Mundane

I … I am so bored!

Osbert laid on the bed of the closet room, tossing and turning, unable to get a wink of sleep.

Why can't I sleep? He thought, looking around the messy room. Is it the gem's effect or am I just all out of sleep?

He tried to close his eyes, pulling the covers over his head and laid still for another couple of minutes, trying his hardest to fall asleep but nothing happened.

Throwing the covers off him, Osbert finally decided to get out of bed.

Staring at the clock on the wall, he ruffled his messy bedhead, yawning.

10: 39 a.m.

I have never been awake this early before. He thought, counting with his fingers. I have … one, two, three, seven … ten hours before sundown???

What am I going to do for ten hours??

Looking around the messy room again, Osbert sighed and got to his feet. Let's just get something productive done before nightfall. If I just sit like this, I will go crazy with all the questions in my head about the gem, Jel, that woman calling herself a goddess.

Shaking his head, Osbert quickly began picking up the clothes all over the floor and throwing them on the 'bed', before climbing up and looking through them.

He divided the clothes up into piles, to be washed and to be folded.

Just how busy were they that the house got to this state. Osbert thought, folding the clean clothes. They looked exhausted so I can imagine they were busy.

Did they go out at all though? I am sure they did. We would be in trouble if they didn't.

Osbert paused for a second, looking around the room again. "I could cook dinner for them today. What did those two vegetarians want again?"

Looking up receipts on the internet, Osbert watched cooking videos of several foods while he folded the rest of the clothes, putting them away.

Looking at the pile of clothes in front of him, Osbert wondered where he would wash them as they did not have a washing machine.

Lily was the one that took care of the washing. If he wasn't wrong, there was a Laundromat not very far from where they lived. That was opened twenty-four hours so Lily would drop their clothes off there with Roy.

Osbert never went out during the daytime and he couldn't help but feel a little worried for himself. Will he even be ok? Especially with all those people.

Remembering how tired the two looked, Osbert sighed, running his hands through his hair. I'll just try first. If I get too overwhelmed, I will just come back. Simple right?

Ok.

_________________________

Osbert stepped out of the house, almost hissing at the sunlight shining down on him.

He wore a black mask and had a baseball hat and sunglasses on as he stared at the gate that separated them from the world outside, especially in the morning.

Holding the bag of clothes, Osbert sucked in a breath, and took one step at a time, already hating the outside world.

Mornings … suck.

Reaching the gate, Osbert had to talk himself to walking to the laundromat just opposite to their house. Opening the gate and making eye contact with a man who looked about in his thirties, Osbert almost, almost turned back and slammed the gate on him.

"Hello." The man said, smiling brightly at him, making Osbert freeze up instantly. "Is that your house?"

"Yes," Osbert said, trying not to show his nervousness.

"I see." The man walked to him, holding his hand out. "I am Rudolf by the way. You neighbour."

"Alby." The man said, not shaking his hand. "Sorry. My hands are full."

Rudolf looked at the two bags in Alby's hands and grinned, "No problem. Are you going to the laundromat?"

"I am."

"Great. I will come with you." The man said, holding up the bag that was in his hands that Alby didn't notice. "We just moved so there is quite a bit to wash."

"I see." Alby closed the gate behind him and turned to the man who was staring intently at him. "Is something wrong?"

"No, it's just … you are really tall. Do you play basketball?"

"What's that?" Alby asked, walking down the path before crossing the road with the man just behind him.

The place they stay in is filled with trees, even if they were just beside the road. There were other houses but they were quite far apart from one another.

Only the rich could afford to live here, because of a law that was suddenly passed as this place was about to turn into a locality.

That no other trees will be cut down anymore. So the few places where houses were being built, were deserted as they could not afford to pay for the area of land where they cut the trees down.

Those that live there paid for the number of trees cut down in the area and also the construction of the house. It was quite pricy but it guaranteed solitude, for those that desired it.

So there are mostly old, retired and rich people living in the area.

"You don't know what basketball is??" The man asked, surprise written all over his face. "Do you live under a rock or something?"

"I am not interested in sports," Alby said, stopping in front of the large store with nothing but washing machines all lined in rows and rows.

"Should I show you how to play them?" Rudolf asked, entering the place with Alby.

"No, thank you." He said, standing in front of a machine.

The entire place is empty, hardly anyone washes cloth at this time in the morning. They will most likely be there by eleven or twelve.

He then began shoving the clothes in the washing machine, staring at the numerous buttons and becoming very, very confused.

"Do you need help?" Rudolf asked, looking at the matching in front of Alby. "See, you press this for wash and you put coins in here and then it will start."

"Coins?" Alby asked, looking at the wads of bills in his pocket. "I didn't kno-"

"I expected as much." The man laughed, staring at the thick stack that is Alby's money. "This is a rich neighbourhood. Come here. There is a coin machine."

"Really?" Alby's interest perked up immediately, taking off his sunglasses, he walked to the matching that took your paper and gave out coins instead.

Rudolf looked at Alby's excited expression as he looked at the coins coming out the moment he put money in it, smiling as well.

"I'll leave that to you then." He said, walking away, leaving Alby to look at him walk away.

Grabbing the coins in his hands, he stared at them, frowning slightly.

"Remember, the humans can't find out what you are." He remembered Roy tell him. "It doesn't matter that we are the ones keeping them safe, they won't see it as that.

"To them, we are monsters. That is all we ever are."

Alby sighed, a faint sound of gunshots echoing in his ears.

Keep away from them, Osbert. Alby thought to himself. No matter how harmless they look, they are dangerous.

______________________

"Hey, can I invite you for dinner or lunch sometime?" Rudolf asked as Alby began packing the clothes. "Me and my family want to make some new friends."

Alby paused for a second, turning from him, "Sorry. I don't like to go out often."

"That is alright," Rudolf said, grinning at him. "I will see you some time then. See you Alby."

Alby paused at the door and nodded at him, walking out as the bell jingled.

______________________

Reaching home, Osbert began to hang the clothes outside and then sat there, unsure of what else he was supposed to be doing.

What time is it? He thought, looking at his phone.

11: 40 a.m.

Only??? He sighed. I thought a couple of hours have already passed. But only about an hour had gone by?

What am I going to do for the remainder of the time then?

It's too early to start cooking. I already cleaned the house.

Resting his head in his hands, Osbert got to his feet and touched the gem around his neck. Everything we do is monitored by them.

He stared at the little red blinking dots on the walls.

Every room except the changing room and bathroom is filled with cameras. But ... if I keep going there, they will grow suspicious of me.

I want to test this gem's abilities out though. Will there be a way I can do that?

Wait, there is this device that Roy uses when he does something sketchy and doesn't want them to know.

Where is it?

He walked to the changing room, looking for the device that Roy hid in between their clothes.

Looking through the drawers, he finally found it.

Bingo. Now, to turn it on and ... 'exercise'.