A dawn of reading

There’s something about reading in silence at the crack of dawn. I can hear my own footsteps even if I tiptoe out of the bedroom, trying not to wake 'A. The air in the house was stale, still, and silent till I pushed the glass door open, letting the morning air come in. It’s still the rainy season here in Kuala Lumpur, so the air is windy, making it slightly colder and refreshing.

My half-awake one-eyed elderly cat opened his only eye a little and waited for me to greet him. 'Good morning, Uncle Jojie!,' I greeted him half-whispering and joyfully. That tiny paw stood up and stretched himself while making his way to me; I just knew that’s how he greeted me back. You love me too, I know. Also means he is ready for his breakfast.

Brewed a hot green tea while waiting for Jojie to finish his food that’s mixed with his medicines; I’d lost in my thoughts staring at the floor in silence. 'Which book do I want to read this morning?'. I can hear the human world is still asleep outside, but the wild birds already started their dawn chorus, tweeting and chirping. Probably greeting their friends and racing to catch the worms, I thought.

Jojie finished his food and followed me as I headed into my study. I turned on a soft light and clean up my desk while Jojie hopped onto my reading chair.

He could not do his 'saliva bath,' the thing cats usually do to clean themselves. This poor thing had to use a soft cone all the time to protect him over licking himself and triggered a seizure. He would just curl himself up, position himself where I could see him blinking his eye slowly, staring at me in silence till he falls asleep again.

It’s a routine for him to sit near me in my study for a few hours in the morning and leave the room after to spend the rest of the day in his bed in the living room.

Peek through the window, it was still dark. Just a few houses had turned on their lights. I sat down and started reading. There’s no other sound than my pages twirled as I turned it and the sound of fans whirring.

It rained buckets last night, so through a slightly opened window, I can hear water dripping from the neighbor‘s air-conditioning compressor above my house. I read and read till the goddess sun shines brighter which it’s time to kick start the to-dos.

Which part of the day is your favorite time to read? I’d love to hear from you.