On My Balcony

• Jane Bishop
• Short Story
• 2006

I woke to hear my radio alarm go on. I couldn’t be bothered getting up to turn it off, like anyone could be on a Saturday after a stressful week full of work, so I turned over in my nice warm, soft bed and attempted to go back to sleep.
About 5 minutes later I felt my dog, Muffin, jump up on the bed and start licking my hand to wake me up. Now how can anyone ignore that and especially my cute little white fur ball that could hardly see with the fur covering her eyes?
I got up and my sweet little ginger kitten came in and started rubbing herself all around my legs. I gave Muffin and Butter (my kitten) their breakfast then started on my own.
Toast down for 3 minutes and the kettle boiling for 2, spread the toast with margarine and then strawberry jam, and head out to the warm balcony.
I sat down to my breakfast watching the sun rise into the pink and orange sky. The small boats were bobbing up and down on the graceful rolling waves making their way further into the shore.
The birds were still waking up and singing as they went out hunting for worms and insects for their young. The flowers were starting to open as the sunrays evaporated the morning dew from their petals in the pots around my balcony.
I was still wearing my PJ’s sipping my steaming Milo while eating my hot crumbly toast.
The slight breeze was rustling the long leaves of the palm trees just next to the path, which is right next to the beach. The breeze hits my face, taking my breath away just for that moment with the amazement.
The heat from the glowing yellow sun was heating my body just to that right temperature from head to toe.
I saw the people walking their dogs and running past for their early morning exercise.
I looked up into the baby blue sky and saw a formation of birds in a v shape. One would drop back from the front for a rest then another and then another and so on.
My soft little Butter was lying on my lap purring loudly and Muffin was looking out the end of the balcony barking at the dogs she can see walking or running past. I think she had a good conversation with some of them too…hehehe.
I had to leave this beautiful morning to go do the dishes, get dressed and go take Muffin out for our morning walk and left Butter to her dreams.
When I got back I did the house cleaning as usual and sat down with a hot cup of coffee and got comfortable to read my book.

As I finished my day’s activities it started getting darker and time to get my dinner ready. I had some rice with roasted drumsticks, then with a tomato sauce over the top…Oh how nice! I might even have that tonight. I went outside to my peaceful balcony again to say good-night to the sun as it sank below the sea followed by it’s wondrous colours, and say hello to the town lighting up.
As soon as I sat down to eat my delicious meal Muffin came up to me and bumped her favorite toy into the side of me. My mouth was screaming to get to the food and the saliva was even worse almost pouring out like a running tap on full blast. But I had to hold back my urge to eat and play with my cute little fur ball, and then get back to my food.
As I ate I could see the sun slowly fading under the sea and the stars making their appearance in the sky and the moon starting to show it’s light reflecting off the top of the seawater.
The cold air was starting to get to me, but those last rays of the sun kept me warm for those last few minutes of the evening, before it got too dark for me to stay out there any longer.
As I was just stepping into the house I saw out the corner of my eye lights flashing on the beach. I stopped myself and went back outside to the side of the balcony and looked over the beach. I saw that there was a beach party being set up and then the music got turned on and the thumping of it was enough to send me straight indoor and close the door behind me.
I started the wood fire and got comfy on the sofa in front of it to read the end on my book. Butter jumped up on my lap to curl up and go to sleep. With the glow of the wood fire lighting my page to read and the sound of the wood crackling it gently set me off into my world of dreams.