A Bad Boy's Gift

Chapter 8

The sound of my alarm wakes me at 07:30. The ringing blistering my ears. Oh the joy of having a child in the house needing a taxi service.

Hudson doesn't need to be up for another 15 minutes so I take my time getting dressed. Donning a loose pair of joggers and my Adidas hoodie, I brush my teeth and give my face a quick wash then head to Hudson's room.

"Time to get up Hudson." I knock on his door. No answer. I open the door slightly to see him sparko in bed. Walking over to his curtains I watch him for signs of life, seeing him breathing deeply. I fling the curtains open to help wake him up. "Hudson, wake up, you need to get ready for school now." I grab his school clothes out of his wardrobe and put them on the end of his bed. I shake him, he grunts. "Come on!" Fuck sake, he's such a pain in the arse. I take his covers off his sleeping body. "If you don't hurry up, I'll get a bucket of water on you." That seems to do the trick.

He frowns at me with his eyes barely open, "I'm awake."

"Excellent, I'm going to get you some cereal." I walk out of the door, not giving him an option. He materialises bang on 08:00, looking like he's been dragged through a hedge backwards.

"Good morning sunshine, breakfast is here, orange juice too, munch up please." I tell him while I make his lunch. "Right, Alfie's again tonight so be good please. I don't expect miracles, but I do expect manners." 

"Mhmm." He mutters, slurping the milk and co-co pops. 

I put his lunch bag by the front door with his rugby kit and school bag. 

Hudson is clearing his bowl when I go back into the kitchen. "Make sure you shower after rugby too, you'll be filthy." I open the kitchen window slightly to allow some fresh air in while I'm at work. "You ready?" He nods, "come on then." 

We leave the kitchen, turning the lights off as we go, grab Hudson's stuff and head to the car. I lock the front door on my way and then sling his bags into the boot.

He's managed to get his harness on this morning without any faff. That's good. I let the car come to life and reverse out of my spot, being careful not to give it too much power. When we arrive at the end of the driveway, I wait for the gates to close then pull off down the road. 

The journey to school is a quiet one, Hudson looks like he's got the weight of the world on his shoulders but when I ask him if he's okay he just shrugs and says "Yeah." Great, one word answers are always beneficial.

I drop him at the school gates, waving him off as he drags his feet up towards the playground. What's with that kid?

I go back home after dropping Hudson at school and decide to make myself some pancakes. I add sugar and lemon to some, golden syrup to others, all while reminding myself to make a salad to take to work with me today. 

Today is a lunch shift at the restaurant. I love working with my colleagues; Josie and Hannah, they really do light up my weekday lunchtimes. 

I don't start work for another 3 hours so decide that some music will be necessary while I get the house clean.  I hoover through, mop the floors, clean off the surfaces and ensure that I polish the woodwork. I do a couple of loads of laundry, including Hudson's bedding. I clean the family bathroom and my en-suite. 

By the time the house is relatively clean, I have to get dressed for work. I get into my black shirt with my name on it; River, and my black tights and skirt. Then slip on my ballet flats. I grab my handbag, and the salad I made while cleaning the kitchen then leave the house, turning the alarm on as I leave.

My car has been sat in the sun since I came back from dropping Hudson at school, making it warm inside. It's a feeling I love. The 20 minute journey to work is a good one today, pleasant weather, not too many cars or tractors holding me up.