the urgency and how close to the surface my temper is brewing. Her brother is barking commands for her to get out, a mirror of my own bossy insistences. Do I really sound that mean? The sun glints off the slide, tempting,  I can understand why she was drawn in. Someone hasn’t picked up after their dog. I wrinkle my nose, sidestepping as I pull the front of my soft T-shirt up and inhale the sweet combination of my perfume and washing powder from the fabric. That reminds me, I really need to walk the dog! 

 

The kids turn the corner startling a pigeon on a fence. Cooing stops abruptly and is  replaced by frantic flapping as strong grey feathers strike the air to gain leverage. Its fat rotund body rises falteringly upwards towards the bright blue sky. It’s got to weigh less than it looks, but it must have such a small brain in that tiny head. That reminds me, I must post my brother’s birthday card!