The clock struck 4 and with that came a loud ringing noise. Martha, a single mother of 3, has an alarm set everyday at 4pm. She’s startled by the sound of the blaring alarm despite hearing it the same time everyday. One of her kids, Stewart, is practicing their violin in the living room. Martha’s littlest, Johnny, is holding onto her leg as she walks, causing her to slug across the kitchen trying to get to her phone. She frantically tries to stop the alarm, and gives out a sigh of relief when it stops. Johnny starts biting her leg, causing her to groan. She picks him up, prying him off of her leg and sets him into his high chair. Claudia, her 7 year old, walks up and tugs on her shirt, “Yes love?” Martha says, trying her hardest to not sound as annoyed as she feels. “I’m done with my homework can I have a treat now?” She looks at her mom with bright eyes, excited for her after school reward. “Yes, i’ll get it for you right now. What a great job finishing your homework.” As Martha walks to the cupboard Johnny starts slamming his sippy cup on the high chair’s tray. He has gotten riled up since his sister is getting something that he can’t have. Martha rolls her eyes to herself before looking back at Johnning and saying “Just a minute sweet boy.” She grabs a snack out of the cupboard for Claudia and grabs some juice out of the fridge. Her oldest, Rupert, is stringing good notes and bad notes, stopping and starting their playing. Johnny sees Claudia get her snack first and starts to cry. Claudia sticks her tongue out at her little brother and runs away into her room. On her way she bumps into her brother, causing him to drop his violin and yell out in frustration. Claudia says a quick “sorry” but ignores the situation and just goes to her room. “Mom! Claudia just ran into me and didn’t even care that my violin fell!” Martha, still being screamed at in front of her, finishes her current task by getting Johnny juice before walking over to the living room. “Mom! Mmoomm! Mommm!” Rupert continues to yell until he sees her come around the corner, “Did you hear, Claudia’s running around again.”

“I’ll go talk to her, please continue your practice.” Martha walks to Claudia’s room, knocking twice before peeking into her room. Claudia motions her to come inside, and she sits on her bed next to her, letting out another large sigh before collapsing on her back onto the bed.