The morning sun streamed through the blinds as Jake and Alex stirred awake, already aware of what they would find before even moving. Sure enough, as they shifted under their blankets, they both felt the familiar squish. Another wet morning.
Without a word, they got up and went through their usual routine, heading straight to their mom's room for a change before Tyler could text or call about hanging out. As always, their mom took care of everything quickly, disposing of the last of their diaper supply.
Once freshened up, they headed downstairs for breakfast. The smell of bacon and eggs filled the kitchen as they sat down with their plates. They were just starting to eat when both of their phones buzzed at the same time.
Jake picked his up and groaned. "It's from Jordan."
Alex glanced over and read the message out loud. "Since when do you guys do yoga?"
The brothers looked at each other, realization hitting them at the same time. They leaned in and whispered, "Really, Tyler?"
Their mom, who was pouring herself a second cup of coffee, glanced over. "Something wrong?"
Jake shook his head quickly. "Nope, nothing at all."
Alex forced a casual chuckle. "Just an inside joke."
Mrs. Faulkner eyed them suspiciously but decided not to pry. Instead, she took a sip of her coffee and sighed. "Alright, boys, we need to run to the store today. We just used the last of your diapers this morning, so we need to restock."
Jake nodded absentmindedly, still half-focused on his phone. But then his mom continued.
"Oh, and Jake-I got an email from the store. Your Goodnites are finally back in stock. If you want, we can switch back to those."
Jake thought about it for a second before shrugging. "Honestly, the diapers are fine. They're cheaper and hold way more. I think I'll just stick with them."
Mrs. Faulkner nodded approvingly. "Alright then. Let's eat up and head out. We've got a few errands to run before your last day of freedom is over."
Alex sighed dramatically. "Can't we just pretend homeschool isn't happening?"
Jake smirked. "Yeah, maybe if we don't acknowledge it, it'll go away."
Their mom chuckled. "Nice try, boys. But school starts tomorrow, whether you like it or not."
With that, they finished up their breakfast, knowing that their last carefree day was slipping away.
The boys trailed behind their mom as they walked into the store, hoping the diaper aisle wouldn't be crowded. As soon as she stopped in front of the shelves and began grabbing the supplies-diapers, wipes, powder, and butt cream-Jake and Alex exchanged an embarrassed glance.
"Mom, can't we just... wander around while you do this?" Alex asked, shifting uncomfortably.
Mrs. Faulkner shook her head. "No, we'll only be a few minutes, and I'm not hunting you boys down."
Both boys sighed but stayed quiet as she placed the items in the cart. They kept their heads down, hoping no one from school or any familiar faces would spot them.
As they continued through the store, their mom suddenly turned down the snack aisle. "Alright, boys," she said with a small smile, "since you've behaved, grab one snack and one drink each. Then we're checking out."
Their moods immediately brightened as they hurried to pick their favorites. Jake grabbed a bag of spicy chips and a bottle of root beer, while Alex went for a pack of chocolate-covered pretzels and a fruit punch.
With their rewards in hand, they headed to the checkout, eager to get home and make the most of their last day before homeschool officially began.