30 Jan 2024, 04:15
the very moment
The morning started like any other, with Pippa preparing a light breakfast of eggs and toast for herself and Margaret, her younger 8-year old sister, while her parents, Dennis and Molly, frantically dashed back and forth gathering their things for a full day of work. It was a Friday and the weather was dreary with dark clouds overhead, but no rain. Pippa smiled as she served Margaret the simple breakfast on beautiful glazed stone blue plates her mother had crafted a few years earlier. Margaret whined that she had only wanted cereal.
As Pippa sat her own plate down in her regular spot at the breakfast table, her father shuffled past and patted her on the head, "Thanks for cooking, sport!" Then, as he passed once more, he added, "Didn't give myself enough time this morning." Pippa chuckled as she wondered to herself whether or not he noticed this was the norm. She didn't mind though. The hustle and bustle of mornings with her family gave her a sense of calm before the chaos of school.
Generally speaking, there were no problems for Pippa at school. She made average grades and had average friends. She was a positive force, bubbling with conversation the moment she walked through the school's double doors. Other kids liked Pippa but she never truly got close to them, and she certainly didn't have a best friend. She was gliding through school and through life, few things exciting enough to make her an interesting topic to anyone.
That is, until the very moment she flung her school bag over her shoulder and reached for the front door handle. She was getting ready to ride her bike to school for the last time before the summer holiday began. But before she could turn the knob, an envelope flew through the mail slot in the door and collided with Pippa's stomach. "Oh!" she exclaimed, then proceeded to pick it up. It was formally addressed to her and when she flipped it over she found a red wax seal that revealed the letter was from Hogwarts.
Eyebrows raised, Pippa turned back towards the kitchen where Dennis and Molly were nearly ready to head out. She raised it in her left hand and with a quiet excitement, she said "It's from Hogwarts. Hogwarts!" Enthusiasm building in her and a knowing dawning across her father's face, they began to dance around with one another. Dennis had also gone to Hogwarts in his youth and had shared a myriad of stories with both of the girls, so Pippa was well aware of what this meant.
Margaret and Molly stood watching the moment with glee. Chatter of what this meant for Pippa and for the family ensued and filled up the remainder of the morning before it dawned on Molly that all four of them would be late for their responsibilities. She urged them to gather their things then ushered them out the door. Pippa couldn't take her smile off her face as she daydreamed through the last day's activities and wondered how she would make it through a whole summer before getting to experience what she'd hoped for most in her whole 11 years of life. Truly, she thought, this will be when my life really starts.
As Pippa sat her own plate down in her regular spot at the breakfast table, her father shuffled past and patted her on the head, "Thanks for cooking, sport!" Then, as he passed once more, he added, "Didn't give myself enough time this morning." Pippa chuckled as she wondered to herself whether or not he noticed this was the norm. She didn't mind though. The hustle and bustle of mornings with her family gave her a sense of calm before the chaos of school.
Generally speaking, there were no problems for Pippa at school. She made average grades and had average friends. She was a positive force, bubbling with conversation the moment she walked through the school's double doors. Other kids liked Pippa but she never truly got close to them, and she certainly didn't have a best friend. She was gliding through school and through life, few things exciting enough to make her an interesting topic to anyone.
That is, until the very moment she flung her school bag over her shoulder and reached for the front door handle. She was getting ready to ride her bike to school for the last time before the summer holiday began. But before she could turn the knob, an envelope flew through the mail slot in the door and collided with Pippa's stomach. "Oh!" she exclaimed, then proceeded to pick it up. It was formally addressed to her and when she flipped it over she found a red wax seal that revealed the letter was from Hogwarts.
Eyebrows raised, Pippa turned back towards the kitchen where Dennis and Molly were nearly ready to head out. She raised it in her left hand and with a quiet excitement, she said "It's from Hogwarts. Hogwarts!" Enthusiasm building in her and a knowing dawning across her father's face, they began to dance around with one another. Dennis had also gone to Hogwarts in his youth and had shared a myriad of stories with both of the girls, so Pippa was well aware of what this meant.
Margaret and Molly stood watching the moment with glee. Chatter of what this meant for Pippa and for the family ensued and filled up the remainder of the morning before it dawned on Molly that all four of them would be late for their responsibilities. She urged them to gather their things then ushered them out the door. Pippa couldn't take her smile off her face as she daydreamed through the last day's activities and wondered how she would make it through a whole summer before getting to experience what she'd hoped for most in her whole 11 years of life. Truly, she thought, this will be when my life really starts.