Chapter 33: Homeschool Begins

The morning sun barely peeked through the curtains as Mrs. Faulkner entered the boys' room at 7 AM sharp. She clapped her hands lightly.

"Alright, boys, time to get up! We have some rules to go over before your teacher arrives."

Jake groaned, burying his face in his pillow. "Five more minutes..."

Alex, just as groggy, sat up and stretched, only to feel the familiar dampness of his nighttime protection. He glanced over at Jake, who was in the same situation. They exchanged tired looks, silently acknowledging the unspoken morning routine.

Mrs. Faulkner raised an eyebrow. "Come on, up and at it. Let’s get you two changed, then head downstairs for breakfast."

The boys shuffled out of bed and followed their mom to take care of their morning routine. Once fresh and dressed, they made their way to the kitchen, where cereal, toast, and scrambled eggs were waiting.

As they ate, Mrs. Faulkner sat down across from them, a cup of coffee in hand.

"Alright, here’s how this is going to work," she began. "Homeschool isn't just sleeping in and doing whatever you want. There’s a schedule, and I expect you both to take it seriously."

Jake sighed. "How strict is this schedule?"

Mrs. Faulkner smirked. "Not too strict, but structured enough that you’ll get everything done. You’ll start at 9 AM and finish around 2 PM, with breaks in between. Mrs. Caldwell will be here soon, and she’ll go over more details with you."

Alex poked at his eggs. "Do we still get recess?"

Mrs. Faulkner laughed. "Yes, you’ll get breaks to stretch, snack, and even go outside. But no slacking off. If I hear from Mrs. Caldwell that you’re not paying attention, we’ll have a problem."

The boys nodded. They knew their mom meant business.

Just then, the doorbell rang. Mrs. Faulkner stood up. "That must be Mrs. Caldwell. Finish up and come to the living room."

The boys exchanged a look before quickly eating the rest of their breakfast. This was it. Homeschool was officially starting.

Mrs. Faulkner opened the door to reveal a tall, slender woman with blonde hair tied back in a neat ponytail. She wore glasses, a black shirt under a denim vest, and well-fitted jeans. She had a confident but friendly demeanor as she stepped inside, carrying a leather-bound notebook and a small tote bag.

"Good morning, Mrs. Faulkner," she greeted warmly before turning her attention to the boys. "And you must be Jake and Alex."

The boys nodded, studying her with mild curiosity.

She smiled and extended a hand. "I’m Mrs. Caldwell. I’ll be your homeschool teacher, and I’m looking forward to working with you both."

They shook her hand, exchanging polite greetings.

Mrs. Faulkner gestured toward the living room. "Let’s all sit down so you can go over the schedule with them."

As they took their seats, Mrs. Caldwell opened her notebook. "Alright, boys, here’s how this is going to work. Homeschool is still school. That means structure, focus, and respect for the rules."

Jake sighed, already anticipating what was coming.

Mrs. Caldwell continued. "We’ll start at 9 AM sharp every weekday. You’ll have four core subjects—math, English, science, and history. Each will last about an hour, with short breaks in between."

Alex raised a hand. "Do we get lunch?"

She chuckled. "Yes, of course. Lunch will be from 12 to 12:45. After that, we’ll have an elective period where we can do something creative, physical, or educational—like art, coding, or even a little outdoor activity. We’ll finish the day by 2 PM unless you need extra time for assignments."

Jake frowned. "So… no sleeping in?"

Mrs. Caldwell smirked. "Not on my watch. But don’t worry, it won’t be all work. If you stay on track, I’ll make sure we mix in some fun activities."

She then set her notebook down and folded her hands. "Now, for the rules. First, be respectful. That means listening when I’m teaching, not interrupting, and keeping a good attitude."

Alex nudged Jake playfully. "Hear that? No whining."

Jake rolled his eyes.

"Second," Mrs. Caldwell went on, "assignments are due on time. I won’t be giving you an unreasonable amount of work, but if I ask you to finish something, I expect it to be done."

The boys nodded.

"And third—no distractions. That means no video games, no phones during lessons, and no wandering off unless it’s break time."

Mrs. Faulkner crossed her arms. "And if they break those rules?"

Mrs. Caldwell smiled. "Then we’ll have consequences—extra assignments, loss of privileges, and if necessary, I’ll let you handle it however you see fit."

Jake and Alex exchanged wary glances.

"Any questions?" Mrs. Caldwell asked.

The boys shook their heads.

"Good," she said, closing her notebook. "Then we’ll officially begin tomorrow morning. Today, I just wanted to introduce myself, go over expectations, and make sure you’re ready."

Mrs. Faulkner stood. "Thank you, Mrs. Caldwell. I think this will be good for them."

Mrs. Caldwell smiled. "I think so too. I’ll see you boys bright and early tomorrow. Be ready to learn!"

As she left, Jake slumped back onto the couch. "Well… there goes our freedom."

Alex chuckled. "Yeah, but at least we get to do school in our pajamas."

Their mom gave them a pointed look. "Not happening. You’ll be dressed every morning just like regular school."

Both boys groaned, but deep down, they knew there was no getting out of this. Homeschool was officially beginning, whether they liked it or not.

Mrs. Caldwell gathered her things, gave the boys a final nod, and made her way out the door.

As soon as she was gone, Mrs. Faulkner turned to Jake and Alex with a serious expression. "Alright, boys, listen up. I have to go into work today, so your babysitter will be here shortly. I won’t leave until she arrives, but there will be ground rules while she’s here."

Jake groaned. "A babysitter? Mom, we’re not little kids."

Alex nodded in agreement. "Yeah, we can take care of ourselves."

Mrs. Faulkner raised an eyebrow. "Oh really? And who was it that flooded the kitchen last time I left you two alone?"

Jake and Alex exchanged guilty looks.

"Exactly," their mom said. "Miss Harper is in charge while I’m gone, and I expect you to listen to her. That means no backtalk, no roughhousing, and absolutely no sneaking off and ignoring her."

Alex sighed. "Fine… what else?"

"She knows about your… situation," their mom said carefully, "so if you need a change, just let her know."

Both boys blushed but nodded reluctantly.

"Good," Mrs. Faulkner said. "Now, she should be here any minute. While I’m gone, you can play games, watch TV, or go outside, but no making a mess and no fighting. Understood?"

"Yes, Mom," they muttered in unison.

A knock at the door interrupted them. Mrs. Faulkner glanced at the boys before heading over to open it. "That’ll be Miss Harper."

Mrs. Faulkner paused with her hand on the doorknob and turned back to the boys. "Oh, and one more thing," she said firmly. "Miss Harper has the right to punish you boys if necessary. That means timeouts, extra chores, and yes, even spankings if you push her too far. She will also be informing me of any bad behavior, and trust me, you’ll deal with those consequences when I get home. Do I make myself clear?"

Jake and Alex swallowed hard and nodded. "Yes, ma'am," they said in unison.

Satisfied, Mrs. Faulkner opened the door, revealing Miss Harper.

She was a young woman, likely in her early twenties, with shoulder-length auburn hair and striking green eyes. She wore a casual but professional outfit—black leggings, a fitted gray sweater, and a pair of sneakers. Despite her friendly smile, there was a sharpness to her gaze that made it clear she wasn’t one to be taken lightly. She carried a small backpack over her shoulder and stood confidently as she stepped inside.

"Hi, boys," she said with a warm but firm tone. "I’m Miss Harper. Your mom has given me the rundown, so I know what’s expected. I’m here to make sure you stay on track and don’t get into any trouble."

Mrs. Faulkner turned to the boys. "I expect you to show Miss Harper the same respect you show me and Mrs. Caldwell. I’ll be checking in, and if I hear anything I don’t like, you’ll be answering for it. Got it?"

"Got it," Jake mumbled.

"Yes, Mom," Alex added.

Mrs. Faulkner smiled, satisfied. "Good. Now, I have to get going. Behave yourselves."

With that, she grabbed her purse and keys, gave each boy a quick hug, then turned to Miss Harper. "Thanks again for watching them. Call me if you need anything."

"Of course," Miss Harper said with a nod.

As the front door shut behind their mom, the boys exchanged a look, wondering just how strict their new babysitter would turn out to be.