A baby is shifted over and a hand reaches towards the beside table, fumbling, trying to reach the phone before she is woken by it. The phone falls off the table, the hand finds it on the floor and silences it. The baby is still asleep but no longer fully. She's covered up and a pillow is placed to her side so that she doesn't feel alone. Footsteps on the landing and curtains opened. "It's time to get up sweetheart your uniform is out and waiting for you" no response so covers are pulled and a smiling face, pretending to be asleep is exposed. Slowly an eye peeps open and then quickly shuts while the smile spreads. A hand reaches over the bunk to tickle her belly and she laughs that beautiful tune that only a child can conjure. "Good morning you silly thing. Now get up and get dressed."
A glance to the lower bunk reveals an empty bed. She must've snuck over quietly. Steps towards the landing and then to the bathroom. Sleep brushed out of the mouth, glasses lifted and water splashed onto the face. She looks into the mirror and what does she see? Eyes staring back with irises dark a small, unfitting for the large eyes themselves. Eyes that in her younger years were often described as beautiful and bright. A nose her parents had always said "needed fixing" that never was, and full lips. A slightly larger upper one that when glossed often gives the impression of a pout. Hair like a lion. She pulls it back and ties it into a messy knot atop her head, steps out of the room and locks it. The baby has now sat up and is rubbing her eye. When she spots her she begins to cry.
The baby is lifted, kissed and cuddled. Her Nappy is changed, a process that takes time do to kisses that need placing on her belly and toes. She giggles, that beautiful sound again, followed by equally lovely coos as she chatters to herself. She spots the stow away at the bottom of her bed now, or rather golden curls shifting gently in the bedding. She lifts the baby, now redressed, to her breast, and gives her a quick feed while she eats the banana and then downs the tablets, followed by water from her beside table. The child runs in from the other room, with her favorite doll in her hand, to show her that she is dressed. She plants an excited kiss on the woman and then rushes downstairs to make her breakfast because she is so very grownup.
The second alarm rings and is silenced. Footsteps on the landing and then the woman returns with the smaller child's attire for the day. She uncovers her dainty figure and kisses her nose. "Wake up stinky face" she wiggles but does not open her eyes, only reaches to pull the blankets back up and is annoyed when she realizes she can not. She moans in protest and the woman lifts her. She flops back onto the bed but she is lifted again. "Come on stinky face it's time to get up" she wrinkles her nose and replies "stinky oofa" to which the woman replies by sniffing her and then collapsing on the bed. The small child sits up laughing that beautiful laugh and then shakes the woman. Only to hand her her feet for them to be smelled, and for the woman to collapse once more. The baby crawls over to join and the small child pulls her over "oh my baby" she says, "laf you baby" she continues. The woman dresses the small child and then sends her down the stairs after the other just as the third alarm rings.
She puts the baby into the cot, though she protests and then walks to the room furthest from her own. She back tracks slightly, pulls the door of the little girls room shut and then locks it before returning to the last room and unlocking it. "Wake up sleepyhead" She walks to the window and pulls the curtain. Arranges the uniform, Nappy and wipes on the floor to create a changing space and then steps on the dome. She reaches and pulls the blankets away while singing her familiar morning tune. The child pouts and reaches for the blankets. She uses this to her advantage and grabs her hand. Pulls her over to her side of the bed and then, led by the hand brings her to the ladder. She guides her down while the child mumbles her protest, echoing the protests of the baby down the hall in her cot. She lays the child on the floor and speaks to her, expecting no reply as she undresses, changes and redresses her. "There, what a pretty girl" she says, and it's true despite the child's furrowed brow and fleeting eyes. She points her to the stairs, closes the door and locks it, before returning to the now wailing baby that she lifts before closing and locking her own room.
The baby immediately stops crying and reaches for the woman's glasses as she carries her down the stairs. They join the children who are all sat around the table watching their mutplication rock cartoons, two eating their cereal and the last fidgeting her hands with excitement. She sets the baby up in her high hair and gives her slices of banana and toast between the spoonfuls of cereal she feeds the oldest child. Diaries are checked, spellings are practiced and when the four girls have had their hair and shoes seen to, the woman hurries up the stairs and quickly changes her own clothes and returns to them. Coats are gathered and the doorbell rings, the oldest' child's escort has arrived and soon she is off to school, the woman quickly kisses the top of her head as she rushes out. "Have a great day and be good" is called out as the child reaches the bus. She slips on her own shoes, lifts the baby, shakes off crumbs and wipes away all stickiness before plopping her into the pushchair, then wipes the other girls faces and sends them to brush their teeth while she pulls scooters out of the cupboard. Soon they are all off for the morning, ponytails swishing about and grins like Cheshire cats while the baby claps her hands and the woman pushes on.
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