Flash Fiction

Breakfast at the Nelson's         

Cooking scorched the autumn air while Marta padded around the old farmhouse kitchen humming a melancholy tune. She still arose at the same hour though she did not notice that morning light would not appear for another hour.  She cooked breakfast. That is what she remembered.

A cat pranced went around Marta's ankles. After she turned the bacon, she scooped up the cat and hugged it before putting her downagain  "Shoo Tatters, before Lars sees you" 

She resumed kneading dough then dropped the dough ball into bits onto a cookie sheet.Then she shoved the cookies into the oven.

She gave old Monty a ham bone and the black Labrador went on without giving Marta another look.  Monty thudded to the floor in his special place.

The arthritis in Marta's hands was more distressing than usual this morning, but she continued to hum and get breakfast ready for Lars.The moving upstairs let her know he would only be 5 minutes.  Lars' growling stomach and fierce appetite upon awakening would have him eager to devour everything that was set before him. Marta put his food on china plate, then poured two cups of coffee. She soon remembered the biscuits and with quivering hands carried these cookies to the breakfast table before Lars came down the stairs.

"Good morning, Lars," said Marta.

"Woman," then sat down in silence. The Labrador sat at his master's side looking for attention. Lars smiled at Monty,then continued eating.

After a long time, after Lars had drunk his last cup of coffee, it was a peaceful moment for Marta as she looked at Lars slumped over with his head resting in egg yolk. She leaned across the table and yanked out the hairball that had lodged in her husband's throat.

Marta sighed and massaged the pain in her hands that soon would become worse.  Tatters' tongue licked at her looking for more attention.

The roar of snoring rattled the kitchen table. Eternity snapped from the cheerless morning and with it came the familiar warning. "Shoo, Tatters," said Marta. Then she made a pillow with her arms on the table to rest her weary head, even though there was wood to chop.