PEANUT BUTTER

Beep-beep. Beep-beep. Sean’s watch read exactly 21:00 and the power shut down all at once. He was still taking notes from his table overlooking the city – pitch black and still as a concrete. He put his pen down, leaned back on his swivel chair then took his glasses off and wiped it with a clean cloth and then put it back on. He then grabbed his phone and turned the flashlight on, stood up and walked out of his room towards the living room.

Emma was lying on her stomach on the couch, crayon in hand and a big coloring book under her curly hair. Her things were sprawled on the floor. Sean knelt down, placed his phone upside down on the side table, the flashlight illuminating the room. He picked up all Emma’s stuff organizing everything efficiently – placing all her stuff toys on the shelf with her books and putting all her school supplies inside her pink backpack. He zipped it and dusted off his hands. As he carried Emma from the couch, he saw from the distant outside the bright, red light on top of the tower lit up. It blinked slowly. It was a signal that provision and supplies were coming this week. He hoped for a PB&J and walked straight for the bedroom.

Sean woke up with Emma’s foot hitting his face. He turned away then looked at his phone, it was still 3AM. He won’t be able to sleep once he wakes so he got up and washed his face. It was still dark and electricity is always scheduled to begin operating at seven in the morning. He went to sit on his table, turned his phone light on and then continued writing his notes from last night.

Hours passed and as Emma snores away, Sean had already showered and cooked their breakfast and lunch for the day. He was already on his dark blue scrubs and went to prepare Emma’s school uniform – a white blouse with a marine collar and a black jumper dress.

“Em, wake up,” Sean tapped Emma’s plump cheek but she only swatted him away and continued sleeping – drool trickling down the side of her face. “Come on, Emma.” He glanced at the open window, the bright red light still blinking, the sun rising from the distant.

“Ah. Provision came last night," he said a little too loudly. "Maybe boxes of peanut butter has already arrived but if we’re a little too late, it might get sold out again.”

Emma’s eyes flutter open. She rolled and jumped out of bed then let out an excited scream as Sean held out her towel. Emma grabbed it and ran, almost slipping towards the bathroom. Sean grinned and shook his head. He was surprised that it worked. Most days it took a great deal of shaking, carrying, pulling of blankets and pillows, her sister’s biting, kicking and punching before she truly awakens. The scent of a meal helps big time.

The sound of the train was heard as they walked the streets, Sean glanced at his watch. It was still pretty early for Emma’s school and the shops were still starting to open. But Sean likes to be early, the morning walk calms him down.

A dozen huge trucks made their way past them and one stopped by the shop they just passed. Sean held Emma’s hand as they crossed the street and up the train station. There were fewer people now unlike last year, it was one of the ordinances the government issued – work and school will still continue as households were divided: half were to continue serving the community and half were taken to work directly for the government. It was the oddest law. Sean hated it. He and Emma misses their parents and brother but they did not have any choice but to follow. Ordinances were made to save the humans according to the World Leaders. It was still difficult to process even after a month of having five Ordinances passed into their system. Life was never the same.

__________

“Angelo,” A nurse in pink called from the hallway carrying a clipboard and stopped at the reception desk. She was a middle aged woman and her hair was tied in a tight bun. “Where’s Sean?”

“He’s not here yet?” Angelo looked up from his magazine. The lady shook her head and glanced at the clock hanging on the wall. He stood up and went to the log book of interns. He searched through the list of names with his index finger. Sean’s name was not there. He frowned, shaking his head. “He’s never late.”

“I already did his morning care duty for him," the nurse said as she taps her clipboard. "Mrs. Lina and the other elders need their daily meds and maintenance at the proper time. Sean knows this.” 

“He knows,” Angelo quickly replied. “Something probably came up, y’know, emergency and such.”

“He could’ve at least messaged us. Your professors won’t like this if they hear this. I could report him for negligence. If there was indeed an emergency, it’s his duty to at least inform us about it. Interns are not excused. You understand me, Angelo?” She was a small woman yet very scary when angry, her eyes were wide and stern.

“Yes, Nurse Julie,"  Angelo nodded. "I copy that.” He put down his magazine on the table. Some of the nurses and staff on duty was snickering looking at him. He made a face and ignored them. As Nurse Julie was about to walk away and continue her rounds, Sean was seen rushing towards the sliding door, his face and uniform was stained all over and his jet black hair a mess. He held his bag by one hand and ran towards the reception, wrote his name on the log book and went straight to the restroom. Everyone on the hall was stunned. “Sean!” Angelo called out as he ran and followed him.

Sean was washing his face and arms by one of the undermount sinks with soap and water combined. “What happened to you, man?” Angelo sat at the end of the long quartz countertop.

Sean looked at him by the mirror, his face grimacing then looked away immediately while drying himself with a clean towel. His uniform was still dirty. Was it mud or blood? Angelo could not tell. 

“Could you please get my extra scrubs by the locker?” Sean said as he threw his keys towards Angelo and he caught it in one hand.

“A’right,” Angelo sighed and hopped down the counter and went out. Sean took off his first layer and then his white long sleeve shirt, folded it and put it in a zip lock. Angelo came back after a minute, carrying a yellow scrubs just like what he wears. Sean frowned.

“Those aren’t mine,” Sean said as Angelo handed it over.

“These are mine,” Angelo replied. “I didn’t find any extra of your drab uniforms in your locker.”

“I always keep an extra.” He said in gritted teeth. He looked at his watch and cursed. He was an hour late by now. He grabbed the bright colored scrubs and went in one of the cubicle and changed for seconds. It was a bit smaller for him, the pants pass above his ankles and the first layer of yellow shirt were slightly raised, good thing he always carry a white long sleeve to wear underneath.

He went on his daily duties for the day – checking up the vital signs of his patients, administering medicine on schedule, changing dressings and was assigned to collect blood samples from new patients. By lunch time, he got scolded by one of his superiors. He went to eat lunch outside. He needed some air. Angelo followed him as usual and he did not mind.

They sat down on one of the benches. Sean took out his sandwich and rice crackers, his water bottle and the soda he bought yesterday. Angelo saw it and shook his head, and smiled one of his silly, wide smiles and looked at Sean.

“What! Are you sure you’re not an impostor?” He was still grinning. He was holding a burger on one hand.

“What are you on about now?” Sean said as he opened one wrapper and munched through a cracker.

“First of all, you’re late which you never EVER did. Second of all, you were a mess, man. You came to work today, you were filthy.” He was counting it with his fingers. “Third, you’re wearing something bright that doesn’t suit your personality and now, you have a cola. Damn, man. I’ve known you for years and I am bewildered. Give us back, our Sean, you alien.” Angelo nudged him by the shoulder and laughed by himself.

“The third one doesn’t count, this is your uniform.” Sean smiled despite himself but it vanished immediately as he remembered what happened this morning.

“What happened this morning, Sean?” Angelo suddenly said as if reading his mind, a concerned look on his face.

Sean bit on his sandwich then leaned back. He reached for his lunch bag and took out a peanut butter jar from it. Angelo frowned and opened his mouth but before he could say anything, Sean said: “I was chased by a robot for this.”