A Day in Life as Lily Tuxedo

It seems that I do everything with my twin sister Rose Tuxedo Cat synchronously. We both like the same things, read each other’s minds, and seem to have the tendency to always feel the same things at the same time.

I woke up exactly one minute before Rose stirred out of her bed.

“Good morning, sister!” I greeted. Rose, always able to get up full of energy, replied back the same. Together, the two of us went downstairs where our mother greeted us good morning. Our father, like always, was already outside baking bread. Since the end of the big tests, he hadn’t had any income from that job. (The mayor pays him on a system of per test). He needed a new career, and delved into his breadmaking skills. Ever since, we trade for a bit of things from the country folks, like borrowing Freya’s books for a week in exchange for a few loafers of bread. Whenever mother needs to go shopping for groceries, she takes a big basket of bread with her to trade. There’s always plenty of variety, and everyone says our father’s bread is the best!

Rose opens the door, and I follow her outside. Our father is rolling yet another dough as we greet him good morning. “One bunny shaped bread is about to be ready,” he tells us. Just as we are smelling in the wondrous smell, Luke Hazelnut Chipmunk is on his way. He’s so small, but he has a clever nose! Living alone, father decided to make an arrangement with Luke. He can come by anytime for a free loaf. Today, he picked a fluffy bear paw with a shy thank you before making his way back home.

“Need any help, Father?” I ask.

“No, thank you, Lily. I have it under control. Why don’t you pick out some bread for breakfast?”

So, my twin and I selected an assorted basket of three breads, consisting of sourdough for mother, a panda shaped one for me, and a plain loaf for Rose.

We dug in indoors, until Rose teased me, “Lily, are you thinking what I’m thinking?” I was just about to ask her the same and replied, “Only if you’re thinking what I’m thinking?”

“And what is that?”

“Milk!” We laughed aloud. Mother fetched two cups and the cool carton of vegan milk. Rose poured out the creamy white liquid. We both sighed in satisfaction at the first sip before carrying on with breakfast.

“Dainty now, ladies!” our mother reminded us after Rose took too big of a bite.

With breakfast over, it was time for studies. Even though our father was no longer giving out countryside tests he still pop quizzed us. Today, we were diving into thick volumes of English books and the dictionary. Rose, always a little more studious, could spend hours reading the dictionary.

I could never! Perhaps it is a childhood thing, but the study time always seems to go by rather quickly. There is very little commotion around the house. The biggest distraction is probably the smell of bread so temptingly! Within the blink of an eye, it’s already early afternoon so we go downstairs for lunch. Mother has made an omelette for herself, and the rest of us dig into beautiful tarts! Father enters, stern as always, and takes his seat. He always smells like crisp bread ends. The babies, having finally woken up, are enjoying their favorite food. Yogurt with crumbled cheese. It’s perfect for a lack of chewing and very flavorful. Mother spoon feeds each of them with her fork one by one. They giggle with satisfaction.

Lunch is finished with our mother cleaning away the plates, utensil, and baking trays.

“May we go out to play? We have finished studying.” I asked our mother who answered a definite yes.

Rose and I, wanting to rush out the door, thought better of it with our mother’s watchful eye on our dress edges. We practice ballet beyond the front porch with graceful leaps and tiptoes until our next door neighbor, Bell and Bellia, come out.

“Hi!” Bell waves. “Just enjoying the lovely breeze today.” Bellia explains to us.

“We’re practicing ballet.” I say. “Want to join?” Rose offers automatically.

The two sisters rush to our front porch, where my sister and I show them a few simple moves. Nothing too complicated, and we offer plenty of cheers.

Before long, our mother, who is cleaning the range and fridge, notices the ballet recital going on outside the window. She comes out with ice cream fresh from the freezer, and offers it to everyone.

“Would any of you like ice cream sandwiches? I just got them this week in town.” She nicely said.

The country girls, always so polite and well taught, accept with much gracious gratitude. We dig in, enjoying the sunset, and say our goodbyes afterwards. With that, I and the rest of the residents of my house shuffle our way to the neighbors’ bathroom. Our house was never suitable space and logistic wise on interlacing a working bathroom, so we ended up using the neighbor’s. In exchange is some of my father’s baked bread. I shower quickly like always, in order not to take up too much of the time. Then, I proceed by using some of their toothpaste, swabbing it around inside my mouth and rinsing with water from my paw. All squeaky clean and proper, it’s Rose’s turn, and then father’s, and then mother’s, and then mother will take care of the babies.

Dinner is served modestly. It’s the leftover bread from the bakery as well as vegan eggs. To top this healthy meal off, our mother offers us all bottled water.

“It’s so much tastier,” she claims.

Our father, more concerned with its price than supposed benefits, counters, “But was it really worth that premium? We can drink tap water just the same!”

“I got it for just the sum of a croissant. Besides, didn’t you tell me I could spend a bit more with how well business is?”

Father, always wanting a happy wife and children, dropped the matter with great comfort that business was doing well.

“What a healthy meal! There’s carbohydrates, protein, and this delicious water!” mother added. We dug in, while the babies would be spoon fed cheese and yogurt once more after our mother finishes eating.

“Let me help with the dishes!” I quickly offered as soon as everyone had finished, but mother declined my offer. She tells me to spend these peaceful hours after dinner with the babies. Rose and I read to the babies a classic fairytale: Chocolockes and the Three Cats.

They dozed off before we could get to the very ending, though. No matter, because tomorrow we will continue on. We also got tired, and both said our respective good nights to everyone still awake. Rose and I always had a tendency to sleep early, and never had any problem falling asleep either.