It was early in the morning in Araluen. The sun came up and the birds started chirping. Maddie was 4 years old and always early in the morning. She awoke from the first rays of sunlight that came in through her window frame and stroked her face warmly.
She stood up immediately. She didn't have to stay in bed to realize that she was awake. She was wearing her soft nightie and her blond hairs (not so long) hanging loosely over her shoulders. She ran on her toes to her bedroom door and opened it. She glanced around the living room for a moment and realized that no one else was awake yet. She thought that was the best! She was still running on her toes to be as soft as possible, also in the living room, on her way to the royal bedrooms of her father and mother. When she arrived, she paused to listen in front of the door. She heard regular breathing and the soft snoring of her dad.
She turned the door handle gently and looked through a crack. Her father and mother were sleeping snugly against each other. Now she didn't have to be soft anymore. She flung open the door. She ran to the bed and climbed up and called: "Mommy! Daddy! It is morning, wake up, wake up, wake up !! "
Cassandra was the first to respond. "Maddie! Sweetheart! So early again? " she said with a smile. Maddie threw herself at her mother's chest and hugged her as tightly as she could at that age. She smelled the familiar scent of her mother and immediately felt safe in her arms.
So they lay there for a moment. Then Maddie realized that her father was not yet fully awake. She released her mother and tried to get up to jump on her father's belly, but instead she stumbled over the bedspread and fell half over his legs. "Daddy, Daddy! You too wake up !! " she said, trying to get up again. Cassandra laughed loudly at the energy Maddie had so early.
In the meantime Horace also woke up of course. He looked sleepily around him and saw Maddie trying to get up from where his legs were. He laughed. "Daddy Daddy!" Maddie called out. "It's morning, get up, get up, get up." she said enthusiastically. In the meantime, she had managed to get up and get closer so that she could now wrap her arms around his neck. Horace lovingly hugged her back. "Good morning, Maddie!" he said, laughing. He looked beside him and saw Cassandra. She was smiling brightly. He smiled too and turned towards her. He put his one free arm around Cassandra's waist. She did the same, leaving Maddie in the middle. "And good morning to you too, honey." Horace told Cassie. "You too!" Cassie said in turn.
The three of them lay there for a while.
"I am so hungry." Maddie finally said when they could hear her belly grunt. "Yes! me too!" Horace said. "Who would have expected that. Like father like daughter." Cassandra said, laughing. Maddie and Horace joined her. "Let's get dressed and then we eat, okay Maddie?" Horace said. Maddie nodded cheerfully! Horace released both of them and got out of bed. His nightdress messy from sleeping. Maddie got up from the bed and her father took her in his arms and gave Cassandra a kiss. "And you are also coming along with us. Like father, like daughter ... like mother! " he said with a wink. Maddie also nodded her head very seriously. "Gladly!!" Cassandra said as her stomach began to grunt slightly. Horace and Maddie laughed and with Maddie on his arm he walked out of the bedroom door on the way to Maddie's room.
Cassandra sighed ... she was happy.