Kel woke up and looked at her clock. It seemed her alarm clock would never stop going off if she didn’t get up. She stretched and leaned over and pressed the “alarm-off” button, ceasing the terrible noise.

”There is nothing worse than an alarm clock.” She said to herself.

Slowly taking the covers off, Kel stretched her legs out and adjusted to the cold of her room, which wasn’t really cold but compared to the warmth of her bed, it was.

Kel yawned and rubbed her eyes. Standing up, she adjusted to her feet and found her lightswitch. When she flipped it up, she squinted at the light and finally walked over to her closet. Leaning in, she picked out a pair of gray pants and a white shirt. She walked to her dresser and picked out socks and finally got dressed.

When she arrived downstairs in the kitchen, she noticed her mom was cooking breakfast. An extravagant breakfast, which was way out of the ordinary. Her mom should already be at work.

”Mom...??” Kel questioned.

Mrs. Archer looked up, startled by her daughter’s presence. “Oh! Kellyn! I decided to make breakfast!” Mrs. Archer indicated this by pointing out bacon frying, hashbrowns frying, sunnyside eggs being prepared, along with sausage, homemade donuts, orange juice, milk, jelly, and toast all lined up on the kitchen counter. This was really weird and Kel didn’t know what to say.

”Mom...shouldn’t you be at work? I mean, if you’re sick you shouldn’t be cooking breakfast...” Kel said in confusion.

”Oh, I know. I decided to call in sick today. I’m not really sick, just sick of work I guess. Couldn’t really sleep last night, so I figured why sleep at all? I can get up and make this great breakfast and heck, you don’t have to go to school today! Let’s just have some breakfast and spend some time together!” Mrs. Archer said rushed.

”Mom...have you been drinking??” Kel asked, indicating she thought her mom was crazy.

”Kellyn, you know I don’t drink.” Mrs. Archer said almost ashamed that Kel would think that.

”It’s only the second day of school. How can I miss a day already?” Kel asked, walking over and reaching for a piece of cooling bacon and putting it in her mouth.

”If it was a normal day you could. Why not now?” Mrs. Archer was one of those parents that forced her kid to go to school as long as they weren’t bleeding, throwing up, or some other major disease or anything likewise.

”Alright, Mom. What is up?!” Kel asked, swallowing the bacon she had been chewing. Mrs. Archer looked at the counter. She looked like she was going to cry.

”I’m not sure, Kellyn. I...I just...” That’s when she did start crying.

Kel set down what was left of the piece of bacon and reached over and hugged her. “What’s wrong, mom?”

Mrs. Archer pulled back and wiped her eyes. “Oh look at me blubber! I’m sorry, Kellyn.” Mrs. Archer quickly turned her back on her daughter and continued to pick the sizzling bacon with a fork.

Kel reached out and turned her mom towards her again. Her mom’s eyes were red. Her cheeks were pink. Kel knew something was up. “Mom! What?!?”

Mrs. Archer smiled. “Oh Kellyn. Your father has come back.”