Parallel Universe …

He woke up but felt no need to check the time; he knew it was 4:30 AM. After getting help for prep work he should be sleeping in late, but he still wakes up early and worries about Li washing the mushrooms after dicing them. He turned to look at his pretty wife. She was in deep slumber but still looked divine. He fought the urge to kiss her.  He could not risk waking her up, he didn't knew when she came to bed last night. He rolled out of the bed.

The floor outside their room was a landmine, he ventured carefully. At times he wondered how can Sarah spend half their earnings on closet organizers and still all the stuff ended up on floor. He managed to dodge crayons, balls, homework and more on his way to mark’s room. The bed was empty again. He chuckled. His kid again slid off the side of the bed and was blissfully splattered on the floor half over his comforter. ‘Moron’ he though while melting inside with fatherly love.

Next he checked on his princess sleeping in a pink room, on a pink bed, under pink bedding in a pink nightdress. She looked every bit as peaceful as she was a hurricane in her waking hours.

For Zac, the youngest, he went inside to the kid and touched his forehead to check the fever. Even though he knew he must be better; because the extra bedding where Sarah camped was now empty and she was in her own bed. Of course, the bedding was still on the floor. ‘Why was the floor the busiest place of this house and why is this boy a sick magnet’, he thought and sighed. He went to the kitchen to fix the sick kid…

He shook his head again in disapproval at the condition of the kitchen. The boys at work will die laughing at the sink full of dirty dishes and indisposed leftovers, dirty counter and haphazard stocking of groceries. It has a mutilated spice rack and crippled ingredients list. Heavens help, his kids don’t eat green. ….Nothing green. And no chive. And no goat cheese. And no olives... who doesn't eat olives? The list of what they didn't eat was so much bigger than what they could feed them.

He opened the fridge to grab the fruits, milk and eggs. His hands moved like magic as he chopped fruits for smoothie. He had limited time to prepare breakfast and lunch before leaving for work. In his hurry, milk spilled on the floor. More work, he sighed. 'This is why we need a dog I should have never asked Sarah, and given her a chance to say no. I could have just got the kids on my side’. Boy it would be such a cake walk to sell them this idea.  

He put the pasta to boil. He whisked the egg whites with the milk for the omelet and made pancake batter. His before sunrise efforts were so much easier than what his wife would have to do, actually make the kids eat.

This was his moments of chaos and peace. His time to boil, simmer, melt and brew; before the madness of the day would start.

Two arms gently wrapped around him. “Up already” he asked lovingly with a smile. “Had to check on, Zac” Sarah sighed. “I hate you, how will I make them drink a smoothie again” she added. “I hate you too, for not letting me get a dog” he replied. “I hate you three” she whispered kissing the back of his neck. A smile was smeared on his face.