They continued down the road, the dust settling beneath their feet, and Martin found himself taking in the quaintness of the town with a newfound appreciation.
It was a far cry from the fast-paced world he had been drawn into, but maybe that was why it felt so peaceful.
As they approached the center of town, a group of young boys raced by on their bikes, their laughter echoing through the air.
Martin smiled faintly at the sight, his mind still lingering on the thought of what this place could be if given the right resources, if given a chance to grow.
And perhaps, when the time was right, he would be the one to give it that chance.
As Martin and his mother walked down the dirt path, the old family house came into view. It stood modestly among the other homes, its small courtyard bordered by a low stone wall that had weathered decades of changing seasons.
The house itself had a certain charm despite its obvious state of disrepair. Built many years ago by Alyssa's grandparents, it was a simple dwelling with two bedrooms, a kitchen, a small living room, a bathroom, and a quaint courtyard that had long since become overgrown with weeds.
"This is it," Alyssa said softly, her voice tinged with nostalgia and a little embarrassment. "Our family's old house."
They stepped up to the front door, which creaked loudly as Alyssa pushed it open. The first thing Martin noticed was the smell of stale air and dust, thick in the atmosphere.
Sunlight streamed in through the dirty windows, casting long shadows over the cluttered and neglected interior. The living room, which had once been a warm, welcoming space, was now cluttered with old furniture covered in sheets and a thick layer of dust.
"Wow... it's worse than I thought," Martin muttered as he surveyed the mess. The floor was grimy, the walls had darkened with age, and cobwebs clung to the corners of the ceiling. It was clear the house hadn't seen proper maintenance in years.
Alyssa sighed heavily, clearly mortified by the state of her childhood home. "I've been sending monthly payments to the neighbors to keep it clean and tidy... but it looks like they didn't bother."
She kicked at the dusty floor, frustration boiling up inside her. "Forty dollars a month! I just asked them for four hours of cleaning at the end of every month."
Martin shook his head, suppressing a chuckle. "You really thought a bunch of teenagers were going to keep their word without anyone supervising them?"
Alyssa's cheeks flushed with embarrassment. "I just... I thought they'd at least have some decency." She crossed her arms, clearly frustrated but knowing there was no use in arguing about it now.
"Well, I guess there's no point in getting angry. We'll just have to clean it ourselves."
With that, the two of them headed back out, making their way to the small convenience store in the center of town. They bought garbage bags, sanitizing sprays, plastic gloves, face masks, and all the cleaning supplies they could carry.
As they made their way back, a few of the old neighbors saw Alyssa and Martin and stopped to greet them, curious about their plans for the house.
Soon enough, word spread quickly through the tight-knit community, and some of Martin's distant uncles and aunties, who still lived in the area, came over to offer their help.
This was the way of life in such a small town—most of the people here had kind hearts and were always willing to lend a hand.
"We're all in this together," said one of the older men, a distant uncle who had known Martin's grandparents. "We'll help you get this place back in shape in no time."
Alyssa smiled gratefully, and Martin didn't refuse their help. Instead, he invited everyone to an outdoor barbecue the next day to show their gratitude. It was a gesture of thanks, something small but meaningful in a place where community and family ties ran deep.
The cleaning operation kicked off immediately. Mature men and women worked together, scrubbing down the walls, mopping the floors, and tossing out old furniture that had long since outlived its usefulness.
The air was soon filled with the smell of cleaning solutions and the sounds of laughter and conversation as everyone chipped in.
Martin and Alyssa worked tirelessly alongside the others. Martin was impressed by how efficiently everyone moved. The kitchen, which had been in dire need of attention, was soon shining again after hours of scrubbing.
The courtyard, once overgrown with weeds, was cleared out, and the faded stone walls were scrubbed clean.
Meanwhile, the younger children, curious about the bustle, wandered over to see what was going on. But instead of helping with the cleaning, they were quickly distracted by Sky, Martin's playful husky.
The small dog was a hit among the children, especially the young girls, who spent most of their time chasing him around the courtyard and giggling as he darted between them.
Sky's joyful barks filled the air, adding to the lively atmosphere. Even though the cleaning operation was hard work, the sense of community and the lightheartedness of the children's laughter made it feel less like a chore and more like a family reunion.
By the end of the day, the old house was unrecognizable from the dusty mess it had been just hours earlier. The floors were spotless, the walls were clean, and the courtyard had been transformed into a welcoming space once again.
Alyssa, though exhausted, was beaming with pride as she looked around at her family's old home, finally restored to its former glory. She turned to Martin, her eyes filled with gratitude. "Thank you," she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper.
Martin smiled back, wiping sweat from his brow. "It's good to see the place looking like home again."
The evening sun cast a warm, golden hue across the small town, and the quiet streets were slowly giving way to the tranquil sounds of nightfall. Martin and Alyssa had just finished their dinner and were settling into the now-clean living room, feeling content after a long day of hard work.
But just as they were about to relax, the sound of the doorbell echoed through the house. Alyssa frowned, looking toward the door with surprise. It was late, and everyone who had helped earlier had already gone home. They hadn't expected any visitors.
"I'll get it," Alyssa said, standing up from the couch. Martin watched her curiously as she walked to the door, wiping her hands on her apron as she went. When she opened it, her expression instantly darkened, her face a mix of displeasure and frustration.
Outside, a row of teenagers—about fifteen to nineteen years old—stood nervously on the porch, their heads hanging low as they shuffled awkwardly. Behind them, their parents stood, looking equally uncomfortable but resolute. It was clear this wasn't a social visit.
Alyssa's eyes narrowed as she recognized the faces of the teenagers who had been supposed to maintain the old house. She had complained about them during the cleaning operation earlier, and as expected in a small town, word had traveled fast.
"Good evening, Mrs. Fox," one of the parents began, holding out a small gift basket as a peace offering. "We... we heard what happened. About the house and the payments. We wanted to come by and apologize."
Alyssa's face remained stony, but she stepped aside, allowing them to enter. The parents ushered their children forward, none of them meeting Alyssa's gaze as they filed inside. They were visibly nervous, shuffling their feet and avoiding eye contact, clearly dreading what was to come.
Martin, watching from the living room, stood up and joined his mother at the door. He raised an eyebrow as he took in the group. He hadn't expected this kind of visit, but from the looks of it, the teenagers had been brought over for a proper scolding.
Alyssa crossed her arms, her eyes sharp as she addressed the group. "So," she said coolly, "you thought you could pocket my money and not do the work, huh?"
The teenagers squirmed under her gaze, their faces flushed with guilt and embarrassment. Some of them murmured apologies, but their voices were barely audible.
"We didn't mean to," one of them, a tall boy with messy hair, muttered. "We... we just didn't think it was that important."
"Not that important?" Alyssa's voice was sharp as she glanced at the parents behind the teenagers. "I was paying you for five years. Five years! Forty dollars a month might not seem like much, but it adds up. Over two thousand dollars down the drain for what? An overgrown courtyard and a house filled with dust and cobwebs?"
The parents exchanged uneasy glances. One of the mothers stepped forward, her face lined with regret. "We had no idea, Alyssa," she said softly. "We never realized they weren't doing the work. If we had known, we would have put a stop to it."