the first day at work.

the strumming sound of the tablet alarm beside the bed successfully ends the sleep that would have happily gone on until much later.

Get up, find the clothes laid out last night.

Go to the bathroom, wash the teeth, and in the corridor, brush the hair.

The cat is fast asleep, even it has got used to longer sleeping times.

Go down the stairs, leave the jacket behind. Today will not be cold.

Walk up the dark street, towards the police station, away from the church, turn right.

There is the car, just where it had been left the day before yesterday. There are policemen in the brightly lit station, they are visible behind the glass of the windows. They are discussing something.

Get into the car, replacing the rubber that seals the door. It is coming loose, this has to do with age.

The age of the vehicle.

Start the engine and back the car out of the parking lot, and drive on down the street. Put on the lights now, it is five thirty in the morning and it is not light yet.

See the gates to the police station's parking lot open, and heading back into town after turning, note that one of the policemen has left the station and is going to the police van parked there. The lights blink as it is unlocked.

Proceed through the sleeping town to the tunnel under the hill with the castle.

And realise that the mobile telephone has been left on the table in the bedroom.

the first day at work.