Sunday evenings were some of the most boring times of the week, at least to Josiah. There wasn’t a lot to look forward to during the day except the evening news specials, the kind with investigative reports like how your neighbor could be a sociopath or the amount of bacteria that lurks in your kitchen, all of which always peeked his interest, but not tonight. It wasn’t a television night, a computer night, or a time to catch up on work. The air felt right for music and a good book.
Steam billowed out of one of the bathrooms as Joe opened the door and stepped out. He had on some goofy, but comfortable pajamas and slipped his house slippers on outside the door. Still towel drying his hair, he went into his bedroom and threw his dirty clothes into the hamper. He sat on the side of his bed, sliding his now shower soft feet in and out of his slippers. It was definitely too early to go to bed, so he grabbed his mp3 player and began to enjoy the sweet sounds of Coldplay while he looked for the book he was in the middle of reading.
He looked in his bed and jostled the comforter, opened the drawers to his night stand, and shuffled threw his desk clutter, but couldn’t find the book. He thought long and hard as to where he was reading it last and finally realized that he left it in the study. A cold beverage was calling his name so he had the intention of going downstairs anyway. Smelling of fragrant body wash and deodorant, he trotted down the stairs with his headphones still in his ears.
It never failed that soap got in his eyes while showering, so not only was he deaf at the moment but blinded from wiping his eyes. Although once you’ve lived somewhere long enough, you kind of know your way by heart and don’t always look. He made a quick turn into the study and immediately felt an elbow hit his upper thigh.
Eyes reddened and clueless, he looked down to realize he walked right into Jean-Paul’s arm while he sipped his hot chocolate. Joe threw his arms up after the fact, as if he was reaching to stop it all, but it was too late. The hot drink splattered onto the man’s papers and seeped into the furniture, but ironically left his clothes spotless.