Brand New Day

Kate didn't get much sleep that night. The alarm clock's beeping was an unwelcome sound. She hit the snooze button and rolled her face back into the soft pillow. A few minutes later, the beeping started again. She sighed and reached for the alarm clock, eyes closed. Half asleep, she had trouble finding the snooze button, so it still was beeping at her. Finally, she swept her hand in the direction of the noise and knocked it down. The beeping stopped.

Kate blinked and turned her head to read the time. It was hard to read now that the clock was upside down. But, she didn't need to know - she already was aware it was time to wake up.

As her mind began to focus on the morning, she remembered that she had promised to come early to school to finish up her painting. Kate wished she hadn't offered to. She wasn't in the mood to hurry up and get there. It was one of those days where she wanted to take her time.

But, Kate always kept promises. So, she shuffled into the kitchen to have some breakfast. "Maybe I will feel better after I have something to eat," she told herself.

The news reporter was talking in the other room. Kate nibbled on a bagel and listened to the man on television tell about a curator injured, and strange destruction in the big museum the city had. The news never impressed her much, so didn't pay much attention to the details. Instead, she got ready for the new day at school.