Athena 13 - What Will We Create?

Sunday morning.

Athena is setting
the breakfast table.

Victor is preparing eggs.

Fresh bread.

Coffee.

Orange juice.

Through the open window,
they hear the birds.

Today they will talk
about the next 90 days.

What each one wants.

And what they want
to create as a family.

…

Julia enters with a notebook.

Maynard follows.

“Breakfast or a business meeting?”

He grins.

“Breakfast,” Victor says.

“The eggs would not survive
a business meeting.”

Everyone laughs.

…

They sit down.

Athena remembers their agreement.

Equal say.

Today she wants to listen.

“Who would like to start?”

…

“I will,” Julia says.

“In three months,

I want to have explored
what I might study.

Visit universities.

Speak with students.

I would like your help.

But not your decision.”

Athena feels an answer forming.

She pauses.

“What help would you like?”

“Listen to what I discover.

Ask me questions.

Let me find my way.”

Athena nods.

…

“I want to improve
at basketball,” Maynard says.

“And play more matches.

But I also want
one free afternoon each week.

Not everything planned.”

“What would you do?”

Athena asks.

“I don’t know yet.

That is the point.”

She smiles.

“I understand.”

…

Victor puts down his coffee.

“I want to walk more often.

And spend more time together.

Without always rushing somewhere.”

“And you, Mom?”

Julia asks.

“I want to be more present.

Here with you.

Not still at the office
in my thoughts.

I am learning
to share responsibility there.

Now I need to protect
our time here.”

“Home when you say?”

Maynard asks.

“Yes.

That too.”

…

Julia looks at her notes.

“These are our own wishes.

What about us as a family?”

Everyone becomes quiet.

Then Julia speaks.

“In 90 days,

I want us to feel
we can speak openly.

Without having to fight
to be heard.”

“And have more fun,”

Maynard adds.

“Do things together.

Not only talk.”

“Less rushing,” Victor says.

“More time we actually enjoy.”

Athena looks at them.

“And agreements we keep.

So we can trust
the time we make together.”

…

Julia starts writing.

Then reads aloud.

“In three months,

we want to be a family
where everyone feels heard.

Where we respect
each other’s choices.

Keep our agreements.

And enjoy time together.”

She looks up.

“Is that what we mean?”

“Yes,” Maynard says.

“But write down fun too.”

Julia laughs.

She adds it.

…

“How will we know
we are getting there?”

Victor asks.

“That we keep talking,” Julia says.

“Before something goes wrong.”

“That we actually do
something fun,” Maynard adds.

“And that I am here
when we agreed,” Athena says.

…

“Where do we begin?”

Julia turns the page.

“One step each this week?”

She will explore university visits.

Maynard will review his schedule.

Victor will start his morning walks.

Athena will keep
Wednesday evening free.

Home on time.

No work calls during dinner.

…

“And something together?”

Maynard asks.

“Will you suggest it?”

Athena says.

He smiles.

“Yes.”

Next Sunday,

they will see what worked.

What needs adjusting.

And choose their next steps.

…

Later, Athena sits
with Victor in the garden.

She looks towards the kitchen.

Julia and Maynard
are clearing the table.

The next 90 days
feel different now.

Not because everything is settled.

But because they know
what they want to create.

And each has a part in it.

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