Morning Hustle

I open my eyes. It's still dark out but the sun will be rising soon. The street lights are still on. I close my eyes again. I need a moment of peace before the insanity starts. Just as I'm about to dose off it starts. I hear screaming and laughter first, then my name being called. I give myself a few more seconds before getting out of bed and heading out into the hall.

"Yea mum," I say with a yawn. She's only just gotten out of bed but she looks like she's been awake for centuries. She's standing there in her dressing gown, with her hair everywhere everywhere and the bags under her eyes getting bigger by the day. She wants me to help but I'm too tired, I just wait for her to ask which doesn't take long.

"Cat, could you pack Charlie's stuff please?" She asks holding out a bag. I take it reluctantly, sighing as I do so. Mum then hands me a list of clothing. Three pairs of socks, two pairs of underwear, shirts, pants; a simple list. I sigh again pushing past her and entering Charlie's room. I turn back to watch her disappear into her room across the hall before turning back to the dump.

It's a mess, I can't even see the floor. I don't want to pack Charlie's stuff, why can't he do it himself? I make my way across the room to his closet. I open it and everything seems to fall out. I grab the first clothes I see, checking them off on the list and chuck them in the bag. I zip the bag up and quickly retrace my steps back out of the room. I hear the shower turn on from mum's ensuite meaning Charlie's having a shower. I dump his bag outside his room and go back to my room.

I packed my bag the night before, it's sitting next to my bed. I chuck my pillow on top and I get dressed out of my pajama's. The dawn is starting to break through the cracks in my blinds. I pull out my phone and check Instagram. Nothing much is happening, but that's expected I guess at five in the morning. I turn on the camera and take selfie. "Family road trip #whoopwhoop"  I type into the description section. I then go to the post the photo but I can't. Who is that happy person? That can't be me. I just stare at the photo that I took of me, but it's not me. I decide to just delete it and I chuck my phone in my bag.

The light's coming through now, I open my blinds and let in the light. I grab my bag and pillow and walk back out into the hall. As I walk past, I grab Charlie's bag as well. Then Charlie comes running out of mum's room. Naked. He is screaming in laughter as he runs around me into his room.

"Mum!" I scream looking away, up at the ceiling. She comes out of her room with a towel over her shoulder. I give her a disguisted look because of the sight I've just seen.

"Oh Catherine. Calm down, stop being ridiculous," she grunts pushing past me.

"Don't be ridiculous? Mum he's twelve, he should know better!" I exclaim.

"I beg your pardon?" She turns to face me. I've made her angry. She wants me to apologize but I refuse too, I'm sick of it. Mum takes a deep breath and through grinted teeth changes the subject. "Go and organise breakfast."