A Morning in the Life of Many Ordinary People

Two - Noelle

I awaken to brilliant sunlight streaming onto my face through the golden tinged leaves of the enormous oak tree that lives in my garden. I open my eyes and I am confused, why on earth am I outside? Then I remember. I saw a cat perched on a wall opposite my kitchen window last night and I had to sketch her, I just had to. She was a perfect snowy white with the bushiest tail you have ever seen and she was so beautiful I had to have her in my notebook forever. Never mind that it was 2am and I had just come downstairs for a glass of water. I couldn't help myself, you see once I see something I want to draw I have to draw it right then right in that moment otherwise I am terrified it shall be gone forever, and imagine how heart breaking that would be if you lost the opportunity to draw something so beautiful. I couldn't bear that. I sit up straight bolt upright and stretch my fingertips up to the never ending blue sky that I see every day but that still never ceases to amaze me. It reminds me of my favourite shade in my paint palette. I despise the names that they give some of the paints, they are ever so dreary and dull and ordinary. "Bright yellow", "bold orange", "grassy green", have you ever heard anything so utterly unfantastical? Shouldn't paints be called magical things, like "fairy dust pink" or "amulet gold"? I wish I was better with words, even those names don’t sound anywhere near good enough to describe colours. I don’t think any mere words could describe colours.

I spring up and grab my notebook just before it falls out of my lap to the ground. Then I skip inside because I'm starving I feel as if I have not eaten for a week. Which is probably close enough to the truth, I seem to get so wrapped up in things that I lose all concept of time and the necessities my body needs to keep going. I boil the kettle ready for my tea and I rush upstairs to the bathroom jumping up the stairs two at a time, realising that I have college today and I need to make myself look like myself. Thank goodness this house is so small and I am so quick, I reach the bathroom and catch a glimpse of my face and oh my the results are conclusive, sleeping outdoors is not the best idea... I have soil smeared on my face and grass all caught in my hair and my neck hurts from leaning against that tree all night. I really must not make a habit of this. My blue hair is sticking up all over the place and I have no time to deal with it so I think I shall just leave it as it is for now, good thing its short so I can get away with messy hair. I start with my makeup, I cannot be bothered with foundation today so rub off the bits of dirt I missed and shove some eye shadow on, it is my favourite fawny brown and I love it so. I glance at the clock on the wall downstairs that I can only just see, my house is relatively open plan because I cannot bear enclosed spaces, and I see how late I am and I gasp and say fuck it to my face. I can't be late for school again I'm convinced they will kick me out at some point, no matter how much Carol loves my sketches. I sprint downstairs and check to see I am wearing the right amount of clothes in the mirror I put by the door for just this purpose, pleased to see there are no missing essentials. I have done that before you know, left my house without a pair of trousers on. Thank goodness I realised just as I was walking out of the gate. I can be remarkably scatter brained… I walk down my little path and out of the gate, breathing in the air, noticing the clouds that have drifted in and smiling because look that one looks just like the gorgeous white cat I drew last night. Then I remember how late I am and I'm off rushing down the road.