There was a fight going on right outside of Joshua’s barn, between a pair of shop owners. One of their kids had stolen some sweets from the other’s store and got caught. The adults had begun with coversational tones, speaking of boys being boys and childish behavior that could be paid back, but were now yelling at the other.
It was the boom of a shotgun blast from a third party which settled the argument, waking up Joshua in the process.
“Good god, man,” Joshua whined, waking the following morning to find Brody’s legs draped across his lap. Joshua had fallen asleep with his back up against the barn. “Get ya damn legs off me,” he shoved at the twigs multiple times before there was a groaning response. “Go on now, wake up, Brody, sumbitch done fell over and slept in my barn.”