The gallant gentleman

She turned around on the bed to avoid the light that came from the window. She embraced the cushion she had set aside during her nap and kicked the sheet until releasing her feet from under it.

     "You are awake already." he said, appearing at the door of the bedroom.

     "Almost...." she whispered. She could have slept forever.

     He came in and sat on the edge of the bed. It squeaked.

     "Could you prepare some tea?"

     "Please, put the water on and I'll prepare it."

     "Bad mood?"

     She turned around again towards the light coming from the window. That light reminded her that there was activity out of her bed, out of her house.

     "I am tired."

     "You took a two hour nap."

     She repeated, with a sigh, "I am tired."

     He went to the kitchen and she could hear the noise of the water running into the kettle and the sound of a match lighting. Then, he turned on the television and she heard a dialogue in English and the laughter of a studio audience. Soon after, the kettle began to whistle.

     "The water is ready." he warned.

     She stretched on the bed and then sat-up, still clutching the cushion in her arms. The kettle continued whistling. She pressed the cushion strongly against her chest.

     "Please, turn that off."

     The whistling stopped. Thank heavens, she thought, it was going to drive me crazy. She looked for her slippers under the bed and stood up. She went to the bathroom and washed her face. I should take a shower, she thought. I should take a shower to cry in peace. She walked with heavy steps towards the kitchen. He was watching the talk-show laughing quietly from time to time. "He was a gentleman indeed",she thought.