dawn

D18 arises in the middle of the night and lights every bulb in the house, readying himself for his summer job, slurping cereal and closing the front door twice on his way out. Rasputin rolls out of the driveway as Hubby and I roll ourselves over and plump the downy pillows, making sleeping noises. I sense Hubby reaching out to hold my hand, we blink and murmur and fall back asleep.

Still before dawn, Hubby rouses himself, donning suit and tie. I roll out of bed into yesterday's beach shorts and create our espresso moment and then we share a fruit smoothie with R14, freshly washed and brushed, packing last night's sushi into her school bag. We listen to summer music as I drive Hubby to work in The Tardis, laden with computer and lunch and papers and plans and promises to stay at work until the current problem is solved.
I turn up the music on the way home.

Woozie and I play beauty parlour for a bit and then I rush outside to snap the dawn.
We hop in the car again, leaving a note for sleeping lads, sharing a few secrets. R14 is looking forward to reconnection with mates, I am feeling so happy for her delight and anticipation. I kiss her and capture the image of her smile as she flies out of the car.
I turn up the music again on the way home.

Two brothers roll inside from their night in the tent asking, "Is Daddy still home?" I hold them to me, breathing in the sleep which still clings to their warmth and they mooch off to ring him in his office, leaving a message on his answerphone, and head towards the food.

I go off in search of another espresso and pop a pink Summer Playlist in my blog sidebar: an antidote to the term dawning, as summer sleep-ins and lazy family beach days flit into my head and flit out.
I turn up the music.