Another whole, long week went by.

It was a Saturday evening.

Tomoyo was cooking a large dinner as Sakura sat around, doing nothing.

She sat on the velvet couch, puzzled.

It was 7.00pm; her father was usually back at six at the very latest.

She sat there worried.

What if he had been in some kind of accident?

She sat there and waited.

She got up several times to check the clock in the dining room.

Minutes went by.

Long, unbearable minutes.

Half an hour later Tomoyo called from the Kitchen.

"Sakura!" Dinner is ready; eat it now before its cold.

Your father is normally back by now.

He will have to eat his dinner whilst it's cold. I have no time, what with all the cleaning to do…SAKURA?"

"Tomoyo!" I'm coming!"

Sakura had an idea.

If her father was out, then he would not catch her helping Tomoyo with the chores.

A certain way to kill time and it would be a lot less boring.

She knew how to cook and clean, she had learnt it from being tutored, however her father had never actually test her skills, as Tomoyo was always on hand.

Sakura entered the Kitchen.

The floor certainly needs a good sweep and the cabinets could do with a nice dust.

The surfaces should be scrubbed down and the table set.

She thought.

She stared at the dinner Tomoyo had specially prepared.

A lovely stew, with new potatoes and mint sauce, it looked ravishing.

The sweet smell of the lamb caressed Sakura's nostrils and she sighed, as she often did, that one of these meals will go to waste.

"Tomoyo!"

Sakura called.

"I have a feeling my father is not going to get back until late.

He does not eat his meals cold and all you ever eat is that ghastly porridge, so please eat his meal.

We can eat together, I will not tell him, neither will you.

After that, go and have a nice bath, wash your hair and have an early night.

Do not worry about your chores, as I would really love to do them.

My father never lets me work you see, I'm starting to feel useless, like a waste of space, when there I see my best friend slaving around without any help.

So please do not question me. I would really love for you to have at least one night's peace and at least one night when I do not have to figure out how to waste my time.

I will cook my father another meal, before he gets back.

How does that sound?"

"Perfect." wailed Tomoyo in amazement.

"But….What if your father returns early?"

"No buts…" replied Sakura.

After they were wined and dined, Tomoyo helped Sakura get changed into her night clothes.

Sakura then went downstairs whilst Tomoyo ran herself a nice, hot bath.

Sakura began by dusting the cabinets.

She washed the dirty dishes and returned them to where they belonged.

The floor was mopped and dried, the surfaces were sanitised and a new tablecloth was placed onto the table.

Sakura smiled; impressed at her cleaning skills, and then she made her father's dish of 'Salmon Pâté'.

She was extremely impressed.

The hours had flown by and the dish she had made looked mouth wateringly exquisite.

It was now 9.30pm and no sign of her father.

Sakura began to grow worried again so she entered the living room.

She dusted behind the couches and plumped the pillows vigorously until they were in perfect position.

Still no sign of her father and his meal was beginning to grow cold.

Why wasn't he back at normal time?

Where could he be?

Sakura began to get very nervous.

Another half an hour went by, this time very slowly.

She wondered if she should wake Tomoyo, but it was no use.

What would be the point?

Tomoyo could not magic her father back, and she was enjoying her first night of luxury.

Sakura sat shaking, listening to the ticking grandfather clock.

She got back up and entered the kitchen.
She touched the cold plate of salmon.

The gorgeous smell had vanished.

The pinky flesh had turned a bitter grey.

It was cold.

Sakura stared frustratingly at her once impressive dish, before tossing it into the bin.

Yet another waste.

Her father never ate cold food so there was no point in leaving it on the side.

Sakura washed the plates once more and she began to get very tired.

She once again returned the cutlery to where it belonged and dried the dishes.

She once again entered the living room.

She sat on the couch and the grandfather clocked chimed eleven.

She nestled her head onto the once plumped pillow and shut her eyes…