A change in attitude

Josh awoke around 8am to the smell of bacon wafting up the stairs. He threw on some clothes, his own for a change, and headed down to the kitchen. He expected to see his mom making breakfast for the family but was surprised when instead he found Holly in the kitchen. Even more surprisingly was how she was dressed, her usual baggy clothes replaced by some gym gear he didn't even know she owned.

"Urm... hey, where's mom" Josh questioned. Holly spun around and smiled at him "she was still asleep so I thought I'd cook for us for a change" she turned back and went back to cooking. "Oh, cool" Josh hesitated "what's with the outfit though" he questioned. "Oh this old thing? I found it in the back of my wardrobe and decided I'd see if it still fits. I keep moaning about being out of shape, I thought I'd do something about it. Im going to head for a run after breakfast"

As they spoke Josh heard footsteps on the stairs behind him. He spun around and saw his mother but something was different. He studied her for a moment and realised what it was. Her normally well kempt hair was all over the place, she looked like she'd been dragged through a hedge. She wasn't wearing her usual layer of subtle but obvious makeup and, instead of being dressed for her Sunday morning run, she was wearing an old, stained oversized t-shirt and a pair of shorts. She thudded down the stairs with heavy feet before slumping at the dining table "oh good, breakfast, I'm starving"

Josh noticed that instead of her usual youghurt and fruit combo his mother grabbed a fistfull of bacon, loading her plate high with it. She began wolfing it down as though she was literally starving. Holly on the other hand had helped herself to a small bowl of porridge was almost done with it.

"So, what are your plans for today" Josh queried the women.

His mom, between gargantuan bites of her second helping of bacon, spoke up first "I dunno, I don't have the energy to do much today. I might go shopping later, I need some new clothes". Holly perked up "ooh, I'll come with you after my run" she grinned "I could use some new clothes myself".

Josh cleared the table after breakfast as Holly headed out for her run. His mother, shuffled to the living room and sat on the sofa. She picked up the remote and began channel hopping before settling on some reality TV show. "I didn't think this was your sort of thing" Josh asked. "Meh, nothing else was grabbing me" she replied as she picked up her phone.

A short while later Holly returned from her run "get ready mom, I'm heading to the mall in 30 minutes" she said as she bounded upstairs to the shower. His mother didn't react, glued to her phone. 15 mins later she sighed "I should get dressed I guess" she muttered as she disappeared upstairs.

Josh gasped as the two women came back downstairs. His normally glamorous mother who prided herself on her appearance was dressed in simple jogging bottoms that he'd only ever seen her wear whilst decorating, the front covered in splashes of dried paint from various DIY projects. On top she had one of his Dad's old uni hoodies that she must have dug out of a box. It was several sizes too large for her and hung awkwardly from her frame. Her hair was scraped back into a greasy pony tail and she'd not bothered to put on any makeup.

Holly on the other hand was wearing makeup for the first time in years. Her hair was silky and styled perfectly and she was dressed in a t-shirt and a pair of shorts, showing off more skin than Josh had ever seen her display.

The two women said goodbye to Josh and piled into Holly's car as they sped off to the mall.