Ray Barone had the look of a worried and troubled man. He stood, his legs a little unsteady beneath him with his hand tightly gripping onto the balustrade at the head of the stairs dressed in a bath robe. His face was unshaven, his hair dishevelled and wildly unkempt as if he had just woken from a six month winter hibernation. He ran his free hand over his face and then over his hair as if this simple act would solve or alleviate all his problems before he started to make his way down the stairs.
He took each step slowly and carefully as his mind raced with the worries and concerns that so weighed heavily on his shoulders over the past few days. It was just over a week till the second chapter of his much dreamed about and desired book was due and yet he had not typed a single word. The first chapter had been comparatively easy flowing out of him and onto the computer screen in less than three days but the second had proved more troublesome. He had sat at a blank screen willing the words to come out of his clouded and blocked mind, at times finding himself literally staring at the computer for hours on end and still nothing. And time was ticking away.
The looming deadline had slowly but surely seeped into his life like a contagious disease affecting his sleep, his job and even his sex life. "What sex life!" he thought to himself.
He had just stepped into the kitchen when to his surprise he found Robert and Debra sitting at the table together eating breakfast. He watched as their eyes scanned him from head to toe as if he was a total stranger who had just walked into their home from the street outside.
"Did we wake you sweetie?" Debra asked as she pushed her chair back and rose to her feet. He could not help but take in what she was wearing as she quickly walked over to where he was standing. She had on a pair of jeans cut off at the ankles that showed off her rear and legs to great effect plus a white cotton top that although not exactly see through he could plainly make out the lacy bra she wore underneath. The flip flops she wore made a 'click' sound on the kitchen floor with each step she took as she approached before she gave him a quick peck on the lips.
"But you badly need a shower!" she added as soon as their lips had touched, his strong body odour flowing into her nostrils with her nose crinkling up for added effect.
"Yeah yeah," he answered grumpily "what's bigfoot doing here?"
An contemptible frown formed on Roberts face but Debra interrupted him before he could reply.
"I invited him over for breakfast," she replied with a forced smile on her face "we don't see enough of each other so I thought it would be nice idea to invite him over."
"What do you mean he is over here all the time! Don't mom and dad feed you over there at the family circus?"
Robert rose angrily to his feet, his huge frame knocking his chair backwards which fell to the floor with a thud. "At least I don't look like a big nosed freak!"
"Oh yeah!"
"Yeah!" Robert replied moving towards where Ray was standing open mouthed his hand twirling the sash of his robe.
"Listen you two," shouted Debra as she stepped in between the two of them "you are brothers for gods sake and grown men at that so starting acting like it and not little children!" She waved her index finger at both of them as they each backed off retreating to opposite sides of the kitchen.
She looked on as they both sulked silently around the table their eyes peering downwards but sneaking the occasional glance at each other.
"Where are the kids?" Ray broke the silence that had only lasted thirty seconds but had seemed to last a lot longer.
"It's past eight thirty Ray," Debra replied "they have already left for school. Now do you want me to make you some breakfast or not?"
He fidgeted about for a few minutes shuffling his feet, untying and then redoing the sash on his robe before he finally offered a reply. "Nah if I want to get this book finished I better get straight to it. I can't laze about all day like some people," he offered a quick glance at Robert who by now was seated at the table again "the book won't write itself you know!"
"Are you sure sweetie?"
Ray nodded "Yes I'm sure I better get started."
He bent down giving her a quick kiss on the lips. "Ok good luck" she said as he started to walk away.
"Poor old Raymond his life is perfect, gorgeous wife, three beautiful kids, writing a book and still he complains!" Robert offered just as Ray had stepped out of the kitchen.
Ray turned quickly around on the spot letting his eyes glare at his brother for just a moment before once again he turned and walked away. It was only a brief time later when the sound of a door slamming resounded in their ears as he descended the stairs to his office in the basement.
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