Eggs Sunny Side Up
She could remember that day as though it were yesterday. She had woken up early because she was too excited to sleep. Her brother was already up, watching cartoons in the den. He always got up early on Saturdays to watch PeeWee's Playhouse, and he'd spend the rest of the day screaming if anyone said the secret word.
Her clothes lay on the chest at the end of the bed. She'd laid them out neatly the night before, after going through every possible combination of clothes to find the perfect outfit. Carefully she began to dress, acting as though the clothes might tear if she didn't put them on with the utmost care.
She looked at herself in the mirror. It looked right. She had found the best outfit she had. She brushed her hair, and styled it the way she'd practiced all week, then began putting on some makeup. Every step had been perfected until she could have done it in her sleep.
She picked up the bottle of perfume that her aunt and uncle had given her for Christmas that year. She spritzed one spritz just in front of her and stepped into it, like mom had shown her. Finally, she picked up the necklace and fastened it behind her neck.
She lowered her arms. Perfect. Absolutely perfect.
The smell of breakfast wafted up the stairs - coffee and bacon. Sounds of mom rattling aroun din the kitchen made her hurry downstairs. "Just in time!" Mom said cheerfully, as she plopped a plate of eggs and bacon on the table. The egg yolk stared up at her like a weird alien with one quivering, unblinking eye. It unnerved her, so she picked up her fork and jammed it into the yellow centre so it bled all over her toast.
Today was going to be the best day ever.
Her clothes lay on the chest at the end of the bed. She'd laid them out neatly the night before, after going through every possible combination of clothes to find the perfect outfit. Carefully she began to dress, acting as though the clothes might tear if she didn't put them on with the utmost care.
She looked at herself in the mirror. It looked right. She had found the best outfit she had. She brushed her hair, and styled it the way she'd practiced all week, then began putting on some makeup. Every step had been perfected until she could have done it in her sleep.
She picked up the bottle of perfume that her aunt and uncle had given her for Christmas that year. She spritzed one spritz just in front of her and stepped into it, like mom had shown her. Finally, she picked up the necklace and fastened it behind her neck.
She lowered her arms. Perfect. Absolutely perfect.
The smell of breakfast wafted up the stairs - coffee and bacon. Sounds of mom rattling aroun din the kitchen made her hurry downstairs. "Just in time!" Mom said cheerfully, as she plopped a plate of eggs and bacon on the table. The egg yolk stared up at her like a weird alien with one quivering, unblinking eye. It unnerved her, so she picked up her fork and jammed it into the yellow centre so it bled all over her toast.
Today was going to be the best day ever.
posted by Deirdre at 1:30 p.m.
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