Chapter 19: Passing of Time

Author’s Note: To be honest, this chapter serves as more of a filler to bridge the time as Dorothy completes her week on her previous work schedule. If you’re not particularly interested in the day-to-day filler, feel free to skip ahead to the section titled “The Weekend.”

Wednesday:

Josh woke to the faint hum of the house settling into its usual morning rhythm. Sunlight streamed through the gaps in his curtains, illuminating the room with a soft glow. He stretched lazily, glancing at the clock on his bedside table. It was still early, but the sounds of his brothers bustling out the door confirmed they had already left for school.

He got out of bed and pulled on his clothes for the day. As he made his way downstairs, the quiet house felt comforting. Passing his mother’s room, he peeked in to see her sleeping peacefully. Knowing she’d be starting a new schedule was a comfort; one less burden on her shoulders.

In the kitchen, Josh grabbed a bowl of cereal and ate quickly, the crunch of each bite the only sound in the stillness of the morning. He rinsed the bowl, leaving it in the sink before grabbing his backpack and heading out the door.

The walk to school was uneventful. The crisp morning air carried a sense of routine, and Josh found himself lost in thought, reflecting on how things had begun to shift at home. His mother was happier, his brothers more cooperative, and he felt a growing sense of purpose.

At school, the day passed quietly. Mrs. Thompson gave her usual lesson. He completed his assignments with ease, occasionally catching her glancing his way with a curious expression.

“Nice work today, Josh,” she said as the final bell rang, handing him a graded paper. He nodded, offering a polite smile before heading out the door.

By the time Josh got home, the house was still empty. He dropped his backpack by the door and made his way to the kitchen. The pantry and fridge, now stocked thanks to the recent windfall, offered a wealth of options. After a moment of deliberation, he decided on spaghetti and meatballs—a simple, hearty meal that would be sure to please his brothers.

He set to work, boiling water for the pasta and preparing the meatballs. The comforting aromas of simmering sauce and freshly cooked pasta filled the kitchen. By the time his brothers arrived home, the table was set, and the meal was ready.

Joel and William stepped into the kitchen, their noses twitching as they caught the scent. “Spaghetti and meatballs?” William asked, his face lighting up. “Man, it smells awesome in here.”

“Better than cafeteria food,” Joel added, dropping his bag near the door. “Thanks, Josh.”

Josh shrugged, smiling as he ladled sauce over the steaming pasta. “Dig in, guys.”

The three of them sat down, the kitchen filled with the sounds of clinking forks and easy conversation. They talked about their day, sharing small anecdotes and laughs. Joel mentioned a funny moment in history class, and William recounted a story about his friend pulling a prank on their math teacher.

After dinner, Josh helped clear the table before pulling out his homework. His brothers followed suit, and soon the kitchen became a quiet hub of focused study. Joel occasionally grumbled over a tricky algebra problem, and William tapped his pencil rhythmically against the table as he worked through his assignments.

Josh finished his homework first, as usual. He leaned over to check William’s math and nodded approvingly when he found no mistakes. Joel, too, seemed to be getting the hang of his problems, and Josh offered a few quiet tips without drawing too much attention.

Once their work was done, Joel and William packed up their books and headed to the living room to watch TV. Josh lingered in the kitchen, tidying up before joining them. He sat quietly on the couch, soaking in the simple comfort of being with his family. The low hum of the television, the occasional burst of laughter from his brothers.

As the hour grew late, Josh stretched and stood. “I’m heading to bed,” he announced, earning a chorus of half-asleep murmurs from his brothers.

“Night, Josh,” his brothers said.

“Night, guys,” Josh replied, climbing the stairs.

In his room, Josh sat on the edge of his bed, the quiet night wrapping around him. He thought back on the day—uneventful but fulfilling in its own way. The small moments of normalcy, the shared meal, and the quiet camaraderie with his brothers all felt like steps in the right direction.

He activated his wish, the familiar screen appearing before him. Tonight’s study topic: “Psychology of Motivation and Goal Setting.” As he absorbed the information, he felt a renewed sense of purpose. Every step, every action, was part of a bigger plan, one that he was determined to see through.

With his mind buzzing with possibilities, Josh finally let sleep take him, ready for whatever the next day would bring.

Thursday:

Josh woke up to the familiar sound of birds chirping outside his window. The house was quiet; his brothers had already left for school, and his mother was likely still catching up on sleep after her shift. He stretched, enjoying the calm start to his morning before getting out of bed.

In the kitchen, he grabbed a couple of slices of bread, popped them into the toaster, and poured himself a glass of milk. The smell of toasting bread filled the air as he sat at the table, mentally running through the day ahead.

“Another normal day,” he muttered to himself as he spread a thin layer of butter on the toast and ate quickly.

The walk to school was uneventful, the crisp air clearing his mind. Once inside, the routine of the day unfolded much like Wednesday. He moved through his lessons with quiet focus, completing his assignments without much effort.

They worked on a group reading project. Josh found himself paired with two other students, quietly guiding them through the material. While his classmates stumbled over words, Josh read with confidence, his mind already thinking ahead to the evening.

Mrs. Thompson occasionally glanced his way, her expression thoughtful, but she didn’t call him aside this time.

When the final bell rang, Josh packed his things and left school, blending into the crowd of students heading home.

Josh arrived home to the empty house, dropping his bag by the door. After scanning the kitchen for dinner ideas, he found some chicken and vegetables in the fridge. He decided to whip up a simple stir-fry, knowing it was something his brothers would enjoy.

He prepped the ingredients, chopping the vegetables and seasoning the chicken with a light soy marinade. As he cooked, the sizzling of the chicken and the aroma of garlic and ginger filled the kitchen.

By the time his brothers walked in, the table was set with steaming bowls of stir-fry.

“Stir-fry?” William asked, his eyes lighting up as he took in the meal. “Nice, Josh.”

Joel nodded appreciatively as he grabbed a bowl. “Yeah, looks good. Thanks, man.”

They sat down and ate, the conversation flowing as they shared highlights of their day. William talked about a new trick he’d learned on his bike, while Joel complained about a boring lecture in history class. Josh listened, occasionally chiming in, enjoying the easy rhythm of their interaction.

After dinner, they cleared the table, and Josh pulled out his homework. The three brothers worked quietly at the table, the occasional pencil scratch or muttered complaint breaking the silence.

Josh finished first, as usual, and glanced over his brothers’ work, offering a few pointers before packing up.

With homework done, they all gathered in the living room, the TV playing softly in the background.

After an hour or so, Josh stood and stretched. “I’m heading to bed,” he announced.

“Night, Josh,” his brothers mumbled, their eyes glued to the screen.

Back in his room, Josh sat on his bed, reflecting on the day. It had been ordinary, but he appreciated the stability. His family was growing closer, and he felt the steady progress toward his goals.

He activated his wish and began studying a new topic: “Economic Trends and Household Budgeting.” The information flowed seamlessly, expanding his understanding of managing money—knowledge he hoped to use for his family’s benefit.

As the night deepened, Josh’s eyelids grew heavy. He closed the study interface, letting sleep take over, ready for whatever challenges the next day would bring.

Friday:

The familiar sound of his alarm pulled Josh from sleep. He stretched, yawning as he got up to start his day. Like the past few mornings, the house was quiet, his brothers already gone and his mother still asleep.

Josh made a quick breakfast of cereal and milk, savoring the silence as he mentally prepared for another uneventful day at school. He rinsed his bowl, grabbed his bag, and headed out the door. The school day was routine. Josh breezed through his lessons, completing assignments and answering questions with ease. Mrs. Thompson gave him a look during math, but she didn’t press him.

During lunch, Josh sat with a few classmates, half-listening to their chatter about weekend plans. His mind wandered to the evening ahead. He wanted to make dinner special, and he knew having Mr. Johnson over would add something extra.

The final bell rang, and Josh packed up, heading home with a renewed sense of purpose.

On his way home, Josh made a detour, stopping by Mr. Johnson’s house. The old man was on the porch, as usual, sipping tea and watching the world go by.

“Afternoon, Mr. Johnson!” Josh called, walking up the steps.

Mr. Johnson set his mug down and smiled. “Afternoon, Josh. What brings you by today?”

Josh leaned on the porch railing, grinning. “I was wondering if you’d like to join us for dinner again tonight. Thought it’d be nice to end the week with some good food and company.”

Mr. Johnson chuckled, his eyes twinkling. “You’re spoiling this old man, you know that? What’s on the menu?”