Alora woke up with a banging headache. She crept out of bed and enjoyed the sunlight that was streaming out through her window. 'I have to get ready for church.' She thought and hurried to the kitchen. The kitchen was small and had just two cupboard and three paraffin stoves aligned on a platform.
A small sink was in between the two platforms and one cupboard was filled with plates, cutlery, pots and trays while the other had spices, vegetables and cans of unopened peas, beans or anything else that human beings decided to put in a pan. You know exactly what I mean.
There was a big space under the sink where glass cups and kettles where kept so, she reached out and grabbed a big kettle. She filled it with water, out the stove and places it on the fire to get warm. She wouldn't dare to use the water heater.
Just one use and baam! The electricity bill had pilled up to the extent that it will gave her father a heart attack. She took a pot, poured some water into it and set it the second stove to boil.
She placed a teapot and four cups on the counter, emptied a pack of Japanese green tea into it and added some sugar. It was a morning habit of drink tea in the morning and they all loved green tea.
She poured the boiled water into the kettle and waited for a bit before pouring the tea into the cups. She went to her room, opened her drawer and pulled out half a bottle of milk, a loaf of bread and a packet of biscuits.
She glanced at her watch and saw the time; 6:35 am. Very early for her.
She rushed back to the kitchen, just to see her younger brother, Zeke, leaning over and peeping into then cups of tea. He turned to see Alora, hurried before her and bowed saying, "Annyeong eonni (Meaning Good morning elder sister)."
"Joh-eun achim-iya hyeongjeyeo (Good morning brother.)" Alora smiled, poured some milk into each cup, stirred and then, patted his head.
"Your Korean is getting better." She said with a grin.
"Gamsahabnida Eonni (Thank you sister)" Zeke gave her a hug.
"Okay, you can stop now."
"Big sister. How can I help?"
"You can wake sleepy head for me or take your bath."
"Taking my bath it is." Zeke ran off and returned with a bucket. Alora poured some hot water in it and helped her brother to carry it to her bathroom.
She went to the kitchen, came out and met her mother, father and sister sitting in the living room.