Home time
They arrived at their little house and came to a stop under the leafy awning. Mary unclipped her seatbelt and stepped from the car into the cold and wet evening. She walked over to front door and stood watching as her husband strode over and reached to put the key into the lock. His eyes never searched for hers once and he never touched her as he walked past. The latch clicked and the door swung open. Inside there were no lights on and the small hallway was dimly lit from the last remaining rays of sun that managed to break through the cloud cover. He shuffled inside, stooping down to pick up the mail that was on the floor. Every day he would leave his keys in the lock and Mary would have to wrench them free and shut the door behind her as she followed the shadow in front of her through to the kitchen. Everything seemed mechanical. They knew their role and played them well. As she turned on the kettle she watched as the rain spat down on the pane outside. It seemed different here, looking out of these windows. Of course the picture was different but it also felt different. There was no warmth in the grey glow of the clouds and no radiance from the few rays that shone down. Steam blew up from the kettle spout, clouding up the window and making the scene outside look dreamlike.
Jake watched as the clock ticked over to 5pm. He grabbed his jacket and stuffed his arms through the holes. He could not be bothered to carry an umbrella with him, instead he enjoyed the cool feel of the water as it gushed down onto his face. As he stepped into the fresh air a shiver ran down his back. It was so good to be outside again. He rushed across the road and stood under the shelter waiting for the bus to come. Standing there he thought of the night that lay ahead of him and a smile curled up on his lips as his excitement returned. As he waited he watched as Maddy walked to the other side of the road to get the bus going in the opposite direction. She was wrapped up tightly in her shawl and stood under her green umbrella, waiting patiently. It wasn`t too long before his bus came rattling up and he was swept away, thoughts of Maddy left at the tin shed.
The music in his ears was soft and jazzy, but it drowned out the noise around him and left him to his thoughts. It was only a few stops before he jumped off. He dug his hands deep into his pockets and hunched his shoulders, bracing himself as he walked against the wind. His feet moved in time to the music in his ears and soon he arrived at his doorstep. The blue paint chipped off and lay in small flecks on the floor. His keys jangled as he pulled them from his pocket and reached out to unlock the door. He could hardly contain his excitement now.
Jake watched as the clock ticked over to 5pm. He grabbed his jacket and stuffed his arms through the holes. He could not be bothered to carry an umbrella with him, instead he enjoyed the cool feel of the water as it gushed down onto his face. As he stepped into the fresh air a shiver ran down his back. It was so good to be outside again. He rushed across the road and stood under the shelter waiting for the bus to come. Standing there he thought of the night that lay ahead of him and a smile curled up on his lips as his excitement returned. As he waited he watched as Maddy walked to the other side of the road to get the bus going in the opposite direction. She was wrapped up tightly in her shawl and stood under her green umbrella, waiting patiently. It wasn`t too long before his bus came rattling up and he was swept away, thoughts of Maddy left at the tin shed.
The music in his ears was soft and jazzy, but it drowned out the noise around him and left him to his thoughts. It was only a few stops before he jumped off. He dug his hands deep into his pockets and hunched his shoulders, bracing himself as he walked against the wind. His feet moved in time to the music in his ears and soon he arrived at his doorstep. The blue paint chipped off and lay in small flecks on the floor. His keys jangled as he pulled them from his pocket and reached out to unlock the door. He could hardly contain his excitement now.
