For Jo
Every morning, Zaf would get up five minutes earlier than Jo. He knew that she rolled out of bed at seven o'clock on the dot, so he would set his alarm to five to and pull on a warm jumper, head to the kitchen and pour himself a bowl of her cereal. Every morning, without fail, when she headed to the kitchen for a morning coffee, she would roll her eyes at Zaf munching the box of muesli that she had bought.
Last night, though, Jo's operation had gone wrong. Two months of her work had now gone down the drain and she was gutted. Zaf felt a twinge in the pit of his stomach when he caught Jo's reflection in the kettle, wiping away tears as he made her a mug of tea at midnight. He had wanted to crush her into a hug but didn't want to make her more upset than she already was by acting in the wrong way.
So this morning, Zaf still got up five minutes earlier and still poured the bowl of cereal, but he left it with a cup of coffee just outside Jo's bedroom door. He then returned to the kitchen to make a less exciting breakfast of toast and tea for himself.
He was finishing off the last slice when she came in, carrying the empty bowl and mug. She looked up at Zaf and offered a smile, small but genuine. He grinned at her and finished off his last piece of toast more appreciatively.
For Ruth
"It's just, I'm supposed to be going out somewhere, with a, er, friend, tonight, but I can't, but I don't want to just -"
"Ruth, how can I help? asked Jo calmly in an attempt to console her flustered colleague.
"It's my cat," Ruth admitted. "I don't like leaving her alone, but it's too late to get a neighbour in-"
"I'll look after her," Jo offered immediately, watching a weight being pulled off Ruth's shoulder because of her words.
"Could you? She's not any trouble, and I'd pay you-"
"Ruth, it's no trouble at all, I'm happy to. And you don't have to pay me," said Jo, gathering her coat and bag.
Ruth looked as if she were about to object again but noted Jo's easy smile and said simply: "Thank you. So much."
"Who are you meeting?" enquired Jo politely. Ruth lowered her gaze a little and blushed crimson.
"Erm, well, Harry," Ruth replied quietly, not wanting to draw attention to herself.
Jo saw her friend's discomfort at the topic and just smiled gently. "Have a great evening."
Jo had vague plans of going to the pub with Zaf but texted him her new plans, and he agreed whole-heartedly that her calling for that particular evening was for a cat, not a Carling.
