jamie and eric-4-breakfast

* * *

Eric didn’t hear the knocking on the door. But Master Brown has keys. Eric became aware of her presence rather quickly, but felt too tired to move. His limbs like lead weights. Yet his body was moving. Off the bed. Eric caught himself from hitting his head on the floor. Master Brown made a closing gesture to end the spell. Telekinesis wasn’t her specialty. She needed hand gestures.

“Why’d’ya do that for?” Eric spoke like his mouth was full.

“Good morning, Eric. I know you’re slow in the morning, so I woke you up an hour before you need to leave our suite. I thought you had an alarm clock…” Master Brown surveyed the room. Bare yet messy.

“Maybe, I dunno.” Eric stumbled around vaguely thinking about clothes.

“Hmm, okay. Well breakfast is on the table when you’re ready.”

The sky outside was murky gray. His window faced the south. The sun was on the other side of the building. Eric wondered what the light was like in Dahlia’s room, which faced the courtyard. Didn’t someone tell him that this building was only suites for masters and their apprentices, thus is was the nice quarters. And nice views. The higher academics got all of the plush things. Think of all those students who just went to college for a degree. Never paired up with a master. Living in the dormitories.

“Eric,” Master Brown’s voice called from the common room.

“Comin’, “ he called back. Better to think about pants than buildings. Than the system he was stuck into. Better to remind himself to keep his eyes open.

His clothes weren’t clean. Eric put them on anyway. He was responsible for his own laundry and that meant that he generally wore dirty clothes. He didn’t mind.

The people at the breakfast table quieted as he sat down. Maybe they minded.

“Good morning everybody.” Jamie mumbled a response his eyes fixed onto his cereal. Eric tried, but Jamie wouldn’t make eye contact.

Dahlia, of course, had a bitter remark for him, “I’m surprised to see you.”

Even as tired as he was Eric felt how awkward this was. He couldn’t clearly remember the last time he had an easy interaction with either Jamie or Dahlia.

“Uh, yeah… not my normal be awake time.” Eric shook his head. That didn’t come out quite right. He just sat down.

Breakfast was a communal pot of hot cereal, from which everyone helped themselves and added various ingredients from associated dishes on the table. Every master’s suite included a kitchen—a small one. But enough to make simple food. Students, usually younger ones, earned some extra money by delivering groceries to the masters. Eric wasn’t sure if that’s what Master Brown did, or if she just bought groceries herself. Of course any of them could eat at the cafeteria as well.

Eric added the thick brown syrup and cold pale cream to the gooey breakfast mush. He didn’t really like breakfast. He didn’t normal have to eat it. He didn’t normally get up in time. Oh well.

Not letting the silence phase her, Master Brown spoke up, “So I packed you a lunch today Eric, but you’ll have to do that for yourself in the future.” She took a sip of her coffee. In mid sip she remembered another point, “Mm, also I think it’s fine if you don’t want to shower until after work.”

Eric blanched. He was smart enough to feel the intended impact of her words. He had to get his act together. “Thanks,” Eric responded lamely.

Silence fell again. Master Brown, apparently done with breakfast, was reading a book and drinking coffee. Jamie looked like he might never talk again. His shoulders hunched, his black hair hiding his face. Dahlia looked indigent, but kept her silence. Eric squirmed in his seat. The hard wood chair was so uncomfortable when his entire body wanted to be prone. Silent bites. Silent eating noises. Silent emotions. Silently his fault.

Master Brown checked the clock on the wall behind her, “Eric you have twenty-two minutes before you need to leave.” And returned to her book.

Eric took that as his cue to gulp down the rest of his cereal. Finishing with his food he left the table, only to be reminded to wash his dish. Then he jogged out the door, only to be reminded he needed shoes… and his lunch… and probably a coat… and directions on where to meet Mr. Gransley.