Breakfast in bed

Morning Zootopia lived day by day the usual life for a giant megalopolis. The first thing Judy heard when she returned from the world of dreams to reality was the joyful cries of children playing in the yard under the supervision of their mothers, the noise of cars rushing along the avenues and streets. The rabbit slowly inhaled the smell in the bedroom — a mixture of flavors of last night’s dinner, green tea and something else familiar, homely, diluted by the cool breeze blowing in from the ajar window — and smiled. The realization that she didn’t have to go to work today, and that she could spend the day off as she pleased, made Judy feel almost euphoric. Yes, with her job, she didn’t get a lot of free time! Judy lay on the bed with her eyes closed, every part of her body feeling its warmth. The square of sunlight falling through the window onto the edge of the blanket moved to the gray face of the rabbit; the bright light crawled gently but inexorably under her eyelids. Judy blinked once, then again, and opened her eyes. Her gaze was fixed on the ceiling, which was covered with white ornamented tiles. After lying like that for a few moments, she turned her head to the left, hearing a quiet sigh on that side. The gaze of her smiling bright violet-colored eyes met the green eyes of the one who lay next to her on the other side of the bed. A golden ray of sunlight played merrily with the fox’s fluffy red hair, making the tips of the hairs sparkle in the glowing stream. — Wake up already, Carrots? — Nick asked in a quiet and intimate voice. The red paw slowly rose and gently lowered itself onto Judy’s gray face, warm pads caressing the fluffy fur of her cheek to her chin. — Good morning! — I wish I could lie like this, next to you, until lunchtime! — Judy stretched dreamily and, stretching sweetly, turned her whole body to Nick. Her gray paws gently encircled the redhead’s neck, and Judy kissed her lover on the tip of his nose. — Good night to you, Nick. — Did you sleep well? — The fox asked with a corner of his mouth. He was interested with apparent concern, but there were demonesses dancing merrily in his eyes-often when he asked Judy something. — No, you were shoving in your sleep a lot, — Judy giggled and nudged Nick lightly. — You don’t remember me from last night at all? — Nick faked indignation. — You long-eared sly one! His paw slid under the blanket and tried to tickle his favorite. — Ay, Nick! — she squeaked softly. — Stop it! — Judy laughed as his warm paws wrapped around her under the blanket. — I won’t, — Nick mumbled in a low voice. — I won’t stop until you feed your ginger friend a delicious breakfast! Carrots, you’re not going to let me starve to death next to you on this bed, are you? — You won’t, my silly fox! — Judy said with a fighting and cheerful attitude, then turned on her side and threw the blanket aside. — Turn away, — she said jokingly, standing up and picking up the thin, long robe on the arm of the chair. The redheaded lover, who never thought to look away, took a long look at Judy’s slim and supple naked figure with pleasure. As she threw on her robe, she felt Nick’s gaze on her back and smiled, knowing that he wouldn’t just look away. She remembered how before she went to bed, naked, in the light of the table lamp, her favorite redheaded friend had hugged her affectionately by the shoulders. — What’s for breakfast? — Nick asked. — I won’t tell, — Judy smirked. — It will be a surprise! Stay and wait. — Maybe I’ll cook. — Nick sprang to life and jumped out of bed. — Uh, no, — Judy raised her paw in protest. — It’s my turn tonight. — You got it, Carrots, — Nick sighed and picked up his smartphone from the nightstand. His finger poked at the icon that said “Muzzlebook” underneath. Nick had time to respond to messages from Finnick, Grizolli, Fangmeyer, a few other friends, and check out the Police Department community while Judy was in the kitchen rattling a frying pan and opening the refrigerator. After lying around for a few more minutes, Nick got up and went into the kitchen, as he mentally said, “to reconnoiter.” The aroma of breakfast cooking was wafting through the small room, and thin slices of white bread for toast were lying on the griddle. The “cook” herself stood at the table, carefully slicing thin slices of fish. Nick walked over to Judy and put his paws on her shoulders and whispered softly in her ear: — How about a kiss? — It’s too early for thank yous, Nick, — Judy said in a low voice. — Go to the bedroom. Nick sniffed at the smell of food. — Mmm, — he said, licking his lips. — Delicious fish toasties, fried! — You sneaky redhead! — Judy turned to him and jokingly swung her fish tail at him. Intercepting her paw, Nick brought the long-nosed redhead’s face close to Judy’s nose and kissed it briefly. — One-one, Carrots! — Nick whispered playfully and disappeared behind the door.Soon the sound of a blender running reached his ears. Nick pulled the folding breakfast table Judy had given him for his birthday from behind the bed. — Surprise-ize! — Judy proclaimed a quarter of an hour later, bringing into the room a tray with plates of toast and two tall glasses of something pink.She set it down on a small table placed on the bed.Taking a sniff, Nick recognized the drink immediately. — Smoothie! — marveled the redhead. — Carrots, you’re a magician! How did you make it? — I found the recipe on the Internet, and my mother taught me, — Judy explained. Nick looked carefully at the toast. Three thin slices of fish nestled appetizingly on two toasted slices, and Judy’s favorite seasoning, crushed garlic leaves with carrot sauce, was spread thinly over the fillets. The smell of the food made it clear that it would taste delicious, too.Without thinking, Nick took the fishburger and sank his teeth into it. When he had finished his breakfast and had sipped about half of it, he looked at the crumbs on his plate, and Judy saw a faint trace of sadness in Nick’s eyes. — What is it, Nick? — Judy asked, a little apprehensively, setting her plate aside. — You know, Carrots, — Nick said quietly, — I had toast like this the last time I was eight years old. My mom made them for me. I don’t remember eating anything tastier… — I remember you talking about your family, — Judy said sadly. But the words did not convey the gravity of what Nick had to endure in the first year of life without parents, when his mother went to the store and never came back. He never thought about his father — his husband left his wife and son before he was born. Nine-year-old Nick was taken in by distant relatives, who had to feed another maw, as they often told him. In gratitude for the roof over his head, he shouldered the heavy burden of housekeeping, as a result of which he attended school part-time. Who knew that just on the eve of Nick’s decade, a gas explosion would destroy the apartment? — I’ve always remembered those toasties, — Nick sighed, feeling Judy’s warm paw on his shoulder. — I’ll never forget them, they were a feast for me when Mom was alive. Nick turned to Judy. — You didn’t just bring us breakfast in bed, Carrots, — he was already whispering. — You brought me a holiday from my childhood. Judy, smiling maternally, only squeezed Nick’s shoulder tighter and wanted to say something, but she was interrupted by a warm and affectionate kiss. — That’s why I love you, — he said softly, stroking Judy’s cheek. — Every day with you is a celebration for me.