Friday, November 19, 2004

   What I have of chapter three
This is all I wrote of chapter three. Maybe I'll finish it sometime.

Chapter Three
The next morning Marlena slept in. She would be working the nightshift that evening and she wanted to get as much rest as possible. Of course she would also take a nap just before she went to work. She hated working the nightshift, but in times like these one did what was needed. She pulled herself out of bed around eight and got into the shower. After getting dressed she went out into the living room to check on Duo. He was awake and turned to look at her when she came in.
"Don't you have work today?", he asked
"I'm working nightshift so I don't have to go in until seven", she told him as she poured herself a bowl of cereal. "What do you want for breakfast?", she asked Duo.
"Just whatever is fine.", he told her.
"Good, because I don't have much in the way of breakfast food. I generally eat cereal, which is what I have the most of."
"I'll just have what you're having."
Marlena poured a second bowl of the cereal, added milk and handed it to him along with a spoon. "Be careful not to spill", she admonished him.
"Jeesh, you treat me like I'm your little brother or something. I can take care of myself."
"Obviously not well enough.", Marlena retorted. She sat down and ate her own cereal in silence for several minutes, then spoke. "I've never had a brother, or any siblings for that matter. I'm my parent's only child."
"Really?", Duo asked around a mouthful of food, trying to sound politely interested.
"Yea, I don't know why they didn't ever have more children. I guess they decided one was enough. Do you have any siblings?"
"I don't have a family."
"Oh, well, I'm sorry."
"So am I."
Marlena took the hint and changed the subject. "You're healing pretty well. You should be able to get around on your own in a couple days. I can get you a set of crutches from work for you is you like."
"Thanks, that'd be great."
The rest of the meal was eaten in amicable silence. When Marlena was finished, she started on Duo's clothes. When she finally took them out of the dryer they were navy blue instead of the dull brownish blue they had been. It had taken quite a bit of scrubbing and soaking, but she'd managed to get most of the blood stains out as well. Next she got out her sewing box and took out a needle and spool of thread. She wasn't a very talented sewer, but she could mend well enough and they were in sore need of it.
When Marlena was finished she announced that it was time for Duo's bath. Duo still wasn't to thrilled with the idea, but allowed her to help him to the bathroom. The whole thing was done it awkward silence, Duo with his eyes fixed resolutely on the bottom of the tub and Marlena focusing intently on the spot she was washing and nothing else. When she was done she helped him out of the tub, sat him on the toilet seat, and dried him off. All the time Duo's face was growing more and more red.
"Wait here." she told him. Duo's face brightened when she came back carrying his own cloths.
"You should probably replace these with new ones. They're really beaten up, but they'll do for now." she said, as she helped him get dressed again. Duo didn't care how beat up or worn they were. They were his and they covered all of him.
Duo sighed with relief as Marlena lowered him back onto her couch. He picked up the t.v. remote, turned the television on and begun flipping channels. He finally settled on some made for t.v. movie that looked like it had originally been aired ten years ago.
The rest of the morning passed pretty much in peace and quiet. Marlena got a few chores done around the apartment and Duo either watched television, read, or slept. Lunch was leftovers from dinner the night before. It tasted just as good to Duo the second time around.
Comments (0)