Breakfast in Bedlam

by Lance Knight

He could hear her even before he was awake! Her constant, ever-present prattle, about nothing in general and everyone in particular, drifted under the crack in the door and into the room. It was the same routine every morning. They didn't need an alarm clock, she would make more noise than any six people in the neighborhood with her daily chore of "getting the family together for breakfast." "Yes, Erma. . ." he could hear her on the phone already, "I believe a family should have breakfast together each and every morning. Sometimes I can't get Ralphy to eat before he leaves for school, but you know these college peopleall new answers and ideas, with no practical value. They just get some silly little notion and its law. No, really, I mean it.

That was his cue to open his eyes and stretch the slow moving sleep from his tawny limbs. His eyes fell first on the pile of rumpled clothes lying helplessly in the corner, like the skin of some animal that has been cast aside for something new. He grinned to himself, remembering how good last night had been, and ran exploring hands down his warm legs.

He heard the movement in the bathroom and almost immediately the water ceased to clamor through the pipes. He heard the measured, even tread of his father as he descended the carpeted stairs.

"Everything neat and orderly, Helen, you know me. . . I want my family together, not like some I could mention. I heard 'he' was in trouble again. Oh yes, I wouldn't tell a soul (not much, he thought, just . . .) Good morning, Dear... (He could picture the bird-like peck on the cheek) . . . but I have it on good authority that he was out necking with some little tramp until all hours of the morning... and can you imagine, right in front of his own house, too! My Ralph needs to take that boy under his wing and teach him a few things. I think Ralph could really help him. Ralph, you know, only goes with the better crowd. Very choosey, but that is the way he was brought up."

"You'd never catch my Ralph out doing Yes. . . Oh, you're so right. Lord only knows what went on in that car, and right in front of his own home! "Oh, yes, brazen as they come! (He could hear the horror building in her voice as she drew the mental image of what must have gone on.) Of course, I agree with you, and the parents of that little tramp must not be much better.

one