Nathaniel yawned as he left his room, it was early, only 7. He walked to the kitchen where he heard chattering. Rockie walked next to him, rubbing his leg. He looked larger this morning, his head reaching halfway up Nathaniel's shins. His fur was slick and thicker than it had been. Being here was good for him.
Inside the kitchen Jordyn was gulping down cereal, her backpack on her right shoulder, her left hand buttering a sandwich with peanut butter. Gene jogged past Nathaniel grabbing the toasts Christin threw at him before running into the kitchen's side room, he emerged with his shoes on and backpack over his shoulders.
"Have a good day Gene." Mr. Rachet said, making Nathaniel jump, he hadn't seen him sitting at the table, eating his own bowl of cereal as he wrote on an official looking paper.
"You too Dad," Gene responded, leaving the kitchen. A second later Nathaniel heard the front door opening and closing.
Mr. Rachet dropped his spoon into his milk, a smile growing, he looked at Christin, "He's never called me Dad before." His smile grew, filling the whole room with light before he picked up his spoon again, starting to eat again.
Jordyn finished shovelling cereal into her mouth, turning her attention to her sandwich. She looked up, "Kiara, you done with the jam?" A jar sailed through the air, Jordyn caught it, spooning jam onto her sandwich, then passing the jar back. Nathaniel watched it's path, worrying it would hit the floor. At the last second a hand emerged from the floor and caught it. Kiara then climbed out of the floor, there must be a trapdoor there. She threw a leather satchel over her shoulders.
"Time to go." She walked out of the kitchen towards the front door, nodding to Nathaniel as she passed him. She didn't look to see if Jordyn was following her, instead Nathaniel saw her tug on her braids and turn out of view. The door opened and closed again. She must be nervous.
Jordyn groaned, throwing her sandwich into a bread bag. Then she ran to the fridge, throwing an apple and a handful of what looked like cherry tomatoes into the bag. She slipped this bag into her backpack.
Then she turned to Mr. Rachet, "My scarf is okay, right?" Nathaniel looked at her neck. She wore a purple scarf around it, it was light, but hid her neck. Mr. Rachet smiled, straightening the ends.
"You look perfect, baby girl." He ruffled the poofy part of her hair, before leaning towards her. Jordyn kissed his cheek before turning and running out of the kitchen, "Goodbye everyone!" She yelled. The door opened, slamming closed this time.
Cole walked into the kitchen, slipping on some sandals, he looked around and groaned, "I told them not to leave without me." He turned around, running out of the kitchen. The door opened again, closing loud enough to shake the pictures on the wall. There was a thump from upstairs, so Connor was awake.
More thumping started, Connor stalked into the kitchen, "Can no one get any sleep around here?" His hair was sticking up at odd angles, he flattened them with a hiss, "What's the use of switching Gene school days if I get woken up at the crack of dawn?" He walked to the kitchen, yanking a chair out before sitting in it, pouting as he did.
Mr. Rachet chuckled, "Seven is hardly dawn, trust me, I had you waking me up then. I know dawn."
Connor scowled at him, "Congrats, you killed that part of me. It is gone, eradicated entirely." He looked at Christin, "Did you make me any oatmeal?"
Christin nodded, "I knew you'd be up before it was cold." She picked up a bowl, sliding it across the table to Connor. She looked at Nathaniel, "What do you want?"
Nathaniel looked at her, shrugging, he had no clue, he didn't know breakfast foods. He never had breakfast made for him. She narrowed her eyes before snapping, "Egg in a hole. That's what you'd like." She waved him over, "Come watch."
Nathaniel walked to her as she pulled out a frying pan, two slices of bread, two eggs, some butter, then some salt and pepper. She put them on the counter, "Have you had egg in a hole before?" She hallowed out the middle of the slices of bread, watching Nathaniel as she did.
Nathaniel shook his head, "I don't know breakfast foods." He watched as christin put the bread into the frying pan, covering it with butter. She proceeded to crack the egg into the hole of the bread.
Christin smiled, "This is one of my favorites. It just hits the spot." After a few minutes she flipped the bread, then waited again. Then she put the bread onto a plate, sliding it to Nathaniel, "Try that."
Nathaniel nodded, grabbing the plate and moving back to the table. He sat next to Connor, he glanced at Connor's hand. He had taken off the bandage, Nathaniel's teeth marks leaving scabs all over his hand. The other hand scabbed on the knuckles. Nathaniel looked away, there was nothing he could do to change yesterday.
Rockie jumped onto Connor's lap, rubbing his head on Connor's chin. Connor pouted at the cat before grinning, scratching between his ears. He then began to eat his oatmeal, Rockie staying on his lap.
He looked at Christin, "Do you have work today?"
Christin nodded, "I have to head out at 8, I'll be home around 5." She started to make a sandwich, using ham and cheese. She smiled at Nathaniel. Nathaniel smiled back. Biting into the cooked bread in front of him. Butter filled his mouth, mixed with bread. He closed his eyes to savor the taste. It was good. Really good.
He ate in silence, watching as the others did the same. Mr. Rachet finished his breakfast, placing the bowl on his lap as he wheeled backwards, "I have a meeting to go to. Cole is stopping at my office before coming back, so it will just be you two for a while."
Connor nodded, "We'll hold down the fort." He sent a wink to Nathaniel before getting lost in his breakfast again. Nathaniel gave Mr. Rachet a small wave, Mr. Ratchet smiled and gave him one back before rolling out of the house. Nathaniel tilted his head, wondering if Mr. Rachet wheeled to work or if he had a car he could drive, he'd like to know, but he focused on eating first.
Connor finished his oatmeal, he tapped Rockie to get him off his lap, then he began washing his plate. Nathaniel hurried to finish his breakfast, he didn't want to be left in the kitchen alone. Christin put her sandwich in a bag, gathering some other foods and placing them beside it before straightening.
She nodded to Nathaniel and Connor, "Have fun boys. Don't forget to make Ollie some breakfast when he wakes up." Connor nodded, waving to Christin as she walked out of the kitchen. The front door opened and closed one more time, then Nathaniel was alone with Connor.