Absent - Elaine Arbery

“Hey Siri. What’s the time?”

“It’s 9:05.”

9:05! No wonder it’s so warm and bright! How on earth did I sleep until 9:05?

I sit bolt upright and bolt to the toilet.

Right! How am I going to arrange – rearrange - my day to fit it all in?

I boil the kettle, prepare a pot of green tea, which is supposed to help me think clearly and pick up a piece of fruit. That satisfying crunch as sweet juiciness erupts in my mouth.

If I don’t schedule exercise, it won’t happen and I’m not a nice person without my exercise-induced endorphin hit. I don’t even like being around me, so how could anyone else?

That’s easy. I’ll just exercise now, while I’m still waking up and my brain is still processing the day ahead.

I pick up the phone, to pull up the schedule I exercise to.

DING!

“I’m just leaving home now. I’ll be at your place in 30 minutes. See you then!”

Darn! I’ll be halfway through my exercise schedule then if I start now and breaking it up like that never works. I’ll cool down and it’s hard to warm my muscles up again.

I pour myself a cup of tea as I contemplate what to do with half an hour that won’t see me annoyingly part way through something when they arrive.

I choose clothes to wear for the day, brush my teeth and put aside the things I will need for the next few days.

KNOCK. KNOCK.

I try not to look at the clock as we talk about what needs to be discussed.  I try not to hurry.

Then, the coast is clear and I have not quite enough time to exercise. Maybe, if I start now and hurry through my routine?

DING!

DING! DING! DING!

I ignore it.

DING! DING! DING! DING!

I block it out.

RING! RING!

I’d better answer it.

“Didn’t you see my messages?”

Another thing to fit into my day.

And I have to run the AGM tonight. Our secretary is absent.