DANGEROUS AFFAIR

Little Miss Muffet

"Mum, Dad, get up, I don't want to be late for school," Ethan yelled as he banged loudly on the door. The door was not locked but Ethan still didn't enter as he usually does whenever he wakes up before his parents. Terry and Anabel never lock the door, they believe Ethan might need their attention anytime especially at night. They didn't want him to have any problem just in case they were fast asleep and couldn't get to the door in time.

"Little Miss Muffet

Sat on her tuffet,

Eating her curd and whey;

Along came a spider,

And sat down beside her,

Frightened Miss Muffet away, oh yeah

Frightened Miss Muffet away" Ethan resumed with his recitals as he scurried away into the living room while screaming out the words.

"And here we go again" Terry mumbled as he covered his ears briefly with his hands. He then got out of bed and hurried into the bathroom.

"Can you tell your son to stop already?" Anabel yelled too with her eyes still closed as she snuggled under the duvet. She did not want to jinx her sleep a second time, hence the reason why refused to open her eyes or get up to caution Ethan herself especially after Ethan had jinxed her nice and cozy sleep the first time.

"I really wish I could. But unfortunately, we both know I can not. I only find comfort knowing it would all be over today, I suggest you try and do the same" Terry said loudly from the bathroom. He had gone to clean up a little before attending to Ethan whose patience was growing thin.

"Okay," Anabel said as she tried to fall asleep again but she was soon cut short by Ethan who was now screaming out his lungs. He was probably doing it to get on his parents' nerve and get them to rush out of the room to stop him. Terry and Anabel would not be able to go back to bed afterward and for him, that means getting to school in time.

"Ethan, you know it already, let's have some minutes of quiet, please." Anabel couldn't take it any longer, she yelled and finally scared the sleep completely away.

"What did you say, mum?" Ethan asked from the living room. Of course, he heard Anabel clearly, he just wanted to force her out.

"I said I love you." Anabel retorted, changing what she said initially and tone. She didn't have Ethan's time that morning, as there are other pressing issues so she decided to take the easy path instead.

"Love you too, mum," Ethan replied and went back to his recitals.

"You guys are so hilarious..." Terry said smiling as he walked out of the bathroom with a towel around his neck.

"Whoa, whoa... you don't look too good babe," Terry exclaimed as he saw Anabel's face. It was swollen as if injected with a puffiness serum while her eyes were red as if she had not slept for days.

"Well, I feel good and that's all that matters." Anabel quickly added, dismissing her husband's concern. She got off the bed and picked a face wipe from her dressing table.

"I'm being serious, are you sure you don't want to stay and work from home today?" Terry insisted as he wiped off the water on his face with the towel hung around his neck.

"What? No... I can't afford to, I'm meeting a host today for my upcoming show and you know I hate disappointments especially when it's from me." Anabel insisted too as she briefly looked at Terry and then into the mirror while she examined her face. She then applied olive oil and massaged it in before turning back to Terry.

"Yes, I know. But your health..." Terry continued still worried as he moved to where Anabel was.

"I'll be fine babe, it's nothing a hot shower and makeup cannot fix," Anabel said calmly. She was adamant, she needed to put all her ideas from the previous night into action as soon as possible, and staying at home wasn't an option as she would likely be distracted by Terry.

"Okay, if you insist. Good morning my beautiful wife..." Terry finally dropped the talk. He cupped Anabel's face in his hands and then planted a kiss on her lips.

"Babe, you need to hit the..." Terry said, playfully telling her she needed to clean up.

"Just because I'm not complaining doesn't mean yours is any better" Anabel replied too, playfully pushing him aside.

"Mum, Dad, enough of the talk, I mean it, I don't want to be late," Ethan yelled from the living room again. His patience was running out as he couldn't wait to recite to his teacher and friends.

"I better go attend to him, before he brings this whole house down," Terry said and quickly went to Ethan.

"Yeah, feisty, that one is," Anabel said with sarcasm.

"Morning my boy..." Terry said to Ethan as he brushed his hands through Ethan's hair.

"Morning dad, I would like to know how I got up before you?" Ethan asked with pride, happy he woke up before his parents.

"Uhm... Maybe that's because you slept hours before I did" Terry replied dramatically as he starts to arrange the throw pillows back in their place.

"Well, still doesn't change the fact that I got up before you" Ethan replied, he wasn't ready to let go of his win.

"Hmm..." Terry tries to find the best reply for Ethan but he couldn't.

"Don't mind your dad, wear your crown of victory proudly" Anabel said smiling as she walked towards them

"Morning mum, did you sleep well?" Ethan exclaimed as he ran to his Anabel's embrace.

"She gets all the sweetness and I get nothing? I slept very well too, thanks for asking" Terry said with his hands on his waist wondering while his wife got a hug and he got questioned.

"C'mon, don't be a jealous babe. I'm sure Ethan meant no harm, he was just pulling your... What is it called again Ethan" Anabel teased

"Your buttons!!!" Anabel and Ethan cried out in excitement.

"I'm going to eat you both raw" Terry said playfully as he tried to catch them but they quickly got away from him

"You'd have to catch us first dad" Ethan yelled as he and Anabel ran around the room.

"Roarrrr!!!" Terry roared playfully when he finally got a hold of both of them. They all laughed in excitement as they fell into the chair behind them.

"I love you both so much," Terry said as he looked at them passionately.

"We love you too dad, and you too mum," Ethan said as he got up and resumed reading out again

"Little Miss Muffet,

Sat on her..."

"And off we go, again" Anabel mumbled, she and Terry looked at each other and then got up.

"What are we having this morning?" Terry asked resting his hands on his waist again.

"French Toast and scrambled eggs? What do you think Ethan?" Terry asked staring at Ethan

"Sounds good and delicious, I'm in," Ethan said hurriedly. It's not his best choice but he would go for anything fast that would get him in school quickly.

"His majesty has already spoken, who am I to oppose?" Anabel teased. She was in the same boat as Ethan, she wanted to get to work early while he was eager to get to school and as such, any meal was okay.

"Alright then, let's get to work," Terry said and went into the kitchen. Anabel offered to prepare the breakfast but Terry wouldn't agree not after the obvious stress effects on her face.

"Dad, can I take my bathe myself this morning? I can see you're busy and would not want to disturb you" Ethan said slowly trying to hide the excitement in his voice.

"What is it in that bathroom of yours that's recently making you crave shower time alone and this much?" Terry asked out of curiosity, he then turned to Anabel for answers but she simply waved her hands in ignorance.

"Adulthood, I guess," Ethan said as he ran into his room before his dad changes his mind.

"Did I just hear that right?" Terry exclaimed smiling. He couldn't believe his eight-year-old son believes he is an adult already.

"Ohh yes, you did. I'm just concerned, are you sure we didn't mix his date of birth up? Cause he can't possibly be right, he sounds so fourteen" Anabel said playfully.

"I think we would have known if we mixed it up, babe," Terry replied playing along as well.

"Dad, please come, I can't get the shower on," Ethan said as he came running into the kitchen holding his towel in a knot around his waist.

"And eight he is..." Anabel said as she pulled the vacuum cleaner from the corner out into the living room.

"Signed and sealed" Terry approved with a nod and a thumbs up.

"Off we go, babe could you check the food for me in the next five minutes please?" Terry said to Anabel as he held Ethan's hand and they both head into his room.

"Okay babe," Anabel mumbled as she puts on the vacuum cleaner and starts cleaning the room.

After Ethan was done with his bathe, Terry left him to dress up fully while he left and continued with other things. Anabel also rushed through her bathe, her face was better and the swelling has reduced, so she only applied a little makeup and no one would have ever thought or believed she woke up with a face twice its size. By the time Anabel and Ethan were through, Terry was through as well and breakfast was served.

"I'm done" Ethan affirmed as he took his empty plates to the kitchen and then sat back in his chair with his gaze fixated on Terry.

"And I can come back to it later. We have to get you in school on time." Terry said slowly when he noticed Ethan's uneasiness and that he wouldn't bulge. He dabbed his mouth with his napkin and then pushed his plates forward. He would continue with it when he gets back so he only covered it with an extra plate that was on the table and got up.

"Take care babe, I don't suppose you'd still be around when I get back," Terry said to Anabel as he kissed her.

"Uh-uh... Nope," Anabel clarified.

"Alright then. Have a nice day, I love you, and don't forget what we talked about" Terry said referring to the talk they had about her work. He picked up his keys and briefly checked out his look in the mirror that was by the door.

"I won't, Come here baby. I love you, have fun" Anabel said to Ethan who quickly hugged her.

"Love you to mom," Ethan said as he ran out, he couldn't contain his excitement. Finally, he was going to school, he resumed his recitals as they drove off.