Waking Up Late p.4
A woman who wakes up at the same time every morning wakes up late | Part 4
Wow, this story is taking a while, isn’t it?
I want to say a HUGE thank you to everyone who’s been keeping up with the story since it started. Your support means a bunch to me ;)
Don’t fret, the following Prose Wednesdays are going to be way shorter than this. Hopefully just ONE post per story from now on.
According to the poll a few posts ago, most of you wanted to see more story per post, so I’m going to give you the rest and see how it goes. Ready?
Enjoy the finale ;)
“I’ll take the check please.” He nodded and turned to get it for her, but stopped when he heard Lynda’s heavy sigh as she collected her things.
Scott took the seat across from her, as though they were old friends getting coffee, rather than strangers who had met mere moments ago. “Bad day?”
Lynda decided to go with it- what was the harm in a little human connection? “You could say that.” She ended up telling him everything, about how waking up late had ruined her whole morning, and possibly her whole day. How she was hurting others and her business with her attitude, and didn’t know how to stop it.
Scott listened intently, never interrupting and nodding at all the right times. When Lynda had finished, he patted her hand gently in sympathy.
“I know how you feel.” Scott gazed at the cash register and customers around them. “But I have to say, I wish I could wake up on time every day. Especially yesterday; It’s a long story, but I was definitely wishing to wake up on time yesterday.” He pursed his lips.
“Well, I love long stories, and I have a lot of time,” Lynda said, interest piqued. Scott smiled and began.
-
Yesterday
Scott
Like most people, Scott rose from his short slumbers at various times, and was not unfamiliar with a horrible night’s sleep. However, he is known for his punctuality, especially on important dates. Like his first day at a new job.
College tuition wasn’t unkind to him, per se; It simply was not fond of Scott, and he was not fond of it. Scott was alright with paying his dues in a timely manner… but that ended once the small tailor shop he worked at went out of business. As a result, he was unemployed and unsure about his future.
He had heard from some friends that Deja Brew would be a good fit for him; It apparently had good wages and paid off-days. So, he applied. By several strokes of luck, Scott got the job.
It’s unfortunate that I’ll probably lose this job, He thought, running down the street to the bus which would take him to work. He was supposed to start nine minutes prior, a number that would surely triple if he missed his bus.
“No!” To Scott’s dismay, the bus pulled away from the station, leaving him far behind. A woman walking her German Shepherd gave him a pitying look that made his cheeks burn. He was sure to lose his job now.
After running for twenty minutes and making several wrong turns, Scott finally made it to Deja Brew. He was greeted with a stern scolding from his boss and given a warning. It was better than getting fired, but now he was on thin ice.
The next day, the small television in the corner of the cafe playing the morning news caught his attention.
“Yesterday morning at around seven thirty-five, a bus crashed into a lamppost after making a sharp turn to avoid a turtle. Thankfully, the passengers and driver all evacuated safely, with minor injuries.”
After looking at the photos online, Scott realized that this was the bus he was meant to take; and shockingly enough, the window he enjoyed sitting next to had been shattered from a fire hydrant next to the lamppost.
-
Today
Lynda
“Anything could have happened,” Scott said, shrugging. “But I can tell you that I’m pretty happy that I woke up late, scolding and all.”
Scott retrieved her check and Lynda rose with her things, thanking him for the entertaining story and lunch.
As she walked back to her studio, Lynda felt the warm rays of the early-afternoon sun on her skin and smiled at a father holding his young daughter. She noted it was her first real smile of the day.
She thought back to what Scott had said, chuckling again at the comedic retelling of his experience the day before; yet, she paused to consider her own situation, and the parallels between her predicament and Scott’s the day before.
It was possible, Lynda supposed, that life was meant to be this way. It was designed to be full of close calls and late mornings, tired smiles and clumsy mistakes.
The next day, Lynda woke up at 9:47 am, and grinned wider than she had in ages.
The End
Hi again! thanks for sticking through to the end.
Just to let you know, I REALLY need prompt ideas, if you have anything feel free to comment one! Or five. Your choice ;)