egocentric

 Light from the open door to the balcony, and already there is the first warmth of what will probably be another very hot day. There is no wish to do anything much at all, other than to make the small breakfast and to read the news. From all of the houses around about there is the sound of awakening families, the sound of clattering crockery, and more distant, the sound of some machinery. There is the muffled sound of speech and a cough. All of the buildings here are so close together that it is difficult to tell where each of the sounds are coming from.

It is a peaceful atmosphere. Downstairs, in the kitchen, the mess is incredible. Find the necessary implements and a pot and the coffee maker and make breakfast. Take care not to disturb any of the chaos and not to start clearing. There is no point. All of the horizontal surfaces are full of items that have not been cleared away. It will not be long now before there is a complaint that the kitchen is not big enough and that there is not enough storage space. Take the breakfast upstairs, and a cup of coffee too. 

There is a message from a friend, a demanding friend who wants time this weekend to take a ride on a bicycle. This would be his pleasure. And his conversation would probably be about himself and his family and his friends. 

These are all very charming people, his friends.