New Book I'm writing

Opening Scene: A Monday Morning

Waking Up

The muffled chime of Liz’s alarm filled the room, vibrating on the nightstand. She groaned, flopping an arm over her eyes, trying to block out the sunlight creeping through the curtains. Alex, her sleek black cat, hopped onto the bed, purring insistently, while Molly, the plump tabby, stretched and curled against her side.

Liz: (murmuring) “Alright, alright, I’m up. Can’t let you two starve, can I?”

She sat up, scratching Alex behind the ears and gently nudging Molly awake. The room felt cozy and lived-in, with a stack of books on her nightstand and a laundry basket that was perpetually half-full.

Light jazz music started softly in the background as her Bluetooth speaker kicked on—a mellow saxophone solo easing her into the day.


---

The Morning Routine

Liz trudged to the shower, letting the warm water wake her up. After drying off, she pulled on a comfortable blouse and nice black slacks before heading downstairs.

Liz walked though the hallway into the kitchen “One of the best parts of the morning.” the smell of freshly brewed coffee filled the air. Alex and Molly rush ahead of her in the hope of treats
Like most mornings Liz could count on three things once she reached the kitchen, the smell of freshly brewed coffee, and a note from her husband Brian. His notes always made her happy.

" Hi Liz,
Heading to the weight room at school before homeroom starts. See you at lunch.
Love you,
Brian
P.S I love you to the moon and back! "

Liz smiled. “How did I get lucky enough to marry such a sweet man"

She grabbed a mug from the cupboard, added a bit of creamer, and poured herself coffee. Molly and Alex paced back and forth at her feet, sounding their demands for food.

Liz: (laughing softly) “Just a minute, you two, you’ll get your treats.”

Pouring the cat treats in two small piles, she watched them dig in, then turned her attention to her own breakfast—a blueberry muffin, a yogurt, and a small protein drink.

The jazz melody shifted to an upbeat piano riff, filling the quiet space as Liz absentmindedly talked to herself.

Liz: “Taking on 7th grade English class... brilliant move, Liz. Totally not overwhelming at all.” She rolled her eyes, taking a bite of her muffin. “What have I gotten myself into? And thirty. I don’t feel old enough to be thirty... but I guess there’s no outrunning it.”

Alex hopped onto the chair across from her, staring intently at her plate.

“Don’t even think about it. This muffin’s mine.” pointing a finger at Alex.

Alex flicked his tail in annoyance and retreated to his bowl, clearly plotting revenge. Liz took a sip of her coffee and leaned back, letting herself enjoy the quiet moment before the chaos of the day.

“Seventh-grade English and counseling... brilliant move, Liz. Totally not overwhelming at all.” She rolled her eyes. “What was I thinking? English class on top of counseling? This is going to be... interesting.”


Getting up from the table "Well, you two fur balls, I need to get a move on."

Liz made her way to the kitchen sink, Alex jumping up on the counter just to make sure no food he might have miss out on.

Liz went though her mental check list.
"Food and water for the cats, check.
Turn heat down, check.
Tote bag with water bottle,
7th grade English book, and lunch, check."

Liz spoun around on one foot,
"To the coffee pot I go for one more refill, Lord knows I need all the help I can get" she thought to herself.

After pouring



Liz stopped at the small table by the front door that Molly just sat by watching her and awaiting for her good bye scratch on the head.
Liz put on her coat, snugging the collar up against the chill, and reached for the scarf draped over the chair. It was a soft, fluffy blue knit, a gift from her mom last Christmas. She wound it snugly around her neck, its warmth instantly comforting against the morning cold. The color reminded her of a cloudless sky on a crisp winter day, and the soft texture felt like a gentle hug.

She adjusted the scarf’s ends so they lay neatly over her coat, giving a little tug to make sure it stayed in place. “Perfect,” she murmured to herself, grabbing her tote bag from the table near the door.

Pausing for a moment, she gave Molly her customary goodbye scratch on the head and glanced at Alex, already sprawled next to the cat post.

“You both be good. No plotting world domination while I’m gone,” she said with a smile, stepping outside and locking the door behind her.

The crisp morning air greeted her, and her breath formed soft puffs as she made her way down the walkway. Her Toyota Camry sat waiting in the driveway, its windows slightly fogged from the cold.

“Thank goodness for remote start,” Liz muttered, holding her tote bag tight against her side. “No more frozen fingers and toes.”

Sliding into the driver’s seat, she was immediately reminded of why she loved the feature. The warm air from the vents and the heated seat were already taking the edge off the morning chill.

Adjusting the mirrors, she sighed with a small smile. “Brian, my love, are you secretly a giraffe? How do you even see out of these?”

She sipped her coffee, savoring its warmth, and turned on the radio.

Alex already in his sleeping spot next to the cat post. "You know Alex, you really are spoiled, you know that right? Liz laughed "You both be good and no killing each other while I'm gone. Also no plotting world domination while I’m gone.”

She grabbed her tote bag and put her lesson plans and counseling files neatly inside.

“Be good, you two. Please don't knock anything over, like yesterday, I'm lucky if that potted plant will survive. Moly flicked her tail nonchalantly as if to say, no promises, she walked away and jumped onto the cat post.

---

Leaving the House

Liz slung her tote bag over her shoulder.
"One last glance to dubble check" She whispered to herself as she step down turned and locked the door behind her.

Stepping into the crisp morning air, her breath forming soft puffs as she walked to the Toyota Camry that sat in her driveway.
Sliding into the driver’s seat, Liz adjusted the mirrors from the last time Brian drove home from church. It slightly annoyed her a bit that everything was out of place. Liz took a sipped of her coffee and taking a deep breath she turned on the radio. The familiar voices of Mike and Lila fill the cabin.


Mike: "...what’s the one Thanksgiving dish you absolutely can’t stand? Call or text us—because let’s be honest, not every family recipe is a winner."

Liz chuckles and checked her mirrors
Than glancing at the clock. "Right on schedule. Letting the car warm up a bit more and sipping her coffee she was thankful for the shop guy that fix her heater
"no more frozen fingers and toes on the 40 minutes commute." Liz said with a bit of a smile.

As she backed out of the driveway
and pulled onto the street, "The car hummed to life as Liz shifted into drive, the soft crunch of gravel beneath her tires marking the start of another day."

Liz smirked, shaking her head as the radio hosts debated Thanksgiving dishes.
"Good girf. Green Jell-O. Hands down. What’s even in that stuff? Marshmallows? Pineapple? Gelatin nightmares."Liz muttered with a wry grin.

Lila: "I’ll tell you mine—green Jell-O salad. Seriously, what even is that?"

Liz gave a short laugh, "See, Lila gets it. Green Jell-O is not food. Cranberry sauce, though? That’s non-negotiable. I could eat it with a spoon straight out of the can."

"As Walking on Sunshine starts playing, Liz hums along, her mind drifting to her family’s upcoming Thanksgiving gathering. 'All five of us, Mom and Dad, with four cousins and their families in one house for three days. All we need is a partridge in a pear tree. I surely need cranberry sauce and pie as coping mechanisms for that.'"



She pulls into the school parking lot, gripping the steering wheel for a moment. "First week as an English teacher. I survived yesterday. Today, it’s poetry. Seventh graders and metaphors—what could go wrong?"

Liz turns off the car, grabbing her bag and taking a deep breath. "Alright, let’s do this. One day at a time."


---

This keeps Liz relatable, funny, and just a touch reflective about her family and work. How does this feel for her tone?

as she backed out of the driveway.


---

The Drive

The commute to school was blessedly uneventful. Liz’s mind wandered as the jazz played in the background, her fingers tapping lightly on the steering wheel.

Liz: (to herself) “Thirty years old, juggling counseling and teaching. I should probably buy myself a cake or something, shouldn’t I?” She laughed under her breath. “Yeah, because cake fixes everything.”

Her thoughts shifted to the English class she’d taken on this semester.

Liz: (muttering) “I mean, who else was going to step up, right? Still, what was I thinking? Half those kids don’t even want to be there. Well, except Angela... she’s great. And Sam. But honestly, comma splices. Everywhere.”

She tapped the wheel in time with the music as the saxophone solo melted into a lively piano riff.

Liz: “I need to stop stressing about commas. And thirty. Thirty! That’s not old, right? Nope, not old. It’s the new twenty. Or something. Whatever.” She let out a long sigh.

The familiar view of the school came into sight, and she instinctively slowed down, watching the morning bustle of students and staff arriving. She waved to a few parents in the pickup lane and parked in her usual spot near the front entrance.

Grabbing her tote bag and coffee, she stepped out of the car, returning waves and greetings from a few students passing by.


---

Walking into School

Grabbing her things from the backseat, Liz slung her tote bag over her shoulder, returning waves of hello from students and faculty passing by. The cool morning air nipped at her cheeks as she approached the light blue doors with their white trim.

Placing her right hand on the door handle, she paused, taking a deep breath and murmuring to herself, “I can do five impossible things today.”

With a tug and a quick pull, Liz swung the door open and stepped into the main hallway. The familiar hum of the school greeted her: the echo of locker doors slamming, the chatter of students, and the hurried footsteps of teachers heading to their classrooms.


---

Angela’s Conversation

A cheerful voice rang out, cutting through the noise. “Ms. Brooks!”

Liz turned just in time to see Angela, one of her favorite students, rushing toward her. The seventh grader’s wide grin was infectious, even on a Monday morning.

“Morning, Angela,” Liz said warmly, shifting her tote bag higher on her shoulder. “You’re looking chipper today. Big plans this week?”

Angela shrugged, but her smile didn’t waver. “Not really. Just glad I get to see you in class today!”

Liz chuckled. “Well, I’ll try to make English exciting. Don’t tell anyone, but I might let you pick the warm-up activity if you keep this enthusiasm up.”

Angela’s eyes widened. “Really? Okay, I’ll think of something good!”

“Deal. Now, hurry to your locker before the bell rings,” Liz said, pointing down the hallway.

Angela waved and skipped off, her backpack bouncing behind her. Liz shook her head fondly, her spirits lifted by the brief encounter. Moments like these reminded her why she loved her job, even on the busiest days.


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Break Room Chat

(Followed by the Break Room Chat, as already included in the previous sequence.)