My lungs expand as I inhale a deep breath of the crisp
morning air. The earthy smells of autumn are almost gone and the fresh scents
of winter are beginning to creep in. Walking briskly along the concrete path I
approach a park empty at this early hour of the morning but the thought of the
many smiles it will bring to children’s faces today warms my heart and quickens
my step. Soon I am at a fast jog, my breath warm and heavy on its way out, crisp
and chilly on the way in, filling me with an excited energy.
I can smell the strong aromas of the coffee shop before I
turn the corner and it comes into view, a slim lady dressed in a smart skirt
and top curls her shoulders in as she
tries to absorb the warmth of the steaming beverage in her hands, her right
holding the handle, her left cupped around it. Behind her sits an elderly
couple smiling happily at one another deep in conversation, the early morning isn’t
new to them but something they have appreciated for many years.
Replacing the smell of the coffee is the doughy smells of the
bakery, my favourite treat a warm sausage roll just out of the oven. Pushing
through the door the young boy behind the counter greets me with a broad smile,
“Morning Jack! The usual this morning?”
He passes over a brown paper bag and I turn heading out of the
door.
Once outside in the fresh air I eat, the crunch of the
pastry through to the soft interior warms my insides and energises me for the
last leg of my morning journey. With a quicker pace now I run past small shops
not yet open and every now and then I pass someone who smiles warmly pushing me
to run faster. The air pours over my face and my eyes water, the world around
me passing as fast as I can make it.
Bursting through the front gate I fall to the damp grass
rolling onto my back staring up at the clear blue sky. Someone kneels down next
to me patting my head, “Good run today Jack! You’re a good dog!”
As he heads inside giving me one last smile, I follow him onto
the front porch laying down on my comfortable blue rug staring out at the
street as people begin to venture outside.
