happily asleep

 There is the sound of footsteps and doors closing and opening, the loose flagstone in the passageway clinking as it is stepped upon. Look at the watch, not yet awake. It is fivein the morning, and the son is active. He has filled the washing machine with a few clothes, and is busy in the kitchen making up some kind of breakfast for himself.

Barely awake, use the bathroom, and then decide to shave. Not having shaved for a week, the stubble has grown to be like a beard. But it never grew fast, ever. So it is not difficult tor remove now.

Meanwhile, the son is busy with his machinery in his room. His room is a disastrous mess. but then teenagers rooms frequently are.

There are still two bruised apples left. Slice them with a knife, make cubes of them, and put them into a plastic bag. Nobody will eat them, not the son nor the wife and certainly not the cat.

Put on day clothes and leave the house at a quarter past six. Take the walk up the hill, as the doctor had suggested, taking the camera bag and the plastic bag full of apple slices. It is damp weather, there is a constant threat of rain, and nobody else is under way among the trees of the park. The walk up to the top of the hill is concluded at seven in the morning, as the alarm on the mobile telephone proclaims. Turn the dinging noise off, 

The birds are waiting, all six of them today. They are insanely keen on the apples, they appear to have quite a taste for them. It is good that their beaks are not strong, they snap after the apple pieces without a regard for fingers.

When all the apples have gone, walk back down to the town, take the longer route by the river. There are groups of school children everywhere, many studying their 'phones in small groups, and discussing whatever is to be seen on these devices.

Upon the return home, at ten to eight, realise that the son has gone back to bed. He will be late for school, and tell him so.

There is nothing to be gained by waking too early, even if the intention is worthy of praise. The wife is still in bed, happily asleep. The son has picked up his bag and gone to school, it is only ten minutes away.