Knock knock
"Who's there?"
"Just David"
The lady looked at him.
"Oh it's you, David. Are you here to pick up Parker?" She smiled.
"How's Ren?" The lady asked.
"And how's Nika?" She continued.
"It's been a week already since I heard from them," She kept asking, "Are they all doing well?"
David stood still for a moment.
"Yes… they seem to be alright."
"That's great to hear. Come inside," She responded, with a smile on her face still here.
"Thank you, but no. I'm only here for Parker."
"You don't want to come inside just for a bit?"
"I'm sorry ma'am, but I have something to do at home," David responded.
"Alright then, be safe on the way home." The lady went to pick up Parker, holding him like her own son.
"Thank you for looking out after him," David said, pressing his hands together briefly before leaving with Parker.
David walked away from the house, Parker held gently in his arms.
Parker meowed softly, David smiled a bit in response.
A few cars passed in the distance, their sound fading quickly as they moved on.
Parker shifted slightly, settling more comfortably against him.
David adjusted his grip and continued walking.
A short distance ahead, someone was standing near the edge of the sidewalk.
He slowed down.
Monika looked up at the same moment.
"…Hey," she said.
"Hi…" David replied.
Parker moved slightly between them, glancing up before relaxing again.
"David, right?" She asked.
"Yeah… Monika?"
"Yeah," she responded.
The sunlight shone onto David's face.
"You're going home?" Monika asked.
"Yeah. What about you?"
"Cafe."
The sound of two cars heading in the opposite direction from one another.
Monika looked at Parker, then asked, "Adorable, What is his name?"
"Parker," David quickly responded.
The shadow cast by the building fell over her eyes.
"I have to go. See ya," Monika waved her hand a little at him.
"Oh.. See you," David waved in return but a little slower.
Monika walked away and turned right.
David stood still for a moment and continued walking forward.
While walking, David saw a restaurant advertising their new promotion of an item.
Some walked by without entering, while others asked the people holding the sign about it.
The wind breezed through his hair as David continued moving forward, with Parker relaxed in his arms, yawning before going to sleep.
David arrived at his house. Just as he was about to enter, Uncle Ren appeared behind him.
Ren opened the door. Neither spoke, and Ren went straight to rest on the couch, falling asleep immediately.
David stepped inside the house, put Parker down, and opened the fridge to see that it was nearly empty.
David noticed a note on the fridge with his father, Serey's, writing. It said, "Ren, We will be home in three days."
David froze for a moment, but his stomach growled, so he left the house, heading to the convenience store nearby.
David checked his pocket, but he didn't find anything, so he turned around and went back home.
David stepped inside the house, seeing Parker sleeping on Ren's chest. He smiled unknowingly, but he stopped once he realized it, thinking about the note on the fridge.
He unzipped his backpack to grab the money inside and left his home again, going to the convenience store.
David stepped inside as the automatic door slid open slowly, and the prerecorded voice greeted him.
He walked around trying to find something to eat. Nothing caught his attention, yet he still grabbed two water bottles and a cup of instant noodles.
He put them on the checkout counter as the cashier greeted him. "Hello there, how was your day, sir?"
David answered her, "Still just an ordinary day."
The cashier grabbed a scanner and scanned the items before she told him, "That will cost about one dollar, or 4,000 Riel, sir." He handed her four 1,000-riel bills.
She thanked him, taking the bills with a smile. David nodded and left the store, heading back to his home.
David entered his home, picked up a kettle, and turned the stove on, putting the kettle above it.
Meanwhile, in front of the bakery shop, Nika locked the door as she left, the sun setting.
Walking back home, she looked at two people in school uniforms walking side by side, discussing their assignment.
When she arrived back home, she entered to see Ren still asleep with Parker resting on him.
Nika walked upstairs and headed to her room. She lay down, then fell asleep as her thoughts wandered to how she should shower first before going to sleep.
Later, David opened the door, checking on her sleeping peacefully, so he closed it.
David headed to his room, sat down, and picked up a fork to lift the noodles up.
He took a bite, realizing that it was a bit hot.
The sun came up as David woke up and saw the ceiling fan spinning.
He stared at the alarm clock. 5:53 AM.
It hadn't rung yet, but he could hear the front door opening downstairs.
David got up, walked to the bathroom, and turned on the shower.
Zach left his house, heading to school as he waved goodbye to his mother. The neighbors waved at him, smiling and asking, "You're heading to school already, kid?"
He answered, "Yes, that's right. Also, have you eaten anything yet, mister?"
The man watering the flowers told him, "I haven't yet, but I will later. Anyway, good luck with your studies, kid."
Nika greeted customers as they came into the bakery. Meanwhile, Ren was driving to work, although his car was stuck in traffic.
"The weather is quite cloudy today," Monika said as she looked out the window.
A man behind her yelled, "Don't slack off! A customer is waiting for their milk latte!"
Monika apologized to him. "I'm sorry, Boss."
David locked the door and began walking to school, with Parker poking his head out of his backpack and looking around at the surrounding area.