*BEEP*BEEP*BEEP*BEEP* The distinctive sound of an unwelcome alarm clock pierced the silence of David Earle's bedroom. He had already been awake for seven minutes but had decided not to get up, instead electing to stay in bed and stare at the clock as it counted up to 06:30.
This morning was much like every other weekday morning. David got out of bed, put on his dressing gown and went into his main room to put on the TV, as ever it was one of those 24 hour news channels David watched in the morning. He got a bowl of cereal and poured himself a glass of orange juice to take with the mornings headlines.
".....an earthquake measuring 3.5 on the scale hit Portsfield last night, no major damage was caused. A quake of this magnitude is only going to cause damage to more fragile possessions. Public transport in the city is not thought to be badly affected." David tuned out the news broadcast and went back to eating, not really paying attention to what was on the screen. Many mornings passed like this as David finished his cereal and made a pot of coffee to wake himself up properly.
********
One hour later
The double whammy of coffee and the morning shower had properly woken David up now. He was fully dressed (white shirt, red tie) and ready to leave for work, the elevator to the parking lot took him to his car and David joined the early morning traffic on their way into Portsfield.
Another hour later
David was at work and all ready to go for another day. More coffee would do the trick for him though his students would undoubtedly be lethargic when they arrived. The weekend meant parties and alcohol for some students and late nights for almost all of them. Monday morning lectures were more of an exercise in waking up the barely conscious students for the rest of the day.
"Good morning Mr Earle, slight room change. Your 9am lecture has been moved upstairs to 3:08, I've already informed your students." This was Mrs Adams, one of David's co workers and certainly more senior than he was. She was in her 60's and, although short, was able to boss around nearly everyone by being merit of an older lady with a stern voice who knew how to use it.
"Well whose in this one and why was I the last one to be told?" Was David's snapped reply. A long time spent being derided and obstructed by Mrs Adams meant he had little time for her and her stupid power plays any more.
"My decision of course, I need this room for my lecture this week."
"Alright, fine. Send any stragglers to 3:08 if they end up in here by mistake." Said David, already heading out of the door with his bag. On his way to the new room he could see the calm before the storm of a new week was beginning to crack, at the staircase he could see down into the building foyer and groups of students were making their way in with tentative steps. David could see some from his class entering the building and judging by the slow pace of their entrance it was going to be a slow morning. David had just a few more minutes of calm before 9am hit and work began properly.
In this time David liked the relative emptiness of unoccupied lecture theatres and rooms, the rows of empty benches and chairs leading up to the back with not a soul sitting there. David could stand as far back as possible and appreciate the quiet for a precious few seconds.
A calm, straightforward say lay ahead, just like every other one.
This morning was much like every other weekday morning. David got out of bed, put on his dressing gown and went into his main room to put on the TV, as ever it was one of those 24 hour news channels David watched in the morning. He got a bowl of cereal and poured himself a glass of orange juice to take with the mornings headlines.
".....an earthquake measuring 3.5 on the scale hit Portsfield last night, no major damage was caused. A quake of this magnitude is only going to cause damage to more fragile possessions. Public transport in the city is not thought to be badly affected." David tuned out the news broadcast and went back to eating, not really paying attention to what was on the screen. Many mornings passed like this as David finished his cereal and made a pot of coffee to wake himself up properly.
********
One hour later
The double whammy of coffee and the morning shower had properly woken David up now. He was fully dressed (white shirt, red tie) and ready to leave for work, the elevator to the parking lot took him to his car and David joined the early morning traffic on their way into Portsfield.
Another hour later
David was at work and all ready to go for another day. More coffee would do the trick for him though his students would undoubtedly be lethargic when they arrived. The weekend meant parties and alcohol for some students and late nights for almost all of them. Monday morning lectures were more of an exercise in waking up the barely conscious students for the rest of the day.
"Good morning Mr Earle, slight room change. Your 9am lecture has been moved upstairs to 3:08, I've already informed your students." This was Mrs Adams, one of David's co workers and certainly more senior than he was. She was in her 60's and, although short, was able to boss around nearly everyone by being merit of an older lady with a stern voice who knew how to use it.
"Well whose in this one and why was I the last one to be told?" Was David's snapped reply. A long time spent being derided and obstructed by Mrs Adams meant he had little time for her and her stupid power plays any more.
"My decision of course, I need this room for my lecture this week."
"Alright, fine. Send any stragglers to 3:08 if they end up in here by mistake." Said David, already heading out of the door with his bag. On his way to the new room he could see the calm before the storm of a new week was beginning to crack, at the staircase he could see down into the building foyer and groups of students were making their way in with tentative steps. David could see some from his class entering the building and judging by the slow pace of their entrance it was going to be a slow morning. David had just a few more minutes of calm before 9am hit and work began properly.
In this time David liked the relative emptiness of unoccupied lecture theatres and rooms, the rows of empty benches and chairs leading up to the back with not a soul sitting there. David could stand as far back as possible and appreciate the quiet for a precious few seconds.
A calm, straightforward say lay ahead, just like every other one.
