Matt

Chapter 5- The Dad

They say that the average person will sleep between seven to nine hours a day if they had no alarm clock. It is during this time period that our body becomes busy restoring any damage it has suffered previously and restoring your nervous system's supply of much needed neurotransmitters. Adequate sleep also improves immune function, increases energy, and even slows aging ever so slightly. With all these benefits, it's a mystery as to why it is that some people insist on living their lives without a proper amount of sleep, let alone allowing others that luxury.

These are the thoughts that quickly raced through my head when I became painfully aware of the sensation of something bashing my head into my pillow. And judging from the suspected shape, size, texture and approximate density of that thing, I soon determined that it was a foot. It wasn't long before my suspicions were found correct.

"Dammit, Matt! Get your ass up! Come on! You've been sleeping since you got here! Fifteen hours! You should be ashamed of yourself!"

Wow, had I really been asleep that long? Then why do I still feel sleepy?

Serena moved her foot down to the lower part of my back and bashed it hard, which hurt pretty damn good I must say.

"OW! Alright I'm up!" I shouted.

"About time! I swear it's like you go into a coma whenever you fall asleep!"

I reluctantly sat up and yawned loudly, following that up with a large stretch. I looked up at Serena, who was still wearing her yellow pajamas.

"I can't help that I'm a heavy sleeper." I explained.

"Well hurry up and get dressed so we can eat before we have to leave."

She turned to walk out but stopped at the door.

"By the way, did you finish your homework?"

Homework? Crap! I forgot all about it...what with all that happened all weekend.

"Of course you didn't...You're as useless as always. You can copy my homework while you're eating."

"You don't have to do that. I'm sure I can talk our teacher into giving me an extension, considering what had happened."

"Just get it done now and get it over with. Beside, I know you won't be able to do it on you own anyway, considering the fact that you didn't even try to pay attention in class all last week."

Well, she's right about that...I hate it when she's right...

"Hurry up!"

With that, she stormed out of my room and slammed the door. After about ten minutes, I was dressed and ready to go. I walked downstairs to find that Serena had already beaten me to the kitchen.

"God you're slow! No wonder you're always late for group meetings!"

"Whatever..." I said as I yawned again.

Serena handed me her homework and set me to get to work copying it while she prepared breakfast. She grabs some instant food from a cupboard and quickly heated it up before serving it.

"If you weren't so slow we could have had a real breakfast. Don't blame me if it tastes like crap."

Hey, it's instant. As long as it doesn't kill me I could care less.

It was then that Stella walked in the kitchen, still in her pink colored pajamas, while rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

"Good morning...did you get enough sleep? You must have been real tired to sleep as long as you did." Stella said.

I smiled politely before greeting her.

"Good morning. I appreciate your concern. I'm quite fine, thank you."