Breakfast with Jack and Jane

I love modern Au. I acknowledge Kerry Greenwood, Every Cloud, and the fan fic writers who created this universe, especially aljohnson's YACI, which I have borrowed.

Back story: Jack has moved into Wardlow, Jane is in Year 12, and Phryne is away dealing with a Sydney socialites "delicate matter".

I do not wish to criticise individual eating habits. Merely commenting on the fickleness of teenagers.

Monday

It was a little before 7 am, Jack was in shirt sleeves, eating breakfast (fried eggs and bacon, with a side of toast and vegemite), while reading the front page of "The Age". Mr Butler was in the easy chair reading the Employment Special section. ("Not many jobs in service these days, Inspector!")

There was a thump, a bump and and a clunk as a heavy schoolbag full of books rolled off the bottom stair. Both men winced, hoping there was no expensive lap top in that bag.

Jane plonked herself in the kitchen chair opposite Jack and sighed dramatically. Her hair was not brushed, her school tie askew, shoes unpolished, and her school knitted jumper trailed on the floor.

"Ready to go back to school?" asked Jack brightly, at loss for anything else to say.

Jane's glare reduced him to silence, before sighing again. "I can't believe I have to get up this early!"

"I did remind you last week that it would be a good idea to re-adjust your sleeping habits" said Jack helpfully, but this was met with an eye roll.

"Sleeping in late is the right of teenagers!" Jane told him.

"As is staying up until 2 am?" Jack returned.

"You don't know everything about staying up late" Jane grumbled, "it's the only time my friends are on-line, so that's when we text"

"Can't you use the telephone and talk to them like normal people?" asked Jack

Jane rolled her eyes again. "That is so last century Jack; get with the times!" Her eye roll bought her attention turned to Jack's plate. "OMG!" she exclaimed, "You're eating animal products!"

"So I believe" said Jack, "and they taste delicious!"

"Animals died for that!" continued Jane with a look of horror at Jack.

"Are you embracing a vegetarian lifestyle now?" asked Jack, treading cautiously, "Did you tell Mr Butler?"

"All under control" said Mr Butler, moving a pan off the hotplate. He moved to the fridge. "I have some toasted muesli here, and some yogurt to go with it."

Jane smiled indulgently at Mr Butler as he presented her with an appetizing bowl. Jane took up a spoon and stirred the contents listlessly.

"Is the yogurt organic?" she asked.

"Of course" replied Mr Butler, turning the yogurt label to the wall.

"And the muesli?"

"I believe the box is recyclable" said Mr Butler, not missing a beat.

Apparently satisfied, Jane returned her attention to Jack and said "You know Jack, I bet those animals didn't appreciate their death sentence, just to give you breakfast."

"And I happen to know, Young Jane" replied Jack, "that while the pig did meet his maker, the chicken was released on good behavior!"

He was about to continue with the cow that supplied the dairy product, but the look Jane gave him could only be described as "the teen age death glare." So, instead of commenting further, he did something that would have horrified his mother, grandmother and certainly Aunt Prudence, but was very effective on getting a rise out of teen age girls; he licked his knife!

Jane stood up at once. "I am not eating with a philistine!"

"Luckily the philistine has finished his breakfast, so you don't have to" said Jack brightly, putting down his knife and fork.

Jane hurrmped and stomped out of the kitchen.

"Oh dear" said Mr Butler as Jane left, "I was hoping for a smooth start to the first day of term." He looked at Jack reproachfully.

"She'll get over it" muttered Jack folding up the newspaper "Worse happens at sea!"

Mr Butler looked as if he was about to reply, but Jane's voice interrupted them from the hall.

"Shit! Blast! Damm!" she exclaimed as she reappeared in the doorway.

"Is anything the matter Jane?" asked Mr Butler, not turning a hair, although Jack felt his was turning a surprising shade of white.

"I have to be at school by 7.30" she said, "I forgot I have a House meeting. We always have one the first day of term. I have to get to school by then. Jack can you drive me please?"

"Drive you?" Jack was taken back. "Don't you usually catch a tram?"

"Two trams" said Jane "But I won't get there in time. I really need a ride to school. Please Jack."

Jack looked at Mr Butler for guidance, but the older gent said "No need to put the Inspector out Jane, I can drive you in the Corolla."

"No, no, there's no need Mr B" said Jane, "You don't have to go to all the trouble to get the Corolla out. Jack will drive me, won't you Jack?"

"Well, I don't know.." began Jack.

"Please Jack, my school's just across the Botanical Gardens from your office in SKR, so, it's on your way, really!"

"Really, it is not on my way!" retorted Jack, "If I take you as far as SKR, you can walk yourself across the Bot Gardens."

"No" said Jane, "We're not allowed in the gardens on our own in school uniform."

"You can walk round the gardens, then" said Jack. "It's not much further."

"That would take me past the boys school" said Jane, "Are you sure you want me to do that? Do you remember the problems some boys were giving girls in school uniform last year?"

Jack didn't remember anything of the sort, presuming that he only heard about things that Phryne couldn't deal with in more than one meeting. He paused, trying to recall if he included taxi duties in his vague agreement with Phryne, on his moving in.

He sighed, "All right Jane, I will drive you, but I am leaving in five minutes. Get yourself tidied up and we'll go."

"Great" smiled Jane, "I'm ready to go now. I'll just get my lip gloss."

"Lip gloss!" exclaimed Jack, "Since when is make up allowed at school?"

"Lip gloss is not make up Jack, and I don't need to "tidy up." It took me ages to get this look right this morning!"

Jack turned to Mr Butler for some support, but Mr Butler merely said "You look very nice today Dear"

Jack knew he was out numbered! "Right, let's go" he sighed, pulling on his suit jacket.

As Jane headed out the front door, Jack said to Mr Butler, "Thank you for breakfast Mr Butler. I hope Jane's dietary changes doesn't cause you any catering problems?"

"Not a problem Inspector. I've been in service for a number of years; "Be prepared" is my motto!"

As they walked toward the front door, Mr Butler added "It also helps that I had some "Senior's muesli" on hand this morning." And with a smile, he waved Jack out the front door.