Tuesday, 20 May 2014

Morning Run - A Short Story


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.

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