Shine

Box of Rocks

I jolted awake when I heard the front door opening and stuck my fingertips in the corners of my eyes.

"Looks like your cat has vacated from under the table," Aunt Clara said from the kitchen.

I blinked drowsily down at my belly, which was presently occupied. "Found it."

She dropped her purse on the table, put my spoon in the sink, and came up behind the couch to see. She chuckled. "I think I'll agree on it being a housepet."

"Excuse me, this cat is a homeowner, thank you."

"Uh huh."

"Just trying to get away from the plebeians for a spell." My voice was still gritty.

"Uh huh." She propped her elbows on the back of the couch. "Long day?"

"Meh, not really. I had fun. It's just more exhausting than I realized to be around so many new people."

"Makes sense. Got much catching up to do?"

"Nothing critical. Gotta read Of Mice and Men by next Tuesday and turn in a paper on it."

"There's a library one block over."

"Fate."

She smiled, and tapped the end of my nose before I swatted her hand and she petted the cat—royally ignoring us—instead. "What you feel like for dinner?"

I grimaced. Breakfast and lunch had been all right. The cereal had felt weird. "Don't suppose we have any fruit."

"I picked up a bunch of bananas on the way home. Want anything on them?"

"I will go bare, thank you."

She stood to bring me one, then finally kicked off her shoes. I thanked her, laid the banana on the table behind me for later, and called to her as she took her purse to her room and left the door open so we could bellow while she changed into 'civilian clothes'. "So how was work? The doctors here all assholes or idiots too?"

"Hey, the ones in Edmonds weren't all assholes or idiots, just the ones I seemed to have to work the most with."

"Okay, so how are these ones?"

"They all seem like nice, knowledgeable people so far. The other nurses seem like a cheery bunch, and the head doctor introduced himself. He's nice. Handsome man."

I grinned, having taken up the cat-petting where she'd left off. "That Doctor Cullen? Too bad I heard he's married."

"Yeah I heard his kids are all juniors or seniors at your school."

"I only heard about them in passing, honestly. Angela was talking about having to take one of her younger brothers to him for croup after school. Since said brother is a twin, she was hoping the other one didn't get it or already have it."

"And while discussing this is marriage came up?"

"Tyler teased Angela that Angela must be going so her mom didn't regret being married herself. It was sort of implied."

"Ah." She returned with her rumpled hair released from its scarf, in a T-shirt and jeans. "Right. I don't have any homework myself just yet, so I'm going to start priming the top cabinets in the kitchen if you think the smell won't bother you."

I magnanimously waved. "Not a bad nose day today, thanks."

"Glad to hear it. I think I'll prop a few windows open so it can air out—it's nice out today, and that primer's oil-based."