Morning Rush Hour

It is 5:30 AM

The cat scratches in her bathroom litter box, and awakens Eddie in the nearby mudroom.

Eddie scratches at the mudroom gate, and barks his annoying barkless bark “Get up World it’s time to get up! I’m starving!”

He awakens Mitzi, curled up on my bed, who joins the chorus.  Bark Bark Bark Bark Bark.  For a wee little dog, she has a very big bark.

She awakens Riley, who circles the bed, back and forth, back and forth, long collie nose nudging my face, my hand.  “Auntie Jean, my biscuit please”

Oh doG, I want more sleep. 

I stumble out of bed, give the three dogs a biscuit, and send them outside.

The cat circles my feet, meowing loudly.  I stumble to the fridge for her food and fill her dish. Dogs back in.  Eddie and Mitzi race for the kitchen. "Breakfast! Breakfast!"  they clamour.   Riley prances down the hall behind them.

Oh doG, I want more sleep.

I switch on the coffee which I have set up the night before. I fix their breakfast.  Raw for Eddie.  Kibble with two supplements and a little water for Riley.  Kibble with lots of water and one supplement for Mitzi.  Mitzi doesn’t want to eat hers in the kitchen.  Too close to the big dogs.  I move her dish and she gobbles greedily, flinging water and kibble across the living room floor.  I mop it up.

Oh doG, I want more sleep.

I pick up the dog dishes, check if anyone wants out again (Eddie does – he was too starving the first time to take time to pee).

I put Eddie out, let him back in, stumble to the washroom and then  back to the kitchen to pour my coffee. I head to my armchair in the living room, hands wrapped tightly around the warm mug. 

It is 6:30 AM.  The house is quiet and still.  Mitzi is curled up on my bed fast asleep.  Riley is curled up on the couch fast asleep.  Eddie is stretched out on the floor fast asleep.  The cat is curled up on my lap, fast asleep. The morning rush hour is over.

And I am wide awake.