Final Gerald

The smell of toast woke Gerald from a deep sleep. He smelt freshly squeezed orange juice and heard voices from the kitchen. The strain in his back, that Gerald only noticed when he tried to sit up was almost unbearable. He felt as if every muscle in his body had been stretched and pulled. The pain in his joints soon subsided after Gerald stood, and did a few basic stretches that he remembered from his school days.
'Morning,' Gerald's mother said as Gerald entered the kitchen.
'Morning,' he repeated, sitting at the table next to her.
Gerald's father laid plates of fresh toast in front of them, and then set a plate for himself down on the table. 'Sorry,' he said, noticing Gerald's lack of excitement at his sense of culinary adventure.
'It's okay,' Gerald murmured, his neck still slightly stiff.
'That'll go away,' Gerald's father said, putting a piece of toast in his mouth and flicking through the morning paper.
'What will?' Gerald asked.
His father looked up at him, 'The neck thing,' he said waving his toast in the air.
'Oh,' Gerald said, picking up a piece of toast.
Gerald's mother put her hand on Gerald's shoulder and smiled. He turned to look at her and found himself returning the smile. She stroked the back of his head and let her arm fall after Gerald shook his head slightly.
'Eat up,' she said, 'It'll go cold.'
'Well, sorry again,' Gerald's father started. 'I haven't had to cook breakfast for a while,' he smiled at Gerald who returned the smile.
The three sat at the round breakfast table, Gerald's father flicking through the paper, his mother focussing on her breakfast, and Gerald, staring absent-mindedly through the window. A knock sounded at the door and Gerald's parents gave each other puzzled expressions. On the second knock Gerald sighed and went to get the door.
Sally stood in the open door clutching a pile of books under her arm. 'Hi Ger,' she said.
'Hey Sal,' he smiled and let her in. 'We're just in the kitchen.'
Gerald closed the door, while Sally made her way through the house.
'Morning Sally,' Gerald's father looked over at the toaster. 'Hungry?'
'Hey Greg,' Sally waved, 'Lola.'
'Sally,' Gerald's mother said with a smile. 'Much on today?'
'Not really,' Sally began, taking a seat at the table. 'I just have to return some books at the library.'
A stern look crossed Gerald's father's face and he gave Gerald's mother a cautious glance. 'Taking Gerald with you?' His question came out as a statement.
'Sure,' Sally smiled, not catching Gerald's father's concern. 'Cool?' She look at Gerald.
'Yeah,' he replied, 'No problem.'
'I know what they say,' Gerald's father held his hands up, 'But that campus gives me the creeps.'
'Oh honey,' Gerald's mother smiled at her husband. 'These kids can take care of themselves.'
Gerald's father nodded, then shook his head slightly as if trying to dismiss his concern. 'I know,' he finally said.
'Wanna go now?' Gerald asked Sally, stuffing the last piece of toast into his mouth.
'Sure,' she grinned, placing her hand on his back.
'Cool,' Gerald picked up the books, pretending not to notice her hand on his back. They went to the front door and Sally opened it for him. As Gerald walked through, he leant over and kissed Sally on the cheek. She laughed and closed the door.
'Oh Gerald!' His father's call came too late, the two were already gone.
'What was it?' Lola asked.
'Oh just this article,' Greg said, sliding the paper across the table.
Lola read the headline; “Man stops speeding train!” She looked up at her husband, confused. He pointed to the first lines; “A local man has died after jumping in between a moving train and a stalled bus full of children. Witnesses say the man was able to stop the train hitting the bus before dying of injuries sustained in the incident.”
Lola shook her head and focussed her attention on the kitchen window. Greg sighed and picked up another piece of toast, chewing lazily as he too stared through the window.