Walsh Family Universe V2

Chapter 70
Summer Afternoon

Ash was at the community basketball courts with Marcus, Tyler, and Daniel when Emma showed up on her bike, Alex right behind her.

"We've been looking for you guys everywhere," Emma said, slightly out of breath. "We went to Marcus's house, then Tyler's, then the pool—"

"We've been here the whole time," Marcus said, bouncing the basketball. "Playing two-on-two."

"Well, now you're playing three-on-three," Alex said, dropping their bike next to the others. "Emma and I are teaming up with whoever's losing."

"That's us," Daniel admitted. "Noam and Tyler are crushing us."

They played for an hour, rotating teams, trash-talking and laughing. The August sun was brutal, but none of them cared. This was summer—the last few weeks before middle school started, before everything changed.

"I'm starving," Tyler announced after winning a particularly intense game. "Anyone else?"

"Always," Marcus said.

"We could go to my house," Ash offered. "My mom's home. She'd probably make lunch."

"You sure?" Emma asked. "That's like, six of us showing up unannounced."

"She won't mind. She's always saying the house is too quiet in summer." Which was true—with Claire and Cathy moved out, Declan in his own place, and Eden at work most days, it was usually just Ash, his parents, and Sophie (who was at day camp today).

They biked to Ash's house in a loose pack, bikes weaving through the neighborhood streets. Ash led them up the driveway, dropped his bike on the lawn, pushed open the front door.

"Mom? I brought some friends over! Can we have lunch?"

Shannon appeared from the kitchen, saw the group of sweaty pre-teens in her entryway, and smiled. "Of course. How many of you?"

"Six," Ash said. "This is Emma, Alex, Marcus, Tyler, and Daniel. We've been playing basketball."

"I can see that. You're all very sweaty." Shannon looked amused. "I was just making sandwiches for myself. I can make more. Turkey? Ham? Peanut butter?"

"Anything is good," Emma said politely.

"We're not picky," Marcus added.

"Wonderful. Go wash your hands—bathroom is down that hall—and I'll get lunch together. Noam, get drinks from the fridge."

They scattered to wash hands. Ash pulled out a pitcher of lemonade, started gathering cups. By the time everyone was clean and sitting around the kitchen table, Shannon had produced an impressive spread—sandwiches, chips, fruit, cookies.

"Mrs. Walsh, you're amazing," Tyler said around a mouthful of turkey sandwich.

"It's just sandwiches."

"Yeah, but good sandwiches."

They ate like they were starving, which they basically were. Growing kids who'd been playing basketball in August heat. Shannon kept refilling the pitcher of lemonade, occasionally adding more food to the table as it disappeared.

"So you're all starting middle school together?" Shannon asked, sitting with her own sandwich.

"Most of us," Emma said. "Alex is going to a different school."

"Different district," Alex explained. "But we're staying friends. Right, Noam?"

"Obviously."

"Middle school is a big transition," Shannon said. "Are you nervous?"

"A little," Emma admitted. "It's a bigger building. More kids. Harder classes."

"We'll be fine," Marcus said confidently. "We've got each other."

"That's a good attitude." Shannon looked at Ash. "And you just got back from two weeks at camp, so you're probably ready for anything."

"Camp was good," Ash said. "But I missed these guys."

"Aw, Noam missed us," Tyler teased. "That's sweet."

"Shut up."

After lunch, they migrated to the living room. Shannon had already anticipated their next move—she'd put a bowl of popcorn on the coffee table and queued up the streaming service on the TV.

"You guys can watch a movie if you want. Just keep the volume reasonable and don't destroy my living room."

"We won't," Ash promised.

"I know you won't. You're good kids." Shannon headed back to her office. "I'll be working if you need anything."

They debated movie choices for ten minutes—action versus comedy, something new versus something they'd all seen before. Eventually settled on an action-comedy they'd all heard was good.

The seating arrangement worked itself out organically. Ash and Marcus on the couch. Tyler sprawled in the armchair. Emma and Alex on the floor with pillows. Daniel claimed the other end of the couch.

Halfway through the movie, during a slower scene, Tyler's head started nodding. He was asleep in the armchair within five minutes, mouth slightly open.

"Tyler's out," Marcus whispered.

"He always falls asleep during movies," Daniel said. "It's like a superpower."

"Shh, this is a good part."

By the end of the movie, Tyler was still asleep. Emma was drowsy, leaning against Alex's shoulder. Marcus was fighting to stay awake, blinking slowly.

"Should we wake Tyler up?" Alex asked quietly.

"Nah, let him sleep," Ash said. "We don't have anywhere to be."

"Can we watch another movie?" Emma asked. "Or is that rude?"

"My mom won't care. She's just glad I have friends over."

They put on a second movie—something lighter, a comedy they'd all seen before but didn't mind watching again. The familiarity of it was soothing.

Daniel fell asleep next, curled up on his end of the couch. Marcus made it about thirty minutes before his eyes closed and his breathing evened out.

"This is turning into a sleepover," Alex observed.

"Unintentional sleepover," Emma agreed. She was lying on the floor now, head on a throw pillow, clearly fighting sleep herself. "But I'm too comfortable to move."

"Same," Ash said. He was at the other end of the couch from Daniel, legs stretched out, feeling pleasantly full and lazy in the way that only summer afternoons could produce.

"Your mom's cool," Alex said quietly. "My mom would have freaked if I brought five friends home without warning."

"Yeah, she's pretty chill about that stuff. She likes when the house is full."

"You're lucky."

Ash thought about that. About luck. About second chances. About a mother who'd failed to see him the first time but was trying so hard to do better now.

"Yeah," he said. "I am."

The second movie played on. Emma fell asleep on the floor, Alex carefully extracting themselves so Emma could use their lap as a pillow. Alex stayed awake, scrolling on their phone quietly.

Ash felt himself drifting. The comfortable couch, the full stomach, the white noise of the TV, the peaceful sound of his friends breathing around him. Safe and comfortable and exactly where he wanted to be.

He thought about camp—about Lucas and the Eagles, about the intensity of those two weeks. That had been good, necessary even. Had taught him things about himself he'd needed to learn.

But this was good too. His school friends. The kids he'd known for years. Easy companionship that didn't require proving anything. Just existing together on a lazy summer afternoon.

"Noam?" Alex said softly.

"Hmm?"

"Thanks for letting us crash your house."

"Anytime."

"No, really. This is nice. Just... hanging out. Being kids." Alex was quiet for a moment. "Middle school's going to be different. Harder. It's nice to have this while we can."

"We'll still hang out in middle school."

"I know. But it won't be the same. We'll have different schedules, different classes. You'll probably be busy with sports teams." Alex smiled slightly. "But we'll still be friends. Right?"

"Always."

"Good."

Ash let himself drift after that. The movie continued in the background. His friends slept around him. The summer afternoon stretched out, golden and perfect and temporary.

He heard Shannon check on them at some point—her footsteps quiet, pausing in the doorway. He kept his eyes closed, pretending to sleep, heard her soft laugh and the click of her phone camera. Then she left them alone, these six kids sprawled across her living room like puppies in a pile.

This was what childhood was supposed to look like. Friends sleeping on your couch. Your mom taking pictures because it's sweet. No schedule, no pressure, just the slow drift of a summer afternoon with nothing particular to do.

Ash had never had this the first time. Had been too dysphoric, too isolated, too uncomfortable in his own skin to have friends over casually. Had spent his teenage years in his room, avoiding people, wishing he could be someone else.

Now he was someone else. Was Noam, eleven years old, with friends who showed up at his house unannounced and felt comfortable enough to fall asleep on his furniture.

This was the gift of the regression, beyond the right body and the male puberty. This—the ability to just be a kid with other kids. No complications. No shame. No hiding.

Just summer and friends and lazy afternoons that bled into evening without anyone noticing or caring.

He drifted off properly then, Tyler snoring softly in the armchair, Emma and Alex quiet on the floor, Marcus and Daniel on either end of the couch. Six kids who'd be starting middle school in a few weeks but for now were just here, together, comfortable.

Ash woke to the sound of voices. Opened his eyes to see his friends stirring, the light outside golden with late afternoon.

"What time is it?" Emma asked groggily.

"Like five," Alex said, checking their phone. "We've been here for hours."

"Oh man, my mom's going to kill me," Tyler said, suddenly awake. "I was supposed to be home at three."

"Text her," Ash suggested. "Tell her you fell asleep at my house."

"She's going to think that's weird."

"It is weird," Marcus said, stretching. "We came over for lunch and accidentally had a nap party."

"Best kind of party," Daniel mumbled, still half-asleep.

Shannon appeared in the doorway. "The sleepers awaken. Anyone need to call their parents? I can drive people home if needed."

"I can bike home," Emma said.

"Me too," Alex added.

"My mom's probably annoyed but she'll live," Tyler said, pulling out his phone to text.

They extracted themselves slowly from the living room—gathering phones and shoes, stretching out limbs that had been curled up for hours. The pile of friends separated into individuals again, though they moved slowly, reluctant to end the afternoon.

"Same time next week?" Marcus suggested.

"I'm down," Tyler said.

"Me too," Emma agreed. "But maybe we plan it this time so our parents don't freak out."

"Where's the fun in planning?" Daniel asked, grinning.

They made their way to the front door, collecting bikes from where they'd dropped them on the lawn. Shannon came out to wave goodbye, making sure everyone knew they were welcome back anytime.

"Thanks for lunch, Mrs. Walsh," Emma called.

"Thanks for letting us crash your couch," Alex added.

"Anytime. Truly. I like having a full house."

Ash stood on the porch, watching his friends bike away in different directions. Felt something warm and satisfied settle in his chest.

This was his life now. Friends who showed up unannounced. A mom who made lunch for six kids without blinking. Lazy summer afternoons with nothing to do but exist together.

Normal kid stuff. The kind of ordinary that had been extraordinary to someone who'd never had it before.

"Good day?" Shannon asked, coming to stand beside him.

"Really good day."

"I took some pictures. You all looked so peaceful sleeping."

"Mom."

"What? It was adorable. Six kids piled in my living room like puppies." Shannon smiled. "I'm glad you have good friends. And I'm glad they feel comfortable here."

"Thanks for feeding them."

"Of course. That's what parents do—feed their kids' friends." Shannon paused. "You know, when I was growing up, my mom's house was the house where all my friends wanted to hang out. She always had snacks, always said yes to last-minute plans. I wanted that for my own kids."

"You have it."

"Yeah. I do." Shannon put her arm around his shoulders briefly. "Now come help me clean up the living room before your father gets home and asks why there are six pillows on the floor."

They went inside together. Ash picked up pillows and straightened blankets while Shannon collected cups and the empty popcorn bowl. The house felt quiet after hours of friends, but not empty. Just peaceful.

"Can they come over again next week?" Ash asked.

"Of course. Anytime. Though maybe text me ahead so I can make sure we have enough food."

"Deal."

That night, lying in bed, Ash thought about the afternoon. About Tyler falling asleep in the armchair. About Emma using Alex as a pillow. About Marcus's soft snoring. About his mom taking pictures because it was sweet, not intrusive.

About being eleven years old and having friends who felt comfortable enough in his house to accidentally take a three-hour nap.

This was the life he'd always wanted. Friends. Acceptance. Normalcy.

The kind of summer afternoon that wouldn't make a good story because nothing dramatic happened. Just kids being kids. Hanging out. Falling asleep on each other. Being comfortable.

But sometimes the best moments were the ones where nothing happened except being exactly where you were supposed to be, with exactly the right people.

"My name is Ash," he whispered to his dark room. "I'm thirty-three years old. I'm eleven years old. Today I brought five friends home unannounced and my mom made us lunch without hesitation. Today we watched movies until half of us fell asleep. Today I had the kind of ordinary summer afternoon that Grace never got to have. Today was perfect in its ordinariness."

Four thousand, six hundred and ninety-two days to go.

But today had been exactly what childhood should look like.

And that was enough.

More than enough.

Growing up, one lazy afternoon at a time.