The Very Best Day of the Year (Closed to splendid_roman)

[first_in_time]

Barbara's eyes slowly opened enough to squint a little at the streaks of morning light across the bedroom ceiling. She stretched, cat-like, pointing her toes and reaching up toward the headboard. As she sat up, pushing away the covers a little, Barbara noticed that Ian was nowhere to be seen. It was a curious thing because he was often the last

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[splendid_roman]

Ian yawned as he entered the kitchen. As he did, his mother and John came in from the back garden, John carrying a basket of eggs.

"Morning!" Ian's mother said, brightly, far too awake at this time of the morning.

"The chickens laid eggs," John said, showing Ian the basket.

Ian's mother took the basket off John before he could break any of them and Ian asked, "Are we having them for breakfast?"

[first_in_time]

"What else do you use eggs for?" John asked Ian with a funny look. "We're going to cook Mummy breakfast. She doesn't know and you can't tell her!" the tone he used was clearly something he copied from Ian's mother. Not only because he didn't usually talk in such a way but also because Ian's mother smiled knowingly right before kissing Ian's cheek good morning.

"Sleep well?" she asked as she put a basket of picked vegetables on a nearby table.

[splendid_roman]

"Yes, thank you," Ian said to his mother. "I won't tell her," he promised John. "What are you going to make?" He put the kettle on, because he was in need of tea.

[first_in_time]

"Eggs," John said as though it were the most obvious thing in the world.

"There's no need for that," Ian's mother replied sternly. "Why don't you go and finish your card? Your things are on the table in the lounge. We can start cooking as soon as all of this is put away."

She pulled out everything Ian needed for tea, as she was gathering everything else that would be needed for everyone's breakfasts. Including a tray to put Barbara's upon when they took it up for her.

"I thought I might take John out for a walk to see the cows later. They're only a mile or so away but it'd be good to get him out in the fresh air," she began as she worked, "your father needs to take the car into town, you can go with him if you'd like or stay here with Barbara if she doesn't want to go out. Up to you, of course."