Bones by the Wood by Catherine Johnson

She showered quickly and dressed in her usual jeans, t-shirt and Converse, but she pulled a hoodie out of a drawer and slung it over the arm of the sofa; she’d need it to ward off the autumnal chill when they left the building.
     
    Breakfast was cereal and coffee, substantially more coffee than cereal, eaten with her hip propped against the counter.  She needed to give Josh something more substantial to sustain him until he claimed his free lunch at school.  Thea checked the cupboards; maybe she’d just have to give him something more, there wasn’t really anything more substantial in the kitchen.  She tipped a bigger serving of the budget brand cornflakes into a bowl and put two slices of bread into the toaster in readiness.
     
    Even when she had finished, there was still no sign of movement from Josh’s room.  With a quick sigh of frustration she opened his door, not being at all careful about how much noise she made.  He was still asleep.  For once, his head was on the pillow and he was under the comforter, or at least half of him was.  He was a lively sleeper, and it wasn’t unusual to find him on top of the covers, at the wrong end of the bed, or even hanging out half on the floor while still in deep slumber.
     
    She glanced around and saw that his handheld games console had been placed neatly on the corner of the chest of drawers.  If it was there, then it was unlikely that he’d been playing it until the early hours.  When that had been the case she usually found it on the floor by the bed, where it had slipped from his unconscious hand.  When that happened on a school night, she hid it before he woke up and refused to tell him where it was for a while.  She’d had to do some serious overtime to afford it as his tenth birthday present, but he was getting his money’s worth out of it.  He’d had to agree to forgo any major Christmas presents, too, and surprisingly, he hadn’t complained come Christmas morning.  They’d also agreed that she would only buy him games for it, one, on birthdays or at Christmas.  If he wanted one in between times he’d have to find a way to earn the money himself.  He did small odd jobs for the neighbors sometimes, and carefully saved any money he was given in return.
     
    Thea took a moment to appreciate how young and peaceful he looked while asleep.  It wouldn’t be long before puberty started to hit and he’d change beyond all recognition, but for now, especially while asleep, he was still her little baby boy. 
     
    Reminding herself that they were now in danger of being late for school, she shook his shoulder.  “Get up bud, come on.”
     
    “Mmmhhhfff.”  Josh rolled and buried his face into the pillow.
     
    Thea shook him again more vigorously.  “Come on, bud.  You’re gonna be late.”
     
    “Pfffmmmmnnnfff.”
     
    The coffee must have taken effect because she was almost finding his futile attempts to ignore her amusing rather than irritating. “Joshua Colby, you get up this instant or I will tip cold water over you where you lie.”
     
    She hadn’t had to follow through with that threat yet, but she would if she needed to.  A cup maybe, not a bucket.  After all, she’d be the one doing the cleaning up.
     
    “Mmmnnfff.  Alright.  Alright.  I’m awake.”  His response was muffled by the pillow. 
     
    “Up.  Now.  Get washed and dressed.  I’ll make you some breakfast.  I’ll be back in here in fifteen minutes.  If you’re not out of this bed, then you can go to school in your jamas.”
     
    “Alright.  Alright.”  He finally rolled over and sat up, rubbing his closed eyes with his fists. 
     
    Thea switched the room light on to make it harder for him to go back to sleep and backed out, but hovered in the doorway until Josh tossed the covers back and swung his feet over the side of the bed.  His brown hair, that he’d recently decide to wear swept over to one side like some fifties movie star, was stuck up in