The soft light of the morning filled the apartment as DJ made his way down the hall, still waking up but knowing it was a big day for both Tate and Theo. Tate had his first day of Pre-K, and Theo was heading back to school after the summer break. Deonte, however, was still fast asleep in his crib, curled up under his blanket.

DJ bent down and gently lifted Deonte into his arms. “Mornin’, lil’ man,” he whispered. Deonte stirred but didn’t fully wake, mumbling, “No wan’ ged up,” before snuggling closer into DJ’s chest.

DJ chuckled softly, rubbing Deonte’s back. “I know, but we gotta get ready soon. You guys got to places to be at?”

Deonte let out a soft, sleepy sigh as DJ carried him into Theo and Tate’s room. Inside, Theo was buried under his blanket, refusing to face the morning knowing what today was, while Tate was sprawled out, his arms and legs thrown everywhere.

“Alright, boys,” DJ called out. “Time to wake up. Tate, it’s your big day—first day of Pre-K. And Theo, you’re heading back to school, too.”

Tate’s eyes popped open immediately. “I goin’ to school today!” He sat up excitedly, his hair sticking up in all directions. “I goin’ to big school now like Theo!?”

DJ grinned. “That’s right, Tate. First day of Pre-K. You ready for it?”

Tate didn’t waste any time; he jumped out of bed and ran to grab his clothes. “I wanna go now! I gotta get ready!”

Theo, still half-asleep under his blanket, groaned. “Why do I have to go back…” he muttered, dragging himself up and rubbing his eyes. He reached for his clothes, clearly not sharing Tate’s enthusiasm. “Summer was too short…”

DJ, bouncing Deonte lightly in his arms, smiled. “You’ll be fine, Theo. You know school’s not so bad.”

Theo sighed dramatically, dragging himself out of bed to get dressed while Tate scrambled around the room. Deonte, slowly waking up in DJ’s arms, blinked sleepily at the scene. “Tat an’ Teo goin’ to school?” he asked, his voice still groggy. “Wan’ stay wif Tat an Teo.”

DJ ruffled Deonte’s hair playfully. “I know, buddy. But they’re both goin’ to school today. You’ll have fun at daycare, though, and you’ll see them after, okay?”

Deonte frowned, snuggling back into DJ’s chest. “Don’ wan’ daycare… wan’ stay wif Teo an’ Tat.”

DJ smiled, ruffling Deonte’s hair. “I know, lil’ man, but they gotta go to l school just like you gotta go to daycare. Don’t worry, though—I’ma pick you up after, and you’ll see ‘em after they get out.”

Deonte gave a little nod, still grumpy about the situation but a bit more settled.

Meanwhile, Tate was rushing to get dressed, but in his hurry, his shirt got twisted, and his pants ended up backwards. “Dad! My clothes not workin!” he whined, frustrated as he tugged at his shirt.

DJ chuckled. “Theo, you’re already getting dressed, can you give your brother a hand?”

Theo, already halfway dressed, glanced over at Tate, who was struggling to get his shirt on the right way. With a sigh, he walked over and flipped Tate’s shirt around, helping him pull it down properly. “You gotta chill, man. If you keep rushin’, you’re gonna fall flat on your face.”

Tate grinned, bouncing a little as soon as his clothes were fixed. “Thanks, Theo! But I gotta go fast! I don’t wanna miss school!” His excitement bubbled over, nearly tripping on his pants in the process.

Theo rolled his eyes, his patience thin. “Tate, it’s still early. No one’s gonna miss school. Relax a little, man.” He slung his backpack over his shoulder, muttering under his breath, “I wish I could miss it…”

Tate, of course, wasn’t hearing any of it. “But I wanna be the first one there! What if I make friends first? Or get to play the games before everybody else?”

Theo shook his head. “Yeah, yeah, you’re gonna be fine. It’s just school, not some race to a treasure chest.”

DJ, watching the whole scene with a smile, set Deonte down gently, ruffling his hair. “Alright, alright, boys. Ain’t nobody in a rush. Tate, you’re gonna be early, trust me. Ain’t no need to trip over yourself this morning.”

Deonte, still half-asleep, rubbed his eyes and clung to DJ’s leg. “Wan’ stay wif Tat an’ Teo…” he mumbled.

DJ smiled and leaned down to ruffle Deonte’s hair. “I know, lil’ man, but they gotta go to school just like you gotta go to daycare. You’ll see ‘em later, though. I promise.”

Deonte pouted but nodded, looking up at his brothers. “But I wanna stay wif them...”

Tate, bouncing on his feet, piped up. “I’ll tell you all about school later, Dee! It’s gonna be so fun! I’m gonna make a million friends!”

Theo, still not fully awake, sighed dramatically. “Tate, it’s not that exciting. You’ll see. It’s just sitting and listening all day.”

DJ shook his head, chuckling as he watched Theo’s grumpiness and Tate’s unstoppable enthusiasm clash. “Y’all are somethin’ else.” He ruffled Theo’s hair as he passed by. “C’mon, Theo, lighten up. It’s just the first day. You’ll get back in the swing of things.”

Theo shrugged, grabbing his backpack lazily. “Yeah, maybe…”

DJ turned to the kitchen. “Alright, let’s go get some breakfast. Ain’t no need to rush, but we gotta fill y’all up before we hit the road.”

Tate practically skipped after him. “I’m ready! I wanna eat fast so we can go!”

Theo dragged his feet behind them, muttering, “He’s like a rocket with no brakes…”

In the kitchen, DJ started cracking eggs and tossing bread into the toaster. Tate was already bouncing in his seat at the table, too excited to sit still. “What’s school like? Do I get to color? Do we have recess first thing?”

Theo sat down slowly, resting his head on his arms. “Nah, you’re gonna be doing work, man. Teachers talk all day, and you gotta sit there and listen.”

Tate’s face scrunched in confusion. “But that doesn’t sound fun…”

DJ, scrambling the eggs, glanced over with a smirk. “Don’t listen to him, Tate. There’s plenty of fun in Pre-K. You’re gonna learn a lot, but you’ll get to play too. It ain’t all about sitting still.”

Deonte, still waking up, mumbled from his seat. “No wan’ daycare… wan’ stay wif Tat an’ Teo…”

DJ brought the plates over to the table and set one in front of Deonte, ruffling his hair again. “I know, bud, but daycare’s fun too. You’ll see your brothers later, and you’ll get to play with your friends today.”

Deonte poked at his toast, still pouting. “Okay…” he muttered, clearly not happy about the day ahead.

As they ate, Tate was bouncing in his seat, barely able to sit still. “I’m ready! We go now, Dad?” he asked, his excitement bubbling over.

DJ chuckled at Tate's enthusiasm. “We’ll head out soon, Tate. Ain’t no need to rush it. Just finish up first, then we’ll grab your backpacks and roll out.”

Theo leaned back in his chair, still grumpy. “If you're that excited about school, maybe Tate can run there before school ” he said dryly.

Tate giggled, kicking his legs under the table. “I can do that! I’m real fast!”

DJ smirked, shaking his head as he sat down with his own plate. “Let's not do that, but I love the enthusiasm. Let’s finish up, and then we’ll get goin, .”

Tate, beaming with excitement, took another bite of toast. “I can’t wait! I wanna go now!”

Theo just sighed, leaning back in his chair, knowing it was going to be a long day for him. “I'm telling you now,School ain’t as fun as you think…”

After breakfast, DJ loaded the boys into the car and started the drive to their destinations. First stop was Deonte’s daycare. As they pulled up, Deonte’s face dropped—he knew what daycare meant. If Theo and Tate went to school, he wouldn’t get to be with them.

“Alright, here we go—daycare,” DJ said as he parked and got out, walking around to unbuckle Deonte from his car seat.

Deonte clung to DJ as soon as he was lifted out. “No wan’ Teo an’ Tat go! Wan go wif Teo an’ Tat!” he whined, his voice cracking like he was on the verge of tears.

DJ ruffled Deonte’s hair, trying to soothe him. “I know, lil’ man, but they gotta hit school just like you gotta do daycare. Don’t trip—when you done, I’ma pick you up, and they’ll be home by the time you get back. Promise.”

Theo leaned out the car window, trying to help out. “Yeah, Dee. Me and Tate gotta go to school, but you wouldn’t even like it. It’s super boring. Just have fun at daycare, and we’ll be home later.”

Tate, still bouncing in his seat, joined in. “Yeah, Dee! When I get back, I’ll tell ya ‘bout all the fun stuff I did! We gonna play soon as I’m done!”

DJ smiled, rubbing Deonte’s back. “You hear that? Both your brothers sayin’ they’ll be back. You just gotta be a big boy for now. You got this, right?”

Deonte, sniffling but trying to be brave, nodded slowly. “Otay… me be big boy.”

“That’s what I like to hear,” DJ said with a grin, ruffling Deonte’s hair again. “Now say ‘see you later’ to Theo and Tate.”

Deonte waved weakly, still sniffling. “See… see… waaaaah!” he suddenly burst into tears, unable to hold it in. “N-no wan’ Teo an’ Tat go! Wan go wif Teo an’ Tat!”

DJ sighed softly, pulling him in for a hug. “I know, lil’ man, I know. But they gotta go to school. You’ll see ‘em after daycare, okay? I promise you’ll be back together soon.”

Theo, still hanging out the window, tried again to reassure him. “Dee, we’ll be back way before you even notice. It’ll go fast.”

Tate nodded eagerly. “Yeah! When I come back, I’ll play with you, Dee! It’s gonna be fun when school’s over!”

DJ rubbed Deonte’s back a bit more, his voice gentle. “You gonna be just fine, bud. They’ll be home soon. Now be a brave big boy ‘til then, alright?”

Deonte wiped his eyes with his little hands and nodded, calmer now. “Otay… I be brave.”

“That’s my guy,” DJ said with a smile. “Now go on and say ‘see you later.’”

Deonte waved again, a bit more confidently. “See you later, Teo an’ Tat.”

Tate waved back, grinning. “See ya later, Dee!”

Theo gave a small wave, managing a smile. “See ya later, Dee.”

DJ gave Deonte a final comforting ruffle. “Alright, let’s get you to daycare. You’ll be good, and I’ll see you later, okay?”

Deonte, though still a little pouty, nodded as DJ led him inside.

After making sure Deonte was settled in daycare, DJ hopped back into the car. He glanced in the rearview mirror to see Tate practically bouncing in his booster seat, while Theo sat slouched, staring out the window, already looking like he’d rather be anywhere else.

“You good, boys?” DJ asked, pulling the car out of the parking lot.

Tate nodded eagerly, his legs swinging beneath him. “Yeah! We goin’ now? We almost there, Dad?”

DJ chuckled. “Yeah, lil’ man, we almost there. Just a few minutes, so hang tight.”

Tate immediately launched into questions, his mind racing as fast as his little feet. “What’s the first thing we do at school? Do I get to meet all the kids right away? Can we play? Or is it just sittin’ all day like Theo said?”

DJ smirked, catching Theo’s eye in the rearview. “Nah, you’ll get some playtime, trust me. There’s learnin’, but it ain’t all just sittin’ down. Plus, you’re gonna meet a bunch of new kids, so you’ll be busy.”

Theo, slumped against the window, let out a long sigh. “Don’t get your hopes up, Tate. It’s not like it’s a playground every day.”

Tate frowned, turning to his brother. “But… school’s fun, right?”

DJ ruffled Theo’s hair from the front seat, giving him a teasing look. “Man, don’t be tryin’ to crush his vibe already. First day is always somethin’ special.”

Theo shrugged. “I’m just bein’ real. It ain’t all that.”

“Hey,” DJ said, glancing back at Theo, “Just go in there and handle your business, alright? You’ll be fine, kid. You got this.” Then, turning back to Tate, he added with a grin, “And you, lil’ man—you’re gonna have a blast. Just go in, make some friends, and have fun. Nothin’ to it.”

Tate beamed, his excitement back in full force. “I’m gonna be the fastest kid there! And I’m gonna make all the friends!”

Theo rolled his eyes but couldn’t help the small smirk tugging at his lips. “You’re a lot, Tate…”

The rest of the ride was filled with Tate’s constant chatter about what he was looking forward to—“I hope we do art stuff! Maybe I can draw a dinosaur! Or a rocket ship!”—while Theo quietly braced himself for the day ahead. DJ smiled as he listened, remembering what it felt like to be that excited about something new.

As they pulled up to the school, DJ parked and turned in his seat. “Alright, boys, we here. Y’all ready?”

Tate was already trying to unbuckle his seatbelt, his small hands fumbling with the latch. “Yeah! I wanna go! I’m ready, Dad!”

Theo, in stark contrast, slowly grabbed his backpack and slung it over his shoulder. “I guess…”

DJ chuckled at the difference between his boys. “Alright, alright. Theo, look out for your lil’ bro, aight? First day’s a big deal for him.”

Theo sighed but nodded. “Yeah, I got him.”

They all climbed out of the car, and as soon as Tate’s feet hit the pavement, he was off, running ahead toward the school entrance, his backpack bouncing wildly behind him.

“Wait up!” DJ called, laughing as he watched Tate dart ahead. “He ain’t even thinkin’ ‘bout lookin’ back.”

Theo shook his head, walking next to DJ at a much slower pace. “Told you—he’s like a rocket with no brakes.”

DJ ruffled Theo’s hair again. “And you’re the one with all the brakes, huh?”

Theo smirked a little. “Guess so.”

As they approached the front doors, Tate was already waiting, practically vibrating with excitement. “Come on, come on! We goin’ in, Dad?”

DJ bent down and straightened Tate’s backpack. “Yeah, we goin’ in. Just remember, take it easy, aight? You’re gonna make plenty of friends. No need to rush everything.”

Tate nodded eagerly, his face practically glowing with excitement. “Okay! I’m ready!”

DJ smiled at his youngest, watching the excitement bounce off of him like sparks. He then turned his attention to Theo, who was standing quietly, his expression much more reserved.

DJ gave Theo a nod, his voice softening. “And you—you gonna be alright?”

Theo shrugged, his backpack slung over one shoulder. “Yeah… I guess.”

DJ saw through the shrug, recognizing the familiar hesitance in Theo’s voice. He placed a firm hand on Theo’s shoulder, giving it a reassuring squeeze. “Look, I know you. I know school ain’t exactly your favorite thing, and I get that you’re nervous. But you’re a tough kid, Theo. I see you tryin’ to mask it, actin’ like you don’t care, but it’s okay to feel a little anxious, alright?”

Theo’s eyes flicked up to meet DJ’s, the words hitting deeper than he expected. DJ continued, keeping his tone gentle but firm. “You’re gonna handle school just fine. I know you don’t love it, but you’re smart, and you got what it takes. Ain’t nothin’ there that you can’t handle. And hey, if it gets rough, just remember it’s one day at a time, alright?”

Theo let out a small sigh, feeling the weight of DJ’s words settle in. “Yeah... I guess I can deal with it.”

DJ ruffled Theo’s hair again, this time with a little more affection. “I know you can. You just gotta trust that you got this. Ain’t nobody tougher than you.”

Theo gave a small smile, the kind that barely lifted his lips but showed DJ that he was feeling a little better. “Thanks, Dad.”

"Anytime son...wait what you call me?" DJ asked raising an eyebrow in surprise.

Theo’s face instantly flushed. “DJ! I said DJ!” he quickly corrected, the embarrassment clear as he turned his head to avoid his father’s amused look.

DJ chuckled, shaking his head. “Uh-huh, sure you did.” He playfully ruffled Theo’s hair. “It’s cool, man. You know, you can call me whatever you want when it feels right. No pressure.”

Theo blushed more, shrugging it off. “Yeah, well, don’t get used to it or anything.”

DJ grinned, enjoying the rare moment when Theo let his guard down. “Alright, tough guy. Now let’s get y’all to class.”

As they made their way into the school building, DJ walked alongside his boys. Tate practically skipped down the hall, pointing out everything—classrooms, lockers, other kids, and anything that caught his eye. “Dad, look! That’s my class! Is that my teacher? I think that’s my teacher! Can we go now?”

DJ laughed at Tate’s excitement, but before heading to Tate’s class, he glanced over at Theo, who was walking more slowly. “First things first, let’s get Theo to his class.”

Tate pouted but didn’t argue, still bubbling with energy. DJ put a hand on Theo’s shoulder, guiding him down the hallway toward the older kids’ classrooms. As they approached, Theo slowed down even more, glancing nervously at the crowd of kids. DJ noticed the tension building in his son.

“Hey,” DJ said quietly, leaning down a bit to Theo’s level, “I know the first day can feel a little heavy, but you got this. Just take it one step at a time.”

Theo looked up at DJ, trying to absorb the words. “Yeah, it’s just… you know, new people, new teachers. I dunno.”

DJ gave him a reassuring pat on the back. “I get it. It’s a big change. But you’re strong, man. You’ve handled big things before. You can handle this too.”

As they approached Theo’s classroom, the teacher stood by the door, greeting students. DJ walked over to introduce himself, extending a hand.

“Hey, I’m Devarius Jones—Theo’s dad. Most folks call me DJ.”

The teacher smiled warmly and shook his hand. “Nice to meet you, DJ. I’m Ms. Carter. Theo’s in good hands here.”

DJ nodded. “That’s great to hear. Just wanted to give you a quick heads-up about him. He’s a sharp kid, but he’s been through a lot recently. Both he and his brother were adopted not too long ago, and they’re still adjusting to a whole new environment—new school, new home. So, you know, sometimes it might take him a bit to open up.”

Ms. Carter’s expression softened, but her tone remained steady and welcoming. “Thanks for letting me know. I’ll make sure he feels comfortable and keep an eye out. If he needs anything, I’ll be here to support him.”

DJ smiled, relieved by her understanding. “I appreciate that. He might be quiet at first, but once he finds his rhythm, you’ll see how capable he is.”

Ms. Carter gave a friendly nod. “I’ll keep that in mind, DJ. Thanks for the heads-up. I’m sure Theo will do great.”

DJ turned to Theo, placing a hand on his shoulder. " You ready?”

Theo gave a hesitant nod. “Yeah… I guess.”

DJ ruffled his hair one more time. “You’ll be fine. Just take it easy. One day at a time.”

Theo gave a small wave before heading into the classroom. DJ watched for a second, feeling a mixture of pride and concern, then turned back to Tate, who was practically bouncing on his toes.

“Alright, lil’ man. Let’s get you to your class now.”

Tate darted down the hall toward the Pre-K section, pointing excitedly at his classroom door. “That’s my class, Dad! Let’s go!”

DJ grinned as they approached the door. The teacher, a bright and friendly woman, greeted them with a warm smile. DJ crouched down beside Tate, adjusting his backpack straps.

“Alright, Tate. You’re gonna have a great day. Remember to make some friends and have fun.”

Tate nodded eagerly. “I’m gonna make so many friends, Dad!”

DJ stood up and turned to the teacher, extending his hand. “Hi, I’m Devarius Jones—Tate’s dad. I go by DJ.”

The teacher shook his hand, her smile easy and welcoming. “Nice to meet you, DJ. I’m Ms. Roberts. Tate’s got a lot of energy, I can see that!”

DJ laughed. “Yeah, he’s full of it. Just wanted to give you a heads-up. Tate’s autistic, so he’s super curious and social, but certain things like loud sounds or sudden changes might throw him off a bit. He might need a little extra patience when that happens.”

Ms. Roberts nodded, her tone understanding but still professional. “Thanks for telling me. I’ll make sure to watch out for that. We’ll take things slow and make sure he’s comfortable.”

DJ smiled in appreciation. “Also, Tate and his brother were adopted not too long ago, so he’s still adjusting to a lot of new things. I just wanted you to be aware in case anything comes up. He’s a great kid, just needs a little extra time to settle in.”

Ms. Roberts nodded with understanding, her expression softening. “Actually, I’ve already seen that in his enrollment file—you mentioned it when you registered him. I want to assure you, DJ, we’re well-prepared to support Tate in this class. We even have another student who has similar needs, and we’re used to adapting for each child’s unique qualities, or ‘quirks,’ as we like to call them.”

DJ relaxed a bit, feeling more reassured. “That’s great to hear. He’s got a lot of energy and curiosity, but sometimes things like loud noises or changes can throw him off. I just want to make sure he’s in a space where he can adjust at his own pace.”

Ms. Roberts smiled warmly. “Absolutely. We’ll make sure Tate feels at home here. If there’s anything he needs, we’ll cater to it. You don’t have to worry, DJ. He’s going to be just fine, and we’ll make sure he thrives.”

DJ nodded, grateful for her understanding. “I appreciate that. Thank you, Ms. Roberts.

DJ knelt down by Tate again, giving his hair a quick ruffle. “Alright, bud. Go make some friends and have fun, okay? I’ll be back to pick you up later.”

Tate grinned and waved. “Bye, Dad! See you later!”

DJ stood up, watching as Tate darted into the classroom, already chatting with another kid. He smiled to himself, feeling the familiar mix of pride and worry, knowing his boys had a lot ahead of them, but also knowing they’d get through it.

Before leaving, DJ gave Ms. Roberts one last nod of appreciation, then turned to head out of the school. As he walked down the hall, he felt a sense of calm, reassured that both Theo and Tate were in good hands. They were strong, and they’d be alright—just like they had been so far.