Next to appear is Nicola. She takes two dishes from the
cupboard, fills them with corn flakes and places them on the table with the
milk bottle. She yells up the stairs “Tom! Sarah! Are you dressed yet?” They
thunder down and slide into the chairs at the table. Nicola fills the kettle
and sets it to boil, then joins them. “Have you got your kit for football
tonight?” she says to Tom. And to Sarah, “Remember it’s violin practice after
school.” “Yes, Mum. Stop fussing.” They both say in unison. Finishing their
breakfast, they almost throw their dishes in the sink, grab their coats and
bags and dash out the door.” As usual, they are cutting it fine to catch the
bus.
Nicola takes the teapot off the shelf and places a generous
spoonful of fresh tea leaves into it. She adds water from the just boiled
kettle, takes a bone china cup and saucer from the cupboard and sets all three
on the table. She washes up and heats a couple of croissants in the oven. By
the time she sits down a few minutes later, the tea has brewed to perfection.
As she sinks into a chair and savours a sip from her cup, she breathes a sigh.
Aarh…
