It was about 4:45 am, and a new day was beginning to dawn.

As the sun began its usual ascent on the eastern horizon, a renewed and rejuvenated Leonard sat on the mattress, nodding to himself as he scribbled furiously on a piece of paper.

He had been up all night, making plans for the journey back home. As he checked the little money he had, did calculations, and thought hard about it, the more convinced he was that this was the right thing to do.

There was no point continuing his stay here. The quest to be independent had obviously been a foolish one. The words of his older brother on the day he made his ridiculous request reverberated around his brain all night, and he could not deny how right Lennart had been.

Indeed, here he was, bearing the consequences of living a purposeless, wasteful life. And there was nobody to blame but himself.

It was not likely Lennart would welcome him back with open arms. Matter of fact, Leonard fully expected a strong, stern admonishment from him once he appeared in Hollyland Manor.

He didn’t care, though. He would listen to every single word and accept it in good faith. He deserved it.

He already knew what he was going to say to them once he arrived, and it had no hint of arrogance or cockiness in it.

He simply wanted his father and older brother to know that he had been stupid in his ways, he was sorry for disrespecting them, and that he was not returning as a son, but he would be happy to be accepted as a servant.

Makes sense to do so, he reasoned to himself as he rehearsed the apology in his mind. After all, I already took what was meant to be my inheritance and went to waste it on the most useless of things. I gave up my sonship for rubbish. I have no business trying to go there to claim it back. Mr. Johannes has every right to hire me and let me work for my living, with the way I’ve wronged him so bad. I just pray he forgives me. I really do…

***

6:01 am.

Leonard stepped out of the barn, his terribly dirty backpack slung over his shoulder.

The old man was not going to come out of his cabin until 7:30. It was a perfect time to make a run for it and head for the bus station in Poki.

Of course, in his foolhardy stage, he chose to take a flight to Poki. It might have been faster, being a two-hour flight, but he just wanted to indulge himself at that moment. This time, in his sober and broke state, he would be taking the bus, in what would be a long 9-hour trip.

This was certainly going to be one long and stressful journey, but it would ultimately be worth it. At least he could rectify the wrong he had done toward his family.

Leonard looked back. The mattress remained in its position, with the sleeping area well swept and tidied up.

He shook his head and a small smile spread across his lips. At least one thing had come out of his stay here: he had learned to tidy up his room. That had always been one flaw of his that drove his father crazy. Now he wouldn’t have to worry about that.

“But then again, it’s not like I’ll be returning to my room or anything,” he commented to himself while he made his way to the exit of the farm. “I’ll be joining Mister Cola and Nellyn in the servants’ quarters. So it’s only right I learn to do the right thing. Well, let’s get out of here before the old man comes around, else it’ll be hell over here.”

***

“Here is your breakfast, sir.”

“Thank you,” Johannes nodded, flashing Miss Nucca his usual smile of gratitude as she placed the plate before him at the dining table where he sat. he looked at the food before him and sighed while Miss Nucca walked away.

The full English breakfast. Complete with grilled tomatoes, mushrooms and black pudding.

He was always reminded of Leonard’s strong aversion to these elements of the English breakfast. Since childhood, the boy would eat the eggs, sausages, bacon and beans, and leave the rest, claiming they tasted awful.

Hmmm, ridiculous stuff, he thought to himself in a brief moment of amusement, before the concern took over once again.

Where in the world was that young man?

Over two years had passed now, and still no word from him. No idea which part of the world he was in, no idea what he was doing with his life… no idea at all.

It still bothered him to this day. Despite the rather harsh words of his older son, constantly insisting that he forget about him, Johannes could not forget about him. It was simply impossible to make such a demand of him. His heart was bound to both sons, and no matter what happened, he loved them. Yes, he was not happy with Leonard’s decision, not in the slightest. But he loved him.

And as he sat there, tapping his fork against the plate, he wished nothing more than for Leonard to come back.

He had been hoping for this long enough, and it seemed better to just give up and relegate the boy’s existence to the great beyond. But he was not ready to let up on him.

He’d keep hoping and praying that Leonard would return home.

***

“We will be arriving at the Agena Station in the next 10 minutes. All passengers should kindly prepare themselves.”

Leonard rubbed his eyes and sighed as the driver’s announcement echoed in the bus. He looked out the window and a small smile spread across his face as he saw the familiar bookstore and bakery on Swift Avenue.

Home sweet home.

Hard to believe I’ve been away for so long, he thought as he stared at the streets and sights he had known all his life. And even harder to believe I thought that filthy life of mine was worth leaving.

He had slept throughout the journey, nature demanding her due be paid once the bus took off. It hadn’t been easy having to make his way through Poki; the last thing he wanted was to be seen by anyone familiar. Thankfully, nobody he knew saw him, and he made his way to the bus station, with the monies he had saved up just about enough to get him a ticket back home.

For three hours, he slumbered peacefully, not even stirring once. When he did wake up, he thought long and hard about the time he had spent, and how he’d have to explain to them what he used that money for.

Well, that time was almost due. In a couple of minutes, he’d arrive at the bus station and walk to Hollyland Manor. That would be another forty-minute walk, since he had no money for a cab. But yeah, it was all good.

Soon, he’d be home. To start all over again.

***

It was almost 5 pm, and Johannes had taken a break from all the work in his library to briefly take a walk around the house. As usual, Lennart was busy on the fields, and the servants were all about the house, taking care of their various duties. After walking through the dining hall to the living room, he decided to step out the door and get some fresh air.

Stepping out, he breathed in and out, and forced a smile as he stared at the compound before him. The garden, with grass so gloriously green, looked as well-tended as it always did. The long, winding driveway that led to the tall, iron-wrought gates of the mansion, was properly and meticulously lined with lush green trees and shrubs.

There was no doubt about it, this was a beautiful place to be. He had worked hard for it. It was sad that his wife had decided to walk out on him and find happiness elsewhere, but that hardly took him off course. He did what he had to do, and now he could see the benefits of his determination before him.

He stood on the balcony for a few moments, lost in thought.

As he returned from his reverie, he looked back at the spot where the taxi came to pick up Leonard.

He sighed and shook his head. “Lord, I’d give anything to have my son back,” he muttered in a brief moment of prayer. “Honestly, I’d do anything to have Leonard back. Anything, Lord, anything…”

A sound from the gate interrupted his prayer. He looked at the gate.

For a moment, he thought he was hallucinating.

The security man had let in a young man with a backpack. He looked terribly skinny as if he had not eaten a properly-cooked meal in months. His hair was overgrown and disheveled, and his jeans and T-shirt were dirty.

But if he wasn’t mistaken, that young man responded to the name that had just come out of his mouth.

He squinted, rubbed his eyes, and looked to see if it really was who he thought it was.

Yes! Yes, indeed. His eyes were not mistaking him.

That young man was Leonard.

His heart soared within him. This was incredible!

His son was home! After disappearing to do whatever he had done, he was finally home!

He began running toward the gates.

“Leonard! Leonard! You’re home!”

Yep! What Johannes has been waiting for! His son is finally home!