I think until the time change I am just going to accept that my morning prompts are just going to be coming a little later. I might get lucky a few days and have them early, but really, until it is no longer dark when I wake, this may just be the new time. So let jump into the morning prompt at the new fall adjusted time. It’s still fifteen minutes though, so set those timers and we are off.
I like this character. Not sure what the break in is about but I think I want to write a story for her so I will need to think a bit more. But it is nice to have a character I like.
Thursday, September 28th: Feathers flew through the air like snow.
Feathers flew through the air like snow. It was a disconcerting site in my formerly spotless home. Or at least what I was hoping was my formerly spotless home. Earlier a cleaning crew was supposed to come by. I tidied up in anticipation, putting away all the little things so surfaces could be dusted and rugs could be vacuumed without any issue.
In fact, I managed to collect a whole bunch of magazines I didn’t need anymore and take them down to the local community center for the kids to use in projects. I was surprised to find they were also the sort the various support groups to use in their wellness collages and healing exercises.
I found it somewhat gratifying that the magazines I purchased in the grocery checkout line for a little vapid entertainment would go on to serve a deeper purpose. It made me feel better about the collection I accumulated. I never subscribed to the magazines, only picked them up at check out. I told myself it was an occasional thing, but the stack I collected made me a liar.
I watched the feathers spinning through the air. Most of the feather cloud was descending now and I could see the ceiling fan was on. Why would the cleaning crew have torn apart pillows? As I contemplated this question, I heard a vehicle pull up on the street behind me. I turned and saw it was the van with the cleaning company logo on it pulling up to the curb.
Were the feathers part of some treatment? Like a face mask that had to be worn for fifteen minutes before being rinsed off. ‘Maybe they pull something out of the air.
“Hi,” a cheerful woman in a pink smock called. The company logo was picked out in baby blue. I was sure it was meant to be cute but the light blue on pink was actually difficult to read.
“You got our text about being late?” she asked. “There was an all hands on deck emergency at the elementary school.”
“So this isn’t your work?” I asked even as I pulled my phone from my pocket. Sure enough, there was a text saying that the cleaners would be a little late. It gave me instructions for rescheduling.
The cleaner walked up the stairs and joined me on the front stoop. She looked through the open door at the home’s interior.
“No we didn’t do that, why would we?”
Thoughts of cleaning dust motes from the air using feathers treated with some sport of dust magnet spray seemed ludicrous now. I decided not to mention it.
“You don’t have a dog by any chance?” she asked.
“No, no dog.”
“Then I think we had better just call a potential break in to the police. Especially if this is how you found it?”
I nodded. She gestured to my phone. “You call them and I’ll call the company. This is my last job for the day, so I’ll stay for the police and see what needs doing. It may be nothing or we may need to reschedule.”
“Right, police.”
Ten til Midnight 