Homebound

Chapter 12

        The annoying blare of the alarm pierces the air. It rings and rings, and there is no one to shut it off. It screams until it loses its voice and shuts by itself.

        Silence.

       The dark sky begins to become lighter as time pass. The birds come out and sing their morning song. Lights flicker on in windows of houses. The delightful aroma of breakfast permeates the air.

      "Where's Asher?" Delilah strides into the kitchen. She glares at Joshua for eating a bit of her portion of pancakes.

       "Asleep," he replies with a full mouth.

      "What? We'll be late for school!" she shrieks.

      "No you won't. We're on schedule," Robert reassures and sips his coffee.

      "Daddy, wake him up," Delilah demands and takes a bite of her pancake.

      "Your father will do no such thing. Eat your breakfast and we'll wake him after." Laura frowns at Delilah's tone of voice.

      "I can't be late, Mother!"

     "Stop worrying so much! Just eat your pancakes. I'll help you." Joshua reaches over to steal another piece, but Delilah swats his hands away.

    "You go wake him up."

     "I don't have a death wish."

     "Fine, I'll go." She places her fork down and stomps her way upstairs to show her displeasure. She throws open Asher's door, hoping that will startle him. However, he still sleeps peacefully.

     "Asher Croaker, wake up this instance," She commands to the wall. "I'm serious; we have to get to school," she threatens the lamp. "Fine; you asked for it." She steps forward and rips the sheets out of Asher's sleeping form. A horrifying scream pierces the air which causes Robert, Joshua, and Laura to rush upstairs.

     "What happened?" Robert asks in alarm.

     "He's naked!" Delilah shrieks and covers her eyes.

     "No, he's not. He's wearing boxers," Joshua states confusedly. He doesn't understand why Delilah is freaking out. She's seen him in his boxers before. Yeah, she orders him to put pants on, but he expects the A+ student to know the difference.

      "How about we go downstairs, and let your father deal with Asher." Laura leads a shook Delilah out of the room.

     "What are we going to do about him?" Joshua asks his dad.

     "We're going to dump water on him," Robert says decisively.

     "Are we really?" Joshua asks admiringly.

     "Yes, and I need your help. Get a bucket of water," which Joshua readily retrieves. "Now, we pour," he encourages Joshua to pour the bucket.

     "I can't. It's mean." Joshua hesitates.

    "It's only a little prank. Besides, Asher will wake up by himself from now on," Robert explains.

    "Okay." Joshua grins at his dad's generosity. He pours the bucket of cold water over Asher. Asher leaps from his bed and falls to the floor. Robert and Joshua let out howls of laughter.

    "I told you it would work, son." Robert chuckles and ruffles Joshua's hair.

     "What the hell?" Asher stutters out while clutching his chest that is in pain as he watches Robert and Joshua bond from his half-asleep state.