A new Dawn
New Sunnydale, the world without shrimp 2022
Dawn jumped out of the car, pulling Emma out of her car seat and held her hand as she walked them to the school gates. It was Joyce's first day of seventh grade, and normally the bus would sweep by and pick her up but Dawn thought it was important that she be here for the pick up today. She stood beside the other moms and dads and uncles, the occasional grandma in tow, trying desperately hard to keep Emma entertained. She was genuinely ahead of schedule for once, having picked Henry up earlier, he was sitting in the back of the car with a games console firmly fixed in front of his face - it really wouldn't matter if she left him for a few minutes. He was nine, and capable of that, she thought.
Leo had texted to say that he'd be home a little earlier and would pick up dinner on the way back from the office. Dawn pulled Emma up into her arms, letting her flow of blondie-orange hair fall down her back. She was proud of her family, of how far they'd come in the last few years, Emma was finally out of nappies and Joyce had started to show an interest in joining the council, not that they made her, she just seemed to be asking Leo a lot more questions lately. She was the most like him out of the three of them. Except her name, everything about Joyce was Leo. She had his eyes, she had his long tired gaze as she laid back onto his chest and fell asleep - well they both did when the baseball was on.
Dawn smiled as she saw her daughter emerge from the front of the school building, a smile broad on her face. Then it shifted a little to embarrassment as she saw her mother - arms cradling her little sister and a big grin on her face. She was twelve now - almost thirteen - and her mom still had to be the most embarrassing one in the playground. Joyce rolled her eyes and walked up to Emma, pulling her out of Dawn's arms she swung her around for a bit then put her down on the floor.
"So, how was your day?" Dawn said, nervous that she'd been picked on or something. Joyce wasn't exactly a cheerleader, she had Leo's thirst for knowledge and spent most days in the library.
"Ugh mom stop fussing." Joyce replied with faux anger, then smiled sweetly before saying, "pretty good actually. Everyone had a great summer, and Mr. Roberts showed us pictures of his new cat."
"Well good, I'm so glad you had a good day hun. Now what shall we have for dinner, daddy can pick up your favourite?" Dawn said finally, walking her girls back to the car, then strapping Emma back into her seat and reminding Henry that the outside world still existed.