Homebound

Chapter 11

        "Mother, we must go buy our school supplies." Delilah reminds her mother.

        "Already?" Joshua moans in distress.

       "Ok, dear. We'll go after breakfast. Who's coming with us?"

       "Not me. I'm not going to school." Joshua crosses his arms stubbornly.

       "Of course, you are. Don't be a child." Delilah rolls her eyes; it would've made Asher proud.

       "I don't want to go! It's not fair! I can stay home and play video games." Joshua pouts and shakes his head.

        "How about this. Joshua, you'll go to school, and I'll let you spend the day at Brandon's house. Does that sound like a deal?" Laura smiles at her son.

       "Fine. I don't think it's a fair deal, but if I don't take it then I'll have to go school and come with you to get supplies." Joshua nods his head decisively.

       "Morning." Asher walks into the kitchen and yawns.

      "You look like a zombie. It's quite unattractive." Delilah sips on her tea. Asher chooses to ignore her and gives Joshua a high five as their usual morning greeting.

      "Asher, we're going to get school supplies. Would you like to come?" Laura asks and hands him his breakfast.

      "That's nice of you to invite me, but I won't need school supplies," and takes a bite of toast.

      "Don't be foolish. You'll require school supplies for this year." Delilah frowns in her condescending way.

      "For which school? I'm not enrolled in any. The last school I've been to was the program in my last foster place. I think I'm no longer welcomed there." Asher smiles sweetly at Delilah. He knows she hates him, and he takes a great pleasure in proving her wrong.

       "That's ridiculous. Daddy would have enrolled you in the high school. You have to gain knowledge for that minuscule brain of yours."

       "Delilah! Go to your room to change. I see you can't be in the same room as Asher and be civil towards him." Laura reprimands.

       "You're doing me a great favor." She leaves the room and glares at Asher.

      "Excuse her. She's usually so polite." Laura frowns in disappointment.

      "No worries, I'm hard to get along with. I suggest you keep out of our arguments. Siding with the enemy won't help your relationship. Let her abuse me; I find it amusing." Asher reassures Laura with a wave of a hand.

      "I'll listen to your advice, but I don't agree with it. I raised my daughter better than that." Laura reaches for the house phone and dials a number. "Hello, love. Good morning. I'm going with Delilah to get school supplies, and Asher says he isn't enrolled in a school. Of course, you enrolled him in the high school. Wait, you didn't? What are you waiting for? Why didn't I do it? Are you seriously telling me that? Do you want to sleep on the couch tonight? Good. I love you!" and hangs up. "You'll come with us to choose which supplies you want. Unless you have plans."

     "Nah, I'll come with you. I don't have work today anyway."

     "Wonderful, go get changed then."

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     "Wait, I'll be back. Those are on sale!" Laura veers to the right to skim through the clothing rack.