Chapter 52

Saturday

IT WAS EARLY Saturday morning,and Josh and Jake were planning a scrounging mission for later that morning,while consuming their first cups of coffee for the day.

“Do we really have to do this today?”Jake said.

“The boys have missed going out on the road with us since school began,”Josh said.“It won’t hurt us to indulge them.In fact,we might enjoy spending the day with them.”

“We can do that at home.”

“That’s true,but—”

“—Yeah,I know.It’s not the same thing.”

“Last night,they were so excited by the prospect of going on a mission,you’d think they’d be up by now.”

An excited Caleb rushed into the kitchen.“Josh,Jake,there’s something wrong with Jethro.”

“What?”Josh said.

“He feels hot,and says his tummy hurts.”

“Let’s go have a look,”Jake said,and headed for the boys’bedroom.

“I’ll get a thermometer,”Josh said,and headed for the master bathroom.