Our Love-Hate Relationship With Morning Companions

Whether they delight or annoy us, it’s hard to imagine starting the day without them.

Lovers, partners, pets, kids, bus drivers, baristas. Sometimes even birds.

For most of us, our mornings are not a solo act.

How we navigate this slice of the day with or around others can define our mornings, for better or worse. Sometimes, our companions provide us a rude awakening. Other times, a shared ritual as sweet as a dance.

These six stories, all from different authors, share a common truth: whether our morning companions delight or annoy us, it’s hard to imagine starting the day without them. — From the Editor, Evyn Williams

I.

The ancient french door flings open and crashes loudly against the dresser. I hear footsteps and see a shadowy figure maraud around the room. I pretend to be asleep, hoping the monster selects my husband as its morning prey.

“CHEEEEEERIOOOOOOSSSSSS!!!!!” it demands.