The Man In the Mask {POTO}

Chapter 3

Wednesday Morning

Gustave made his way downstairs to make some breakfast at around 9:30. Immediately, he noticed that the TV wasn't on, and Christine wasn't sitting on the couch eating her usual bowl of Frosted Flakes. He figured that she was super tired and needed her sleep. Maybe she set her alarm for a little later and doesn't need to be in for work until this afternoon, Gustave thought to himself.

A little over an hour later, Gustave found it strange Christine hadn't come downstairs yet. She had always been a morning person. He made his way up to her room to see if she was just getting ready, but arrived at an open door with Christine still asleep inside. He made his way to her bedside to wake her up.

"Christine?"

Christine jumped a mile high, and in the process, fell off the edge of her bed with a huge THUD!

"Good morning," Christine said while rubbing her eyes. "What time is it?"

"Honey..." Gustave began in a confused tone, "it is 10:45."

"WHAT!?" Christine jumped on her feet as fast as she could and scrambled around to get dressed. Usually she woke up to her alarm clock at around 8:30-9ish in the morning. This morning, however, her alarm must have not gone off. She always double checks that her alarm is turned on her phone. Why didn't it go off?

"I figured that you were able to sleep in a little today and go into work this afternoon. Did you not set your alarm? What time do you need to be at work?" Gustave asked. He was trying to figure out what the problem was. Christine has never overslept or anything before.

"I thought I set it! I must not have turned it on. I need to be at work at 11:45."

"Okay, well I'll be downstairs making you some food that you can take with you. You need to have some food in you." Gustave said, while pivoting and heading down the stairs to make some food.

Christine quickly ran into the bathroom and took a shower. Luckily, she had washed her hair the day before, so all she had to do was wash her body. As fast as lightning, she dried off, brushed her teeth, applied her makeup, and brushed out her unruly hair.

Christine ran into her closet and picked out a simple, but cute, outfit. After she grabbed her car keys, purse, and phone, she slipped on her shoes. Well, that didn't take as long as I thought, Christine thought with a smile. She checked the time, and she managed to get ready in 25 minutes, which meant she had enough time to quickly make her bed.

After she was 100% ready to go, she left her room with all of her belongings. As she was heading down the stairs, she remembered the strange feeling she had last night. She felt as though something important was going to happen today. What could it be? Nothing that I know of is supposed to happen today.

As Christine rounded the corner from the stairs, she caught the heavenly scent of bacon. That immediately got her feet moving twice the speed they were previously going.

When she entered the kitchen, she saw her father getting a bagel out of the toaster. Christine smiled at her father. I am lucky to have him. I'm 18 and he still made my breakfast for me because I overslept.

"Morning, again." Christine said with a slight chuckle.

"Good morning," Gustave replied with a smile, "I made you a bagel and bacon. All you have to do is put the spread on the bagel and pour your coffee."

"Thank you so much, Dad."

"No problem, sweet pea. Now, hurry up and eat so you can hit the road."

Christine watched as her father moved to the family room to read or watch TV. She made her way over to the fridge to get out the cream cheese and peppermint mocha creamer. She made her way over to the bagel and put the cream cheese on it, and made herself a cup of coffee.

Once done with all of that, she sat at the counter and inhaled the food. She cleaned off the plate and coffee mug, and then got into the cabinet and grabbed a water bottle. She quickly filled it up with ice and water.

"Bye, Dad! I'm leaving! Thanks for everything this morning!"

Christine stood there for a second to get her keys and phone ready. She heard her father call back with a goodbye and love you. Christine quickly replied and scrambled out to her car. Once in the car, she buckled in and checked the time. 11:30, Christine thought, I made good time.

With the feeling from the night before and this morning, she pulled out of the driveway and to Oliver's Book Nook.