Chapter 98: look at me im the captain now

The sun peeked through the curtains as the Faulkner household slowly came to life. Birds chirped outside, but inside, the gentle hum of a coffee maker and the occasional clatter of breakfast prep filled the air.

Singer groaned as he blinked awake, rubbing his face as he sat up on the couch. His head wasn’t pounding—he hadn’t had *that* much champagne—but he was definitely feeling the effects of last night.

“Morning, *Captain*,” Miss Harper teased as she set a mug of coffee down on the table in front of him.

Singer grumbled. “You’re enjoying that way too much.”

Miss Harper smirked. “Oh, you have *no* idea.”

Noah bounded into the room, still in his pajamas, and flopped onto the couch beside his uncle. “Uncle Matt, I told all the guys you passed your exam. I think they want to come over later to celebrate.”

Singer chuckled, taking a sip of coffee. “Let’s not make this an everyday thing, kid.”

Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Mrs. Faulkner was flipping pancakes while keeping an eye on the boys. Jordan was the first to make his way into the kitchen, still stretching his leg carefully as he walked.

“How’s the leg?” Mrs. Faulkner asked as she plated a few pancakes for him.

Jordan shrugged. “Sore, but better. Still kinda stiff.”

Mrs. Faulkner nodded. “That’s normal. You’ve got more therapy tomorrow, so take it easy today.”

One by one, the rest of the boys shuffled into the kitchen—Jake, Alex, Tyler, and Evan, all looking groggy but ready to eat. Tyler, still adjusting after snapping back to his teenage mind, yawned and mumbled, “I better not have to drink from a sippy cup this morning.”

Evan grinned. “Nah, but I wouldn’t test Mrs. Faulkner.”

Breakfast was lively, with everyone in good spirits after the night of celebration. Singer eventually joined them at the table, shaking his head as Noah excitedly talked about his plans for the sleepover.

“So, Uncle Matt,” Noah said, eyes gleaming, “now that you’re a captain, can I get a *captain’s* allowance?”

Singer smirked. “Nice try, kid. We’ll talk about it later.”

Noah huffed. “Figures.”

As the morning went on, the boys decided to head outside for some fresh air while Mrs. Faulkner and Miss Harper cleaned up. Jordan, still getting used to moving without the cast, sat on the porch watching them.

Singer stretched, looking much more awake now. “Alright, Faulkner, what’s on the agenda today?”

Mrs. Faulkner smiled. “Not much. The boys have the day off, so they’ll probably just hang out. You’re free to stick around if you want.”

Singer glanced at Noah, who was still trying to talk him into an allowance raise, then at the rest of the boys, who were already running around in the yard. He smirked.

“You know what? Why not.”

And with that, another day at the Faulkner house began—filled with laughter, playful teasing, and, as always, a little bit of chaos.

Here's the continuation of the story:

The Captain’s Announcement

Singer had just finished his second cup of coffee when his phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen and saw the name Captain Reynolds flashing across it. He quickly answered.

“Reynolds,” Singer greeted.

On the other end, Reynolds’ voice was warm and full of pride. “I heard you passed the exam, Charles. Congratulations.”

Singer smiled. “Thanks, Captain. It wasn’t easy, but I got through it.”

“Well,” Reynolds continued, “I wanted to call you personally because today’s my last day. I’m officially retiring.”

Singer sat up straighter. “Today? You’re leaving today?”

“That’s right. But before I go, I want to hold a press conference at noon to announce your captaincy. You in?”

Singer exhaled. He hadn’t expected things to move this fast. “Absolutely, sir. I’ll be there.”

“Good man,” Reynolds said. “Get your dress blues on and be at the station by eleven-thirty.”

As the call ended, Singer sat back, rubbing his face. Noah, who had been eavesdropping from the couch, gasped.

“You’re really a captain now?!”

Singer chuckled. “Yeah, kid. Looks like it’s official.”

Mrs. Faulkner, who had overheard the conversation from the kitchen, smiled warmly. “That’s wonderful, Matt. We’re all proud of you.”

Miss Harper nudged him. “Looks like you’ve got a big morning ahead of you, Captain.”

Singer smirked. “Guess I better get moving.”

Noah, practically bouncing with excitement, ran up and hugged his uncle. “Can I come to the press thing?”

Singer ruffled Noah’s hair. “We’ll see, kid. First, I gotta find my uniform.”

As Singer got up to leave, Jordan, who had been watching quietly, spoke up. “You nervous?”

Singer paused for a moment, then nodded. “A little. It’s a big deal.”

Jordan grinned. “You’ll do fine. Just don’t trip walking up to the podium.”

Singer laughed. “Gee, thanks for the vote of confidence.”

With that, he grabbed his keys and headed for the door, ready to step into his new role as Captain Singer.

Singer found his dress blues in his car but noticed a spill on them he went back into the Faulkner home and asked Mrs faulkner would mind helping him out with cleaning his uniform, she said of course let me handle everything, singer than turned to Noah and Evan and said ok my dress blues were clean Saturday and now they have a spill on them.

Noah and Evan exchanged quick glances before looking back at Singer.

Evan shrugged. “Don’t look at me. I haven’t been near your car.”

Noah scratched the back of his head. “Uh… well… I *might* have borrowed your jacket to pretend I was a detective the other day…”

Singer crossed his arms. “And?”

“And *maybe* I had a juice box while wearing it.”

Singer sighed, shaking his head. “Kid, you’re lucky I like you.”

Mrs. Faulkner chuckled as she inspected the uniform. “It’s just a little juice, Matt. Nothing I can’t handle. Give me ten minutes.”

Singer handed over the jacket and turned back to Noah. “Alright, you owe me, so you’re helping me practice my speech.”

Noah grinned. “Only if I get to introduce you at the press thing.”

Singer laughed. “Nice try, but that’s Captain Reynolds’ job.”

Noah pouted but nodded. “Fine, but I still wanna go.”

Mrs. Faulkner reentered a few minutes later, handing Singer his now-pristine dress blues. “Good as new.”

Singer gave her a grateful nod. “You’re a lifesaver, Ellen.”

She smiled. “Now, go be a captain. We’ll all be watching.”

With that, Singer buttoned up his uniform, straightened his tie, and took a deep breath. The biggest moment of his career was just a few hours away.

Here's a continuation with Singer writing his speech:

---

Singer sat down at the Faulkner’s kitchen table, a blank notepad in front of him. He tapped his pen against the paper, deep in thought.

Noah pulled up a chair beside him. “Alright, Uncle Matt, what’s the plan? Gonna go all serious cop mode or are we getting the ‘cool captain’ speech?”

Singer chuckled. “There’s a balance, kid. Gotta be professional but still be me.”

Evan leaned against the counter. “Just don’t make it boring. Nobody likes a speech that drags on.”

Singer smirked. “Noted.” He jotted down a few ideas, speaking out loud as he wrote:

> *Today isn’t just about me—it’s about the department, about leadership, and about serving this city the best way I can. Becoming captain isn’t just a title; it’s a responsibility. One that I don’t take lightly.*

He paused, glancing at Noah and Evan. “What do you think so far?”

Noah shrugged. “Sounds kinda… rehearsed. You always say cool stuff on the spot, why not just speak from the heart?”

Evan nodded. “Yeah, just be yourself up there.”

Singer considered that for a moment, then nodded. “You two might be onto something.” He scratched out half his notes and replaced them with a simpler outline.

1. Thank Captain Reynolds for his years of service.

2. Talk about why the job matters.

3. Promise to lead with integrity and heart.

4. Keep it short and sweet.

With a final sigh, he closed the notebook. “Alright. That’ll do.”

Mrs. Faulkner walked in, handing him a fresh cup of coffee. “You’ll do great, Matt. Just be yourself.”

Singer took a sip and grinned. “That seems to be the popular advice today.”

With his speech ready and his uniform crisp, he was as prepared as he’d ever be. Now, all that was left was to stand in front of the city and make it official.

It was now 11 am the station is 25 minutes away by car, singer said all right I'm heading out all of you are invited to the press conference dress nicely and I'll see you there and could you bring Noah I don't need him hounding captain Reynolds to allow him to introduce me.

Mrs. Faulkner chuckled as she nodded. "We’ll make sure he gets there in one piece."

Noah pouted. "I wasn’t *gonna* hound Captain Reynolds… much."

Singer smirked, ruffling the kid’s hair. "I’ll see you all there." He grabbed his now-spotless dress blues, buttoned up his jacket, and gave one last glance in the mirror. He looked the part—now he just had to live up to it.

As he headed for the door, Evan called out, "Don’t trip walking up to the podium, Captain."

Singer shot him a mock glare. "You just jinxed it, kid."

With a final wave, he climbed into his car and pulled out of the driveway, the weight of his new title settling on his shoulders.

Back inside, Mrs. Faulkner clapped her hands. "Alright, boys, we’ve got less than an hour. Everyone, get dressed!"

Jordan, still adjusting to walking without his cast, slowly made his way upstairs with Evan trailing behind. Tyler, now fully aware of his surroundings again, muttered, "Do we *have* to wear something fancy?"

"Yes," Mrs. Faulkner said firmly.

Tyler sighed. "Fine, but if I snap back into Baby Tyler, it’s because of the dress shirt."

Miss Harper laughed. "Just button it up right this time."

With the house buzzing with activity, the Faulkners and friends prepared for what was about to be a defining moment in Singer’s career.

As the clock struck 11:55 AM, the Faulkners, Miss Harper, and Noah took their seats in the front row of the packed press conference. The podium was set up in front of the police station, cameras flashing as reporters and fellow officers gathered. Captain Reynolds stood at the podium first, clearing his throat before addressing the crowd.

“Today is a special day for our department,” he began, his voice steady but full of pride. “After years of service, I’m officially retiring, but I couldn’t be more confident in the man taking my place. He’s proven himself time and time again—not just as an officer, but as a leader, mentor, and friend.” He turned toward Singer and gestured him forward. “It is my honor to introduce the new captain of this precinct—Captain Charles Singer.”

Applause erupted as Singer stepped up, adjusting his dress blues before gripping the podium. He took a deep breath, glancing at the sea of faces before him.

“Thank you, Captain Reynolds,” he started. “And thank you to everyone who’s here today.” His voice was clear, confident, but as he continued, there was a warmth in his tone. “I’ve been a cop for a long time, and I’ve seen my fair share of challenges. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that no one gets anywhere in this world alone.”

He paused, his eyes landing on the Faulkner family in the front row.

“I wouldn’t be standing here today if it weren’t for a handful of incredible people,” he continued. “First, to Noah, my nephew, my little shadow—you remind me every day why I do this job. To Mrs. Faulkner, who has opened her home and heart to so many, always offering wisdom whether I asked for it or not.” Laughter rippled through the crowd. “To Miss Harper, who’s been a steady presence and a source of unwavering support.”

Singer then turned his attention to the boys. “To Jordan, who’s shown more resilience than most adults I know. To Evan, whose sharp mind and quick thinking remind me of a younger version of myself—God help us all.” More laughter followed. “To Jake and Alex, who’ve got the biggest hearts and the most contagious laughter. And to Tyler, who… well, keeps life interesting.”

Tyler smirked, nudging Evan. “See? Even he gets it.”

Singer smiled. “Each of you has played a role in my journey, and I wouldn’t be here without you. So today isn’t just about me—it’s about all of us.”

The crowd applauded as Singer took a step back, nodding toward Captain Reynolds.

Reynolds returned to the mic. “Well said, Captain Singer.” He turned to the press. “That concludes our formal announcement. Thank you all for coming.”

As the press conference wrapped up, the Faulkners and Noah rushed up to Singer, surrounding him with congratulations. Noah beamed. “I *knew* you’d be a great captain! Can we celebrate now?”

Singer chuckled, pulling the kid into a quick hug. “Yeah, kid. Let’s go celebrate.”

Noah hopped in singers car, singer said meet you guys at olive garden on me, the faulkners and miss harper hop into the minivan and follow singer, Mrs faulkner looks into the rearview mirror and says Evan don't think of forgot your teasing tone toward Tyler about his baby brain when we get home it's 2 hrs in timeout or you don't get to go to the sleepover this weekend.

Evan groaned, slumping back in his seat. “Aw, come on, Mrs. Faulkner. It was just a joke.”

Mrs. Faulkner gave him a knowing look through the mirror. “Joke or not, you know the rules. We don’t tease each other like that.”

Tyler smirked, nudging Evan. “Guess you’ll be getting real familiar with the wall tonight.”

Evan rolled his eyes but knew better than to argue. He shot Tyler a playful glare. “You better not say anything embarrassing when you slip again, or I’m writing it down.”

Tyler stuck his tongue out. “Fair trade.”

Meanwhile, in Singer’s car, Noah was practically bouncing in his seat. “Olive Garden *and* you’re the captain now? This is the best day ever!”

Singer chuckled. “I guess it’s a good day, huh?”

Noah nodded enthusiastically. “So, about my allowance—”

Singer groaned. “You don’t quit, do you?”

“Nope!”

Both cars pulled into the Olive Garden parking lot.

Before getting out of the minivan Mrs faulkner said tyler for your comment to evan getting a time out you get one to 2 hrs when we get home.

Tyler’s jaw dropped. “What? That’s not fair! He was teasing me first!”

Mrs. Faulkner gave him a pointed look. “And you got even with him. But in this house, we don’t dish out punishments to each other—that’s my job.”

Evan snickered. “Guess we’re both staring at the wall tonight, huh?”

Tyler groaned, slumping back in his seat. “Man, this is the worst celebration ever.”

Miss Harper smirked. “Well, if you both behave through dinner, maybe she’ll shave some time off.”

Mrs. Faulkner gave her a look but didn’t deny it, leaving the boys with a sliver of hope.

With that, everyone climbed out of the van and headed into the restaurant, ready to enjoy the meal—timeouts pending and as they all headed inside, it was clear that this was more than just a meal—it was a celebration of family, victories, and the moments that brought them all together.

Miss harper says I'm gonna take the boys to the bathroom before we eat, she asks Noah if he has to go, he says yes and goes with Miss harper and the boys, singer asks Mrs faulkner why Evan and Tyler look glum.

Mrs. Faulkner sighed as she took a sip of water. “Because they both earned themselves a two-hour timeout when we get home.”

Singer raised an eyebrow. “What’d they do?”

“Evan teased Tyler about his baby brain, and then Tyler tried to tease him about being put in a timeout,” she explained. “So now, they both get a consequence.”  she says "it's either time out or no sleepover."

Singer smirked. “Well, I’d say that’s fair. Can’t have the inmates running the asylum.”

Mrs. Faulkner chuckled. “Exactly.”

Just then, Miss Harper returned with the boys, Noah chattering away about how he couldn’t wait to order breadsticks. Evan and Tyler still looked less than thrilled, but at least for now, they had food to look forward to.

Here's the continuation of the lunch scene at Olive Garden:

---

As everyone settled into their seats, the waiter came by with a warm basket of breadsticks and a few menus. Noah’s eyes lit up as he reached for one immediately.

“Noah, wait until we order, sweetheart,” Mrs. Faulkner gently reminded him.

Singer chuckled. “Kid’s got good instincts, though. Breadsticks are the best part.”

The group took a few minutes to browse the menu. Miss Harper leaned over to help Alex and Jake decide, while Jordan casually stretched out his newly freed leg under the table.

“I think I’m gonna go for the Tour of Italy,” Jordan said. “It’s been too long since I had real food instead of hospital meals.”

“Good choice,” Singer nodded. “I’ll go with the steak alfredo.”

Tyler and Evan, still quiet from their earlier reprimand, glanced at each other before Tyler mumbled, “Chicken parmesan for me.”

“Fettuccine Alfredo,” Evan added.

Mrs. Faulkner sighed, giving them both a knowing look. “I know you two aren’t happy about the timeouts, but let’s enjoy lunch, okay?”

Evan sighed. “Yes, ma’am.”

The waiter returned, took everyone’s orders, and left them to their conversation. Noah was already halfway through his first breadstick, happily kicking his legs under the table.

“So, Captain,” Miss Harper teased, “How does it feel to be the man in charge?”

Singer smirked. “Feels pretty damn good. And it’s about time, too.”

The group laughed, and Mrs. Faulkner shook her head. “Watch the language, Charles.”

“Right, right—‘darn good,’” Singer corrected with a grin.

As they waited for their meals, they reminisced about everything that led up to this point—Jordan’s injury, the boys’ antics, and Singer’s journey to becoming Captain.

Finally, the food arrived, steaming hot and smelling delicious. Jordan’s mouth watered as he dug into his meal, savoring every bite.

As they all enjoyed their meal, the weight of the earlier scolding slowly lifted. The celebration wasn’t just for Singer—it was for all of them. A new chapter was beginning, and for the moment, life was good.

Noah looks at Evan and sees he's down, he whispered to him what's wrong, Evan says when I get home I'm in timeout for 2 hrs for teasing Tyler about his baby brain or I dont get to go to the sleepover at your place.

Noah frowned and whispered back, “That’s not fair. It was just a joke.”

Evan sighed. “Yeah, well, Mrs. Faulkner didn’t think so.”

Noah thought for a moment, then smirked. “What if I talk to her? Maybe I can convince her to let you off the hook.”

Evan gave him a doubtful look. “Good luck with that.”

Just then, their meals arrived, and the conversation paused as everyone dug in. Despite the delicious food, Evan still looked glum, pushing his pasta around with his fork.

Noah, determined to help his friend, leaned over to Mrs. Faulkner and whispered, “Mrs. Faulkner, I think Evan’s really sorry. Maybe he doesn’t need the full two hours?”

Mrs. Faulkner gave Noah a small smile but shook her head. “I appreciate you looking out for your friend, Noah, but Evan knows the rules. Actions have consequences.”

Noah pouted but nodded. “Alright… but can he still come to the sleepover?”

Mrs. Faulkner glanced at Evan, who was now avoiding her gaze. She sighed. “We’ll see. If he takes his timeout without complaint, I’ll reconsider.”

Noah turned back to Evan with a grin. “See? There’s hope.”

Evan rolled his eyes but couldn’t help smiling a little. “Thanks, man.”

Noah gave him a thumbs-up before happily returning to his meal, satisfied that he’d at least tried to help his friend.

Singer bent down to Noah and said it's easier to stay out of a mother's way of teaching her kids manners remember how many timeouts you used to get at the daycare before Evan showed up.

Noah blushed, stuffing a breadstick into his mouth to avoid answering. Singer chuckled and ruffled his hair. “That’s what I thought,” he said with a smirk.

Evan smirked as well. “Wait, how many timeouts *did* you get, Noah?”

Noah swallowed quickly and shot Singer a glare. “None of your business!”

Singer laughed, sitting back in his chair. “Let’s just say the daycare had a ‘Noah Rule’ about climbing on tables.”

Miss Harper nearly choked on her drink from laughing. Mrs. Faulkner shook her head but smiled. “That does *not* surprise me.”

Noah groaned. “Ugh, why did I even say anything?”

Singer grinned. “Lesson learned—never argue with someone who’s known you since diapers.”

The table erupted in laughter, and for a moment, even Evan forgot about his impending timeout. The meal continued with lively conversation, jokes, and a warm sense of family among them all.

Their meals consumed singer called over the waitress and said a bag of breadsticks for everyone and the check please.

The waitress smiled and nodded. "Coming right up, Captain," she said, heading off to grab their request.

As they waited, Noah leaned back in his chair with a satisfied sigh. "I think I ate too much," he groaned, patting his stomach.

"That's because you had three plates of pasta," Miss Harper teased.

Noah grinned. "It was unlimited!"

Mrs. Faulkner shook her head but smiled. "You’re going to be asleep before we even get home at this rate."

The waitress returned with several bags of breadsticks and placed the check in front of Singer. He reached for his wallet, but before he could open it, Mrs. Faulkner placed a hand on his arm.

"Charles, you’ve had a big day. Let me take care of this," she offered.

Singer shook his head. "No way, this was my treat. Besides, Captain’s first big purchase should be on me." He handed the waitress his card, flashing a grin. "You folks have done a lot for me—I owe you all."

Evan and Tyler exchanged a glance, both still slightly dreading their timeouts but also grateful for the bond they had with everyone at the table.

As they all gathered their things and made their way out of the restaurant, Singer clapped a hand on Evan’s shoulder. "Just get through those two hours, kid. The sleepover will be worth it."

Evan sighed. "Yeah, yeah..."

Tyler muttered, "Easy for you to say."

Singer smirked. "I did my fair share of timeouts growing up. Trust me, you’ll live."

With that, they headed toward their cars, full, happy, and ready to wrap up the eventful day.

As the Faulkners pulled into the driveway, the minivan came to a slow stop. Mrs. Faulkner put the car in park and turned around to face Evan and Tyler, who were still sulking in the back seat.

"Alright, you two know the deal. Two hours in timeout," she reminded them.

Evan sighed and nodded, stepping out of the van. Tyler muttered under his breath, "At least we got breadsticks."

Miss Harper chuckled as she helped Jake and Alex out of their seats. "I'll get these two settled with a movie," she offered.

Noah, feeling a little bad for Evan, whispered as he walked past, "I’ll save you a breadstick."

Evan smirked. "You're a real one, Noah."

Mrs. Faulkner gave Noah a knowing look but let it slide. She turned to Singer, who had followed them inside. "You sticking around for a bit?"

Mrs faulkner before putting the boys in timeout said phones no electronics in time out, Evan and Tyler both sighed but nodded in understanding. Mrs. Faulkner held out her hand, and the boys reluctantly handed over their phones.

"You both behaved at lunch, and I appreciate that," she continued. "But I can’t shave off any time—otherwise, you won’t learn. Two hours, no electronics, no complaining. If you make it through without fuss, you can still go to the sleepover this weekend. But any bad behavior, and it's back in the corners."

Evan sat down in the living room corner, crossing his arms but staying quiet. Tyler slumped into the kitchen corner, already dreading the wait.

Miss Harper, meanwhile, settled Jake and Alex on the couch with a movie, while Jordan propped his leg up and finally let himself relax.

Singer chuckled as he watched the scene unfold. "You run a tight ship, Mrs. Faulkner."

She smirked. "It’s the only way to keep this house from turning into complete chaos."

Noah, following Singer to the door, whispered, "I’ll sneak you an extra breadstick later, Evan."

Mrs. Faulkner shot Noah a look, and he quickly added, "I mean, after timeout, of course!"

Singer laughed. "Come on, kid. Let’s get you home before you end up in timeout too."

As they headed out, the Faulkner house settled into a quiet rhythm—two boys in timeout, two little ones entertained, and one recovering teen enjoying a rare moment of peace.

Mrs faulkner gave out a playful threat and if I catch you swearing near the boys again I'll put you in timeout captain.

Singer chuckled, raising his hands in mock surrender. "Yes, ma'am. I'll watch my mouth."

Mrs. Faulkner smirked. "Good, because I don’t care how many badges you have—around here, I run the law."

Miss Harper laughed as she handed Alex a juice box. "You better listen, Captain. I’ve seen her enforce those timeouts, and trust me, no one’s above them."  She then says, " even I've felt the wrath of Mrs faulkner she took my keys away for a short while."

Evan and Tyler, still sitting in their respective corners, snickered quietly at the idea of Captain Singer standing in timeout.

Singer shook his head with a grin. "Noted. I’ll keep my language clean around the little ones. But you gotta admit, sometimes a well-placed swear is necessary."

Mrs. Faulkner raised an eyebrow. "Then you better hope I don’t hear it."

Noah looked up at his uncle. "Yeah, you should probably listen to her. I’m pretty sure she could make even you stand in the corner."

Singer ruffled Noah’s hair and sighed dramatically. "I see how it is. No respect for the new captain."

Jordan, smirking from the couch, chimed in. "Respect is earned, Captain."

The room filled with laughter as Mrs. Faulkner gave one last playful warning. "That’s right, and I’ll be keeping my ears open."

With that, Captain Singer ruffled Noah’s hair one last time before stretching. "Alright, kiddo, let’s get you home before your mom starts wondering where we ran off to."

Noah grabbed his backpack and followed his uncle to the car, waving at the Faulkners as they stepped out the door. "Bye, guys! See you at the sleepover!"

Mrs. Faulkner waved back. "Be good, Noah! And Charles—drive safe."

Singer gave her a mock salute. "Yes, ma’am."

As they pulled out of the driveway, Noah leaned back in his seat. "So, Uncle Charles, now that you’re Captain, does that mean I get a raise in my allowance?"

Singer glanced at him with a smirk. "Oh, so that’s what this whole celebration was about, huh? Trying to butter me up for more cash?"

Noah grinned. "Well, I mean… it’s worth a shot."

Singer laughed, shaking his head. "We’ll talk about it, kid. But first, let’s get home."

As they drove off, the Faulkner house settled down for the night, ready for whatever chaos tomorrow would bring.

Two hours passed, and the kitchen timer buzzed, signaling the end of Evan and Tyler’s timeout.

Mrs. Faulkner walked into the living room, where the two boys were still sitting in their designated corners. She crossed her arms and gave them a firm but gentle look. "Alright, boys, time’s up. You can get up now."

Evan and Tyler stood, stretching their legs after being still for so long. Mrs. Faulkner gave them a nod. "Now, I want to hear it. What did you both learn?"

Evan sighed. "Not to tease Tyler about his baby brain."

Tyler shuffled his feet. "And not to get cocky about someone else getting in trouble."

Mrs. Faulkner nodded in approval. "Good. Now, I expect both of you to behave the rest of the week if you want to go to that sleepover. One slip-up, and you’re back in timeout. Understood?"

"Yes, ma’am," both boys mumbled.

"Alright, go on and play—but keep it civil."

Evan and Tyler exchanged a look before heading off to find Jake and Alex, determined to stay out of trouble… at least for now.

Miss harper comes over to Mrs faulkner and says my boyfriend just texted me he's taking me on a 5 day get away to Vegas, so I can't watch the boys, Mrs faulkners says that's fine I'll see about getting them all in Evans daycare you have fun.

Miss Harper grinned. "Thanks, I really appreciate it! We leave first thing in the morning."

Mrs. Faulkner nodded. "You deserve a break. I’ll call the daycare now and see if they have room for all the boys for the week."

Miss Harper chuckled. "Good luck with that. I’m sure they’ll have their hands full with this bunch."

Mrs. Faulkner smirked. "Trust me, they’ll manage. Have fun in Vegas, and don’t do anything too wild!"

Miss Harper laughed as she grabbed her purse. "No promises!"

As she left, Mrs. Faulkner pulled out her phone and dialed the daycare, hoping they had space for a temporary full house.

**Miss Rachel:** "Hello, this is Miss Rachel at Sunny Smiles. How can I help you?"

**Mrs. Faulkner:** "Hi, Miss Rachel, it’s Emily Faulkner. I wanted to check if there’s space for a few extra boys this week. I need care for Jake, Alex, Tyler, and Jordan while Miss Harper is out of town."

**Miss Rachel:** *Pauses for a moment* "Ah, I know Evan already attends, so it shouldn’t be a problem. Let me check our numbers real quick… Okay, yes, we can accommodate them. Will they be attending full days?"

**Mrs. Faulkner:** "Yes, I’ll be dropping them off in the mornings and picking them up in the afternoons."

Miss Rachel: "Oh, of course! Just to confirm, how old are the boys?"

Mrs. Faulkner: "They’re all 15, just like Evan."

Miss Rachel: "Alright, that’s the usual age range we work with. Just so I understand, do any of them require the same accommodations as some of our other boys?"

Mrs. Faulkner: "Tyler sometimes does, depending on his state of mind, and the others may need some supervision, but they’re all good kids. Evan’s been doing well there, and I think this setup would benefit them, even if just for a few days."

**Miss Rachel:** "Sounds good! Just make sure they bring anything they might need—extra clothes, any specific snacks if they have dietary restrictions, and of course, a good attitude."

**Mrs. Faulkner:** *Chuckles* "I’ll make sure of it. Thank you so much, Miss Rachel."

**Miss Rachel:** "No problem! We’ll see them bright and early tomorrow."

**Mrs. Faulkner:** "Looking forward to it. Have a great day!"

**Miss Rachel:** "You too!" *Hangs up*

Hanging up, she turned to the boys. "Alright, you’re all set for daycare this week."

Evan groaned. "Daycare with all of them? Seriously?"

Mrs. Faulkner raised an eyebrow. "Unless you’d rather stay home and do extra chores?"

Evan quickly shook his head. "Daycare sounds great."

Mrs. Faulkner smirked. "That’s what I thought."

Jake and Alex cheered, clearly excited about playing at daycare, while Tyler just shook his head.

Miss Harper grinned. "Well, you boys behave while I’m gone. I’ll bring you back something from Vegas."

"Bring me a million dollars," Evan joked.

Miss Harper laughed. "I’ll see what I can do."

Tyler groaned. "Daycare? Seriously? We’re 15!"

Mrs. Faulkner sighed. "I know, but Miss Harper usually watches you, and with her gone, I need somewhere safe for you all to be during the day."

Evan shrugged. "I already go there, so it’s nothing new for me."

Tyler rolled his eyes. "Yeah, because daycare is exactly where I wanted to spend my week."

Jake and Alex exchanged glances before Alex said, "Well, at least we won’t be home bored."

Mrs. Faulkner smiled. "That’s the spirit. Besides, you all need to make the best of it. It’s only for a few days, and you never know—it might not be as bad as you think."

Tyler sighed in defeat. "Fine. But if I end up playing with blocks, I’m blaming you."

Mrs faulkner says Tyler do you need another 2 hrs

Tyler quickly shook his head. "No, ma’am," he said, sitting up straighter.

Mrs. Faulkner raised an eyebrow. "Then I suggest you adjust that attitude. It’s only five days, and you’ll survive."

Evan smirked. "Yeah, Ty, maybe you’ll even make some new friends."

Tyler shot him a glare but wisely kept his mouth shut. Mrs. Faulkner gave a satisfied nod.

"Good. Now, no more complaining about it. Tyler sighed dramatically but didn’t push his luck any further.