Adam had stayed up late Sunday night playing games. As a consequence, he was late for breakfast on Monday. When he finally came to, he felt a warm sensation lightly brushing him. Sure enough, he awoke to find Aurora sitting next to him, rubbing his head.
"Good morning, sleepyhead."
"Morning," he answered sluggishly.
"Stayed up late again, didn't you?"
"Yeah."
"Well, wash up; we're waiting for you downstairs."
His morning routine took all of five minutes. By the time he rushed down the hall and down the stairs to the dining room, Sophia and Logan were already halfway through breakfast.
"Morning," Adam said as he took his seat.
"You have a phone; set an alarm next time." Logan admonished.
"Yes, sir."
Aurora didn't like Logan's tone and took issue with him for it. The two argued back and forth. Logan thought Adam was too relaxed and not putting enough effort into learning proper mannerisms. He pointed to the boy's poor sitting posture and dining etiquette.
"Cut him some slack. He's just a boy."
"A boy with responsibilities"
"Yes, and he was only exposed to all this six days ago. It's not like he grew up in this environment."
"He's your son; people are going to have higher expectations of him. Of us!"
Aurora stared at her husband, slack-jawed. Meanwhile, Adam sat stiffly in his chair, carefully chewing his meal; his eyes remained trained on the plate as his parents argued.
"I never knew you'd be a bully when you felt cornered."
"What's that supposed to mean?!"
"This is the second time you've lashed out at Adam when you felt insecure."
Logan got up from the table with his cup of coffee and stormed out of the dining room. Aurora stared after him, her eyes locked on where he'd disappeared. Adam kept his head down and tried not to make a sound.
Logan was right; he hadn't been practising; he'd gotten swept up in the happy, homely feeling that he got from Aurora, and Logan's interactions with him since Friday assuaged the unease he'd felt before.
The awkward silence in the room was punctuated by Sophia slowly slurping her tea. The noise seemed to pull Aurora from her daze.
"Adam, it's okay. Your posture is fine, as is your dining etiquette. You don't have to be perfect with them. Just need to be mindful of them, and when you remember, adjust. Okay?"
"Yes."
"Finish eating. When you're done, we need to go out. Have you been practising your signature?"
"Yes."
"Good."
Aurora stated she would skip breakfast, claiming she had lost her appetite, but following a threat from Sophia, she ate a small serving.
Still upset with Logan by the time they were ready to leave the house, Aurora hired a chauffeur rather than talk to her husband. The chauffeur's name was Michael, and he often worked for the couple whenever they needed a driver.
"Good morning, Mrs. Jordahl."
"Hello, Michael. This is my son, Adam. Adam, this is Michael; he usually drives me around when your father is busy."
"Good morning," Adam said as he nodded in greeting.
Michael was a stocky man; he wore a suit that hugged his form, highlighting his muscles with every movement. He held the door open for them, and as they entered the car, shielded their heads.
Adam was mesmerised by Michael's driving. He had a posture that was upright without looking stiff. His movements were elegant; watching him drive was like watching a living piece of art.
Michael transitioned between movements fluidly. Especially when they pulled up to the first stop. The bank. He had shifted the gear, turned the wheel, unbuckled his seat belt, stopped the car, and exited all in one easy motion.
"We'll be a while," Aurora said as she walked past.
"Understood."
Adam couldn't help but watch as the car pulled away from the bank steps. The vehicle really did move as elegantly as Michael looked while operating it. Michael made driving look fun, like a martial art. Adam wondered what he'd have to learn to be able to drive like that one day.
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