5 Minute Freewrite: 7/22/18 Potbellied

Potbellied
For @mariannewest's 5 Minute Freewrite by @eyedreemit

The Sunday morning routine had been set in motion an hour earlier than usual due to the sirens. Candace found herself making a second pot of coffee without realizing she had even made a conscientious decision after a mental tango in which the latest news reports on the benefits of daily doses of caffeine stepped on the toes of concerns about the jitters.

What she didn’t realize was that this repetition of movement, sound, and scent had instigated repetitions in the movements and sounds within her son as he sat on the floor with his iPad.

Lucie had noticed and plopped herself closer to him on the rug near the window, one paw on Raphael’s knee. Just 30 minutes prior, they had been on the sidewalk outside barely long enough for Lucie to take care of business. Raphael’s moans against the injustice of being 54 minutes ahead of schedule had replaced the sirens.

Raphael was still agitated despite Candace’s assurances that the flock of red engines had surely swooped in to help whomever had been in need. Wasn’t that comforting?

The ding-ding-ding-ding of the train crossing signal drowned out the glugs and churgles of the coffee maker, and everyone, including Lucie, took their positions at the window. Soon Raphael confirmed it was a freight train by heading out to the balcony for a better view.

The screeching and squealing of the hopper cars, car carriers, and pot bellied tanker cars captivated and calmed him. Candace dutifully counted each one as it grumbled by until Raphael flashed his hands counting by tens and fives, and finally four fingers, beating her to 29 with a grin.

Back inside, coffee cup in hand, Candace flipped open her laptop. Raphael rolled a ball across the floor over and over for Lucie to retrieve. They were back on track.