Same Ol' Routine

Val entered the dining room from the kitchen, expertly balancing plates of breakfast food. She set the food on the table for the two familiar figures already seated there. Travis, her unpredictable brother-in-law, nonchalantly puffed smoke from a cigarette as he fiddled with something resembling a cannon at the table.

"No luck with the bird this morning?" Thomas, her husband, asked, his eyes barely lifting from the newspaper he was flipping through.

"No, not today. Maybe tomorrow," Val responded, settling into her own seat.

"I'm sure it'll take off when it's good and ready. No point in forcing it," Thomas mused.

Travis took a long drag from his cigar and interjected, "You know what the problem is, don't you? You've made it too comfortable, robbed it of its animal instincts. Shit, give it to me; I'll scare it right out of that cage."

Thomas glared at Travis. "As much as we appreciate the suggestion, I think a more gentle approach would be preferable."

The tension between Travis and Thomas was palpable, an unspoken conflict simmering beneath the surface. Thomas, the more temperamental of the two, broke the silence by slamming his fist on the table. "See, that's the problem with you!" he bellowed. "Always opting for the gentle approach when sometimes a good shake-up is needed."

Travis snuffed out his cigar on the dining table and stormed out of the house, muttering curses under his breath.

Val was the first to break the ensuing silence. "What was that all about?" she asked, her voice laced with concern.

Thomas sighed, closed his newspaper, and massaged the bridge of his nose. "We've been embroiled in some intense negotiations at the factory with a new partner," he admitted. "My brother and I have differing opinions on how to proceed."

Val's brow furrowed. "Is there anything I can do to help?"

Thomas seemed to contemplate her offer before reaching into his pocket and pulling out an envelope, which he extended toward Val. "Actually, there might be something..." he began, his tone enigmatic.

Val's heart fluttered with anticipation. Thomas's business dealings had always been a source of contention in their relationship. Perhaps this was the moment they bridged that gap. She accepted the envelope with a mix of hope and trepidation.

The envelope appeared ordinary, but as Val cautiously extracted its contents, her excitement waned. Inside was a significant sum of money.

Thomas smiled as he stood up from the table. "Take that money and enjoy yourself in town," he suggested, giving her shoulders a gentle squeeze before leaving the room. "I'll see you tonight."

Left alone at the table, Val realized that today was no different from any other day. Today was exactly the same.