Chapter 15: A Saturday Morning

The smell of sizzling bacon and the faint hum of conversation pulled Josh from the edges of sleep. Morning sunlight streamed through the window, casting warm golden beams across his childhood room. He sat up, stretching as he listened to the faint clatter of plates and utensils drifting up from the kitchen. It was Saturday, a day that once felt like a reprieve from school and chores. But now, it was a chance to appreciate the small joys of family life.

Pulling on his jeans and a T-shirt, Josh padded down the stairs, his steps light. The warmth and sounds of home filled the air: the rhythmic scrape of a spatula against a frying pan, the occasional burst of laughter from his brothers, and the gentle hum of his mom’s soft singing.

As he stepped into the kitchen, the scene before him felt like a snapshot of everything he’d longed for in his first life. His mom stood at the stove, expertly flipping pancakes onto a growing stack while sausages sizzled in the adjacent pan. Joel and William sat at the table, William mid-sip of his orange juice, while Joel smirked at something he’d said.

“Morning, sleepyhead!” his mom called over her shoulder. She turned briefly to give him a warm smile, her face looking less weary than usual.

“Morning, Mom,” Josh replied, grinning. He slid into the seat next to William and grabbed a slice of toast from the plate in the center of the table. “Looks like I missed the early shift.”

Joel snorted. “Yeah, but don’t worry—we saved you some bacon. Well, most of it,” he added, popping another piece into his mouth with a grin.

“Appreciate that,” Josh said dryly, reaching for the plate.

“Boys, be nice,” their mom interjected, though her tone was laced with amusement. “Josh works hard around here, same as you two.”

Joel leaned back, folding his arms. “He’s just been bossier about it lately,” he teased.

Josh laughed, brushing off the comment. “Somebody’s gotta keep you guys in line.”

As they ate, the table buzzed with lighthearted chatter. William talked animatedly about a basketball game he wanted to catch later that afternoon, while Joel debated the odds of their favorite team winning. Their mom joined in occasionally, her laughter adding warmth to the conversation.

After the last pancake was eaten and the plates began to clear, Josh lingered in the kitchen. His mom, now seated with her coffee, looked over at him, her expression soft.

“You’ve really been stepping up lately, Josh,” she said, her voice low but filled with pride. “It means a lot—to me and to your brothers. I don’t say it enough, but thank you.”

Josh scratched the back of his neck, feeling a tinge of embarrassment. “It’s nothing, Mom. You do so much for us. Least I can do is help out.”

She reached across the table, giving his hand a quick squeeze. “Well, it hasn’t gone unnoticed. But remember, your job is to focus on school. That’s the best way you can help right now.”

Josh nodded, taking her words to heart, but already thinking of ways he could ease her burden further.

After breakfast, Josh rounded up Joel and William, who were already tossing a basketball back and forth in the yard.

“Alright, team,” Josh announced, planting his hands on his hips. “We’ve got some work to do.”

Joel groaned, tossing the ball lazily toward the hoop. “Work? On a Saturday?”

“Yeah, work,” Josh replied, undeterred. “We’re gonna clean up the yard, and I did it last week.”

William rolled his eyes but shrugged. “Fine, but only if you’re the one picking up the gross stuff.”

Josh grinned. “Deal. Let’s get to it.”

The three brothers spent the next couple of hours tackling the yard. Joel cleared leaves and debris, grumbling under his breath but staying the course. William raked the lawn with a mix of enthusiasm and complaints, while Josh took on the task of trimming overgrown hedges and hauling away the yard waste.

Despite the initial resistance, the work turned into a shared effort. Jokes flew between them, and occasional bursts of laughter broke through the steady rhythm of raking and bagging. By the time they finished, the yard looked cleaner and more inviting than it had in months.

As they leaned against the porch railing, surveying their handiwork, Josh turned to his brothers with a satisfied smile. “Not bad, huh?”

Joel smirked, wiping sweat from his forehead. “Alright, I’ll admit it—this wasn’t the worst way to spend a Saturday morning.”

“High praise coming from you,” Josh teased.

William stretched, yawning dramatically. “Can we go play basketball now? I feel like I’ve earned it.”

“Yeah, go ahead,” Josh said, waving them off. “Just make sure you don’t leave me to do all the cleanup.”

Joel and William exchanged grins, and with a quick grab for the ball, they headed for the driveway.

Josh stayed back for a moment, taking in the peaceful quiet of the yard. The weekend had just started, and already, it felt like progress—one small step closer to the life he wanted to build for his family.

After finishing up in the yard, Josh headed inside, his shirt damp with sweat and streaked with dirt. The cool interior of the house was a welcome reprieve from the warm sunlight outside. He kicked off his shoes by the door and made his way upstairs, grabbing a clean towel from the linen closet.

In the bathroom, the hot water was a small luxury, washing away the grime of the morning. As steam filled the room, he felt a sense of satisfaction from the work he and his brothers had accomplished. It wasn’t just about the yard; it was about creating a home where they could all take pride in the little things.

When he emerged, towel slung over his shoulder, the smell of breakfast had faded, replaced by the faint scent of his mother’s floral air freshener. Pulling on a fresh T-shirt and jeans, he descended the stairs, hearing the low murmur of the television from the living room.

Josh found his mom on the couch, her feet tucked beneath her as she watched a black-and-white movie on the small TV. Her posture was relaxed, a rare moment of peace after weeks of long shifts and endless responsibilities.

“Feeling better, Mom?” he asked as he entered the room, his voice light.

She glanced over at him and smiled. “A little. Thanks for getting your brothers to help with the yard. It looks good out there.”

Josh nodded, walking to the bookcase on the far wall. It was filled with an eclectic mix of paperbacks, cookbooks, and a full set of encyclopedias with their worn leather spines. He scanned the shelf, his finger hovering over the volumes until he picked one: Encyclopedia of the World: Volume G-H.

Carrying it to the armchair, he settled in and flipped it open, the pages crackling faintly. His mother’s gaze drifted from the TV to him, her expression curious.

“Well, there’s something you don’t see every day,” she said with a soft chuckle. “I didn’t think anyone in this house even remembered we had those books.”

Josh grinned without looking up. “I remembered. Figured I’d start using them.”

Her brow furrowed slightly. “You’re actually reading an encyclopedia? What brought this on?”

He turned a page, glancing at the diagrams of ancient Greek architecture. “Honestly? I’ve been bored in school. The stuff they’re teaching—it’s fine, but I feel like I’m not learning enough. So, I figured I’d start teaching myself.”

His mother blinked, clearly surprised. “Bored in school? You?”

Josh looked up, shrugging casually. “Yeah. I know it doesn’t sound like me, but I’ve been thinking a lot about ... well, a lot of things. I just want to know more. These books seemed like a good place to start.”

She leaned back against the couch, her expression thoughtful. “I spent a lot of money on that set, you know. Bought them on a payment plan when you boys were little. Thought they’d be useful for school, but no one ever touched them. I figured it was a waste.”

Josh smiled softly. “Not a waste. They’re pretty amazing, actually. Lots of good stuff in here.”

Her eyes softened, a mix of pride and curiosity flickering in them. “So, you don’t feel challenged in school?”

He hesitated, choosing his words carefully. “Not really. I mean, it’s not bad, but it’s just ... easy. I want to know more than what they’re giving me.”

His mother tilted her head, studying him as if she were seeing him for the first time. “Well, I’ll be interested to see how your grades look at the end of the year. You’ve always been ... well, let’s say, a solid ‘C’ student.”

Josh chuckled, closing the encyclopedia briefly to meet her gaze. “I’m pretty sure you’re going to be surprised, Mom. I’ve been putting in a lot more effort. I promise, it’ll be different this time.”

She smiled, a faint glimmer of hope in her eyes. “I’d like that, Josh. I really would. Just make sure you’re not biting off more than you can chew, okay?”

“Don’t worry,” he said confidently. “I’ve got this.”

She watched him for a moment longer before turning back to the TV, though the faint smile remained on her face. Josh opened the book again, diving back into its pages with a renewed sense of purpose. This wasn’t just about proving something to his mom or even to himself—it was about making the most of this second chance, one step at a time.

The hours slipped by in quiet harmony as Josh remained engrossed in the encyclopedia, soaking in its wealth of knowledge while his mom continued watching TV. Occasionally, he’d glance up, catching her laughing softly at a scene or murmuring along with the dialogue. It was a peaceful moment, the kind he’d rarely taken the time to appreciate before.

As the afternoon wore on, his stomach gave a quiet growl, reminding him it had been a while since breakfast. He closed the book, stretching his arms overhead before turning to his mom.

“Hey, Mom, what’s the plan for dinner?” he asked casually. “Want me to cook, or do you have it?”

She glanced at him with a small smile. “You’ve been cooking all week, Josh. I can handle it tonight. You just relax.”

“You sure?” he asked, tilting his head.