1

The day started with anger. Anger from the sun, glaring in through everyone’s windows – and anger from Kindra, who was woken up by it. Her son, who had been sleeping behind her, was also angry. He kicked Kindra in the back.

Kindra tried to pretend she was still sleeping. Not necessarily for her son, but for herself. If she just laid there, refusing to acknowledge the sunshine and the kicking, she could gain a few more minutes of calm.

Her son’s little feet remained planted on the small of her back. He grunted, angry that Kindra wasn’t waking up. Kindra didn’t bother reacting to him, she was so tired. She just rolled out of bed. Her shoulders slumped. Her knees bent. She sauntered over to the dresser and pulled the drawers out one by one, checking the contents for the clothes she wanted. Her son eyed her.

He had stayed on his side with his feet out in front of him, as if they were still boring into Kindra’s back. He followed her with his angry eyes as she changed and took some water out of the tap. When she finished her water, she paused at the counter, and then turned around to face him.

“Andy,” she said, “are you ready to get up?”

Andy just looked at her. Then he rolled over.

Kindra’s patience wore off fast. After he made her get up, surely he wasn’t going to try to avoid getting up himself. “Andy,” she said, “get up.” She walked over to drag him off the bed – and as soon as he realized what she was doing, he started to fight her on it. He kicked and held his arms close to his body, not letting her grab any part of him.

“Andy,” she said, half through her teeth.

She finally got a good hold on his forearm and dragged him off the bed – just to realize she didn’t know what to do then – and set him down on the floor. He sat there, cross legged, and glared. Kindra grabbed him a clean shirt off his dresser, yanked his pajama shirt off over his head, and quickly pulled the fresh one on. She slid his shoes on fast but got frustrated when his heels wouldn’t fit in right. He was probably outgrowing these shoes now, even though she just bought them for him. She grabbed him by the forearm again, yanked him up, and they rushed out the door – Andy still wearing his pajama bottoms.

Outside of Castle Apartments, Kindra and Andy readjusted themselves so they were holding hands. Without speaking, they made their daily trek to Casa De Waffles.They didn’t see anyone on the way, since it was already past the work rush. Anyone who was going to leave their house for the day had already left.

Kindra watched Andy's scowl turn to an expression of distaste as he smelled the stench of the town rising off of the pavement. The smell disrupted his moody routine. As Kindra watched him, she got over her anger a little bit. By the time they reached Casa De Waffles, she was almost calm again.