As 6 p.m. approached, Josh and I got ready. We dressed in Dad’s shirts and ties—way too big for us, but that just added to the fun.
“Ready?” I asked as we heard Dad’s car pull up.
Josh grinned. “Let’s do this.”
We took our places—Josh lounging on the couch with a magazine, and me standing by the door. My heart raced as Dad stepped inside.
He froze, staring at us in confusion. “What’s going on?”
“I need my dinner,” I demanded, imitating his usual tone.
Josh didn’t even look up. “And don’t forget to clean the PlayStation when you’re done.”
Dad’s eyes widened. “Wait, what are you two doing?”
I waved him off. “I’m busy. Don’t bother me with questions.”
“Yeah,” Josh added, “just ask Mom. Isn’t that what you always do?”
Dad stood there, clearly baffled. We kept up the act, playing video games and flipping through magazines, completely ignoring him.
“Seriously, what is this?” Dad’s frustration was obvious now.
I shot him a sarcastic look. “Oh, were you talking to me? I’m kinda busy here.”
There was a long silence as Dad took it all in. His expression softened, and when he spoke again, his voice was quiet. “Is this really how you see me?”
I dropped the act. “Yes, Dad. This is how you’ve been treating us and Mom. You’re always too busy, and you expect everything from her without giving anything back.”
Josh nodded. “Mom works just as hard as you, but you don’t seem to notice.”
Dad’s face fell, and just then, Mom walked in, surprised to see us all standing there.
“What’s going on?” she asked.
Dad turned to her, guilt in his eyes. “I’ve been a terrible husband and father. I’m sorry.”
Without hesitation, he went to the kitchen and started preparing dinner. “How about flatbread?” he called out, shocking all of us.
We sat down to eat, still in disbelief. As Dad served us, he apologized over and over, promising to do better.
During the meal, Dad asked about school and our day—things he hadn’t done in years. It felt strange, but in a good way. Josh and I exchanged glances, realizing our plan might have worked after all.
After dinner, Dad smiled at us. “Thank you,” he said. “For helping me see what I’ve been missing.”
“We’re just glad you listened,” I replied.
Josh grinned. “And now that you’re paying attention, how about joining us for some PlayStation?”
Dad laughed, a sound I hadn’t heard in a long time. “Deal. But first, let’s clean up—together.”
As we cleared the table, something had definitely shifted. For the first time in a long while, it felt like we were truly a family again. It wouldn’t be perfect overnight, but it was a start—and that was more than enough.