A short story

I went to bed without dinner.  The family had friends over and they didn't arrive until 8 so appetizers weren't done until 10:30...I was so tired that the mere idea of sitting at a table for three more courses made my head hurt.  I apologized and went to bed by 11.

Funny things start happening in your twenties and one of them is that I can no longer sleep for more than 8 hours. So at 7:24 this morning my eyes were wide open.  Now heres the dilemma, I know that the family wont be awake for several more hours but this house creaks at every turn and if I leave my room they will surely hear me. But I really wanted to grab some food for my room and then lock myself in here for the rest of the day (my door doesn't have a lock but "push a hamper in front of the door to slow down the children who bust through it" was too lengthy) because the weekend is technically my time off- but when you live with your employers its pretty hard to draw the line.

 Anyway- I decided to risk it.  I opened my door which made an immediate creaking noise- I knew this had stirred the attention of the children so my actions now needed to be quick. If the children caught me bringing food to my room they would immediately rat me out to their parents and my morning of solitude would be over. Every stair I tiptoed down seemed louder than the last.  Without turning on any lights I made it to the kitchen where I breathed a sigh of relief. I began stuffing bread products in my robe pockets (I am a little ashamed at this) and was putting some jam on a baguette when it happened...the dog.  I had totally forgotten about the dog.  Jupiter is a little dog but he's got some serious power to him.  We lock him in the laundry room at night - the laundry room shares a door with the kitchen.  Just as I was finishing with the jam, Jupiter woke up and made his presence known with a whine. (I should add that this noise made me jump and I got black jam all over myself) I needed to get out of there - fast. I started to put everything back when the refrigerator door started beeping- dammit! Why did I need jam?! The beeping set Jupiter off. He now knew for sure someone was in the kitchen.  He started going Cujo on the door- slamming himself against it and rattling the whole kitchen.  It was official- I now had less than 20 seconds to make it back to my room, as someone would surely be awake from this.  I darted up the stairs and noticed Louis's light was on- OH NO! - I sprinted past his room and into my own where I quickly deposited my carby-treasures on my desk.   But I wasn't safe yet...he would come into my room and foil my plans unless I presented myself elsewhere. I went out into the hall and walked towards the bathroom, at which point he appeared and demanded of me what I was doing. I simply indicated I was going to the bathroom then going right back to sleep. He seemed unhappy with this answer but at least went back into his room.  Wohoo!! I made it! As I shut my door with a grin on my face I heard a quiet..."mamaa?" and I realized I had not actually made it at all...the flush of the toilet had awoken Jean.

I laid in my bed and turned off the light- pretending as if none of this had happened.  I heard Louis go downstairs and eventually someone came to retrieve Jean. I feel pretty bad about all of this but I know everyone will be back to sleep (in their parent's bed) within 5 minutes. Meanwhile, I am writing this to all of you while munching on madeleines in my bed at 7:45...and despite all of the trouble this took all I can think is...I wish I had some coffee.